Brian Piltz, owner of Insane Archery, sent me a gadget that allows a camera to be set up on any bow figuring it would be useful for us as we film our hunts. If he only knew how useful! Last year there were several times we came back from hunts thinking, “if only we could have a camera that could catch exactly what the hunter sees!”

Thanks to Brian, we are through wishing wishes.  On my recent elk hunt, I mounted the camera mount on my bow and off to the woods I went. Because I was running low on space left for recording, I didn’t get my actual shot, but did get this footage of the bull and another bull bugling.

Here is my assessment of Brian’s bow camera mount:

Ease of Use: I don’t shoot with a stabalizer, so used a screw to attach the camera mount in that slot. Easy as pie.

Functionality: I mounted a little point and shoot digital camera on the unit and found that the only functionality problems came from the camera, not the mount. The mount gives you quick access to your camera controls, plus swings to several different locking positions enabling you to always find a slot where it is out of your way and not hampering your shot.

Is it Pracitcal: Absolutely. For a tree stand hunter, this will knock your socks off — it is the ticket to capture your hunts. Period. My only gripe was that for us, being back country hunters where we’re doing a lot of hiking, it would occasionally hang up on brush and because of where I mounted it, it rubbed on the outside of my hand. The rubbing would have been easily remedied by attaching it elsewhere (such as to the bow cut outs) but it was not enough of a hassle for me to bother with moving it from where I otherwise wanted it. I love the fact that it didn’t add much weight at all to my set up — a big thing when covering a lot of miles during a hunt.

Will My Buddies Make Fun of Me: It’s doubtful. Especially when they see that you were able to catch footage of that big ol’ bruiser they thought you were lying about.

My 2009 bull – notice the black camera mount (minus the camera – it was being used to take this photo).

TOTAL SCORE:

This article by: BaseCampLegends.com

I met Chris at the grocery store in Sun Valley on Friday evening and we bought $84 worth of snacks. The prices there were ridiculous. I don’t know how they sleep at night, but I digress. From Sun Valley, it’s about a half hour drive over a one lane, steep, dirt pass to Chris’s cabin on the river. Nice place, and sometime I’m gonna have to sample the fishing. We were both tired, so we B.S.’d a bit and hit the sack early.

Up the next morning in the dark, we wolfed down breakfast, jumped on the quads and headed up the road behind the cabin. Chris calls it his own “Private Idaho”, and it’s my favorite type of elk country. Big, sagebrush covered mountains with some pockets of timber. Great for glassing, but I didn’t have my Swarovskis with me because my dad had broken them in a horse wreck earlier, but that’s another story… Anyway, we were in elk right at first light and had a jealous herd bull all worried about his harem accross the canyon from us. Chris has had three knee replacements in the last year and wasn’t up to going after him so we sat and bugled insults back and forth at each other until he pushed his gals up into the timber. I could have killed that bull. He was there for the taking, and in a perfect spot for an ambush, but I wanted to call a bull in for Chris. He’s been archery hunting for twelve years and hadn’t gotten a bull yet, and after his knee debacle, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to hunt at all anymore.

We continued along, bugling here and there and on our third stop we had another bull answer us. I set Chris up about 100 yard in front of me and started my best imitation of a bunch of sexy cows looking for a bull. We stayed ther for about a half an hour and the bull continued to bugle at us but he wasn’t coming any closer. I think he was bedded down already ’cause he wasn’t putting much umph into his bugles, so we continued on towards him moving slowly and calling softly along the way trying to sound like a herd moving into the timber to bed down. At about 100 yards, I could tell that he was starting to get worked up, so I sent Chris out in front again and started some quiet, contented cow calling and he started coming in. I could tell that he was going to come in higher than I had expected so I moved up about fifty yards. I felt bad because I thought Chris was out of the game and that I had put him in a poor location, but not too bad ’cause I was gonna get this bad boy. He stepped cautiously out of the timber about sixty yards away and I quit calling. He hung up for about fifteen minutes and took a few slow steps towards me to about forty yards. I was just starting to draw my bow when SWOOSH… SMACK! Chris took a shot! I had been wrong, he wasn’t out of the game after all. The bull whirled and I could see Chris’ arrow sticking out of his boiler room. Good shot. He ran about 100 yards and started the “wobble” so I knew the easy part was over. Awesome!

Now here is where things get crazy. Chris was ecstatic and wanted to go check out his bull, but I had gone that route too many times with less than ideal results, so I suggested that we sit down and have a snack and talk about things for a bit. I kept Chris contained for about a half hour or so, and he couldn’t take it anymore so we snuck up and found his bull about 200 yards away, and there was a cow elk standing there at forty yards! Chris saw her first and motioned me up and stopped her with a cow call. Since I only had a day or so to hunt a cow was fine with me so I took a quick shot and hit a twig. CRAP! I thought it was all over, but as she moved parallel to me, I was able to stop her again in the next shooting lane with a cow call and this time I made a good shot and my T-Lock Broadhead made short work of her. Two elk in less than an hour with our bows! What a morning!

I showed Chris how to Eskimo Quarter his bull (the only way to fly) and then we went and found my cow, took care of her and hiked back to get the quads. Amazingly, with a little bit of fancy driving we were able to get the quads to both elk and were back at the cabin by 4:00. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! I’ll take an easy pack-out any time.

Thanks Chris for a great hunt. I think we should do it again next year.

I began archery hunting in 2005 out of necessity more than because I wanted to. Oregon is a draw only state for rifle, so it didn’t take me long to see that if I wanted to hunt more than once every 4 years, I’d better learn a thing or two about archery hunting. But, after calling in a bull that first year that screamed his lungs out at me every 30 seconds, I became addicted to the way of the bow.

Fast forward to this season, now an Idaho resident with the choice to hunt bow or rifle, and despite having been humbled in the act of bowhunting, I’ve chosen archery as my preferred method of hunting — especially for elk. After four seasons, I still only had stories and memories to show for my efforts. As this season was approaching, my brother and I talked ourselves up big and vowed that this would be the year we got the monkey off our backs.  We planned a 4-day hunt to kick off the season beginning on opening day.

The opener was wet — very unusual weather for Idaho’s elk archery opener. August is generally the hottest and driest month, but the rain was coming down as we found ourselves eying the end of the road for our first crack at the 2009 elk season. Lightning cracked seemingly all around us, but our anticipation could not be held back.

We set up on a huge flat bench that ran along a steep wall in a drainage we’d scouted earlier in the year. Our calls produced a couple lazy bugles, but nothing to get overly excited about. Eagerly, we eased to the next spot — near a big water hole that we knew elk frequent. Once we hit the ridge above the water, we could smell the elk. Fresh droppings, beds, tracks — the whole nine yards. We were in them. We set up and started off with some cow calls followed by a single bugle. Pretty soon, we’d located two herds below us as cows were mewing back and forth. Then a bugle came from one herd. Our hearts leaped — this was what we’d been waiting 11 months for! Another round of calling, and then from above us came the scream of a mature bull. I looked over at Todd and gave a fist pump. The wind was in our favor and I was on the uphill side from Todd meaning I would probably be getting a shot if this bull came in. And come in he did.  His bugles began to come closer and anticipation began to build. When the elk appeared, he had circled a little bit, and his antlers tipped the ridge just 40 yards from Todd — and then the wind shifted. Todd, who got a better look at this magnificent bull, said he’d come in with his nose in the air and as soon as the wind shifted, he was gone. After such a build up, it was hard to believe it was over so soon.

During those four days, we called in three bulls, stalked to within 15 yards of one (Todd) and missed one at 40 yards (me). It was enough to leave us frustrated, but also optimistic that we were seeing bulls — and getting close. To us, it seemed it was just a matter of time.

The next weekend, Todd had previous engagements, so I went up the mountain by myself. I went to a new area — an area I’d shot three bulls from in previous years with my rifle. I knew the area, I liked it, and simply being there gave me a mental edge. I started up the ridge and was bumping deer every few steps it seemed. As I neared an old overgrown logging road, I bumped into a bull. As I started across a wide open flat, the bull spotted me and as he wheeled and ran, I thought I’d just missed a golden opportunity. Not willing to admit defeat, however, I got by the only tree nearby and started to call. I knew there was no way I could call that bull back across the wide open spot as he could surely see me — and he wouldn’t see any cows. After calling a few times, though, he answered back with a bugle, and off in the distance another bull answered him. You talk about a perfect morning, this was it. Being by myself, I was trying to utilize a camera mount on my bow given to me by Brian Piltz from Insane Archery rather than lugging my big camera around. The footage isn’t great because I was using a point and shoot picture camera, but I was glad to have the camera mount to capture some of the action.

The bull stood about 140 yards away and refused to come any closer across that wide open space.  I quieted and allowed him to wander off into the brush, and then using the brush to conceal my movements I began working my way closer to him. Pretty soon I could hear his footsteps as he sampled the mountain’s menu. Losing patience, I moved toward the sound just as the bull stepped out and caught my movement. I came to full draw and chose my spot. As I released, the bull lunged forward and I watched in disappointment as my arrow went in too far back.  There was no blood trail, no arrow, nothing. I began to question if I’d hit him at all. After giving him several hours, I followed his tracks as best I could, but pretty soon they mixed with so many other elk it was hard to tell what was what. Eventually I found myself on the next ridge over combing through the thick, viney brush that seems almost impenetrable. At this point many hours had passed since the shot, and worry was weighing heavy on me. I was picking my way through that thick brush when I spotted the tan body of an elk. The monkey has been evicted from my back.

My first bow kill – 2009 Idaho bull.

Wish he could have been there. My grandfather has had a big influence on my love for the outdoors.

This article by: BaseCampLegends.com

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is offering an opportunity to participate in a youth hunt at the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area.  Great use of our licensing fees!!!  The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is offering a waterfowl hunt for first-time hunters in November at the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area.

This hunt is open to all 2009 hunter education graduates who are 10 years or older. Prospective hunters need to apply by Oct. 1.  More Information

See the original article at SilverSageRealty.com

Próis Hunting Apparel owner, Kirstie Pike, writes about her GatorQuest

Air Sickness and Air Boats…what’s a girl to do?

Gator Quest…day 1! We flew into New Orleans late last night following a vomit inducing flight from Gunnison to Denver…ok, didn’t really vomit, but wished I had. As with typical travel days, we experienced near homicidal frustration with all proveyors of transportation. So- did you realize that you can be charged $30 for a 10 minute taxi ride by a non-English speaking cabbie who does not use a meter? Nether did we. As well, upon our late night check-in to a rather sketchy hotel- I got the unique opportunity of visualizing a cockroach that was literally the size of a mouse…need I mention my dismay that the hotel room smelled of Raid.

It was all absolutely worth it! We arrived in Springfield around noon, at which time we teamed up with Chad and Dana Wall of Gatortrax tv. We had the unique opportunity of touring their gator farm which is nothing short of amazing. Within a couple of hours, we found ourselves on Tickfaw River in an airboat cruising deep into the swamps. As a homegrown Colorado girl, I found myself utterly slack jawed at the beauty of the swamps. Cypress trees, Spanish moss, lilly pads and lush folliage thickly surrounded us. The airboats can go ANYWHERE, and we quickly learned that Chad was NOT kidding when he said they can cross dry land…they can! We also had an interesting experience involving a boat, a trailer and near capsizing…I’d love to divulge the facts but I was pinky-sworn to secrecy.

We hit the hunt at 6am tomorrow and we’re ready to roll! I wonder if I can find Starbucks on the way…

I have to say, when I accepted Chad and Dana Wall (of Gatortrax TV) to head down to the swamplands of Louisiana, I was more than just a little intrigued.  Being from Colorado, I had all sorts of images in my head of what the swamps and gator hunting would be like.  Of course, my primal fear of bugs came to mind.  Oh, and my fear of snakes.  Can’t forget about murkey water, leaches and aligators (which I have learned ARE the top of the food chain in the swamps).  OK, and let’s face it…who HASN’T seen the movie, ‘Deliverance’?  I came to  Louisiana equipped with all sorts of cliche’d propoganda in my head..

As we set out in the morning, I was taken by the absolute beauty of the surroundings.  The cypress trees, spanish moss, saw grass and lillies were beautiful.  As well, there is a unique slant of the sun at sunrise through the swampland that casts an unparalleled.  I had never really heard the sound of bullfrogs in the caucophony of noise that comes from everywhere.  Now, the only way I can really explain it is this…if you have ever ridden the African Queen boat ride at Disneyland and recognized the canned jungle noises along the lazy river…well, now you got it!  OK, but as Chad and Dana will attest, despite my appreciation for the beauty of the swamps, I may have still reacted like a school girl in response to the baseball size grasshoppers that seemed to have quite an affinity for the boat. 

Ahh, but what about the hunting?  All I can say is that it was a thrilling experience!  Day 2 provided us with numerous gators.  I am heartily humbled by the difficulty of the hunt in terms of hitting a very, very small killzone.  Slight deviation in any direction will result in bullet placement into the animals inpenetratable armor.  As well, only a very small fraction of the animal’s head will surface which may or may not provide a shot to the hunter.  Clearly, there is a reason why these pre-historic animals have survived for millions of years!  Chad, a 5th generation Springfieldian who has hunted these waters since he was a child, spent endless hours teaching us the patterns and habits of the aligators.  We encountered a number of gators, but after some heavy rains and a 45 minute staredown with a sizable gator, I was able to get a kill with my CVA muzzleloader! 

We ended the day with 3 gators and a cantankerous boat motor that threatened to strand us in the water.  We made it safely to the landing (as we knew we would) and beat a hasty retreat to the ladies room as we determined that under NO circumstances would we venture off to take care of business in the swamps. 

Day 2 of the GatorQuest started out just as early as day 1…We launched out to another gorgeous sunrise as we ventured out to the swamps.  I was still utterly awestricken at the beauty of the area.  I have to also admit that I was more than just a little bit excited that we didn’t have Gigantor the Grasshopper and his closest friends on the boat this day! 

Today was action packed and we spotted numerous animals.  I must admit that it took me some time to differentiate the splashes of jumping fish vs. movement of gators.  More than once I performed a spastic bout of arm waving and finger pointing at jumping fish that I was certain was a passing gator.  After two days of this, Chad and Dana just ignored my fits to save me the embarrassment. 

Jennifer got on the first animal of the day and pulled a nice gator.  He was pulled aboard and we moved on for the next gator…or jumping fish depending on who you ask.  We set about the various waterways and it was my pledge to not drink a sip of water today for fear of having to go to the bathroom.  Chock that up to another valuable lesson learned.  As the day drew to a close we pulled in some nice gators and headed out to beat the heat.  Jennifer and I discovered a long lost love in Springfield, Louisiana…Strawberry Slurpees!  Giddy with anticipation (and some pretty severe dehydration!) we indulged not once, but twice in these delectable treats!  OK…so they weren’t as good as we remembered, but hey… who couldn’t get excited about a frozen treat chock full of high-fructose corn syrup! 

Our experience was awesome as was the company of the Walls.  We look forward to another adventure with Chad and Dana…maybe in Colorado…if we can cure Dana’s fear of Mountain Lions.  If you ask me, they aren’t nearly as scary as leaches and ginormous grasshoppers!  Until then…bring on the GOAT!

Do me a favor.  Check out www.gatortraxtv.com to find out more about Chad and Dana Wall and their tv show, Gatortrax Outdoors.  All fair chase, all fun!  Oh…and did I mention they are quite entertaining as well!?

Original Post found at www.Proishunting.com and CampWildGirls.com

Robert Millage with the first Idaho wolf killed in a wolf season in 80+ years

I was shocked to see Fellow blogger and Idaho photographer, Robert Millage’s, name gracing the front page of our local newspaper upon my return to civilization following my recent elk hunt. Robert is an Idaho boy like myself, but lives 5 hours away. So what is it that prompted his name to grace the pages of not just our newpaper, but as far reaching as being contacted by Sportsman’s Channel, Field & Stream, and NY Times? Robert was the first to connect on Idaho’s first wolf hunt in more than 80 years.

The wolf has created a major stir in the western states. Ranchers claiming they are killing livestock at alarming rates, hunters are up in arms that wolves are making the elk a relic of the past, and those trying to defend the wolf are claiming the packs are just doing what they’ve done for years before humans got involved. Management of the wolf was given back to the states this year, and Idaho was the first state to open a wolf season. Barring an overruling, Idaho will allow the killing of 220 wolves this year. But no one will get the distinction – for better or worse – of shooting the first as Robert.  In speaking briefly by email with Robert, he informed me he’s gotten overwhelming support from fellow hunters, but the wolf defenders have left messages on his phone, sent nasty emails, etc.

It’s been said that the wolf is one of the most difficult animals to hunt because of their keen nose, but also because of their intellegence. They’re a predator that flat out knows how to survive. Robert called a pack in with coyote distress calls knowing that wolves will make short work of a coyote in their territory. This female led the pack and he shot her at 25 yards:

Because of their size and their preference to hunt in packs, wolves can wipe out game herds rather quickly.

Those teeth mean business.

This article by: BaseCampLegends.com

As I’m in between hunts I thought it would be a good opportunity to send out a quick update of the season so far. (More to come!) Our sheep hunts were 100% with all rams between 10 and 14 years old. All horns were over 36 1/2″ and all bases were over 13 1/2″. Not to shabby, huh?

Arctic Barren Ground Grizzly hunts were 100% shooting opportunity with 1 bear being wounded and not recovered. Otherwise everyone took home a barren ground grizzly. The bears in my area just keep multiplying. Each year there are more. Being limited to just 4 per year I can not begin to have an effect on them as I am the only guide permitted and there is zero resident hunting pressure.

Caribou hunts were 150%. About half of the hunters elected to take a second caribou. Everyone who wanted a nice caribou was successful. The Porcupine and the Central Arctic caribou herds are among the few herds in North America that are expanding at an exponential rate. At this point in history we definitely are in the the best barren ground caribou area. I will be opening new caribou opportunities in 2010. Some of which can be combined with grizzly as well. I plan on a float trip for 2010 combining caribou with Arctic Grizzly. These will be very limited so I would advise getting a spot ASAP.

Ok, I will be on the yacht hunting Black bears, Mountain goats and Brown bears for the next 2 months but I can check email via satellite from the yacht so I’ll keep in touch.

Supurb mountain lion hunts are offered during the months of December, January, February and March when conditions are right. Cougar hunts run five days with two guides per hunter. This outfitter has two mountain lion hunting areas: one is a snowmobile hunt out of a lodge and the other is a fly-in wilderness hunt on horses. Hunting is with hounds and can sometimes be very physical with the pursuit being on snowshoes or walking thru deep snow. Cougar populations are high and mountain lion hunting success is in the high 90% range. During this hunt you will see large amounts of wintering game and enjoy the solitude of the quiet winter. Mule deer, elk, moose, wolves and bighorn sheep all winter here. Mountain lion hunting dates are set upon booking. This outfitter only takes 5 to 6 cougar hunters total for the season, so book early.

For the lodge hunt, you will be picked up at the airport and they will take you in on snow machines. Good hot meals and the warmth of a wood stove will make the cold winter evenings quit enjoyable. The wilderness fly-in cougar hunt is quite an adventure! A guide will meet you at the airport where you will fly into a backcountry airstrip. A second guide will meet you at the strip with the horses. From there you will ride just over a mile to the base camp. You will hunt out of camp in the mornings on horseback and on foot looking for fresh cougar tracks. A bonus in this area is that it is a two mountain lion unit, meaning that for an extra trophy fee you can take a second cougar.

Itinerary

Coming soon…

This Hunt Includes

• Five-day fully guided hunting (two guides per hunter).
• Lodging in a wall tent or one of their cabins depending on where you hunt.
• Home-cooked meals.
• Transportation to hunting area (once you arrive).
• $4250
• $5000 (Wilderness Hunt)
• $2000 Trophy Fee for second lion

Not Included

• Non-Resident hunting license.
• Non-Resident mountain lion tag.
• Backcountry flight.

Click a thumbnail to view a larger image

Ratings & Testimonials

Average Rating For This Hunt

“These are two very different hunts. The lodge hunt is on snowmobiles and is a bit easier. The fly-in wilderness hunt is a true horseback adventure. Be prepared on both hunts for gruelling hikes and long days. They have gotten some true monster cats over the years.”
GotHunts.com

Tag sales started at 10am and I was the second person in line. My tag was #642. Amazing. In-state hunters pay $12. Those from out-of-state pay $186 and the cap is 70,000 tags.

My dad and I are planning to help an outfitter friend clear some trail and then hunt wolves at his lodge on the September 1 opener… hopefully. Next Monday, a judge in Montana will hear arguments from conservation groups that want to stop the hunt. We’ll see what happens.

Primal Adventure’s Extreme Huntress Contest ARE YOU A HARDCORE WOMAN HUNTER? Winner will get an all expense-paid sheep and mountain goat combo hunt with International Sportsman’s Grizzly Basin Camp in British Columbia. Winner’s package will include airfare, license, clothing, optics, boots, firearm and ammo all presented by contest sponsors. Also, hunt will be filmed for a future episode of Primal Adventures on Versus. Total package worth $50,000.00 [more]

See the original article at CampWildGirls.com