Deadly carnivore in the woods!

No, not him...



Me!!!



First fisher of the year!

I love these things. Not only are the pelts valuable, but they are easy to skin n flesh. I like the smell, too. Kinda like skunk (their cousin), but sweeter...

Bushman in love...

I'm tellin ya, she sure is sweet! This little Honda, starts one pull (well, maybe 2) every time. Last year, me n the young lads shoveled by hand. No big deal you say? Well, check out these pics. Were talkin bout 12 feet a snow over the winter...












Ya, with this storm front moved in, I haven't seen any critter movement. Even the K9s have hunkered down. A well, least I got the fur shipped. Guess I could get caught up on some chores...naw! With all this fresh snow on the ground, it's the perfect time to scout!

Who says ya can't call turkeys in the fall?

Well, some a you smarter guys know you can, but up here I've always been told turkeys won't respond in the fall. Now, I don't have much experience with fall turkey hunting, seein as this is the first year there has been a fall season.
So, there I am, set up in the corner of a swamp wait'n for the big buck ta come to my Foxpro caller doe bleat sound, when I hear some yelps in the timber across a field.
Since I haven't had any action for awhile, I put the caller on "lost hen" and let er go.
After bout 5 minutes a back n forth, them turkeys come right in! They musta come in 400 yards or more, cross an open field, and walk right up to that caller. Were talkin 30-40 hens n jakes.
I had shut the caller down before they reached the far edge of the field, but they still pinpointed that exact spot.
So, I guess next fall turkey season, I'm sleepin in, and huntin late afternoon!

Late 'loader season...

...starts tomorrow. Guess I'd better get ready! Course, I'm always ready for huntin. Just a matter of last minute details...like the huge storm warnin for tonight an tomorrow! Probly a snow day fer the little ones. Guess I'll just have ta pack em all in a ground blind...er maybe get em ta drive the woods fer me...

Juba's big day

Well, It's time fer the hound to try and trail a coon that he hasn't seen runnin from him. I set a big ol' boar loose, cleared away the cage, and gave him a good head start.
I walked Juba towards where the coon was released, as if it was just a normal stroll. Right away he let loose! He was on the trail full bore, singin for all he was worth! Max, my airedale cross, and I had to hustle ta keep up.
That coon musta been chased before. It was all over the place! Finally we ended up at an old hunt camp. The dogs just kept circling it, but the coon was nowares in sight. The building was on a pad, so I know he wasn't under it, and the rest looked solid. The dogs started wanderin up and down a cut cornfeild, right beside the cabin. It was almost like he dissapeared at the edge of the field...I came up fer a closer look. Aha! The farmer just sprayed liquid manure. No wonder the coons scent trail disappeared...
I leashed up the dogs and headed across the field. That was fun. Anaways, when we got ta the other side, lil' Juba picked up on a trail. we follered it to a big maple, with a smaller maple leanin on it, half fallen down. Juba just kept circlin the trees, howlin but not tree barkin. He was confused. Old Max was pullin like a demon, so I let him go. Right to the roots stickin up on the leanin tree he went. He started snarlin and tearin at the roots, and tryna dig the frozen ground. Sure enough, there was a hole, with a coon inside! Only problem is Max can only fit his head in the hole...
Now here's a trick that I've used in the past. After pullin the dogs back, I lay on the ground sideways and stuck the .22 in the hole. When the coon lines up, give him a brain shot. When he does his "run ta Jesus", he'll kick himself right outa that hole.
Well, after the dogs had their fun, I took a closer look at that coon. Funny, it somehow turned into a small female...
All's well that ends well I say. Far as the dogs er concerned, they caught their coon. Sides, this one was alot lighter ta carry home...

O'l Trapper Tip

Got blood on yer fur? No problem- rinse in cold water.

This works better the sooner ya do it, before the blood sets. It ll still work later, but the fur may be tinged.

I've heard peroxide will work for blood that has set, but I've personally never tried it. If ya do it make sure ya rinse that fur good, ya may get a bleached blond...

Foxpro or Foxcrow?

So the neighbour down the road calls this morning saying there is a fox sitting outside her door, and she's scared ta let her dog out. I tell her not ta worry, a fox won't eat a dog (even a little foufou dog like hers...). I grab the new Foxpro I just got in the mail, and have been dyin ta try.

It's been rainin since I got it, and Foxpro doesn't recommend using it in the rain. And wouldn't it be perfect ta call a fox in on it's first time out?

So I set up behind her house (of course the fox is long gone) and put on the only fox sound, the pup distress. No luck, so I give er with the old standby, the sqweelin bunny. no dice.

I'm ready ta pack er in when I notice a bunch a crows in the distance.

Well, I think, lets see if the crows come in. I crank the volume on "crow fight" and "dyin crow".

Well, I'll say it worked! I've never seen so many crows in such a tight group, swirlin and divin at the caller (which I had set bout 50 yards in the pasture). Now I know they flock up this time a year, but this was nuts! The noise was deafening! I turned the caller full blast, but the real crows were blocking the sound. It was surreal.

Course, all I had was my .22, no shotgun er camera...

I'll do it again and try to get a pic. Man ya gotta see it ta believe it!

Freezer's full, it's buck time!

Well, I got motivated ta head out in the rain by Othmar , and what a day. Deer were movin everywhere. Was a little worried bout my keepin my powder dry, since I was usin my CVA Wolf smokepole. Nice little break open, and easy on the wallet. With a little lectrical tape, she was sealed tighter than my wallet.
Deer were causing a local landowner some problems with his market garden spread, so I figured id set up there. Wow. Sign everywhere.
Ya know, sometimes that works against you...too much sign, or too many food sources. Where to set up? Well, I found a good lookin inside corner and waited in the rain.
Bout sundown two does approached from downwind. Guess I didn't smell too bad, cause they just kept comin in. Rain can help wash away scent and keep it down. Double lunged her at fifteen yards. Guess that close I can't really brag bout the accuracy of the gun...
So, there it is. Butchered her up, the freezer is filled, and another tag is burnin a hole in my pocket!
Sorry no pics, didn't want my camera ta get all wet!

Danger!

Hunter Orange may attract Predators!

(Or, make that pumpkin orange!)

As you can see from this pic, this big coyote is tearing into some pumpkins leftover from Halloween...

These make great bait. The deer love em!

Ulu Ree-vu

The Suburban Bushwacker gave me the idea fer this...a knife review!

Saw a guy flesh a big bear last year using one a these and just had to try it. Its called an ULU knife (pronounced ooloo).

The ULU Factory says: "it is the most renowned knife in Alaska. Native people of northern Alaska invented this knife centuries ago. It is used for hunting, fishing, skinning, filleting and every other imaginable domestic cutting need by the Inuit (Eskimo) people."

Well, good enough for the Inuit, good enough fer me. I ordered mine at Halford Hides , which has great shippin prices on orders over $200-free! Needed some wolf traps anyways, so...

I ordered the 5" Alaska. Price was right at $14.80. I was a little surprised at how small it was, but man it works great! Know when yer skinnin, how you sometimes hold the knife by the blade for more control? That's the idea here. Lots of control over the cut. Make sure you pull the hide tight, and use a sweeping motion.

Here's a pic:

And on the job:

I think I may order the bigger "Inupiat" style and give er a try, prolly work real nice for caping...

Any deer a trophy...

Now, here's a man that knows what it's all about:

"Before getting to deep in this post, I have to explain something to you and it is the fact that I consider any deer a trophy..."

Kinda easy to get caught up in all the trophy huntin hype, but really, why are ya in the bush? Don't get me wrong, a giant rack is a great trophy. It represents the pinnacle of the species yer pursuing. It shows yer skill as a hunter (or maybe yer persistence!). But like the Rabid Outdoorsman says, it's not the most important thing. I would go one step further: just bein out there is better fer yer soul than the giant horns...

Weather

What's up with this weather. Last week I'm tracking critters in the snow, this week I'm out fishin in a t-shirt!

Now, don't get me wrong...I like fishin in a t-shirt...but not in November!!! I hate gettin home and havin ta skin all night cuz it's too hot ta leave em. They go greenbelly pretty quick in this weather. Deer aren't moving too much, either.

Gonna have ta shave if this keeps up!

Guns on the school bus...

"Daddy", says little bushgirl, "what would be the best gun for me to use while I'm waitin for the bus?"

"Why", I ask, "would you want a gun waitin fer the bus?"

"Well", she says, "I think I saw a big bear in the corn field, and I could a shot it I think."

"But sweety, the dogs are out there, no bear is gonna come close..."

"But daddy", she says, "the dogs'll chase it away, And bears my favrit meat!"

Ahhh, they grow up so fast. Why, just last month she was playin with teddy bears...

Dogs comin' along...

Lil' Juba is really goin coon crazy. These big boars we got up here are bigger than him! But then again, he's half Plott, which is a boarhound and he comes from a long line of bear dogs. He just keeps goin after em till they tree (course he's got his big buddy behind him!).

Not bad for such a young dog...

Dream Buck

Was out last evening at a Buddy's farm. This place is known for huge bucks, and he charges thousands for hunters to try for one.

I help him manage the herd, and thin out the dinks. It's a tough job, but someones gotta do it! Anyway, I always have a problem at a stand called the Rockpile stand. I can't seem to kill anything there. Don't get me wrong, I see lots a deer. Last night 2 mule sized does walked right in front a me. My problem is that I pass up the dozens a deer coming in and out of that field. Here's why...

It was 2 years ago, the pre-rut was just getting under way. I'm lying on the ground, the stands aren't set up yet. Out in front of me at the far end of the field walks a buck, later to be named the brow tine buck. I'm tellin ya, the rack on this buck was unreal. It had 4 or 5 points on each side, but what really made the rack was the incredible length of the brow tines. They had to be a foot long! Lookin straight at him, all the tips looked like the same height.

He was about 280 yards in front of me, walking straight towards me. The wind was perfect, but I wasn't gonna take the shot till he stopped, and since he was walkin twards me, he was cuttin the distance with each step. You know what I'm gonna say next. Something caught his attention in the next field over while he was behind a slight rise, and he was gone.

Now I'm not much of a trophy hunter, but I have dreams about that buck. My buddy wonders why I didn't take the shot, he's seen me take further. I guess I figured the only thing worst than not shooting was shooting and loosing that animal.

So that's why I pass up on every other deer I see in that field. I guess I'm waitin fer something...

Here's a pic I found on google of a similar rack. A shed hunter found huge sheds with long brow tines in the area. I'm tryna get a picture, if I do I'll put it up.

Stalking black bears

Yeah, the kids are gettin real good at it...

That time of the year...

Fur trappin season is gettin close. So much to do, so little time! Got to dye and wax traps, sort out gear, send in my orders for replacements, etc., etc, not to mention deer bow season opens in this area today. Then there's goose n turkey huntin, scoutin, patchin boats, tuning 4 wheelers and snowmachines, nuisance animal control, dog training....aw hell, maybe I'll just go fishin!

Ya, I know what yer thinkin: add "clean up the yard" to that list!

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

Well, it's the only turkey pic I got...

Winchester XP3s...I like em!!!

Here's a pic of a nice freezer doe I shot last night. She dropped within a few yards with a heart shot bout 150 yards out. The exit passed through the shoulder bone and bled like a stuck pig. I was using 150 grain 30/06 xp3s, shootin a Savage 111.

I went with these bullets because I lost a buck last year. I was using ballistic tip type rounds. Not a drop of blood! I never had a problem with these rounds in the past, they were very accurate, but always found they didn't leave a good blood trail. This is due to the design of the round, which rapidly expands and expends all its energy inside the animal. In theory, this makes alot of sense, 100% of the bullets energy is expended on the animal. In practice though, you only have one small entry wound, with no exit. As you all know, sometimes this gets plugged up with hair or fat, or clots up. And if you hunt in the thick stuff or swamp, you need a blood trail or else the wolves get a free meal!

As you can see by the pic, these xp3's petal out at the tip rapidly, then they also have secondary expansion in the middle of the bullet. This bullet I recovered from a buck last year. The animal dropped in its tracks from a frontal neck shot. I thought it was weird that I couldn't find an exit, till my oldest son spat it out after a bite of backstrap! It went through the front, and drove through along the spine for bout 8 inches! Wow, that's holdin together man!

Another thing I like is the ballistic type tip on them. Their trajectory is pretty near that of ballistic tips, so I practise with my handloads, which saves me lots a money!

Check em out here: http://winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrlist.aspx?bn=16&type=69

Coon Hound

Finally! A day with no skunk calls. Gave me some time to work with Juba, my young Plott hound. Well, his dam was a bluetick, but he favours the Plott.

Juba is four n' a half months old, and is coming along well. I started him on a drag, then live trapped a coon. It was a little dicey at first, he howled like the devil but was scared to approach the cage. After draggin the cage home (with Juba trialling it) I shot the coon and let it fall out. Lil Juba was still too scared to go after it, even after watching Max, my Airedale mix tear into it. Persistance paid off though, as he started worrien it after me coaxing him for 45 minutes!

Now he goes nuts on that skin, which I now use as a drag. He's even starting to bark tree!

Forcast good for coon...

Was at a trappers rendezvous this weekend, and a feller from fur harvesters auction was there. He sez to go hard on the raccoons, and to get them in for the early sales. Prices are very high, but the market may be flooded by the later sales and prices could drop. He also says he wouldn't even bother setting for coyotes this year....

Skunk Whisperer

So I tell my funny story to an old feller this weekend. He sez "I been trappin' skunks for 60 years, and haven't been sprayed in the last 20".

So whats yer trick I say

"Well, I guess you don't know how to talk to them...."

Skunked!

Now, not what you think! Got a call this morning from a guy in town. Seems he trapped a skunk in a live trap and wanted me to come down and remove it (my reputation precedes me...).

No problem I sez! Easy money! See, I've got the skunk handling down to a science: I quietly approach the trap holding a blanket high up in front of me. Pepe can't see me....just a wall approaching him. When I get to the trap, I slowly lower the blanket on top of the trap. When the blankets covering the trap you can lift it no problems.

Well, I should have known something was going wrong when the wind started blowing the blanket like crazy. The critter started gettin real agitated, stamping his feet and such, but I wasn't too worried, the cage was too small for him to turn and lift his tail. Then it happened. From the corner of my eye i see the yellowish stream of liquid shootin up. Wind catches it and, well, I guess I'm sleepin outside tonight!

By the way, a good wash for skunk essence is: green dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. Get it into a good lather, and rinse it off. Works pretty good. Well, good enough to be allowed in the house, anyways!

No deer, but....

A couple a geese instead...

Junior loves his goose hunting, so we set up at a nearby pit for some pass shooting. After shakin off the rust we were doing fine. Both of us use 870 super mags with 3 &1/2 inch shells. We find the added power of the 3&1/2 inchers make up for the steel loads, required up here for migratory birds. Yeah, we can really reach out and touch em....

Deer season opens today....

October 1st, leaves are changing, geese are flying, and deer archery season is open!!! Be nice this year too, as we've had a killing frost...no bugs!

Been real busy so far this fall renovating, haven't done much scoutin...guess I'll go sit in the ol' reliable stands.

Ya know, come to think of it, I haven't even been goose huntin yet...and the seasons been open a couple a weeks! Thought I was kinda low on hamburger meat (I grind all my geese, taste pretty near to sirloin burger!).