What can I say. so far so good this year. I have meat in the freezer, and more to come. Because of money and logistics, I may miss out on elk and bear, but I can handle that if I have to. I do know that the rut is really picking up here in Montana, the big bucks are wise to this season, and got that big by learning. I have past on a few, maybe a shouldn't have, but we will see yet.
One thing many do not take into account is that hunting is a lot more than point and shoot, it is a lot more than a kill. Even more so if you have any physical problems.
Having my share of those I like many others learn to adapt, and push boundaries. So much so, I learned what I had inside me, and at times, know all to well the feeling of defeat. I don't like to let anything else win. So I keep pushing. Maybe it is the extra time pushing myself on a walk with the dogs in a field, maybe I do not take the easy someplace today, knowing full well, it wont be any easier going back, and twice as hard if I did kill. I had a friend take a disabled person hunting, his first turkey hunt. They forgot his gun rest. T my pal's surprise, he took his fake leg off at the knee, and used it for a gun rest! He was not going to be denied that turkey or the hunt. It is being resourceful, observant, and pushing yourself that will often get you out of the mess you make by forgetting or having lost gear!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
08 November 2009
27 October 2009
Opening Deer Day in Montana
Well, I knew it would be rough whitetail opening day, here in Northeast Montana. They have sold a lot of whitetail tags, and they went to all sorts of people, and in all different stages in the hunting phases we as hunters seem to go through.
I have to say, it sounded like a free fire zone in much of the area, so much so I wish I would have had a blaze orange truck, and lot's of kevlar, and a secure bunker to hunt from. Even as dark seemed to close in, the sound of rifle fire was still being carried hot and heavy on the wind.
Here I find myself on Tuesday, and while many of the out of state and out of county folks seem to have packed up and moved on, some still havent. Not to mention bird hunters having run ins with deer hunters, and land owners having problems with people sho dont know what a map is and how to make sure they know where they can really hunt.
What do you do to make sure you are in the right place? Granted a lease or private property of your own is always great. But I really like to hunt public land, it here in the west is pretty wide open if you have the skills to take it on. Stats show most hunters dont get to far off the beaten path anyways.
Well, need to get ready to try and go get my deer now!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
I have to say, it sounded like a free fire zone in much of the area, so much so I wish I would have had a blaze orange truck, and lot's of kevlar, and a secure bunker to hunt from. Even as dark seemed to close in, the sound of rifle fire was still being carried hot and heavy on the wind.
Here I find myself on Tuesday, and while many of the out of state and out of county folks seem to have packed up and moved on, some still havent. Not to mention bird hunters having run ins with deer hunters, and land owners having problems with people sho dont know what a map is and how to make sure they know where they can really hunt.
What do you do to make sure you are in the right place? Granted a lease or private property of your own is always great. But I really like to hunt public land, it here in the west is pretty wide open if you have the skills to take it on. Stats show most hunters dont get to far off the beaten path anyways.
Well, need to get ready to try and go get my deer now!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
15 October 2009
Man and Mechanical Failure
I hate most mechanical stuff, mostly as I did not have anyone to show me how to work on stuff, no car mentor, no electronics mentor, nothing. It was not until I did a year of maintenance work at a hospital that I gained any type of experience. I feel comfortable doing light plumbing and electrical, and actually found that generally speaking, the bigger the project, the easier it really can be.
My current issue is my truck. I knew it would have a few problems, but of them all, the damn heater core has to be replaced! I have never done one of those, and you always get horror stories, never, the "oh yeah, easy on those!" So I will be getting this started after the doctor's appointment. Just glad it is not well below zero, and I have a garage to work in.
Scott and I are both going to stay in from hunting today. He has a cold, and when I went for a drive earlier, I damn near got stuck and decided to call it a day. So the birds are safe, for now. I also want to go get my 270 and my 308 sighted in. So getting the truck running well, is a priority!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
My current issue is my truck. I knew it would have a few problems, but of them all, the damn heater core has to be replaced! I have never done one of those, and you always get horror stories, never, the "oh yeah, easy on those!" So I will be getting this started after the doctor's appointment. Just glad it is not well below zero, and I have a garage to work in.
Scott and I are both going to stay in from hunting today. He has a cold, and when I went for a drive earlier, I damn near got stuck and decided to call it a day. So the birds are safe, for now. I also want to go get my 270 and my 308 sighted in. So getting the truck running well, is a priority!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
11 October 2009
Pheasant Opener
This year the pheasant opener was just outstanding for me! I took my weimaraner Sammie Girl, just her and I, and simply hunted birds.
I wanted to be able to get the longest tail feather, and enter it in the contest the local chamber and D&G Sports was putting on. I was selective in what I shot, and while only getting two pheasant, I won the contest! I got a new Remington hat and folding chair, and twenty bucks from the chamber. Not bad for doing something I like!
I of course took my pal Scott later in the day. I took him to a field I know would hold birds. Giving the ariel maps of it, and the way most folks hunt it and the surrounding area, Scott hit his bag limit in like twenty minutes. Plus he still was shooting grouse, and as jumpy as they were, I was glad to see him get a few!
Sammie Girl is pretty tired after a long cold day of field work, so I am going to take one of the younger ones out, most likely Ruby, and work her this afternoon in the field on a cord some. She loves to go after birds, it is built into the breed, and I cant wait to get them all up to speed so I can rotate them and have them all ready to hunt. I also cannot wait to get my ecollar in! Drove me nuts it did not get here this week, so I hope it is here by next thursday so I can enforce the off leash commands and get them to not chase deer.
So, how is all your hunting going?
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
I wanted to be able to get the longest tail feather, and enter it in the contest the local chamber and D&G Sports was putting on. I was selective in what I shot, and while only getting two pheasant, I won the contest! I got a new Remington hat and folding chair, and twenty bucks from the chamber. Not bad for doing something I like!
I of course took my pal Scott later in the day. I took him to a field I know would hold birds. Giving the ariel maps of it, and the way most folks hunt it and the surrounding area, Scott hit his bag limit in like twenty minutes. Plus he still was shooting grouse, and as jumpy as they were, I was glad to see him get a few!
Sammie Girl is pretty tired after a long cold day of field work, so I am going to take one of the younger ones out, most likely Ruby, and work her this afternoon in the field on a cord some. She loves to go after birds, it is built into the breed, and I cant wait to get them all up to speed so I can rotate them and have them all ready to hunt. I also cannot wait to get my ecollar in! Drove me nuts it did not get here this week, so I hope it is here by next thursday so I can enforce the off leash commands and get them to not chase deer.
So, how is all your hunting going?
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
05 October 2009
Bird Hunting So Far
Bird hunting so far has been great! Dove have gone, and I have been looking for grouse and huns. This birds fly fast, but not as fast as dove!
My pal Scott has really taken to bird hunting, got him a shotgun, and all kinds of stuff to get it done. His shooting ability has improved way to much and I have to much competition!
My dog Sammie Girl has been doing well. She wants to chase deer and rabbits, so a ecollar is on it's way to put a stop to that. I simply cannot risk her getting hurt, nor the other weimers I am trying hard to train! I really cant wait for pheasant season to open Saturday, it looks to be a good one and I dont see anything keeping me from getting up and hitting it early!
We have a slight chance of snow this week, and really hope it does, nothing like good cold weather to hold the birds!
My pal Scott has really taken to bird hunting, got him a shotgun, and all kinds of stuff to get it done. His shooting ability has improved way to much and I have to much competition!
My dog Sammie Girl has been doing well. She wants to chase deer and rabbits, so a ecollar is on it's way to put a stop to that. I simply cannot risk her getting hurt, nor the other weimers I am trying hard to train! I really cant wait for pheasant season to open Saturday, it looks to be a good one and I dont see anything keeping me from getting up and hitting it early!
We have a slight chance of snow this week, and really hope it does, nothing like good cold weather to hold the birds!
17 September 2009
Montana Dove Update
Looks like summer temps are going to hang around, so the dove are still out. Seems that this is the longest I can recall them hanging around since moving here a few years ago. It is fine with me, but I do hope that come October it is acting a little more like winter so the ducks, geese, and phesants will hold tight and let the dogs work them!
Speaking of dogs, my Sammie Girl is the only dog doing really well with dove, I think they all will get there, but she will be the dove dog as long as she can. I think that the other three will shine when it comes to other upland game birds, and most likely waterfowl if I can keep them under control with out a shock collar, as they get excited about birds on or in the water and will run into the middle of the water to get them!
Have been hunting dove with a guy new to hunting, Scott. He has been doing well, and I am very glad he got a shotgun yesterday! I was letting him use my 12ga, and shooting my old .410. So while I have been downing birds, I hate to pay fifteen dollars for a box of shells! So at some point today he and I will head out ans see how he does with the new gun, I know I am looking forward to it!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
Speaking of dogs, my Sammie Girl is the only dog doing really well with dove, I think they all will get there, but she will be the dove dog as long as she can. I think that the other three will shine when it comes to other upland game birds, and most likely waterfowl if I can keep them under control with out a shock collar, as they get excited about birds on or in the water and will run into the middle of the water to get them!
Have been hunting dove with a guy new to hunting, Scott. He has been doing well, and I am very glad he got a shotgun yesterday! I was letting him use my 12ga, and shooting my old .410. So while I have been downing birds, I hate to pay fifteen dollars for a box of shells! So at some point today he and I will head out ans see how he does with the new gun, I know I am looking forward to it!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
02 September 2009
Montana Bird Opener
Wow- It was a bit of a slow start for me. I have not done anything close to serious shotgun hunting for two years at, so I did manage to fire off my share of shells!
The morning hours I ran into my pal Ron, and Chris. Chris was heading back to a corner to sit, little did I know that I should have paid more attention to what he was doing, but I will get to that. So Ron and I walked a few fields and some wooded edges. I finally got one, but it wasn't pretty! Around noon, we called it a day. Hot, tired, and a little more than upset at how bad my skills had got, I decided to head home for lunch.
I got out earlier, drove around and seeing Chris we stopped and talked a few and decided it was a bit too hot and we would be out later. Well, later came and I was parking and saw my pal Andrew, so I partnered up with him, and his two boys. First Andrew is a professional writer for a huge hunting magazine, and to say this man can shoot well is a understatement. I am fairly confident given a rubber band and paperclip he could demonstrate the proper way to handle a charging water buffalo! OK, then his two boys, not old enough to hunt, but old enough to take to the field, and I will say it right now, they can make birds like nothing I have seen! I cannot wait till they get old enough to take to the field, as I look forward to seeing them develop into some great hunting buddies.
So with friends spread out in the field, Eric, Andrew, Chris, Storm, Steve, and I, it was on in full gear.
I learned how to hunt the dove of Montana. Because the area is so big, it is important to have several guys in different area's and you basically push the birds to each other. A lot different than what I was use to! But I adapted fast and soon had dove falling from the sky! I didn't get my limit, but held my own. I was also very thankful to Andrew for allowing me to have a couple of his birds! So I was pretty happy all the way around!
I think it important to mention at this point that this was also my fifth wedding anniversary! Now before you get all upset ladies, I had this cleared way ahead of time! You see, I am a good guy year round, so when the date rolls around to fall on a opening day, I get a pass and sent out the door. Of course it doesn't hurt she would rather eat dove than just about anything!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
The morning hours I ran into my pal Ron, and Chris. Chris was heading back to a corner to sit, little did I know that I should have paid more attention to what he was doing, but I will get to that. So Ron and I walked a few fields and some wooded edges. I finally got one, but it wasn't pretty! Around noon, we called it a day. Hot, tired, and a little more than upset at how bad my skills had got, I decided to head home for lunch.
I got out earlier, drove around and seeing Chris we stopped and talked a few and decided it was a bit too hot and we would be out later. Well, later came and I was parking and saw my pal Andrew, so I partnered up with him, and his two boys. First Andrew is a professional writer for a huge hunting magazine, and to say this man can shoot well is a understatement. I am fairly confident given a rubber band and paperclip he could demonstrate the proper way to handle a charging water buffalo! OK, then his two boys, not old enough to hunt, but old enough to take to the field, and I will say it right now, they can make birds like nothing I have seen! I cannot wait till they get old enough to take to the field, as I look forward to seeing them develop into some great hunting buddies.
So with friends spread out in the field, Eric, Andrew, Chris, Storm, Steve, and I, it was on in full gear.
I learned how to hunt the dove of Montana. Because the area is so big, it is important to have several guys in different area's and you basically push the birds to each other. A lot different than what I was use to! But I adapted fast and soon had dove falling from the sky! I didn't get my limit, but held my own. I was also very thankful to Andrew for allowing me to have a couple of his birds! So I was pretty happy all the way around!
I think it important to mention at this point that this was also my fifth wedding anniversary! Now before you get all upset ladies, I had this cleared way ahead of time! You see, I am a good guy year round, so when the date rolls around to fall on a opening day, I get a pass and sent out the door. Of course it doesn't hurt she would rather eat dove than just about anything!
Keep it pointed in a safe direction!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
