Many people travel in the pristine backcountry and pick up this microscopic protozoal terrorist that can ruin your quality of life.  I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but a quick search on Google Health will let you know that it is not something you want to pick up.

Many people think that using iodine tablets will kill giardia.  The manufacturer recommends 30 minute contact time, but the abstact in the article referenced below from the Journal of Public Health highlights the shortcomings of many chemical based water treatment options.

You may download the entire paper at the American Journal of Public Health Reprint Center.  I added the paragraph breaks and emphasis below.

Backcountry Water Treatment to Prevent Giardiasis

JERRY E. ONGERTH, PHD, PE, RON L. JOHNSON, STEVEN C. MACDONALD, MPH, FLOYD FROST, PHD, AND HENRY H. STIBBS, PHD

Abstract: This study was conducted to provide current information on the effectiveness of water treatment chemicals and filters for control of Giardia cysts in areas where treated water is not available.

Four filters and seven chemical treatments were evaluated for both clear and turbid water at 10°C. Three contact disinfection devices were also tested for cyst inactivation. Filters were tested with 1-liter volumes of water seeded with 3 x 104 cysts of G. lamblia produced in gerbils inoculated with in vitro cultured trophozoites; the entire volume of filtrate was examined for cyst passage.

Chemical treatments were evaluated at concentrations specified by the manufacturer and for contact times that might be expected of hikers (30 minutes) and campers (eight hours, i.e., overnight).

Two of the four filter devices tested were 100 percent effective for Giardia cyst removal. Of the other two filters, one was 90 percent effective and the other considerably less effective. Among the seven disinfection treatments, the iodine-based chemicals were all significantly more effective than the chlorine-based chemicals.

None of the chemical treatments achieved 99.9 percent cyst inactivation with only 30- minute contact. After an eight-hour contact each of the iodine but none of the chlorine preparations achieved at least 99.9 percent cyst inactivation. None of the contact disinfection devices provided appreciable cyst inactivation.

Heating water to at least 70°C for 10 minutes was an acceptable alternative treatment. (Am J Public Health 1989; 79:1633-1637.)

John is in the Backcountry of Nevada on a mule deer hunt until August 16th. While he’s gone, you might like to know about how he stays in touch when you can’t get a cell phone signal.

In 2006 I had a first hand experience with how a Satellite phone can make the difference in a rescue situation. An experienced Wyoming guide was injured when his mule spooked and couldn’t ride the 9 miles back to the ranch. The Satellite phone alowed me to give map coordinates to the Teton county Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue team and they flew a helicopter right to the accident site.

Since my August Mule Deer hunt is taking me into a Wilderness Area, 50 miles from the nearest town in any direction, and our base camp is 5 miles from the end of a long, deserted back road, I will be renting a Satellite phone in case of emergency.

I rented my satellite phone from Mobal.com. They come recommended by a couple of my hunting partners who had good results with one on back country hunts in 2008. The daily rate for rental is $9.00, PLUS a $6.00 daily rate for loss and damage protection. Airtime is $1.99 per minute, (although prepaid minutes are available at a discount.)  Mobal.com has a number of additional features available for free, including free incoming text messages up to 150 characters.  

This Video below details how you can send a text message to an Iridium Satellite phone. It’s a good way for friends and family to send encouragement (and even weather reports), wghile you are “Away from it all”.

The video below from the folks at Gone Huntin’ does a nice job of summarizing the benefits of renting a Satellite phone for brief remote trips, especially for hunters. Leave your comments and questions and I’ll do my best to answer them when I return.

Paul Medel, also known as “Elknut” has become a resource to elk hunters throughout the West with his DVD set on Elk Calling, Scouting, and Using  Mouth Reeds.  His website Elknut.com also sells a variety of calls and elk hunting gear in addition to his DVD’s and videos.

Paul has announced a new addition to his instructional library.

Elknut’s Play book  .

The PlayBook is full of methods & techniques, it’s also full of the actual setups we use every year. You’ll be happy to see in detail how we use each setup under varying elk encounters. We do not use the same sounds for every bull, a lot depends on the bull & his aggressiveness or Satellite or Herd Bull. The cool thing about this Book is you can take it with you in the field as a reference as it’s 4 1/4″ X 6 3/4″ it’s in paperback so it will fit right into your pocket or pack. I feel there is no encounter you can come across that this PlayBook doesn’t cover, it should be that thorough!

In addition to this 100 page Book I’m going to release a CD of this Book! It will be read by me. The 1st Chapter is on Elk Sounds, I give them a name & definition so anytime these sounds are used or recommended you will be able to associate them with this Chapter. I also at that time will give each sound so you can understand what each sound, sounds like!
As I get into each individual Chapter I will then highlight & once again give the sounds that are being used in that particular Chapter so as to easily identify what’s being used or talked about. The CD will have an MP3 Format say it can be easily down loaded onto an IPod.

I feel the 2 of them will really benefit Elk Hunters from all over! Here is the Table Of Contents! This is a very unique Book like no other! This PlayBook & the DVDs we have out will really compliment one another!

 

 1- Introduction
2-Basic Starting Advice
 3- Elk Sounds
 4- Scouting Elk Country
 5- Calling At Night
 6- Decoy Use
 7-Full Moon Hunting
 8-Wallow Setups
 9-Hung Up Bulls
 10-Popping/Nervous Grunt Tactics
11-Herd Bull Or Satellite
12-Glunking
13-Threat Levels
14-Caller / Shooter Setups
15-Early Season Tactics
16-Midday Tactics
17-Aggressive Cow Calling
18-Aggressive Tactics
19-Lone Hunter Tactics
20-Hunting Bedding Areas?
21-The Shot & Blood Trailing
22-Gutless Method & Meat Care
23-Packing Basic Items

Copies may be ordered in advance at www.elknut.com 

Paul will take orders now & have shipping labels done so when PlayBooks arrive we can ship all orders immediately!—-The Book in CD Format will be available in mid March.

Paul will sign & number the first 150 PlayBooks.

Many of us hunters consider our pursuit of Big Game to be a “gentleman’s sport.” Indeed some of the best people I have met have been through hunting. When you think about it, I’ve been places where expensive camp and hunting gear has been unmolested in a remote setting simply from the ethics of folks who were there.

So I felt that putting down a list of “Rules of Etiquette” for the Western Hunter might be appropriate. Feel free to add your thoughts in the Comments section below.

• Hunting Spots- While there are millions of acres of public land to hunt, it takes a lot of effort to find one that is consistently productive, where you don’t have to compete with other hunters. We find these spots through a combination of time scouting and researching as well as talking with other hunters. If someone is kind enough to take you to a spot to hunt, you are obligated to NOT bring another person there, or tell others the location unless it is with the expressed permission of your original host.   Now a casual conversation with another hunter, not necessarily a friend, who lets slip a good location is simply doing your homework. A cold beverage, to the right person at the trailhead has gotten me information I might not have found so quickly on my own.
• Other hunters- On occasion there will be other hunters near where you hunt. If they get out on the trail ahead of you then they have first right to their destination. Now if you can pass them on the trail and get ahead then you have first right. If you don’t want to lose out, then leave early.  If you are stalking a buck, and discover another hunter moving in then the closer hunter with the wind in their face has first right. In the absence of a wind, usually the hunter on the uphill side has a better chance of sealing the deal and the downhill hunter should break off the stalk without disturbing the quarry.
• Camping spots – Except in developed trailhead campgrounds, always camp out of sight of other camps in the back country. They are there for solitude, not company. Backpackers should leave large flat horse camps to groups with horses, and use more compact campsites where available. Outfitters on public land actually pay a fee for each of their campsites and are within the law to evict other campers there.
• Successful hunters- you are not obligated to give a full accounting of where you were successful. Vague responses are preferred to outright lies and deception. They should warn other folks where their gut piles are if it might attract bears. Likewise if an aggressive bear is encountered, then other campers/hunters and fishermen should be warned.
• Loose horses- that have obviously escaped (saddle still on) should be caught and tied to a tree in an open spot along the trail. Chances are that the rider will be coming down the trail looking for it. If you have neighboring camps be sure to ask if they recognize the horse. There may be an injured rider in the hills. If a horse wanders into camp without halter bridle or saddle, you might want to catch it just to keep it out of your feed anyway. Alert a USFS or BLM employee if the animal is not claimed .
• Visiting Camps- should only be done when the camp is occupied.  Don’t partake in any hospitality you are not willing to return.  Many a camp cook will offer conversation and a cup of coffee during the middle of the day.  Don’t stop by during meal time and expect to be fed.  That is the mark of a mooch. 
• Emergencies- take precedence over a hunt. You should do your level best to help sick or injured people in the backcountry. This includes first aid, going for help, or assisting lost hikers. By the same token you should go into the back country well prepared for the weather and the appropriate equipment for your trip.

It is my hope that these backcountry rules of etiquette will help you in your trips afield in the upcoming seasons.

The following question was posed in a thread on Sage Creek Forums .

it got me thinking….

What is the saying?  “The harder I work, the luckier I get?” 

Also applicable is “Don’t confuse activity with productivity.”

I’d say there are factors that make a person successful in many endevors, hunting included.  I think that putting in the time in the field gives a hunter a higher probability of finding the productive areas.  What he or she does from that point, depends on skill and yes, luck.

If you put yourself in a position and mindset to recognize an opportunity then you are a step ahead.  To me persistance is a combination of a positive attitude, the drive and dedication to spend the time in the field and not giving up. 

That means:
Looking around when you are hiking to a new glassing spot.
Taking that breather where you have a view of the country, not down in a brushy hole.
Never skylining yourself when you crest a ridgeline.
Never thinking that “there isn’t any game here this close to the trailhead.”
Checking out that suspicious spot on the ridge one more time with your glass.

One of the biggest bucks I’ve ever seen killed was bedded next to the trail in Wyoming as my neighbor Ray was riding back to camp in a snowstorm.  Ray was trying to light a cigarette and bent down and saw the buck out of the corner of his eye.  That was the luck. 

He rode over the ridge, slid off the horse, and let it keep going.  He snuck back and killed the buck in his bed.  The rest of the guys didn’t even know he had dismounted until they heard the shot.  That was the skill. 

Had Ray not been out in the snowstorm, he wouldn’t have seen the buck (persistance).  Had he not needed a nicotine fix he wouldn’t have spotted him (luck). If he had gotten excited and tried to shoot the buck when he spotted him, he would have scared him off before he had his rifle out of the scabbard (skill).

So MY new saying is…
“Success is when persistance, luck, and skill all converge at your location.”

Many times a first time elk hunter finds themselves sizing up the freezer before they head out with the thought “If I get one will I have enough room?”  So I’ve taken a step here to elucidate folks on just what they can expect once they have an elk on the ground in terms of red meat yield.

The best way of estimating yield from an elk comes to us from the University of Wyoming.  Their 8-page publication “The Elk Carcass” provides an in depth look at the data collected from actual hunter harvested elk.  it provides a good starting point for hunters who want an idea of just how much meat is in a cow, bull or calf elk. 

In this publication are some formulas for estimating yield that you can use.

Whole weight = 1.42 x field-dressed weight 
Field-dressed weight (viscera and feet removed)= 0.70 x whole weight
Skinned carcass weight (skin and head removed) = 0.83 x field-dressed weight 
Boneless lean = 0.50 x field-dressed weight 

A real world example:

So if you are lucky enough to get a bull down in the back country , and you skin, and quarter the bull, that would be considered the skinned carcass weight.  Say he is like my 2007 bull and the 4 quarters weigh 360 pounds that night at the locker. 

DIVIDE 360 by .83  to get the field dressed weight of 433.7 pounds. 

To estimate the boneless meat yield then multiply the field dressed weight by  by .50 to get 216.9 pounds of boneless meat.  

I got nearly 250 pounds of boneless steaks, roasts, and ground meat from that bull, so you can see there is some wiggle room.  Generally bulls will be higher yielding than cow elk, simply due to additional muscle.  Below is a table from the Uof W publication I mentioned earlier.  Click for the full size table

So here is wishing you a happy hunt and a full freezer this fall.  Please let me know if these formulas work for your harvests.  Good hunting.

Any one who knows me knows I am a topo map junkie.  I started with the DeLorme Atlases and then the Forest Service maps, and finally I got the DeLorme Topo version 4.0 (7.0 is just out) so I could print customized maps, remote scout, and plan runs, hunts, and hikes at high and low detail.   I really use the DeLorme Topo program anytime I want to know more about an area.  It has become my go-to program for pre-scouting an area.

Now I have found a free topographic map source that interacts with Google Earth. 

MapFinder™ for Google Earth™ is a searchable index utilizing base map information derived from Google Earth™.  Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in — Google Earth™ combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google™ Search to put the world’s geographic information at your fingertips. NOTE: Currently MapFinder™ for Google Earth™ shows only the 1:24,000 scale USGS topographic maps. For USGS 1:100,000 scale  please use MapFinder™ for Adobe Reader™.

System Requirements: Google Earth™ version 4 or higher

It is available for a free download at http://www.usgsquads.com/mapfinder.html

Once you download the .KML file, you are taken to an instruction screen that tells you how to activate the overlay of the topo map quads.  Once you open the overlay file for your state, then you can click on an icon that allows you to download the appropriate map quad as a .tiff file, and view it in Microsoft Image
Viewer.   I have printed these maps off on an 8 1/2 x11 piece of paper and still have enough detail that i can scribble notes on it.  Users with access to a large format printer may be able to print the 7.5 minute quads at their full size.

I’ll still use my topo maps from DeLorme that allow me to choose my level of detail and combine topo quads on one map.  But for the  ”real deal” USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles, viewable on your computer screen, you can’t beat the cost and quality.

DFG News Release

DFG Offers 12 Hunting and Wilderness Survival Clinics in 2008
Dec. 26, 2007 Contact:
Susan Herrgesell, Hunter Education Program Coordinator (530) 347-3980

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has scheduled 12 statewide clinics in 2008 to educate hunters on advanced hunting and wilderness survival skills. The clinics are designed to take the hunter or outdoors person a step beyond basic hunting and wilderness skills.

“These clinics were developed by the DFG Advanced Hunter Education Program to provide the tools for a successful hunt and safe trek in the wilderness,” said Susan Herrgesell, DFG Advanced Hunter Education Coordinator. “The goal of these courses is to develop ethical, conservation-minded, successful hunters through education.”

Clinics include sessions on hunting turkey, upland game, waterfowl, and big game. Topics covered in each of the clinics include the type of firearm, ammunition, importance of sighting in the firearm, gauging distance, scouting, tracking, field dressing, shoot-don’t shoot scenarios, hunter ethics, landowner-hunter relationships, conservation, and safety.

The date, description, location and cost of each clinic are listed as follows:

• Jan. 19-20, Land Navigation offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. The cost is $60.
• Feb. 9-10, Wilderness Survival offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. $60.
• March 1, Bear Hunting Clinic offered in the Redding area. $40.
• April 26, Wild Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County. $40.
• May 17-18, Big Game Hunting Clinic offered at Wilderness Unlimited Property in Williams. $60.
• June 7, Wild Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Valley of the Moon Gun Club in Sonoma. $40.
• June 21-22, Land Navigation and Wilderness Survival offered at Shasta-Trinity National Forest Bushytail Campgrounds. The cost is $60 and accommodations are camping.
• Aug. 2, Wild Pig Hunting Clinic offered at Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County. $40.
• Sept. 13, Upland Game Hunting Clinic offered at Wilderness Unlimited Property in Williams. $40.
• Sept. 20, Waterfowl Hunting Clinic offered at Wilderness Unlimited Property in William. $40.
• Sept. 20, Upland Game Hunting Clinic offered at High Desert Hunt Club near Gorman. $40.
• Sept. 27, Waterfowl Hunting Clinic offered at San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside County. $40.

Registrations are now being accepted for all clinics. To find out more information about the clinics, please refer to the Advanced Hunter Education website at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced.

There are a number of ways to get your down elk out of the hills and back to camp.  Since elk live in big country, horses are a big part of our hunting success.  We can get to our daylight lookouts before dawn and let our mounts pick their way back to camp in the dark.  We conserve our energy for hunting, and we cover lots of ground a-foot and a-horseback. 

 Here is a brief discussion of the various ways you can get your elk out on horseback.

What we had luck with this year was to hitch the sawed quarters on to the riding saddles.  For this task I recommend 50 feet of 3/8 ” kernmantle rope (braided).  It doesn’t stretch, and has all the strength we needed to do the job.  It rode in my back pack wtithe intent being to hang quarters over night if needed.  I would recommend that horseback hunters just keep this in their saddle bag for this very reason.  Below is a front quarter with a Basket hitch (which hold the quarter up), and a crows foot (which goed to the Cinch and puts tension on the load.  Then we finished off with a Trucker hitch over the seat of the saddle to pull the tops together.

On the Rear Quarters, we were able to use 100 feet of Parachute cord to sling them in a Barrel Hitch.  This is known as “Makin’ do with what ‘cha got!”
 

All of these hitches were designed for a pack saddle, but we adapted them to a riding saddle.

Saddle Panniers

These are popular with folks who don’t feel comfortable using rope slings.  The idea is that you ride out with the panniers tied behind the cantle and then when needed, the one piece panniers fit over the seat of the saddle with cut outs for the cantle and horn

On a Pack Horse with Panniers

Special Care must be taken when when packing out antlers on horseback.  If the antlers are sufficiently wide, the main beam may be pointed down as this points the tines back.  With a more narrow rack, the antlers need to be kept above the horses hips to prevent the tips from poking your steed and sparking a rodeo (as shown in the saddle pannier photo).

Either way you choose to pack out your meat on horseback, I guarantee you will be singing the praises of your pack stock a few miles down the trail!

For more information on the topic, check out these titles, available at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com

Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails, by Joe Back

Packin’ in on Mules and horses by Smoke Elser and Bob Brown

Horse packing in pictures 

 Solo Hunters who go hunting and don’t come back are rare, but stories like this one from the BC Hunting Blog about missing hunter Tom Leonard make you pause when you contemplate a solo venture.

Emergency plan – Leave this with someone at home, or the base camp if you are spiking out alone.  The info necessary includes:

• When You plan to return, and especially, when they should begin to worry.  On a weekend hunt I tell my wife, that I will contact her with a status report by midnight sunday night.  After that, she can call the Search and Rescue.
• Where  you are going.  I leave a map with the name and trailhead I’m going in at.  I also circle the approximate area I will be hunting, and I don’t go beyond that since any search attempts will concentrate on those areas.  I  leave her a copy of the National Forest map with the locations marked of where I will park my truck, and if I am exiting a different location, where that will be.
• How Long You will be gone.  How long you will have supplies for. How long to wait before your contact should start to worry.
• Who to contact if the contact does not hear from you.  That would include the local Sheriff’s department (who coordinate the S&R efforts), The District Ranger station, and other people who are familiar withthe area and would know where I would be hunting and perhaps hurt. 

Emergency supplies -

Should be on your person.  Not on your horse or in your pack.  It is too easy to drop your pack for a stalk and end up a mile away from shelter and first aid supplies.  Likewise, if your horse dumps you and runs off to the trailhead, you don’t want to be afoot, unarmed with no way to make a fire, or shelter yourself

• Fire Supplies Not only for staying warm, but signalling for help from passing aircraft, and search parties.  a column of smoke will catch the eye for miles on a clear day. 
  Fire starter – Fire sticks, or cotton balls soaked in Vaselline, pine pitch knots,
  Matches – Strike anywhere, waterproof
  Waterproof Matchcase with whistle, compass, mirror and flint
  
  
• Flint and Steel or other sparking firestarter 
  
• Candle
• A Kotex pad – This can stop bleeding and also will serve as tinder for fire starting.
• Space blanket -
  
• Duct Tape – a milion uses and counting. 
• Parachute cord
• A knife with a sturdy blade
• 
  Other Items that make an unexpected night out more bearable
• water treatment drops
• high energy bars

All of these Items can be put in a fanny pack or in a lightweight vest. Some people store their emergency kit in a Nalgene container.

Primos makes vests for both rifle hunters and archery hunters that have numerous pockets to keep survival materials in.  REMEMBER ON YOUR PERSON!  It could save your life.