License & Revenue has provided this info:

The 2007 Big Game Preference Point Lookup is now available on our hunting webpage. If any hunter’s have discrepancies to please email point@dfg.ca.gov and we will research it. Thank you.

CDFG Big game preference points

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California Dept. Fish & Game
Wildlife Branch
wildlifestrategy@dfg.ca.gov

I bought my Canon S2 IS in December of 2005.  Since then I have pretty much taken it everywhere with me.  I’ve taken pictures of family events, critters along the roadside, lots of Sunsets (we get good ones with the fog rolling in the evening).  While on my Alaska trip I noticed that sometimes when I powered it up, I would have a black display in the viewfinder.  It happened again when I was archery hunting on the weekend of August 18th.  I thought it was cold, but when I did some research it seems that this is a common occurrence in Canon Powershots.   Apparently it is (for you techies out there) a fault with the CCD chip connection to the LCD screen.  So common in fact that many models have a free repair advisory.  I was hopeful that was the case for my camera.

After sending my camera to Canon, they sent me an estimate for $127 including shipping.  I reluctantly agreed and authorized the repair.  I should have the camera back in seven business days.  My alternative was a refurbished camera for $175.  So I guess I will take my lumps and get my camera repaired.  I feel empty with out it.

After two weekends in a row of high intensity back country hunting, I plan to tone it down a bit and spend the Labor Day weekend with my family.  I will be heading out to a ranch near Marshall, California for a “traditional” Sonoma-Marin deer hunt with my father and uncle and the members of their deer club.  The quarry here is blacktail deer usually between 95- and 115 pounds field dressed. 

What’s traditional you ask?    Well in this part of the world, many of the brushy canyons are so thick that you do not see deer in the open during daylight hours.  There aren’t many trees to hang a tree stand, and the steep dry canyons are nearly impossible to still hunt.  So we organize deer drives on the weekends. 

 The traditional way of driving a canyon involves a large group of 15-20 hunters.  Hunters are positioned overlooking escape routes, while 5 or more “brush runners” start at the top of the canyon and along with dogs, work through the thick brush to force deer out of their hiding spots.  Some of the brush along California’s coast is so thick you can’t see through it much less walk through it.  That’s where a good deer dog earns his keep.

The most popular dog for this style of hunting is a Beagle/Fox Terrier cross.  Their small stature allows them to get into the thick stuff, and their hound nose helps them sniff out bedded deer.  Other breeds seen in deer camp include McNab/border collie, Labs, Catahoula, Walker Hounds, and even English Pointers.  As long as the dog has a good nose, and a desire to pursue game it can be a deer dog.

Success rates are not as high as you might think with this style of hunting.  The group I’ve hunted with have had days when there are no shots at bucks, and had days where four deer are harvested.  It’s like quail hunting with snap shots at deer bursting out of cover, and stand hunting waiting for some action in a saddle in 80 degree heat.  Wounding loss is next to nil.  Recovery of shot deer is nearly 100%.  Deer dogs can track a bleeding deer where a man can’t even begin to trail. 

It is the kind of hunting I grew up with .  I started at age 6 on a stand with Grandpa, and would go through the brush with Dad when the terrain and brush would allow.  I learned a lot about how deer react when pressured, and what an escape route looked like.  In recent years, I have focused on still hunting and spot and stalk, but I try to “return to my roots” at least once during the A-Zone hunting season.

If I can find a digital camera,  since mine is being repaired, I will try to record some of the highlights, to give you all a unique feel for a”traditional deer drive”.

Many of us have grown up reading Sports Afield and the writings of authors like Hemingway, Ruark, Boddington and Capstick.  If you recognize any of those authors names you know I am referring to hunting in Africa.  It’s a little further West than my typical interest but the idea has captivated me since I was a little boy.

Earlier this year I was at our weekly 3D league shooting with a couple from the local area, Toby and Sara Rey.  As we became acquainted I came to find out they were headed to Africa on safari, WITH ARCHERY  EQUIPMENT!   Toby with his Recurve and Sara with a Mathews pulling 40 pounds and shooting 435 grain arrows.  I always enjoy spending time with Toby and Sara.  They are both such genuine and happy people,  as well as great 3D shots.  Both of my oldest daughters really look up to Sara, and I am glad that they have an additional strong and capable female role model. 

When we saw the couple this Wednesday night, it was clear to see they had had an outstanding trip.  Toby shot and killed a Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, and Gemsbok, while Sara took a 52″ Kudu, a Bushbuck and two Impala.  I will let Toby tell the tale in this post on TradGang.com .  However, I will show you the pictures that Toby didn’t show on the traditional archery forum of his wife Sara’s great trophies.

If you are a Wyoming hunter, now is your chance to get this year’s preference points if you haven’t done so yet.  Don’t wait though, the deadline is September 30th.

Preference Points for Elk, Deer and Antelope
FOR NONRESIDENTS ONLY

A PREFERENCE POINT ONLY PURCHASE APPLICATION (no chance to draw a license) CAN ONLY be submitted from July 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007

Beginning in 2007, the Department shall allocate not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the available nonresident Elk, Deer and Antelope licenses to a preference point drawing and twenty-five percent (25%) of the available nonresident Elk, Deer and Antelope licenses will be assigned to a random drawing in which all unsuccessful applicants from the preference point drawing shall be placed….
For party applications, the number of preference points for each applicant within the party will be averaged for the preference point ranking to be used for the ranking in the preference point drawing

If you have any Questions, please call (307) 777-4600 or go to http://gf.state.wy.us

Ishi, the “last wild Indian” was discovered starving outside of a slaughterhouse near Oroville California in 1911. He spent almost 5 years as a companion to Dr. Saxton Pope, one of the founders of the Pope and Young Club, a conservation group dedicated to preserving the legacy of bowhunting and archery. In the book, Ishi the last Yahi, Robert Heizer and Theodora Kroeber have collected and edited a number of historic documents surrounding the life of this mysterious man and his people. Of special interest to the Western hunter is the discussion by Saxton Pope from 1918 on the archery methods used by Ishi to take game. Many of Pope’s archery materials and methods arose from his time with Ishi.

An excerpt from Pope’s “Yahi Archery”

“At a very early period in our association with the Yahi, we undertook various little hunting excursions, and upon two occasions went upon extended trips into the mountains
In shooting small game, such as quail, squirrels, and rabbits, Ishi was very proficient. His method was that of still hunting; walking over the ground very quiet and alert, always paying particular attention to wind, noise, and cover. He was indefatigable in the persistence with which he stalked game, and seldom left a clump of brush in which he knew or suspected the presence of game, until all means of getting it had been tried….
He shot rabbits as close as five yards. On the other hand I have seen him shoot a squirrel through the head at forty yards. The usual killing distance was between 10 and 20 yards. Game was nearly always shot while standing still, although an occasional rabbit was shot running.”

The book features a wide range of observations by a variety of authors both on the anthropological history of the Yahi and Yana peoples, and of the media coverage of his discovery. When Ishi died in 1916 of tuberculosis, Pope wrote an account of the medical care, and autopsy. That detailed account is edited to only include Pope’s observations on the characteristics, and personality of Ishi, released in 1920.

For the reader who appreciates the history of the West, it’s indigenous people and the evolution of our archery methods, Ishi The Last Yahi is a detailed look into what was the last link between the stone age and modern age. The respect by the authors cited in the book is apparent, and the reader will gain a sense of wonder through the words and pictures that chronicle the life of Ishi.

The 242 page book, Ishi Last of the Yahi is published by the University of California Press and is available in soft cover.

Marc Smith, from Wild Country Outdoors, recently posted about his hunt with his daughter before she left for Navy boot camp. I can tell he is one proud dad. As a father of three girls, I hope we have the same connection that Marc and his daughter do. Check out the pictures from Marc. Just goes to show you that we raise ‘em tough out West!

Well since Dish Network dropped the Men’s Channel, many former Dish subscribers have switched to Direct TV to get their Hunting entertainment. Now Direct TV no longer carries the channel, and the following Press Release explains why…

Men’s Channel Files for Bankruptcy
Turner Media Group, also known as The Media Group or TMG, said it filed for Chapter 11 federal court protection on Aug. 5. In the bankruptcy filings, TMG said it would seek to reorganize its companies, restructure obligations and repay all debts legitimately owed by the company.

Under the protection of Chapter 11, TMG will have the time and opportunity to achieve the best possible value for all constituencies, as well as an orderly restructuring, the company said in a statement.

“As part of the bankruptcies, TMG and the related companies have filed a number of ‘first day’ motions intended to allow the company to achieve a smooth landing in Chapter 11 and to ensure employees continue to be paid and receive all of their benefits,” the company said.

TMG is known for its interactive TV advertising and programming and the owner/operator of eight national television networks, including Men’s Outdoor and Recreation, Beauty and Fashion Channel and the Men’s Channel, among others.

So that leaves the Outdoor channel, Versus and the Sportsman Channel as alternatives to cable and satellite customers who want to watch outdoor shows on television.

I have sent a message to the Media Group for more clarification on the status of the shows on MOR. If I get a response I will post it for your edification.

Sunday

We weren’t in as much of a hurry Sunday morning since we had hunted basins for a mile in each direction from our camp the day before.  Unless we had a really short night, we weren’t going to see any new country at the crack of dawn.  So we ate breakfast while my backpacking canister stove decided to develop a gas leak at the burner connection and make for some interesting flames and firefighting measures.  I finally trimmed the charred end of the gas supply hose and reconnected the fitting with no further flaming fireballs. 

With our packs full again we stopped along the trail to glass and immediately sptted a bear foraging in the shadows, thousands of yards away.  I mentioned my bear tag to Bill, and he and I bothttought Mr. Bear was going to skeddaddle once the suns rays hit him.  Sinc ewe thought he was untouchable where he was, with no stalking landmarks to speak of, we sat and watched him for 45 minutes.  Meanwhile Bill apologized that he talked me out of a stalk , but I assured him that I thought the bear wouldn’t stick around also.  Finally he sauntered into the timber and we continued g;lassing basins as we hiked back to the truck. 

Along the way we say a doe on top along the trail, saw 3 doies feeding back into the timber, and were nearly run over by a couple of fawns bolting over the ridge.  after a water stop we were smelling the barn and 2 miles from the trail head when a small forky and a doe stood up and bolted down the trail in front of us.  It would have been a gimmie shot with a rifle, but I never had the chance to come to full draw.  Little forkies weren’t the reason I came there in the first place…

So we returned to the trailhead without any blood on our hands, but I was pleased with the results of the weekend.  I had a chance to have some in depth conversations with Bill and we discovered we were compatible in method and motivation as hunting partners.  This was most likely both of our last opportunities in B-zone with archery equipment, but we made tentitive plans for the opening week of B-zone to explore a new wilderness next season.  I will see Bill through out the coming year at Archery events so it will be easy to keep up the planning for our next foray into the wilds.

Friday

The Weekend started at 5:00 pm, as I pulled out of the parking lot at work with my bow case and Badlands 2200 stuffed to the gills with the supplies I would need for a trek into the backcountry through Sunday afternoon. I picked up my weekend hunting partner, Bill at 6 pm and we travelled to the trailhead arriving at 11pm. We lost no time shouldering out packs and switching on our headlamps as we hit the trail under the light of a 3/4 moon.

I let Bill set the pace since he claimed he “wasn’t in hunting shape” yet. Well he kept me sweating as we climbed the 2500 feet as we got closer to our overnight bivouac spot. The moon lit the way while we were on the open scree and shale but we had to switch on our headlamps when the trail passed under the thick fir trees. Finally at 2:00 am we reached our campsite and stripped out of our sweat soaked clothes, and spread them out on branches to dry. A quick bath with unscented baby wipes, and we were in our sleeping bags for a quick 3 hours of sleep before we started our hunt in the morning.

Saturday

We ate breakfast of oatmeal and instant coffee as the morning sun made a red streak in the East. As the sky became grey we hiked 1/4 mile down the ridge we slept on and set up to glass the two basins that met on our ridge. It soon became obvious that the deer we spotted had been out all night under the bright moon, and the does and fawns we saw were headed to their morning beds post haste as the sun peeked over the horizon. So we settled in glassing the scattered trees near the tops of the bowls looking for deer bedded beneath them. After 3 hours of no deer sightings we packed up our spotting scopes and began our decent into a basin to get water.

We both loaded up our bulging water bladders and eyed the trail up out of the bowl with trepidation as the temperature climbed towards 80 degrees. After scaling the ridge we hiked back to camp to drop off our hard earned water, grab a bite of lunch, and a quick nap in the shade available. I awoke in the full brunt of the sun, and we decided to see if we could glass some other basins. From 2 pm until evening we combed the rocky ridges with binoculars and spotting scopes, but the deer had all retreated to the deep dark forested portions where dry twigs abounded and crackled if you even looked at them. Bill mentioned a seep near the top of the ridge we were working along, so we went to investigate it. Even as dry as it was this fall, we were able to excavate a small depression to collect and pump water into our hiking bladders. Now we had a secret water source that didn’t require a tough climb to get to.

That night we ate by headlamp. I had a homemade concoction of instant potatoes, brown gravy mix and chicken chunks, and a Clif bar, while Bill ate his Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork and Freeze dried Green beans. I let Bill add some of my gravy mix to his green beans. He said it improved them “immensely”. We turned in hoping we could hunt our way back to the Trailhead, and have more action than we had.

Continued….