Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
I am a Hunter
I Am a Hunter
In
a world where trophies are celebrated by measuring tapes and adventures, where testosterone
trumps skill and experience is entrusted to paid guides. I choose to measure my
time afield differently. I know I am not alone, I along with a few others,
measure our time afield by the process. It’s about the being there, the
pursuit, the challenge of hunting and hunting well. Antlers, beards, horns,
skulls and skins are a bonus to the experience of quest.
I
like it all – I love to hunt whitetail and mule deer, moose, turkey, squirrel,
rabbit, quail, pheasant, ducks, geese, pigs, exotics, you name it and I love it
all. I like shooting bows and arrows, compounds and traditional. I like
shooting rifles, shotguns and pistols; muzzleloaders, antiques and brand-new –
right out of the box guns that the sheer sight of them makes me drool. I love soft
plinking rimfires and big bores that should never be shot against ones
shoulder. I love the smoke cloud of an old flintlock and the recoil from a big
pistol.
I
love the feel of an old smoothbore as it rises effortlessly to my cheek and the
distinct bang it makes when the
trigger is eased. I like big gauges and small bores from big powerful 10 gauges
to light 20’s and the small 28 gauge and 420 bore. I love the sight picture of
good optics, nestled atop a fine centerfire bolt action. I love the smooth draw
of a longbow loaded with cedar arrows. And the lightning fast speed with which modern
compounds fling carbon arrows through my quarry.
I
love relaxing in comfortable ladder stands, and nestling on the ground against
a giant oak. I love still hunting to within feet of an unsuspecting buck, and
wandering through ridges, breech open across my arm in hopes an old grouse
would rise against a morning sky. I love wading through black water swamps
whose swollen cypress mark time in centuries instead of minutes. And I enjoy
sitting in a well-constructed blind, complete with stove and heaters.
I
enjoy plodding through briar thick coverts, and across vast prairies behind
well trained dogs whose ability to sniff out birds allows me to become
entranced with their dance and often forget why I am there in the first place.
I love the sounds of hounds hot on the trail of ‘coon, deer, or rabbit, and the
sight of a flush from a hillside grouse, CRP pheasant, or the rare wild
bobwhite. I love the close working of a fine setter or a long roaming pointer
and their statue still points that show me where the birds are.
I
love the solitude of the wilderness, and the camaraderie of the camp. I love
the trappings and the conversations. I yearn for the silence of big country and
woods that stretch for miles in any direction. The quiet that can only be found
in big country, the echo of one’s own mind rattles and lingers against distant
memories as new ones are burned into the bank of eternal instants; those brief moments
that flashes through our lives and then lingers and forever transforms us.
I
long for the honking of a flock of geese committed to a well-placed spread of
decoys and the twiddle of a woodcock that flushes between my legs. I crave the
whistle of wood ducks and the screaming of a murder of crows.
Nothing
fills my soul like sitting around a camp fire and comparing calibers draw
weights, optics, and styles. Discussing the dress of grouse men, in their tweed
jackets and duck hunters in rubber pants. I love listening to men who own Brittany’s
argue with those who prefer pointers. I adore the night sound of a lonesome
coyote calling to a potential mate. Along with the owl who announces his presence
with grander but whose best work is done in silence.
It’s
all there, the things that draw us to the forest and fields, from the flooded
timber, to the high country; from prairies to mountain tops, and from deserts
to the arctic.
As
a southerner by birth, my style of hunting is different than many from other
parts of the country. Our woods are thicker, our deer smaller and our variety
sparse. Yet this doesn't slow the passion.
I've known many who are more successful. Many who have killed far more deer and whose
string of turkey beards stretch for yards not feet. I've seen men who get a
limit of doves at every shoot and those of us who never seem to do so. I marvel
at those who can turn a flock of mallards at will and those who seem to be able
to call a coyote at every stand. I've had the pleasure of sharing a camp with
men whose experiences span the globe and whose trophy room lists hundreds of
animals. I've known those whose guns cost more than my truck, and whose dogs
were more valuable than my wife’s engagement ring. But I have only known a few,
very few who hunt well.
The
reason a person hunts is a particularly personal and deep rooted thing. Alas,
though in these times of trophy collecting, and game farming, the reason to
hunt is diluted among the inches of antler. I am not a ‘collector of bone’ or ‘species’
chaser, I am a hunter. I do not specialize in a single species, or with a
single weapon. I am not a ‘bow hunter’ but I love to hunt with archery
equipment. I am not a ‘rifle hunter’ but few things exhilarate me more than the
gentle squeeze of a trigger and the result it provides. I am not a shotgunner,
but when chasing flying quarry, it’s hard to beat.
I
am a hunter. I am not a deer hunter, or bird hunter. I am not a duck hunter or
predator hunter. I am not a big game hunter or small game hunter. I am a
hunter, I hunt because I am. I do not choose to hunt, I have to hunt. Hunting isn't a hobby that I engage in when I have time; hunting is a way of life that
I was born to do. No, indeed I must hunt. It really doesn't matter if its deer
or squirrel, coyote or rabbit. I don’t care if its feral pigs in a mosquito
infested swamp or a savanna full of bobwhite. If I can be there, then there I
will be. Hunting is about participating in the outdoors to its fullest. To
seek, chase, and pursue a game animal for the sheer challenge of it all. It’s
about getting so close you can see the eyelashes on a mature buck, or calling a
turkey into your lap. It’s about watching waterfowl, glide –twisting and
turning through flooded timber and marvel at the beauty of it all. It’s about
sunrises on frosty mornings, and the subtle breeze that caresses your face on a
cold clear day. It’s watching your breath loft through barren trees, and
breaking ice to set decoys. Hunting is about friendships made and cherished, it’s
shared moments and solitude. It’s challenging and surprisingly easy. It’s
frustrating and exhilarating, and very humbling.
As
a hunter, I cherish my privilege to hunt. I cherish all moments afield. The opportunity
to be out-of-doors are all moments when for this brief time, I can be certain;
that there is no other place I would rather be than right here, right now. I
know for certain, that of all the things I do, that when I am hunting, there
are no better times well spent.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Getting Ready
One of the things I love most about trapping season is getting ready for trapping season. It seems somewhat silly to some, but the preparation and anticipation are almost as much fun as actually trapping. With opening of the 2012-2013 South Carolina Season one week away, there is much to do.
Ridge adding dye to our trap cooker |
Traps need attention from last season. Several dozen need mid chain swivels, others need new 'dogs'. Still others need their pans adjusted to the proper tension. Like a lot of trappers, I have traps dedicated to specific species. My coyote traps have pan tensions set a lot stiffer than my raccoon traps. And my bobcat traps have a different pan tension from either of these, then there are the fox traps, and muskrat traps.
Adding swivels to my traps |
Body grip traps need triggers manipulated, and dogs filed. Anchors need to be remade. Stakes need welding. The biggest task is dying the traps. (unlike many trappers, I don't wax my traps - I have my reasons) Lastly, is making bait - which I didn't mean to put off until the last minute, but alas, I did.
Ahhh - the smell of cooking traps |
The day is filled with anticipation. My partner, who is also my 11 year old son Ridge, and I headed out to the shop early, the fire was lit beneath the washtub that would serve as our cooker for dying our traps. (NOTE TO SELF: It takes at least an hour to bring 17 gallons of water to a boil on a high burner propane cooker - allow for this next year) While the water was heating up, we cut chain, added swivels, tightened pans, adjusted triggers, and finally added the dye (Pete's Sleepy Creek Trap Dye) It takes about a bottle and a half to do my traps in seventeen gallons of water. I like to wire a half dozen traps together so I can remove them when done. Traps were added to the water, and typically I let them cook for a minimum of one hour but prefer a bit longer. My tub would hold about eighteen traps, so I had several rounds of cooking.
While the traps were cooking, our bait making process began. I can without a doubt this is my Ridge's least favorite part. Filling the shop with the aroma of Violator 7, or GH II is something neither if us enjoy but its necessary. Bottles were consolidated, some thrown out - (I know our garbage man loves this.) and others were made. All in all it took us about nine hours to complete our task.
Once the traps are cooked, I lay them into their air-tight containers where they remain until they go into the ground. Bare hands will never touch again. A pair of gloves is in each tub and they will only be handled with the gloves designated for that tub. - More about this if a future story.
As I said earlier - trapping season open Dec. 1, seven days and counting. Sites have been scouted, sets marked and now all traps and bait are ready. The countdown to opening day begins.
Of all the things I do in the out-of-doors, nothing beats the challenge and excitement of trapping. I love all 'opening days'. Opening day of hunting season, and the different ones that follow - Deer season, gun season, duck season etc. But nothing - nothing gets me as excited as opening day of trapping season.
Wait to see what comes this season as we set steel to catch some critters.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Lonestar Outdoors Radio
This past week, I was interviewed by Cable Smith, host of Cabela's Lonestar Outdoors Radio show. http://texasoutdoorsmedia.com/
The Interview involved a recent story I wrote for Game and Fish magazines. Its title, Topographically Speaking - using topographic maps to identify the travel patterns of big bucks. The show aired Saturday November 10, 2012 at stations all across Texas.
You can listen to the pod cast by clicking the link below:
http://texasoutdoorsmedia.com/this-weeks-show-47/
The Interview involved a recent story I wrote for Game and Fish magazines. Its title, Topographically Speaking - using topographic maps to identify the travel patterns of big bucks. The show aired Saturday November 10, 2012 at stations all across Texas.
You can listen to the pod cast by clicking the link below:
http://texasoutdoorsmedia.com/this-weeks-show-47/
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Follow The Line to Success
When it comes to locating sign for
big bucks nothing stands out like big rubs. This sign is easily identified,
easily found and for some of the most successful hunters the number one sign
they look for.
Big Rubs Mean Big Deer |
As the rut
begins to take shape, dutiful hunters will notice more and more rubs present
near the core areas of trophy bucks. As these become more prominent, and more
frequent it identifies the presence of a buck in a certain area. Trophy bucks
will, as I like to call it, ‘announce’ their presence, and they do this with
rubs on big trees, and trees that are easily noticed by rival bucks. They will
also increase the frequency of their rubs and the location is critical.
One of 19 rubs in a 50 yard area |
Hunters
should take note – these rub lines are one of the most important pieces of
information left by bucks. When a hunter notices these rub lines, again these
are a series of rubs on trees in a fairly straight line that can cover anywhere
from a few dozen yards to several hundred yards. The greater the frequency the
more he is visiting his area. And the closer to these rubs you should set your
stand. One thing is for sure, unlike scrapes that are very unpredictable, rubs
will let the hunter know for certain that a buck is there and visiting
regularly.
While its
true that you cannot definitely the size of the buck from the size of the rub,
there are key indicators that will point the hunter in certain directions.
While a trophy buck will rub a small tree, a small buck will not rub a big
tree. Conversely, a four point cannot leave the sign that a big eight point
buck leaves. Rubs on iron wood trees that are nine inches in diameter will definitely
indicate a trophy buck. While a one inch sapling can be either. If I find a
series of rubs on trees in excess of four inches in diameter, I hang a stand
close by knowing that he has announced his presence and I need to hunt this
area.
Follow the Line to Big Bucks |
These rub
lines can also tell you which direction the bucks are traveling along their
route. Big rubs tend to be on only one side of the tree, this will indicate the
direction of travel. When I notice this, I take note of the wind, and hang a
stand that will put the wind in my favor along his direction of travel. For
example, If I notice that the direction of travel is north to south, I will
hang a stand along his travel route on the south side of his travel route and
only hunt with a northerly wind. This will significantly place the odds in my
favor. If the conditions are favorable, and I can hunt there for three
consecutive days, more times than not I will see this buck.
When
scouting for bucks nothing excites me more than finding big rubs that follow a
certain path. Moreover, if I notice a tree that has scars on it, and sign that
it has been rubbed for consecutive years, I know I am dealing with an older
buck that will take extra care. However, he has shown me his core area, all
needed now is to set up and kill him.
Of all the
sign left by trophy bucks nothing will put more trophy bucks in your sights
like rub lines. Food plots are nice, scraps are unpredictable, and travel
corridors are sketchy. But add some of these with big rubs along a series of
trees over a stretch of ground and you have the final piece of the puzzle that
will put big antlers in your hands.
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