tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12696985738879413802011-11-27T20:20:09.569-05:00Fishing, hunting, trapping, and other necessities of life...bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-11913764896404739022009-03-13T15:22:00.004-04:002009-03-13T15:48:41.134-04:00

The results are in!From Mark Downey, CEO Fur Handlers Auction Inc:Fur Harvesters Auction's March 11, 2009 wild fur sale held inSeattle drew a large crowd of international buyers. Results on sablerealized significant increases on northern goods for larger sizes comparedto recent sales. Smaller eastern sables sold at recent market levels. Thedemand for wild fur remains positive but the global

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-16266533894300371602009-03-09T10:56:00.005-04:002009-03-09T11:18:10.726-04:00

It's that time a the year again! Maple sap's startin ta flow, and I saw some geese the other day. I tap the trees round here, probably have bout 20 pails up. Get enough syrup for the year, and maybe some to give away to family. After we have about 50 gallons or so, we do the burn down. It's rough, sittin outside in the beautiful spring sun, feedin a fire all day! By the evening the sap's boiled

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-37954390184394096282009-03-04T11:23:00.002-05:002009-03-04T11:27:08.974-05:00

Saw this vid over at Huntin Wisconsin:Talk about a bad angle shot!

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-52788968938345558302009-02-27T16:52:00.002-05:002009-02-27T17:04:10.228-05:00

Some good, some bad results, mainly due to the strong Chinese market and the weakness of the current Russian market.Good times if yer trappin otter, not so good if yer a coon trapper. I notice the muskrats sold 100%, with almost a $4 average...get out there this spring! Least someones buyin fur...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-52059656403356186132009-02-19T14:57:00.003-05:002009-02-19T15:04:13.682-05:00

Look what happens when ya don't take the dogs huntin fer a few days...Just put a new seat on it too!

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-20227245876083249082009-02-09T13:00:00.003-05:002009-02-09T13:09:29.097-05:00

But still learnin bout physics, anatomy, geography, biology...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-79661199396972299982009-02-04T15:54:00.003-05:002009-02-04T16:15:24.786-05:00

Nice weather fer hound huntin!Coons n' bears are all asleep, but the dogs n' me get out pret neer every day. Woods round here are all strung up with tubing fer maple sugarin, and the squirrls play hell with it, chewin it all up. I love these nuisance jobs, keeps the dogs sharp. Juba sniffs em out from up the tree. He's gettin pretty good at it, we get tons a squirrels. It's funny, he has a

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-76736949867280964092009-01-27T09:26:00.005-05:002009-01-27T09:46:40.273-05:00

That's one thing bout this cold weather-some critters really start movin! Coyotes, wolves, foxes, I guess all k9's, not to mention the weasel family-ermine, mink, martin, fisher, wolverines, everything cept maybe skunks. If it aint hibernatin or dennin, it's gotta move like crazy ta get enough food ta keep alive. Even if ya set out bait piles, they are still on the move (maybe they prefer warm

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-86318814260399965662009-01-22T09:10:00.004-05:002009-01-22T10:14:25.514-05:00

Is worth 3 in the bush!A friend o mine invited me up to his farm fer some predator hunting. Seems the buggers were eatin all his deer, not ta mention his neighbours sheep.Well, ya don't have ta ask me twice! I pack up and was gone in an hour.First stand, I set up the foxpro bout 30 yards upwind, and take cover in an old abandoned barn. It's got a bunch a missing wall boards, but cut the wind a

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-18112070655879610132009-01-12T12:00:00.004-05:002009-01-12T12:11:19.654-05:00

Check out this video sent to me with the question "what would you do?"I guess it depended on what kinda tag was in my pocket...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-86493574686282354752009-01-10T13:45:00.003-05:002009-01-10T13:50:48.285-05:00

According to Fur Harvesters Auction:FHA held its first sale of the season on January 9th offering a fresh collection of all items with the exception of sable, lynx and cats. Our attendance mirrored that of last January and although buyers were cautious, support from all buyers in attendance was witnessed.Considering the economic conditions around the world we were pleased with the prices realized

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-19221269821570231582009-01-05T12:09:00.002-05:002009-01-05T12:25:09.065-05:00

When ya see articles like this in the city papers:Animal trappers can't hide from global downturnWow. And this was supposed ta be a record year for fur prices! I'm keepin my fingers crossed, though. I think it has more to do with the warm fall in Russia than the economy. In the great depression, fur prices were sky high. Men would leave work crews ta follow fisher tracks in the snow. A fisher

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-82353780650408725312008-12-17T09:46:00.004-05:002008-12-17T09:55:00.878-05:00

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...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-6459289022320151302008-12-11T09:45:00.005-05:002008-12-11T10:19:02.222-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-57088478369225120472008-12-04T09:55:00.004-05:002008-12-04T10:21:56.926-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-10464566568534506752008-11-30T17:32:00.004-05:002008-11-30T17:38:40.323-05:00

...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...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-75106240855733243772008-11-24T11:40:00.000-05:002008-11-24T11:43:09.208-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-16128335275464626092008-11-19T12:27:00.004-05:002008-11-19T12:39:30.882-05:00

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...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-49953075548507302482008-11-17T10:40:00.001-05:002008-11-18T09:58:35.679-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-73484438662944791582008-11-15T12:10:00.000-05:002008-11-15T13:13:29.205-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-62558094730898033912008-11-12T03:20:00.000-05:002008-11-12T12:32:51.603-05:00

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!

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-91090349937430646472008-11-10T13:13:00.000-05:002008-11-10T10:39:21.908-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-76388580572590857022008-11-08T09:13:00.000-05:002008-11-08T10:52:39.378-05:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-45327763845315448722008-11-07T10:58:00.001-05:002008-11-07T11:20:14.453-05:00

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!

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-10570443698957559142008-11-05T13:20:00.000-05:002008-11-05T13:46:30.963-05:00

"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!"

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-78177799075477681922008-11-03T09:22:00.000-05:002008-11-03T09:34:06.001-05:00

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...

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-75610992623167192812008-10-24T09:11:00.000-04:002008-10-24T09:53:00.384-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-9220619740016777852008-10-18T12:07:00.001-04:002008-10-18T12:09:45.062-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-35113930340411623192008-10-15T10:50:00.000-04:002008-10-15T11:12:08.759-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-56575871507335489062008-10-13T11:58:00.000-04:002008-10-13T12:04:42.552-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-14965602043990660872008-10-10T11:00:00.000-04:002008-10-10T11:34:22.989-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-40217498070339131102008-10-08T14:39:00.000-04:002008-10-08T14:56:12.842-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-85802322647865713512008-10-05T17:25:00.000-04:002008-10-05T17:29:52.472-04:00

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....

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-17980138868025934012008-10-04T21:20:00.000-04:002008-10-05T17:25:26.366-04:00

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...."

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-70331786746030088912008-10-03T20:45:00.000-04:002008-10-03T21:02:28.211-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-79608828610178235692008-10-02T09:10:00.000-04:002008-10-02T09:23:08.197-04:00

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....

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1269698573887941380.post-32981976936865765902008-10-01T09:52:00.000-04:002008-10-01T10:01:28.704-04:00

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

bushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646890465263925082noreply@blogger.com0