The season will soon be upon us. I'm already thinking of the crisp fall mornings, color changes, college football on the radio and some tasty backstrap frying up in the skillet. I'm also thinking about all of the good work that needs to be done between now and opening morning.

Time to get crackin' on some trail clearing and scouting.
How are you prepping for the season?

Looking forward to doing all of this with you again, Nick...I suspect we will have a chance to chat about this tonight!

Fish on...

Todd

I’m heading up to the range today to confirm both The 308 and 450 gassers are still able to shoot the wings offa a bug at 200 yds. I had the bird dogs up in the hills yesterday checking roads and trails for berries, bear poop, and or deer poops.

The dogs were searching for future Grouse encounters, and found a plethora of young birds to push up in September ,


It’s looking good !

I'm planning to hunt the wilderness around Crystal Mountain for my elk tag. I drove up there on the way to eastern Wa and realized I need to get in shape. Damn ski slopes look steep with no snow!

Had to buy the out-of-state OR tag for $167 in order to get in on a draw with buddies and then we didn't draw anything! What to do? Buy a black bear tag for another $16 (best deal in the state) and start hanging around the black berry patches. I'll be down there on Wednesday (1 August) when it opens.

Any of you guys try to make a rug on your own? Looks like a lot of work to DIY it.

Self brain tanning is LOT of work, but it is a very neat process and fun to learn. It can be done in stages over the winder, so that helps. I've never done a bear, but I have done both Elk and Mule Deer - both hair on and off (I think hair off / buckskin is easier)

You would need to have your fleshing beam, hide stretcher, large pots / barrels & fleshing knife ready to go before the season. I'd probably only do it again if the hide came from a DANDY trophy bear.

Have fun,

Good luck to all the Nimrods here !

Have a great hunt or three this season and be careful in the woods as it’s getting pretty dry, with some forrest management areas already shutting down until the next rains.

Bang Flop !

Thanks Nic. It has been my experience that fellas watch some youtube videos, say to themselves "That looks easy enough. I can do this!" and then find out they're in over their head.

I watched those YT videos and said NO WAY. If I get lucky, I reckon we'll just eat him.

I learned from Gramps, Dad and the good ol' Boy Scouts Leatherwork merit badge. I really had no choice in the matter. It was nasty, but I'd probably do it again on a big bear for old times sake. Deer or Elk - nah. Hard pass - not worth it.

Good luck to everyone this season.

I'd say I was taking this year off from hunting, but not too sure what I do out there is called "hunting".

Guess I'm taking a year off from my armed nature hikes in the fall.

I'll be back at it next year, as my fellow armed nature hiking buddies have invested in some property in Iderho. Gonna give that a "shot" next season.

Ursus hunting yesterday, and with the heat and the haze, I saw nada.

Just leaving now for another afternoon in the woods. The weather today is a bit cooler so I hope the hike out to be a bit bit less sweating...

I've packed 4 or 5 off of those hills, if you want any of my info, lemme know.

Turning the eyelids, nose, ears then skinning those long fingers right down to the claws is a challenge, fleshing is not much fun but goes better after the salt dry's things out a bit, degreazing a bear is the hardest part. (don't set up in the kitchen)
First taxidermy book I ever read mentions that every animal has just enough brains to tan it's own hide, never done it that way but I 'spect it's still true.

I'd love any info. Please reply or shoot me a PM on how you'd like me to get in touch.

Missed South Dakota ringnecks last year with my pup, not gonna repeat that mistake this year. Safe travels y'all.

Hunting Zone Preparation 2018 starts on Friday for me and Nick, pretty excited to get back at it!

Fish on...

Todd

Oh My

South Dakota, what a great place to chase birds and run bird dogs. I’m hoping to go back again, maybe next season.

Best Hunting to ya ‘s !

Ooof! Todd and I found a new Public Enemy #1. Trail cameras indicate that we both missed out on him in the wide open at high noon last year by about an hour each. That tricky cuss.

I hesitate to even call out the number of total points now because it's too hard to tell even with dozens of pics from last year. He possibly has at least 4 long brow tines from 2 - 4" each. Maybe even 5 brow tines! He makes the big boy we were previously after look like a fork horn. This boy has it all and then some - points of the charts, length, symmetry AND mass. Huge body with an amazing coat. Just a specimen. I'm poor at live scoring, but he passes the eye test straight into the books....I would very much like to think.

No, I will not post a picture...until he's in hand and we are grinning from ear to ear.

I'm literally vibrating for the season to start! LET'S GO!

Yeah, in spite of all the talk last year about never seeing a mature buck (save the one I shot with one minute to go in shooting hours one evening) during the day, this guy was caught on a cam at just past noon, the same cam that shows me walking by at 11:30am.

He is, in a word, a monster.

Want.

We located two new stands this past weekend, now we have six on this piece of property...we are getting on it soon!

Fish on...

Todd