2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY
HUNTING
201 W. Tomichi Ave., Gunnison 970-641-1845
Normal Hours 8-6 mon. - sat. 9 - 4 sunday extended hours before each season
GUNNISON , CO
“Gene Taylors would like to welcome everyone to the spectacular Gunnison Country. We have enjoyed serving Colorado’s Western Slope for 45 years. Our specialists in all fields of recreational sports would like to help you with your camping, fishing and hunting needs. Gene Taylors thanks everyone for spending time with us in the heart of the Rockies.�
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2008 Season Dates Archery (Note: All deer licenses by drawing only) Deer/elk: west of I-25 (and unit 140): Aug. 30-Sept. 28 Pronghorn (Bucks only): Aug. 15-31; (Either sex) Sept. 1-20 Moose: Sept. 6-28 Rocky Mountain Bighor n Sheep: Dates vary by unit. See DOW's Sheep/Goat brochure for details.
Muzzleloading Rifle (Note: All deer/elk licenses by drawing only) Deer/elk/moose (by drawing only): Sept. 13-21 Plains deer: east of I-25, except Unit 140: Oct. 11-19 Pronghorn (Either sex): Oct. 21-29
Rifle Combined Deer/Elk & Separate Limited Elk (Note: All licenses for separate & 4th season by drawing only) Separate Limited Elk (1st season): Oct. 11-15 Combined (deer/elk) (2nd season): Oct. 18-26 Combined (deer/elk) (3rd season): Nov. 1-7 Combined limited (deer/elk) (4th season): Nov. 12-16
Two things a hunter does in Gunnison, CO
& E AT!!! T HU N Glad It’ s Dinner T ime! Remind me to send Ol’ Miner an Xmas Card!
fe e sa ! r ’ e n W l daw unti
Rifle Plains Deer (Note: All deer licenses by drawing only) East of I-25, except unit 140: Oct. 25-Nov.4
Rifle Late Plains Deer (Note: All deer licenses by drawing only) East of I-25, except unit 140: Dec. 1-14
Rifle Pronghorn (See DOW's Big Game brochure for units and sex) By drawing only: Oct. 4-10
Rifle Moose By drawing only: Oct. 1-9
Black Bear Limited (by drawing only): Sept. 2-30 Archery (unlimited w/ cap): Sept. 2-28 Muzzleloading (unlimited w/ cap): Sept. 13-21 Rifle (unlimited w/ cap): concurrent with deer/elk rifle seasons 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner 139 N Main St • (970) 641-5153 See us for your catering needs. Voted Gunnison’s Best Steaks!
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EDITORIAL INDEX
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY
HUNTING
Females in the field ..................................................................page 6 Last winter impacting this year’s hunt ..................................................................page 8 Being lost is a state of mind ................................................................ page 14
About the cover Photo credit Gunnison Country Guide Service.
Taxidermy tips ................................................................page 16 Head/neck junction
Busted: Law catches up to famous hunter and guide ................................................................page 19
GCP Gunnison Country Publications, LLC
Publisher Stephen J. Pierotti Managing Editor Chris Dickey Editorial Michelle Burkhart, Will Shoemaker Contributors Anne Vinnola, Chris Parmeter, Dale Picard Advertising Drew Nelson Production Benjamin Dennee Layout/Ad Design Jennie Wren Online
www.gunnisontimes.com
For more information regarding this publication or other special publications of Gunnison Country Publications, call 970.641.1414, or write ads@gunnisontimes.com Copyright© No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Copyright© 2008. No part may be transmitted in any form by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the publisher. Any work (written, photographic or graphic) which the publishers “hired-out” becomes the property of the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials lost, damaged or otherwise.
4
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
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Gunnison Vitamin & Health .................14 H&H Towing ...........................................12 Island Acres ............................................13 Ol Miner ...................................................3 Paper Clip ...............................................31 Premier Mountain Properties...............25 Prois Hunting Gear ................................35 RE/MAX ..................................................13 Rocky Mountain Frames & Trophies....30 Rodeway Inn ..........................................21 Shed City ................................................11 Sugah's Cafe ..........................................24 Sunsports ...........................................5, 33 Teez Me ....................................................9 Tenderfoot Outfitters ...........................19 The Book Worm.....................................10 The Last Chance Saloon ........................11 Timber Sleds ..........................................34 Traders Rendezvous ................................5 Troutfitters .............................................30 True Value ................................................9 W Cafe ....................................................22 Water Wheel Inn ...................................17 ..................................................................... 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
Get your sights set The Gunnison Sportsmen’s Association provides hunters with the opportunity to sight-in their rifles before they head to the hills. Sight-in days at the GSA’s range just west of town are the following: 1st season – Oct. 8, 9, 10 2nd season – Oct. 15,16, 17 3rd season – Oct. 29, 30, 31 The gun range is located two miles west of Gunnison on County Road 18. Targets, ear protection and spotting scopes are provided; hunters need only bring their guns and ammunition. The cost to sight-in is $5 per gun – except on the Wednesdays of each sight-in season (Oct. 10, 17, 31), when it’s free. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Steve Bathje at 641.1851 for more information, or visit www.gunnisonsportsmens.com. ■
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5
Females in the field More and more women are picking up a rifle and heading to the hills by Anne Vinnola
Picture a hunter. Do you immediately envision a burly, macho man decked out in blaze-orange, carrying a large rifle in one hand and a deer rack in the other? It’s true: When the populations of our mountain towns explode this fall, we will have those burly male hunters. But many women and girls will also be joining them as serious hunters. According to a recent study by the National Sporting Goods Association, women’s participation in hunting increased a whopping 75 percent in the last five years. Women become hunters for many different reasons. Some grew up with brothers and fathers who encouraged them to hunt, and some start after they marry. I personally fought hunting with my husband for many years. I felt intimidated and did not want to participate in what I perceived as a “guy thing.” I now wish I had started earlier and regret missing all those great trips. I have not heard a woman say that the only thing she likes about hunting is the kill. Gunnison’s Jennifer Barvitski, who has hunted much of her life, sums up the feeling most hunters share: “It is a passion for the outdoors and nature. It is not about the kill or the harvest, which is what people assume. It is about spending time in the outdoors and truly observing and studying it.” She goes on to say, “Most hunters respect and understand the outdoors more than anyone and we can also be the biggest supporters of conservation.” When asked who they like to hunt with, the three women I interviewed responded with similar answers. Peggy Dobie and Kirstie Pike, also of Gunnison, hunt with their husbands and children. Barvitski, who doesn’t have children yet, takes her young niece and nephew hunting with her husband, father and other family members. Pike states that what she wants her two girls, Hanna and Hayden, to take with them about their hunting experiences is primarily the lessons of ethical hunting. 6
Christina Holden and Kirstie Pike
Jen Barvitski
In addition, she says, “I want them to be empowered as girls and women; to know that they are capable.” She continues on to say “appreciation for the outdoors and respect for wildlife is huge also.” Hunting is all about making memories, and every hunter has a favorite memory about a trip — whether it involved a successful kill or not. Dobie’s favorite hunting memory was when she shot her biggest deer. “We had been scouting for months and
found several nice deer,” she explains. “On the morning of opening season we spent a long time watching a nice buck across a drainage (within range). I chose not to take the buck just in case I saw something better. That evening while talking to a friend, he told the story of a deer that his friend shot at and missed. We believed it was the same buck I passed up earlier. The next morning we came upon the same buck in a different location and I decided it was fate ... so I took the shot, 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
and got my biggest buck.” Pike was so excited when she shot her first cow elk that she had to call her dad from her cell phone right way. “I got her in one good shot!” she said. She was hooked. Many organizations are also supporting the growing number of women who are both hunting and shooting. In Colorado, Women Afield, a program sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, is dedicated to teaching women a range of outdoor and hunting-related skills. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) strives to help women become more competent, more confident and more aware through outdoor skills. More than 20,000 women attend BOW events throughout the United States every year. Challenges women hunters face in the predominately male dominated industry are also being addressed on an increasing basis. Even three years ago it was very hard to find hunting clothing and equipment. That’s what inspired Pike to launch Prois Hunting Apparel (see story on page 32), which has been taking the national hunting world by storm. Prois’ slogan says it is “Serious Huntwear for Real Women.” Dobie says, “I really believe the op-
‘
I really believe the opportunities for women in today’s hunting world are limitless.
’
Peggy Dobie Peggy Dobie
portunities for women in today’s hunting world are limitless. As a rule, our own concerns and fears are what hold us back most.” “I suggest if you are a woman who wants to hunt and you are not getting the support you need, find a friend, other woman hunter or spend time at the gun club,” Dobie continues. “You will be amazed at the support you will get. Plus, the more time you spend with your gun,
the more comfortable you will feel and the better you will do on hunting day.” ■
(Anne Vinnola has written over 40 articles for various hunting publications. She and her husband Jerry own Big Timber South Taxidermy Studio and the Colorado Institute of Taxidermy Training, Inc., in Canon City, Colorado. Contact them at 1.800.733.6936.)
red in Featu Living ome Log H gazine. Ma
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
7
Deer to get a little reprieve Last winter freezes hunting opportunity; elk a different story
For about three months, dozens of volunteers and DOW staff made daily treks to feed, and save, as many deer as they could. Photos by Chris Rourke
by Will Shoemaker
On Dec. 6 of last year, it started snowing in the Gunnison Country. And it snowed, and snowed, and snowed. It became clear that it might be a big winter here. And big winter it was. By early January, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) started gearing up for an emergency feeding effort for deer — for only the second time in 24 years — and still expected significant winter mortality. The decision on whether to feed big game in winters like this past is dictated by a policy that’s been adopted by the Colorado Wildlife Commission, the governing board of the DOW. It states, in part, that if it’s projected that 30 percent or more of a herd’s adult female population will not survive the winter, emergency feeding can commence. 8
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
As a general rule, wildlife officials don’t like to feed deer and elk for numerous reasons — including increasing their susceptibility to widespread infection and the potential of habituating the animals. Then, in an unprecedented move, on Jan. 16, the director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Tom Remington, ordered that a massive swath of public land in the Gunnison Basin be closed to all wildliferelated recreation, from Jan. 17 to May 15. DOW officials hoped that the closure would minimize stress on wildlife brought on by unusually deep snow, crusted snow conditions and very cold temperatures. Feeding efforts commenced in full force in the days following. Deer and pronghorn antelope were fed pellets that were high in protein, fat and fiber. Dozens of volunteers and DOW staff began making daily treks down snowpacked footpaths into the frozen Gunnison Valley landscape to save as many of the animals they could. When it was all said and done, the DOW and volunteers were feeding an estimated 9,500 deer (of about 21,000 in the Gunnison Basin), 450 antelope and 3,400 elk. By early April, it was confirmed that local deer hunting opportunities were headed for a sharp decline this fall. DOW staff recommended there be about half the deer licenses in the Gunnison Basin as were distributed last year. But even that cut was met with consternation on the part of some sportsmen. They questioned whether the cut was enough to sustain local deer herds, or the caliber of trophy bucks that have come to define the Gunnison Country. Some with close ties to local wildlife thought mortality figures to be much higher than what DOW staff had estimated. As a result, when it came time to set this year’s final license numbers for Colorado big game, the state’s Wildlife Commission drastically rolled back the number of deer licenses for the Gunnison Basin. While wildlife commissioners stuck by the recommendations from DOW staff for elk and male deer, cuts to doe licenses were significant. They amounted to scaling back licenses for doe in the five area game management units (54, 55, 551, 66 and 67) to a total of only 105 licenses. In comparison, DOW staff had recommended that 520 “antlerless” licenses be distributed this year in the five local units. Even that figure was about half of last year’s. In total, 1,270 “antlered” licenses will be continued page 10 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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Deep snows made it difficult to impossible for Gunnison Basin deer to forage. Despite a massive feeding effort, significant die-off still occurred. Courtesy photos
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distributed in the five local units this year, compared to 2,175 last year. Wildlife Commissioner Dick Ray, of Pagosa Springs, says that the additional cuts were the result of DOW staff and commissioners still not having a firm grasp on the results of this winter’s die-off. “We do know that it was extensive all over the basin,� he adds. “We also know that it’s national news. ... Public expectation was that there wouldn’t be doe hunting this year.� Preliminarily, the DOW has reported an expected deer mortality figure of between 20 and 30 percent basin-wide as a result of the winter, though more definite figures will be known after the post-hunt counts early next year. To the DOW’s credit, a 20 to 30 percent die-off is a drastic reduction from past years when emergency winter feeding was implemented in the basin. In 1955-56, “a catastrophic die-off� occurred despite emergency feeding. “We lost almost all the deer in the basin,� says Tom Spezze, southwest regional manager for the DOW. Likewise, despite feeding efforts in 197879, a die-off of 80 percent of the deer occurred; and in 1983-84, 60 percent die-off resulted. Needless to say, the Gunnison Basin’s deer that have lived through the tough winter will see a little relief this year, in hopes that in coming years the population bounces back to be as strong and healthy as ever.
Elk another story Elk were not fed, per se, this past winter 10
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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641-2611 like were deer — with the intent to keep them alive. Instead, hay was used to “bait” the animals in some areas to keep them away from busy roads and out of competition with deer for food. Elk are much heartier animals that can withstand colder temperatures and heavier snow without as significant mortality as deer. As a result, the elk in the Gunnison Basin did surprisingly well during the winter of 2007-08, according to Brandon Diamond, DOW terrestrial biologist in Gunnison. Lower rates of survival, however, were seen for calves and older age animals. In unit 54, where the number of elk are drastically above the DOW’s objective (see related story on page 22), 50 additional elk licenses will be distributed for this fall’s hunts. There were no license changes for 2008 in the southern elk units (66 and 67), nor were there in units 55 and 551. “Based on what I’ve seen this summer,” says Diamond, “I would expect elk hunting to be good this year. I’m seeing good numbers of elk and plenty of bulls in the high country.” ■ 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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A person who wishes to hunt in Colorado must have a Hunter Education Card if they were born after Jan. 1, 1949 — that means anyone who is 59 years of age and younger. They can obtain the card by attending a Hunter Education Class taught by local volunteers in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Gunnison offers about five adult classes, one youth class and two one-day special classes throughout the year. The classes are 10 hours in length, with an additional hour for rifle handling and qualification and one hour for testing. Hunter safety education and the introduction of fluorescent orange are probably the two things that have lowered the accident rates for hunting the most since they were instituted by law in 1971. Checking the national statistics from the Safety Council shows that hunting is one of the safest sports in the country, as compared to skiing, snowmobiling, biking — and even ping pong. Before the law was passed, accidents happened quite frequently. The education brings people to a level of understanding about the sport. Most young people who enter the hunting world are not being taught or growing up in the field like our fathers did. I mentioned before that the course is taught by volunteers, who give their time to make others aware of the problems and joys associated with each phase of hunting. In the class we touch on ethics, archery, muzzleloading, firearms, handguns, survival, first aid, land conservation, laws and habitat. Many of the students start the classes with a less than enthusiastic attitude, but finish with a level of excitement. They meet me everywhere and tell me of their first harvest, especially the young people. Their excitement keeps me believing in what we do as volunteers. We bring in several volunteers 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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Hunter education classes expose kids to realworld scenarios — including being caught in a snowstorm.
Courtesy photo
to teach their specialty, giving the class an objective view from many angles. During the youth class we try to give the kids a real experience in hunting. Our program usually happens at the end of April or early May. Sometimes the weather will cooperate, other times it doesn’t — so the kids have experience from hot days to falling snow. They are put through a series of simulations that any hunter would experience, especially learning about how accidents usually happen. They get to shoot .22 caliber rifles, muzzleloaders, archery and shotguns. They are quizzed on shoot/don’t shoot scenarios, distance and identification of animals, scat and tracks. Plus, we have them start a fire to roast a scrumptious quarter pound hot dog. All in all they have a lot of fun and are safe. The mentors who accompany them also learn about communication and are on the same page when it comes to discussing wildlife or hunting. I believe it brings the two of them closer together and is a first step to becoming a responsible adult. Hunter education is just one of the tools that are giving us the edge we need to continue the sport of hunting. Most of our hunters are older and there is a push to bring more young people and women into the sport. Anyone who is interested in volunteering should contact the local Colorado Division of Wildlife for courses and opportunities that exist. ■(Dale Picard has been teaching hunter safety courses in Gunnison for many years.) 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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"Haven't you ever been lost?" In the 1980 classic movie, “The Mountain Men,” starring Brian Keith and Charlton Heston, Henry Frapp (the character played by Keith) faces this question from a young green horn. Frapp scratches his whiskers and after a recollecting pause, replies, “A fearsome confused for a month or two ... but I ain’t ever been lost!” For the fur trappers, wandering through a vast and unexplored country, “lost” would have been something of an oxymoron. Not knowing where you were was a necessary part of the business. The blank space on the map was as much “home” as it was wilderness, and “lost” was more a state of mind than a physical dilemma. When the mountain men plunged head long into the unknown, they knew that where they were going there would be no McDonald’s when they got hungry, no WalMart if they were needy, no Quality Inn for the weary. So they planned accordingly. They learned quickly where to find food and how to get it; how to mend equipment, to make new or make do; they could sleep in a log, a cave, or just plain under the stars – and survive. How did they accomplish this incredible feat? Simply, they were prepared. Mentally and physically prepared. Today, the same principles apply. When you head out into the woods, be prepared: for cold, rain or snow; prepared to eat a meal, tend an injury or stay the night in the woods. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. Here are a few nuggets of Mountain Man wisdom to help you survive:
Staying found The old-timers relied on “Dead Reckon-
14
ing” for navigation: utilizing a compass to guide them in the general direction they wished to go. Sometimes, in the absence of a compass, they relied only on “reckoning” — as in, “I reckon camp is back that way.” The contemporary woodsman may have the handiness of a GPS, but owning one of these high-tech gizmos is not an adequate substitute for map and compass skills. Just as with other conveniences (cell phones, cameras and flash lights), the batteries will invariable go dead just when you need them the most. Learning how to read a map is not that difficult; up is north, left is west and so on. The closer the lines are together the steeper the country. Water is shown as blue, while man-made objects are black. It is simply a two dimensional rendition of a three dimensional world. Combined with a compass to show you which way is north, you’d be hard pressed to get seriously lost. Sure, some practice is required, but that’s all part of the preparedness thing. Paying attention to where you’re going can also be a big help to staying found. As you pursue your quarry, notice which way the shadows are falling. Have you been mostly climbing, or descending? Look for landmarks as you go. Big landmarks — not stumps and rocks, but your relative position to the valley below, or that craggy peak to the west. Turn around and look behind you, what would it look like if you were going that way — back to camp or the truck?
The essentials Unless your trip is taking you across the Gobi or the Brooks Range, you probably don’t need to carry that 50 feet of copper wire or spare fishing line and hooks. The largest wilderness area in Colorado can be traversed in a day or two by a man in decent shape. Most of our state is much less wild than that. So what are the essentialessentials you need when you’re on your 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
own hook? Water. Without it, you’re dead in three days. Without it for a few hours, at 9,000 feet above sea level, you’re not dead, but you may wish you were. Dehydration can lead to altitude sickness and hypothermia. But even worse, it can impair your judgment, induce panic and result in a fatal case of "lost." Fire. Fire, good. Fire, friend. Fire, number two in importance. Learn how to build one ... without toilet paper and gasoline. It’s as easy as one, two, three: One, you need dry tinder. Scratch around under grass tussocks for the driest stuff. Get lots of it, about a volleyball sized bunch; Two, kindling. You want about twice as much as the tender you gathered. Kindling is small stuff — matchstick sized; Three is the fuel itself. Gather up plenty if it looks like you may have to spend the night. Pick dry branches one- to-two inches in diameter — these burn without difficulty and make it easy to control the heat. Of course we can’t overlook the match. You don’t need to be proficient with a flint and steel, but you should have at least a couple of ways to start fire; it doesn’t matter if it’s a disposable lighter or a fire plow, as long as you can get it lit. Shelter. Now, don’t jump right into bivy sacks and backpacking tents. Let’s take a step back and start at the beginning. Shelter starts with your clothing. Dress for the worst. And in a Colorado fall, the worst can be pretty harsh. Pick synthetics — like fleece or polyester blends — but wool is best. Dress in layers: long handle union suit, light mid layer(s) and warmer outer layer. Dressing appropriately when you leave camp will find you well on your way to surviving a night in the outback even without a buffalo robe. Plan. Make a plan and let someone know what it is. Leave a map open on the dashboard of the truck. You don’t have to give up your secret spot with an “I am here” arrow, just circle a square mile or two. When you leave camp, a plain old “I’m gonna work this ridge out and come back down the crick” is enough to give your buddies a place to start looking if you should become “a fearsome confused.” The important thing is to stick to your plan. As you head into the high country this fall, see yourself as one of the Lewis and Clark expedition; be prepared, both mentally and physically for the challenges of the unknown. Keep your powder dry and your eyes on the horizon, and you’ll know that “lost” is, by and large, just a state of mind. ■ (Parmeter is a district wildlife manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Gunnison/ Crested Butte.) 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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Tips for taxidermy by Anne C. Vinnola
Once you have bagged a nice big game animal, there are some things you can do to ensure the placement of a beautiful work of art on the wall in your trophy room. First, decide who will be mounting your animal. You invest time scouting the area you will be hunting; be sure to invest time scouting for your wildlife artist. Price shopping over the phone is not the best way to choose who cares for your hunting memories; you need to go to their studio to see for yourself. Give some thought to the position in which you want your animal mounted. You can choose from a life-sized pose, a panel mount where the skull is covered with leather, or a shoulder mount. Will you be hanging it on the wall, or having it made into a pedestal display? Think about where in your home you are going to hang your mount, and which direction you want it to face. (This is a good thing to discuss with your wife, fellas!) It is not advisable to hang it where it will be exposed to direct sunlight, over heat registers, or near a swamp cooler. The memory of your hunt will be sweeter if you do not end up with tainted meat and extra taxidermy expenses, so be mindful of your field care. Never slit an animal's throat if you plan to have it mounted. A problem for many hunters is “hair slipping.” Hair slip is when the animal begins shedding the hair on the cape. It is caused primarily by bacteria growth and trauma. Antelope are notorious for this problem, but all animals harvested are vulnerable. Bacteria growth starts at 40 degrees. Getting your animal Head/neck cooled to below that temperature needs to be a high priority. junction Be gentle when getting your animal out of the woods. Don’t drag it or haul it over rocks. Even if you don’t want to have your trophy made into a shoulder or life-sized mount, most taxidermists need extra capes and will pay you for yours. 16
Cut approximately 3” down
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
If you have not been taught to fully cape an animal’s face, it is best to leave it to your taxidermist. It takes training to be able to cut around the eyes and lips without causing problems for the taxidermist and ruining your mount. If you want a life-sized mount done, get specific advice from your taxidermist. He will give you complete instructions as to how he wants you to skin it, or if he feels better doing it by himself.
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How to cape for a shoulder mount Lay the animal in a grassy area or on a tarp to keep the meat as clean as possible. Do not tie it with a rope around the antlers if it is in velvet, nor around the neck, which will harm the hair. Make a cut measuring approximately three ribs behind the front legs, going completely around the animal. Next, cut the skin around the front legs and cut the underside of each leg. Begin taking the cape off of the body pulling it off something like you would a sweater. The trick is to leave as much skin on the piece you will be taking to the taxidermist as possible. Do not cut the brisket. Where the head and neck meet, measure approximately three inches back and sever the head from the neck. Do not wrap the head in a black plastic bag and let it sit in the sun. You need to get it cooled immediately. If you must wait a few days until you can get the head to the taxidermist, then freeze it.
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Velvet care If your animal is still in velvet, you need to take several steps to protect the antlers. Your taxidermist can have your antlers “re-velveted” for you if there is a problem, but it is costly. Handle the velvet as little as possible and do not hang the head by the antlers — it inhibits the drainage of the blood and also damages the velvet itself. Carefully stand the head in a place where the blood can drain. Many hunters want to blame the taxidermist when they themselves create many of the problems in the field. If you use good sense and treat the head and cape as you would with any perishable item, then you will have a stronger chance of bringing home a beautiful mount to show off. ■ (Jerry and Anne Vinnola own and operate Big Timber South Taxidermy. Contact them at 1.800.733.6936 or www.coloradotaxidermyschool.com) 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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VERY, VERY NICE 3 bedrm 2 bath home w large dining area, enclosed yard, good southern exposure and views to Sawtooth and Hartman Rocks. MAKES GETTING UP in the morning a joy! Cabin on 10 wooded ridge top acres including mineral rights. Spectacular views, summer access w/o 4WD. ***CHECK OUT some of Lucinda’s listings you can see at www.pitkincolorado.com/Steckel/ MORE THAN ELBOW ROOM 2300 sq ft 4 bedrm, 3 bath, nat gas heat & wood-burning stove, carport. Close to schools! IN-TOWN HOMESITE. All utilities adjoin, no covenants, no flood plain! Paved street w curbs & alley. Home or Duplex OK! All utilities adjoin. Only $79,000. INDUSTRIAL BLDG & LAND. 40x60 w heat, bathroom on 75x125 site a few blocks from airport, a couple from Hwy 50. 1,500 FT COMMERCIAL BLDG on 17,100 sq ft tract, in town w all utilities. 6 LOTS & CABIN in Pitkin. Live in the cabin while you build a modern home. Well already drilled! CONVENIENCE STORE. Superb location across from City Market & WalMart on the highway to Crested Butte. Owner motivated! NEAR THE BOAT DOCK! 7.76 acres & potential adjoining Colo Hwy 149 less than a mile from the Iola Ramp. House has been used year around but has challenges. Only $95,000! ATTRACTIVE 3 BEDROOM 1200 sq ft single story log home w attached garage on double-sized corner site. Priced to sell!
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WOODED MOUNTAIN TRACTS. Beautiful, cool cabin and camping sites, up to 10 ac w legal and good seasonal road access. From $18,900. LOVELY 3 BEDROOM 2 bath home w wrap around deck. Excellent solar gain, lots of custom woodwork, with a full acre and a great price! ADD WATER AND... 1,250 sq ft cabin in mountain community, all yr access, elect and phone available, needs well and septic system. Only $75,000 ONLY $57,900! Needs work, but we can’t find another 3 bedrm 2 baths home w a big fenced yd and grass, shrubs & trees at anything like this price. Just a lot and tap fees could cost more! JUST COMPLETING! Quality built new 2 and 3 bdrm, 2 bath condo w garages! These are very nice, and really convenient. BUDGET SOOTHER! 3 bedrm 2 bath home, 1,223 sq ft, propane FA heat, most appliances included. Only $139,900! GOLD CREEK VALLEY, another one of our favorite places! 1.6 acres w elect, phone, jt leach field connection and all year county road adjacent to property.
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641-2235 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
Finally, busted Man with long history of wildlife violations agrees never to hunt, fish or guide again A Colorado man with a history of wildlife violations pleaded guilty to numerous wildlife related-crimes in a New Mexico district court on June 23. Kirt Darner, 69, of Crawford, Colo., has been convicted of wildlife violations in Colorado dating back to 1994. In 2000, Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) officers started investigating Darner as a suspect in the theft of two bighorn sheep heads from a Montrose taxidermist. In Cibola County, N.M., in June, Darner pleaded guilty to transporting wild elk and receiving stolen property — specifically, the two Colorado sheep heads. At the time they were stolen, the sheep heads were estimated to be worth more than $20,000 each. “We’ve worked on this case for more than eight years and cooperatively with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for the past three," said Eric Schaller, an investigator for the DOW. Darner could serve four years in jail and pay a minimum of $10,000 in fines and restitution for the New Mexico charges. As part of the plea agreement, Darner agreed never to hunt, fish or possess a firearm again. He also is prohibited from working as a guide or outfitter in Colorado and New Mexico. Previously in Colorado, Darner was convicted of illegal possession of wildlife in 1994. In 1999 he was convicted of second degree tampering with evidence and careless driving in an incident in which he was serving as an outfitter. In 2008
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Darner pleaded guilty to making a false statement in order to purchase a license. Darner, a nationally known big-game hunter and guide, and Paula Darner were co-owners of the 40-acre Lobo Canyon Ranch north of Grants when they were indicted in New Mexico in 2006 on 41 felony and misdemeanor charges. If you have information about a wildlife crime, call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-265-6648. Tips can be made anonymously and rewards are possible. â–
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Track down the perfect hunting property
Powers Mountain Retreat GREAT 3 Bedroom 2 Bath LOG HOME Along GOLD CREEK. Adjacent to public land, this is a cute remodeled log home with beautiful landscaping, and Gold Creek right in your front yard. Alpine setting, big pine trees, pristine mountains views, watch the deer from the deck. 2+ truck garage, with extra storage space, top quality construction in home and garage. Seasonal access on paper - but private plowing in place with easy year round access. Must see and priced right! $595,000.
Big Views Near Blue Mesa Reservoir, 40 acres with big views toward the national forest. Adjacent to BLM land. Perfect for summer clients wanting property near the lake. Private winter maintenance road, just 3 miles from Hwy 50 on CR 26. $49,900.
Powderhorn Guest Ranch This exceptionally pretty property offers 40+ acres and 1/4 mile of great fishing on Cebolla Creek, 14 guest log cabins, log main lodge, log 3 bedroom main home, 2 staff log cabins, outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, and out buildings - ALL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. PRIVATE FISHING AND HUNTING LODGE or GUEST RANCH. BLM outfitting permit in GMA 66 & 67 - premier deer hunting in Colorado. All horses, tack, equipment, inventory, furnishing with sale. $2,500,000 SERIOUS PRE-QUALIFIED BUYERS ONLY.
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KAREN REDDEN The Redden Group, broker
Benson Sotheby’s International Realty PO Box 210 Crested Butte, Co 81224
970-641-3000 Karen@BensonSothebysRealty.com www.TheReddenGroup.com 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
Smokin’ hunting story? Tell it in the only Smokin’ Bar! An atypical experience Hunting in the Gunnison Basin is not your typical experience. If it’s natural beauty, remoteness, magnificent herds you seek, the Gunnison Basin has it all ... in spades. Arlene McGain took this photo of an atypical buck while hiking in August, 2007.
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Unit 54 is overrun with elk. Why are hunters so unsuccessful?
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Willingness to walk, and work, the key by Will Shoemaker
One game management unit (GMU) in the Gunnison Country has become a burden to local hunters, ranchers and wildlife managers alike. But it’s not for lack of opportunity. In fact, it’s just the opposite. There are way too many elk. Most hunters would think that’s a good thing, and that more elk equals greater opportunity for success. Yes and no. The problems in Unit 54 (north of Hwy. 50 and Blue Mesa Reservoir and west of Hwy. 135) are somewhat unique. There are large swaths of private land in the Ohio Creek Valley that serve to harbor elk when the hunting pressure turns on. And it’s a rugged unit. It’s great elk habitat, too. Combine that with the fact that there are numerous roads through the unit — lining ridge tops that are beckoning to be driven — and elk find the spots where the roads don’t go. The combination of those factors means that success rates have been painfully low year after year. Last year, the rate of success was 16 percent in unit 54, compared to a state-wide average of 22 percent, and rates of success equalling 28 and 29 percent, respectively, in the southern, limited units of 66 and 67. The lack of success results in the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) falling short of their elk objective for the unit (the 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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target population they try to foster through management tactics). “Elk know where to go to escape hunting pressure in the unit,” says Brandon Diamond, DOW terrestrial biologist in Gunnison. Ask anyone who’s hunted the unit and they’ll tell you that’s the case. For many, it can be discouraging to head out for a hunt only to discover countless ATVs and trucks making noisy passages up and down the roads in the unit with no elk in sight. Good hunters simply know how to go about it to achieve success. They get off the roads and trails, leaving trucks and ATVs behind, and hoof it to the spots that harbor the animals. What does Diamond recommend? “Park the four-wheeler, park the vehicle and understand that it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to have to put some work into it. Get away from roads to find where elk are finding refuge from hunting pressure.” That, in all likelihood, means heavy cover and steep, north-facing slopes where it’s cool. Once hunting pressure starts, the elk tend to avoid big, open parks, says Diamond. “Hunters that cover some ground on foot are likely to be more successful and will at least see more than guys on machines,” he adds. “The reality is, elk are very mobile.”
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The DOWs has tried numerous management tactics in recent years to bring down the number of elk in unit 54. They’ve run the gamut from offering liberal privateland-only seasons; splitting the unit into sub-units in an attempt at better distributing hunting pressure; to introducing a “late season hunt” not found in surrounding units. Wildlife managers have also tried offering either sex licenses. At one point, they offered cow licenses to be purchased in addition to bull tags by single hunters in a single year. They even have tried trapping and moving elk in the unit. “We have a hard time selling licenses in this unit,” says Diamond, which defeats the purpose of simply increasing licenses to try to bring down the number of elk. Why a hard time selling tags? Accessibility and what hunters are looking for, Diamond believes. “It’s difficult to find an individual that’s real serious about killing cow elk. And packing an elk out of a big canyon is a tough job. ... Elk hunting is hard work.” The DOW’s population objective for elk in the unit is roughly 3,000-3,500 — though modeling has changed, so it’s probably a little higher now than it was a few years ago. Still, the post-hunt 2007 estimate is that there are 6,800 elk in the unit. “Certainly we feel we’re over objective in that unit and we’d like to bump up our harvest,” Diamond says. “The trend in our models is that the population is increasing.” In comparison, GMUs 55 and 551 (on the opposite side of Hwy. 135, to the east) are closer to meeting objectives. The DOW estimates about 5,500 elk between the two units. “Success rates are still lower than the southern units (66 and 67), but overall, we’ve had a better handle on maintaining that population,” Diamond adds.
Limited the answer? Prior to the last round of five-year season structuring in 2004, there was a citizen-driven push to make units 54, 55 and 551 limited for elk, meaning fewer licenses would be distributed and none would be sold over-the-counter. A few years prior, the same management tactic was adopted for the southern units of the basin — 66 and 67. The reasons for the push boiled down to decreasing hunter crowding, increase the male-to-female ratio, increasing hunter success rates and improving distribution of elk on public lands. It is believed by proponents that such a move would solve 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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Unit 54 is replete with rugged terrain. Successful hunters agree, the best way to ensure success is to get out of the vehicle or off the ATV and hoof it. Photo by Will Shoemaker
problems now inherent to unit 54. It’s also believed the move to limited licenses would reduce the damage now caused by elk to ranchlands in the winter. But an equally vocal group of business owners, sportsmen and those concerned about reduced hunting opportunity pushed back in 2004, and the measure was ultimately killed before the state’s Wildlife Commission had a chance to vote on it. Former state wildlife commissioner and lifelong Gunnison-area sportsman Brad Phelps represented one side of the debate. Randy Clark, owner of Traders Rendezvous in Gunnison, represented the other. Both have killed elk in unit 54, but they differ on what they think would work best to address the unit’s problems — and what’s best for the area’s economy. Phelps notes that the first five years of limited licenses for elk in units 66 and 67 cut the number of elk in half. “Fewer hunters kill more elk, plain and simple,” he says. He vows that he’ll be part of a group campaigning in the next year to make the northern units limited. But Clark and others are concerned about what limited licenses would mean for the number of elk hunters, which fuel the area's fall economy. Both, however, agree on the kind of tactics it takes to guarantee success in unit 54. “Foot or horseback,” said Phelps. “Hitting the timber,” adds Clark. “Getting in there on foot and not just driving the roads on four-wheelers — especially in 54, because there’s more pressure on roads.” ■ 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
Alpine Private 3568 Sq. Ft. log estate on 36+ acres just 3 miles to historic Crested Butte. Bordering National Forest and BLM. The creek running through the property creates an idyllic mountain retreat, perfect for the kids, friends, the family dog and horses. Seller enjoys the thousand of miles of hiking and ATV trails right from the home into the National Forest.
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Got Elk? This 35 acre parcel at the end of the road does! Private location in the Razor Creek valley with year round access on County Road 62. No HOA covenants! Electricity, phone & septic is in, well is needed! The parcel is fenced with a mixture of grassy flat land & sage. Surrounded with conservation ranch land & BLM means no more neighbors.
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Located near Hwy149,minutes from Cebolla Creek & Iola boat ramp on Colorado’s largest lake, Blue Mesa. Flat building site with Grand Southwest Exposure. Views of Powderhorn & Lake Fork Valley as well as Uncompahgre Peak. Neighbors have utilities and year round access,so with little effort you could too. Recreational opportunities abound!!! Perfect for the fisher, boater, hiker and plenty of BLM roads for off-road fun! Hunting is bountiful too. Boarders BLM. Known hunting area, section 67! 100+ head of dear and elk. Come by for more information, pictures and driving instructions.
PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING A POSITIVE COMMUNITY AND LIFESTYLE. Mindy Sturm – Broker/REALTOR 970.209.0911 _ 970.349.6114 318 Elk Ave., Ste 15/PO Box 1081 Crested Butte, Colorado mindy@premier-mountain-properties.com 25
Field and scenes Photos courtesy of Gunnison Country Guide Service and Tenderfoot Outfitters.
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2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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hunting elk & mule deer is not just our job, Operating under special use permit on the Gunnison National Forest. An Equal Opportunity Service Provider. 28
2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
Better meat care = better meals Keep it cool and clean for starters
by Bill Powell
Over the years I’ve heard it said, “I love hunting, but my spouse will not cook the big game meat that I bring home. She says it has such a gamey smell that she can’t stand cooking it in the kitchen.” Well, here are some steps you can take from the moment of the kill to the moment of the kiss that will make it a delight for both you and your spouse. Following are steps I learned from an old successful big game hunter named Cecil Biggerstaff, who used to live in Rand, Colo. Step 1: Take care of the meat in the field by cooling it down as soon as possible. Also keep the meat clean. I take a small tarp in my backpack and place it under the animal to keep leaves, rocks and dirt off the meat while I take the hide off the animal. Step 2: Skin the animal quickly and quarter the meat to help dissipate the heat in the carcass; have a good sharp skinning knife and a good knife sharpener. Lay the animal out as straight as possible. Start on one side of the animal at the top of the hind quarter leg and skin the animal from the back hind quarter to the front quarter. I do not gut the animal. I am careful when skinning the animal not to penetrate the stomach. Be careful to leave a sign of the animal’s sex attached to one of the hind quarters. Remove the front quarter and place it in a large, quality game bag, and set the game bag in a place where it does not get into the grass, brush or dirt (lay the bag on some logs, or lean the bag up against a tree). I do not saw off the leg bone from the front quarter until later, since I usually need to use it to help carry the quarter back to camp/vehicle. Remove the hind quarter. You can do this with just a skinning knife if you cut into the hip ball joint and then gently cut the meat away from the hip bone. Place the hind quarter in a separate quality game bag to keep it clean. Roll the animal over on its side and take off the back strap (fillet meat located along the animal’s spine), and place the back strap in the same sack as the front quarter. I then roll the animal onto its other side and repeat the procedure. Step 3: Put meat in coolers. As soon as I get the meat back to camp or the vehicle, I carefully take the meat out of the bags and 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
How you care for big game meat from the second you make the kill makes a big impact on how it will cook up in your kitchen. Getting it cool and keeping it clean are two of the first big keys. Photo courtesy of Andy Cochran
saw off the legs so I can put the meat into big coolers with snow, ice or cold water to continue getting the heat out of the meat. I cut off as much fat from the surface of the meat as I can at this point. The key here is to put some salt and baking soda on the meat. The salt will begin to draw the blood out of the meat, and the baking soda will start tenderizing the meat. Step 4: Leave the meat in the coolers for at least 6-8 hours. Drain off the water from the coolers at least once during the 6-8 hour period to get rid of the cumulated blood. Repack the meat in ice, snow or water. No need to put any more salt or baking soda on the meat. Step 5: Drain the water from the meat and de-bone the meat. Take the meat out of the cooler and wash the salt and baking soda off the meat. Let the meat drain well in a clean, well-ventilated area. You can now de-bone the meat. Cut off all the extra fat from the meat. The fat and the bone can give the meat a gamey taste. Step 6: You can now start cutting up the meat into steaks, roast or chucks for grinding into deer-burger or elk-burger. You can get a butcher’s drawing on how to cut up the meat. I start with steaks and roasts first, and all scraps are put into a bowl for grinding
into deer or elk-burger. Always cut steaks across the grain, never with the grain. Trim all fat and gristle from the meat that is to be ground into deer or elk-burger. Get wax coated freezer wrapping paper to wrap the meat. Make sure the waxed part of the paper is against the meat. I like to doublewrap the meat, so it stays fresh longer. When grinding up the deer-burger or elk-burger, I always mix in some regular beef-burger or pork because the deer meat or elk meat is so lean. I add about 10-20 percent beef to the deer or elk-burger. I use a one-horse power grinder, but a half-horse power grinder will work just as well. I also use a cuber attachment to the grinder to cube steak all my steaks. The cubed steak allows marinating to be done quicker and more efficiently. If done properly the meat will have no big game smell when it is cooked indoors or outdoors, and you will love the taste of the clean, tenderized, healthy big game meat. By the way, you can fix the meat in all the same ways you would fix beef. In other words, use the hamburger for casseroles, meat loaf, etc. Also, canning the meat is another excellent way to use the meat. Most people can’t tell that the meat is wild game if taken care of properly. ■ 29
Shed regs enacted, under review by Michelle Burkhar t
After the initial season of regulations being in place to restrict when collectors may gather Gunnison Basin’s prized deer antlers, a heated discussion has developed about the impacts of the regulations and whether they should be modified. The regulations bar people from collecting sheds between March 15 and May 15 annually, as a means of protecting the imperiled Gunnison Sage-grouse during its mating season. A strong push to modify the closure season nearly led to a petition for amendment, but a push-back has delayed those plans. Some locals urged the Gunnison Basin Sage-grouse Strategic Committee — which initially led the charge to have the regulations implemented — to work out a compromise that would also take mule deer into consideration. “We felt that for the sage-grouse (the regulations) might have been a good thing,” explained Randy Clark, who owns Traders Rendezvous — a hunting shop in
Gunnison that deals in antlers. “But we hope to incorporate something that will be good for the deer and the sage-grouse.” Critics of the regulation believe the closure will concentrate antler hunting activity in late winter, before season restrictions apply. This will lead to increased impacts on deer when they are depleted from winter and most susceptible to starvation, they say. They also believe that barring shed collection through May 15 is unfair to sportsmen who are eager to get outside after a long winter. Clark believes another problem with the current regulation is that it “singles out shed hunters” but still allows for other activities. Shed collectors could still hike in and stockpile antler sheds, only to retrieve them later when the seasonal restriction lifts. As of press time for this publication, it looked unlikely that an alternative proposal would be forthcoming before the deadline for a petition to officially change the regulation. ■
Antler shed hunting is a popular activity. Regulations enacted to protect the Gunnison Sage-grouse are negatively impacting deer, critics say. Photo by Will Shoemaker
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On July 15 the Colorado Division of Wildlife began a new phase of its moose program with the release of a two-year-old bull moose in a remote area south of Gunnison. The moose was transplanted from Utah, where there is an abundance of the species in the northern part of the state. The DOW plans to release up to 30 moose on the north edge of the La Garita Wilderness area in Game Management Unit 67 to supplement the small population that exists there now. The area contains very good moose habitat. The moose will be released as they become available from Utah. The transfers will continue until the target number is reached. All translocated Moose will receive two green ear tags. The cow moose will also be fitted with radio telemetry collars to allow the DOW to track the animals’ movements and to determine if they are reproducing. The DOW wants to hear from anyone who spots one of these moose in the area. People who see a moose are asked to record as much information about the sighting as possible: location, type of habitat, ear tag numbers, number of animals, if the animal has a radio collar, time of day, date, pictures and any other relevant information. Report any sightings to the DOW office in Gunnison at 970.641.7061, or send an email to Brandon.Diamond@state.co.us. The DOW is also working with the U.S. Forest Service to evaluate moose habitat in the Taylor Park area, northeast of Gunnison. About 20 moose live in that area now and wildlife managers want to determine if the area could support more animals. A public process will be initiated in the future to gather input and provide information on habitat analysis and possible management plan objectives. The release of the moose will eventually provide more hunting and wildlife viewing opportunity for the public. The DOW estimates there are about 1,800 moose in Colorado. Since the late 1970s the DOW has transplanted moose in North Park, in the upper Rio Grande Drainage and on the Grand Mesa. ■ 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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Gunnisonite aims to make name in world of women’s hunt wear Kirstie Pike launches Prois; company sees rapid growth in first few months by Will Shoemaker
A model shows off Prois hunt wear. Courtesy photo
Like many “huntresses,” long-time Gunnison local Kirstie Pike found the only option for women’s hunting apparel — wearing men’s size small — to be less than ideal for women in the field, and far from flattering. The clothing bunched up in all the wrong places, and was too loose-fitting for drawing the string of a bow, shouldering a rifle and keeping the clothes from snagging on sticks. “If you ask any woman who hunts, they’re going to tell you the same thing,” Pike attests. “It’s big and bulky and when you get the pictures back, you think, ‘sweet mother of God, what was I wearing?’”
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2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
So Pike conceived the notion of designing her own line of hunt wear, tailored to the needs of women. Prois Hunting Apparel was born. It’s an “athletic and technical line of hunt wear,” the company claims, designed specifically as “serious hunt wear for real women.” Pike touts Prois — Gaelic for “pride” — as a high-performance alternative to settling for men’s clothing. She and her husband Steve (formally part owner of Tenderfoot Outfitters in Gunnison) officially launched the line of women’s hunt wear at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade show in Las Vegas Feb. 2-5. Since then, the apparel has been such a success that Pike had to quit her day job. “People think I gave up a great job (as a nurse and director of the local hospital’s ER) to be stooped over a sewing machine 24/7,” Pike laughs. In reality, she manages the company (including all shipping for Prois). She’s traveled extensively promoting the gear, and in recent months Internet sales have really taken off. The line of gear has been picked up by a number of stores, including Scheels, and can be found locally at Gene Taylor's Sporting Goods. Prois has done promotional work for Ted Nugent and is working to fill its pro staff (big names in the industry willing to promote the products free of charge), many of whom frequent television shows or who have been published extensively on hunting-related matters. “Really the heart and soul of what we want is people who are real hunters and real passionate about it,” Pike explains of the company’s half dozen or so pro staffers. Prois’ line of garments are manufactured by C&A Apparel, based in California. Currently, the clothing is made in the U.S. — a distinction the Pikes are proud of and hope to keep. The company has quickly found its fans among serious women hunters. Holly A. Heyser, a hunting blogger and pro staffer for Jesse’s Hunting & Outdoors, an on-line hunting community, is one such devotee. She recently picked up a pair of Prois pants. Heyser resounded the idea that men’s hunting garments simply don’t work for women “... for the same reason men (well, most men, anyway) don’t wear women’s underwear: You may be able to put it on, but it’s not built for your needs.” Heyser mentions how Prois is set apart from similar companies making clothing for huntresses: it’s a “company run by a woman for women”; the product line is fo-
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cused specifically on hunting; and the slim design and technical wicking show the influence of running apparel, which lend to the productsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; active capabilities. Pike recognizes that there are a few other companies currently specializing in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunting apparel. The difference between Prois gear and other â&#x20AC;&#x153;hunting apparelâ&#x20AC;? for women? Function, Pike believes. Anyone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stalked a deer, waited hours in the prone position for the right shot, or covered countless miles on foot will attest: hunting apparel needs to be comfortable, capable of movement and able to stand-up to the demands of the wild. Pike thinks Prois has those bases covered. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long sleeve garments have thumb-holes, the products use magnet closures and a few include drop pockets for hand warmers. The clothing is also silent, a plus for bow hunters. Prois currently uses Realtree fabric patterns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about being cute,â&#x20AC;? claims Pike of Proisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clothes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is more serious and performance-driven.â&#x20AC;? The Pikes hope to launch a quiet, waterproof line this fall and an â&#x20AC;&#x153;extreme lineâ&#x20AC;? and plus-sizes are also in the works. Proisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; garments can be viewed and ordered at www.proishunting.com or by calling 970.641.3355. â&#x2013; 2008 GUIDE TO GUNNISON COUNTRY HUNTING
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