Lance

Oh, we have done the snow machines and that is fun as well. There are pictures of that in our "buffalo photo gallery" on our website. I prefer the quads for many reasons. There comes a time when there is not enough snow for snow machines but too much for other forms of transportation. You get a mile of snow and a mile of dirt and patchy spots and it just tears a snow machine apart. We were scouting to see when we could do a safe trip with quads.

I gave the report to the hunters and guys back home and told them we would make one more over night trip into the exact area to make sure all was well and success would be high before everyone was summoned for the party. I was informed by tag holder Richard that him and his son would like to go on the overnighter with us. That was fine with us and it turned into a scouting trip with option to shoot! Those are the best kind! We met at base camp and the next morning we started our 25 mile quad ride into spike camp. Lo and behold, right there in the first big snow bank was a small car And as we drove up in the dark with our 4 quads a man got out He was very happy to see us and as he walked up to me he said "I hope you don't mind if I kiss you!" He was bigger than I was and could do what he wanted I'm sure so I exposed the pistol on my hip and I said " Oh, I think we could pass on that." The poor man began to break down and so I said "But you can give me a hug". He latched onto me with a full bear hug and began to cry he was a broken man.... I could see a woman sitting in the back seat of the car and she stared forward without much acknowledgment that we were there. She seemed to be pretty upset herself and I'm sure he was hearing allot of "I told you so's". The poor guy hugged me like I was his mama so I began to pat him on the back and tell him "It's OK now, were here, let it out , we've all been there before" And if he's out there somewhere reading this I meant it and it's all good my friend! It was OK to just let it out! SO after he gathered himself up we asked "What in the world are you doing out here in that?" He replied with "We just had to see the Grand Canyon." Oh my, "How long have you been here". "Since 1 pm the day before". He said he had gas and was turning the car on now and then to keep warm. He had enough since to not run it the whole time. He also said he had food and watter. There was no cell signal in the area. He asked us 4 or 5 times if we were Search and Rescue. "No were just Buffalo Hunters" we told him. That just added to his confusion. He wasn't all himself and I'm sure they were just realizing they might not die after all, so we were as helpful as we could be to help get their minds on the right track He had driven into the slushy snow and sunk deep. He said he had never shoveled so much snow in his life, but we did not notice any marks in the snow. It was now 5AM and the car was froze solid to the ground! We hooked up two quads to the car and Andrew and myself pushed hard! We got them out, turned around and on their way. For the sake of their sanity I did not take pictures of them and the car. We were then late so hurried as much as we could to get to spike camp. We arrived safe after the 25 mile ride but conditions were stil not what they could have been. Right off we found some tracks. They were about 2 days old and by noon we had tracked them down to about half a day behind them! They had crossed some major canyons and we were sure where they went but it wouldn't be good to hunt there with the time we had if we couldn't get the quads there. So we had to pull off for the sake of proper meat and trophy care not to mention a little safty on our part. We then tried to get the quads around to the area where we could start the hunt again but we couldn't do it. The miles of 3 to 6 foot snow were just too much to cross the canyons and half way there we were forced to make camp for the rest of the day. That was ok though, our scouting trip was a success and we knew what we wanted to know. I'm sure I did some pushing in there at some point but someone had to take pictures right? That night we made camp in a little hole out of the wind and after a hot dinner Russ and I threw down by the camp fire and Richard and Andrew slept in the tent. We headed out the next morning and plans were made to make an extended hunt into the area with the whole crew. Note the sticks and logs used to dry socks and boots Continued.....

So the next day I head up top and venture in on my own to see how things were looking. The hunters and rest of the guys were waiting patiently back home for a report. That day I spent two tanks of gas and busted snow for just over 140 miles on my quad from sunrise tell a couple hours after dark. It was an awesome day! I knew where I wanted to be and was checking access to the area and eliminating possibilities of other areas. Access was still not exactly what I was looking for but I got close enough and found out what I wanted to find out, and found what I was looking for! Found some young Lion Tracks in one area, but still not the tracks I was looking for.... And As I got close to where I wanted to be I found what I was looking for! I put a AA battery in the track for your comparison. But I still couldn't safely access the area and the day was getting late. So as any good Coues Whitetailer would do I broke out the glass on the tripod and got to work! I found more sign and sights to confirm what I wanted to know! Then made some phone calls and headed back to camp ariving a couple hours after dark. I packed up and headed back to Flag because I had "Donuts With Dad" at the grade school to go to with my kids the next day. I took a 4 hour nap along the road and got home about 4am just enough time to wake up to excited children screaming "Dads Home! Dads Home! Lets go lets go!" Kids are great! Since the area was still not accessable in the way I wanted it to be we made plans for an overnight trip into the area the next week..... Continued....

Doug I don't know about being back soon, we arrive precisely when we mean to. Sorry Rica. Ain't seen any chuckar but if you want to go blue grouse huntin....! Yee haw! Lance

So the next trip to check on conditions was planned but only I could go this time. My solo trip started out low looking for that lucky gold strike. I knew it was a long shot but you still gotta check right! Loads of deer were found as well as many picture opp's! But I just confirmed what I already knew that day. None of what we were looking for had been there all winter. So I headed back up to check the snow conditions. This time they were a little better! To be continued....

Congrats! That Rocks! Lance

Awesome Awesome Awesome! Awesome write up! Awesome pictures! Awesome hunt! Thanks for giving me a day by day blow of the hunt via cell phone! almost felt like I was there! Like a kid at Christmas, I looked forward to your call every day to get the next report! I wish you could have filled the other two tags, but maybe now I can go shoot a couple. I hope they are still talking by the time I make it over there! Way to get it done Amanda! You Gals are Lethal! Lance

Your steel BB loads are just fine. Patern them and use them I think you will love it. Yea you can just shoot them in the head with 6 shot, if, they are close enough. If you are going to put a big load as your last shot why not use them as all of your shells? You can shoot them in they head at closer ranges with BB shot just as you can with 6 or 4, but what if your first shot opportunity is a bird running away at 55 yards? Are you gona empty your gun first then put in a bigger shot? Might as well just have it in there for all three from the start! I shoot turkeys and Predators with 3" mag steel in size "T"! I have shott plenty of BB before and it's great, but I like T just a little better. It shoots great out of my gun! It is steel so you have a full cup of bb's and not a half cup like the lead or heavy loads. It is a gig enough pellet so it carries weight out to further distances! I beleive it has 68 pellets in the steel 3" T shot load. You can take their heads off at under 40 yards just fine and take them out at 60+ yards just fine as well. My furthest turkey was last year, he was closer but now was running away and I shot not knowing the distance but filling confident It would roll him. It dumped him in his tracks at a latter measured 86 yards! Of those 68 big "T" sized pellets 12 of them made it into the bird and just hammered him down! But patttern it with your gun first! Every gun is different! Maybe I'm just not as good a caller as some and have to shoot some at further ranges? So I like to be prepared for all situations! Lance

It's Getting Closer! I hope it's on your calendar! The lakes are stocked heavy and the fish should be long and fat by the time the Get-to-gether comes around! The moisture has been great in the northland and I suspect we will be able to have camp fires again like last year! We are planning on the same type of layout for the meals as in years past! I will be bringing more racks to guess the score on and targets for the archery tournament! Bring em if you got em! Lance and Carrie Crowther and Family

Sweet! Lets see some of that video! Lance

Very nice! Congrats to all! Lance

If you think you may need a guide then its likely a good idea. If your not used to getting bulls out of back country canyonlands then you might seriously consider a guide. There are plenty of people who do that hunt every year without a guide and plenty of great without a guide success stories. And if you look at the hunt success rates you will see that half of them go home without a bull.

Black river would have good to but Very Nice! Lance

Holly cow! Already 5 pages ! Nice, its like Christmas ! Anyone getting any work done today? Lance

The sad part is that the tubers themselve cannot take responsibility for their own selves. That lack of responsiblity is evident in the cities, in our neighborhoods, along the roads, in the forests, at shooting sites and in our own hunting and fishing camps. Guess many desert destroyers were never taught or led by example by their parents. The concept of "that's why I pay taxes" (so someone else can clean up my mess) is BS. (end rant) AMEN to that rant! And good job gitting the kids out ! Lance

It's been 3 weeks sience I'v had elk blood under my nails Anyone else need an elk? How about all you guys who didn't , or won't draw a tag? I'm missing the smell of elk blood in my clothes and it has all worn off my back pack. I'm going through withdrawls By the way, Jake shot one of those coyotes on a fast run around 100 yards with that blury scope! Sweet shot jake! Don't know how you could even see him through that thing? You ever get the scope replaced? This is my favorite picture! The "Congratulations Call" Lance

Congrats! Way to get the kids out and get it done! Lance

Did you draw a spring tag? I didn't get a tag here in AZ but my two boys ages 10 and 12 will be hunting! I will be going to NM to get my tags. Just wanted to make everyone aware of the spring hunts coming up! NOTE! This year The Arizona Game and Fish has offered "Over the Counter" _Juniors Only Spring Turkey Tags_ for our youth hunters! This is a tag that would normally be extremely hard to drawand could take several years of applying! We wanted to make everyone aware that we are offering this guided spring turkey hunt as a 4 day hunt for $850. And will offer an excellent discount for two or more youth hunters! Or we can also help you out if you have already drawn one of the regular spring turkey permits! We are well experienced in the spring turkey woods and in guiding youth hunters. Please check out our turkey hunts on our website and website Photo and Video Galleries at www.tlohunting.com If you are interested in this hunt please contact us at Timberland Outfitters (928) 607-9380 info@tlohunting.com www.tlohunting.com Thank you! Lance Crowther PS- Even if you don't hire us to help out, get off your tails and get them kids into the woods!

YEP!

Yee Haw! Twas a great time with the family! Saw several CWT.com members there! And came home with some great free stuff! Lance

Congrats on the kids! Congrats to all of you! Kids are truly a blessing! We named our two boys Ty Evan and Weston Cole. Lance

Very Nice Way to git it done! Lance

My Wife and I will be there with our 4 kids most of the day on Saturday. We are not getting a booth this year so We will miss all the fun in that but at least we can bring the kids down this time. They are very excited! MAybe I can talk them into doing the elk calling contest? Look forward to seeing you there! Lance

Nice Section Amanda! Way to go! Lance

If you cant decifer the "code" then I guess you cant sign up. Hint, click on "Quote" and then read it.