Sir Buckwheat

Thanks everyone. I'm having a lot of fun with my new toy. I'm hoping to get down to the Bookcliffs this weekend for some coyote hunting. There are a lot of nice Mulies and elk down that way, hopefully I'll be able to get a few pics of them while I'm down there.

You guys have quail down there, heck I come down at least once a eyear to chase them with my brother....just have to train him that ground pounding when you have dogs is not a good idea. Personally I don't shoot unless my dogs point them, frustrates the crap out of him since Gambel's are so good at running. We always find plenty that hold though and the shooting is a lot more fun that way! They do have a good time, and so do I. Its fun to go out once in a while to the preserve and blast a bunch, too expensive to do too often though.

For those who don't know I guide at a preserve here in NE Utah. It isn't my favorite thing to do but it makes it so I can afford the dogs and the out of state hunts I go on. Heres a few pics from the last couple of weekends.... Java backing Gunner.... A nice rooster flushed after Java pinned him and Gunner backed. For those wondering, when you guide you learn to get down when a bird flushes, tends to help keep your head on top of your shoulders. Guiding is fun but dangerous. Had a kid almost shoot me in the head this last weekend....still can't figure out why he thought the shot was ok to take?? Heres a couple more of Java my Pudelpointer.... And one of Gunner my English Pointer with a covey of chukar pinned down that we weren't expecting to see...

Heres some pics of the only two phez I got to kill this year. Our phez population up here isn't very good so they are a bonus bird. I lucked out and got up 3 roosters and 2 hens this night... Gunner on point.... And the result...

Heres a few more pics I got the last couple weeks both guiding and hunting... Java my PP and Tip my GWP... Java being backed by a clients setter pup... Me with 28 birds in my vest (the most I've been able to fit so far). Gunner my EP and Java my PP..

+1 The shooting when their eating works but only when they are pups. No breed is immune to gunshyness. I've worked with several shorthairs that were gunshy. My brother had one that he hunted with for 2 years and one day she decided it scared her...she never did get over it. Do Not take her to a gun range, skeet range or any other shooting range. Thats one of the leading causes of gunshy dogs. It overwhelms them with the sound. I'd call azbowhunter or you are welcome to PM me and I'll give you my number.

Thanks Amanda. Griz, Definitely have them removed. Most breeders have it done the first couple of days after the pups are born. Its simple to do and at that age their nervous system isn't all the way connected yet so they don't feel it. Its a lot better than dealing with them getting snagged and ripped off when they are adults. Its a bloody mess....

Ya you'd better order a couple cases of metal toothed combs because you'll need them! Thats why I like short haired dogs, that way I can spend more time hunting and less time grooming! Are you planning on training it yourself or sending it to a trainer?

Thanks, it just takes a lot of patience, repetition and most importantly birds. The quail down there are tough since they run so much. One of the toughest things to do in that situation is to make up your mind that you are only going to shoot birds that your dog points and holds. The first couple of seasons your bag limit will drop significantly but once they "get it" and learn how to work the birds you'll find you'll fill your bag more consistantly and have a lot more fun doing it. I don't think I'd hunt birds if I didn't have my dogs. Let me know if I can help you out in any way.

Guess I need to recalibrate my eyeball.....I was 3lbs off. Congrats to the winners!

Thanks. I've been lucky with these two, they back naturally. I've had some in the past that had to be taught to back. It is always nicer when they are naturals! They have been slamming the birds this year both at the preserve as well as some wild ones we come across while I'm running them. The season opens for phez and quail this weekend. I'm pretty excited!

Thats a sad story. Makes you realize even more how fast things happen with kids around and how much more careful you have to be. I feel bad for the family, especially the little girl. What a terrible burden to have to carry...

As a kid I my dad had a friend/gunsmith that swore by the Mauser actions. He had a few guns built that were tackdrivers! I guess those memories stuck. Last month I saw a 25-06 for sale that was built on a Mauser action for a pretty good price so I grabbed it. My dad's friend is now gone, so I can't hit him up for ideas so I thought I'd ask around. I'm mainly a traditional bowhunter but have been wanting to get into long range shooting. I know, both extreems! I either want to be close enough to touch them or be able to really reach out and touch them... So where would you start? Or is there a good gunsmith that you know of that could be of help. I'll be on a budget but want to have a reliable gun I can reach out to 800-1000 yards to knock over the local coyotes as well as trying some out of state rifle hunts for deer and elk. I've been looking at the Shepard scopes, as well as various turret scopes trying to figure out which would be the best route. I know two guys who shoot the Shepards and swear by them.

It is good, and it gives more of the residents up there a chance to hunt elk since I think its a once in a lifetime draw up there.

Shouldn't the top read "...Park will be closed 3 days a week through late January to protect elk hunters from visitors."? Makes it sound like the elk hunters are a bunch of dangerous animals or something! I think they'd have more to fear from visitors that were mad they were hunting those poor elk... http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/bowhuntin...-roosevelt-park

Nice job! Those are definitely some nice looking bucks. Congrats on another successful season...

What calls work best for them? Rabbit? Fawn? We have a big tom that has been roaming around my brothers house and is getting a little too brave. It is a quota area so we are planning on going after him when the hunt opens next month. We have about 500 acres we can hunt and he roams around it most of the time but its not a big enough area to turn hounds loose. I've called in cats a couple of times when coyote hunting, and one last weekend while elk hunting but I have never specifically went out for cats.

Great Job!!!

Congrats to you and your kids on taking a couple of nice bucks! Looks like Ashlen made a great shot too!!

I gave them last night off, but I'll be heading back out tonight since I probably won't be off work in time to get on the mountain to chase elk. They were all out last night but we had a family fun night planned. They were in the same spot just like nothing happened. You can bet Grandma went over and checked where I had been first thing though...

Where I live in Utah we have an extended archery season that runs from the end of August until the end of the year. It gives us a great opportunity to be picky and take a mature animal. 2 years ago I got access to a farm that has about 2 dozen does that hit the fields regularly along with a handful of bucks. 2 of the bucks are hogs but they didn't get big by being dumb. Most of the time they are nocturnal however they do slip up occasionally. During the last two seasons I've had 6 opportunities at these bucks but each time I have been busted by a old doe I've named "Grandma". She's a huge old doe, standing at least 6 inches taller than the other does and just as big as the old mature bucks. She has been dry for 3 years now and has been a target of opportunity but there is no fooling this old girl. Had it not been for her I would probably have two monster Mulies hanging on my wall by now. Earlier this season I set up and brushed in a ground blind which I've only sat in one time. Last night I had plans to set in the blind but my plans were changed when deer started coming into the field 2 hours early. I ended up pinned down in a less than ideal spot. As the deer fed closer to me one of the big boys made an early appearance. He is a big 4-point that is pushing the 34-inch mark. He was about 100yards out and feed along with the herd of does. Thats when it happened. The wind swirled and a yearling doe caught a whiff of my scent. She wasn't sure where I was but knew she's smelled something. Her head whipped up and she snorted. "Grandma" was feeding back near the big boy and immediately came trotting up to the young doe. She stood there for a few minutes looking in my general direction then turned and walked directly to my blind and sniffed it! So much for fooling them. On her way back the wind swirled again and she snorted causing the enire herd to jump. The buck immediately turned and trotted out of the field, I figured this was enough. I had decided late last season that if I had an opportunity to take "Grandma" I would. She is as great a trophy as any big buck, probably more of a trophy because of how smart she is. After she caught my scent she knew exactly were I was and bore a hole through me as the rest of the deer milled around nervously. She was still 50 yards out but turned and walked straight to me. At 10 yards she stopped and snorted at me, stamping her foot. I stayed as still as a statue, not daring to even breathe. After what seemed like an eternity she turned to leave. She was still alert but looked away and turned broadside. I raised my Zona Longbow, drew back and as my finger hit its anchor I released. The arrow flew right where I had been looking....In amazement I watched as it sailed just over her back, taking a little hair off as the 3 blade Magnus Snuffer skimmed over her. I've heard of deer jumping the string, even had it happen a time or two on longer shots but I was utterly amazed at this old girl. In the time it took my arrow to go 10 yards she dropped clear to the ground! He belly litterally touched the ground so that where her vitals had been a split second before there was nothing but open air. Once again the old girl had come out on top. They say a trophy is in the eye of the beholder. I can't think of a greater trophy right now than that old deer. She just moved up a notch or two on the hit list, making it to the top spot!

I do a bit of bird hunting. Honestly it ranks right up there with bowhunting for me. I've had GSP's for 10 years, however for the first time in 10 years I don't have one in my kennel. My first GSP passed in June leaving me with a 2 1/2 year old Pudelpointer and a 2 year old Pointer. My old GSP, Spanky. I sure miss him right now... Java my Pudelpointer... And Gunner my Pointer... The pups are pretty wild. They make terrible family dogs as you can tell... Good luck on your hunting this year. With any luck I'll make it down south again to chase some Gambel's!

Congrats on a nice buck.

Congrats on a great buck! I'd take a funky one like that anyday!!

Sounds like you had a lot of fun! Congrats on the buck, he's a nice one. Glad to see you stuck with it, that buck wouldn't mean nearly as much to you if he would have been standing on the side of the road opening morning...