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Hunter’s Escape IN NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA
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Table of Contents Page 6: Introduction Page 8: Trophy hunt Page 12: Horn growth Page 16: Being prepared for the hunt Page 20: Elk archery hunt Page 24: Big game retrieval Page 26: Google Earth for hunters Page 31: Hunting with dad Page 34: Working to save mule deer Page 35: Why I crawled into a bear den Page 40: South Texas whitetail Page 45: Mule deer hunt
Page 49: Nature is like a restaurant Page 52: Pronghorn preservation Page 56: Save the sheep Page 61: Know me for my abilities Page 63: Antelope hunt Page 67: Young hunters Page 70: Shed hunting Page 72: Quail hunting Page 75: Choosing the proper cartridge Page 76: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Page 77: Hook jaws and happiness Page 80: The joys of panfish Page 82: Lion hunting
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WELCOME
Welcome to Arizona’s High Country Welcome to the inaugural issue of High Country Hunter, a premier guide to big game hunting in the mountains of Arizona. This edition is the culmination of the hard work of the staffs of the Payson Roundup and White Mountain Independent, as well as several seasoned hunters, guides and outfitters around the Mogollon Rim and northern Arizona. The Rim Country, White Mountains and Flagstaff areas offer some of the best elk and deer hunting in the Southwest and the contribution it has to the area’s economy is significant. Hunting and fishing contribute over $1 billion into the Arizona’s economy and provide over 4,000 jobs in Apache, Coconino, Gila and Navajo counties. This guide is produced to celebrate the quality of hunting we have here. This High Country Hunter includes over 24 stories
about elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorns, antelope, turkey and quail, as well as shed hunting, fishing and contributions about preservation. Staff reporter Mike Leiby wrote about the world-renowned trophy hunts on the Fort Apache Reservation outside of Whiteriver, which have seen the likes of George Strait, Richard Childress and Jack Nicklaus, and are regarded by some as the best elk hunting in the world. We hope you enjoy your hunt and time in the high country of Arizona and make it your destination for years to come. Sincerely, Brian Kramer, Publisher, White Mountain Independent & Payson Roundup
Peter Aleshire, Editor High Country Hunter is published by White Mountain Publishing LLC, a division of Kramer Publications, Show Low and Payson, AZ It is available online at payson.com and wmicentral.com. To advertise, call Show Low: 928-537-5721 or Payson: 928-474-5251 6 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
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TROPHYHUNT
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By Mike Leiby, Reporter Nestled between the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and San Carlos Apache Reservation is the Fort Apache Reservation — home of the world’s best elk hunting. That claim was made four years ago by the Outdoor Channel, according to White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) Game and Fish Facility Manager Greg Dazen, who said the reservation’s world-renowned guided trophy hunts give hunters the opportunity to see a 400” class bull, at a minimum. The tribe reportedly brings in around $1 million a year from hunters. The WMAT guides all have several years experience in the area and have completed mandatory training in several areas. People have the opportunity to go on one of the hunts for around $20,000. Country artists George Strait and Clint Black, NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, billionaire Lee Bass and golfer Jack Nicklaus have all come to the WMAT 8 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
Arizona’s Fort Apache Reservation offers some of the world’s best elk hunting according to the Outdoor Channel.
for the hunts. Strait has been a regular since the 1980s and has been here as recently as eight years ago. His guide was former WMAT Wildlife Director John Caid, who formerly lived in Pinetop with his wife Teri and their 11 children and 25 grandchildren. Most of the older guides are not here anymore, but others have filled their boots — guides who are experts on when and where to find what elk hunters want most: a trophy kill. Dazen has seen countless celebrities, and even a royal prince from Europe, come to the White Mountains on elk hunts. He hesitates to give the name of the prince or any other known celebrities. Dazen said that anyone who books a hunt at the hefty price tag of $20,000 is a celebrity in his eyes and deserves anonymity if they so desire. Most of them do. The typical cost is just for the person booking the guided hunt. If they want to bring up to two guests, it costs another $1,500 per person.
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Back when the tribe took over, the cost for a guided hunt was $5,000. That included all the expected amenities, like a cozy cabin in the picture-perfect high country White Mountains, hot and cold running water, and world-class cuisine at their beck and call. “It’s the most thrilling hunting I’ve ever done,” Texas attorney John Cardwell told Forbes magazine. “Every time you go, you have a chance at a world record.” “Everyone goes to bed excited like little kids before Christmas,” said WMAT Wildlife Director John Caid. Keep in mind that because of the very nature of hunting, there is no guarantee hunters will take home a trophy elk. Dazen guarantees seeing elk, but not getting a kill. “Most of them do get record kills though,” Dazen said. How big are the elk on the reservation? In the northeastern part of the reservation, they typically start out around 800 to 900 pounds at the beginning of the rutting season in mid-September. By end of season in mid-October they have lost a couple hundred pounds ending up at around 600. It’s hard to tell for sure nowadays because the tribe stopped scaling them out in the 1980s. Boone and Crockett Club records show hunter Alonzo Winters bagging a kill score of 442 5/8 in 1968. Dazen said Boone and Crockett scores of 375-385 are more typical. Around a quarter of the elk taken off the reservation have antlers big enough to qualify them for Boone and Crockett record books. The tribe has not always been in charge of elk hunting on their lands. The change took place in 1974. Be10 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
fore that, Arizona Game and Fish controlled the hunt. A jurisdiction battle won by the tribe granted the right to what was then called WMAT Recreation. Things really took off when the tribe got control, mostly by word of mouth at first. As word spread about the world-class elk bagged on the reservation, media outlets like the Outdoor Channel got wind and like wildfire it became known as one of the best places anywhere to go elk hunting. It still is. Dazen said demand for guided hunts right now is “off the wall.” It is not uncommon that hunters need to book up to nine months in advance. The hunts last seven days with three-week intervals in between. What does it take to be an Apache guide? Lots of work for one thing. Dazen started his career as a guide fresh out of high school (actually in his senior year) 38 years ago. He, like current guide trainees, was affectionately known to his mentors as a “birddog.” Prospective guides go through rigorous training, first on small hunts building up to bigger ones. Finally, they can manage hunts on their own. All the while they take mandatory courses in things like first aid and CPR as well as field dressing, skinning game and how to keep the client satisfaction rate and level of customer service high. They also learn about prepping their hunt areas by inspecting roads to make sure they are passable and repairing them or creating an alternate route if needed. They also scout the area before hunt time to know what is in the area and guide clients to the elk.
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ANTLERGROWTH
Photo courtesy of Heather Stroops
How do they grow those monster antlers?
So how do bulls and bucks ness. In the hunting community, reach trophy potential? we’re grateful to the individuals As a professional hunting who can afford these special tags guide, that question comes up a since the money benefits the conservation efforts that increase the lot. deer and elk populations. Many will ask where these I have been lucky enough to bulls go after the rut is over and follow a handful of these giants why. We have learned over the over the past 20 years and been years that the larger bulls end up a part of the harvest of these 400” in the dark steep canyons, with By Jay Lopeman, bulls. Believe me, these monsters easy access to food and water. Hunting Guide are few and far between. They can The less they move, the easier it is only develop to this size when all for their bodies to recover from the the stars align. rut. The larger bulls are surviving Obviously, living a long time year to year by moving into areas is the No. 1 way for a bull to reach that are not glassable by hunters. Of course, trophy potential to most 400 inches. is in the eye of the beholder. But No matter how good the feed, for this article, let’s assume we’re or the genes, a bull will not be talking about how an elk hits the able to reach maximum potential magic number of 400”. antler growth without age. Peyton Manning had this same issue Many factors determine the when he was 10 years old. Some outcome of this equation and very trained eyes could see his potenfew elk will ever reach this numtial, but only when he reached ber. As a result, some people will Photo courtesy of Jay Lopeman full maturity did he break records. pay upward of $300,000 for the opportunity to hunt one of these free-ranging, magnificent Some bulls have big antlers at 6 to 8 years old. But most creatures. Someday, I hope to comprehend that willing- bulls only begin reaching maximum antler growth after the 12 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
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2016
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ANTLERGROWTH
age of 12. For instance, a hunter harvested a 500” bull harvested on an Indian reservation in the late 1990s. The year before he was killed, that bull was about 60 inches smaller, based on his sheds. At the time of harvest, he was 13 years old. Obviously, other factors helped allow this enormous antler growth between the age of 12 and 13. The bull had unbelievable genetics, he was old, the prior year had been a drought year, and the winter when he was 13 was mild, with lots of moisture. This seems to offer the best formula for exceptional antlers growth in both deer and elk. We’ve taken a few bulls over the years that were 400-plus and they were aged from 10 to 20. These bulls’ antler growth seems to fluctuate quite a bit from year to year as they aged.
Burning calories and running isn’t going to help when the elk are trying to fatten up. So a wet, mild winter helps the older bulls pack it on. The best horn growth I have seen in my lifetime was in 2005. Not only was it a mild winter, we had the wettest winter recorded in history. On years like this, antlers look big. As a trophy hunter, you must take care not to take a young bull with awesome genetics. At first glance, they look giant because the horns are proportionate to their body. There is a big difference between a 500- to 600-pound bull and an 800- to 900-pound bull. It is always best to judge antler size when bulls are around other bulls, or when you have a history with the bull and can guesstimate its age.
IT’S IN THE GENES Clearly, genetics remain a deciding factor in the potential for enormous antlers. Plain and simple — animals either have it or they don’t. No matter how well I eat or how IMPACT OF WINTER Other factors likely contribute to antler growth. A major much I work out, I’m never going to be 6-foot-5 with a size 16 shoe. The great factor to look at is, thing about Arizona how good the rut was is that the elk poputhe previous year? lation statewide is full Was it hard and of great genetics. The quick or did it just northwest part of the linger on for a month state is known for big or two? The elk lose a frames, long beams tremendous amount and long tines. From of weight during the Payson going east, rut. They really need the bulls are known to start packing on for giant front ends the weight once the with massive heavy rut ends. Hunters antlers. It seems to need to consider how me that some of the good the feed is once lower density cow the rut is over. The elk areas have some monsoon definitely of the best genetics. affects the quality and availability Because of this, only Contributed photo of food throughout the biggest bulls are the fall months. The breeding. older the bull, the harder it is for him to recover from the Fortunately, when all these contributing factors come rut. It’s like a strenuous workout at the gym: When you’re together, a hunter may have a strong chance to see one of 18, you can push your body to the max day after day with these rare 400” bulls. a shorter recovery than a person in his 40s. Jay Lopeman was born and raised in Show Low, Ariz. His Harsh winters also have more impact on older bulls, dad, Dick Lopeman, loved the outdoors and instilled that love with limited food and long stretches of below-average temand outdoor awareness to Jay and his brother, Marc. Dick startperatures. Bulls that live in the Rim Country usually don’t ed taking Jay with him at a very young age. After going with his have a problem. They can move to warmer climates fairly dad on an elk hunt at the ripe old age of 5, Jay was addicted. easily. When he wasn’t in school or playing sports, Jay would be found The late elk hunts can also be hard on the animals. in the woods somewhere in the White Mountains. He spent all the Weakened from the rut, they find themselves pushed by time he could, either hunting or fishing. Jay began taking clients hunters when they should be eating and relaxing. I am sure hunting at the age of 18. Jay is one of the owners and guides at the shed hunting season can have impact on this as well. A3 Trophy Hunts. 14 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
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PACKPRIORITIES Getting ready for the hunt Preparation as valuable as actually being in the field Arizona is a state of wide that most of permit holders By Dennis Pirch, were hunting the same canopen spaces because of the Outdoors Columnist yons in unit 22. Needless to numerous national forests and say, I couldn’t get away from other federal- and state-governed land. other hunters nor find a buck. With the vast acreage from I soon had to return to work, desert lowlands to the alpine convinced my season was forests, a hunter really does over. have a wealth of the West to A friend of mine, Mark wander, right here in Arizona. Kile, called me prior to the last Access by roads and trails day of the hunt and asked if is somewhat limited where hikI had connected. The obvious ing a trail, ridge top, or cananswer was no. He said, let’s yon can put you into some hike into the Mazatzals for the very remote country seldom last day. traversed except by the most The next morning we hiked experienced. for a full hour in the dark before we settled in to glass in a Hunting many of the big remote canyon at gray dawn. game species such as deer, On the opposite hillside, we elk, or sheep may make it started seeing deer. As it grew necessary to penetrate some lighter, five different bucks apof these remote wilderness areas, especially after the openpeared — all bigger than any ing day or two. When game I had seen in the first three animals are pressured, they days of the season! often move another canyon or The lesson was obvious. In mountain range away to esmany cases to fill a big game cape human activity. Filling a permit of any species, you may big game tag may require the have to penetrate the remote Photo courtesy of Tim Kip areas of the wilderness to find hunter to spend time in these more remote areas where those animals that have withdrawn because of human pressure near road-accessible more mature or trophy animals often reside. Well over a decade ago, I had a rifle whitetail tag in the canyons. Going the extra mile or the next range of hills October hunt and spent the first three days in the more ac- requires more preparation for the hunter, whether you’re cessible areas where I found a few smaller bucks. It seemed gone one day or overnight. 16 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
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PACKPRIORITIES
This also demands physical conditioning to even make the trek. A 20-pound backpack with a rifle and optics can pose a physical challenge. Clearly, you need to build up your muscle strength and walking stamina before considering these adventures. Whether going with a buddy or hiking solo, the backpack one carries should have all the essentials for the hunt as well as for unexpected problems. As I get older, I find my preparation is as valuable as actually being in the field in pursuit of the game. Obviously, with older legs, weight is a factor as well as comfort of the pack on my back for those long hikes and the return hopefully with a field-dressed animal. My full pack is a Blacks Creek Canadian signature series, which meets all the criteria for a day-long hunt or multiple days in the field. The shoulder straps and the hip belt distribute the weight perfectly in case I need to pack out a boned-out deer or the hind-quarter of an elk. The pack has numerous zippered pockets with the main compartment large enough to fit the hind-quarter of a bull elk if unzipped. The pack has six other compartments for various items for a day or more in the field. During the fall hunts, I will take a minimum of four bottles of water on a oneday hunt, with additional water on a warm day with mountains to climb to reach the hunting area. Remember, drinking water keeps the muscles working well and as a bottle is consumed the pack gets lighter. One compartment is reserved for nourishment, which includes energy bars, dried fruit, crackers, candy, and a bottle of five-hour energy that I will mix with water. I stash a first aid kit in one zippered pocket, purchased from a local sporting goods store or created from the medicine cabinet at home. I also store a space blanket and a lightweight rain poncho. In the same area, I also store other emergency equipment such as a compass, cigarette lighter, matches stored in an air tight baggy and a whistle. Every pack should have a flashlight and an LED headlamp with extra batteries. Even the best flashlights malfunc-
18 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
tion and a headlamp helps in field dressing an elk or deer when dusk gives way to darkness. The headlamp also frees your hands to work at skinning. Just a couple of years ago, I was field dressing an elk well after dark and heard some noise in the brush that caught my attention. A well-lit headlamp startled a bear looking for a late supper. He made another approach about an hour later and the bright LED light startled him again. I was certainly relieved when I saw and heard the group of packers that had responded to my cellphone call. I keep all my field dressing tools in one zippered pocket in addition to a couple of heavy duty game bags. I have found that old sheets provide the perfect ground cloths to keep meat clean when field dressing. Old pillow cases also make useful game bags and will also keep the meat clean. If you want that trophy elk or deer to be excellent table fare, keep the meat clean. My field dressing tools consist of two knives and a Wyoming bone saw, essential in the skinning and preparation for the pack out. Make sure the knives are sharp before entering the field to hunt. A dull knife makes skinning nearly impossible. The quicker you get the hide off the animal, the faster the meat will cool and the better it will taste. In that same compartment, I have an ample supply of mule tape, vital when working alone on a downed animal. My November archery quest for elk is a solo event when it comes to the hunt, tracking and field Contributed photo dressing. If the perfect shot is made and the animal falls to the arrow, there is no more humbling feeling than walking up on the downed animal to see how large that bull is on the ground. But you are by yourself and the work has just begun. Everything stored in that pack now comes into play for the long evening ahead. If a person has the proper tools, much of the elk can be field dressed ready for the backpacks when help arrives. The cellphone has drastically sped up the process of getting an animal out of the woods and into the walk-in cooler. Good luck this fall as you pursue that trophy animal.
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ARCHERYHUNT
Contributed photo
Dennis Pirch enjoys the challenge of the November archery elk hunt.
November elk hunt offers intense challenge By Dennis Pirch, Outdoors Columnist When it comes to archery elk hunting in Arizona and most other western states, that means the rut. The month of September is synonymous with bulls bugling while they are gathering their cows and pleasant crisp mornings in the high mountains. The early morning silence is often broken by the call of a herd bull showing his dominance. This often draws a challenge by a satellite bull wanting in on the action of romancing the cows. This most exciting of seasons allows a lucky archer to hunt the “king of the woods.� The odds of drawing one of these dream hunts is about 10 percent, which means a dedicated hunter will draw a hunt in the rut about once every 7-10 years, given the bo20 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
nus point system in Arizona. Many archers have looked for alternative hunts with better odds of drawing a tag. The success rate for bulls is much lower in the November hunt than September. In addition, the later hunt could encounter much harsher weather. This past year, I spent an afternoon in a snowstorm waiting for a chance that never came. I enjoy hunting elk with a bow and have never once hunted them during the popular September hunts. I have chosen the road less taken, listing the November as my first choice on the application permits. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has expanded the units offering the later, less-popular hunt. The result is that many archers are hunting elk more frequently, but with less success. Archers can find some other opportunities to hunt elk
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ARCHERYHUNT with a bow, but the characteristics of the season are far different. The two-week season in November comes at the end of the rut. The bulls have left the cows, and retreated to some of the deepest darkest canyons for some well-deserved rest. The bulls are far less vocal and so much more difficult to locate. They roam much less widely after the rut. If a canyon has food, water and cover, they don’t need to go anywhere. The canyon provides the perfect hiding place for a bull elk needing to recuperate after the breeding season. This later hunt demands more preseason scouting to locate these little hideaways. During the hottest days of summer, I wander the Rim Country looking for the right environment. I follow elk trails that usually lead to water, canopy timber and bedding areas. In November, the chances are very good they will return to these spots after the rut. If I find a road or quad trail nearby, I usually strike that spot from my hunting list. The greater the distance from vehicle traffic, the more likely the elk will not be disturbed during the hunt. Many young hunters now concentrate on stalking within shooting distance, an impressive feat. Not only that, their shooting prowess is amazing out to 80 yards or more. An aging hunter with two left feet, I prefer another method. I still rely on placing a treestand where I can see 270300 degrees without having to move anything but my head. If the area has activity evidenced by tracks or a trail camera, I will mount a treestand. If the stand is 15 to 20 feet above the ground, it offers a better vantage of the nearby game trails. I take care to position the stand to ensure several clear shooting lanes. Sometimes, a small pruning shear can open a new lane for an arrow to fly through. It is paramount to study the wind currents while sitting in the stand. If water is the key attraction, then the stand must be downwind during the early morning and late afternoons when elk have a tendency to move for a drink. I use a small piece of cotton thread tied to a nearby twig, which always helps me determine wind current. My greatest success has been in late afternoon hunts until the final legal shooting time of dusk. With the short November days, I make every attempt to be in the stand ready to wait by 3:30 p.m. for the final two hours of hunt22 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
ing. When I am within 200 yards of the treestand, I stop and redress for the hunt. The clothes I walk in with are NOT the clothes I hunt in. Most November mid afternoon days are pleasant and a lengthy hike will cause a person to sweat profusely. Consequently, I carry an air-tight plastic sack to store those clothes in so I can change into dry clothes, covered by a scent lock suit. After the quick change, I spray my shoes, hands, bow, and everywhere in general to mask the human scent. Once in the stand, get comfortable so you can remain as motionless as possible. My eyes do the scanning and not my entire body. Because of the motionless sitting and my age, I have to pull my bow every 30 minutes, which will ensure I can pull if an elk approaches. At sundown when the temperature quickly falls, the cold can also effect the efficiency of the joints and muscles, which makes pulling the bow necessary. If you hear a rock roll or a branch break, get ready; something is coming. When that happens, I am on high alert. I pull at draw length when the bull’s eyesight is blocked by a tree or his head is down. The perfect shot is broadside and quartering away. Don’t take a bad shot, it is not worth it. Unless the animal was shot in the morning, you will probably have to stay on the trail in the dark. All of my hunting arrows are outfitted with luma-nocks, which light up when shot from a bow. I would recommend them for everyone because it gives the hunter a better look at where the arrow enters the animal. Once when waiting in a treestand after a shot at dusk, I saw the faint light about 200 yards away and walked directly to the elk laying on the side of a hill. Another time, I was trailing an animal well after dark and I saw the arrow on the ground at a distance, which greatly improved the time of retrieval. Most of my shots are inside of 30 yards, with one elk being just seven yards away! I practice 20-30-40 yards from an elevated position to be ready for that one opportunity. It is a real challenge in the November hunt and if I sit long enough in elk habitat chances are good I will get a shot at a bull. It is challenging and can be a real marathon of day in and day out walking to the stand by yourself waiting for that one shot, but it is big game hunting. I am blessed to live in Arizona in the heart of elk country.
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OFF-ROADRULES Big game retrieval gets complicated Forest Service rules limit ATVs By Peter Aleshire, Editor The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by several environmental groups challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to allow limited off-road motorized big game retrieval by elk and bison hunters on the Kaibab National Forest. The Forest Service allows hunters with a license and a current tag to drive off-road throughout most of the state for up to a mile to retrieve game they have shot. Otherwise, every national forest in the state has now barred off-road travel — with the Tonto National Forest now in the final stages of its Travel Management Plan. The lawsuit challenging off-road travel for hunters was filed this year by WildEarth Guardians, Wildlands Council, Wildlands Network, and the Sierra Club. “It’s interesting to note that the plaintiffs’ lawsuit targets hunters’ motorized big game retrieval, which is a small segment of off-highway vehicle use in the forest, but does not challenge other legitimate cross-country motor vehicle use,” said Pat Madden, incoming chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The environmental groups maintain that motorized cross-country travel by hunters could affect many threatened and endangered species, including the Mexican spotted owl and the black-footed ferret. Studies show that offroad vehicles traveling cross country can also affect vital riparian areas and dramatically increase erosion. 24 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The lawsuit says that the Kaibab National Forest has so many dirt roads that allowing off-road travel by hunters would allow vehicles in 90 percent of the forest. “We want them to reconsider this plan,” said Kim Crumbo, director of conservation for the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council. “A lot of areas are too steep and the soil is too fragile to support vehicular travel.” The issue of cross-country travel by hunters to retrieve game has provoked considerable debate. In response to criticism during the process of adopting its travel management plan for the Kaibab Forest, the Forest Service decided to limit cross-country travel to hunters attempting to retrieve bison and elk, but not deer. Forest managers reasoned that the deer were small enough to pack out. Elk and bison accounted for just 36 cross-country treks during the study year of 2009, compared to nearly 1,000 trips to retrieve deer. Motorized retrieval is an important component enabling Arizona Game and Fish to fulfill its wildlife conservation mission, contended the department’s lawyers. Uncontrolled elk and ecologically devastating bison populations can damage habitat and may harm other species. The department is currently collaborating with the National Park Service to reduce the number of bison in Grand Canyon National Park, as unsustainable numbers of bison have migrated from the North Kaibab onto the park’s North Rim and are damaging water sources, vegetation,
Districts, or their legally harvested bison or elk on the North Kaibab Ranger District. Hunters are required to use the most direct and least ground-disturbing route, and retrieval is not allowed in existing off-road travel-restricted areas or when conditions are such that travel would cause damage to natural and/or cultural resources. The rules don’t allow for motorized retrieval of any other big game species. Each national forest has its own rules concerning cross-country travel. All have restricted such travel, although the Tonto National Forest has not finalized its rules. Most forests adopted plans that allow cross-country travel by hunters to retrieve game — although the exceptions vary by species and forest. For instance, the Coconino National Forest allows cross-country travel for game retrieval across most of the forest, but not in some of the prime hunting areas, like the Pine Grove and Rattlesnake Quiet Areas, the Woods Canyon Big Game Winter Habitat Seasonal Closure Area and wilderness areas like Wet Beaver Creek, West Clear Creek and Fossil Springs. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests also allow cross-country motorized travel one mile from established roads for game retrieval for both elk and deer. So make sure to check the regulations in the area you’re hunting before striking out cross country on an ATV.
OFF-ROADRULES
soil and archaeological sites, according to Game and Fish. Elk weigh between 450 and 1,200 pounds and bison between 750 and 2,500 pounds. It is unlawful to leave the edible portion of a harvested animal in the field to waste. For some hunters, a harvested bison or elk can realistically be packed out of the field only by motorized transport. Motorized retrieval is also an important component of the department’s lead reduction conservation efforts for the California condor. The department offers free coupons for lead-free ammunition to all hunters who draw tags for big game species on the North Kaibab and sponsors raffles to encourage the minority of hunters who use lead ammunition to pack out the gut piles of their lawfullyharvested big game species. The gut pile of a mature bison can exceed 500 pounds. It is unrealistic to expect hunters to pack out large gut piles without access to a motor vehicle. In an effort to balance increasing off-road-vehicle recreational use with resource protection, the U.S. Forest Service in 2005 directed each forest to designate roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use. All other areas would be considered closed to off-road motor vehicle use, with a few exceptions such as motorized retrieval of big game. The current rules allow hunters one trip with a motor vehicle, during hunting season only, to travel up to one mile off a designated road to pack their legally harvested elk out of the field on the Tusayan and Williams Ranger
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HIGH-TECHTIPS
Google Earth image
Google Earth can dramatically increase the efficiency of the preseason hunt, especially when it comes to locating water sources.
Google Earth now the hunter’s best friend Satellite view can make pre-hunt scouting far more efficient By Dean Pederson I missed the beginning of the computer generation because I thought I’d never have to use one. Had I known that programs such as Google Earth would benefit me as a hunter, I wouldn’t have fought so hard to remain “technologically inept” as my wife puts it. I guess sometimes things have to be applicable to you before you see their value. If you had asked me two years ago if I would ever be preparing a lesson on how to use a computer program, I would have emphatically stated NO! Yet, here I am, preparing to give you instructions on the many features of Google Earth and how they will make you a better hunter, fisher, outdoorsman, and traveler. Heck, you can even look for property for sale. 26 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
Google Earth is a free program available on your computer, phone, or tablet. I prefer to use the desktop system’s big screen and convenient mouse when scouting an area. When I’m in the field, I use my phone if I find an area I want to explore further. If you haven’t downloaded Google Earth before, stop what you are doing and download it now. Let me explain how Google Earth has helped me become a more productive hunter and things you will want to remember when looking for hunting areas. A couple years ago, I decided to hunt deer in southern Arizona with my bow. The hunt was during January and I had spent a little time in the area so I knew if I looked for alfalfa fields close to mountains. The alfalfa would attract
HIGH-TECHTIPS
the deer and the mountain retained on any device would give me a vantage you signed into. I have point to glass from. made this mistake numerous times and lost On Google Earth, I hours spent marking found a place on Baseline tanks and trails when Road and 491st Avenue my computer died. You that looked promising. I can thank me later for drove there on the first day this piece of advice. of my hunt and climbed the When you open mountain in the dark, since Google Earth, you’ll I already knew where to go see an image of the world. thanks to Google Earth. I If you double click on it, it would have otherwise spent will start zooming in, and a many hours scouting the area single click will stop it from on foot. At daylight, I saw 65 Google Earth image zooming. You can zoom in head of mule deer and two This overhead view of Gisela shows the water source of Tonto large bucks exiting the fields. Creek and in blue in the center of the image shows a stock tank. slower by using the wheel on your mouse. If you hold Wow! Doing my homework your left mouse button and move your mouse, you can pan paid off. Now back to your homework. Before we go any further, I’m going to give you my best right, left, up and down. For your first task, zoom in on bit of advice. If you don’t have a Google email account, Payson, Ariz. or wherever you want to initiate most of your go online and start one — even if your will never use it to searches from your hunting unit. You can zoom, or you can send email. When you open Google Earth, go to the upper type the location in the search box at the upper left hand right of the menu bar and sign in using your Google ac- side of the screen. Don’t zoom in too close for this step. We count information. Make sure you are signed in every time will set this as your starting point whenever Google Earth you use Google Earth so that any areas you mark will be is opened on your device. To save this location go to View
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HIGH-TECHTIPS
on the toolbar and choose Make this my starting loca- successful hunt. tion. This will save you tremendous time from having One reason you need to scout your unit on floor or by to zoom in every time. vehicle is to make sure a water tank viewed on Google On the left side of your screen, you should see a Earth has water in it during the weeks of your hunt — parmenu titled Places and one titled Layers. You should ticularly in the summer months. The opposite can be true see a number of icons under Layers. For my pur- too. The antelope season falls during the monsoon, so the poses, I have; Borders and Labels; Roads and Places single water source you viewed on Google Earth may not checked. You can have them all checked, but I like to be the only place for the antelope to drink following the keep my view as simple as possible. On screen, you rains. This happens with elk as well, depending on the will see various tools. Your latitude and longitude are dates of your hunt. Early hunts have an abundance of waon your lower right. You can also see the dates of the ter holes to hunt, but late hunts require a search for smaller photos. If you will be out of cellphone range, you will want pockets of water frequented by bulls after the rut. to put these coordinates into your GPS before your hunt. On the upper right of the screen, you can change the direc- GOOGLE EARTH HUNTING TIPS When looking for bull elk on Google Earth, find water tion, the altitude and the zoom of your view. tanks that have wallows where the elk have rolled around If you find an area you would like to save such as a water tank, you can “pin” it and name it. Click on the yel- in the mud to keep cool. You need photos taken between August and October, so make sure to be checking that low push pin icon on date stamp at the botthe toolbar to place a tom of your screen. pin on your map. You The wallows will be at can drag by holding the head of the tank. your left mouse button Cattle don’t wallow so to place it where you you know it’s elk. want. You can type a Look for thickets description in the box in the late hunts and displayed. You can glassing spots from pin as many locations which you can see the as you want and find elk from a distance. them in your Places Bulls move alone menu to the left of the away from the rutting screen as well as have areas to rest. This usuan icon on the map ally occurs south of itself. the Mogollon Rim. It’s The ruler on the not unusual for bulls toolbar is an invaluto winter in the desert able tool. You can Google Earth image canyons close to wameasure the distance The overhead images can show places to glass near water sources the animals ter. Some of the bulls as the crow flies or are likely to use. The images can also show access routes to the best areas. follow canyons north, actual walking/driving including Jacks Canmiles from one location to another. I know exactly how far I need to travel to get to my location, with or without a road. yon, Chevelon and East Clear Creek all the way to I-40 Sometimes a distance can be deceptively far or much clos- and Winslow. On Google Earth look for thick pockets of er than you anticipated. I no longer have to worry about trees or brush along steep canyons. Mule deer are much harder to find because of low walking past my targeted location in the dark. While I encourage the use of Google Earth for scout- numbers. What I look for is country with water away from ing, nothing can take the place of good, old-fashioned roads. This almost always takes a combination of Google boots on the ground. Last year, a friend had an archery Earth and time on the ground. Don’t get discouraged. Inantelope tag. We knew if we found where they were drink- vest the time ahead of your hunt for the best outcome. If ing we had a good chance of seeing one. We spent time you are hunting in the western parts of Arizona, look for in the unit looking for antelope, but also came home and alfalfa to find mule deer. One of the spots I look for are old Game and Fish used Google Earth to find the closest water source. The catchments or tanks cattlemen put in years ago. These combination of technology and solid scouting produced a tanks are sometimes five miles from any road. Finding one
28 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
your screen is in the northern position or a little past for a declination about 10° true north so that you can determine the wind direction. Study the terrain, the water surfaces for ripples and the weather patterns to know when the wind will work for or against you. Next, look for bedding areas so the elk can’t wind you walking in or out of your area. These are just a few of the benefits of using technology to scout your unit. In closing, know that you are not the only hunter using technology. I’ve walked to many of my scouted locations only to find a trail camera already on the spot. These cameras may have been left up after a hunt, or in preparation for an upcoming hunt. Don’t get discouraged and always be a good sport and leave other’s hunting gear as you found it. If you come across a tent blind, leave it alone. It’s not yours to hunt from or to take. I have lost countless blinds to unethical hunters and my wife found someone sitting in her blind unexpectedly. Scout more than one area for these reasons. Using Google Earth can assist you in your hunt, but you still must know your unit, closures and restrictions all ethical hunters follow. I hope you have found this beneficial. Enjoy your hunt.
HIGH-TECHTIPS
of these is like finding a gold nugget for a hunter. Here’s a test for you — find Latitude 34° 19’.43N Longitude 111° 26’ 13.43W near Pine on Google Earth. This is what a Game and Fish drinker looks like on the map. Let’s explore some more tools on Google Earth. On the toolbar there is a sun icon. If you click on this, it will show the sun’s movement from daybreak to dark. This is important for two reasons. First, when scoping on the ground you want the sun at your back. The sun will highlight the white hair of the older bulls as well as the white and tan of the antelope. They are much harder to locate in the shade as their coloring is meant to provide camouflage by appearing gray or yellow. The second reason is for archery hunters. The sunrise and sunset can mean the difference between getting a shot or not. Position yourself to use optimal sunlight at dawn and dusk. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a bull come in to drink right as the sun is going down and I was unable to see my pins because I was sitting at the wrong angle to the setting sun. How about wind direction? In the Southwest and most mountain regions of the West, the morning wind will fall downhill in the morning. As the lower elevations begin to heat up, the wind will usually begin to rise. In the evening, it will reverse back down. When you’re looking at hunting areas, make sure the direction tool at the upper right of
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FAMILYAFFAIR
The joys of hunting with dad Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
A pair of whitetail deer contend for dominance.
By Emma Hill I grew up watching my dad hunt. I loved following him through the woods, setting trail cameras, scouting, or most exciting ... a hunt. When I drew my first deer tag, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to hunt a deer of my own. I didn’t exactly know what to expect being the one to pull the trigger, but as soon as I felt the rush, I was hooked. I was lucky enough to draw a Unit 22 general whitetail deer tag for the third year in a row. I was stoked to get the chance to hunt and maybe tag another deer. We began shooting a few times each week. I would rest my 7mm08 on the top of my pack, starting at 100 yards then moving slowly back to 400 yards. After shooting multiple rounds, we would pack up and head home.
I enjoyed going shooting Scouting was a different story. That’s the hard part. My dad and our good family friend, Randy Herrera, would go out in the morning while I was at school. I would join on the weekends and late afternoons. Scouting takes patience because you don’t quite know what you’re going to see, or if you’ll see anything at all. The week before opening day consisted of watching nearly all the movement and patterns of the deer I sought. While being there in the mornings and afternoons, he kept to himself — not ranging far from his certain spot. We all hoped he would remain nearby on opening morning — making him easier to locate. As the day came closer, we decided to backpack in the night before to get a head start on opening day. My
dad, mom, and I packed as light as possible. After a one-hour hike in, we set up camp and bedded down, anticipating an early morning. I didn’t get much sleep that night, thinking about that trophy whitetail we’d spotted on numerous scouting trips. The excitement was gripping, but I knew I was ready. I’d spent hours perfecting my shooting: Most importantly, I had confidence in myself. We topped out at the steepest part of the mountain before dawn. After the steep climb in the dark up the bushy slope, we stopped to catch our breaths, embracing the calm of the early morning. As soon as first light hit us, we began glassing. After three hours, Randy called on the radio. The deer had moved around the right corner across from where Randy was set up. We packed up and headed in that 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 31
FAMILYAFFAIR Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
direction. After setting up on a good vantage point, we saw the buck cautiously walking through the thickest brush on the hillside. I didn’t have a clean shot, so we waited. All day long in the hot sun we watched him. Finally, he started moving. Weaving carefully through the brush, he rimmed back around the corner. We took off following him. The sky darkened, as we relocated him. At 330 yards, my steep, uphill shot missed and he vanished into the bluffs. It was dusk and we headed out for the night as opening day came to a close. The plan was to come back to that same spot the next morning and begin glassing all over again. The morning came quickly and we hoped to find him again with additional help from my uncle Tony McDaniel and a close family friend, Daniel Sarnowski. They climbed to the highest point on the mountain to get the best view of the vast canyon. Randy and Matt Davis were positioned to our
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right about a half a mile away from us. A few moments after sunrise, the trophy buck was spotted feeding with four other bucks. At 300 yards, I moved to find a rest and make the critical shot. Suddenly, he spooked and vanished around the corner. My mom and I followed Dad up the mountain so we could get a better view of the area where the buck had disappeared. The extreme climb trying to follow my dad and the deer was real tough. Fortunately, Tony and Daniel managed to keep the buck in their spotting scope. Whitetails travel far when alarmed, but they always seek heavy cover to hide themselves from any danger. I managed to move into a new position for another shot. But this time, it was a 400-yard shot with only my daypack as a rest. The crosshairs of my scope rested on the vital area of the buck as I squeezed off the shot. He dropped in his tracks. After waiting at least 30 minutes, we made our way across the canyon to the deer. One spotting scope remained on the distant target so that we could quickly locate my trophy buck. I was more than happy to harvest my third deer. He ended up having a growth score of 110 inches. I’m truly blessed to know that I have a supportive group of family and friends to lend a hand when I am in need of one. Hunting is something I plan to continue with my dad and family throughout the years.
Emma Hill and her parents show off her buck.
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MANAGINGMULIES Mule Deer Foundation mobilizes volunteers In 2016, the HPC spent $2.4 million for active conserBy Jim Lawrence, MDF State Chairman vation projects and 2017 will see even more funding. The Mule Deer Foundation is a national wildlife conserAnother important area for MDF, is access for all sportsvation group determined to restore mule deer back to their men and women. Jim also sits on the Landowner / Leasee historic levels. Our conservation efforts include habitat restoration, water development and wildlife biology. Mule Sportsman Relationship Committee (LLSRC) with AZGFD. deer remain the only big game species in North America This group focuses on issues that concern both landowner still in decline. Many factors are causing this decline, in- and sportsmen, while supporting our hunting heritage. The Mule Deer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cluding loss of habitat, drought, predation and encroachgroup and proud of its commitment to wildlife conservament. All affect mule deer numbers throughout the West. So what is being done to restore this iconic symbol of tion. Last year, 92 percent of the millions raised by the founthe West? dation, went directly toward mule deer conservation. MDF The answer can be seen right here in Arizona. The Mule volunteers are truly the Deer Foundation in Ari“life blood” of the orgazona is on a fast track nization. toward mule deer recov“Without our dediery. With 11 chapters cated volunteers, there around the state, MDF would be no MDF,” is very active with consaid Herndon. “It is servation projects, funour volunteers who are draisers, education and the backbone of the youth camps throughout organization.” In fact, Arizona. Virtually every out of 160-plus chapweekend, MDF sponsors ters nationally, Arizona work projects on spring MDF chapters have led redevelopments, installthe nation in volunteer ing wildlife drinkers hours worked for the or sealing stock tanks which capture precious Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service past three years! What MDF has acrain water. Gila County has been a recent focal point in these complished in Arizona over the past three or four years, is conservation efforts. Gila County ranches, Bar X, O-C nothing short of amazing. Our leadership, volunteers and and the Cross V, have all seen significant habitat improve- partners have made incredible advances in mule deer conments from MDF work projects. Some of the recent projects servation, which benefit all wildlife. I take great pride in the relationships we have built with completed include converting windmills to solar, rebuilding trick tanks, redeveloping natural springs, cleaning out the Arizona Game and Fish Department, United States Forexisting stock tanks and removing old barbed wire fences. est Service and the ranching community. This is how conArizona State Chairman Jim Lawrence and Regional servation gets done. Director Terry Herndon work together to ensure the founIf you are interested in joining the Mule Deer Foundadation’s mission is at the forefront of wildlife conservation tion or need information of a chapter near you, contact Jim in Arizona. Both Jim and Terry sit on the Habitat Partner- Lawrence: email jim@mdf.nvchapter.org or Terry Herndon ship Committee (HPC) with the Arizona Game and Fish at therndon@muledeer.org. To learn more about the Mule Department. This committee, allocates funding for wildlife Deer Foundation, visit our website at http://www.muleconservation projects throughout Arizona. deer.org. 34 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
BEARNECESSITIES
Photo by Dave Hildebrand, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Who’s been crawling in my den? A laconic biologist and a nervous reporter crawl into a bear den in the name of science and a good yarn
By Peter Aleshire, Editor Back when I was young and foolish and the Arizona State University field biologist and wildlife instructor was the young and steely eyed, Stan Cunningham, we crawled into a bear den together. At that point, I was writing articles for Phoenix magazine and Arizona Highways and he was an Arizona Game and Fish biologist specializing in predators. In retrospect, I guess I can figure out what he was doing crawling into a den occupied by a pissed off mama black bear and her cubs on the flanks of Four Peaks. Even now, years later, I’m still a little vague on what I was doing there. But I remember the moment he glanced back at me, eyes widened, headlamp gleaming, a slender, syringe-tipped bear stick clutched in his hands. He looked nervous. Understandable. The damp soil at the mouth of the den indicated the semi-hibernating black bear we’d come to visit had been up and about this morning, doing her business and surveying the burned over chaparral on the flanks of Four Peaks maybe 40 miles from downtown Phoenix. Oddly enough, parts of this rugged mountain boast the greatest density of bears in North America — 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 35
forest slope that hadn’t burned in half a century. The Lone Fire charred 61 square miles on the flanks of the 7,657foot mountain range. Cunningham was studying coyotes in the area before the fire, so he already had ample baseline numbers on wildlife populations. Now, he’s carefully measuring the return of bears, bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, deer, lizards, mice, and other wildlife. At the same time, he’s gathering information about wildlife populations on unburned Mount Ord where the Forest Service plans a controlled burn. Cunningham can then compare a wildfire to a controlled fire in terms of the response of wildlife. Previous studies suggest that repeated, low-intensity fires play a crucial role in the ecology of fire-adapted systems, like chaparral, oak woodlands, and ponderosa pine forests. But we’ve been suppressing fires for a century, which has allowed so much fuel to accumulate that when fires inevitably do eventually break out they have a devastating effect. Cunningham noted, for instance, that the 12 square miles of ponderosa pine forests consumed by the Lone Fire haven’t come back, although the fire-adapted oaks that can sprout from the roots have recolonized that area. Determining how to safely return fire to the ecosystem remains one of the most important questions for land managers throughout the West. Cunningham’s results yielded important and surprising insights. Cunningham expected that rodent and reptile
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leastways before the wildfire that caused permanent changes in the ecosystem of the mountain which once had a relic ponderosa pine forest. Normally, Stan likes bears to be asleep — or at least stupefied from the effects of hibernation — before he crawls into their homes to radio collar, weigh and measure them. This applies double when a female has got cubs to protect — in this case two furry little teddy bears already producing remarkably human grunts and squeaks in the dark depths of the bear den. So Cunningham looked a little worried. This worried me. I mean, if the mother bear did rip off his head and come charging out of the den, the first thing she would see would be foolish me — armed with a flash bulb. Stan had been tranquilizing mountain lions, snaring bears, crawling into bear dens, and studying all manner of critters with canines for years now — and he’s not only alive, but virtually unscarred. This suggests he knows what he’s doing — even if he seems nervous. I figure only a complete idiot would be completely unafraid while crawling into the den of a black bear. And Stan is a wildlife biologist specializing in predators — which makes him, at worst, only an intensively trained, partial idiot. And on the trail of a fascinating question. Cunningham documented the impact of a wildfire on a
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populations would recover quickly, taking advantage of the new growth. These recovering populations of small creatures should then support a return of foxes, bobcats and coyotes. He also expected deer to return quickly to the area, taking advantage of the new growth — which means that the mountain lions should pad into the area on their trail. He wasn’t sure how the bears would respond, since they live mostly on plants and normally defend their territories against other bears. The burned out areas couldn’t support nearly as many bears as the unburned areas, so Cunningham expected bear populations to decline as bears defended much larger territories. But nature always seems to confound expectation. Rodent populations remained
Photo courtesy of Dave Hildebrand, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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low for years after the fire. Perhaps that reflects a ningham suspects they can. Cunningham captured and radio collared nine female combination of the fire and the drought that preceded it. The lack of rodents probably accounts for the and 11 male bears. Only two of the five radio-collared fe300 percent decline in bobcat populations and the males in the burn area had cubs after the fire, but none of 100 percent decline in coyote populations. Foxes did the cubs survived. Two of the four radio collared bears on better, partly because they’ll eat just about anything. Mount Ord had cubs, but only one survived his first year. Normally, in prime habitat like Four Peaks you’ll find Such high cub mortalities aren’t unusual, thanks mostly to about three bobcats and coyotes and about nine the males, whose parenting skills surely rank among nafoxes per square mile. Meanwhile, lizard populations ture’s worst. Cunningham noted that crawling into the bear den isn’t recovered quickly as they gobbled up the insects that were eating all the dead wood and charred trees. The actually the most hair-raising part of his job. Catching the wide-awake, 400-pound males deer returned quickly to nibble ranks higher on the pucker-upthe new growth, but the mountain and-pray scale. Cunningham sets lions mostly stayed away — probsnares in baited lean-tos along ably because there wasn’t enough bear trails. He then knocks out cover for them to sneak up on the the bear with a tranquilizer dart. deer. Normally, a mountain lion But you can never tell how a bear needs a 15-square-mile territory. will react to the snare. Most go on Meanwhile, the bears also a rampage, destroying everything had a few surprises for the veteran in sight. But some quietly hide. biologist. Cunningham expected Twice, Cunningham approached bear numbers and densities to a seemingly untripped snare only drop dramatically in the wake of to have the waiting bear charge the fire. He hiked the mountain out of hiding. “The only thing that looking for bear scat and tracks, stopped them was the cable on trying to figure out where to put their feet,” he said, “and that was the food-baited snares he needed pretty scary. I approach a snare to capture the bears he wanted to totally differently now.” radio collar. He was astonished But Cunningham resolutely at the number of tracks he found minimizes the danger of working in patches of the mountainside with predators. “I don’t think it’s the capricious fire had skipped near as dangerous as it sounds. over. Normally, bears average People have been doing this all about 1.3 per square mile, but across the nation (crawling into Cunningham found about 7 per black bear dens) and have never square mile in the unburned arPhoto courtesy of Steve Maslowski, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service been attacked.” eas, giving those portions of Four Which brings us back to the Peaks the highest reported bear rationale for crawling into a bear den armed with a syringe densities in North America. Apparently, the bears had crowded into the unburned filled with almost foolproof muscle relaxant. Cunningham finally had his syringe loaded, headlamp areas — which were abnormally productive because of the two wet years that followed the fire. The bears proved flicked on, and a pistol tucked into the back of his jeans unexpectedly flexible in their social arrangements — since — although the claustrophobically tight crawl space leadblack bears usually defend a home territory from any other ing into the den would actually make it almost impossible bears. Somehow, the bears worked out a territorial truce so for him to pull out the gun should the bear start chewing they could crowd into the remaining, food-rich territories. A on his head. Then he lay down and wiggled into the cave, bumper crop of acorns largely sustained their populations talking soothingly to the bear, and extending his bear stick. I watched his feet, listened to the increased snuffling of the during the two wet years. Usually, bears keep their distance from one another — cubs, and considered one of several very unlikely escape partly because the males usually kill the cubs born to the routes for my courageous self. He backed out a minute females during hibernation. Biologists don’t know whether later, and reported that she’d taken the needle prick stoithe males can tell their own cubs from the cubs of their cally. Now we had to wait for 20 minutes for the drug to rivals and so avoid killing their own children — but Cun- take effect.
38 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
PIZZA FACTORY
six-pound bear cub qualifies as “The Cutest Critter with Fur.” Cunningham handed me one of the cubs to hold while he weighed her brother. She wrapped her little paws around my shoulders and buried her nose in my neck — emitting endearing oohing, cooing, squeaking, whining baby sounds. I melted into a reporter-puddle. Cunningham moved quickly and efficiently to weigh the cubs and make notes on their condition, anxious not to push the hour-long duration of the drug. I surrendered my cub reluctantly, then asked Stan whether he thought I could go back into the den and get some close-ups of Mama Bear. He shrugged. “She’s probably not going to wake up for awhile,” he observed laconically. I laughed — sure he was joking — then crawled back into the den. I wriggled in well past the point of no return, extended my arm, and snapped away with my wide-angle lens — grateful for good drugs and automatic focus. Then, for just a moment, I thought I saw her eyelid flicker. It is, in fact, quite surprising how quickly you can crawl backward on your elbows while holding a camera if properly motivated — even allowing for the impact of your head against the ceiling. Because, I gotta tell you. Bears definitely grow out of
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After about five minutes, I felt an unaccustomed surge of courage, and asked Cunningham if I could peek into the den. He shrugged. I asked him if he thought she’d object to a flash bulb. He shrugged again. It later occurred to me I should not accept advice from a man who crawls into bear dens for a living — but my greed for seeing the bear while she was still awake overcame me. I jumped off my rock, dropped to hands and knees, and crawled across the bear-urine-damp dirt at the cave entrance to peer inside. Mama Bear blinked slowly at me. Two fuzzy black cubs poked out their heads, their pinkish noses and pink mouths distinct against the black backdrop of their mother’s fur. They made little baby noises and wobbled against one another. I fired off my flash, but Mama Bear regarded me with drunken indifference. This was fortunate, since I was wedged helplessly into the crawl space of the opening. I retreated, reported Mama Bear was still awake, and waited with Cunningham and the other members of our expedition for the drugs to kick in. After perhaps half an hour, Cunningham crawled back into the den, grabbed the toothless, sharp-pawed cubs by the scruff of their furry necks, and handed them back out to his assistant. I gotta tell you. I know that a 400-pound black bear can snap off saplings, turn over cars, and disembowel moose. But a
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GAMERANCHES South Texas Whitetail
One girl’s dream of the perfect hunt By Emily DePugh It was about 5:30 when the deer started moving to I have been extremely fortunate to hunt many whitetail feed. Sure enough, H3 came in from my right about 120 deer in South and West Texas, but my last hunt just outside yards away. He was amazing. So I quietly raised my rifle, jacked a bullet in and preof Cotulla, Texas was one great experience. My hunt started in early December, I flew into San An- pared to take the shot! With my adrenaline pumptonio and my guide picked me ing, I wondered for a moment if up and we headed south on I should wait for a bigger buck I-35 to the ranch which is locatsomewhere out on the ranch. ed to the east of Cotulla, about But I decided to trust the 4,500 acres, it was late afterguide and took my shot. noon when we arrived and the The buck ran 50 yards, then first thing I always like to do is dropped. to shoot my rifle a Ruger 25.06 We gutted him quickly and to make sure that nothing hapyes I always help, clean and pened to it while traveling, all cape out whenever I take an was good. animal. I think it’s important to First morning up before know what needs to be done. sunlight and ready to hit the Mama was bringing home the blind, in South Texas they have bacon (deer meat) to Arizona. senderos, which are pathways Mind you, not every hunt cut out on the ranches to reach goes this way. I had hunted this water holes, blinds and mineral ranch previously and didn’t get blocks. The whitetail deer typimy deer within the week I had cally come out and start feeding scheduled. So I had to make a at sunrise. I’ve enjoyed glassreturn trip and flew out again to ing and watching the does fight San Antonio on Christmas Day each other, the bucks chasing the does and the dance of wildPhoto courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to complete it, which cost me a return airfare, and time off of life with no phones or distractions. It puts life back into perspective. We typically stay in work. But then, I guess I’m hooked on hunting — no two ways the blind until 10 a.m. then leave for lunch. We head back about it. out around 3:30 and stay until dark. I’ve taken two 9-pointers, two 8-points, and two Well, my guide had spotted a very nice 9-point buck, which the guides named H3. We set out again in the after- 10-point bucks in South Texas, one 11-point with three noon for the same blind. Mind you, in South Texas in De- drop tines in West Texas. I would recommend the expericember the temperature can get up to the high 80s during ence to anyone: They have amazing deer hunting opporthe day and cool off in the evening to the low 50s — so it’s tunities in Texas, good ranches, good guides and some of the best people I have ever met. hot in the blind. 40 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
2016
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MULEDEER
Photo courtesy of Jim Novak
Location. Location. Location. On mule deer hunt, does the hunt stress quality or quantity? By Jim Novack Location. Location. Location. Good rule in real estate. Also works on mule deer hunts. Now, maybe it seems obvious that where you hunt matters. But this lesson took me way longer to learn than it should have. In my younger years, I would hunt mule deer in the areas my family already liked to hunt and camp, with the dreams of bagging that monster buck. Some years I would
bag a buck, some years I went home empty. Eventually, I figured out that although those areas had plenty of mature, racked bucks — I never saw a real bruiser. So, finally, I started actually researching where to hunt mule deer. The game management units in the state of Arizona each have a management plan. Some units are managed for quantity and others for a quality harvest. So, if you just want to make sure you fill a tag, pick a unit managed for quantity. If you want a trophy, apply for the areas managed for 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 45
MULEDEER
quality age animals. locate the ridge they use or the water hole they frequent, For example, November I finally drew a tag in then pick a spot with good visibility and keep your eyes and one area I’d put in for every year for 15 years. I knew ears open. it would take years to finally get lucky. But I also knew Once while hunting some canyon country, my brother Game and Fish had managed the area for trophy and I set up to glass just before sundown. On the other buck since the early ’90s. side of the canyon about three-quarters of a mile away, we Once you have acquired the permit, now it’s time spotted about 12 mule deer with a respectable buck. I could to research the area. not get into position for a shot before dark, so we watched Mule deer are just them until it was too dark like any other animal, to see. The next morning found us at the same they need food and water. They live near these spot, glassing for them as the sun came up. After sources of sustenance. A scouting trip in and an hour of glassing without any sign of the deer, around these areas will we were discussing our give you clues as to what next move when we both and how the deer use this heard a strange noise. I area. Scouting preseason thought it came from one will also give you an idea direction and he thought where most of the hunting it came from the oppopressure will come opening day. site direction. My brother That being said, it’s then spotted movement always a good idea to on the other side of the have a plan B and plan canyon. The deer were C. Once the hunt starts finally moving across the and animals start feeling canyon, after browsing pressure, they will move below us the whole time to where they feel safer. we’d been glassing. Un Once you have your til they moved and made coveted permit and finnoise going up the other ish your scouting, you’re side, we had no clue. ready to start your We watched them quest for Mr. Muley. go into the trees and not Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service come out, so we figured That means figuring out how to hunt that buck. they had bedded there for I like to get on a ridge or hill with a great vantage point the day. I got around the head of the canyon and within and glass with high quality binoculars. Don’t overlook 200 yards of where we last saw them and waited all day even areas that seem marginal to you. A good friend of until they got up to feed again. mine taught me when glassing, to look at EVERYTHING. About an hour before sundown, here they came out of Sometimes that buck shows up where you least expect him. the trees with the buck bringing up the rear. I already had Bringing along a friend or two is good strategy, as now you a good rifle rest set up, so when he stopped walking I made have more eyes glassing. my shot. Sometimes you see them first and other times you Once you spot a buck, then the stalk is on! If you see hear them first. I’ve taken a few bucks this way and it alnothing, then it’s back to the truck to head to another van- ways gets my heart pounding when that muley appears. tage point. This works well in open country. So if you’re hunting open country, cover as much ground In tall timber or thick brushy country, glassing might as possible with both boots and binoculars. If you’re huntnot yield much. So find where mule deer are watering and ing thick timber, concentrate on areas with tracks and fresh feeding and focus on these areas. It takes patience, but droppings. A slow walk through the timber can also be sometimes you have to sit still and wait for that muley to productive for those that can’t sit still for long. Take several come to you. Mule deer will roam from feeding to bedding slow, quiet steps and take a thorough look around. Then areas, usually revolving around a water source. So if you repeat this process as you travel through the timber.
46 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF SHOW LOW
our packs and hustled down and up the other side just in time to see Mr. Big standing unscathed on the next ridge at about 400 yards away. We fired away only to see him again disappear. We checked for signs of a hit and found nothing. We sat there a while asking each other how we could have missed such a buck. The next morning we did some target practice and found my scope was loose at the bases. Every shot would jar the scope further and further. My mistakes were numerous. I didn’t have a good case to transport my rifle, jarring loose the mounts. I didn’t check my zero after arriving in camp. I didn’t use a good, steady shooting stick or a glassing tripod to make that shot count. All the best equipment, planning, preparation and scouting won’t fill your tag if you can’t make the shot — whether its a 500-yard rifle shot or a 50-yard archery shot. You never know how the opportunity will present itself either. Once, I missed a javelina at five yards with my bow because I never practiced that shot, yet I shot my best muley last fall at 30 yards with my long range rifle set up! Be efficient at all distances because you never know what will be presented. So be prepared, and be thankful for this freedom we have. To enjoy hunting in this great country we live in.
MULEDEER
Remember, you don’t want to be seen, heard or smelled. You might fool their eyes, maybe fool their ears, but you will never fool their noses. Keep the wind in your face and be as quiet as possible, with no fast or sudden movements. Bowhunters tend to use this style more than rifle hunters, but it’s very effective! Equipment matters: I can’t emphasize this enough! You don’t need the most expensive gear, just something that’s accurate, reliable, well cared for and familiar. Ignoring that rule cost me one of the biggest mule deer I ever had a shot at. My brother and I had walked out of camp for an afternoon hunt in open, sage/juniper country, which had burned a couple of years before. This was in the late 1970s when our style of hunting was to take our guns for a hike. We hiked a couple of miles up a wide canyon, me on one side, my brother on the other. We helped to flush something out of the brush. We topped out and started working these small rolling hills, burned on top but with trees in the draws. We met up together on this small ridge and decided to circle back toward camp as the sun dropped low. Moving into a small ravine and I noticed some movement on the opposite hillside. “Hey, what’s that?” I whispered. At the moment, one of the biggest bucks I’d ever seen emerged from behind a tree. We each got off a couple of shots, only to see this muley go over the ridge. We dropped
Cast away.
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WILDCOOKING She’ll tell you that the best part comes after the hunt
Contributed photo
Heather Stroops not only loves to hunt, she loves to cook up tasty dishes with the game she harvests.
Creativity and care key to cooking wild game “Nature is like an enormous restaurant.” — Woody Allen, 1975 By Heather Stroops I love cooking wild game. One of the biggest reasons I hunt is the joy of cooking and eating what I harvest. Eating wild game for me is as natural and organic as you can get without having to go to a specialty meat market to buy it. I have eaten and enjoyed a wide variety of game meats including quail, dove, rabbit, javelina, buffalo, antelope, mountain lion, bear, deer and elk. Some game I enjoy more than others; for instance, I don’t care for the local mule deer in this unit, but love the whitetail here. Taste is all a matter of personal preference. So I recommend trying different types of game meats to find out what you like. The comment “it tastes gamey” makes most people steer clear
of any dish beyond their familiar beef, chicken or pork. But as more and more people learn about harvesting and preparing their own food; wild game has grown more popular than ever. Game meat is generally higher in protein and lower in fat — except for Omega-3 fats. Wild game also contains no hormones or antibiotics because the animals were never given any. Nutrition alone provides enough reason to eat game meat, but it’s also a good way to keep your diet interesting. On hunts where I am away from home, I love to bring all of the fixings to prepare whatever I might bag that day, making it fresh for dinner in camp while retelling our favor2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 49
WILDCOOKING
ite hunting stories. Nothing can top fresh back straps off an elk you shot from that morning’s hunt accompanied by a few bottles of good beer and great company. These rank among some of the best and most memorable meals of my life. Most wild game meats are available in the same cuts as traditional meats. Think burgers, steaks, chops, roasts, sausage or jerky. Wild game meats are a lot like any red or white meat, if you like marinating meats before cooking, use the same rubs or marinades as you would on any of your traditional meats. The only limit on how you prepare and season wild meat is your own creativity. Wild game meats are highly adaptable to just about any recipe or preparation method. Use game meat for spaghetti, stew, burgers, roasts, chili, lasagna, tacos, meatballs, steaks, etc. Just remember one major thing: Don’t overcook game meat. That’s probably the greatest and most common sin hunters commit. All good red meat should come to the table with a bit of juice oozing and the center of the meat the color of blush pink. We should never forget that outdoor sport has been rooted in our evolutionary past as hunters and gatherers. I encourage you to engage in the adventures of hunting and fishing, to live directly off the fruits of our natural land, hopefully we haven’t forgotten how to do that over the last 100 years. My advice: Get out there and enjoy the great outdoors, trust me, it tastes good!
Bacon-Wrapped Venison Back Straps 2 lbs. venison back straps, cut into 2” chunks 1 quart apple cider (not vinegar cider) 1 1/2 lbs. thick bacon 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce Place chunks of venison into a shallow baking dish and pour enough apple cider in to cover them. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove and pat dry. Discard apple cider and return venison to dish. Pour BBQ sauce over the chunks, cover, and refrigerate 2 or 3 more hours. Remove meat from refrigerator and let stand for 30 minutes or until no longer chilled. Preheat outdoor grill for high heat. Wrap each chunk of venison in a slice of bacon and secure with toothpicks. Brush the grill grate with olive oil when hot and place venison pieces on the grill so they are not touching. The bacon will occasionally kick up flames so be ready. Grill turning occasionally until the bacon becomes slightly burnt, approximately 15 minutes.
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2 lbs. ground elk burger 1/2 onion, chopped 1 t ground black pepper 1/2 t garlic salt 2-1/2 c tomato sauce 1 8-oz jar of salsa 4 T chili seasoning mix 1, 15-oz can light kidney beans 1, 15-oz can dark kidney beans In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the ground beef and onion and sauté for 10 minutes or until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain grease, if desired. Add all of the rest of the ingredients, mix well and reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour. Venison and elk can be aged to improve the quality of the
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meat. Aging carcasses for 7 to 9 days at 34-37 degrees improves tenderness and flavor as opposed to the 24-hour chill, cut and freeze method. This holds true especially depending the age of the animal; aging older animals improves tenderness and flavor. If the animal has run a long distance before death, the meat may have a higher pH and the potential exists for increased bacterial growth during the aging process. A clean, temperature-controlled aging facility is essential. Freezing stops aging, while aging above 40 degrees results in spoilage. Consider aging your meat if you intend to use it for steaks and roasts.
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8 quail (cleaned) 6 T butter 3 T flour 2 c chicken broth 1/2 c sherry wine Salt and pepper Season quail with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a heavy skillet and brown on all sides. Remove the quail and place in a baking dish. Add flour to the butter in the skillet and stir to combine. Slowly add the chicken broth, and sherry. Mix well and pour over the quail. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until quail are done. This is best served over rice! Side note: 12 dove may be substituted for quail.
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SAVINGANTELOPE
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Fences & highways fragment range Game & Fish seeking ways to help antelope survive Fences are bad. By Jeff Gagnon, Chad Loberger & Scott Sprague, keep cattle from enterRoads are worse. Put ing the roadway. Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Contracts Branch the two together, and While this fragantelope have a big problem moving from one range to ments the habitat of many wildlife species, pronghorn apanother. In fact, the combination of busy roads and contin- pear most affected. Numerous Arizona studies have docuuous fences can form an impermeable barrier. This widely mented the impact roads and fences have on our statewide used combination does not bode well for pronghorn in pronghorn populations. Arizona or other areas throughout the West where fences Now add in housing and commercial developments, 52 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
we can modify fencing, restore grasslands, make water available and take other action. All of that requires cooperation from many different people and agencies. The Reconnecting Pronghorn North of I-40 Project focuses on restoring pronghorn movements across roads and fences.
SAVINGANTELOPE
railroads, canals, energy infrastructure, and additional fences and you have major limitation on pronghorn movements. Imagine yourself in the position of a pronghorn; you can currently drive across town to the grocery store to buy food. The next time you need food, you encounter a new wall between you and the grocery store, so instead you have to go to the local convenience store where they don’t have the heart-healthy foods your doctor recommended. During your next food trip, you guessed it, another wall blocks the convenience store and you have to borrow food from your neighbors. Eventually, you are confined to your own home trying unsuccessfully to survive off of what’s growing in the backyard. This is what is happening to Arizona’s pronghorn herds. Proper planning and development holds the key to pronghorn survival in Arizona. That includes transportation planning to make roads, railways and canals permeable to wildlife. Meanwhile, city, county and community planning can incorporate open spaces that provide wildlife with travel corridors to connect habitat patches. However, many of these planning improvements are in the distant future. How do we manage within our control today to ensure pronghorn populations survive long enough to take advantage of those future planning efforts? To save ensure current pronghorn populations persist,
THE U.S. 89 PRONGHORN MOVEMENT STUDY Knowing that widening US 89 from two to four lanes further fragments pronghorn populations, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) funded a study to identify wildlife crossings along US 89. In 2007-2008, the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD) collared 37 pronghorn: half on the west side of US 89 and half on the east side. For two years, these collars collected locations every two hours. The collars ultimately reported 121,000 GPS locations to help identify where pronghorn and other wildlife could safely cross under or over the highway.
WE NEED TO ACT FAST Coupled with the 2009-2010 data, the study showed US 89 now forms an almost impermeable pronghorn barrier. Only one pronghorn ventured across US 89 for a day, while the 36 others stayed on their side of the road for the entire study. AGFD also collected genetic samples from
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captured animals and from tissues submitted by successful pronghorn hunters. AGFD worked with Northern Arizona University to evaluate these genetic samples and reached some startling conclusions. North of I-40, the pronghorn populations on either side of major roadways (US 89, SR 64, and to some degree US 180) were genetically distinct from one another, with the degree of separation linked to which roads had the most traffic. A decline in genetic diversity could doom the now-fragmented herds. Construction of wildlife crossings on US 89 remains decades in the future, so we must act now to protect the antelope.
SAVINGANTELOPE
ADOT, Wupatki National Monument (NM), Babbitt Ranches, and the Coconino National Forest (CNF) to discuss fencing. The discussion focused on both modifying the Forest Service fences bordering Wupatki NM and the Babbitt’s CO Bar Ranch and removing the right-of-way fencing within Wupatki NM. The monument’s boundary fencing already keeps out cattle and away from roads in the monument, making the extra fencing inside the monument along the highway unnecessary. A smooth, bottom-wire 16 inches off the ground would allow the pronghorn to slip underneath the fence. As for the right-of-way fence, people have long thought having a right-of-way fence farther from less-trafficked roads would allow pronghorn to cross the component barTHE PILOT STUDY riers, so the animals can cross the barriers one at a time In the US 89 pronghorn movement study, AGFD re- instead of all at once. searchers recovered four collars from pronghorn mortaliAfter a number of discussions, the partners modified ties. The data from those collars underscored the way in several stretches of fences in and around Wupatki NM, inwhich fencing, combined with the effect of US 89, has frag- cluding removal of the right-of-way fence through Wupatki mented the antelope population by chopping their habitat NM and modifications of the Wupatki NM, Coconino Nainto small fragments. Previous AGFD and the National Park tional Forest and CO Bar boundary fences. Service (NPS) research identified US 89 as a major barrier for pronghorn. However, the most recent study showed the RALLYING THE TROOPS added impact of fencing. Combined, the research left little In November 2011, AGFD met with the NPS, the Forest Service, ADOT and Babbitt Ranches to reveal the success room for doubt. Armed with this powerful data, AGFD approached of the pilot study — and the danger of inbreeding in frag-
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mented populations. The group agreed the best solution was connecting pronghorn populations across the roads and fences north of I-40.
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SAVINGANTELOPE
IMPLEMENTATION – THE HARD PART Although the idea of connecting pronghorn populations north of I-40 sounded great, the effort and funding required to actually do it was daunting. AGFD assumed the role of project manager and sought further support from ranchers, landowners and stakeholder groups. Ranchers and public lands managers inventoried miles and miles of fences to add to the pronghorn collar data. The group also sought help from the Arizona Antelope Foundation (AAF). In January 2012, AGFD presented the project to the AAF board. Without hesitation, AAF committed to help for 2013-2016 and approved Habitat Partner-
ship Council dollars. For the first AAF work day in the summer of 2013, AAF brought in 50-plus volunteers. Multiple projects soon followed, and four years after the kickoff meeting, projects continue. As of Sept. 1, 2015, we had modified, removed, or built more than 47 miles of pronghorn-friendly fencing.
BUT WILL IT WORK? AGFD placed GPS collars on 59 pronghorn across the study area in the fall and winter of 2014 and collared an additional 31 during the winter 2015. These collars will collect and store GPS locations every two hours for three years. Only then will we know if these projects have connected pronghorn habitat north of I-40. Preliminary data, retrieved by the Arizona Game and Fish Department regularly, shows a few of the recent projects have already helped. Photo courtesy of Frank Schulenburg
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BIGHORNSHEEP
Photo courtesy of Greg McKelvey
Lions vs Bighorns: How do we choose? By Peter Aleshire, Editor Floating in the twisted upper reaches of Canyon Lake seeking the landscape of a massacre, a movement far above on the cliff face catches my attention. I had been trolling for history along the volcanic jumble of rocks looming over this drowned stretch of the Salt River. Nearly 140 years ago, soldiers trapped a band of Yavapai in a great cave. They bounced bullets off the cave’s ceiling and rolled boul56 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
ders down from up above until they’d slaughtered the whole band. Focusing on the tawny movement on the jagged cliff face, I found myself exchanging a long look with a desert bighorn sheep, a rumpled-looking ewe perched on the point of a seeming impossibility. Just behind her clattered a lamb, just as uncannily sure-footed. I could not imagine by what path they had come to such a precarious position, nor how they would escape from
its implausibility. Marvels of adaptation, they boast an uncanny sense of balance, physiologically spring-loaded joints and hooves that seem to grip the rock. In the spring, they can go weeks between drinks. In the summer, they can go for days between visits to a waterhole, reprocessing their waste water and withstanding a 30 percent loss in body weight, enduring dehydration that will kill a human being three times over.
BIGHORNSHEEP
In the past 30 years, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has transplanted sheep from their last, desperate bastions on the Colorado River to some 30 different desert mountain ranges — including a 1980 transplant to the Goat and Stewert mountain area near Canyon and Apache lakes. Sheep populations statewide rebounded to perhaps 6,500, reclaiming mountain ranges where they were remembered only in the 600-year-old pictoglyphs. Maintaining those transplanted populations has sometimes proved challenging, including a controversial effort to hunt mountain lions in the rugged terrain around Canyon Lake after the herd dropped from about 250 to perhaps 50. No one knows why. The Game and Fish Department, backed by private groups that lobby for bighorn sheep, have settled on a leading culprit — mountain lions. The evidence against the lions is strong, but circumstantial. Biologists released 15 Photo courtesy of Stan Cunningham transplanted radio-collared sheep there in 1995. Of the 12 that died within the next few years, 10 fell victim to mountain lions. Therefore, the state launched a five-year effort to exterminate at least 75 percent of the mountain lions in the area. The AZGFD spent about $150,000 a year killing lions and
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BIGHORNSHEEP
monitoring the sheep in a rugged 1,700-square-mile In the end, the bighorn sheep population rebounded area. as the hunters removed the lions. After the effort to kill the However, the conundrum pitting bighorn sheep lions stopped, the population remained healthy. Did the against mountain lions illustrates the complexities of lion removal make the difference? If so, why didn’t the playing God through wildlife management. The fate sheep numbers drop again once the lion-hunting program of the Goat Mountain herd turns on a bewildering ar- ended? ray of factors, including mule deer, drought, disease, Certainly, the decades-long effort to save the desert domestic livestock and mountain lion ecology. But bighorn sheep has until now been a triumph of intervenwhy have mountain lions throughout the West sud- tion. denly started hunting bighorns? Why have western Before Europeans arrived, bighorn sheep ranged mule deer populations plunged? Why do mountain throughout Arizona, becoming the most frequent image in lions in Arizona and New Mexico kill so many calves and pictoglyphs dating back more than 1,000 years. They rely cows, which they virtually ignore elsewhere? How large an heavily on keen eyesight, fleeing up impossible slopes and area of prime habitat do bighorns need to survive long- living in waterless areas. Once, they probably also traveled freely between their home ranges, ensuring a healthy term? “The department is caught on the horns of a dilemma,” genetic mix and allowing sheep to escape localized hard times. observed Game and Fish’s Jim DeVoss. A desert bighorn ram with a full We changed all that, triggering curl is one of the most prized hunting sweeping ecological changes. Hunttrophies in North America. “People ers quickly exterminated some localare saying, ‘If you guys would kill the ized populations. Then disease introduced by domestic sheep and goat mountain lions, you’d save the deer and sheep.’ devastated bighorn herds. Some estimates suggest 2.5 million bighorns “It’s a tremendous issue in the once roamed the West, but no one West right now. So we’re saying, we knows how many lived in the Arizona need good, well-designed research deserts. to answer that question. I’m not convinced that lions are the problem By the early 1950s, bighorns re— but it is one variable we can do mained in only a few remote, rocky, something about.” sun-blistered pockets along the ColoBiologist Stan Cunningham, a rado River, with faltering groups near former Game and Fish biologist now Gila Bend and Tucson. teaching at Arizona State University, The healthy herds along the Colorado River eventually became the at the time of the study said, “In the Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service headwaters of a statewide popula’40s and ’50s, the philosophy was, ‘Let’s kill every predator that moves so we can have great tion on 30 mountain ranges throughout the state. The remarkable 30-year string of successful reintroducdeer populations.’ Then the pendulum swung back to the contention that the predators aren’t affecting anything — tions rapidly gained public support — both from wildlife they’re only killing the sick and injured. Somewhere in the watchers and hunters, who kill about 90 bighorn rams a year. Biologists note that the hunt for big rams has little efmiddle is the truth. “I agree that statewide predator control is like digging fect on sheep population because a single male will gather a hole in the ocean. But localized efforts like this may be up a small herd of ewes, who then raise the lambs independently. Therefore, killing some males doesn’t reduce beneficial.” Maybe — either that or a politically motivated waste of lamb production. In the meantime, the problematical relationship bemoney, according to Harley Shaw, a former Arizona Game tween human beings and mountain lions was on a very and Fish biologist and mountain lion expert. “I’ll be very surprised if they accomplish anything. Cer- different trajectory. Starting in the late 1800s, we made an tainly, taking 12 lions a year out of that area isn’t going all-out effort to exterminate virtually every large predator to affect the lion population much long term. But this is in Arizona. Wolves and grizzlies proved relatively easy to another of the classic, politically motivated, three-to-five- wipe out — coyotes and mountain lions almost impossible. year studies to try to get through an issue and hope it goes Coyotes can boost their reproduction tenfold when under away.” pressure and probably stand at record numbers — in sub-
58 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
back as the state’s deer and elk populations rose. In the 1970s, lions were reclassified from a varmint you could kill for a bounty to a game animal you could only kill with a hunting permit. Voters in the mid 1990s also helped the lions by banning the use of leg hold traps, except when used to try to catch a specific, cow-killing predator. Nonetheless, lions seemed largely uninterested in bighorn sheep until recently, halfway through one of the most severe droughts of the century. It probably has something to do with the drought and the probably related decline in mule deer populations and the number of cattle allowed on federal grazing permits. Deer hunting permits in the Goat-Stewart mountain unit dropped from 3,000 in 1989 to 1,000 in 1998, and the number of deer actually killed dropped from an average of 430 to 292 — a 32 percent decline. Perhaps a decline in deer and cattle populations forced the lions to shift to drought-resistant bighorn. If that’s true, maybe killing lions kept the herd alive until renewed rainfall boosted the deer and cattle populations, so the lions could return to their favored diet. The difficulty lies in figuring out what actually worked. Was it killing lions or better rainfall? Should we go after lions around every struggling bighorn herd? And what if the main problem was actually disease — which already
BIGHORNSHEEP
stantial measure because of the disappearance of wolves. Mountain lions have also done well, perhaps in part because of the elimination of wolves. More important factors are probably widely dispersed grazing and cow-calf operations coupled with a century of fire management that has converted grasslands and old-growth forest into excellent deer habitat. In the last 30 years, biologists like Cunningham and Shaw have helped demonstrate the futility of large-scale mountain lion hunting and trapping efforts. In fact, some evidence suggests that a lion will chase other lions out of a 20- or 30-square-mile territory, which means killing an established lion may eventually draw in several other lions from surrounding territories. Cunningham studied mountain lions in southeast Arizona and found that although calves accounted for a third of the lion’s diet, intensive hunting had little impact on the lion population as new lions quickly moved in to fill the void. An estimated 2,500 lions now roam Arizona although sport hunters kill about 250 a year — more than at the peak of the lion hunting efforts in 40 years ago. The estimate of the total lion population remains highly speculative. Many professional lion hunters and guides say the real numbers are far lower than the Game and Fish estimates. Intensive hunting probably drove lions to historic population lows in the 1920s, but they have since made a come-
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K.C. Clark, Navajo County Sheriff Congratulates you on your recent Elk Permit Draw. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind you: • Follow Good Hunter Safety Guidelines and Rules. Angie CoCkle
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JOIN THE JOURNEY, BE INSPIRED! www.paysonartleague.org facebook.com/paysonartleague
• Please Respect the Area and People Where You Hunt. • Let Others Know Where and When You Plan to Hunt so in Case of an Emergency You can be Located.
Good luck and stay safe! 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 59
BIGHORNSHEEP Photo courtesy of Greg McKelvey
affects many of the sheep. That earlier study of 15 radiocollared sheep in the area showed that two-thirds of the sheep had one of three major diseases, including most of the sheep subsequently killed by lions. So maybe disease makes the sheep vulnerable to predators and drought, which suggests the real solution lies in broad reductions in livestock grazing near bighorn areas. That’s the heart of Harley Shaw’s argument, who notes that bighorns lack many of the adaptations of deer to mountain lions. Fawns spend long periods hiding without moving — hidden by their coloring and cryptic scent. Their mothers leave them alone to avoid attracting predators and even eat the fawn’s urine and feces to keep them hidden. Deer will also defend fawns from predators. By contrast, bighorns rely running away from predators they see at a distance. Lambs run after their mothers almost immediately and their mothers flee predators without lingering to defend the lambs. This makes the lambs much easier for a lion to find and kill. Adult sheep are also vulnerable if they stray into low brushy country where they can’t spot the lions coming and outrun them on the rocks. Unfortunately, this describes much of the terrain around Goat Mountain and the clifffaces along the lakefront. In the end, sheep herds may not be viable in good lion country, suggests Shaw. “If reducing the lion populations actually works, then the only way to sustain those sheep populations is to maintain heavy pressure on those lions from now on. Maybe that’s OK, but they’d better make sure that’s what they want to do,” Shaw observes. “I think they’ll find that if 60 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
you put sheep into an area with water and cover for lions, they’re not going to do very well. And it’s entirely possible that as soon as they stop the control effort, they’ll end up with more lions than they had in the first place — at least for a while. Truth is, I’d would like to see the department stand up to these outside pressure groups and hold out for enough money and enough time to do a study that actually means something.” In the meantime, watch the cliffs above Canyon Lake — for portents in our befuddled attempt at playing God. My ewe and her lamb looked a long while down at me, then turned and scrambled up the cliff so quickly it seemed they had simply melted into the rock — cryptic as a pictoglyph. I have seen sheep in the wild half a dozen times in my life, each a moment frozen in memory like finding a diamond in the sand. I’ve never seen a mountain lion — save one tawny shadow and one night camped in a canyon when I heard a lion crying like a lost soul. The next morning, I found her footprints all around the edge of my camp — which prickled the hair on the back of my neck. I could not choose between the two experiences — the shape on the ridgeline or the cry in the night. But the memory of that afternoon on Canyon Lake returns to me, a long drift through haunting irony. We hunted the Yavapai and the lions and the sheep — dammed the river, flooded the canyon, paved the road, planted the bass, dried up the water holes, introduced the weeds and banished the grasslands. We changed everything, understanding nothing — and now finger the misfitted keys to the kingdom uncertainly. We search for answers under the
SELF-SUFFICIENCY Know me for my abilities
A father & his disabled son learn vital lessons By Ernie Meeske breathing, sight picture, trigger squeeze. Several years latHunting is for anyone: men and women, boys and er, and after shooting many thousands of BBs into a backgirls, young and old, strong or weak, ability or disability. yard bullet trap, he managed to wear out five Daisy BB Opportunities abound for all who desire to hunt. I taught guns. On all five guns, the cocking handle broke from too my three children Seth, Jessica and Tim, to hunt at an early much use. He then graduated to shooting more powerful age. Now in their 30s and 40s, they are all three accom- weapons. I taught him to shoot a pellet rifle, then a .22 plished hunters. Each took an immediate interest in shoot- caliber rifle, .222 caliber rifle, 12-gauge shotgun, a .243, ing, hunting and the beautiful and wild outdoors. a 30-06, and finally a .300 Winchester Magnum rifle. The title of this article, “Know Over the years he has harvested big game animals with a me for my abilities,” pertains to 12-gauge shotgun and scoped my youngest son Tim. Tim is a rifles: .243, 30-06, and .300 mentally challenged adult with Winchester Magnum Caliber. moderate to severe limitations. While shooting these weapons, I began teaching Tim about the he learned to shoot with the use outdoors, wildlife, shooting and of a rifle scope. hunting at age 12. I knew hunting would offer him many imI continued to teach the baportant values and life lessons: sics of good marksmanship. The Hunting builds character, selftwo main points I continually reminded him of were sight picesteem and self-worth. ture and trigger squeeze. I know It teaches one to be stewards he got tired of hearing it, but it of the land and wildlife. has paid off. He has become a It teaches respect and appreciation for wildlife. very good marksman. I would Hunting teaches how to caretake him out into the forest or fully observe your surroundings. desert and have him to shoot Hunting promotes bonding under simulated hunting conditions (“Practice like you’re going with family and friends. to play”). It brings healthy food into Contributed photo Tim would shoot from difthe home. ferent positions and from many It allows us to share wild Ernie Meeske (right) taught his three children, Seth, Jessica and Tim (pictured) to hunt at an early age. different distances. I tried to game with family and friends. keep shooting fun! I had Tim shoot from different posiHunting helps to maintain self-discipline. Hunting teaches patience, persistence and persever- tions such as prone, kneeling, sitting or leaning against a ance. tree or boulder, and at different targets including paper It teaches mental and physical toughness. animal targets, 3-D animal targets, cardboard boxes and It helps us to appreciate and enjoy God’s wonderful balloons. The balloons eventually became one of his favorites and seemed to work the best. A broken balloon, with creations. I began with teaching Tim the basics of marksmanship, a well-placed shot, would give him instant feedback on a 2016
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SELF-SUFFICIENCY
hit. We always kept gun safety in mind and a good, safe backstop behind the target he was shooting. I love the saying, “Practice like you are going to play,” which can pertain to any sport. I would set up real-life hunting scenarios when practicing so Tim could apply this strategy. Prior to taking him out on his first big game hunt for a mule deer, I taught him about animal identification: how to tell the difference between a mule deer buck and a whitetail buck, a tom turkey and a hen, etc. I taught him about the different anatomy of big game animals by showing him photos of animals. I explained that a well-placed shot into the animal’s vital organs would result in a humane, one-shot kill. I remember on one of his first hunts before he made the shot, he innocently said to me, “Hey Dad, one shot, one kill.” Over time, I have stressed to Tim the importance of being in good physical condition. Strong legs, back, heart and lungs are essential to hiking long distances when hunting in rugged, steep terrain. Not many Arizona hunts play out on flat ground. Tim is a strong young man capable of hiking mile after mile in rugged terrain, even with considerable weight in his backpack. He remains exactly 30 feet behind me, apparently that’s his comfort zone. His good physical condition stems in part from his participation in Special Olympics during the last 30 years. He has com-
Under your roof or out in the yard
peted in track, swimming, basketball, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing — and has the medals to prove it. Over the years, hunting has taught him many virtues — just as it has for me. I have passed them along to all my children as best I could. Of course, Tim’s had his struggles learning to shoot and hunt. Certain things were difficult for him to understand and apply. At times, I had to search and pray for patience and understanding. When Tim sensed my frustration, he would give me a reality check. He would simply say, “Dad, it’s OK, it’s the way God made me. We’ll figure it out, we always do.” Tim harvested his first big game animal, a mule deer buck, at the age of 14. To date, Tim has harvested three mule deer bucks, three whitetail bucks, four bull elk, three cow elk, two turkey, and five javelina. His next goal is a bear and I know he’ll achieve that goal. Tim handles life with dignified grace and humility. He has developed self-discipline and confidence in shooting and hunting through much patience and experience. He has developed a never-give-up mind set. He listened, learned, practiced and applied everything he was. We have shared many wonderful memories on our hunting adventures. Tim is a wonderful hunting partner. With hope and joy in my heart, I look forward to many more time spent in God’s wild creation.
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ANTELOPEHUNT The best hunt ever A tale of two brothers
Photo courtesy of Steve Hildebrand, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
By Robert DePugh Shortly after the release of the antelope draw dashed my hopes of a hunt, Garrett Goldman called me and said he’d drawn an antelope tag in the “strip country” of Northern Arizona. “Would you like to go along and cook?” he asked. “Of course,” I said without thought. The rest is history. Garrett has a younger brother, Clay, a gifted taxidermist and owner of Mogollon Taxidermy. Clay is a very detail-oriented individual. He meticulously plans for every worst-case scenario. And then there is Garrett. I first met Garrett when he was an E.I.T. with a local engineering firm. I have worked closely with Garrett ever since. In all of the years of working on projects with Garrett,
I became painfully familiar with a single, nagging thought: “Will this be done on time?” For the most part, he met the deadline, but sometimes only after working all night before deadline. I affectionately dubbed him “The absent-minded professor.” He earned the nickname many times over on this antelope hunt. As July rolled around, Garrett and I were busier than a Libertarian politician at a medical marijuana convention. But knew his hunt was fast approaching. So in my spare time, I started to assemble my gear. The day of the hunt finally arrived and Garrett and his dad Bill pulled up in front of the house, pickup and quad trailer loaded. I threw my duffle in the rear seat and bedroll on top of the gear in the back of the truck. “Do I need backpack?” I asked. “Probably not,” said Garrett. 2016
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ANTELOPEHUNT
I threw my pack in anyway. “What about a tarp?” “No need,” said Garrett. “Weather forecast says it’ll be clear as a bell for the next few days.” I found room to stash it anyway. By the time we got to Clints Well and the turnoff to Flagstaff, the sky had started to darken. About 10 miles up the road, the unthinkable happened, rain! We pulled off the side of the road, and pulled out the tarp to cover our bedrolls. Hours later heading toward Page I asked, “So do we know where we’re going?” “Kind of,” said Garrett sheepishly. “John Novak has got the same tag as me and he is already scouting. He called his wife with directions to camp, she called a friend of my wife, Katy, and Katy gave me the directions.” As the miles and hours dragged on through the night, I doubted the directions offered by the friend of a friend, twice removed. But to my amazement, the turnoff popped up, precisely as described. As we headed off the main road into the abyss, every last detail of the directions proved amazingly accurate. We finally arrived at John Novak’s camp. Unbelievable! And to top things off, he had a light on for us. I started unpacking my bedroll, put my tarp down as moisture barrier, and got ready to sack out! My back was
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killing me after such a long day and night. I had surgery scheduled for November and my doctor had given me some pain pills. The shot of Irish whiskey I’d taken early was clearly NOT working, so I dug out the prescription and asked Garrett to bring over his light to read the directions. They read as follows: “Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medication, alcohol will greatly enhance the effectiveness of this product” ... perfect ... not driving ... no bulldozers in camp ... already had a small shot ... peacefully bliss. As relief seeped into my aching body and my eyes drifted closed, I heard John and Garrett talking. “So what is the biggest animal you have seen while scouting?” asked Garrett. “70s,” John replied. Garrett paused for a moment. “I thought 13A would have larger animals.” “Thirteen A?” John exclaimed, “This is 13B! Let’s get your tag.” As they compared tags, John said, “Your unit is on the other side of those mountains.” Stunned silence. And that’s the last I heard as I slipped off into peaceful, pain-free slumber. My last thought was, “Thank goodness Clay isn’t here.” Morning arrived in what seemed like 10 minutes.
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We packed our bedrolls, got final directions from John three-quarters of a mile until you get to some corrals and went bouncing off to the right unit. and look to the left, they are all over down there.” Finally on the right side of the mountain range, we I thanked them profusely. checked maps. At that moment, we saw a Forest Service When Garrett and Bill finally returned, I relayed truck approaching. So we explained our embarrassing the latest intelligence. plight. He described the general direction to the antelope. As we approached the hill, Bill spotted some anWe weren’t even close! telope off to the right, three-quarters of a mile away. Back in Fredonia, someone said, “Boy, Clay would be We kicked around a game plan and Bill asked having a cow.” More like a Brahma bull, I thought to my- Garrett, “What do you think?” “Well, this day is pretty well screwed, and there is self. We headed out of Fredonia and turned on the road to only one way to know.” As the guys headed out, I remained behind to guard Mt. Trumble. After traveling a while, we passed a couple of trucks pulled off the road. “Those guys look like hunters,” the truck, armed with a radio and a pair of 15s. As I stared into the setting sun trying to keep an eye on said Garrett. the guys and the ante“We best be looking for antelope,” I agreed. lope, a truck pulled up We drove quite a behind me. ways past the trucks, “Need any help?” found a wide spot in I shook my head, the road to pull over knowing we surely must and decided to start look like the most pitiful glassing. My back was set of hunters this side really bothering me, so of Utah. I noticed this I decided to glass from was an Arizona Game on top of the truck as and Fish officer. Bill and Garrett hiked As we chatted, I to the east. noted we’d spent our In about 15 minfirst night in the wrong game unit. utes, a car stopped and He smirked. “Oh, asked if we needed any you’re the ones.” help. I knew we did, but I guess word travels I believe they were refast on the Forest Serferring to truck trouble. “We’re OK,” I said vice and the Game & politely. “We are lookFish radios. I went back to the ing for antelope.” task at hand, watching “We just passed a events unfold. ton of antelope, five Garrett had worked or six miles down the Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service himself into posiroad, in the flats,” said the driver. tion and the antelope When Bill and Garrett returned, I told them about the seemed alerted. As the goat started to run, I saw him pile Good Samaritan’s news flash. up. Then I heard the shot. It was almost like watching in We headed three miles down the road and repeated slow motion. the same procedure. Bill and Garrett split up to get a betThe radio crackled to life, “I got him!” I called Garrett to tell him I would meet him at the ter view and I climbed up to my very comfortable “crow’s pond. I loaded up and headed out. nest.” As I unloaded at the pond, the guys showed up. For In five minutes when a car from Colorado pulled up. some odd reason, I threw my backpack on a four-wheeler. “Need any help?” Field dressing almost complete, we found we had nothIs it that obvious? I said to myself. “No,” I replied. “We are just looking for antelope.” ing to cut the back pelvis. Puzzled looks and laughter. So I “You are on the right track,” said the wayfaring strang- dug into the backpack for my Wyoming saw. Loading the ers. “Continue on this road, go down the hill, go another antelope onto the four-wheeler, someone said it would be 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 65
deserved rest. After about three hours of slumber, I rolled over to get a better position for my aching back. That’s when I noticed the approaching storm — still a long way off. I drifted back into peaceful sleep. Gale-force winds, rain, thunder and lightning bolts woke me. I yelled, “Roll the tarp over you boys.” The thunderstorm lashed us, rolled up like a burrito, pinned down by lightning bolts. I clung to my portion of the tarp and we laughed like teenagers getting into Dad’s liquor cabinet. We rose with the sun to survey the damage. The foot of Garrett’s bag was a little wet, but that was it. “Good thing Clay wasn’t here,” said Bill. “No room in the burrito.” We laughed and packed up, in agreement that we deserved a warm breakfast at Jacobs Lake — Curley, Moe and Larry heading home with the biggest antelope in the unit. Months later, lying in the recovery room after back surgery, my thoughts returned to that September hunt — laughing every time something else went wrong. That hunt taught me one of life’s great lessons. You always pass failure on the way to success — but don’t forget the tarp.
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nice to have some rope. Back to the backpack, mule strap would work just fine! As we loaded the four-wheelers, the Game and Fish guy stopped by and allowed as how he figured this might be the biggest antelope in the unit. We found a couple of junipers in a little draw and made camp and a place to skin the antelope. I asked a stupid question, “Garrett do you have any game bags?” “Well, no.” So I told Garrett to look in the backpack we didn’t need. Since I could hardly bend over to skin, Garrett suggested I sit down and rest my back. I took the advice — and self-medicated with some Irish whiskey. Feeling a little better, I pulled out the stove and started preparing a simple pork roast for supper. Later, we replayed the day around the small campfire. How could such a screwed up night and day lead to harvest such a magnificent animal? We all agreed Clay would not believe a word of it. Turns out, we weren’t done yet. As we headed to bed without a cloud in the sky, I told Garrett and Bill that they could use the lower end of the tarp to keep the moisture from seeping into their bags. Reluctantly we all laid head to toe on the tarp for some well-
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YOUNGHUNTERS She’s a real pistol (rifle, whatnot) Girls can wear camo or prom dresses – just ask Brianna By Barbara Bruce the Rim, an annual Labor Day event during deer season. More Americans fish and hunt than play baseball, says Though she only stayed in camp, it rubbed off on her bethe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Research shows that 72 cause today it’s her passion. Mention hunting and she is up percent more women are hunting with firearms today than at 4 a.m. and out the door. Brianna’s training came from her dad, who also loves five years ago and that 50 percent more women are now target shooting. And teenage girls are the fastest growing to hunt. She might say she’s a daddy’s girl or her dad’s “bud.” The first time he took her hunting, he wondered if market in sport shooting. Add to that the bow and arrow, which has made a she would freeze up. She didn’t. Of course, this is a girl come back thanks to the “Hunger Games” movie series, who was never afraid to bait her own hook. Brianna has two and it is not a surprise to deer and two turkeys to find young ladies stickher credit. She goes out ing with their dads and every year. If she doesn’t learning what has tradiget drawn, she gets an tionally been something over-the-counter tag for men do. archery. Danny and Shanda She got the deer Merritt of Taylor are a with the family’s 270 hunting family. They rifle and the turkeys with have four kids, Brianna, a shotgun. 18; Daniel, 15; JR, 8; She was just a freshand Brooklyn, 6. man in high school The biggest hunter when she got her first in the family is a girl. deer. The following Yes, Brianna loves to year, she got drawn for hunt — and she is not a another area and got tomboy. another deer. One of her first She has even gone dresses, a denim and Contributed photo lace, was a gift from her Brianna Merritt, 18, has been going along on family hunts all her life and is out with the best, Shane Koury’s Guide Service. uncle. Looking back, now one of an increasing number of women who have taken up the sport. Brianna is an exher mom believes it was cellent marksman and obviously one to take a dare. probably a precursor of her launch into camouflage. Her mother tells a story of Brianna’s hair always be- The family was practicing with their bows one day and ing perfect and her wearing pretty dresses in grade school. Brianna was hitting one target after another. Her grandThat trend continued until two boys called her a “girly girl” mother, also a hunter, made her a wager. She took out a $100 bill and told Brianna if she could hit the bill, it was and then she refused to wear a dress. She can sing, dance, hunt, fish, shoot a gun and a hers. They took down the recycled paper they were using bow and arrow and she barrel races. When she was only for practice and put up that $100 bill. Before she shot, 4 months old, her parents took her hunting with them on someone bet she could hit the picture of Ben Franklin in the 2016
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YOUNGHUNTERS
head. She took the bet — and won it. Taking her $100 bill, she said, “I’m going to go buy me some new sights.” That’s what a hunter, not a girly girl, would say. Brianna’s dad gave his daughter her first diamond. Not quite the diamond you would expect, but a Diamond-brand bow. Her dad told her the next diamond would have to come from her husband, and he didn’t mean a bow. Brianna has gotten back into dresses. Today she is comfortable in both camo and prom dresses. She went to the prom her senior year and wore a beautiful dress. Of course, before the dance she took her beau shooting. Before they left, her dad told her to “take it easy on the boys.” He was kind of kidding. When she got home, she laughed at outshooting them all. “Thought you were going to take it easy on the boys,” said her dad. “I did,” she grinned. Brianna graduated from high school this year and plans to get into management. She will take her basic courses locally at Northland Pioneer College beginning in January. With the family’s annual Labor Day hunting and camping trip at hand, Brianna will be taking her Diamond bow on the trip — back to where it all started when she was just 4 months old — on her way to proving girls can hunt too.
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Contributed photo
Brianna Merritt and her family approach hunting as a sport that brings everyone together at a special time of the year.
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Programs encourage next generation By Nolan Madden Game hunting has a storied history here in Arizona and around the world. But the sport isn’t just an old man’s pastime: Little Johnny and Suzy can get in on the fun. The Arizona Game and Fish Department says that young hunters need a Hunter Education card to hunt. But hey, they don’t need a Hunter Education card to apply for the draw, only a hunting license. Young hunters can purchase a hunting license without having attended hunter education. Classes fill up very quickly. David Audsley, White Mountain Chapter representative of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, teaches the department’s hunting safety course in Show Low. “At 10 years old, youth can draw a deer tag or a turkey tag. But in order for them to hunt, they have to complete a state-run hunting safety course to teach kids how to hunt safely, how to handle their firearms safely and how to take care of wildlife once they harvest it,” he said. Audsley’s greatest emphasis throughout the course is
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archery and gun safety. “We host our junior hunting camps in April for the spring turkey season. Last year, we had 200 kids, not counting their parents. In October, we have squirrel and junior cow elk hunting camps,” he said. The three-day camps are free of charge and include breakfast, lunch and dinner. “All the parents have to do is show up with their kids, and we as volunteers, as well as Arizona Game and Fish rangers, will take them out and mentor them. A lot of kids are from single-parent families. So we take Mom and the kids out, and it doesn’t cost one dime,” Audsley said. The Annual Junior Elk Hunter Camp, presented by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be held Oct. 7-9 at Sheep Corral in the Greens Peak area of Unit 1. It is free of charge and held in conjunction with the 2016 Youth Only Elk Hunt. Contact Rusty Rogers at rrogersrmef@yahoo.com or visit www.whitemountainrmef.org to register or for more information.
FREE CAMP *For qualified Youth Elk Hunters
CONGRATULATIONS YOUTH ELK HUNTERS!!!! Annual Junior Elk Hunter Camp October 7-9, 2016 at Sheep Corral in the Greens Peak area of Unit 1 This event is held in conjunction with the 2016 Youth Only Elk Hunt. We would like to invite all youth hunters who were lucky enough to have drawn a tag for this hunt to attend our camp. The camp will provide breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks and snacks, FREE OF CHARGE, to all our youth hunters and their family and friends. Each meal will be prepared and served by Red
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Please register in advance to ensure we have sufficient supplies for camp.
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Contact Rusty Rogers at rrogersrmef@yahoo.com for specific information. 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 69
SHEDHUNTING No tag? No worries. HUNT SHEDS Photo courtesy of Heather Stroops
This guy will drop those antlers soon after the hunting season ends. So why not hunt the sheds in the country you love?
By Tom James Didn’t draw a tag? No worries. You still have a hunt ahead of you. Shed hunting offers year-round exercise, scouting opportunities in one’s favorite areas, camaraderie, excitement, and surprises. All members of the deer family shed their antlers once a year, with new growth beginning immediately. Strangely, some acquaintances to our mountain home in Rim Country think I killed all the animals the sheds come from. So, it is true: There is always a chance for a learning opportunity. Hunting sheds can get such a good a grip on your heart and head as any other kind of hunting. During the months following the last deer and elk hunts, some enthusiasts devote a great deal of time to watching elk in their winter ranges with binoculars and 70 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
spotting scopes, obsessively tracking the bachelor herds of bull elk. In contrast, others concentrate on enjoying hikes through Rim Country on areas where they might find antlers. Keeping a journal of each antler adventure with date, general location, and results offers a great chance to plan future shed hunting outings as well as remembering good times with a friend or family member. When planning to hike an area, national forest maps are helpful; however, topographical maps or software can better show elevation changes and vehicle access. Many prefer loop walks so they can search the bottoms of canyons, draws and gorges, and then return by way of the ridge above. Understandably, any shed hunter will raise his heart rate climbing to an interesting looking ridge or descend-
ing to the bottom of a canyon. Plan a shed hunt to last at least four hours; include hiking the return to the car. Do not be in any hurry while searching for sheds: four to five steps, stop, eye-scan a minimum of 180 degrees before moving. Any looking-outof-place white tips sticking up deserve closer inspection. Binoculars help, but walking over to the site works just as well. Any bowed, arching shape should be looked at further also. Obviously, you’ll find plenty of tree branches that look like antlers. Using binoculars is an advantage when distinguishing the myriad of branches from a shed antler. In addition, I have found I build confidence and patience using my binoculars that pays dividends during an actual firearms or archery harvest hunt. Locating a shed elk or deer antler
Native American ruins, past mining excavations, even a complete skeleton of a buck deer or bull elk, or a chance encounter with other wildlife. Wherever we choose to wander for our chance at finding shed antlers, remember safety first. • Share the shed hunting experience with a family member, best friend or hunting partner. • Alert someone by phone or text where you are going. • Carry a cellphone. • Carry a GPS if possible. • Take a pack containing water. • Take precautions when encountering possible aggressive wildlife from the Arizona black rattlesnake to a black bear. • Take electrical tape to bind sheds together to make them easier to carry out. When a friend asks me where I go in Rim Country to find sheds, I point to the forest and make a 360 degree turn. For me, the hike’s enough reward. I relish the quiet, sounds and sights waiting for anyone who takes the time to listen and observe. Moreover, for this hunt you don’t have to kill anything; antlers don’t run away out of sight; and, they give a treasure to use and keep. So good luck during your searches!
SHEDHUNTING
across a draw or canyon can be as exciting as seeing the animal on the hoof during a hunt. More often than not, however, I find antlers by accident. The phrase sheds are “where you find them” rings true. However, many claim east and south facing slopes are best bets to search. In truth, the sheds lie scattered from the high desert country above Roosevelt Lake to on top of the Mogollon Rim. Furthermore, when one finds a shed, the other side often lies hidden not too far away. With the shed or a marker as a pivot point, make wider circles while carefully looking for the matched antler. Zigzagging a ridge might also work. Sometimes, luck allows for both sides to be lying next to each other! What can be done with these treasures? Some sell their collections of antlers to buyers. Yard art, as well as coat and hat racks, may include shed antlers. Some design and make antler chandeliers. Besides the surprise of finding a shed antler, other finds might be as follows: both historical and modern gravesites,
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QUAILQUARRY Best quail hunting in Arizona By Tom Lister, Wildlife Biologist As a young kid growing up in Mesa, I spent many days I saw my French Brittany, Dolly, throw her head up, hunting Gambel’s quail in the desert around Mesa and testing the air and letting me know there were quail ahead. Apache Junction with my dad and grandpa. Quail huntShe and her son, Tuffy, started working their way to the top ing is perfect for spending time in the hills with family. You of the ridge. They worked the scent cone of what I knew don’t have to keep reminding the kids to keep quiet like was our quarry, a covey of Gambel’s quail. I followed the on a deer hunt, which makes it much more enjoyable for dogs to the top of the ridge and found them on point near children. Quality footwear is also a must, I wear all leather the edge of the ridge overlooking Tonto Creek. They were frozen, pointing to a clump of prickly pear 8-inch boots with vibram soles to give good ankle support and protect my feet from rocks and cactus spines. I also cactus with the previous summer’s grass mixed in. recommend brush pants with corAs I approached the dogs, dura nylon facing to stop catclaw the covey exploded from the and mesquite thorns from tearing cactus. These tough little birds at your legs. I wear a strap vest, quickly dropped over the edge with a 100ml hydration system to of the ridge before I could get carry my birds, shotshells, extra a shot off from my over/under water and a multi-tool for remov20-gauge shotgun. ing cactus spines. The dogs stayed on point, Now that I have achieved senior telling me there were more birds citizen status, I also wear baseball in front of them. When the tardy batting gloves to protect my hands bird launched, I was ready and from cuts and abrasions. my little 20 found its mark. The The legal firearm for quail dogs raced for the downed bird. hunting is any shotgun .410 to 10 Tuffy won the race and brought Photo courtesy of Tom Lister gauge. I have used a 20-gauge the beautiful male to my hand. A well-trained dog makes a big difference on a quail shotgun for most of my hunting caThis scene played out sevhunt. reer. I like a light gun, such as a eral years ago south of Payson. This area has some of the best Gambel’s quail hunting in lightweight, semi-auto or double barrel. Recently, I started Arizona and quite possibly in the nation. The Tonto Ba- carrying a 28-gauge over/under. It isn’t that much lighter sin area south of town and the breaks going into the East than my 20-gauge double guns, but the ammo is much Verde River west of town are areas to check out. Preseason lighter. When hiking some of the hills where quail hide, scouting for quail hunting is just as important as it is for big lighter is always better! I like to shoot a field load of #7 or #71/2 shot with a muzzle velocity of around 1250 feet per game hunting. You and your dogs need to be in good physical condi- second with an open choke such as improved cylinder or tion when hunting these birds. Rarely will you find yourself skeet. In Arizona, we are blessed with some of the best quail with solid footing when the birds flush, so always be aware of other hunters and dogs. Blaze orange hats, vests and hunting in the nation. The season opens in early October shirts, though not required by law, really help to make sure and ends in February. Gambel’s quail is the primary speyou know where you and your partners are at all times. I cies hunted throughout Arizona, primarily in the Sonoran, Mohave and Chihuahuan deserts. Another desert dweller, even put blaze orange vests on my dogs at times. 72 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
When looking for these birds, in addition to a water source, look for food sources the birds key on. When the season opens, they will often be found near prickly pear cactus patches, feeding on the pears. Quail also like a “green salad” which is important for their nesting success in the upcoming spring. So look for these areas to start your hunt. The first places to green up are often the canyon and wash bottoms and the north-facing slopes. As winter sets in, look to south-facing slopes and ridge tops. Some of my better spots allow me to hunt three or more water sources, which increases the odds I’ll find birds and also provides water for the dogs. I always carry at least two quarts of water for the dogs along with a collapsible water bowl. My canine hunting partners work hard and it is always a good idea to stop at any water source and let them get a drink and cool down. To find your birds, get out early in the morning near a water source and listen for birds calling, if you don’t hear any, try calling with a call, using the “Cha-keet-a” call and listen for responses. When you locate the birds, head for them. These birds will run, so be prepared to move quickly to pressure the birds to flush. When you think you have lost the birds, take a break. Sit down and listen for birds calling to each other to join back up.
QUAILQUARRY
found primarily in Southeast Arizona, is the scaled quail. These are the two species hunted in the early season. Later, usually in early December, a third species of quail becomes legal to hunt, the beautiful Mearns’ quail, also called Montezuma or Fools Quail. The Mearns’ are primarily found in the foothills of the Sky Island mountain ranges in Southeast Arizona in the Oak Grassland community. In some spots in Southern Arizona a hunter can sometimes score an Arizona Grand Slam, taking Gambel’s, scaled and Mearns’ quail in the same day. My three sons and I accomplished this several years ago, plus the boys also harvested some mourning doves for a four species harvest! Gambel’s quail is the species hunted in the Payson area. They are found primarily from the juniper grassland south of town, down to the Sonoran desert of the Tonto Basin and Rye. When looking for a location to hunt, always look for water. These birds will usually be found within a mile of a water source. Look for their tracks around the water sources, and listen for their call. They are a vocal bird and using one of the commercial quail calls can help you locate your target. In an average year, the birds remain in family group coveys of 10-15 birds early in the season. Later, when the cold weather settles in, these coveys will join together to form “winter” coveys of 50 or more birds.
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QUAILQUARRY
I hunt with pointing dogs, and I knew she heard some quail that meaning when they get close to my diminishing hearing could not. birds, they stop and “point” to the Take care of your birds once you birds location. I happen to like the have harvested them. Clean them and French Brittany breed, but many get them on ice for the trip home. Remember to leave a feathered wing atbreeds love to hunt quail. Popular tached until you arrive home. I breast pointing breeds you are likely to my birds and also keep the legs and see in the field are German shorthaired pointers, American Brittany thighs, my favorite portion. I grew up and English pointers. Flushing eating game birds of all kinds that my dogs also work well for Gambel’s and grandpa harvested and my grandma scaled quail. That includes breeds such cooked. My favorite way to eat quail as Labrador retrievers, springer spanstill is simply to roll the breasts, legs and Photo by SearchNet Media from Tucson iels and hunting bred cocker spaniels. thighs in seasoned flour, and fry them During the early part of the quail like chicken. Add white gravy to serve season during October and early November, be careful over mashed potatoes and you have a meal fit for a king! of rattlesnakes and heat stress. I usually don’t really start The upcoming 2016-17 quail season will open for hunting my dogs hard until at least the middle of Novem- Gambel’s and scaled quail on Sept. 30 and Mearns’ opens ber when temperatures have dropped and the snakes are on Dec. 2. The season ends for all three species on Feb. not as active. 12, 2017. Expect a little better than average season. We Dogs hunt using their noses to scent the birds, so if had a fairly wet winter and reports I am getting seem to at all possible try to hunt into the wind or quartering the indicate a fairly good hatch of young birds. Tom Lister, 62, grew up in Duncan, Ariz. He’s a native Arizowind. As the dogs gain more experience you will also find nan, with a 41-year marriage and four grown children. A former that they recognize the call of the Gambel’s and will listen for the birds just as you do. My Dolly was a professional at Game and Fish wildlife manager, he has a bachelor’s in wildlife listening for the quail. I would see her stop, perk her ears biology.
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BESTBULLETS Choosing the proper cartridge By Jim Wegge hunter shot his buffalo after he’d already hit it. I suggested You choose a firearm for all kinds of reasons. we find out what his shot had done. We found the enBut then you must choose a cartridge to get the job tire expanded jacket from the 130 grain .270 tangled in done. If you are a hunter, one of the many levels of respon- the course hair on the neck of the buffalo. The bullet core sibility involves making quick clean kills. had slipped out of the jacket and penetrated three inches. When the westward expansion reached the great buf- I could feel it with my finger. falo herds and the haunts of the grizzly bear, hunters soon I once shot a turkey gobbler with my grandfather’s old learned that more effective guns were needed. It was one ’73 Winchester in 44-40 WCF. Rifles were legal then. The thing to lose an elk that would have fed an expedition’s first shot went through sideways and down the turkey went. members, but quite another to just wound a grizzly bear As I ran up to him, he got up and started running up a hill. I and have him in your lap. shot him in the south end going north. I later found the bullet in a neck vertebrae. Made me rethink As the subsistence and sport hunting all the bullets we saw dug out with a knife in this country advanced, arms manufacturers introduced new cartridges for betin the old cowboy movies. ter results in the field and, of course, to John Tayler was one of the first to dig sell guns. Although there were some bold out bullets from his African kills and docuadvertisements of the gun that would do ment their performance. His work was it all, most cartridges were designed for done in the ’20s and ’30s, but his data still applies. animals of different sizes and the nature If you have an elk permit this year, unof their behavior. less you just love to follow a blood trail, do I remember an ad that showed a not take shots beyond your rifle’s ability. Methodist missionary with a tiger in China If you want to be prepared, practice long that he had killed with a Savage .22 High shooting and use .30 and .338 calibers. Power. That’s like using a finishing hammer to drive framing nails. It’s not going Those of you with a lot of hunting exto work out well for anyone. perience know that things can go wrong Always consider the distance you are out there. You don’t get the perfect 150Photo courtesy of Heather Stroops yard shot presented. What you may see is comfortable shooting. Long-range shooting at game is a subject in itself, but at the a bull run into an opening at 400 yards, least you need an observer, a good shooting rest, a range stop and face you for a few seconds, then run into the timfinder and the proper cartridge. ber. With today’s short seasons and low animal densities, Center-fire cartridges have greatly improved bullets you would like to be prepared to take that shot. on the market today. Twenty years ago, many bullets exEnough goes wrong out there, without compounding panded on the surface without penetration, where today’s the troubles with a lack of preparation. Strive always to live bullets will penetrate and expand as required. up to the obligations of a responsible hunter. I once shot a Among many other jobs, I worked many years at the deer with a 270 grain bullet out of a 9.3x74R and had to North Kaibab checking station and spent 11 years as a trail it by disturbed grass and willows for over an hour. The skinner at the annual buffalo hunts. I talked to many hunt- wound left no blood trail. Upon exiting the animal, the bulers about their hunting experiences and noted the effective- let pulled with it a piece of tallow the size of two golf balls ness of different cartridges. and plunged the exit hole. So be prepared — and enjoy your hunt! One buffalo hunter complained bitterly that another 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 75
ELKFOUNDATION By Nolan Madden Most folks don’t readily associate hunting with conservation. But the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation says if you’re a birdwatcher, camper or hiker, you’ll appreciate the organization’s mission. White Mountain Chapter representative David Audsley said, “You don’t have to be a hunter to benefit from our organization. Our objective is to preserve all wildlife in the national forests.” The RMEF and its partners have completed nearly 10,000 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects since June 2015, with a combined value of more than $987 million. The projects have protected or enhanced more than 6.6 million acres of habitat and securing public access to more than 772 acres nationally. With elk as its main focus, RMEF’s nationwide conservation approach includes all wildlife, with the Montana-based nonprofit donating to game and fish departments of the states where elk reside for habitat restoration and research to minimize the impact of disease. The White Mountain Chapter was instrumental in the recovery from our region’s historic wildfires of the past decade, the Rodeo-Chediski, Wallow and San Juan fires. “When the fires come, not only do they burn out all the habitat and feed areas, but also all the national forest’s grazing fences. Elk calves, deer fawns and antelope often become tangled in the damaged fencing and die. We remove and restretch all the damaged fencing to make it safe for the wildlife to forage and migrate,” Audsley said. In the spring months of April, May and June, the chap-
ter works with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to repair damaged wildlife cattle drinkers and troughs throughout northern Arizona. “We recently repaired a drinker in the Heber-Overgaard area and discovered not only cattle, but also bear, deer, elk and mountain lion tracks,” Audsley said. Similar efforts have contributed to the nationwide recovery and resurgence of Canada goose, wild turkey, trumpeter swan, antelope and white-tailed deer populations, including its namesake elk. “In 1907, there were only 41,000 elk left in the United States. Today, there are over 1.2 million elk in the 10 western states. So we can see the positive effect hunters are having,” Audsley noted. Through donations to groups like RMEF, Audsley says hunters add $440 million a year to conservation efforts. RMEF has completed successful elk restorations in Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and is on track to assist plans in West Virginia, leading to an eastern elk population of 17,000 and proliferating more than 148,000 acres. The group aims to increase membership, particularly among the young. The groups are set to host youth hunting camps in Springerville this fall. The White Mountain Chapter is also seeking more volunteers. “You don’t have to be a hunter to be concerned about wildlife. We as hunters are the prime movers to protect and preserve the habitat of our wildlife, more so than anybody else in the country,” Audsley said.
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WILDTROUT
Contributed photo
German brown trout were introduced in Arizona in 1931.
Hook Jaws and Happiness
The quest for wild brown trout yields unexpected lessons By Tyson McKee and Jake Swartwood ed hook on the end of their lower jaws hence the nickname The engine turned over; it read 28 degrees on the neon “hook jaws.” The fish use the weapon to fend off other green display that makes you question your eyesight at this males during the spawn. Moreover, the oversized jaw can time of day — 5 a.m. in February. I was on my second attract the scaly ladies, much like an elk’s antlers during cup, while Jake was busily slurping his first surely burning the rut. The jaw often grows more prominent in the spawn, his tongue from time to time as he sped to catch up on my but also can remain year-round. Each year, the jaw grows coffee rush. We were heading to the Mogollon Rim and the more pronounced. streams novelist Zane Grey fished. Park at the turn, walk We’ve all heard size doesn’t matter, right? down the road, follow the fence, head up the Wrong: Indeed it does. creek and at one point you are going to have “Many men go fishing Brown trout can live in slightly higher to jump. Period. water temperatures than other trout, makall of their lives without We sought monster brown trout, planted knowing that it is not ing the skinny water streams of Arizona an in Arizona water decades ago, but wild now fish they’re are after.” ideal fit for the species — though thrives in and fitted to the streams where few know — Zane Grey many of the area’s lakes, as well. They’re they lurk. In truth, we sought much more also fierce predators, often gobbling up than trout — but could not have named it other trout species as well as endangered then. native fish. Left alone, they come to dominate life in most According to Arizona Game and Fish, the German streams in which they live. brown trout (salmo trutta) was introduced to Arizona in We had been fishing together before. Actually, we have 1931. It can live up to 38 years and grow to more than 22 known each other most of our lives. Same T-ball team, pounds. Male brown trout are blessed with a kype, a wick- youth basketball, the whole deal of growing up in a small 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 77
WILDTROUT
town. We started our fly fishing careers in the Rocky Mountains together, yet had never fly fished our local grounds on the same expedition. But on this day, and on our home waters, a fish we never caught forged a new link in our friendship. It was a brown trout — a monstrous. hook-jawed beast. We sat upon a stone ledge, the perfect watch tower. He couldn’t see us, but we stared down to obtain a glimpse into his life. Massive and suspended in the crystal clear water, he looked completely out of place in that narrow stream. He had nowhere to go, upstream or down. This hole was his home. And though he looked like a whale in a pond, he’d spent his whole life in this pool — growing larger year by year. We watched him for nearly an hour, fascinated. Finally, I got the nod to throw the pitch. Damn. What do I throw? What can I throw? The stream entered the pool through a narrow chute above a gravel bar that reached into a plunge pool. Overhanging branches guarded any aerial route. I eyed a Wooly Bugger. Everyone knows every fish loves a Wooly Bugger. The guy whose stuff I was borrowing had an box of Buggers. Green. All fish love green. Cast.
Back, forth, back, forth, back, forth (hey, this is working,) back and forth. Let go. Slap. Spook. Gone. Alas, my fishing skills screamed novice. So did the torn up Vans skate shoes from my youth and most loudly my wife’s turquoise Jansport backpack, filled with six PBRs, a bottle of water and fly boxes of borrowed bugs. Fortunately, my companion had come fully stocked for every emergency — from Super Glue to halt the flow of blood from flesh wounds, to a space blanket for the unplanned sleepover. The trip marked a transition in our friendship, in our lives as fishermen, in our delving into the secrets of these skinny Arizona creeks and our understanding of hook jaws and other myths. We break it down into three stages when seeking these hook-jawed beasts brought here from another continent, who ultimately come to embody a lone stretch of stream, a single deep pool. They are clever, to say the least. Often, the last stocking truck loaded with browns visited these waters decades ago. So their offspring still here represent an exclusive bloodline, established through the tribulations of time.
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THE HALLOWEEN STAGE In the beginning, fly fishing can sound a lot like a long advertisement in the Walmart aisle: “this fly assortment has been carefully selected to provide you with an effective group of proven, fish-catching flies. You will enjoy many hours of pleasurable fishing with them.” But in the beginning, we mostly learned what not to do. We like to think of this as the Halloween Stage as we offer up our juvenile tricks, but come away with only a handful of treats. Mostly, we just spook the fish. This stage often scares people away from fly fishing, frustrated by the lack of fish production. Too many people base their pleasure on how many fish they catch. Some can’t get past it. But for us, fishing mostly gets us outdoors, away from an over-connected society. Catching a fish is an extra pleasure, not the point of the trip. You know who’s not catching fish today: The people not fishing.
WILDTROUT
THE HOOK JAW STAGE It’s on. The pursuit of hook jaws tantalizes the mind. You rarely see this monstrosity of a trophy, but you know it’s there. Maybe you’ve seen it, maybe you haven’t, but either way you want it. The monster’s not dumb. He won’t eat just anything that slams into the water. He takes note of every change, anything that doesn’t fit. He’s picky and cautious and wary down to his bones. To catch him you must master skills of your own. It takes education. It takes understanding his environment. Only if you understand what he eats, his cold longing, his deepest fears, can you wrangle one of these terrors to the shore. These lurking predators will happily eat a mouse, fish or crawdad. In some areas, they’re exclusively carnivores. It takes experimentation and persistence to capture a hook jaw. This is a big game hunt. It takes scouting, an arsenal of weapons and patience. It will put many miles on your boots THE RESEARCH AND and batter your truck EXPLORE STAGE on bad roads to just We made it past the stand beside the pool, first stage, hooked by a privileged to make the few beautiful fish and cast. the places we visited Now, on this day, without catching anywe’re close — closer thing. with every cast. In the next few We want to know years, we started to exContributed photo what’s beneath the surplore the overall extent Jake Swartwood (pictured) and Tyson McKee set out on this day hoping to face. We’re possessed of the water. Examining wrangle a monster hook jaw to shore. by the insatiable desire all levels of the depth to grasp what anomalies Mother Nature conceals. We want column allowed us tap into the many methods of pursuit to see up close fish that can inhale a mouse with a gulp of and flies that accompany them. Each method offers a dif- that bear-trap mouth. ferent experience and can yield six to 18 inches of finned, So we spend countless hours above the water to better hard-fighting gratification. We hit all the trickles of water understand the countless hours they have lived below it. that could possibly hold fish. We hit all the Arizona forums But strangely enough, it is not the heart of the hook jaw and blogs. our passion reveals. In this search, we discovered many outstanding waters Here’s the truth: We all need that time on the water to and people, including that wonderful ambassador of the reveal our true selves. Arizona outdoors, Ben Smith. He is Arizona Wanderings, Sitting there, staring into the mirror of the water, we www.azwanderings.com. His creation of the Arizona mini have time finally to process what really matters and the hopper has established a niche following for a successful space to acknowledge it. floating attractor fly attached to a dropper in the creeks. We finally recognize what lies beyond the illuminated This hopper-dropper combo is one effective way to catch screen in our hands. fish in multiple levels of water at the same time. Blanketing We finally grasp the big picture. the column with different flies will enable fish in different We finally understand our place in the world and disstages of their day, or even life, to have the opportunity to cover the need to protect it. garner a take. Roam local and support your scene. 2016
| HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER | 79
PANFISH When size doesn’t matter Don’t overlook the tasty treat of a plucky bluegill By Art Chamberlin After some trial and error, we came up with a rigging Growing up on a dairy farm back in northeastern Ohio set up that works very well. Kasey prefers a 4-1/2-foot, in the ’40s and ’50s had many youthful advantages. I had ultra-lite rod. I use both a 6-1/2-foot and a 9-foot rod, but two basketball hoops, one outside on the grainery and one any ultra-lite or light action rod will work. For our main line inside up in the haymow of the barn. When the hay was we spool on braided line in 10/2. This line is 10-pound test, but the diameter of 2-pound test mono. We then put baled, we had baseball and football fields. The fishing bug bit me on the north end of the farm on a bobber stop followed by a small plastic bead. We slip on a skinny line-thru balsa pencil type float where a small creek ran through our property. It was only and then another small bead. six to eight feet wide, but it was You want as small a bobber as home to lots of bluegills and a possible so it offers virtually no few bullheads. My brothers and resistance when the fish bites. I I would take a good willow stick have seen people using a red for a rod, a few feet of nylon and white round bobber the fishing line, and a gold hook size of a baseball and wonder baited with a cricket or a piece why they’re not hooking fish! of dug up earthworm and even Next we tie a #10 swivel to sometimes a small piece of bothe braided line. To the other logna. end of the swivel, we tie a 30- to In the ’70s, we lived on a 36-inch leader of 6-pound test 35-acre lake in Kent, Ohio with fluorocarbon line. To the other seven sand and gravel pit ponds end of the leader, we tie a size behind our house. In winter, I 4, long shank, light wire hook would icefish for bluegill almost then place a small split shot 8 every day there was safe ice. to 10 inches above the hook. Now we jump ahead 40 The split shot should be heavy years to June 2014. My grandenough to take the hook and son, Kasey, and I arrived at 5 bait down, but not so heavy as a.m. at the Burnt Corral launch to pull the slip-bobber under ramp at Apache Lake. I am diathe surface. betic and can’t tolerate the exFor bait you can use a piece treme heat, so we planned to Contributed photo of live nightcrawler, but we start before daylight and be off Kasey shows off a nice-sized panfish he caught during a prefer a 1-1/2-inch piece of a the water by 10 a.m. fishing trip with his grandpa, Art Chamberlin. Berkley Gulp nightcrawler. You We start with topwater, and then drop-shot for bass. At about 9 a.m., we noticed blue- run the Gulp crawler on the hook until only 1/4 inch is gill, and lots of them, swimming the shallow water. We exposed below the bend of the hook. If you leave much changed gears and in the next hour or so we caught more more than that exposed, the ’gills will rob you blind without then 60 bluegills and warmouth. From then on, we re- getting hooked. The bluegill and warmouth usually start to move to the served out last hour of fishing for bluegill. 80 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
It was identical to our slip-bobber rig minus the bobber. We quickly found the bigger bluegill and wound up bringing home 13 good ‘gills, plus a bonus of 12 yellow bass. In the cold water period of winter, I believe bluegill go to deep water where they’re much harder to locate and catch. Schools of yellow bass can be located with your electronics and caught vertically jigging a small 1/4 ounce spoon such as a Kastmaster or on a crappie-type jig such as a 2-inch grub rigged on a 1/8th inch jig head. Keep the faith, as April usually rolls around shortly after March every spring and the cycle starts all over again. Fishing for panfish remains one of the best ways to get your young son or daughter or grandkids interested in the grand sport of fishing. Most youngsters, and this includes me, don’t care how big the fish are. They just want to watch that bobber disappear and feel something tugging on their line. Try it and you’ll be “hooked” for life! The legendary writer Ernest Hemingway once said, “You can’t measure the success of a fishing trip by the number of fish caught or the size of the fish, but more so in the memories of that trip and the great people you meet along the way.” I believe there is a ton of truth in that statement! Stay safe, wear your life jacket, and good fishin’.
PANFISH
shallows sometime in April when the water starts to warm up. The locations we find the most ‘gills are on steep rock walls and around large boulder formations. Another great place is right up against the large Tullie reeds along the water’s edge. I believe the fish are just inside these Tullies and dart out for a quick snack when you put your bait very close to the reeds. If you’re lucky enough to find some floating grass beds, you’ll find fish using the grass for shade, comfort, and ambush areas. This past April, Kasey and I observed, and caught, a few largemouth bass on a large group of plate-sized, scooped out spawning beds. Toward the end of July, we revisited the site to find two to six bluegill spawning on each former bass bed. I had no idea they would still be spawning so late in the summer, but they had gathered in large numbers. In a little over 20 minutes, we caught and released 33 bluegill and watched them swim right back to their bed to resume what they were doing. I guess like most fishing, rule No. 1 is there are no rules. It was really neat to share this experience with my grandson. On this past Oct. 26, I went to Apache Lake with good friends Ed and Barb Miller, of Tonto Basin. We hoped to catch a few bluegills and get some pictures for this article. We looked first in shallow water around some decaying grass mats, but caught only little ones. We moved out to 10 to 12 feet of water and slowly dragged a light split-shot rig.
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LIONHUNT
Photo courtesy of Steve Smith
By Steve Smith, Lion Hunter & Rancher In 1781, Peter Beckford wrote a series of letters “Thoughts on Hunting.” The five series of letters is still regarded as the most important work on fox-hunting ever published. Beckford writes: “Fox-hunting, however lively and animating it may be in the field, is but a dull, dry subject to write upon; and I can assure you from experience that it is much less difficult to follow a fox chase than to describe one.” This quote reflects my feelings perfectly. A lion hunt is difficult to describe eloquently; nevertheless, I will try. Hemingway wrote “It takes more than seven days to kill a Kudu.” A dry-ground lion hunt is not a “shoot.” The hounds play the leading role, and many hunters are dismayed to assume the role of the supporting actor. Without the aid of the hounds, you would likely spend your life in the woods without ever a glimpse of the stealthy cat. At the center of the drama are the hounds, trailing the lion where he has traveled in the night. Unlike a fox chase that is fast and hectic, the lion hunt is slower and methodical, with many have pauses of up to 30 minutes or so when the hounds have lost the track. I’ve learned some important life lessons watching hounds trail a cold lion track. At the end of a grueling day, when all hope for success seems lost, some go beyond physical limits to inspire their 82 | 2016 | HIGH COUNTRY HUNTER
peers. I can recall several hunts when shadows lengthened and all the hounds gave up but one. I called Brownie to quit and come in. She diplomatically refused. But then an urgency in her voice, that I hadn’t noticed, caused two from the pack to rise and go to her. I was proud of them, but called again for them to stop. They ignored me. And found the scent. They jumped the lion. My commands were mute upon their ears as off they raced. When I got to the tree with the lion in the upper branches, I told them we would talk of discipline another time. Lion’s travels will take you to quiet places with shades of purple and green. Federal and state boundaries are not a part of his world; nor federal assistance. (Much like cowpunchers used to be). Sure-footed gentle mules are the mode of transportation, 15- to 30-mile circles are the norm. A long day in the saddle and the rigors of the hunt will enhance the evening campfire, adult beverage and meal. The kill is the anti-climax for those who have experienced the adventure. Remember, that without the lion you have no hunt. I suppose it’s impertinent to direct the reader how to enjoy their experience. But as Peter Beckford said, these are my “Thoughts on Hunting.”
Ford is updating the 2017 F-150 with a new EcoBoost V6 engine and a landmark 10-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain arrives as an option this fall and will improve performance and efďƒžciency! The EcoBoost V6 our most advanced truck engine ever displaces 3.5 liters and follows the ďƒžrst-generation engine of the same size that launched in 2009. Power is expected to increase to 375 horsepower, and torque increases 30
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