2011 Purple Heart Tour Blacktail Deer Hunt Participants

SSG Matthew Jackson

Jackson bio and photo

To view Jackson bio and photo, click on link. Microsoft word necessary.

SSG (P) Arnold Fletcher

SSG Fletcher was born and raised in Elk City Oklahoma.  He  enlisted in the Army and joined the 75^th Ranger Regiment on Oct 25^th 2003 at the age of 33 y/o. He was initially assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, GA.  In Alpha Company he served as an Anti-Tank Gunner, Saw Gunner, Fire Team Leader, and Squad Leader, deploying eight times, five times in support of Operation  Enduring Freedom (OEF) and three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  SSG Fletcher then served as Echo Company OPNCO for 1^st Ranger, SSG Fletcher served 26 months oversees.

SSG Fletchers decorations include Parachutist Wings, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Ranger Tab.  SSG Fletcher has been awarded the Purple Heart for an injury received in combat.

SSG Fletcher is currently serving as an instctor in the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP 1), Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75^th Ranger Regiment in Ft. Benning, GA.

SSG Fletcher is married to the former Karrie Armstrong. They were married in 1995 in San Angelo TX. They have one son Cade who is 13 years old.

SSG Fletcher also owns F.N.A. Bucking Bulls, managed by his wife for the PBR.

SSG Fletcher

SFC(P) Tyson Crosby

SFC Crosby was born and raised in Beardstown, Illinois.  He enlisted in the Army and joined the 75^th Ranger Regiment in the spring of 2000.
He was initially assigned to Charlie Company, 3^rd Ranger  Battalion in Ft. Benning, GA.  In Charlie Company he served as a Riflemen, Anti-Tank Gunner, Fire Team Leader, and Squad Leader, deploying eight times, five times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  SFC Crosby then served as the Air Operations NCO for 3^rd Ranger Battalion and deployed once in support OEF.  He was then assigned to Bravo Company, 3^rd Ranger Battalion as a Platoon Sergeant where he deployed twice in support of OEF and twice in support of OIF.  In total SFC Crosby has deployed 13 times spanning 50 months in a combat zone.

SFC Crosby’s decorations include Senior Parachutist Wings with two Bronze Stars, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Ranger Tab.  SFC Crosby has been awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Bronze Star medals for valor and the Joint Service Commendation Medal for valor.

SFC Crosby is currently serving as the NCOIC of the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP 1), Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75^th Ranger Regiment in Ft. Benning, GA.

SFC Crosby is married to the former Betsy Hornbeck.  They have one daughter, Lane, who turned one in June.

SFC Crosby

SSG  Mathew Tennill

My name is Matthew Tennill. I am married, 30 years old and have two boys. I grew up in the small town of Marshall, Missouri. I joined the army in the fall of 99 right out of high school. I did my basic training and jump school at Ft.
Benning, GA. My first duty station was at Ft. Bragg, NC. I spent 2 in a half years there then re-enlisted to become a Ranger in 2001. After graduating the Ranger-Indoctaio – Program (RIP), I was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA with the 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. I have been on numerous deployments to OEF and OIF. I have also had different jobs as a Ranger. The job I liked most was as a K9 handler for Ranger Regiment. My most recent deployment was in March 2010. I was involved in a helicopter crash after being deloyed for 10 days. I do have injuries that I am still dealing with from the crash, 15 months later. Several died on the crash, honestly I’m lucky to be alive and see my kids grow up. Besides my job and family, when I have time I do like to hunt, fish and farm. I currently, live on a small farm near Ft. Benning with several dogs, horses, chickens and goats. My life is full and always busy.

SSG Tennill

Dan W. Hammack III

Military Branch: USArmy Reserve, Special Forces
(Green Beret)

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Retired

College: Universityof Georgia,
1983

Returning for the event is Purple Heart Outdoor TourFounder,  Dan Hammack. Having served in numerous campaigns in Korea and Iraq, LCol Hammack retired from active duty in 2011.

Dan Hammack

Paul Johnsen, FDNY

Back from New York is Paul Johnsen, 911 survivor and NYC
firefighter. Paul didn’t have the opportunity to hunt last year, but this year
he’s loaded for blacktail.

Paul Johnsen, FDNY

The Purple Heart Outdoor Tour is supported by Operation One Voice, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Other supporting organizations include: The Mule Deer Foundation, California Deer Association, California Waterfowl Association, California Outdoor Heritage Alliance and Safari Club International.

This year’s event will take place August  18-21. More details to follow. If you would like to support this event, just comment on this post and I’ll receive your info.

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Another Day Up in a Tree

First archery deer hunt of the season. I had no idea what to expect as I hadn’t been up to the ranch in over a month. As far as deer hunting went, it was a total bust. The winds were blustery and the deer didn’t show. Not one.

However, I did take some photos and three were worthy of publication. Here’s they are:

As I watched a covey of quail feeding along the edges of nearby brush, a raptor swooped in and the quail scattered in all directions. It was a female northern harrier (used to call them marsh hawks).

 

This harrier circled several times, but never got hold of the quail it was after.

With the harrier in motion, my only chance for a good photo was when he passed in direct sun. The shutter speed on my camera was fast enough in auto mode to produce a sharp photo.

 

Late in the day, several birds landed near me in the laurel tree my stand was in. One of them was a chickadee.

 

This chestnut-backed chickadee moved about quickly.

Then came a pair of plain titmouses. In the fading light, I struggled to get a sharp image, but these two were worthwhile.

In the shade, I wasn't sure if I'd get an acceptable photo of the titmouses, but one of the shots worked out.

 

 

 

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Preparing for Muzzleloader Hunting

The Remington 700 muzzleloader is functioning well, but I’m not very proficient at loading it yet.

The percussion caps are so small that I fumble around with them. I can’t yet imagine what it would be like trying to reload with a desirable buck standing at 50 yards. I think the key will be to hit him on the first shot.

I’ve shot with pellets and power, but the power produces a quicker ignition, almost like a cartridge rifle, while the pellets have a delayed response.

Right now I’m shooting three-inch groups from a platform (my tri-pod) at 75 yards. I’m progressing, but this exercise requires significant effort.

I’ve got a long way to go. I’ll hunt with the muzzleloader during the A-Zone season as well. Haven’t had time to do any archery hunting yet.

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California Tiger Salamander Metamorph

Talking about a California tiger salamander (CTS) metamorph, can be confusing. A metamorph is a CTS that is in the late stages of morphing from a pond-dwelling guilled larvae, to an adult. How do you view a metaphorph? I don’t know many people who have. Calafornia tiger salamanders (CTS) morph into an adult form (typically), three to six months after egg laying. Once they no longer have guills, they become a land animal and walk away from the breeding site in search of some type of underground burrow in which to live. Around here, burrows of California ground squirrels are most likely targets.

According to sources, the CTS usually leave the pond during the cover of darkness. However, earlier today I discovered one taking a hike during broad daylight on a cool, foggy morning. This discovery was a first for me. I have never seen a CTS metamorph before today.

Here he is in all his glory.

This guy was found on top of a ridge on a gravel road, about 150 yards directly up a steep hill from the nearest possible breeding site.

The young CTS was about four inches long. I didn’t think to put my knife in the photo next to him for comparison. I was kind of in a state of shock, and then another hiker came along with two dogs and I didn’t want to get the little guy killed.

However, I did get several reasonable photos with my iphone.

Here’s one more shot.

He was mostly the green color of the pond living guilled version, but was beginning to develop spots.

If you click on the photo it will enlarge.

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Mushroom Hunting

The King Bolete (Boletus edulis)

Please be ware. I’m not a mushroom expert, and if you want to eat mushrooms, I suggest you hang around with people who have certified knowledge on the topic. This was the case last week as a group of us scavanged Lassen county in search of mushrooms.

We found plenty, but only a couple species that were no brainers for eating. The one in the first photograph was eaten. One of it’s common names is king bolete.

This king bolete was a little too old for our taste, so it wasn't eaten.

Here’s one in hand.

Top of a king bolete in hand.

We removed the gills of the mushroom as that was where the bugs were hanging out.

Then we fried up a sample.

We sliced the mushrooms and fried them in butter with garlic salt. They were terrific.

I had plenty of guarantees that these mushrooms were safe to eat, as several in the group had been eating them for years. That’s one good way to feel comfortable that you’ll survive dinner.

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Snow Plant

This snow plant has just popped from the ground.

Snow Plant (Sarcodes sanguinea Torr.) This plant is a fungi that feeds off the roots of conifers.

While returning from shopping in Susanville, I drove a back road and came upon an area loaded with snow plants. They pop from the ground in spring shortly after the snow melts and are quite beautiful. My Grandmother used to point them out whenever she spotted one.

Here’s a photo of a bunch of plants that are more mature, but also a little fried from sunlight. They don’t last too long in the sun and are found in the pine needles underneath large conifers.

Group of snow plants.

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