AVID Hunting & Outdoors – January-March 2016

HUNTING | FISHING | GEAR | OUTDOORS | PREPAREDNESS

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Contents Table of

JANUARY-MARCH 2016

HUNTING

08 Huntin’ With My Boys 12 Backcountry Elk Hunt 18 Blackjack Buck 22 Once in a Lifetime 26 His & Hers 28 Battle Born Speed Goat 30 Heavenly Meat 32 Through the Eyes of a Duck Hunter

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FISHING

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34 Winter Fly Fishing GEAR

36 Sitka Dewpoint Rain Gear OUTDOORS

40 44 48 50

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Shed Hunting Exploring the Pine Valley Wilderness Area No Fear, All Passion Outdoor Family

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PREPAREDNESS

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54 Conquering the Odds 58 3 Mistakes Made While Hunting ‘Yotes DEPARTMENTS

62 66 68 70

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Spot the Hunters Local Trophies Trail Cam Business Directory

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The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting & Outdoors Magazine. The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material. Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions. Outside of our staff authors, articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual, business, group or organization. If an article is a paid “advertisement,” or “advertorial,” it will be identified as such. ©Copyright 2016. AVID Hunting & Outdoors

Letter from the Editors Above left to right: Executive Editors Justin Walker, Casey Stilson, Brandon Walker.

Not pictured: Associate Editor Jordan Allen.

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors. You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world. But what about the rest of us, the DIY hunters, and the hunters that don’t have an endless bank account?

Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too.

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors. These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals. Not that we don’t all want a trophy animal, but we want to bring the “meat and potatoes” back into hunting. Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors, and sharing that vision with our family and friends. We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV. So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine, you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors. We will strive to bring you updated information, rules, regulations and hunting success stories. If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine, please submit it to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine.

AVId Hunting & outdoors January-March 2016

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Huntin’ With My Boys 8

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HUNTING

By Kody Smith

I

am fortunate to spend a number of days in the field every year chasing animals in the west. Unfortunately, many of the remote areas I hunt don’t allow me to bring my young kids along. My 2015 Utah mule deer tag was different. I had a tag for a unit very close to home with good access that would allow me to bring along my 10 year old son, Mckoy and my 3 year old son, Maverick.

We started scouting for this hunt about ten days before opening day. We would drive up the mountain and I would glass from different areas. As you can imagine it was a little tough to keep those kids quiet. They would spend much of the time throwing rocks, chasing each other, screaming, and of course asking me the same question over and over. With all this going on we were able to find a couple of good bucks but nothing to get excited about.

With my busy work schedule at www.goHUNT.com and the recent release of goHUNT filtering 2.0, our scouting had to be done after work or on the weekend. Many nights found us spending 1-2 hours glassing from various spots. The night we found our buck was very cold and the kids quickly decided glassing was for the birds and headed back to the truck to wait for their very sick in the head dad that doesn’t think anyone should stop glassing because it is cold.

After about ten minutes they started honking the horn and it was obvious that it was time to leave.

As we were driving down the mountain, I decided to stop and look in a very thick transition area that bucks use as they are leaving the higher elevation summer range to move to the winter range. It was getting darker and I didn’t expect to see much. I jumped in the bed of the truck and attached my binos to the tripod and started to glass. Immediately, I had eyes on a very big buck. The brush was so thick that I could not see both horns at the same time. I would see his left side and then his right side. Instantly I knew he was heavy and carried his mass to his tips. He had deep dark forks but I could not see how wide he was. His eye guards were long and he had “the look”. I was very excited. This buck was in such a thick area that no other hunters would want to hunt it. We watched him until dark and then we went home.

For the next week I looked for this buck after work. I glassed from a dozen different angles trying to find him in the thick terrain. I did not see him once. The night before opening day I was again with my boys glassing for the buck. We looked for two solid hours and didn’t see a single buck. My hunter instinct was telling me he was still there and that I needed to be patient and let him make a mistake. This is easier said than done. It is tough to look at trees every day hoping that the big buck is still calling them home.

Opening day was more of the same. We glassed all day for the big buck. We saw a few deer but not the one we were after. I had a great time with my sons. We threw rocks, shot bb-guns, and ate a lot of food. So many of my hunts are gnarly backpacking hunts, so it was a refreshing change to spend some time on the mountain with my Continued on Page 10

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HUNTING

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boys, just hanging out. As day one came to a close we didn’t see the big typical but we had a great time together.

Day two started with cold wind and rain. I knew right away that we would be severely restricted to road hunting with the weather conditions. We spent the morning driving around in the truck looking for a really dumb deer to run in front of us. By mid morning the fog was so thick that we raised the white flag and headed for the camp trailer. We spent most of the day watching movies, playing board games, and eating more food. It was a lot of fun and time spent with my boys that I will not soon forget.

It rained all day. As the day passed I started to get really restless. I wanted to be out in the field hunting even if it was raining. However, I knew that there was no way Maverick could handle the freezing rain. Finally, about an hour before dusk, the storm broke. Having cabin fever, I looked at the boys and instructed them to get dressed for a quick evening hunt. They quickly got dressed and we were off.

We headed directly for where we had seen the big buck a week earlier. The rain had stopped and we were seeing deer everywhere. I had that feeling that we may catch this buck with his guard down.

As we turned the corner on the muddy dirt road I caught a glimpse of something out of place in the thick scrub oak and juniper hillside.

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Instantly I knew it was the rear end of a deer. Throwing my glass on him I could see his horns. It was the big 4 point. The hillside was so thick that the buck stood there in hopes that we wouldn’t see him. I quickly chambered a round and dropped him. Five minutes after I dropped him, a giant lightning storm rolled in. Lighting was popping all around us and at one point it hit the hill about _ mile away from us. We once again retreated to the trailer to wait until the morning to retrieve the deer.

This buck is one of the prettiest typical 4 points that I have in my collection. However what makes him stand out from the other trophies was sharing that moment with my young boys. The memories that I made with my boys that weekend will last a lifetime.

AVId Hunting & outdoors January-March 2016

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Backcountry

Elk 12

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HUNT

By Nate Romberger

I

anxiously awaited the results for the 2015 limited entry bull elk tags. After some time I was devastated to learn that I hadn’t drawn out again after 13 years of waiting. It seems that all of my family vacations and personal plans were always set aside until the results came out. It looked like I’d have at least another year to prepare for the hunt.

I was at work one day in August and received a voicemail from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. They told me that someone had turned a tag in and that I was the alternate for the limited entry bull elk hunt. At first I thought it was a joke so I listened to the message several times before I let myself get too excited. When it all sank in that this was for real, I knew I had to start making phone calls. I only had 24 hours to accept the tag.

Of course I called my wife first and crossed my fingers that she’d be supportive of my hunting obsession. We have had many arguments and debates about how many days a man should hunt each year. However, my wife was very supportive and knew I had waited for this tag for years. She even sacrificed going to a Twenty One Pilots concert so that I could be gone for this hunt. She’s amazing.

I personally had been saving up vacation time for the last four years in preparation for this hunt. However I knew the amount of time off depended greatly upon a longtime friend of mine, Mike. I quickly called Mike and told him about the message I had received from the DWR. He of course thought I was joking. I have known Mike since the beginning of the boy scouting program at 12 years old. We lived just down the street from each other. Mike and I have been best friends for 26 years. We’ve hunted just about everything you can imagine and have gotten into more than enough mischief than most kids. Mike has always been one to hunt anything and everything and he climbs hills and spots animals better than anyone I’ve ever seen or at least he used to. He asked me how much time I wanted to take off for the hunt and I told him all 12 days. Without any hesitation he said “I’ll see what I can do with work.” Mike really pulled through for me. He called back and said he’d made arrangements to take all 12 days off.

Preparations for the hunt began immediately. It was all I talked or thought about. My wife was actually looking forward to me leaving so she wouldn’t have to hear about the hunt or what I should eat on the hunt, etc. I only had one month to prepare. I started talking to anyone that had hunted or guided on that unit. Mike and I decided we wanted to hunt areas that were less accessible and more difficult to hunt so we could have a chance at a bigger bull. Our plan was to hike in deep, where no one else goes, accompanied by Mike’s eight llamas. We picked out a spot on the map and scouted the area two weeks before the hunt started.

On the first day of scouting we counted over 15 bulls, all of which were smaller rag horns and satellite bulls. There was nothing of any size Continued on Page 14

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that we wanted to pursue. However we were optimistic that the big bulls were hiding out somewhere, getting ready for the rut to begin.

The week before the hunt started I brought up my camp trailer to prepare for the 12 day hunt, we planned to make various spike camps with the llamas and get re-supplied at the trailer every two to three days.

The hunt started Monday, Sept. 21st but I met Mike Sunday evening at the trailer on the mountain. It was a restless night with the anticipation of the morning hunt. We woke early the next morning to decide where the best location would be to set up our first spike camp.

We walked in the dark along the top of a ridge line. At first light we glassed down into the bottoms of the steep rocky ridges. While spotting with the 80 millimeter high definition Vortex Spotting Spoke, it didn’t take long to spot a bull herding cows over two miles away. At that distance we could tell that he was a mature bull and the biggest we had seen so far. We also could see that he had some good length on his back end. However, we weren’t able to tell how well his fronts looked. The bull was working the cows into some dark timber and we knew from the previous weeks scouting trip that there was a trail that would get us to get half way between him and where we stood now.

The bull was located in the worst possible place to access him and it was difficult to get close enough to see how big he really was. We knew that he had not received much pressure from the other hunters because of this location. As a result, we decided he must be a big bull.

We knew our best chance to get a better look would be to make a spike camp above a rocky ridge with the worst possible deadfall and terrain you could imagine. I didn’t put in for this unit to have a big bull just handed to me. I knew it would take a lot of sacrifice and work to get. We decided to head back to camp and make preparations with gear, food, and the llamas to close the distance on the bull. Once the llamas were loaded in the trailer, we went up the road two or three miles to park and start our three mile hike into our spike camp.

The funny thing with llamas is that they each have their own personalities, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses. For example, the lead llama named Riley just wants to get to his location as quickly as possible and will try to walk in front of his lead rope, passing you by. Another llama named Coco likes to eat grass every chance he gets and often gets caught in his lead rope while grazing. This causes all sorts of problems and quite the circus when his feet get all tangled up. Besides these problems you always have some llamas that decide to just lay down on the trail and refuse to go any further. All of these complications arise when walking so many llamas into the backcountry. Despite the troubles, it’s better than carrying all the gear on your own back. Another bonus is that these animals will go places a horse will never attempt to go.

After about a mile in, along the ridge that we knew would lead us to the bull, we had to climb a steep 45 degree rocky slope with deadfall and thick saplings. I walked ahead of Mike charting an unmarked trail, going up and over logs and at one point getting the llamas to where they had to kneel down on their knees to shimmy under a log. It was very frustrating and tiring and we had only pulled one llama to the top of the ridge. We were running out of energy and were angry and frustrated. The sun was setting quickly and we knew we’d soon be out

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of light. I’ve never felt more exhausted and tired in my life. The many trips shuttling llamas and gear up the hill was taking a toll on us. We decided to make a spike camp at the base of the hill. In the back of our minds we both knew this bull might be impossible to hunt, let alone pack the meat back out to the road but we were still determined to do it.

After a quick dinner of rib eyes over the campfire, we went to sleep. Before light the next morning we decided to hike in with minimal gear to see if we could locate the bull. Our destination was on an adjoining ridgeline that branched off of the one we were on. This was the last location we had seen the bull the day before. Mike blared out a couple cow calls. It didn’t take long for the bull to respond, however, he wasn’t leaving the thick timber or his herd of cows. After the bull gave his position away by bugling we moved in for what we thought would be a perfect shooting situation. The bull was in some dark timber on a parallel adjacent ridge. We were on the opposite ridge with a drainage in between us that was about 500 yards across. We were hoping we could call the bull out of the timber and down into the bottom where it wasn’t as thick. Mike got behind me 30-40 yards and began calling. With the camera rolling and the muzzle loader in position, I could envision the bull coming out and having a 100 yard shot. At this point we still hadn’t seen the bull and he was not going to be easily persuaded to leave his cows. The bull soon went quiet, we knew he was starting to bed down in the dark timber and we’d have to wait him out to see how big he was. We could see a few of his cows in small openings and knew it’d be a matter of time before we could size him up.

After hours of studying the timber, we caught a glimpse of his six points and knew he had great mass, ivory tips, and a huge whale tail.

His front end was a little hard to see but we could tell he was really symmetrical and a beautiful dark horned mature bull. I knew I’d be happy with him. After what we’d been through so far and the discouragement of not seeing any larger bulls while scouting, I knew I’d be happy if I had an opportunity to shoot this bull.

The bull soon started moving his cows down the drainage that separated the ridge that we were on. We knew that if we side hilled and paralleled him we could close the distance to 200 yards. At that distance I was comfortable with the shot from the muzzle loader that I had been practicing with in preparation for the hunt. As we closed the distance on the bull, one of the cows that was just below us barked out a distress call to warn the other elk. The cow must’ve smelled us. Suddenly all of the elk started to act really nervous and we could sense that they were all going to bust out of the timber and be over the hill into the next county. We quickly set up for the shot as we predicted the bull would step out approximately 230 yards away. I told Mike that when the bull steps out, he should cow call to stop him and that I would try to get off a shot.

It seemed like an eternity but the bull finally stepped out into the opening. The bull stopped just as we had hoped in the small clearing and Continued on Page 16

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turned, quartering away, giving me a split second shot. I squeezed the trigger and the bull’s legs went out from underneath him. He struggled to get up as he crashed through the timber. It soon went silent and we thought the bull had fallen down. We started with the high fives and replaying what had just happened when suddenly the bull decided to get back up. He stumbled out of the thick timber into the trees and we could tell he was hit hard. At about 300 yards I shot again, knowing that having another bullet in him would be to my advantage. I missed the shot but could tell as he plowed through the saplings, that it would just be a matter of time.

We decided eat some lunch and wait him out for an hour. When we were done we followed the ridgeline down further to where we had last seen the bull. We looked over to the ridge and could see his body laying down, however, his head and antlers were still moving. We got set up to do a finishing shot. The bull stood up and at about 200 yards I shot again and it missed just over his back by inches. The bull laid back down where he stood. I needed to reload and as I went to put on my 209 primer, I discovered the lanyard with my extra primers had fallen off my pack. Without the primer I wouldn’t be able to fire the gun to finish the bull.

Mike didn’t carry any primers and I didn’t have any extras. We had to backtrack our footsteps and, with silent prayers, were able to find the small square of primer holder underneath a tree. I put on the primer and got into position. The bull was still laying there trying to keep his head off the ground. I shot one last shot and hit the bull. He started rolling down the hill and after watching for several minutes, we knew the bull was done.

I walked over to the bull and was amazed at the size of its body and how awesome and perfect the antlers were. It was the bull of a lifetime. After pictures, we caped the bull and put all the meat in bags. As it was getting dark, we hung the meat in the nearby shaded timber.

We would have to come back in the morning to retreat the bull. Mike and I were both very concerned about getting the bull out the next day.

We wondered if the llamas would even be able to get in here as it was in the worst possible place imaginable and several miles from roads.

This country would be extremely difficult to access even with horses. We walked back to our spike camp in the dark knowing that we may have to carry out the bull on our shoulders.

We woke the next morning and knew we had to try getting at least four of the llamas up the steep ridgeline through all the deadfall. We loaded up the four best llamas with the best saddles and panniers (saddle bags for llamas), and started easing our way up the slope. We would go 30-40 yards at a time, resting the llamas and giving them words of encouragement. Half way up the ridge we had to take the saddles and panniers off each llama and work them underneath the fallen log. To our amazement, we made it up to the top of the ridge with all four llamas. Our next worry would be getting the meat out of the drainage without having to fight the llamas. We got the llamas to the bull and without any trouble loaded up the meat. Mike took the cape on his back, I took the antlers on my back and we slowly worked the llamas out of the hole that we were in. Carrying the antlers on my back made the trek back even more difficult because they’d get caught and tangled with each step. It took us all day and we eventually got back to our spike camp as it was getting dark.

Although this hunt was the toughest hunt I’ve ever done, I now look back and think of the memories and how glad I am that those llamas made it up that ridge. I’d like to thank my wife for supporting me in my hunting adventures and for a great buddy that keeps me young.

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AVId Hunting & outdoors January-March 2016

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BLACKJACK BUCK

By Kurt Lawson

T

he 2015 Utah hunting draws came around and they sent out the email every hunter wants to get. I had finally been successful in drawing the limited entry elk permit I have been trying to get for years, in addition to a Pine Valley archery deer tag. My main focus would be harvesting a great elk. For the next two months every weekend was spent scouting, checking trail cams, and putting feed out. However, after 21 days of hunting hard every day, I realized this was not the year to draw this tag. The hunt started too early, mother nature wasn’t cooperating, and there were way too many hunters.

Half way through the hunt I met a guy named Kemp Barney who had the same tag that I did. For the remainder of the hunt all this man (who is an Army vet) wanted to do was help find me an elk. We hunted up until the last hour of the last day, but we weren’t able to get an elk to come within bow range. Thanks to Utah’s extended archery hunt, I contacted my

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good friend and owner of Rocky Mountain Rednecks, Steven James, to help steer me in the right direction for an elk, deer, or both. On Thursday morning we headed up the mountain in search of animals. It was obvious after seeing only deer that the animal of choice was going to be a buck. We saw a few bucks early on but nothing I wanted to take.

Later in the day we glassed a very nice two point that was worth going after. Unfortunately, after a 25 minute stalk the buck winded us and was gone. The rest of the day was spent behind the glass without success. The alarm went off early Friday morning and, while still motivated, we hit the mountain just as the sun was coming up. The next three hours were spent glassing, but all we saw were a lot of hunters.

That evening I had a second chance at the same two point that I had stalked the morning before and I missed and shot over his back. As it turns out, I am so glad I missed him.

Saturday I was going to be hunting by myself.

Steven had informed me that hiking for two days on a broken foot was enough and he needed to rest. Even with a broken foot the man is a billygoat. The day started on a side hill glassing for deer. This morning I was amazed at the number of hunters. I chose to sit and see if they would push anything to me, resulting in a video of a very small spike. After the morning hunt I hiked out and found a high point to glass until the night hunt began. I called my wife to let her know how Continued on Page 20

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the hunt was going and that I couldn’t believe how many hunters were up there. She offered me her positive support and encouraged me to seal the deal.

As I was glassing, a couple of elk hunters stopped and started doing the same thing. We talked while we glassed, exchanged some pics and swapped hunting stories. One of the guys located a nice four point pushing a doe down the draw. We all watched him for a bit. About 15 minutes later one of the guys noticed there was another buck coming along the hillside behind the other two. He was bigger and it looked like he had trash. As he got closer we debated my best plan of action. They told me to jump in my truck, drive down, set up on a small knoll, and wait for them to come up the draw.

By the time I had made it to the small knoll the deer were already in the draw below me. The buck with the trash must have winded me a bit because he turned and started back down the canyon. After ranging the only

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opening there was, I waited for him to step out from the trees. Then, making a kissing sound to stop him, I drew my bow, settled my pin right behind his shoulder, and sent my arrow on its way. I thought I heard the THWACK that every bow hunter loves to hear, but he didn’t react like I had hit him. He moved from my line of sight.

I waited about 15 minutes before going to see if I could find my arrow or blood. When I got down to where he should have been, there was no arrow or blood, so I started down the draw slowly.

Twenty-five yards below me, laying in an opening, was my buck.

When I walked up to him all I could see was trash everywhere. I stood in awe of this buck I had just harvested.

When it finally sank in I let out the biggest scream. I cried and paid homage to the animal. I counted the points; he was a 9x10. I was still in shock. I finally called my wife and told her I had just killed a buck of a lifetime. I think the first thing out of her mouth was, “See what staying persistent and positive will do for you?”

Next I called Steven and told him, broken foot or not, I needed his help capping and packing him out. I sent him a picture and he about died. He called me back and said he would be there as soon as possible.

While waiting I sent a picture to another good friend of mine, Ron Elmer, who also hunted the extended archery. He told me later that he got my picture while driving and when he realized what buck I had killed he almost crashed. He called me back and told me I had just killed the legendary buck they call Blackjack. I learned that this buck has been hunted for years and he even sent me a picture of him in the velvet.

When Steven finally arrived he confirmed that it was indeed Blackjack. Steven also brought with him his father in law and his uncle to help with the capping and pack out. I want to thank all three of them because I couldn’t have done it without them. I would also like to thank my wife, who also bowhunts, for putting up with my hunting addiction and for always believing in me (even when I was doubtful). On the way home I met up with Ron Elmer (GameGear.com and BonedOut Production) and Kelly Cox (ivideowildlife.com) who graciously helped score Blackjack. Green score 210 3/4 – now I just have to wait the 60 days to have him officially scored. BLACKJACK is a buck of a lifetime and I will be on cloud nine for quite awhile.

HUNTING

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Once In A

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Life

etime

HUNTING

By Brandon White

E

arlier this year I was on my way home from work when I received a phone call from my wife. She had just finished looking at our credit card statement and was not very happy. You see, months before, after my Dutton Archery Elk tag came to a very unsuccessful end, I had told my wife that next year I would only put in for bonus points and hunt the general season deer hunt. This was all due to her frustration of me being gone so much during that Elk hunt. She was left to take care of the home front, all six of our kids, and everything that goes along with it.

The worst part was that I was only able to take a couple of my kids for only a day or so up with me during that hunt.

While finding out why my wife was a little irritated on the phone, I soon realized I had drawn a Bull Moose tag that I thought I would never draw. After convincing my wife that I truly did not think I would draw this tag, I began to plan my hunt. The goal at the top of my list was to involve my family more than I was able to on the elk hunt last year.

My first scouting trip was in July. I took my 14 year old daughter, 13 year old son and picked up my 16 year old nephew on the way up. We met my buddy Bruce, who had encouraged me to put in for the unit because he was very familiar with the area.

Bruce told me that he had seen some bulls while he had been up there working this summer. He told me of two bulls that he had seen that were running together and one sounded like a good bull. We spent a day and a half trying to get familiarized with the land and find a moose for my two kids who had never seen one before.

Over the next couple of days we saw cows, cows with their calves, and a small bull. My kids and nephew were so excited to be able to see moose and especially the cute calves. We never found the big bull Bruce had told us about, but I left there with great excitement knowing that as long as there were cows, the bulls would show up. Due to a busy schedule and having surgery on my knee, that was the last scouting trip we were able to take. Fortunately, we still had Bruce and his family keeping an eye on the moose for us.

Finally, the day came and we were headed up north. I could only take my oldest daughter because all the other kids had

sports and dance obligations. Needless to say, there was some very disappointed kids.

My daughter and I arrived at our location and were greeted by a very early winter storm and a thin layer of snow. Because of the bad weather we did not see much that first night.

The morning of the second day started off great and was the most exciting day for my daughter. While I had slowly walked through a hillside of thick trees, following some fresh moose tracks, I came across a cow moose that was feeding. I moved within 20 yards of her, took a picture and quickly noticed her calf stand up. I got nervous being so close to a mother moose with her baby, so I headed back down the hill to where Bruce and my daughter were Continued on Page 24

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waiting in my Yamaha Rhino. The moose seemed really curious and proceeded to follow me out of the trees and right up the road, passing within ten yards of us. She then stopped, turned and took a couple of steps closer towards us, as if her curiosity was killing her, to see exactly what we were. I quickly started my Rhino up in case we needed a quick getaway. This noise startled her, as if it woke her out of her trance and she ambled back off into the trees, taking her little baby with her. My daughter was using her phone to record the entire encounter. She turned to me after all was gone, with the biggest smile ever and said, “Dad that was awesome! I never thought I would be so close to a baby moose!” That morning made her whole hunt.

That evening we had glassed up a bull moose that was hanging out with a cow. They were feeding in a very thick batch of trees. Bruce and I had made a plan to try and have me sneak within shooting range and see if we could harvest the bull. To my dismay, when I reached my hill top that looked down within 100 yards of the bull, I quickly realized that the trees and foliage were too dense to see where they were. I proceeded to sneak into the trees to try and catch a glimpse of them, thinking maybe I would be able to pop a shot off at the bull. I must have made too much noise trying to get through the thick vegetation because I soon heard them bounding off through the trees.

The next morning, while feeling very optimistic, Bruce and I started out on a ridge that overlooked the same bowl of trees that we had seen the moose earlier. It was a chilly 30 degrees. We sat there for a while glassing and talking. It wasn’t until about 9 am when all the critters started to move and make noise. We were hearing a bull elk bugle off to our left, about a half mile away. Bruce was glassing in that direction when he saw the rear end of a moose go into a group of trees. He pointed out that since he only saw the rear end of it, he wasn’t 100% sure that it was a bull. We decided to hurry over to the little hill where the moose was last seen. Fortunately there was a road that we could use to get really close on the backside of the hill without spooking the moose away. We would atleast be able to see if it was a bull or a cow.

As we approached the target area we parked the Rhino and proceeded to close the distance on foot. Bruce and I had only been walking maybe two or three minutes up the little hill when, as we rounded a little outcropping, we came upon a big, dark shadow that was standing in our way. It was a big bull. Bruce whispered to me as we stood 40 yards away, “He is the big one that I have been seeing.” I quickly shouldered my rifle and placed the crosshairs on the bull’s chest as he stood square to Bruce and me. My bullet stuck him right where I had hoped and that big animal jumped and ran off with wobbly legs, falling to the ground, only 50 yards from where he stood previously.

It was over. The giant beast had fallen and all my excitement was boiling over. The only thing hurting this moment was that my daughter was not here. That morning she had came down with the flu and was resting back at camp. I couldn’t wait to get back to tell her about it.

After taking an hour to clean out the moose, we hurried back and excitedly told Makenzie. We high fived and were off again to take pictures and load up the moose. Finally, after getting it on our trailer we headed off the mountain. We took it back to Bruce’s house and quartered it up. Five hours later I had finished and had all the meat taken care of so we could transport it home easier.

One of the best parts of the whole hunt was when my daughter and I were traveling home and getting all the crazy looks and laughs from people passing by, due to our moose head tied down on the roof of our Rhino. It was the only place we had room to put it since the meat took up all the space in our trailer. Also, putting the head in our Ford Excursion was out of the question since my wife made me promise that I would not put any dead animal heads in the back of it.

We got back home late that night and early the next day the rest of my family were able to see the moose. My younger kids were all interested in touching the nose, horns, tongue and heart (we saved the heart for my daughters biology class to dissect). They were also very interested in the butchering process. I was able to show my oldest son how to carve all the meat. My wife jumped in and helped package and clean the meat, along with my two youngest daughters.

It was awesome to see my whole family so interested in this hunt from start to finish.

I soon realized that there was a great difference from this hunt and the last year’s elk hunt. Yes, I was successful in harvesting a moose, but having my family involved made it that much better. I think that is the true trophy. I would like to tell them all thanks so much for making it a very memorable hunt and can’t wait to share more of these kinds of experiences with them.

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&

His

By Rob and Brianne Figgins

His Story:

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My wife and I started looking for bucks in early June. I had a decent 2 point walking by a trailcam every morning for months and I was able to get a pretty good pattern on him.

On the third day of the hunt I got up early and hiked into the blind as quietly as possible. I had been sitting in my blind for about an hour and a half when I heard a deer sniffing behind me. I froze and clutched my Mathews Solocam.

It came in real slowly. When I finally got eyes on it, it was too dark to see if it had horns or not so I waited. It was very cautious. It seemed like every time I blinked, it would stop walking and look right at me. Finally the horizon started to light up and i could see horns but since it was in thick brush, I couldn’t tell if it was a decent buck or not. I was expecting it to be the two point I had seen all summer.

The buck moved through the thick brush, headed for a clearing so I pulled my bow back. Just then the buck jumped behind a fallen tree. I had no shot and I had to release my draw. I tried with everything that I had to release my draw quietly. As soon as I let it go there was a sharp pain in my shoulder and I thought to myself, damn, I’m not going to be able to draw again. I waited for 2 minutes, frozen, watching the buck slowly move away from me behind a fallen tree. All I could see was the white on his neck. The buck shifted its head nervously and I decided I needed to act now or never. I pushed through the pain in my shoulder, drew and released. It was a hit.

I listened to the buck run until I could no longer hear him, then I went to look for my arrow. No arrow and no blood. I waited for 45 minutes then hit the tracks. I was able to find some blood about 90 yards from where I stuck him. He ran for about 1000 yards and then slowed to a walk. I was finding a drop of blood about every 20 yards. I lost the blood trail and the tracks and was feeling like a poor tracker. I asked for a little help through prayer and I got the feeling that I needed to do some big circles back where I lost the trail. I hiked up a really steep hill and was searching the area through my binos when I saw him. I was expecting a decent 2 point. What I saw was massive horns sticking up from the brush. After I hiked down to him, I was at a loss for words. After years of trial and error I finally bagged a trophy buck! Special thanks to my wife Bri for supporting my expensive habit and to my cousin Randy for knowing exactly what to do with a trophy buck.

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Hers

HUNTING

I spotted my buck coming into a water hole at about 65 yards. The forest was dry and loud. I moved as quietly as I could trying to get a little closer. At first the wind was in my favor and I was able to sneak within 30 yards, then the wind shifted and gave me away. The buck snorted a few times telling me he could smell me but not see me. I was crouched behind a large ponderosa tree trying not to make a sound. I drew my bow and stepped out for a shot. The arrow went in through the chest and out between the ribs, he then ran out of sight. I went to find my arrow when I heard the buck running right back at me! It had ran in a circle and was now charging right at me. About 10 yards from me it fell and it stayed down. I was standing there shaking thrilled at what had just happened. This was an unforgettable hunt for my husband and I. I can’t wait until next year!

Her Story:

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Battle Born Speed Goat

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HUNTING

t’s early July and Battle Born Wildlife team member, Jacob Roumanos, cannot contain his excitement any longer. His sister, Kathy MacDiarmid, has a Nevada rifle antelope tag for the upcoming season. Even with the season opener being over seven weeks away, he decides it’s time to find his sister a mature antelope. There is one problem: Jacob is on crutches due to an infection in the tissue of his leg surrounding his knee. However, this does not stop him. Jacob and Kathy load their Dodge pickup, crutches and all, and head out to look for some “speed goats”. That evening they find three antelope that are worthy of a dirt nap. Their Zeiss spotting scope made it easy for Jacob to spot these trophy bucks without having to venture far from the pickup. The biggest of the three trophy antelope was definitely Kathy’s number 1 choice on the hit list. Despite not being able to venture far from the truck, the first scouting trip of the year was a success. Later, when Jacob was off of his crutches, he was able to keep tabs on the big pronghorn. The scouting trips continued until the beginning of the season, and Jacob was unable to find a buck to top the trophy pronghorn that they had put at the top of Kathy’s hit list on the first scouting trip.

After weeks of anticipation, opening morning finally arrived. That morning Kathy was accompanied by her mom, uncle, and boyfriend (Mary, Rob and Logan). They decided to go where Jake had last seen two trophy antelope. They arrived to the area before first light, but when the sun rose there were only young bucks there. The big trophy bucks had vanished.

For the rest of opening day and the next day, they went to different spots to try and glass up those trophy pronghorn. On the third morning their luck began to change. After seeing some small bucks in the morning, they decided to go back to where Jake had originally scouted the two shooter antelopes. That’s when they came upon a small herd with the number one prospect that Jake and Kathy had scouted in the weeks leading up to the season opener. After watching the buck for a little while Kathy made a stock, but as she approached shooting range the wind changed direction and the antelope spooked. However Kathy was patient and waited for the herd to disappear over a hill. Mary, Rob and Logan hiked to where Kathy was and then the group decided to get to the hill that the antelope had disappeared behind. After hiking in the hot summer sun for some time they reached the hill where they had last seen them. As they creeped over the hill the herd appeared just on the other side. But the herd was so close that some of the does had spotted them before any shot could be made. The herd took off with the buck trailing still not knowing why his does decided to run. The herd seemed to be gone forever, but this did not deter Kathy. After seeing the antelope finally stop in the distance, they planned another stock. The group caught up to the herd after hiking for

about a mile. Determined to not let this buck get away, they stocked very carefully even crawling at times. Finally reaching shooting range, the group peeked over a rise and saw the buck. Kathy set up for a standing shot with the Primos shooting sticks, and waited for the trophy buck to turn broadside. Steadying herself Kathy made the fatal shot through the heart at 350 yards. The Weatherby 7mm mag made quick work of the buck; he staggered and only went about 80 yards before finally taking the dirt nap Kathy had been dreaming about for some time.

Kathy could not keep her excitement and joy contained. She rushed to her downed pronghorn and was finally able to hold that big boy and get that feeling that every hunter gets after harvesting a trophy big game animal. After taking many pictures with the speed goat the real work began. Kathy gutted her first antelope and they began the long drag back to the truck. Once to the truck they immediately skinned the pronghorn and put the meat in a cooler with gallon jugs that had frozen water in them. With the hot temperatures during antelope season it was important to get their meat on ice as fast as possible.

Always remember to take good care of the meat, even when you get caught up in the moment of harvesting an animal.

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Heavenly

A

By Timmi Landis

s I was growing up, hunting was a big deal for me and my family. We simply loved having fun and sharing the excitement of getting meat for our freezer. We have been doing this since before I was born. Last year, while serving an LDS mission, I missed out on our tradition for the first time in my life.

What’s more, while I was gone I had decided I wouldn’t hunt on Sundays anymore. So this hunting season, every minute was crucial because I was skipping a day and I also had to work.

Saturday of opening weekend I headed up after work and met up with my family. We didn’t see anything worth shooting so we headed home in the rain. The following monday morning my dad, my grandpa, and I headed back up and saw some cute little bucks but couldn’t get a decent shot on any, making it another day with no success. Time was becoming precious quick so naturally, I was praying my heart out. However, even though my stress levels were starting to 30

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rise, I felt peace and comfort. I knew that because I was trying not to hunt on Sundays and because we really needed the meat, God was going to provide a buck for us. I just didn’t know when. Finally the work week went by and we headed back up Friday evening. The time was really ticking now, but we didn’t see a single buck.

The morning of our final day arrived. I loaded up my blondie (a 30-06) and off to our a.m. spot we went. That crisp, cold clear feeling and hearing the shots around me echo felt just like heaven.

After a few hours of seeing doe and yearlings, we finally had a decent buck run up into the valley. Again, I couldn’t get a good shot at him. So starting to get to be crunch time, we hunted around and found nothing. We headed back to camp and since the deer were all bedded down, we grabbed the family and played for a bit. But once prime time hit, straight for the camp we went to fetch the coats.

This was it. This was our last shot at getting anything and we were going to do it together.

Watching for deer and praying all the while, we headed to our

Meat HUNTING

p.m. spot. On the way we found a spike. I’m not picky on size (horns don’t taste good) and I was about to get him when mom pointed out that we still had daylight and might see something better. So we went back on the road to our spot. We parked the family on the hill so they could help us from there and dad and I went and sat in a spot where we could see better. Immediately the praying began.

I was begging God to at least let us see another buck. We really needed it so I was aching for anything. We ended up only seeing more doe and youngins. As the praying began again, it felt different this time. I had the funniest feeling that I needed to simply wait. I felt at peace with that despite the fact that my body was shaking violently because it was frigid at this point. Not even five minutes after this all happened, my dad shrugged, looked at me, and asked if I wanted to start heading back up to the truck. The feeling to wait again came but much stronger. So I told him we should wait ten more minutes.

Well those ten minutes flew by, it was almost dark, and not a

single sign of movement was anywhere. So I set my blondie on the crook of my arm and quietly started to stand on my sleeping, numb feet to walk back to the truck. As I was heading back, I kept wondering why I felt so strongly to wait and why I still felt we were going to get a buck when suddenly my dad’s binoculars fly up to his face and he says, “figures… Tim! Buck! Shoot it!” Bam! Down the lone buck went! We ran over and my mom and the kids started to bring the truck over. We weren’t even that close yet-a good 100-50 yards away-and I could already tell he wasn’t my typical cute “little” buck. In fact, usually when I get a deer I turn to my family and freak out but ya’ll, once I saw how big he really was, I was truly speechless! My dad’s reaction was classic, my mom’s priceless, and my sibling’s excitement was the best!

God really was aware of my family and He truly had His hand in this! He knew that because I didn’t want to hunt on Sundays, He would provide the means for us to get by, even if it was last minute!

Ya’ll, God is good!

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Through the Eyes of a

Duck Hunter

By Brian Smith of Acts 10:13

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M

y love for duck hunting started when I was about four years old. I remember going to Ogden Bay and walking down the dikes, riding on my Grandpa’s shoulders. As luck would have it my birthday frequently falls on the opening day of the duck hunt here in Utah. When I was young, my Grandpa liked to tell me all these people had come out to celebrate my birthday just as the sun was rising and the shooting started. The excitement that filled me then returns each year as I anticipate the first shot opening morning, and the impact of my grandpa’s dedication has stayed with me creating a desire to give others a small taste of the duck hunting world. The first decoys I can remember were nothing more than piles of mud flipped over to look like a small group of ducks. It was the only affordable option at the time and that seemed to work well.

A lot has changed since then, but my love for duck hunting has grown beyond words. Most people here in Utah are big game hunters, but for me it’s all about duck hunting. I love everything about it from the long drives to the smell of the marsh, the salt grasses, the cattails, and the frag. But I would have to say my favorite thing is in the morning, just as the sun starts to come up and in the evening when it starts to set, my oh my, the colors and

the reflection in the water are breathtaking! Add to that the sounds of all the birds and it is truly an unforgettable experience.

It’s a blessing from God that few people will ever see, and if you have been out there, you know exactly what I am talking about. I believe everyone should go at least once to experience the wonder for themselves; it is something you will never forget.

For my family duck hunting is a way of life, going on 365 days a year. We never stop calling or building blinds and we scout all year for new spots to hunt. I thoroughly enjoy the time I get to spend with my family and friends and the many opportunities to meet new friends. Being in a duck boat or blind is perfect for that one on one time that everyone needs.

You get the chance to do a lot of talking, which has made duck hunting an excellent bonding experience for me and my kids.

My youngest is now a senior in high school and I’ve had the chance to spend countless hours with him, getting to know him and what’s happening in his life.

There have been a few times that ducks have landed in the decoys and we continue talking because what is going on in life is more important than shooting a duck.

There will always be more ducks but you cannot go back and recapture time well spent. I stop and think how fast the time has gone; I have been hunting ducks for 38 years now and I treasure

ACTS 10:13 BRIAN SMITH 367 S Plaza Circle Grantsville UT 84029 435-840-5978 DUCK_HUNTER01@hotmail.com

moments spent in the duck blind with my kids and how it has shaped each one of them into who they are. My older children have moved and now have families of their own, but we try to get together every opener. We go out the night before and we sleep in the boat or in our layout blinds in the back of the truck.

Whether there’s rain, snow, or shine we are out there doing the “mojo dance”, the “goose hop” or whatever you can think of! Typically there is little to no sleep as we are always too excited to settle in. “A family that hunts together stays together”is a saying that couldn’t be more true. Even though my kids have families of their own, we still get out when we can.

I found myself hunting alone more often than not so I decided to start taking other people so that they could experience the same opportunities I have. With God’s blessing I started Acts 10:13, a hunting ministry, and it has turned out to be a true blessing in my life. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than in the marsh sharing God’s word and the knowledge I have learned over the past 38 years. I have the opportunity to help others identify birds in flight, how to use calls, when to use a call and when not to call. The best feeling is seeing

their faces light up as a flock of ducks cup up and come into the decoys; it is truly priceless. God has blessed me in more ways than I deserve, that is for sure!

I have a wife that puts up with me working a full time job and hunting every day off, and a house full of feathers with kids blowing on duck calls, which can get crazy, but to us it’s a magical noise.

I’ve shot more than my share of ducks and geese, but that’s not what makes you a duck hunter, it’s having a love for the marsh and all that God has put in it. The next time you are out driving and you see the cattails blowing in the wind, geese in their perfect V, or ducks filling up the ponds, take a minute to wonder if you could be a duck hunter with a genuine love for ducks that few understand.

Duck hunting is about a love of waterfowl, it’s about a family raised in the duck marsh, and it’s about a place to thank God for all his blessings. It’s about sharing a blind with a friend, a place to laugh and cry, a place of beauty, a place of peace and I thank God everyday for making me a duck hunter.

If you have never been, and you want to share a blind or just sit and talk, I am always ready.

So, come and join me on God’s front porch and see if you, my friend, have what it takes to be a duck hunter. May God fill you with the memories that you will always cherish.

Thank you and God bless!

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HUNTING

By Trevor Howard

O

nce upon a time I couldn’t wait for the summer and fall fishing to come to a close so I could begin winter fishing in the Middle and Lower Provo. After spending all summer on the water, somedays from sunup to sundown, I found that winter fishing brought new challenges and a way to decompress from a season of guiding and fishing.

Some people would consider that breaking ice from the guides, fishing tiny flies (size 18-26), and battling the elements of ice and cold to be crazy. However if you enjoy peace and quiet, technical fishing, and on somedays, fewer crowds than summer months, you should consider winter fishing. While winter fishing isn’t for everyone, if you are dressed properly and are prepared with the proper equipment and terminal tackle, this time of the year can be quite enjoyable.

Two of my favorite sayings that apply to winter fishing are, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just poor equipment,” and “It is better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.” Being unprepared on an outing is one of the best teachers on the river. Over the last ten years or so I have learned a great deal about what to bring and how to dress to ensure a good experience on the water. Here is a rough list of what I dress with and the supplies I utilize:

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FISHING

Lower Body/Legs & Feet ~ Fishing socks (not hiking or ski socks) ~ Long underwear (1-2 pair), fleece bibs, fleece or down pants (the key is 3-4 layers) ~ Waders (fix the leaks; Bootfoots are a plus if you can afford them) ~ Studded rubber sole boots Upper Body/Head & Hands ~ Thermal type top (1-2), vest, fleece coat/sweater, down coat, waterproof shell ~ Baseball cap (for glare), stocking cap, and something for your neck ~ Polarized glasses (lighter lens color preferred) ~ Fingerless gloves (1-2 pairs; Mittens are nice to warm up with) Rod/Reel & Terminal Supplies ~ 8-9 ft of 4-5 weights with matching reel and line ~ Assortment of flies with a focus on midges, bwo’s, and sowbugs (ask a flyshop) ~ Streamers (I prefer larger sculpin patterns) ~ Long leaders (9-12ft), smaller tippets (especially 7x) ~ Strike indicators and an assortment of smaller split shot ~ Net (rubber basket) ~ Nippers and forceps

Starting about the second week of January through the end April you can count on midges hatching. Although midges hatch year round, they are the predominant insect available to trout through the winter. Midges generally hatch during the warmer parts of the day. When I head out, my goal is to find fish targeting adult midges on the surface, or in other words fish that are “midging”. Because of the cold water temps, most fish wont move far for an adult midge on the surface or for a larva or pupa underneath the water. So before changing flies, work on perfecting your drift. When I can’t find fish, I target fish subsurface with an indicator, two flies, and some split shot. When all else fails put on a streamer of choice and go to work.

When I fish in the winter, I will head out for a couple of hours during the peak of the hatch, which may sometimes correlate with the warmest part of the day.

Be patient and persistent and you too can gain a love and respect for winter fishing. For me winter fishing isn’t about numbers. It has become all about the experience. So when you head out, be prepared for tough conditions, technical fishing, and beautiful vistas. Don’t forget to bring something in a thermos.

About the author: Trevor Howard

Trevor began fly-fishing when he was knee high to a grasshopper. Trevor enjoys all aspects of fly-fishing including tying flies, knots, casting, the gear, being on the water and simply catching fish. He currently resides in Heber Utah and is a third generation fly fishing guide. He has a passion for fly-fishing, family and horses.

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Sitka Dewpoint Rain Gear

By AVID Crew Member

H

GEAR

ave you ever been stalking a big game animal and a rainstorm decides to drop in? It does not happen very often but it has happened to me. Unfortunately, it completely ruined the stalk because I was not prepared. In the Desert of Southern Utah and much of the Deserts in the West we get the monsoon rain storms that come in during the fall. Now, these storms are usually not a big deal unless you get caught in the middle of one. They are usually not big storms and only last a few minutes, but during that time they can put down some serious rain.

Imagine stalking in on your dream animal and one of these storms rolls in and decides to dump. What’s your game plan? Hunker down under a tree? Keep moving but get soaked (which could ruin the stalk)? The best answer is to put on some rain gear and use the rain as an advantage. Nine times out of ten, when it’s raining really hard, the animal is going to bed down. So while the animal is focusing on the rain, it creates the perfect opportunity to get in close enough for a shot. In a hard rain storm it is usually pretty loud, which means it will be harder for the animal to hear you coming.

If you do decide to carry around some rain gear, which setup do you want? That will vary from person to person. As for me, I always want it to be super light and be small enough to put in my pack.

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The Sitka Dewpoint does just that. The jacket stuffs into one of its own pockets and the pants roll up tight. I even wrap a rubber band around them so they stay nice and compact. This allows me to put them in the bottom of my pack and almost forget I have them.

The Dewpoint Jacket weighs in at 13.58 oz for a large, and 10.98 oz for the pants. Most of Sitka’s apparel is form fitting so make sure to get a size bigger if you prefer a looser feel. Most rain gear is pretty loud, which the Sitka Dewpoint is no exception. However they have made it nice and easy to get in and out of in the field with full length side zips.

I was on a late season Elk Hunt this year when the temperature was around five degrees in the mornings. So instead of adding on more and more layers, (which I would be pulling off in the middle of the day and then carrying around) I put on my rain gear as my top outer layer, then pulled it off and put it back in my pack. That way I didn’t have to pack around anything more than what I already had.

It did block out the wind, along with keeping me surprisingly nice and warm. The Sitka Dewpoint is not insulated but, being that it is rain gear, it does hold the heat in fairly well so make sure you layer accordingly.

For me the benefits of having the Sitka Dewpoint Rain Gear in my pack far outweighs the disadvantages. If you get stuck in a rainstorm you are going to be dry, which could make or break your hunt. If the temperature drops you always have an extra layer in your pack which will keep you better prepared in the field.

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OUTDOORS

K i l l i n g M a n y B i rd s W i t h T h e S a m e S t o n e

By Kaid Panek

S

tumbling around in sagebrush, mistakably circling the same cedar tree, or wrestling a thicket of oak brush sounds like a waste of time to the average guy on the street.

But to every bone addict, budding leaves in the spring means that it’s time to lace up the hiking boots and hit the hills in search of shed antlers.

What’s the buzz behind the phenomenon?

Besides the fact of the addiction that forms by spotting tines shining in the sun, shed hunting actually has many purposes. While people are out to participate in the madness, I personally enjoy following a herd of animals year round. Watching deer, elk or moose on the winter range is an excellent scouting practice. Even though the next hunting season is sometimes a year to nine months away, watching the winter range is a great way to “take inventory,” so to speak. There are animals that appear and disappear multiple times over the hunting season through the pressure of the hunts and figuring out a monarch’s winter range can give you a sigh of relief. It’s nice knowing that your rivalry that you couldn’t end during the hunt has the potential to continue next year. Even if there isn’t a “giant” in your area, I find it a treat when I can pattern an animal and find

his sheds year after year until he grows into his potential.

Staying in shape is key to western hunting and putting on a few miles looking for fallen antler can get you starting off the year on the right foot. After miles in the lower country looking for long lost antler, you can be assured that you are one step closer to being in shape for hunting season later in the year. A gym doesn’t have to have dumbbells and a ripe smelling locker room, and nothing reminds me of how many Christmas cookies I snuck off of Santa’s plate like a pack strapped down with a day’s worth of finds.

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Below left: Even though they are hard white, two years’ worth of sheds off of the same buck is encouraging news to find when exploring a new herd or antler hunting spot.

Below center: Side by side sets are a rare surprise, but a great sign. In this spot we found 65 antlers in three months of hiking grid patterns in a two and a half mile area. We credit the success to the fact that we didn’t venture into this area until late April.

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Below right: Shed antlers are a great way to see genetics of a deer herd.

Even though this deer has lots of mass and deep forks, his main beam is a little short and he wouldn’t be very wide. He is still a great general season buck to have your eye on when next hunting season rolls around.

Main photo: Moose drops are fun to find, but you have to work for them.

After getting some elevation on some steep slopes, I was lucky enough to glass this set lying side by side across the canyon.

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Finding elusive brown gold may seem easy by the sounds of things, but at other times it can leave you scratching your head as if you’re in search of a needle in a haystack.

However a few pointers will get you started in the right direction. Try to find animals well before they start dropping. Mule deer will shed the headgear from late January into mid-March and Elk will be soon after starting in Mid-March through the end of April. During winter, deer range in places with good cover and lower snow levels where it is easier to find food. South facing slopes are the ticket here, along with ridgelines and open flats. Once you find animals, do not pressure them. Winter is a hard time for animals to survive, especially if it’s a good snow season with cold temperatures. Stress from pressure can cause animal fatality and fawn loss if you’re not careful. Also, if you keep your distance, there is a greater chance for them to leave you quite the cache of “brownies” all in the same general area.

Overstepping your boundaries will not only

affect herd health, but it could make your hunts more difficult. If you are going to gather antlers earlier in the season, be sure to swing by the Utah Division of Wildlife website to complete a quick, informative course. This will allow you to obtain a free shed hunting certificate that is required to be with you while picking up antler in the late winter and early spring months.

After a successful season of gathering your hard earned trophies, you can sell your stack for cold hard cash. With antler prices at record highs and the demand high as well, it makes it hard to be an “antler pack rat” when your beloved finds can bring in some serious change! What is great is that the majority of antlers are sold by the pound (so your compilation of smaller two and three point singles are still worth money), with bigger and unique sets bringing in more.

There are antler buyers that travel statewide to buy antlers. Also, there are antler fests that are held at local sporting good stores where other local shed hunters gather to show off, sell and buy antler. You can even find

antler swap pages on social media that can potentially have big pay offs if you’re selling at the right time.

As for me, I tend to keep my favorites of the year and sell the larger brown sheds that didn’t make the cut, using the cash to upgrade my hunting equipment. I always save a few hard white and chalky antlers to donate to Mount Mahogany Hunting Club’s “Sheds for Santa” program. Each year the crew gathers donated antler and sells them to an antler buyer, using the proceeds to help out families that could use an extra hand during the Christmas holiday. It’s an awesome way that sportsmen can give back to local communities simply by doing something they enjoy.

If you haven’t witnessed the hype, you might want to reconsider. You never know what you’re going to find over the next ridge, and you never know what you can buy with it. With that being said, do yourself a favor and check out what excellent shed hunting that Utah has to offer this upcoming spring.

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OUTDOORS

Exploring the Pine Valley Wilderness Area

By Zac Johnson

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he Pine Valley Mountain Range looms over Utah’s Dixie like a modern helicopter parent; constantly watching, almost hovering, over St. George and the surrounding area. And yet, contrary to the meddling parent persona it portrays, the landmass itself is free from most forms of human intervention as a Federally-protected Wilderness Area.

“A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” - Wilderness Act of 1964 Established in 1984, the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness Area encompasses over 50,000 acres, most of which are visible for miles as the familiar blue peaks of the Pine Valley Mountain Range. While not as popular or large as the nearby Zion Wilderness area, it is a challenging and convenient getaway for many outdoor enthusiasts in the area.

With over 150 miles of trails crossing a rugged terrain, there is ample opportunity to explore this hidden gem and push your own physical limits in the process. Today, we’ll take a look at one of the more popular and accessible hikes in the area: Whipple Trail.

The trail’s creator and namesake was an industrious and prosperous man named Eli Whipple. Settling in the Pine Valley area around 1862, Whipple operated a sawmill, built homes, cultivated potatoes, and ran a dairy. He would often lead his dairy herd up what is now called Whipple Trail, to graze in the large meadows found high in the mountains. Because of its Wilderness Area designation, you won’t find cattle anywhere along this trail today. But you may encounter an occasional pack horse or mule.

The trailhead is located just beyond the Ebenezer Bryce Campground within the Pine Valley Recreation Area. Entrance into the area is free if you park at the trailhead. From here the trail climbs nearly 3,000 feet over 6 miles and connects with other trails when you reach Whipple Valley itself. You begin right at the base of the mountain and for the first half-mile you enjoy a gradual incline Continued on Page 46

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heading into a beautiful valley carved by the middle fork of the Santa Clara river. The tall pines cover the ground in their shade and needles, providing a particularly pleasant atmosphere in the summer months.

As you walk, you can often hear the creek rushing along nearby.

All too quickly this scene ends as you come upon a large wooden sign marking your entrance into the wilderness area. The trail at this point narrows and steepens, but not significantly, and veers north. The name of the game at this point is ascent as you scale the mountain face via a series of long switchbacks. A brisk pace is manageable as you wind your way up the trail, but take your time to enjoy the scenery. At several points along the trail you will be greeted with rewarding vistas looking down into the valley you came from.

As you complete the switchbacks, the trail turns inward, due east, and descends into Hop Valley. The beautiful views of the sleepy Pine Valley Township quickly disappear as you venture into the valley and deeper into the rugged forest.

It is at this point where you begin to realize that these mountains are more substantial than you might have realized. Without a view of civilization, it becomes clear that this truly is a wilderness. The fallen trees and lack of grooming give you a palpable feeling that man really is just a visitor here. Unlike the clean, wide, and populated trails of the nearby hiking meccas, here you see a version of nature that somehow feels more authentic, and wild. The stillness and quiet can feel slightly eerie at first, but I am convinced it is our own conditioning to a world of constant noise that makes it so. Soon the quiet becomes welcoming and refreshing.

As you work your way through Hop Valley you will continue to gain altitude through a series of switchbacks and scrambles.

Depending on the time of year, you may encounter water here, but don’t count on it. As you emerge from this valley you reach peak altitude and the trail becomes straight and slightly declining. After a short distance, the trail emerges suddenly from the dense woods into a stunning view of Whipple Valley. It is not grandeur or beauty that stuns you, but contrast. Only moments earlier, you were surrounded, crowded, by wild, unkempt, rocky forest, your field of view limited by your surroundings. Looking at Whipple Valley, it feels open, clean, even manicured, as the deep green pines and bright aspens crisply frame a large golden meadow. It’s a treat that is worth the 6 miles you have traveled.

If you have the time and energy, you will not want to stop here.

Less than a mile due north is one of my favorite spots, North Valley.

Your walk is pleasant and fairly level along an easy-to-follow trail.

When you emerge again from the woods into a view of North 46

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valley the beauty of the scene is remarkable. An outcropping of jagged boulders lies situated in the center of the meadow. It is the unavoidable fixture your eye cannot move from. Jutting from within the confines of these boulders are several pine trees that accent and complete the scene in a way only nature can.

The golden valley, like Whipple, is framed by dark green pines with smatterings of old aspens. Make your way to the centerpiece to discover a ramshackle lean-to assembled between the rocks and a fire ring entrenched in the earth, the only significant evidence of man outside of the trail itself. For the best camping, there is a short spur from the main trail that leads due east down a small valley where a basic encampment has been established.

Whether you stay for the night, continue down the trail, or make your way back home, enjoy this beautiful hike and leave it the way you found it! Happy Trails!

No Fear,

All Passion

By Jeanne McFall

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OUTDOORS

am a hunter, but that’s not all that defines me. I’m also an environmental engineer and a mother of a beautiful, curious 6-year old boy. Why do I hunt? I hunt for several reasons. Hunting is a part of me. It’s our heritage gifted and protected through wildlife management made possible by great conservationists like Aldo Leopold and Teddy Roosevelt. Conservationists like these, along with my passion for God’s natural creatures and landscapes, have inspired me throughout life so much that I directed my career towards restoration. I had a pivotal moment when I was 15, camping with my dad at a high mountain Idaho lake. We had witnessed the single, lone sockeye salmon return 800 miles to a lake in Idaho that was named after these once prevalent fish. Just one. At that moment, I decided to dedicate my career towards conservation. Fortunately, hunting and conservation go hand in hand. Hunters are the biggest financial contributors to proper game management because it is our livelihood and a heritage that we will fight to protect in order to pass it on to our children.

Another primary motivator of mine is the childhood I want to provide for my son. My favorite and most vivid childhood memories are mornings spent with my dad in the cool fall air. It was those dark morning drives and the talks we would have as I marveled at the pink alpine glow of the sunrise. I would beg my dad to take me. That one-on-one outdoor time with your children can teach so many things about self-reliance, survival, confidence, kindness, and respect for all beings. I also learn more about myself, my son, and how to be a better parent when I’m out with him. They say the biggest thing we can do with our children is spend time with them outdoors. I believe it teaches respect and humility, empowers them with confidence and survival skills, and fills them with memories. These are the moments and the lessons that I want to share with my son. His dad never hunted, so it’s up to me to pass those experiences on. It allows quality time outdoors doing what we love to do.

I also frequently hunt solo, which is how I started elk hunting. My dad was primarily an upland/waterfowl bird hunter so we didn’t kill a lot of big game together, and never an elk. I like to mention this because I think there are a lot of women out there with a similar desire and passion, but possibly intimidated by hunting solo. There was a steep learning curve and I made a lot of mistakes, but it was times I can laugh at and it filled me with strength and memories. Now I’m at the point where I’m self-reliant enough to not only protect my boy, but also be able to call in a bugling bull and watch his face light up. That’s a moment I really look forward to! I learned some fundamentals from my dad, but much of the big game hunting I learned on my own. Women don’t need to have a father or boyfriend to go out and do it. The first deer I ever gutted solo was almost comical. But I did it and I learned, and I had a winter full of meat because of it.

For me, it’s also about feeding my soul and reconnecting with nature and God. Life deals difficulty, and the best therapy I have is nature.

Fred Bear said, “immerse yourself in the outdoor experience; it will cleanse your soul and make you a better person.” There is a peace that comes with the stillness. It’s also about the physical and mental challenge of it all. Challenging my body with 3,000 feet of climbing, and then bringing in a bull so close you can see its breath as you hear your own heart beating in your ears. Hunting the high country is not for the weak of heart. I spent over a decade as a competitive athlete and love feeling the soreness in my quads as I’m packing an animal off the hill.

There are so many reasons why I love getting outdoors and whether it’s high altitude elk hunting or chasing birds with my son and our new lab puppy, the benefits are numerous.

When we do gather around the dinner table, I’m providing healthy meat that invokes memories and stories that you just don’t get from a trip to the grocery store.

The number one benefit of the Extreme Huntress competition is one I never expected, it’s the opportunity to contribute back. Through the awareness of what I’ve done and my story, I’ve been able to help and support more women, create a platform to deliver the importance of getting kids outdoors, and partner with local non-profit organizations. I’m currently planning to host the local Hunting Film Tours coming to Boise (February 2016), and am proud to have been able to pair them with the folks I know at Hunt of A Lifetime to raise local funds that will take terminally ill children on their dream hunts. Contributions to my community at this level weren’t possible before the notoriety this contest brought to a small time Idaho doit-yourself hunter. I’m chasing game, making memories, and feeding my family.

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F Being in the outdoors – camping, hunting and fishing goes beyond tradition; it is simply our way of life.

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Outdoor

OUTDOORS

amily

By The Jimenez Family

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B

eing in the outdoors – camping, hunting and fishing goes beyond tradition; it is simply our way of life. Growing up as kids, with the exclusion of a single trip to Disneyland, every vacation we had was spent in the mountains. Each year during the months of May through October, most of our time is spent in the great outdoors. Different locations and different activities like ATV riding, fishing, hiking, scouting and hunting make each trip unique. You could say that we have the biggest and most beautiful backyard there is, because all of Southern Utah seems like an extension of it.

Hunting season is certainly an exciting time of year. Many unforgettable memories have been made during hunting season, from near death experiences to hilarious moments that leave us laughing years later. Weather seems to always play its part. Unheard of heat, blizzards, fog, and flooding have all had their turn. Quality time is spent with one another playing games, catching up on life events and reminiscing about past hunts and fishing trips. The food is always amazing and there is more than enough to go around. It is simply a great time of year.

The 2015 season is sure to be remembered as one of the best. It started with the bow hunt in August, which has always been my favorite.

I went to my favorite spot high in the Tushar Mountains where cooler temperatures offer an escape from the St. George heat. Based on the past couple of years, I was not expecting much, but opening morning at first light, I immediately was on the chase of a large buck. I was not able to get off a shot, but it was a good start. The very next morning (again at first light) we spotted another good buck, and this time it ended with a shot through the trees at 55 yards. After following the wrong tracks for 30 minutes and being puzzled by where it could have disappeared to, we went back to the beginning and started over. This time we realized it had traveled in a different direction and we were able to find it about 120 yards away from where it was shot. While it wasn’t exactly a monster, I was pleased having a 4x3, 22 inch buck.

No one had a black powder tag, so the rifle hunt was next. This is where the wagons are circled and the group extends beyond family to friends who have become like family. We had a group of about 25 in camp with seven tags to fill, and for the first time ever, every tag was

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filled. It started opening morning with one of our friend’s twins getting their first buck, a small forky. A couple hours later, my mom took down a 4x3 buck, after following it over a few ridges. Then came the rain, a very hard rain, and within 15 minutes, our campsite looked like we were in the middle of a lake. This put a damper on the evening hunt. Soon the sun set and the first day came to a close, but we were off to a good start.

Most of the camp took Sunday off. Not to be outdone by his brother, the other twin got a bigger forky, which was also his first buck.

Monday morning came and shots were soon fired with my dad and sister both taking down bucks that were running in the same group. My dad’s was a nice 4x3 and my sister’s a 3x3 with some cool eye-guards. Tuesday began with two tags left to fill and by early afternoon they were. My brother-in-law got a nice 4x4 and Little Rod took down a 3x3 buck. With every tag being filled this early in the hunt, everyone wondered, now what? Eventually, we pulled out of camp and our focus turned to the upcoming elk hunt.

For the second time in six years, my mom drew out for a limited-entry bull elk tag. Apparently, I am the unlucky one that can’t draw a tag.

I have eagerly awaited my turn as my dad, mom, father-in-law, and brother have all drawn. Through scouting we had determined an exact location that we wanted to be at on opening morning. The day arrived and we were in position. Within a couple minutes I had spotted a great bull; it was only 200 yards away! I quickly got my mom’s attention. Out of breath and with too much gear on, she was unable to get the bull in her sights. With much disappointment we had to watch the bull run out of sight. My mom felt horrible. She thought she had blown her chance. I told her I didn’t want to go home that soon anyway; it did not appease her much. Two mornings later we decided to try the same area again, but this time we would stay low instead of high because of a stronger wind. Again, just a few minutes after light, we spotted the same bull! This time he would not get away. My mom took a single shot and the bull dropped 30 yards later.

What a great year it was. Our freezers are full, new places were explored and new memories were made. I can’t wait to do it all over again next year! There is no place I’d rather live than Southern Utah.

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Conquering the Odds The Key to Pulling a Tag in Utah

By Kaid Panek

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PREPAREDNESS

T

he last two weeks of May, credit card companies hate me. Every day, I make a quick phone call just before closing hours, anxiously asking the same dreaded question, “Ma’am, can you please take a quick look and see if there are any pending charges on my account?” Sound like you or somebody you know? Here are a few tips that will help you get news like, “Yes, your account has been charged this morning.

Congratulations!”

When talking to other hunters, I am always surprised to hear how many people don’t comprehend the bonus point system and rely on just sheer luck. This leaves them very upset when they get hit with the ugliest word in the whole application process. Those big, bold lettersUNSUCCESSFUL- that come year after year. The first step to drawing tags is understanding the process. How can you score a touchdown if you don’t know how to play the game of football? Before you start banging your head against the kitchen table, let me explain it in a simplistic fashion.

In regards to the state of Utah, the point system was created to give some seniority (and hope, to hunters with horrible luck like myself ) to the drawing process. For each year you are not selected for a permit, you earn 1 bonus point. The folks that have the most bonus points are entitled to half the tags allotted for the hunt. Here’s a scenario. Let’s say the rifle elk hunt for the “Steep and Wild” unit was allowed 50 tags. Twenty-five of those tags are drawn to the top 25 point holders; these are called “bonus tags”. The remaining 25 tags go into a random draw for everybody else that isn’t eligible for the bonus tag category. Simple, right? Long story-short, if the bonus tags went to everybody with 15 points, and you only had 10 points, you have the same chances as a new applicant with zero points.

On the other hand, if there is only one tag for the hunt, for instance the Antelope Island deer unit, there is no such thing as bonus tags; it is a free-for-all.

With that being said, the keys to drawing consistently are: 1) Getting yourself into the bonus category or 2) Making your own luck “by getting in a game with less players”. But wait! It’s easier than it sounds. Every application season starts the same for me.

Step 1: Assess your goals Step 2: Study potential areas Step 3: Figure out how to make Step 1&2 meet.

Step 1: While I sit down and figure out my goals, I realize that I like to hunt as much as possible (who doesn’t?). I become comfortable with the idea that I am willing to sacrifice a little trophy quality for an opportunity, rather than finding myself sitting on the sidelines for another year. Even if I never lay eyes on a once in a lifetime 400” bull, I am very content to see a bull that stretches the tape at 350-360” (this is my personal standard, everybody is different).

Step 2: While researching units, I look for “sleeper areas”; units that have a steady population of animals, reasonable harvest statistics, and a lower number of applicants. Usually you will see this in archery hunts, but there will be a few muzzleloader and rifle hunts that may appear to fit the bill also. A good portion of this research can be done on wildlife.utah.gov under the “Big Game” tab. I also like to read multiple website forums and call biologists for a little extra info from the people that have actually put Continued on Page 56

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“boots on the ground” in the unit before I even put in for the tag. I want to make sure there aren’t big hurdles like, for instance, the majority of the unit being private land, really low age objectives, etc.

Step 3: On a personal level, I realize that archery hunting takes a lot of time, money, and dedication.

However, in most cases, it yields a greater chance at drawing while allowing me to hunt longer. Low archery success rates don’t scare me unless they are under 10%, but I also gauge a unit’s potential by other weapon hunts as well. Although, if other seasons have substantially low harvest rates, it might not be what we are after. On the flipside, a great example is an antelope tag I drew in 2011. The year before I applied there was a 0% harvest rate for the archery, but average days hunted were 3/28 days and there were only two archery tags given. I realized that I couldn’t judge based on archery harvest statistics alone. The rifle hunt had a staggering 100% success rate, with a mean of two days hunted; this is what I was looking for. I ended up seeing many Pope and Young class bucks while scouting and created a game plan accordingly. Luckily I punched my tag out of a ground blind on the second morning of the season. It was an awesome experience and succeeded expectations!

I have come to realize that there are diamonds in the rough on every limited entry unit, which is why they are managed. But some are managed with different objectives, which allow hunters to pick or choose what they want out of their experience. For example, the chances of killing a respectable trophy are achievable in the majority of the limited entry units if you are willing to put in the time and effort. In some areas of the state, your chance of killing the animal of a lifetime is greatly increased but you have to be willing to wait. Depending on your patience (or lack thereof ), sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go forward with a mission to capitalize on units that make it harder to fill your tag if you want to hunt sooner, and more often.

In units like the San Juan Elk Ridge, Boulder Mountains, and Fillmore Pahvant for elk; Henry Mountains or the Paunsagaunt for deer, the wait can seem never ending due to “point creep” – a term used when there are more people in the bonus category than tags. This leaves the unlucky bonus applicants to earn another point, driving the max point requirement each year. In premium units, tags are almost once in a lifetime, and for good reason. One of these prestigious tags can result in record book animals and an experience that will be unmatched. Granted, if you already have a substantial amount of points built up or are looking for a true “dream hunt”, it is worth waiting out to experience hunting a world-renowned unit. There are just some tags that aren’t worth the 15-20 points you are already sitting on.

If you are a hunter that is eager to hunt and want a chance at some superb hunting, but do not have many points to spare, a little homework goes a long way. Always keep in mind the few jaw dropping bucks and bulls that go viral on social media each year, and how there are some that come from underrated units. Establish goals, study, and most importantly, be ready to take on a challenge because it can pay off in big ways.

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About the Author: Kaid Panek is a 22 year old hunting addict that hunts every chance he can get. He believes that hunting is the perfect combination between making life long memories while putting meat in the freezer. He has been drawn for Limited Entry tags across the state for many different species including elk, deer, bear, cougar and Pronghorn twice.

Image 1: This is a very good odd scenario. 7 points is 7 years applying, but better than waiting 15-20. The overall odds are 1 in 7, so there is a realistic chance you could draw before you hit the bonus category.

Image 2: It goes to show that 14 points didn’t quite cut it for the bonus point category, but there still were tags drawn at 2 and 3 points. 1 in 88 is pretty tricky odds for hunters with only a few points trying to pull a tag.

Image 3: Typical harvest statistic document that allows you to analyze each units success rates.

Image 4: When looking at these at first glance, these odds are awesome! But don’t be fooled, even though you can draw the tag doesn’t mean that it will be easy to fill. This is when harvest stats and biologist calls are a must.

After you study up, if you feel like you can conquer the odds; it won’t be long before you are hunting this unit.

Courtesy of www.wildlife.utah.gov.

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3‘YOTES Mistakes Made While Hunting

By Vince Donohue

H

unting is something that has been in my family for a very long time. Growing up in Southern Nevada, I can still remember the sight of several bucks hanging from the tree in my grandpa’s backyard, or the shed full of cats ready to be skinned from a long winter of trapping. It has always been something that has intrigued me, while allowing me to appreciate the beauty that is beyond the busy life that I live. I started spending time in the outdoors when I was young.

One thing that I picked up on quickly was predator hunting. In Nevada this is usually done at night. Hunting coyotes at night taught me many lessons on how to predator hunt. As life progressed through my late teens I found that I was spending more time living a teenage life and less time enjoying the fresh country. It wasn’t until about five or six years later that I started picking up the passion of hunting again. A friend of mine from college asked if I wanted to go hunt some coyotes. I told him that would be great, I hadn’t done it for years.

I proceeded to ask what time at night he wanted to go. He corrected me and told me it’s illegal to hunt at night, and that we were going to go out during the day. I didn’t really know what to think. I always grew up hunting coyotes at night and I had no clue how to hunt a coyote in the daytime. Even though we may have been at a disadvantage because I had no clue what I was doing, we were still able to call in four coyotes and from that day on I was hooked.

I am going to share three things that I have found based off of mistakes that I have made, or I have seen others make, which in turn will hopefully give you an advantage in the future against an extremely intelligent creature: the coyote.

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PREPAREDNESS

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Just like elk hunters and deer hunters, you have to spend some quality time scouting for coyotes.

The First Mistake I get people asking me all the time, “Man, how are you calling in coyotes? I go out all the time and I never see or hear anything”.

I always respond with, “Well you need to be hunting where there are coyotes”. Even though I may be joking with them, there is a lot of truth to my jest. A big misconception is that you have to just simply get out in the wild and start calling. By doing that you are most likely not going to call in a coyote. Just like elk hunters and deer hunters, you have to spend some quality time scouting for coyotes. You have to see where there would be water, what type of food source they are eating, or just in general, are there any coyotes in the area. I like to find out if there are coyotes in the area by doing two things.

First I talk to everyone about coyote hunting. You would be amazed about how much information you get by just talking to people. While talking to someone I’ll hear things like, “yeah I saw one crossing the road over here”, or “while I was out hunting the other day I could hear them howling over here”. Just by talking with people, it helps determine where I’m going to make future stands.

The second thing I like to do is take night drives. When I’m going to an area for the first time I like to make a loop a couple of nights before and do some simple location calling. This will help me determine where coyotes are the most active. Just to reiterate my point, the majority of my success in coyote hunting has come from preparation; very rarely have I killed coyotes by just heading to uncharted areas.

The Second Mistake The setup or stand is a very common mistake for most people. This part will make or break your success as a coyote hunter. I will walk you through my typical setup.

Let’s move forward and say you have done your preparation. You know where coyotes are and you want to get in and hunt them.

Before getting to my setups, I try to plan out where I will be in relation to the sun and plan my routes accordingly. Hiding your vehicle is very important. You don’t want to come into the valley rocking your Luke Bryan or Justin Bieber (for all of you closet Bieber fans). You are trying to get

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to your area as quietly as possible. You can have a coyote come from any direction, so I will typically try to hide my vehicle a good distance away from where I am calling. As soon as I shut the engine off I am in stealth mode.

When my calling partner and I start to move into our stand, I make sure that we walk in the same path. I try to keep as much scent down as possible. When getting to the spot where I will start calling I will try to make sure that I am close enough to the person or people that I am hunting with, but not sitting on top of each other. You want to be able to communicate, but not so close that you are easily noticeable. I like to think of it as though I am going into the coyote’s area. They are the ones who spend every day hunting and getting to know their surroundings. If there is anything that doesn’t seem like it belongs, they are gone.

I will go out and set up my electronic call, if I’m using one, and my Mojo about 20 to 30 feet away. I will sit down and spend the next five to ten minutes getting my rifle set up, positioning my shotgun for easy access, glassing, and getting my yardage. After things have calmed down a bit, I will start to call. I could go on about calling techniques, but just to keep it simple, always remember to start off soft. You don’t want to be blasting a call when you could have a coyote 30 yards from you.

The Third Mistake Something that can dampen your success as a coyote hunter is not having the correct gear. This may seem like a little thing, and I may seem like I go a little overboard, but I want every advantage I can get. I’ve seen several videos on YouTube and other sites where someone is out calling in the open, wearing their blue jeans and a cool flannel shirt, probably with an open package of beef jerky next to them, while sucking down a mountain dew. In the videos they always do end up calling in a coyote, but I wonder how many stands they had to do before they got that one coyote. I remember when I first started hunting coyotes I had a lesson where I learned how important it was to take every advantage of camouflage. As far as my previous lessons taught me, my buddy and

PREPAREDNESS

I knew where a big dog was, but it always seemed to elude us. Every time we went into this spot we could get him barking, but never seemed to be in the right spot for a shot. We finally got in and had the perfect set up. The wind was right; we had the perfect coverage, and a great view. After about 20 minutes of calling I looked over and I could see this big male looking right at me. He had come around the tree and something caught his attention. The shade had moved just enough that he could see the sun shining off of my face and my gun. It took him two seconds and he was gone. That was a lesson that I will never forget.

Typically when I go out hunting coyotes, I am in full camouflage; I try to make sure that no part of my skin is showing. I

use scent blocker on every stand. I try to make sure that all of my guns have as much covering on them as they can, and I make sure that I have my long rifle, as well as my shotgun. I will always check to see if I have my calls. If I am using an electric call, I’ll make sure that I have extra batteries in my bag, and I always make sure that I have my Mojo Critter. The Mojo has just enough movement to take the distraction off of me as a hunter.

All of these things may seem like no brainers or maybe you have heard them all before, but you would be surprised how common it is to screw up a stand while forgetting just one of these simple things. For those of you that are just starting out, I hope that my lessons and learning experiences can help land you your that first coyote.

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