I recently saw a web forum thread where the bowhunter professed frustration over his recent Wisconsin state land whitetail hunting experience due to equipment regulations.  Treestands on Wisconsin state lands must be removed each day and the use of screw-in steps is prohibited.  So, both a stand and some method for scaling the tree must be packed in and out.  I’ve also been on out-of-state hunts where I wanted a highly portable set-up for quickly adapting to deer movement or new scouting information.  I’m used to this way of hunting and now prefer it having used screw in steps only once in my 16 years of hunting from an elevated stand.  However, packing in a stand, steps and possibly a pack and extra clothing, for anything but a short distance, can leave a bowhunter tired, sweaty, and like our friend, frustrated.  Here are a few tips I have come up with over the years for both hang-on and climbing stands.  

Shoulder Straps – A decade-and-a-half ago you were lucky if your stand came with pack straps at all.  If it did they were usually only a couple of lengths of one-inch wide nylon strapping.  I don’t remember any aftermarket straps being available.  Times change.  Now some stands come with shoulder straps and there are aftermarket ones available.  I took a quick look at some outdoor retailers and found simple padded straps priced from $14-20.  

However, my favorite is the shoulder strap set from a military surplus MOLLE pack.  e-bay is a great place to find them for around $20 including shipping.  The price is comparable to commercially available straps, but I believe the MOLLE straps are infinitely superior.  Each side is individually adjustable for different body sizes and clothing layers, there are left/right load adjusters, 5 straps attach to the stand and a sternum strap is included.  Additionally, the straps contain left/right quick disconnects should your stand and pack be on fire or a bobcat attacks you.

The MOLLE system on a Lone Wolf Sit & Climb Stand and a Lone Wolf Alpha Assault.

Before discovering the MOLLE straps my favorite was the old military surplus ALICE LCII pack straps.  They come as a pair, one fitted left and one fitted right, each with an adjustment cam for use with different clothing layers, a quick-disconnect for easy load shedding (fire/bobcats…) and are fitted for right and left.  I think these are also better than the commercially available straps.  Typically they run in the $14-20 range, but I found a set the other day with the ALICE pack for $8.

ALICE straps on a Gorilla Scout stand.  Note the added sternum strap.

Waist Belt – Just like on a regular pack, a waist belt that carries the burden of the load on your waist/hips vice your shoulders is the coup-de-grace (or the cat’s meow, whatever…).  Anyway, I could never figure out how to adapt the ALICE waist belt to a stand and although I could attach the pack-frame with the waist belt I just didn’t like that set up.    However, the MOLLE waist belt easily attaches to most stands without problem.  I don’t even notice the weight of the stand on my back any more.  

Sternum Strap – Regardless of which shoulder straps you choose, a sternum strap across your chest prevents them from sliding off your shoulders.  The MOLLE straps come with one, after market ones are available for the ALICE straps or you can fashion one from two pieces of eight inch long by one-half inch wide nylon strapping and a nylon quick disconnect clip.  Thread one-half of the quick disconnect clip onto each piece of the strap and sew the strap ends together with heavy duty thread.  Then slide one-half of the completed chest strap onto each strap.  The best bet is to sew them in place, but that isn’t totally necessary.  If you use the ALICE shoulder straps there is a handy location for the chest straps right behind the adjustment cams. 

A MOLLE system installed and in use as viewed from the front when worn.  Note the sternum strap.

Stand Weight – When shopping for a stand you want to consider its total weight and capacity.  Choose a stand that you can carry for long distances, but also make sure it can carry you.  As a comparison, when I first started treestand hunting I used an all steel twenty-two pound stand.  Then I switched to an eleven pound all aluminum stand.  Quite a difference. 

I primarily use two stands, a Lone Wolf Alpha Assault coupled with four Lone Wolf Climbing Sticks, 21 pounds combined weight, and a Lone Wolf Sit and Climb, 20 pounds.  I loaded both of them up just as I would hunt with them, including extra cold weather clothing and small pack as pictured below, and found that they both weighed 30 pounds. 

The stands are loaded up and ready to hit the woods with small pack and extra clothes.  Note the climbing sticks on the Alpha Assault, right, and the bungy cords.

Silence! – None of us wants to pack a stand that sounds like a spare parts store hit by a tornado.  Isolate and fix any unwanted sounds coming from your stand.  The seat on my previous stand liked to bang against the platform with each step.  It was so loud it even scared me on those long, dark morning and evening walks.  I learned to flip the seat cushion over when packing it in and tie the platform to the support columns so there was no free movement when I was walking.   The cord stayed tied to the platform so I didn’t lose it and it doesn’t seem to get in the way when the stand is in use.  Both my Lone Wolf stands can make a little walking noise, but quiet down when a couple of bungy cords tighten everything up.

The seat is flipped over and tied to the platform to minimize carry noise.

 The cord tied to the platform doesn’t interfere with stand use.

Quiver – If you are a hunter who likes to use a detachable quiver you may want to consider purchasing an extra bracket and mounting it on your stand’s platform so your arrows are always ready.

Retrieval Rope – Have you ever tried to untangle your coiled bow retrieval rope in the dark?  Good luck.  Instead, wrap it around a small wire or thin wood frame.  Then simply reel it off.  Make sure you re-stow it after each use.  For that matter, do the same with tree steps, flashlights, etc.  The last thing you want to do when you get back to camp is go back through your gear.

Wrapping the retrieval rope around a frame keeps it untangled and ready to use.

Extra Clothing – If you hike in more than a couple hundred yards you are likely to be pretty sweaty by the time you arrive at your tree.  Consider wearing the bare essentials while hiking and strap the rest to your stand with some bungy cords. 

Footwear – In cold weather, consider a set of soft, insulated boot covers that can be carried in and put on while in your stand vice wearing heavy pac boots that leave you exhausted and your feet sweaty. 

Zippers – The little tabs on packs can be hard to find in the dark and even harder in the dark when your fingers are frozen or covered with gloves or mittens.  Using some cord, such as parachute cord, or some leather scraps, craft some two to three inch long lanyards and attach them to the zipper tabs on your pack.  These work well on trouser flies, jackets, bibs and overalls as well.

Tabs make it easier to find zippers in the dark and when it is cold.

Headlamp – A headlamp is a handy way to free up one hand from carrying a flashlight.  See my review of the Energizer 3 LED Headlight here. 

Fitness – One final note.  Before attempting to pack in all this stuff on opening day, engage in some sort of fitness plan over the summer.  Here is a link to one of mine, Get In Shape – Keep It Simple Bowhunter.

happy hunting, dv

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I had prepared a rather lengthy blog this week, but bad news today changed my plans. Instead, we have a mixed bag including the sad loss of a fellow bowhunter, some videos I’ve been working on (for quite some time) and a success picture.

Loss Of A Fellow Bowhunter

Sadly I pass along the loss of fellow bowhunter Dale Oleson. Dale previously appeared on the Mostly Archery pages in dv and Friends Meet Laura Francese and he and his son joined us in August for our Montana pronghorn hunt, Pronghorn – Rained Out. Those who never met Dale may have heard of the family O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin where some pretty darned good Kringle (great morning starter for deer or pronghorn camp) is produced and has been featured on television. Best wishes to his family and, “happy hunting,” to Dale.

Fellow bowhunter Dale Oleson pictured on the right with Laura Francese.

Videos

Mrs. dustyvarmint picked up a video camera to spy on Lexus while we were out and I’ve been trying to incorporate it into hunting. Finally I’ve put together two small videos. The first is from the Adaptive Sportsmen, Inc., turkey hunt I guided for this spring, dv’s 2009 Turkey Season – Fried Tag. The second is from my Pronghorn – Rained Out trip to Montana in August. I hope you like them.

The Adaptive Sportsmen, Inc 2009 Spring Turkey Hunt

A quick video from my Montana pronghorn hunting trip.

Success Picture

Finally, outdoors buddy Seth called a while back to tell me he’d finally harvested a “black” gray squirrel. They are very prevalent where I work, but hunting them there would land me in a federal prison or shot so I’ve had a hard time fulfilling my desire to bring one home.

Outdoors buddy Seth straight from the beauty shop, err… field, with his black squirrel.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• Hamming With Game Cams
• Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
• JD Welding Arrow Spin Testing – A dv Gear Review 

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Regular Mostly Archery readers may remember Hazards To Game Cameras where I lamented about something chewing the cables to my game camera’s external battery and solar panel.  My brother recently had the same problem so he fixed it forever. 

One serious game camera enclosure.

He says, “The camera frame is made out of 1/4″ x4″x4″ angle and the door is 2″x2″x1/4″ angle and a piece of 1/4″ plate to fill in the rest of the opening.  Two inch pipe forms the wiring tube.  Sixteen inch by 1/4″ pipe with 1/4″ plate for the top for the battery box.   Then I painted it with camouflage paint from Orshlens.   I think on the bottom of the battery box I will put some small expanded metal so nothing can get in.  It can stand alone or you can strap it to a tree.  I got it strapped and locked to a tree so no one can take the whole thing.  I can put on two locks; one on the camera box and one on the battery box.  I got some cable and braided some loops in it so I can lock the stand to the tree.”

Nice job brother!

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• Hamming With Game Cams
• A dv Gear Review – Moultrie D40 Game Camera
• A dv Gear Review – Scout Guard 550 Game Camera
• Hazards To Game Cameras

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The magazine article said, “You’d be surprised.  A trip to Africa will cost less than some western elk hunts or Texas deer hunts.”  And, I suppose it does cost less than some western elk hunts or Texas deer hunts, but from my information gathering it doesn’t cost less than any elk or deer hunt I would take.  After having successfully harvested javelina and crossing them off my personal critter wish list I began investigating the costs and options for hunting the next one, elk, for 2011.  

Now, I consider myself a person of modest means, but I have also seen hunters go to Colorado five or more times at a total cost of $12,000+plus on marginally outfitted or DIY hunts and never draw their bows back.  Great experiences I’m sure, but if I just want to walk around where elk hang out I can go to Yellow Stone or move back to Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.  I wasn’t raised up elk hunting, I dedicated the first 20 years of my adult life to Uncle Sam and I’m not getting any younger.  So, I’m talking about putting myself in the best position to harvest a fair chase elk the first time out.  By booking a high opportunity elk hunt through a high quality booking agent with excellent reputation and a first class outfitter with excellent reputation my costs would be close to $7,000 give or take, mostly give.  While I mulled that around in my head I discussed the hunt with the outfitter who declared it a, “Fat boy hunt,” i.e., stay in a hotel, eat at a restaurant, ride an ATV to the hunting area and begin hunting.  If the price tag didn’t shut the hunt down the description did.  

Time to regroup.  Other than a few inquiries for cow elk hunting as a “training wheel” course, elk hunting went on the back burner.  Then my buddy Crazy Brew from Kansas called one day and talked about going to Africa.  I still owe him a “butt kickin’” for mentioning it.  The thought had crossed my mind before (also enticed by that “less than an elk/deer hunt” discussion).  So, what does it cost?  Never being one to let emotion overcome fact gathering (at least not initially) I researched and put together some numbers for us to ruminate over.  

General notes:  The following estimates are based on a 10 day hunt.  The daily and trophy fees are from 8 operations with good to very good reputations (my opinion).  These costs are associated with booking a plains game hunt through a reliable outfitter or booking agent and not with buying a hunt from an unknown, unheard-of outfitter at a banquet auction.  There are no bargain basement operations.  Often, even these outfitters have specials that provide a significant value to the hunter above and beyond that listed here (savings of up to $2000 or more).  Four of the outfitters are sponsors of a very popular archery forum website.  Three others are booked through a sponsor of that website.  Six are in the Republic of South Africa.  Two are in Namibia.  Both are popular destinations for plains game hunting.  Note that it isn’t always easy to compare apples to apples.  For instance, there seems to be an additional transport charge and tax associated with the Namibia operations.  Also, the low daily fee is not from the same outfitter as the low trophy fee.  Basically, this is a ball park planning figure. 

Daily fees – These typically encompass things like the services of a professional hunter (PH), trackers, food, drinks, lodging, vehicle usage, etc.  They may or may not include pick up and return to the airport or arrival/departure day charges.  

Low:  $300/day = $3000     High:  $495/day = $4950 

Trophy fees – In Africa you typically pay a trophy fee for harvested or wounded animals.  These fees are often on a sliding scale that goes up for the trophy quality and/or physical size of the animal.  The following five animals are those plains game animals, besides zebra, that were discussed as “best representing” Africa on the previously mentioned website; kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest, warthog and blesbok.  I suppose zebra probably represent Africa as well as or more so than any plains game, but I’m not interested in harvesting one. 

Low:  $3000     High:  $5700

Kudu – Mrs. dustyvarmint’s favorite.

Gemsbok – my favorite.

Wildebeest

Warthog – only a mother can love that face.

Blesbok

Tips – Just as in the United States tipping for the guide and support staff is customary.  These numbers are based on information from the same previously mentioned website.  Recommendations include $300 plus or 10-15% of the daily fee for the PH and $10-20 per day for the staff or $4 per day for trackers and $10 per day for the cook.    

Low:  $500     High:  $695

So, there you go.  $6,500 on the low end for five animals including food and lodging for eight days.  Hey, that isn’t half bad.  Except for the rest of the story….  For starters you’ve got to get to Africa. 

Airfare

$2210 give or take.

Transfer to and from airport if applicable

Low:  $0     High:  $950

Ok, so there, $8710 for 5 animals.  Except, oh yeah, you may want to bring your trophies back to the United States.  Since they won’t fit in baggage and you aren’t allowed to bring them back yourself anyway you’ve got to have them dipped and packed, crated, shipped and cleared by customs.  Now, if you don’t bring your trophies back you could save quite a bit.  Note, though, that in Namibia you must pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on any trophies not brought back to the states.

Dip & pack

$510 (5-6 animals)

Crating, shipping, customs clearance and shipping to taxidermist

$1500

Taxidermist – If a hunter of modest means wanted to bring back his or her trophies, but cut some cost, this is the opportunity to do so.  Crazy Brew suggested a friend’s thrifty method.  He bought a zebra skin in Africa (which it turns out is cheaper than harvesting your own and having it tanned) and mounted all his trophies in European skull mount style on and around it.  I will attribute a small allotment to taxidermy work. 

Low:  $1000     High:  Who knows? 

Miscellaneous

$100-$200 (overnight stays along the way)

Gifts

Dependent and variable by hunter

Total – Low:  $11,820     High:  $17,715

So, we are looking at $11,820 on the low end.  Is that less than an elk or deer hunt you would take?

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• Boar Attach – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• dv’s 2009 Turkey Season – Fried Tag

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Please see the general note about dv’s Gear Reviews. 

Product:  Energizer Trailfinder 3 LED Headlamp 

The Engergizer Trailfinder 3 LED Headlamp

Overall Rating:  ****+ (4.5 stars of 5) 

Specifications: 

• Two lighting modes
• Two white LED’s for spot light
• One red LED for night vision
• Runs up to 50 hours on 1 set of Energizer MAX batteries
• Requires 3 AAA batteries (included)
• Model# HD33A2ODE     

Cost:  ***** (5 stars of 5).  $12.77.  I like that price.     

Performance:  **** (4 stars of 5).  Battery life is good; I changed them out at the beginning of the new season just as a precautionary measure.  Easy to operate.  The head handily tilts.  Reliable.  The on/off button is activated by sliding left to right and is somewhat loose on all that I’ve seen.  It’ll easily come on when stored or carried in a pocket or pack. 

Manufacturer’s Customer Service:  Not rated.  Not used. 

Source:  Wal-Mart. 

General notes:  Outdoors buddy Seth turned me on to the conveniences of a headlamp, this one in particular, on a 2008 turkey hunting trip to South Dakota.  Freeing up one hand for carrying a gun or bow and a blind or whatever sure is handy.  I’d previously bought a Primos bowsling thinking that was the answer to my full hands, but it turns out it wasn’t the bow it was the flashlight.  I’ve used this headlamp for one full season including deer hunting, turkey hunting, bowfishing and pronghorn hunting; handy for all.  Dogsledding team mate Victoria used one on our OIF/OEF Veteran’s Dogsled With Outward Bound trip.  It was just as reliable as the double and triple priced Petzls some of the other participants, including myself, used.

happy hunting, dv 

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• JD Welding Arrow Spin Tester – A dv Gear Review
• Scoutguard 550 – A dv Gear Review
• Moultire D40 Game Camera – A dv Gear Review

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The following is my trip report from a recent adventure with Powder River Outfitters for pronghorn.  The report is based on a North American Hunting Club format.    

1) Outfitter: Powder River Outfitters booked through Close Encounters booking agent Gary Martin.

2) Owner: Powder River Outfitters, Ken Greslin.  Close Encounters, Tom Close.

3) Address:  Powder River Outfitters, Box 678, Broadus, MT 59317.  Close Encounters, 989 Highway 48, Luck, WI 54853.   

4) Phone: Powder River (406)436-2538.  Close Encounters, (715)472-8253.

5) E-mail: Powder River, pat@davegardnercpa.com.  Close Encounters, tom@closeencountersbowhunts.com.

6) When: August 15-19, 2009

7) Where: Broadus, MT

Guided: Fully   

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: Truck driven by guide. 

11) Accommodations: Mobile homes for sleeping accommodations.  Separate kitchen/dining house.    

12) Trophy hunt only: No

13) Species hunted / harvested: Pronghorn / none.

14) Tools used: Compound bow.

15) Land hunted: Private

16) Cost: Booked at rate of $1300 per person for five day hunt including food, lodging, guiding and trophy care.  Check with outfitter for current rates.  Additional costs:  Travel (shared) $112.00, licenses/tags $246.00, tips $66.00.    

17) Challenging terrain adversely affect hunt: No

18) Did weather adversely affect hunt: Yes     

19) Quantity of game: Excellent

20) Quality of game: Excellent

21) Guide’s Competence: Fair   

22) Guide’s Hunting Ethics: Fair

23) Condition of Equipment: Good  

24) Food: Good   

25) Trophy care: Not Applicable    

26) Meat care: Not Applicable   

27) Number of outfitted / guided hunts for myself: 8

28)  Recommended: Yes        

29)  General comments:  The area around Broadus was suffering from some pronghorn winterkill and the weather through out the summer had been wet.  However, there were plenty of good bucks.  Temperatures were mild and it rained every day but one.  Not good for a water hole hunt.  Spot and stalk was the right method to use in this weather, but the guide and outfitter didn’t seem interested in employing it for anything other than a few hours one afternoon.  After some significant discussions with the guide we fit in about three stalks before heading to the blinds in the late afternoon.  At one point the guide encouraged me to jump out of the truck and shoot a pronghorn – one of my absolute pet-peeves.  The guide didn’t believe wind-direction was of concern.  There weren’t enough blinds in our guide’s area of responsibility to hunt the wind properly.  The blinds had no peep holes to look out of except the saw kerf around the windows.  We left the morning of the fifth day amidst further rain storms.  There was some confusion regarding a $50 difference between the Close Encounters contract amount and Powder River’s contract amount.  I’m still confused on that issue.

Bottom line is I relied on the booking agent (who hunted with us) and failed to talk to the outfitter before and during the hunt to clear up problems that could have made the hunt successful.  The weather did us no favors.  I honestly have no doubt that had the weather been hot and dry shooting opportunity would have been close to 100%.

You can find a more detailed, three part story of this trip here, Pronghorn – Rained Out.

30) Contact me at dustyvarmint@hotmail.com if you have questions I can answer.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• Pronghorn - Rained Out Part 2
• Pronghorn – Rained Out Part 3 

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Although Mrs. dustyvarmint would probably disagree I wasn’t as busy bowfishing this year as I would have liked.  However, we were out earlier than ever before, we made it to two new lakes; one of them the best bowfishing experience I’ve had to date and the other showing great potential; we hosted the Up North Journal Team and I helped set up three, yes three, boats.  The latest boat is the subject of this blog.

Once I introduced Super Slam archer and friend Gary to bowfishing he was hooked.  I personally think it’s because he’s already shot everything on land and now wants to work over the water creatures.  Anyway, Gary already had a small 14′ jon boat with motor he wasn’t using that would serve as a starter for the joint project.  Previously used as a bass boat, it already had a casting deck up front.  We extended the carpeted deck which also added storage and installed a low-cost PVC light rail inspired by the Up North Journal patriarch, Michael Adams.  Relatively economical battery operated navigation lights were added since we’d be out after dark.  Five, five-hundred watt halogen shop lights were installed on the light rail.  The lighting system was hard-wired to the generator with a single plug rather than relying on multiple plugs and power bars in the bottom of the boat that might get wet.  We found a 3500-4000 watt Champion generator at Tractor Supply for $300.

In the beginning.

The extended deck with storage area underneath.  The light rails are in progress.

A close up of the light rail.

Our Generator

A note on generators – here in south east Wisconsin the lakes we shoot are generally quite populated with houses close to shore.  Using a loud generator at 1:00 a.m. will generally get you a visit from a Conservation or local law enforcement officer or screamed at by a home owner.  When shopping for generators we found the very quiet Honda series products would run in the 58 db range while the Champion ran in the 67 db range.  However, the Hondas were five times the price of the Champion.  We decided to chance the Champion and have been happy with it thus far.  However, it is very apparent when running it next by friend’s Honda that the Champion is quite easily the noisiest. 

Having learned a lesson on the UNJ boat regarding trolling motor shaft-length we shopped for and bought one with a 42″ shaft.   It was only $10 more than the 36″ shaft and makes a significant difference in the ability to stand and operate the controls from the bow of the boat – even for my short carcass. Gary fabricated a mount for the trolling motor.  Just as with the Up North Journal boat modification we turned the stern-mounted troller’s control handle 180 degrees so that it could be used as a bow-mounted troller.  This is usually an easy change only requiring the removal of one screw.  However, if the trolling motor ever needs warranty service I recommend changing the handle back to its original configuration to save you any controversy.

The trolling motor mount with the control handle rotated 180 degrees.

That was pretty much it for functional modifications.  Lessons learned over time, though, led to a few more additions.  A $5 plastic tool box went in the storage compartment loaded with a screwdriver that fit the lenses on the shop lights, extra bulbs for same, a ratchet and socket that fit the trolling motor propeller nut in the case someone’s retrieval line gets wrapped up in it (I’ve seen it twice over the past two years), another socket used to adjust the shop light angles and, finally, extra batteries for the navigation lights.  A waterproof Rubbermaid tote keeps our extra clothing dry.

Gary poses with the final product. 

On our maiden voyage we shot four or five fish, got lost, forgot to open the vent on the motor causing it to die repeatedly and got stuck in some serious quack grass forcing us to paddle our way out.  Our next voyage on a new lake found a GPS in the tool box, we changed out one broken bulb, and shot four fish of personal record size for both Gary and I.  Additionally, Gary shot his first dogfish.

Gary poses with fish from our second voyage. 

In total we spent about $800 on the boat, no small amount, which would get you started on a nice fair-chase hog hunt.  However, we get to shoot fish more often and for less overall cost.  We have a few other odds and ends we want to do, but at the end of the season the boat is ready to go.  We’ve already got plans for the third weekend in April of 2010…

happy bowfishing, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• The Bowfishing Boat – A Different Option
• Bowfishing With The Up North Journal Podcast Team
• Bowfishing – Preparing The Boat 

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In dustyvarmint Joins Up North Journal Field Staff I mentioned there would soon be an exciting announcement.  Well, here it is.  Earlier this year outdoors friend Seth and I hosted the Up North Journal team of Michael and Mikey Adams for their first bowfishing trip here in the land of cheese.  Michael has published this adventure in UNJ’s vidcast Beyond The Wild Episode 3.  Check it out and watch me miss lots of fish, but tag my largest dogfish to date while Seth nails an eighteen pound hog carp.

Mikey and Michael of UNJ pose with their first fish.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• dustyvarmint Joins Up North Journal Field Staff
• Bowfishing With The Up North Journal Podcast Team
• Custom Turkey Interview On Up North Journal 

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Lexus and I pose with Michael and Mikey Adams of the Up North Journal

It gives me great pleasure to announce that dustyvarmint has joined the Up North Journal Field Staff.  Over time you’ve seen me reference the UNJ and its good folks.  The father and son team of Michael and Mikey Adams explore Michigan’s outdoors and beyond then share their adventures with us via the weekly Up North Journal podcast.  You can find it either directly from their website or via iTunes.  It and its Skinny Moose blogging advertisements are the reason Mostly Archery was started.  Additionally, Michael has served as a blogging mentor for me and the podcast has entertained me through hundreds of running miles, hours of treestand and blind sits and many a long air travel.  I don’t fly fish or waterfowl hunt, but I greatly enjoy each installment of Mikey’s Game Bag.  Family values, “Passing On the Tradition” and hard work are the central core of UNJ. 

UNJ is growing rapidly.  I’m proud to have been asked and proud to be a part of it.  dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery will be appear on UNJ’s website with the other Pro and Field Staff blogs as well as here on Skinny Moose.  Most recently UNJ has begun production of the vidcast Beyond The Wild.  A soon to follow dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery blog will bring an exciting announcement about Beyond The Wild Episode 3.  So, as Michael recently said, “Sit back, the ride is fast and furious, but has only just begun.”

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• The Bowfishing Boat – A Different Option
• Bowfishing With The Up North Journal Podcast Team
• Custom Turkey Interview On Up North Journal 

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Another season was upon him the hunter thought, dourly sitting in his treestand. Affixing the climbing sticks that allowed him to scale the tree hadn’t gone as smoothly as he’d remembered. Staying in shape was a great source of pride, but he had to admit he was getting older. The work of loading the truck and driving three-and-a-half hours to deer camp was still fresh in his mind. As was the desire to launch a few blunts at the drivers who couldn’t merge or drive more than thirty-five miles-per-hour in a fifty mile-per-hour zone.

Time went at a different pace than before. The year had nearly flown by. He’d thought that the hustle and bustle of a military life would slow down once he retired, but it seemed to pass even faster now. Only just yesterday it was January and he was in the Texas sun hunting javelina amongst the saw palmetto and prickly pear. He’d just returned from an August pronghorn trip on the sagebrush covered prairies of Montana. He asked himself why he was here in the chilly pre-dawn darkness when he could be home in bed with wife and dog. It was a recurring question he’d never been able to answer. He remembered reading the words of an older, wiser hunter who once said, “Mornings are for snuggling and loving.”

The sun eventually broke over the tree tops to warm his bones and lighten his mood. Then off to the left he saw tans and grays ghosting in the lush green. His heart pace quickened as a doe and two fawns made their way into the clearing. Completely unaware of his presence, even at a close eight yards, they sniffed, ate and scratched. He picked imaginary aiming spots for practice and almost burst out laughing as the doe sucked up a mushroom the size of a softball in three easy bites. She was just eight feet from the tree’s base. For some reason he was always tickled when they contorted themselves to scratch their heads with hind hooves. After awhile the trio wandered off. He later learned that his game camera caught pictures of the visitors at the exact moments he was watching them.

A game camera catches a doe’s visit as the hunter watches.

With the doe came two fawns.

Later that afternoon he climbed into a new tree in a previously scouted, but not hunted, location. Despite a detailed gear list he’d forgotten the limited entry permit for an exciting new area so was relegated to this piece of county forest land. The weather was warm and he was sweating buckets while struggling with a new ambush saddle. Once settled the afternoon sun caught up with him. Cat naps mingled with the incessant chattering of pine squirrels. The most daring of the little red buggers climbed to and cut acorns from atop the tallest oak. He’d never seen one climb so high. The sun went down appearing red at the last. He mused upon these sights and enjoyed his walk from the dark woods even through the rough, swampy terrain.

The following morning he nearly effortlessly and noiselessly used his climbing stand in a new tree. It was just a few feet from another that was considered an old friend. This old friend almost always produced a deer sighting for him. Some near, some far, but some none-the-less. Even a fisher once. A while later his eyes caught movement to the right. What he initially thought to be a larger deer and a fawn turned out to be a bachelor group of four bucks. They trooped along in majestic single file, but never came close despite his attempts at some mild early season antler rattling. Time slowly slipped away.

Barely 28 hours had passed since that first tree climb, but now his heart was warmed. The sun beamed brightly. His step was lifted. Packing up camp and loading the truck didn’t seem such a burden now. During the ride home his thoughts reeled. Which tree would he hunt next? How could he fit in scouting to tweak treestand placement? He had to move his limited entry permit so he wouldn’t forget it next time. All the sour feelings, all the thoughts of hard work were gone. He was happy to be a hunter and hoping the next two weeks would pass with a blur to hurry his return. Yes, it was another season and he was happy for it.

happy hunting, dv

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