COOSEFAN

This I guess is still just a rumor, but a buddy of mine called G+F today, got directed to several people, and finally got a lady who appearantly knew statistics about the draw so far. She told him the permits were NOT down 50%. She said there were around 51,000 apps TOTAL for elk and antelope, as opposed to 86,000 last year. My buddy is trust worthy, but I didn't hear it for myself. I don't know where the 50% came from, but if this info above is true.........I'm excited! JIM> p.s. I also feel sorry for the people who cannot afford the price increases, that part sucks.......but as far as the people who didn't know about the early draw...that category might be full of those people who sit on the fence every year and really don't care if they draw or not, and don't pay attention much to current changes. JIM>

Hey Christian, there's a ton of good bugles on the market, I like Primos brand though.....like the Terminator. It takes some practice but sounds real good when you get it mastered.....I would reccomend getting Chappell's instructional calling CD with it......he'll have some at his booth at the ISE show and for probably better prices. There is more to the bugle than you would imagine when used while calling. I rarely bugle....usually only for locating purposes before light or shortly after. I have had hunts though where the bulls would only respond to bugling and it can be tricky learning when this is or isn't the case, sometimes they'll just grab up their cows and move out if you bugle. On one of the hunts last year, there was very little rutting activity, the bulls were with cows and bugled very little. After several attempts to sneak in and cow call, the bulls would grab their harem and move off. I finally got REAL aggressive, running and bugling at the same time, breaking branches as I went and really emphasized to this one bull that I was going to kick his butt. He had cows and tried moving them out but decided to stand his ground. The hunter and I made it to less than 30 yrds on the opposite side of a cedar from this bull, for an honest 8-10 minutes just absolutely screaming at each other! We couldn't get a shot through the tree but the bull finally realized he had to make the next move and stepped out presenting the shot! It was the most exciting confrontation I've had because of the extreme close range screaming the bull and I did at each other for that long. I even tore the diaphram call I was using because of the intense bugles I threw at him! That is just one example of how the bugle can be used but it doesn't work like that all the time, only on hard to call bulls that are already with their cows and also in thick flat cedar country it works best because you have to avoid the critters seeing you run in! You will learn the info and the call fast....you just gotta get out there and start the long road of trial and error.......that's where you will get good at it! Best of luck, JIM>

" My youngest nephew (Tyler) shot a Big boar at, like, 10 feet! " That'll get 'em hooked! Great job.....the smiles say it all.....congrats! JIM>

Whoohoooo, that thing will go anywhere and haul anything, it's purdy too! JIM>

"Kade was thrilled! As usual he had a million questions but learned alot as well. Things like what catclaw is, they don't call them stink hogs for nothing, and of course everthing gets to take one last crap when it dies!" Great pics and congrats! JIM>

We're all happy makin' fun of ya for killin' smaller critters........but you know we're proud of ya! It's all about the experience, your "trigger-happy" finger will eventually not be so "Happy" and you will then look for tougher challenges and hold out........but by then, you'll have a whole wall full of experience under your belt! JIM>

I'm in a wedding this weekend, would rather be down there with you all though! Thank you to all who attend this cleanup, I hope you all draw the deer tags you put in for.....you deserve it! JIM>

" 4. Don`t get hungup on antler/horn size. Some of the best hunts I have ever had are from years that I did the best I could and worked really hard to find a really big animal, but I either couldn`t get it done or just missed my opportunity. Or maybe even ,just missed the shot! It happens, to everyone, we are only human! If you have done the best you can and a forked horn or some other type deer is available and it gets you really excited, then I don`t see anything wrong with that. Only you will know if it`s right for you , not what someone else tells you to shoot! Big deer and nice horns will probably come with the more time and the more work you put into your hunting! 5. Have fun! That sounds really easy , but some guys I know are so hung up on filling their tag and getting a boone and crockett type deer that they are miserable.They are missing the whole point. hunting and camping should be a lot of fun if you work hard and hunt ethically! A true trophy is in the eyes of the beholder. 6. Last but not least! Check you gun every year. Take a backup that you trust! Sounds simple, but I neglected to do that last season , and it cost me two opportunities on two different animals. You would have thought by now (30+ hunting seasons)I would have figured that one ot a long time ago! I even had a backup but I thought my gun was shooting right on and that I was at fault. Trust your backup! thats why you brought it you dummy! " ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey Rich....these are great points! Especially #6.......I usually have a backup but not all the time. I have gone alot of years never needing one on any hunt and got lazy about it. But as Casey pointed out.....I had several incidents last year where a backup was necessary and thank goodness Casey was around to save my butt! I will always have one from now on! My favorite sentence in your post is "A true trophy is in the eyes of the beholder." I can't stand it when someone down talks a critter that someone took because it's small! I have killed a ton of little critters and am proud of each one......I know they're small, but each one taught me alot about the entire aspect of hunting, especially the "after the kill" stuff that I wouldn't have learned if I hadn't tagged out! I feel that a young person, or a person just starting out in hunting should grab all the experience they can and there is nothing wrong with taking a smaller animal, as long it gets your blood pumpin' and your proud of it. Who cares what other people think.........it's YOUR tag, not theirs! Along these same lines.......nothing gets me more upset than to see someone kill a critter and then get upset that they did because it was smaller than what they hoped for and THEY down talk the critter.......thats a bunch of B.S.! Don't kill it unless your gonna be proud of it and give it the respect any/all animals deserve! My $.02, i'll stop ramblin' on, JIM>

yer lucky i'm holdin' back........

Bill, I too can't offer any experience there, but I can't wait to hear how it goes for you! I have a huge desire to get a Caribou after my experience in Alaska last year. I have to get one o' them Barren Ground 'Bou's first then I will go after a Woodland. Best of luck, JIM>

Casey you can't kill big, if you don't hold out.....it's the chance you take and hind sight is ALWAYS 20/20! I kinda learned this as well last year. I have a big ol' pile of antlers from all the little critters i've killed over the years. I have always feared going home empty handed, and rarely ever did....but I also rarely ever killed anything of any size! Last Oct. Shortypants MADE me hold out and I would have come home with another small buck, but instead it paid off with an 88"er on the second to last day! Wheather you kill or not, passing up smaller critters will allow you to hunt longer and gain more experience! I also learned that if you're planning a hunt outta state, especially Alaska, DON'T just believe and trust what your outfitter tells ya, especially if your not guided and on your own!......check references and do your own research before you book it! With that in mind.....I would also now reccomend to anyone who has ever had a desire to do so....to go hunt Alaska! I had to learn how to hunt and call Moose, I had to put that knowledge to the test, and was fortunate enough to see it all come together.......that's an incredible thing to experience and would encourgage anyone to try it at least once! I think the biggest thing I learned though was......you can't get it on tape, if you leave the camera in the truck! JIM>

Yeah baby.........That is what I'm talking about, those bulls and Muley are bada$$! Awesome pics', lets see some more! JIM>

WHOOOHOOOO! Congrats to everyone that was successful in '06 and to all the contest winners! There were some amazing bucks taken and everyone took great photos! Thanks for puttin' this on again Doug and for all your donated time, it's fun watchin' the contest entries build as the year goes on! Thanks, JIM>

Depends on what kind of vehicle your talking about, and it also depends on how much and how hard of off-roading you do or plan on doing. Leveling kit's usually use less parts and don't alter your factory suspension as much as a lift kit. I believe you take away from your vehicles dependability to much with a lift-kit. I personally need all the dependability I can get out of my truck with how much I'm outta town. With this in mind, I went with a leveling kit on my '02 F-350. This 3" leveling kit allowed me to put up to 35" tires ( with a little cutting) and the taller tires gave me true ground clearance for the axles and raised the body enough to avoid the big rocks. My factory suspension wasn't messed with as much as it would have been with a lift-kit.....so I don't have the lack of dependability. Plus, the leveling kits are almost always ALOT cheaper. Just my $.02. JIM> Good luck.

That makes sense. I have always believed in doing what makes you happy. Even if it means you won't make alot of money, at least your happy. It IS good to let kids know that people won't look down on them for not wanting to be a doctor or lawyer....a person of any age should be applauded for chasing their dreams and for doing what makes them happy. This makes sense. Best of luck to you and to those kids! JIM>

Well...appearantly what I heard was wrong about the hose! I have used and will use if it's available a hose to wash off meat. I am a picky eater and I always make sure the meat is VERY clean. I have heard that you want the meat to dry and form a crust (assuming it is already clean) which protects it from fly's and stuff. Anytime I have hosed off meat, I dry it with a shirt or towel if handy, I don't know if I had to or not, I just felt like it was best not to let it stay wet! When you are dealing with a cape.....you don't want it wet 'cause it promotes bacteria.......why would you want your meat wet also? The main thing, regardless of how you achieve it, is keep the meat as clean as possible. Also, get it as cool as possible...as fast as possible. The first thing I do when I walk up to an elk or deer.....even before I take pictures, I make a cut from the back of the skull to the tail bone, and as deep as I can get the knife in. This allows that thick neck meat and straps to cool even while your takin' pic's. This is a must on Elk, that meat just starts cookin' in there on the early hunts! Just my $.02.

Here's a couple of my favorite memories of Zeus. It's amazing how much a part of your life a dog can become.......and you never fully realize it until they're gone. It did help us by getting a new puppy fairly quick after his passing.....I didn't think it would, but it was hard watching Harley run around looking for Zeus and Drake has made her happy again. Here's Drake last summer when we brought him home And here he is now.......gettin' big! I know Zeus would have thought Drake was a lazy s.o.b. but he would have loved him anyways! I hope the cute puppy pic's help a little, take care, JIM>

I know what you mean about not having enough time and still makin' it happen! I would have shot your buck in a heartbeat on the one day I had this year! Big congrats to you! JIM>

And.........Here is "Freaky in the Woods"! Jorge G. ( under 18 not allowed )

WOW, Josh....I bet that skull is even more impressive in person, that's insane growth around them bases! I'm dang near out of my freak/strange stuff in my little collection........BUT.....I did find this photo! This pic documents some true "Freaks of the Woods"!

Thanks Josh. I can't wait to see what you find this season, keep the pic's and stories coming! JIM>

Awesome stuff Josh! I especially like the freak elk skull in the last pic...........thats an awesome pic with your "man-cub" yankin' on your ear....... that is pricelss! JIM>

Dam......those are some hard earned sheds! Loved the story and the "A.I.L." pic's! I have a question though, I have found areas similar where there was alot of old and older sheds and nothing from the previous year and I know there could be a ton of reasons, but what's your thoughts on this? Thanks, JIM>

Happy Birthday TREESTANDMAN! Hope your stayin' outta the trees at least for your birthday! JIM>

alright....now i'm runnin' out of freaky stuff.........Here's one from a late hunt, last day bull.........if you gonna shoot a 2 point, this would be the one! Pretty cool "crab-claws"! JIM>