Two Utah Elk Tags at Auction June 1, 2013

This message just in from the Redding Chapter of MDF:

The MDF Chapter in Redding, California will be auctioning the following tags at its banquet on Saturday June 1st.  I have attached a banquet order form if you
are interested in attending and bidding on these items.  If you are interested in being a phone bidder please call Steve Boreo 530-410-1832, or email Marlene
Woodard at office@aplannedaffair.net .  If you know others who may be interested please pass my email along.

• Central Mountains Manti Any-Weapon Elk – The Central Mountains Manti unit is the largest Elk unit in the state of Utah. The unit has a large bulls from 350 inches up with potential for 400 inch plus bulls. The season dates for this hunt are during the rifle season 2014. (Actual Season dates will be set in May 2014)

• Southwest Desert Premium Elk -   The Southwest Desert Premium Elk Tag allows you to hunt one of Utah’s premier elk units with an opportunity to kill a bull potentially in the 400 inch class. This Premium Elk tag allows you to hunt 4 seasons, archery, muzzleloader, rifle, and a late rifle season. (The season dates won’t be set until May of 2014). Hunter needs to purchase Utah hinting license and Elk License.

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What’s a One-Horned Oryx? MDF Livermore-Pleasanton Banquet

A one horned Oryx (aka gemsbok) is simply an oryx that has one horn missing. With only one horn, an oryx is not an attractive trophy, so they are hunted as a “managment” hunt, meaning that they are removed from the herd by hunters who pay a discounted price. I’m told that a taxidermist can recreate the lost horn for a shoulder mount.

Here’s are offering for our March 15, 2013 banquet:

A28     Free Range Mature Broken Horn Oryx Hunting in New Mexico with Armendaris Ranch: The Armendaris Ranch near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico has  generously donated a two-day hunt for a mature broken horn Oryx (gemsbok) for one hunter.  At more than 350,000 acres, the Armendaris Ranch has become synonymous with big Oryx and exciting hunts.  This is one of just a few places in North America where free ranging Oryx may be hunted and entering a chancy public drawing is NOT needed.  Included with this donation is 1×1 guiding, use of hunt vehicle, walk-in cooler if needed and field preparation of the trophy.  Not included are travel expenses to/from the ranch, accommodations, meals or State of New Mexico hunting license/tag fees.  This is a 2 day hunt that is usually completed in the first day due to the population of Oryx on the large private ranch. There is a land owner certificate for the guaranteed tag but the purchaser must purchase the tag from New Mexico Department of Fish and Game.

Here’s a flyer for the banquet: Livermore 2013 flyer

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Yes We Have Fishing Too, MDF Livermore-Pleasanton Banquet March 15.

How about salmon fishing in Alaska: The winning bidder of this awesome Alaskan fishing adventure will enjoy four (4) full days of
fishing covering two (2) trips for salmon on the Kenai and the Kasilof rivers. Your river fishing will take place from drift and power boats, followed
up by one (1) full day of salt water fishing for halibut, and what better way to complete an Alaskan fishing adventure than to spend a full day on a fly out
salmon fishing trip to either the Kustatan for Silver Salmon or Wolverine Creek for Sockeye Salmon & Bear viewing. Included in this trip are full
accommodations and meals while on this Adventure, along with all transportation while moving between fishing areas. This trip may be upgraded for additional
days of lodging and fishing and the winning bidder may add additional guests to join him or her by making arrangements with Steve. DONATED BY: STEVE
TAORMINA OF KENAI LEGENDS FISHING http://www.kenailegendsfishing.com/

Or your choice of salmon or trout fishing for four on the Sacramento River with Scott Kenyon’s guide service.  Fully donated by Scott Kenyon. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Kenyons-Guide-Service/207934385930044

Or, trout fishing at Lake Margaret for four people, three days and two nights. A boat is provided as well.  Fully donated by Wilderness Unlimited. http://www.wildernessunlimited.com/

Here’s a link to a flyer:Livermore 2013 flyer

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Five-Day Drop Camp with Kennedy Meadows Pack Station

MDF Livermore-Pleasanton will offer a five-day drop camp with Kennedy Meadows Pack Station at it’s March 15, 2013 banquet. Kennedy Meadows Pack Station has contributed this trip to all 21 MDF banquets held in Livermore. Thanks to Matt Bloom and his crew for this super support.

For information about the banquet: Livermore 2013 flyer.

This trip for two includes a packer to guide you to your camp site with one riding horse and one pack mule per person. You can use this service to get to a fishing spot, hunting spot for deer and bear or just to camp out in the beautiful mountain wilderness.

I have purchased this trip and used it for both fishing and deer hunting. Come enjoy the March 15  banquet and bid on this trip.

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MDF Livermore-Pleasanton Offers Mule Deer Hunt at March 15 Banquet

Make your bid for one of three options for a hunt with Battle Creek Outfitters. Each of these hunts is offered at a retail price between $3,500 and $4,000.

Rifle Hunters:

“Thanks to several relatively mild winters recently and outstanding management efforts on the part of the Oregon Fish and Game Department, Oregon mule deer herds in Central and Eastern Oregon are doing well. This translates into increased opportunity and success for our Mule Deer hunting trips. Over the years our rifle Mule Deer hunting has enjoyed an overall 85% success rate.

All of our rifle deer hunts include:

• Full      guide services (2×1)
• Lodging      in comfortable wall tents
• All      meals during your hunt
• Transportation      during your hunt
• Care      of your trophy while in camp (includes field dressing and preparation for      your trip home)

Come join us for the Oregon Deer Hunting season with an unforgettable Mule Deer hunting adventure in some of the finest deer hunting units in Central and Eastern Oregon.”

 

Option  #1.) Rifle mule deer hunt at Pedro Mountain Ranch, October 4-9, 2013.

Or

Archers:

“Our Castle Rock Ranch will offer a Mule Deer only archery hunt this year as well as a combo hunt. This deer hunt will require the hunter to be in good physical condition as the terrain is high mountain and very rocky. Spot & stalk is the secret to success for this hunt.

Our Pedro Mountain Ranch offers the best opportunity for combo hunt success, as there are good numbers of deer and elk and conditions offer good opportunities for taking both animals.

Whether you are a beginner or have many years experience in the sport of archery elk hunting there is no greater thrill than “bugling in” a fully mature Rocky Mountain Bull Elk to within ten yards. This is the type of archery elk hunting experience we strive to provide for all of our clients.

Very few of our guided archery hunters go home without a realistic opportunity at an elk. We operate our guided archery hunting as combination elk and mule deer hunts, if the hunter chooses. We encourage our bow hunters to do the combo hunts as opportunities can present themselves at anytime and over the years we have had many a bow hunter that wished they had gotten that extra tag.

Our archery hunting takes place during the rut for elk and as you know this is the best time for bugling in those large herd bulls. Bucks during this time may still be in velvet or will have just shed their velvet. They are, often times, not as wary as they would normally be during their rut later in the season and this makes them more approachable for the archery hunter.

Oregon archery elk hunting takes place during the last week in August through the third week in September and we offer seven-day hunts. This can be a very warm time of year. Temperatures in the 80′s or higher are not uncommon. Hunter conditioning plays an important role when temperatures get high. Please practice, practice, practice with your archery equipment. The single biggest reason for missed opportunities, we have found over the years, is lack of preparation.

Allow us to help make your archery elk hunting adventure a safe and memorable one. Come join us for an unforgettable Oregon bow hunting adventure in Central Eastern Oregon’s finest archery hunting units.”

 

Option #2.) Archery Deer-Elk Combo hunt at Castle Rock Ranch, August 24-30, 2013.

 ”This deer hunt will require the hunter to be in good physical condition as the terrain is high mountain and very rocky. Spot & stalk is the secret to success for this hunt.”

Or

Option #3.) Archery Deer-Elk combo, September 16-22, 2013, Pedro Mountain Ranch.

“Our Pedro Mountain Ranch offers the best opportunity for combo hunt success, as there are good numbers of deer and elk and conditions offer good opportunities for taking both animals.”

These offerings are for 2013 dates only.

All hunts are 2 hunters per guide. All accommodations and transportation during the hunt are provided.

It will be the hunter’s responsibility to obtain and pay for their Oregon hunting license and tags as necessary.

Castle Rock Ranch

This 31,000 acre ranch is located in the Beulah unit in eastern Oregon. The ranch has great opportunity for Mule Deer and Rocky Mountain elk. It consists of sage brush/juniper covered hills with timber on the higher elevations. This is a great property for the spot & stalk method of hunting. Our deer hunters have done very well in the past. We have also taken some very nice bulls from this property.

We offer a Mule deer only archery hunt this year for those who want the next level of challenge with the bow.

Rifle hunts are available for both Mule deer & elk.

For more information about the outfitters, go to www.battlecreekoutfitters.com

For more information about the banquet and tickets click here, Livermore 2013 flyerLivermore 2013 flyer, or call Rich Fletcher at (925)989-4372 or Bob Holm at (925)447-2044.

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Auction Deer Tag Sells for $310,000

During the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City, The Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife sold a mule deer tag at their Friday-night auction on behalf of the state of Utah. Ninety percent of the proceeds from sale of the tag will be used to enhance mule deer habitat on Antelope Island, which is located in the Great Salt Lake.

It is believed that this Antelope Island hunt will enable the purchaser to take down a trophy with antlers in the 240 – 270 inch range.

The opening bid was $290,000 and the final bid was $310,000.

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Supporting Deer and Deer Habitat

The Livermore/Pleasanton Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), has been working to “Conserve and Protect” California deer and their habitat since 1993. During that time we’ve raised funds in support many projects that enhanced habitat, supported California’s Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), reduced deer deaths on highways, educated youth, supported hunting programs and firearms safety – to name a few.

In recent years, MDF has worked with the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) and a coalition of various conservation organizations to support programs within CDFG during these times of change. In addition, legislative efforts, coordinated by COHA, have created a new environment where our voice as outdoorsmen and women is louder than ever.

Hunters purchased 175,000 deer tags last year with a harvest about 30,000 California deer in 2011. About twice that many deer were likely hit by cars on California highways. We do not know how many deer were killed as depredation for agricultural crop losses. We can only imagine how many deer were killed by poachers. Sale of 175,000 deer tags raised several million dollars to support California wildlife programs.  MDF and other conservation organizations, like COHA, led the fight to pass legislative reform requiring public oversite over these user fees. Deer killed by cars, depredation, poachers and mountain lions raised no money for wildlife.

But, automobiles, hunters, poachers and farmers are not a serious threat to the long-term health of California deer herds. Despite the fact that mountain lions prey heavily on deer they too are not a huge threat to the viability of healthy deer herds.

During California’s lengthy run of economic success, industrial prosperity, population growth, agricultural expansion and residential construction, deer have declined. Deer habitat is disappearing  and that loss of habitat is the biggest problem  facing deer and other wildlife.

Hunter or not, many people appreciate deer as one of the remaining large mammals that live in our open spaces both nearby our cities and in the remaining wild places of California. The Livermore-Pleasanton Chapter of MDF is asking you to support our efforts to keep deer relevant.

It is concerned citizens that will make the difference for deer in the long haul. We are making it our business to stay involved with our wildlife managers to track deer numbers, better evaluate population changes, improve habitat and educate the public about how important deer are to our  culture and outdoor experience. Please help MDF  accomplish its mission.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City Utah, the Mule Deer Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization with 2,500 California members, 11 California chapters and over 13,000 total members. Donations are tax deductible. Membership is $35 per year and entitles members to attend MDF functions and receive “MDF,” its offical magazine, each year.

Bob Holm and I are co-chairs of the Livermore-Pleasanton Chapter of MDF. We are very interested in helping you help deer. Contact information follows. We would like to expand our committee, find merchandise donors, new members and people who want to support our efforts. We have no magic, but we do have an organization, a good mission and cooperation from people who can get things done.

Rich Fletcher (925)989-4372 richfletcher@sbcglobal.net

Bob Holm (925)447-2044  rholm@hughs.net

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Livermore-Pleasanton MDF 20th Banquet Celebration

It was a celebration and it seemed like everybody was into it.

The colors were presented by Warrior Watch Riders and they led the pledge of allegiance. The crowd remained standing for the “Star Spangled Banner.”

The new MDF video "Born to be Wild" fired up the crowd during dinner.

 I addressed the crowd, which we estimated at just under 250, during dinner and thanked the many committee members, sponsors and donors. Many of the people attending had participated in Livermore-Pleasanton banquets for the entire 20-year history of the event. We had a gun raffle for all former and present committee members. Gary Pacheco, one of five original committee members and former Chapter chair, won the “pick of the herd” rifle – very fitting.

The raffle bin was packed, and we sold every raffle ticket on hand. The MULEY youth rifle raffle sold out in no time.

The raffle flew by and the auction was lively. Our key item of the night, two Nevada Landowner tags in the Ruby Mountains, went well – $5,000 each. Fishing trips, pack trips, a white-tail hunt in Missouri, local youth blacktail hunt  – they all were well recieved and got lots of attention from bidders. I can’t say enough about the support of our chapter members, it was fantastic.

 

Livermore youth, Brenden Simmons proudly displayed his new deer rifle.

 

Emmett Burroughs, MDF Founder, attended the event and donated a Lake Shasta fishing trip. Before the dinner, he and Jack Revazza looked over a few of the raffle guns.

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2012 Letter to the Livermore-Pleasanton Chapter of MDF

Tonight MDF Livermore-Pleasanton is conducting its 20^th banquet. Quite a few of the original 194 who attended the first banquet, 20 years ago, are here tonight and that includes all of the five committee members that put together that original banquet – Rob Fletcher, Ralph Laughlin, Gary Pacheco, Terry Ludlow and myself. Three of us have been on all 20 banquet committees. Terry Ludlow has outdone all of us as he served on the San Jose Chapter banquet committee for two years before we started up here.

Since 1992 we’ve had four Chapter Chairs – Mick Dover, Gary Pacheco, Bob Holm and myself. Many people in the room tonight have supported the MDF mission for the entire 20 years or more. Nobody has kept count, but by my best guess, the Livermore-Pleasanton has sold over 6,000 banquet tickets and raised about a million dollars net for deer conservation.

In 1997 through 2003, our local chapter held several “Youth Day” events. You’ll see photos of those events in our slide show tonight. As of 2012, MDF has an entire youth program called M.U.L.E.Y. which includes a a full-time staff member assigned to promoting youth involvement in shooting and hunting. MidwayUSA and Larry Potterfield are largely responsible for funding this program, but it’s the dedication of MDF volunteers that will make the program successful. It’s hard to distinguish the MULEY program from the Livermore-Pleasanton event.

About six years ago, California Waterfowl and a few other groups formed the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA). In about 2006, MDF joined COHA and today MDF CEO Miles Moretti is a key Director on the COHA board. During the past few years, legislation created by COHA has influenced the way California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) operates and COHA-supported networking has leveraged the ability of conservation groups like MDF to partner more efficiently with CDFG.

In 2009, MDF Livermore-Pleasanton took on a large role in creation of the Purple Heart Outdoor Tour. Along with many other groups, like Cal Deer, Cal Waterfowl, The Livermore-Pleasanton Rod and Gun, COHA and the Warrior Watch Riders VFW Chapter, The Purple Heart Outdoor Tour Blacktail Deer Hunt has become a major local event that supports active duty servicemen, by providing opportunity for valorous soldiers to hunt blacktail deer and socialize with local citizens.

Today the organization has grown from a staff of one full-time secretary and one field representative in 1992 to about 20. We have a CEO in Miles Moretti who is well known in all the mule deer states. From North Dakota to Arizona andTexas to the state of Washington, MDF is on the map. At this year’s convention auctioneers sold hunts and tags from Friday afternoon through Saturday night raising money for deer and other wildlife. Several deer tags sold for over $150,000 and a couple for over $200,000.

In 1992 we had no magazine, no videos, no convention, limited project funds, no fundraising tags, no TV coverage, few chapters outside California and no paid leadership. Today we have all these things, about 15,000 members and a tradition of success.

Thanks to you, MDF is alive and well and going places.

Rich Fletcher and your Livermore-Pleasanton Committee
 

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Gaming for a Big-Game Tag in 2011

It’s easy to spend money and not go hunting. I once came across an interesting character who used to put in for Los Banos Wildlife Area in the waterfowl lottery. One weekend he was drawn and arrived three days early so he could be first in line for the Saturday hunt. He got the space blind he wanted, but quit hunting at 8 AM so he  could get back to the parking lot in time to be number one for the Sunday hunt.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to kill a nice bull elk. Rob arrowed this one in 2004 and tagged it with an Idaho over the counter tag.

For this year, at least, I’m back to hoping for a tag. Hoping is not as good as just flat-out buying in terms of ease of planning and satisfaction with the result. I’m not really into gambling, so the process of gaming for a tag is a real drag. I do it every year anyway.

Of course there are still some over-the-counter options and we’ll be using that one this fall by purchasing archery elk and general deer tags in Idaho. We’ll be hunting in a group of four during September. I’ve also purchased an A-Zone tag and preference point with my first CA deer tag. Next year we should have enough preference to hunt a California X zone. These things are good.

This is a typical A-zone blacktail. I'll try to arrow one of these on our ranch.

However, gaming for a high value tag is not looking good in California this year. I have eight preference points for Antelope, Elk and Sheep this year. Eight is one less than the maximum, so I’m in the 20% that have to get extra lucky and the odds are very poor. In most cases, even the holders of nine points will need luck – especially in the sheep category and they have a chance for 100% of the available tags.

California has three species of elk, but it takes a lot of luck or money to hunt them. I photographed these Roosevelt elk while on a blacktail hunt near the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

I’ve never had much luck in draws, but I drew an archery antelope tag one year and an Anderson Flat archery deer tag another year. Didn’t bring home any venison, but I did have the opportunity.

 A quick look at my California odds shows that I have a less than 1 in 450 chance of drawing an antelope, elk or sheep tag combined. That’s a chance, but not much of a chance. That’s at a cost of $24.39 for 1/450th which comes out to $10,975.50 for a 100% chance. If I hunt until the age of 81 (unlikely), my remaining lifetime chance is 20/450 or 1 in 22.5. Doesn’t look good for hunting elk, antelope or sheep in CA unless I spend the money to purchase a tag. 

My personal choice for the elk lottery was the Cache Creek bull elk hunt. Somebody will get it.

In Nevada, I’ve been buying bonus points for several years. I currently have three points, which means I may get lucky on a deer, elk, antelope, sheep or goat tag. My chance of drawing an archery mule deer tag alone is almost 50% and when that is combined with the other four choices I selected, two rifle and two muzzleloader hunts,  the mathematical odds are that I’ll get some kind of tag, but it’s not for sure.

 

 

For antelope, I put in for an archery tag that has a high percentage chance of drawing, so I may get that one. I didn’t calculate the odds for elk, sheep and goat, but they are very low.

I paid $4,500 for a Nevada landowner tag the year I shot this buck. I think the prices are down slightly now.

 In Colorado, I opted to purchase only preference points for deer, antelope and elk. One of these days I’ll have to get serious and put in for an actual hunt. The cost of the preference points for three species came out to $25. I have seven points for elk and antelope – about five for deer. That comes to about $200 over the past seven years. I hunted twice for deer with my bow.

For the third year in a row I entered the Utah lottery for tags at the Wildlife Conservation and Hunting Expo in  Salt Lake City. The hunts offered looked good, but by the time I purchased a Utah hunting license and paid for the chances, it added up to about $250. It would be worth it if I got drawn once, but so far I haven’t had a sniff. That’s $750 invested over the last three years.

Finally I purchased five chances for the California Open Zone tag for $27 and two chances for a Owens Valley tule elk tag at $10.80. All together I spent about $558 for these draws. That’s a lot cheaper than $10,000 for a Nevada landowner elk tag, or maybe it’s not?

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