First Marmot Hunt of the Year

I decided today was going to be the day I was going to go out and do my first "Pest" hunt of the year. This means I would be targeting Marmots and pigeons. I go to a local ranch where the pigeons nest in the barn and the Marmots tear up the pastures. Today was going to be even better because Maddy was with me.

As soon as I came through the gate I see the first marmot sunning on a log. I get out and for the first time use my Gorilla shooting stick. Since it is a monopod and it is the first time I have ever used one like this, I was a little unsteady and missed at about 50 yards. But it still felt good to be out and after the first shot I got a full whiff of fresh burnt gun powder, which is one of my favorite smells.

The next one I saw at about 150 yards, I put a sneak on in and got within about 40 yards. This one wasn’t as lucky as the first one.




The next two were close to each other. I saw the third one walking through the grass at about 10 yards and closing. I had my scope on 12 power and I could see it was carrying something in its mouth. I figured it was a clump of grass. When I shot it was so close it was fuzzy and I missed. I racked the bolt and powered down my scope to 4 power. When I shot the first time the Marmot just froze. The next shot was easy at about 7 yards. When I took that shot about 20 yards away the fourth one popped its head out of its hole and I took that one out as well. When i walked over to retrieve the third on I found that it did not have grass in its mouth but a newly born baby marmot. I did feel a little bad putting the baby out of its misery.

Next I went over to the barn and found two pigeons sitting and feeding off of a salt block. I was able to set up the camera to get video of the shot. Just as I shot the bird started to look up and the shot was just a little left. So instead of a DRT shot it took about 20 yards of flying to realize he was dead.

I had a great couple hours out with my daughter hunting and I look forward to many years of it to come.

Spring food plots

So I bought a bag of throw and grow off of Amazon. I had different ideas of where I wanted to plant it. I have two other plots one of timothy grass and one a wildlife mix of grasses and other plants.

The trow and grow says you don't have to disc your soil for it to work. I decided to disc it anyway just for best results. I pull this old discing system with my old jeep, works great. I decided to plant it on the side of my property where I already have irrigation sprinklers to water. I also picked a spot like my other plots that you can see from the house

Since there is a 60 acre alfalfa field next door I am trying convince the deer to come to my property because I have better food than alfalfa.

I also decided to plant now because we are expecting some rain which will help grow the new seeds of clover, brassica and rye grass.

We just saw our first buck of the year last night running through the alfalfa with small velvet spikes, which I hope turn into a large 5X5.

I still have one more plot to plant. I normally plant sun flowers for the birds but I can't decide what to do this year.

I'm a chicken when it comes to turkeys.

It's turkey season here in Washington, and the outdoor network of writers is a buzz with turkey talk.

I took a drive up from my house a few days before turkey season and saw one the biggest Toms of my life. It just stood there waiting for me to shoot it. Since it was not turkey season I of course let it strut into the brush with it's harem of hens.

Now that it is turkey season I have yet to buy a license. I am afraid of wasting my time chasing ghosts, I have never before gone out and actually hunted for turkeys. I know, I know its not about the kill just getting out into the outdoors is what matters.

Well I think next year will be the year. I might go out with a friend this year and watch him hunt maybe try to film it. But the turkey tag is just not in the budget this year. But I do look forward to one day calling in a big Tom and learning the art of turkey hunting.

640 millions dollars worth of outdoor gear

I just want to know what all the outdoorsmen and women would do with 640 million dollars to expand their outdoor empires.

I would buy a huge plot of land make the prefect hunting and fishing paradise or maybe just buy eagle lakes resort in central Washington.  I would have the best off and on road vehicles.  I would import exotic game to my ranch. That is just some of the simple things I would do if i had that kind of money... What would you do copy a link to the comments.

Methow Steelhead Video

Some friends of mine doing a video on Fly Fishing for Steelhead on The Methow River.

Game cam pics 03-21-12

Got some great game cam pics this week. I decided to switch locations from up in the timber to down in the creek bed, I am so happy I did that. Take a look at this all white snow shoe hair and this bobcat.

Maturing of a growing hunter part 6 (19 Years Old)

 It was October and I just turned 19, I was also living away from home at college. I picked my college because it was in a good hunting and fishing location and had the courses I wanted to take.

At freshman orientation I chose classes that started at 7:30am and got over for the day at 10:30am, This way I had everyday to be in the outdoors hunting or fishing.

SAGE

At first each day I would head out with my gun and scout places to hunt. I looked at private property and public land. Finally I settled into a few good spots that all had ducks, quail and pheasants.

I was in heaven, I was used to only really hunting in September for grouse and October for ducks. Now I was getting to utilize 100% of the hunting seasons.  I started the hunting year when it was 80 degrees out and finished the year at -10 degrees.

Most of the hunting I did was by myself with my first dog Sage a German Wire Haired pointer. I had a lot of frustration with learning how to train a dog while in college. But we taught each other a lot and we were a great team.

Sages first duck.

Part 1 (Before Memories)

Part 2 (5 Years Old)

Part 3 (10 Years Old)

Part 4 (12 Years Old)

Part 5 (16 Years Old)