Tom’s Tom

We had hunted the morning, in a location about two miles to the north, but nothing showed. About 11:30 AM we shifted to a spot where a gobbler had been hanging out. After about 30 minutes of sparse calling, a gobbler sounded off from behind us. I suggested to Tom that he turn to prepare for an approach from that direction.

Within a minute, a second gobbler appeared and fanned out about 150 yards away in the opposite direction from the first gobble. Tom managed to scoot around just as a hen turkey passed by at ten yards. The strutting bird couldn’t resist following the hen and soon Tom had his chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnKQnk27jZc&feature=youtu.be

My heart sank after the gobbler took off at a fast walk. Fortunately he didn’t last long, and Tom caught up with him as he dropped and rolled down the hillside a few yards before coming to rest on a level spot.

It was a great ending to turkey season.

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Opening Day – Gobblers Hot

Saturday morning I continued my quest to bag a gobbler with archery equipment.

I headed to the ranch in a good frame of mind and photographed a golden eagle nesting on the way out.

Click on the photo and you’ll enlarge the eagle.

Arriving mid morning I set my hunting clothes out next to my folding chair, picked up my box call and sent a string of yelps out to see what would happen.

While dressing, within a few minutes after calling, a gobble sounded in the distance. All right, I thought, they’re around.

I was feeling rather casual about this hunt, so I took the chance of yelping one more time.  A gobble sounded closer than the first.

As I put my boots on, movement caught my eye and a gobbler popped up only twenty yards away. Talk about not being ready…..but I didn’t really care.

My plan was to hide in an old barn, while setting a decoy out where I would have an opening to shoot. Two other openings might provide a chance for a shot as well. I moved my chair into the barn and set out the single hen decoy. Holding the box call outside the door, I let out a few yelps. I expected quick action as there seemed to be more than one gobbler in the vicinity.

Sure enough, as I faced the decoy, a gobbler appeared behind me and it passed by one of the other openings. Soon, another gobbler appeared and followed the first. They were both mature toms with long beards. Excited, I tried to think on my feet. I turned and tried to draw my bow as the second gobbler passed through an opening, but it didn’t work out.

Then the big bird turned and headed back to an opening. I drew the bow and tried my best to get on the bird. Thinking I would be on target I released an arrow. Nothing. Not even a feather.

Realizing that I probably had executed a perfect example of target panic, I tried to calm down and take advantage of the fact that the first gobbler was still  standing 20 yards away and I’d probably get another chance. I could see the bird and it wasn’t going for the decoy. Instead it was behaving a bit nervous and began to walk in the direction of the departed gobbler which had flown off after the shot.

I concluded that I should make a single yelp to stop him when he approached the opening.

As he neared the opening, I drew my bow and yelped as the gobbler stepped into view, framed within an old doorway. The gobbler stopped, providing a perfect broadside shot at 20 yards. Taking more time to aim, the stationary gobbler would be mine. At the release, the arrow smacked the bird and it ran over the brow of the hill and out of sight. It appeared to be a perfect hit, but I’d been through this scenario before, so I tried to remain objective and go through a thoughtful progression of evaluating the situation.

I departed the barn and removed some of the gear that was weighing me down. Sliding under a barbwire fence, I studied the feathers left behind and spotted my arrow. I was disappointed to see that the arrow had no blood or moisture on it. The arrow had passed through feathers, but apparently not the turkey’s body. I searched the area anyway, and found no evidence that the bird had received a damaging blow.

Two twenty-yard shots and no turkey – not even a good hit. At least I was gaining experience. As I wandered and checked the area for any sign of the gobbler, a different gobbler appeared over a slight ridge, I ducked down and lost sight of him. It appeared that he might be heading my way, so I sat on the ground and pulled an arrow, but before I could get my bow vertical, he appeared about 20 yards away, staring at me. Eventually, I tried to raise the bow, but it didn’t work. Before I knew it the bird was 40 yards away and departing the area.

I followed and set up next to a large oak tree. I yelped with my mouth call and before long the gobbler returned, but he passed by too far out and I was afraid to call as I was sure he’d spot me. After he disappeared again, I tried a call and he gobbled, but didn’t return. Later I observed that he had found some hens and was preoccupied.

Waiting patiently, I hung out by the large oak. It was about four feet in diameter and provided lots of options for hiding. I sat where I could observe the turkeys. After a while a large group of birds showed up – five jakes. They had a bit of a confrontation with the gobbler and then high-tailed it out of his way. Apparently they didn’t was to get their butts kicked. They wouldn’t even gobble.

I was very optimistic that the jakes would come if I called, and I expected them to pass up hill from me as I’d seen other birds travel that route. After calling, I waited and the young turkeys did almost exactly what I expected, but they stayed out at about 35 yards, further than I wanted to shoot. When the passed out of sight, I stood and moved to the opposite side of the tree. Once again I relied on calling to bring them back.

The unfortunate part of standing behind a large tree is that you are blind and cannot look around to tree or turkeys will see you if they are present, so I was forced to wait patiently, ready to shoot. After about five minutes, a jake stepped out about five yards from me.

I waited. A second jake, and a third appeared. I knew there were more so I waited for the last one. As I prepared for a shot, one of the jakes acted alarmed and the others noticed.

When the last jake stepped out, he quickly moved away from me to about 20 yards. With bow drawn, I was prepared to shoot. I steadied on the bird and released. Thwack. I hit him hard. Amazingly all five jakes walked off and I could not tell by their movement that any of them had been hit. This was disappointing.

When I found my arrow it was covered with moisture and feathers. I had definitely penetrated the bird completely with the arrow. I watched for a sign of the jakes. Soon one and then another appeared about 200 yards away. They were behaving routinely. I counted four. Thinking that one was down, I waited for several minutes and encountered a rattlesnake. That’s the one I videoed with my cell phone for my previous post.

This rattlesnake was not happy with me.

After about 30 minutes I trailed the group of turkeys to a run of oaks and came upon them. All five were back together. Bummer, I knew one was hit, but apparently this would not be the day for taking home an arrowed bird.

Later in the day, I believe I located a single jake hiding out in the brush and as I headed home a few hours later, spotted four jakes standing in an open field, not far from where I’d encountered them.

Their buddy was missing.

Archery hunting is usually exciting, and often disappointing. It’s much more challenging than hunting with a firearm and success is more appreciated. Failure is difficult to accept. I’ll have to take this experience and use it to my advantage. It will take a while to fully digest it.

Wildlife was abundant on the way home.

This deer grazed, surrounded by spring wild flowers.

Roadside turkeys paid little attention to my truck.

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Turkeys Active – Wolf Stakeholder Meeting

Turkey season opens this Saturday (March 30) and the gobblers are gobbling.

I sat on a rise overlooking (and overhearing) a canyon where most of our turkeys live. Gobblers sounded off from several locations. Hoping that this season will provide more action than the past few. I’m planning to be in attendance for the opener.

My new Mathews bow will be with me. I’d better take a few more practice shots.

My iphone says the weather will be rainy. A serious rain could curtail my trip, but it seems unlikely that the rain will fall very hard. We could sure use the rain. Before long it will be too late for this year.

Tomorrow I’ll be in Redding to attend a Wolf Stakeholder meeting. It will be interesting to see how the group reacts to the latest movements by our only wolf (OR7). He headed north (back) into Oregon a few days ago.

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Youth Blacktail Deer Hunt at MDF Livermore-Pleasanton Banquet, March 15

The Holm Ranch has graciously donated a, 16 and under, youth deer hunt for 2013. Every youth hunter to date has taken a buck on this hunt, which takes place about ten mile east of Livermore.

This 2000+ acre ranch is loaded with deer and occasionally a pig as well, so the hunter should make sure he or she has a tag for both.

The hunt generally

Emilee Selna and her dad, Greg Selna with a Holm Ranch buck taken in 2010.

takes place in late August or early September.

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Ruby Mountains Drop Camp Offered at MDF Livermore-Pleasanton March 15

Here you go. Purchase this drop camp offering and use it to hunt high during the early deer seasons. This is a perfect fit with archery deer hunting in the Ruby Mountains.

Drop Camp on Top of the Ruby Mountains

Hidden Lake Outfitters will take you and a friend to the campsite of your choice, and back, with all your gear. Your trip can be to the top of the Ruby Mountains in Elko County, Nevada,  between July 1^st and Oct 15^th.

The outfitters will provide one saddle horse and one pack horse per person.  This is the area of the world famous Ruby Crest Trail.  You have your choice of alpine lake fishing or hunting. This offering encompasses time periods that include, archery, muzzleloader, and early rifle deer seasons.

If you are up for a unique challenge, you can hunt the Himalayan Snowcock. The Rubies are the only place in the United States where the mountain dwelling bird can be hunted.

Your packer, Henry Krenka, has been outfitting and guiding in this country for years and has agreed to make this offer good for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons to increase the chance that the high bidder can obtain a deer tag through the Nevada draw system.

Henry is also ready to assist you in acquiring a tag through the guide draw system or locating a landowner deer tag.  Hunt, fish or hike, this will be an unforgettable trip.

Livermore 2013 flyer

Here’s a nice Ruby Mt buck tagged with a landowner tag in 2010

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Want to Go To Africa?

Maybe it’s time. MDF Livermore-Pleasanton will have a trip to Africa in the Live Auction this Friday night.

Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris, with camps in South Africa and Namibia has donated a seven-day hunt which includes $1,000 credit towards trophy fees.

Go to www.africatrophyhunting.com and read about them.

Do your homework before the dinner, or you’ll have a hard time making a decision.

Here are the hunt donation forms for South Africa and Namibia: Donations SCI SA Nam13

Here is a list of trophy fees: trophy fees

I purchased my trip to South Africa at an MDF event. It’s a bit of a leap, but we’ll have a representative on hand at the dinner to explain the details.

Here’s a flyer. Only a few days left.

Livermore 2013 flyer

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Billingsley Tire Donates Pig Hunt for March 15 MDF Banquet in Livermore

How do like this? We needed a pig hunt to round out our auction for the Livermore-Pleasanton MDF banquet, so Tom Billingsley of Billingsley Tire in Lemoore and Coalinga, purchased a pig hunt from Hogs Wild Ranch and donated it MDF. This is a two-day pig hunt for one person with overnight lodging.

Maybe you can find one this big!

Check it out.

Here’s some info from the Hogs Wild website: www.hogswild.com

“We’ve got California wild pig hunting at its finest! Located 17 miles west of  Coalinga, CA, in the coastal mountains. We offer bow hunting and rifle hunting
for trophy wild boars. Our hunts are self guided hunts or semi guided drop camp  style. We have two comfortable hunting cabins with beds, bathrooms, and showers.”

There’s a lot more to read at the web site, so go and read it for yourself.

For a banquet flyer, click on this link: Livermore 2013 flyer

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Spring Pig Hunts Offered in Yolo County

Reblogged from CDFW News:

Contacts: Victoria Barr, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-4034
Kyle Orr, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8958

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will conduct eight permit-only wild pig hunts on Bobcat Ranch in Yolo County.

These opportunities are being offered between April 3 and May 22, 2013 through the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Program. A total of 24 SHARE Access Permits will be provided to wild pig hunters through a random drawing for eight general method hunts.

Read more… 222 more words

Here's a chance to get your pig. Just click on the title and the original CADFW post will appear.

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Hardly-Fired-Up Goose Hunt 2013

For the second year in a row, the action was modest for the late goose season. However the weather was gorgeous and the duck photo ops were excellent. Here are a few of the best.

 

Click to enlarge.

 

The black pheobe landed close. I know, its not a duck.

 

This ring neck was moving fast.

This spoony wasn’t as clear as some of the others, but I like the way his landing gear was down.

This is my favorite of the day.

 

Lola posed nicely with my lone spec of the day.

So once again the hardly-fired-up goose hunt was a success.

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Strategies and Tactics in Hunting

A couple of weeks ago, I planned a weekend duck and goose hunt. Hunting by myself would allow me to hunt in any manner I wished.

Hunting our 140 acre plot on Webb Tract can be limited when in a group, but by hunting alone, I figured I might hunt anywhere on the parcel and apply any style I chose without interference from any other hunters. I was right.

Before leaving home, I focused on a couple of tactics, one for geese and the other for ducks. I convinced myself that these two tactics would work. Therefore, my strategy for the hunt was limited by my own vision.

When I arrived at the property, the water levels had been manipulated in a way that I hadn’t anticipated so my primary goose and duck hunting tactics were not as favorable as I had anticipated.

The blind where I had intended to wait out the specs, had a water truck parked about 75 yards from it. It appeared to me that the large truck might inhibit geese from using the field and the high water at the south end of the property was attracting both ducks and geese  – another change I’d not anticipated.

The water was cold and Lola would rather have stayed on dry ground, but she retrieved these birds.

I made a key strategical error, I’d limited the tactics I might use by concluding that the activity on the property would be the same as the last time I hunted. This was a fatal strategical flaw, a common problem when hunting ducks and geese.

In my strategy I should have included all the possible scenarios that could happen on that weekend and then come prepared with a greater array of tactical elements. This was not the first time that ducks and geese had used the south end of the property, so I should have come prepared with gear that would support that option – or any other place on the property for that matter.

What would I have done differently? It turns out that the blind I intended to use was in a field that was nearly dry. My plan was to use very few goose decoys or maybe none at all and wait patiently for the geese to come in to the field. In this manner I could get close shots at set birds or even birds about to land. This tactic would allow me to watch the birds at close range, pick out good shots and kill a maximum number of geese with the smallest number of shots. I enjoy this type of hunting and was excited about the anticipated hunt – too excited.

When I arrived at the property, I was unprepared to hunt geese over water. I’d left my floating spec decoys at home, thinking they wouldn’t be needed. As it was, I hunted geese over my mallard decoys on Saturday afternoon, killing two specs at close range, but several other small groups of specs passed by just out of range and I believe that with six floating spec decoys in the pond – one of them attached to my jerk string, I’d have killed three or four more geese than I did.

My strategical mistake was to come unprepared to use all the tactics I needed – even though they were readily available to me. If my strategy had been more inclusive, I would have carried my floating goose decoys with me, even though I might not choose to use them.

How does this translate to a hunt on a pubic hunting area? Take for example a hunt at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. The dogmatic approach might be to wait for a particular blind or pond, no mater how long it takes. If the strategy is limited such as this, you probably would bring a decoy spread to suit that pond. A better approach would be to search the internet for information about all the blinds at Sac refuge. That information is readily available.

Maybe you want to hunt elk during the rut with bow and arrow in Northeastern Oregon. These are the strategical elements of the hunt. Some other strategy may be attending sport shows to gather information about Oregon elk tags, purchase elk bugeling tapes or to find maps of potential huntig areas such as the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. Selecting equipment, practicing your shooting and calling would become elements of your tactical arsenal.

Defining your minimum trophy size is a strategic element that can change as the hunt continues. Or, your strategy may be to attempt to kill the first legal animal you come upon. In either case, you are better off if you make this decision in advance.

Developing strategy is an element of hunting that provides year-round stimulation in anticipation of the next hunt. Periodic practice of hunting skills such as shooting or calling creates a hunting lifestyle and helps develop a skill. And skill forebodes success.

By understanding strategy and tactics you will clarify the process by which you can achieve your hunting goals.

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