October 26, 2012
This summer I purchased a pair of SHE's Expedition pants in XS from Bass Pro.
FIT
I like the way these fit, they are a low rise fit. Their sizing puts an XS in the 0-2 size range. I am a 0 and sometimes (depending on the pants) smaller. These are big enough that I could put a pair of long underwear under them and layer up for winter. I wear a belt with them all the time. If I don't, they stretch out and fall off while hiking. Without a belt they sit on my hips comfortably, they are baggy in the crotch for me though.
MATERIAL
They are very soft, feel like your wearing sweat pants. They are made from form-stretch fleece. They have a 4-way stretch which gives you freedom of movement. They say they are water-repellent, I don't think they are truly water-repellent. I find if they get a little damp they do dry fairly quick, if you get them wet they take a while to dry. One thing I was not happy with was the material pilled after one wash. They seem to help wick sweat away and drys fast afterwards. They have an anti-microbial in the fabric to help with scent control. Everything sticks to the material, leaves, sticks, twigs, burrs,and pine needles, it all sticks.
PERFORMANCE
After hiking all day in the heat, they never got an odor to them, I have not tested them on multi day hunts over night in the backcountry yet for smell. They allow good movement. They are soft and silent. They are warm, I wouldn't wear them in the middle of summer when its 30-35 degrees Celsius out.Wicks away sweat. After hiking in a light rain they do get damp and then you get cold. Walking through the snow also makes them wet.
Pros: Comfortable, Fit, Quiet, Warm, Movement
Cons: Material pills, Stuff clings to them, Not water repellent
Nikita
Friday, October 26, 2012
Tips for getting your ladies out!
October 26, 2012
Gentlemen! I know their are lots of guys out there that have wives/girlfriends that do not hunt, and some of you would like to get them to or maybe they want to try it out but you don't know where to start. I have asked some ladies and guys on the Coach 2 Camo page on Facebook for some input, but first I'll put my thoughts on the subject.
I think first you need to find out what it is they are interested in. Is it shooting? Is it seeing the animals? Do they want to harvest something? Seeing the scenery?
For me, I grew up in a hunting family but had never hunted or even shot a firearm. I didn't start until I started dating Kyle(my husband for those just coming through :) ). He took me out to shoot a rifle and a shotgun. When I found out I was actually a good shot, it made me enjoy it more. I had got my C.O.R.E our first summer together and went out for my first time that fall. I did get a deer, a 4 point whitetail buck and I freaked out when he didn't drop on the spot, he only ran 40 yards before he did drop, but I still freaked out. I soon learned that it was normal for them to run a ways before dieing. I wasn't a hardcore hunter though, like Kyle. I would go out here and there with him but that was about it. I tried the treestands but froze my butt off very quickly and ended up hating them for a while. I didn't really get into it head on until they started coming out with women's hunting clothes. I get cold very easy, and when clothes don't fit properly they don't keep you warm or you feel like a marshmallow. Then seeing the pictures he would take out on his backpack trips in the backcountry made me want to go back there also.
So for me the deciding factors, besides me wanting to try it, was proper clothing and getting to see the views/animals I was missing out on.
What others had to say about why/how they started:
Trish- "Well this will be my first year going hunting I didn't Really like guns but then one day he was out target practicing and I thought hmmm I want to try it.So I went outside and started target practicing and I'm so excited to go hunting in November I have been watching a doe since the end of summer.I call her big mama and I just think this is going to be new hobby for me."
Char- "I wanted to spend more time w/my husband, n our kids got older I had more time. I started going w/him. He's a good teacher. We laugh about some of the things I did in the beginning. But I'm getting better making better decisions. Understanding wind,and scent. The people I work with don't get why I save vacation time for the first 2wks of Nov. I love going n wish I would have started earlier."
Colleen- "I grew up on a 500+ acre farm was around it all the time... My husband & his family hunted the whole we dated I didn't want no part of it, then the kids came around. I got away from my country up bringins by working in the city & it just hit me one day. Stop trying to be someone your not & get those country roots back up. Before you know it I killed my first deer (doe) field dressed her & everything all by myself. I think it's like the viscous animal that gets its taste of its first kill, it hungers & wants more. That's me. "You can't take a man out the stand but boy can you sit next to him in one"
Jessica- "Well...mine didn't "get me out." The decision that I wanted to begin hunting was entirely my own, and my goal from the start was to be able to do it independently. However, he helped me along by enabling me...helping me to choose and procure gear, teaching me things, and never being too selfish to include me in his hobbies. He's my biggest supporter when it comes to my outdoor pursuits, and I'm thankful for that!"
Dian- "hmmm my hubby took me while we were dating, had a few years break and in 2010 I went myself........and now he hunts again too. But I am the one that really enjoys the whole process and he is more spur of the moment without checking the wind type. I think going hunting for something little like squirrel or rabbit maybe better than deer at first. Other than that, it's really dependant on what appeals to the person."
Scott- "Add in the fact that not only do they get to enjoys God's great outdoors,,,,its the Perfect "Mommy time" for those who can't get some quiet time
even when the hunting is slow,,,best time in the world to read a book,,,,its where I read the Bible uninterrupted "
Figure out what they are interested in. If they aren't sure what it is they are interested in, then take them out with you and make sure they are comfortable and it's enjoyable. Maybe start small. If they aren't ready to shoot a deer let them shoot a grouse or some other small game. Make sure they understand that if they shoot something that it will run, not drop on the spot! A lot of interest may come from just seeing animals, a double treestand is a good idea or a ground blind. If they are nervous of the dark in the woods then makes sure you get out in daylight (even though that's when the animals move, you don't want to make it a negative experience).
Remember, make it enjoyable for her and keep her fears/dislikes in mind!
Nikita
Gentlemen! I know their are lots of guys out there that have wives/girlfriends that do not hunt, and some of you would like to get them to or maybe they want to try it out but you don't know where to start. I have asked some ladies and guys on the Coach 2 Camo page on Facebook for some input, but first I'll put my thoughts on the subject.
I think first you need to find out what it is they are interested in. Is it shooting? Is it seeing the animals? Do they want to harvest something? Seeing the scenery?
For me, I grew up in a hunting family but had never hunted or even shot a firearm. I didn't start until I started dating Kyle(my husband for those just coming through :) ). He took me out to shoot a rifle and a shotgun. When I found out I was actually a good shot, it made me enjoy it more. I had got my C.O.R.E our first summer together and went out for my first time that fall. I did get a deer, a 4 point whitetail buck and I freaked out when he didn't drop on the spot, he only ran 40 yards before he did drop, but I still freaked out. I soon learned that it was normal for them to run a ways before dieing. I wasn't a hardcore hunter though, like Kyle. I would go out here and there with him but that was about it. I tried the treestands but froze my butt off very quickly and ended up hating them for a while. I didn't really get into it head on until they started coming out with women's hunting clothes. I get cold very easy, and when clothes don't fit properly they don't keep you warm or you feel like a marshmallow. Then seeing the pictures he would take out on his backpack trips in the backcountry made me want to go back there also.
So for me the deciding factors, besides me wanting to try it, was proper clothing and getting to see the views/animals I was missing out on.
What others had to say about why/how they started:
Trish- "Well this will be my first year going hunting I didn't Really like guns but then one day he was out target practicing and I thought hmmm I want to try it.So I went outside and started target practicing and I'm so excited to go hunting in November I have been watching a doe since the end of summer.I call her big mama and I just think this is going to be new hobby for me."
Char- "I wanted to spend more time w/my husband, n our kids got older I had more time. I started going w/him. He's a good teacher. We laugh about some of the things I did in the beginning. But I'm getting better making better decisions. Understanding wind,and scent. The people I work with don't get why I save vacation time for the first 2wks of Nov. I love going n wish I would have started earlier."
Colleen- "I grew up on a 500+ acre farm was around it all the time... My husband & his family hunted the whole we dated I didn't want no part of it, then the kids came around. I got away from my country up bringins by working in the city & it just hit me one day. Stop trying to be someone your not & get those country roots back up. Before you know it I killed my first deer (doe) field dressed her & everything all by myself. I think it's like the viscous animal that gets its taste of its first kill, it hungers & wants more. That's me. "You can't take a man out the stand but boy can you sit next to him in one"
Jessica- "Well...mine didn't "get me out." The decision that I wanted to begin hunting was entirely my own, and my goal from the start was to be able to do it independently. However, he helped me along by enabling me...helping me to choose and procure gear, teaching me things, and never being too selfish to include me in his hobbies. He's my biggest supporter when it comes to my outdoor pursuits, and I'm thankful for that!"
Dian- "hmmm my hubby took me while we were dating, had a few years break and in 2010 I went myself........and now he hunts again too. But I am the one that really enjoys the whole process and he is more spur of the moment without checking the wind type. I think going hunting for something little like squirrel or rabbit maybe better than deer at first. Other than that, it's really dependant on what appeals to the person."
Scott- "Add in the fact that not only do they get to enjoys God's great outdoors,,,,its the Perfect "Mommy time" for those who can't get some quiet time
even when the hunting is slow,,,best time in the world to read a book,,,,its where I read the Bible uninterrupted "Figure out what they are interested in. If they aren't sure what it is they are interested in, then take them out with you and make sure they are comfortable and it's enjoyable. Maybe start small. If they aren't ready to shoot a deer let them shoot a grouse or some other small game. Make sure they understand that if they shoot something that it will run, not drop on the spot! A lot of interest may come from just seeing animals, a double treestand is a good idea or a ground blind. If they are nervous of the dark in the woods then makes sure you get out in daylight (even though that's when the animals move, you don't want to make it a negative experience).
Remember, make it enjoyable for her and keep her fears/dislikes in mind!
Nikita
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
4 long years has paid off
October 24, 2012
In the last few days we have been having a snow fall warning for the whole area. And since it had snowed a good couple of inches over night we decided to go out and see if we could find some whitetail or mule deer.
We got the kids packed up and ready for a whole day out and about and brought the puppy (sitka) along. We put Sitkas jacket on him so he would stay warm in the box of the truck, the temperature only got up to 0. Kyle is trying to train him to be a hunting dog and to see how well he tracks blood. We left town at about 11:30 am and planned to be out until after dark (7:00 pm).
While we were driving down one of the main back roads we spotted 3 deer in the back of a clearing so we stopped. I jumped out, got my bow ready and started to head in after them. They weren't at all concerned about me, not until I got about 80 yards from them. I had my range finder with me and was using it as binoculars. I sat for a little bit and watched them. I decided to watch them and figure out which one the fawn belonged to. There were two does and a fawn, one doe was younger then the other. I watched them for about 10 minutes and figured out the fawn belonged to the older doe, so I set my sights on the other. She was much more jumpy then the mother, as was the fawn. But the mother didn't really take the fawns reactions into account. The doe I was after never stood still, she was back and forth, walking away then coming back, and the mother and fawn were in between us. Momma knew I was there but she wasn't worried...until I got within 40 yards of them and started circling behind them to get to the other doe. I'd take 2 steps then she would watch me, and it continued like that until the baby bounded away and momma slowly walked away from me...taking my doe with them. So I headed back to the road and back to the truck.
We seen many animals. Bald eagle, tons of elk (2 of which were legal bulls, 3 days after season ended), golden eagle, skunk, grizzly, redtail hawk, and tons of whitetails (most were does with fawns). We also found an area where a pack of wolves were running. Their tracks were all over the place and you could see where they had been sleeping. This got Kyle excited, we had decided this winter we were going to try some wolf hunting. Kyle went for a walk to look out over a lake to see if any were running around while I stayed with the kids. Pheonix was asking me what daddy was doing and when I told her he was looking to see if he could see a wolf she got excited and asked if she could shoot one when she got bigger. I think we will have a little hunter on our hands!
After a while we decided to go up a road nobody had been on. It was a long road. Finally we crept up to a landing that had fresh deer tracks on it. So Kyle and I jumped out with our bows and told the kids to sit and watch their movie and we would be right back. We walked up onto the landing and checked out the tracks, it was timber all around the old landing. We looked up the hill to where the tracks led and seen a deer disappearing through the timber. We decided to follow since we figured the deer didn't know we were there. There was absolutely no wind, which was nice because earlier it had a nasty bite. We quietly stalked up after it. About half way up the big hill, it caught sight of us and stopped, we got a good look at her then at 40 yards. Big mature doe, without a fawn. She was alone. She stood and watched us, she was more curious then scared. So I got my bow ready and started walking away from kyle to the left so I could get a clear shot. While I was walking, Kyle started to talk to her and it caught her attention. She was listening to him but watching me. I pulled back and settled my pin on her and let the calm run over me. I released. I seen where the arrow entered and her mule kick. It went through her and she took off. I listened and heard her crash. So Kyle and I hiked up to where she was standing and retrieved my arrow and found her trail. We tried to get Sitka to follow the trail but he couldn't put 2 and 2 together, it was his first time. She had ran straight across the hill, only 20 yards away. After 4 years of bowhunting and never able to harvest anything, I finally got my deer! It was well worth the hard work and long wait.
We dragged her down to the landing through all the brush. As we were dragging her the Korelian was coming out in Sitka. He was jumping at her and nipping at her. He was excited. As we were heading through all the brush you could hear Pheonix cheering from the truck. We got to the landing and Kyle brought the truck up and let the kids out. Pheonix was very excited. Easton was leery of the deer. We got some pictures and Easton wanted to sit with me but he didn't know about the deer. After the pictures, the kids were happy to play in the snow and Pheonix would come help with the deer. Once we were done, we got everybody back in the truck and started to head out. We had about 1 hour left of light so we hunted the way out, hoping maybe Kyle would get lucky. He pulled a couple stalks but nothing. It was a great day spent as a family, and thankfully we were lucky enough to harvest a deer.
Nikita
In the last few days we have been having a snow fall warning for the whole area. And since it had snowed a good couple of inches over night we decided to go out and see if we could find some whitetail or mule deer.
We got the kids packed up and ready for a whole day out and about and brought the puppy (sitka) along. We put Sitkas jacket on him so he would stay warm in the box of the truck, the temperature only got up to 0. Kyle is trying to train him to be a hunting dog and to see how well he tracks blood. We left town at about 11:30 am and planned to be out until after dark (7:00 pm).
While we were driving down one of the main back roads we spotted 3 deer in the back of a clearing so we stopped. I jumped out, got my bow ready and started to head in after them. They weren't at all concerned about me, not until I got about 80 yards from them. I had my range finder with me and was using it as binoculars. I sat for a little bit and watched them. I decided to watch them and figure out which one the fawn belonged to. There were two does and a fawn, one doe was younger then the other. I watched them for about 10 minutes and figured out the fawn belonged to the older doe, so I set my sights on the other. She was much more jumpy then the mother, as was the fawn. But the mother didn't really take the fawns reactions into account. The doe I was after never stood still, she was back and forth, walking away then coming back, and the mother and fawn were in between us. Momma knew I was there but she wasn't worried...until I got within 40 yards of them and started circling behind them to get to the other doe. I'd take 2 steps then she would watch me, and it continued like that until the baby bounded away and momma slowly walked away from me...taking my doe with them. So I headed back to the road and back to the truck.
We seen many animals. Bald eagle, tons of elk (2 of which were legal bulls, 3 days after season ended), golden eagle, skunk, grizzly, redtail hawk, and tons of whitetails (most were does with fawns). We also found an area where a pack of wolves were running. Their tracks were all over the place and you could see where they had been sleeping. This got Kyle excited, we had decided this winter we were going to try some wolf hunting. Kyle went for a walk to look out over a lake to see if any were running around while I stayed with the kids. Pheonix was asking me what daddy was doing and when I told her he was looking to see if he could see a wolf she got excited and asked if she could shoot one when she got bigger. I think we will have a little hunter on our hands!
After a while we decided to go up a road nobody had been on. It was a long road. Finally we crept up to a landing that had fresh deer tracks on it. So Kyle and I jumped out with our bows and told the kids to sit and watch their movie and we would be right back. We walked up onto the landing and checked out the tracks, it was timber all around the old landing. We looked up the hill to where the tracks led and seen a deer disappearing through the timber. We decided to follow since we figured the deer didn't know we were there. There was absolutely no wind, which was nice because earlier it had a nasty bite. We quietly stalked up after it. About half way up the big hill, it caught sight of us and stopped, we got a good look at her then at 40 yards. Big mature doe, without a fawn. She was alone. She stood and watched us, she was more curious then scared. So I got my bow ready and started walking away from kyle to the left so I could get a clear shot. While I was walking, Kyle started to talk to her and it caught her attention. She was listening to him but watching me. I pulled back and settled my pin on her and let the calm run over me. I released. I seen where the arrow entered and her mule kick. It went through her and she took off. I listened and heard her crash. So Kyle and I hiked up to where she was standing and retrieved my arrow and found her trail. We tried to get Sitka to follow the trail but he couldn't put 2 and 2 together, it was his first time. She had ran straight across the hill, only 20 yards away. After 4 years of bowhunting and never able to harvest anything, I finally got my deer! It was well worth the hard work and long wait. 
We dragged her down to the landing through all the brush. As we were dragging her the Korelian was coming out in Sitka. He was jumping at her and nipping at her. He was excited. As we were heading through all the brush you could hear Pheonix cheering from the truck. We got to the landing and Kyle brought the truck up and let the kids out. Pheonix was very excited. Easton was leery of the deer. We got some pictures and Easton wanted to sit with me but he didn't know about the deer. After the pictures, the kids were happy to play in the snow and Pheonix would come help with the deer. Once we were done, we got everybody back in the truck and started to head out. We had about 1 hour left of light so we hunted the way out, hoping maybe Kyle would get lucky. He pulled a couple stalks but nothing. It was a great day spent as a family, and thankfully we were lucky enough to harvest a deer.
Nikita
Friday, October 19, 2012
Bowhunting...Dedication and challenge
October 19, 2012
Over the years Ive gone from rifle to bow and using both. I use my rifle mainly for if we need meat and first time animals (ill be using it for my goat this year). But bowhunting...takes dedication, it takes passion....and most of all patience. I have the dedication and passion, but the patience is a different scenario.
It's amazing going from a starter with a rifle to a broken in hunter trying to go all bow. We practice all year round, almost everyday. I don't believe in pulling it out a week before season, shooting a couple rounds and calling it good. For me, archery prepares me for bowhunting, it keeps my muscles in shape so I can pull back that 50lbs when a deer walks out, it helps me to know my bow so when I'm pulling back i have confidence that my arrow will hit where i want it too. This is my dedication.
You need a passion for hunting and for archery to be able to bowhunt. I have had a bow for over 5 years now and I have been hooked since the first arrow I sent flying. I have been bowhunting for 4 years and have yet to take anything with it. But I continue to shoot all year and hunt with it every season. I know it will be even sweeter once I do get my first bow kill and ill be even more obsessed. Until then I keep chuggin along, hoping before every outing and cursing after. I am determined to kill my whitetail with my bow this year.
Bowhunting takes incredible patience. This I struggle with the most. I have a hard time seeing all these deer that I have to pull a spot and stalk on and try to get within 40 yards without getting busted. When before with my rifle, if it was within 200 yards it was dead. I've pulled stalk after stalk after stalk, every time with no success. You have to check the wind, take it slow but not too slow, and be quiet. I forget to check the wind all the time. One disadvantage I have is how short i am, I can barely see over a brush. But it also works in my advantage, I don't have to crouch down to hide behind the brush lol! I sometimes take it too slow and my animal will have moved on without me seeing it. Sometimes you end up sitting for hours without seeing an animal, or waiting for the perfect opportunities to pull back or shoot. I am still trying to find the happy medium that will work for me.
Bowhunting is a challenge...I know I will get my first kill, when is a different question. I keep at it anyways. If you are someone considering bowhunting, I do recommend it. There is no other feeling like that of a bull elk charging in at you through the brush, screaming or a whitetail walking underneath you while sitting in a tree stand. You get to see more animals up close and personal and it gives you a pretty good appreciation for the animals you do get.
Nikita
Over the years Ive gone from rifle to bow and using both. I use my rifle mainly for if we need meat and first time animals (ill be using it for my goat this year). But bowhunting...takes dedication, it takes passion....and most of all patience. I have the dedication and passion, but the patience is a different scenario.
It's amazing going from a starter with a rifle to a broken in hunter trying to go all bow. We practice all year round, almost everyday. I don't believe in pulling it out a week before season, shooting a couple rounds and calling it good. For me, archery prepares me for bowhunting, it keeps my muscles in shape so I can pull back that 50lbs when a deer walks out, it helps me to know my bow so when I'm pulling back i have confidence that my arrow will hit where i want it too. This is my dedication.
You need a passion for hunting and for archery to be able to bowhunt. I have had a bow for over 5 years now and I have been hooked since the first arrow I sent flying. I have been bowhunting for 4 years and have yet to take anything with it. But I continue to shoot all year and hunt with it every season. I know it will be even sweeter once I do get my first bow kill and ill be even more obsessed. Until then I keep chuggin along, hoping before every outing and cursing after. I am determined to kill my whitetail with my bow this year.
Bowhunting takes incredible patience. This I struggle with the most. I have a hard time seeing all these deer that I have to pull a spot and stalk on and try to get within 40 yards without getting busted. When before with my rifle, if it was within 200 yards it was dead. I've pulled stalk after stalk after stalk, every time with no success. You have to check the wind, take it slow but not too slow, and be quiet. I forget to check the wind all the time. One disadvantage I have is how short i am, I can barely see over a brush. But it also works in my advantage, I don't have to crouch down to hide behind the brush lol! I sometimes take it too slow and my animal will have moved on without me seeing it. Sometimes you end up sitting for hours without seeing an animal, or waiting for the perfect opportunities to pull back or shoot. I am still trying to find the happy medium that will work for me.
Bowhunting is a challenge...I know I will get my first kill, when is a different question. I keep at it anyways. If you are someone considering bowhunting, I do recommend it. There is no other feeling like that of a bull elk charging in at you through the brush, screaming or a whitetail walking underneath you while sitting in a tree stand. You get to see more animals up close and personal and it gives you a pretty good appreciation for the animals you do get.
Nikita
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Trying for a doe
October 16. 2012
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We have been fortunate that Oma (Kyles mom) has been so willing to have some grand baby time and has taken the kids last night and tonight. So we have taken advantage of the free time and have used it for hunting. I have been hunting with my bow for several years now and have yet to harvest anything with it. Last year we got desperate for meat, so on the last day I pulled out my rifle and I was able to harvest a doe. This year I want to get a whitetail with my bow, no exceptions! So last night we went after my elk, since Kyle had harvested one on the weekend. The only elk we seen was a spike bull...on the highway...in the dark. The only other animals we seen were whitetails. It was like I was being taunted since I didn't have my bow with me. So I decided the next morning to take my bow along and I would focus on a doe. It had stormed all night and into the morning. Pounding rain, hail and snow with thunder, lightning and high winds. So needless to say the deer were extremely jumpy in the morning which made any stalking near impossible. We hunted from morning to night. Seeing about 45 whitetails (does,fawns and 1 small buck) and 10 elk (cows, calves and 1 large bull...on the highway..in the dark). I pulled many stalks through the day and was only able to pull back on one doe. I miscalculated the distance though and my arrow fell short as she danced away wagging her giant white tail at me. I never did find my arrow amongst the tall grass. I have used treestands, but have a hard time trusting something that hangs off a tree by a chain. I do like my ladder stand though. I now have a full understanding why people mainly use treestands for whitetail...they are very difficult to spot and stalk.
I love my bow and I love hunting with it. I love the challenge, but my is it frustrating!
Nikita
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We have been fortunate that Oma (Kyles mom) has been so willing to have some grand baby time and has taken the kids last night and tonight. So we have taken advantage of the free time and have used it for hunting. I have been hunting with my bow for several years now and have yet to harvest anything with it. Last year we got desperate for meat, so on the last day I pulled out my rifle and I was able to harvest a doe. This year I want to get a whitetail with my bow, no exceptions! So last night we went after my elk, since Kyle had harvested one on the weekend. The only elk we seen was a spike bull...on the highway...in the dark. The only other animals we seen were whitetails. It was like I was being taunted since I didn't have my bow with me. So I decided the next morning to take my bow along and I would focus on a doe. It had stormed all night and into the morning. Pounding rain, hail and snow with thunder, lightning and high winds. So needless to say the deer were extremely jumpy in the morning which made any stalking near impossible. We hunted from morning to night. Seeing about 45 whitetails (does,fawns and 1 small buck) and 10 elk (cows, calves and 1 large bull...on the highway..in the dark). I pulled many stalks through the day and was only able to pull back on one doe. I miscalculated the distance though and my arrow fell short as she danced away wagging her giant white tail at me. I never did find my arrow amongst the tall grass. I have used treestands, but have a hard time trusting something that hangs off a tree by a chain. I do like my ladder stand though. I now have a full understanding why people mainly use treestands for whitetail...they are very difficult to spot and stalk. I love my bow and I love hunting with it. I love the challenge, but my is it frustrating!
Nikita
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep
Head in the Clouds
By. Geno Pagliaro
Where did my desire to take a big horn sheep come from?
It all started when i was a little boy, I would go on spotting trips with my dad looking for his elusive big horn. I can remember him setting up the spotting scope for me and seeing all the white bums up high above the clouds. Over the years my dad and I hunted many things together, taking elk, deer and bear. As time wore on, and my dad being a police officer, we moved away from the sheep ranges. He and my grandfather have taken many fine trophies in their lives, but neither of them had taken a ram and I wanted one! I wanted to be the first one in my family of die hard hunters to achieve the hardest animal in North America to take.
As time ticked away, my desire for a ram grew so strong i would find myself daydreaming of my sheep hunt. As life went on I found myself moving back to my home town were my sheep infection started. I fell into my dream job of guiding and apprenticing in taxidermy for the off sessions. I guided for goat, elk, bear and deer and when the first ram came into camp for one of our happy hunters, I was shocked! I started hitting the maps talking with old outfitters doing recon trips to make it happen. I soon learned the sheep hunting community is tight lipped and every thing I found out was old news or BS. With this in mind, I burnt boot leather hiking mountains and popped aspirin like candy to kill pounding head aches from glassing and sore muscles.
Then two years ago my wife drew a sheep tag, I put my quest for my ram on hold and lived it through hers. The next year was another story, so I thought. My hunting partner, who is a 65 year old Norwegian (who can walk the pants off me), made the long trek to our sheep spots all summer long with me.
When we did find rams, we found two legal full curls and the agreement was my partner was to have first shot and I would get second due to age, I had lots of time to get a ram. We camped with our rams for days and when opening morning came along,so did the people. With people on every ridge top our two rams dwindled down to one, with a foot race to the remaining ram and a great final stock, my partner made a great shot and I watched his ram tumble down the mountain. His life long dream came true. The rest of the year turned up rams but nothing legal.
My hunting partner and I took to spotting for the next year. With some rams spotted but nothing really stacking up we took a stab in the dark for opening morning. The rams we were watching turned out to be little guys and the wind and weather had everything else timbered up. We called off the hunt so my hunting partner could take his new wife on their honey moon, that got put off for my hunt.
A week or two later I started to get antsy, there was one spot I had investigated for some time and with my sheep partner gone I asked a great friend of mine if he wanted to tag along. I swore him to secrecy on his right, you know what, of the area. He had no sheep tag, so we figured if there was no rams I would help him find an elk. We only had two days before our shift started at our job, so we made a mad dash to my spot and a long trek up the mountain side. We reached the top by late afternoon and set up camp. As we glassed the slides and rock faces, we enjoyed the warm afternoon that eventually turned to evening, our hopes grew and I felt Electric. We spotted a sow Grizzly and her cubs feeding up the slide towards us, but nothing else turned up. With our situation with the 3 bears we decided to look over the other side and give them their space. After our little trek to the other side we came back to camp with no sheep spotted. All of a sudden, the bush began to huff and as the willows parted, here came the three grizzlies, the guns came up and we began to whistle and shout. The bears wheeled off without a shot fired. We settled into camp, had some much needed water and some mountain house then we were fast a sleep with load guns by our sides.
The next morning we woke, climbed out of our sleeping bags and began to glass. I put my swarrows up and I was looking at 9 rams! I quickly set up my spotter and there he was! With a few mouthfuls of oatmeal we were off, we side hill'd for about 1 1/2 km and with the sun coming up our backs the rams had no chance of seeing us. We stayed off the skyline and with the wind in our favor, we moved into 150 yards and I set up my spotter. The rams winded something from down below and began to move out and there was my ram, filing across the slide. He stopped suddenly and looked back, and just like in my dream I played so many times in my head, my cross hairs settled on his right shoulder and I felt the pressure build on the trigger. Rock solid, the report of my rifle sent my dream to reality as I watched my ram slow, come to a stop and topple over! It had happened!
Time stopped up there in the clouds, and a rush of emotions came over me. I don't know how i got to my ram, but I do know I could not see the rocks i was stepping on from the tears welling up in my eyes. After the photo shoot I reached down into my pack and pulled out something special, a knife my dad made me. It was made from the steel of my grandfathers crosscut saw and dawned with a sheep horn handle. I had saved this knife for this very moment, its first time use.
This ram is not just my first, it's not a booner, but it is my trophy, it's my families trophy and my memory of goal determination and friends, this is why I love sheep and sheep hunting.
Time stopped up there in the clouds, and a rush of emotions came over me. I don't know how i got to my ram, but I do know I could not see the rocks i was stepping on from the tears welling up in my eyes. After the photo shoot I reached down into my pack and pulled out something special, a knife my dad made me. It was made from the steel of my grandfathers crosscut saw and dawned with a sheep horn handle. I had saved this knife for this very moment, its first time use.
This ram is not just my first, it's not a booner, but it is my trophy, it's my families trophy and my memory of goal determination and friends, this is why I love sheep and sheep hunting.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Ground blind with a 2 yr old
So a couple weeks ago, the cow elk were open. We had done a couple drives with the kids but the problem with this is that cow season is ridiculous here. Every hunter and their dog are out driving looking for a cow. Every time we have seen more hunters then wildlife. So this time we left earlier in the afternoon and decided to drive a big loop and find a place to set up the ground blind. We went up behind Moyie on the sunrise. After about 10-15 mins of driving we found some wildlife...a big old grizzly bear. So we watched him for a while, took a couple pictures then continued on our way. The trip we were taking was up through Moyie, through the south country to eventually come out of Kookanusa to head home. It is quite the loop. After the grizzly we started to find everyone and their dogs...soo many trucks and quads...cow season. So we drove for a bit, until we got to Kyles area for the ground blind. As we were heading in...of course a truck comes driving out. The one nice thing with cow season is a lot of the people stay on the road. So if you get off the road, you don't see anyone. So we parked got the packs filled up and the kids on our shoulders and started hiking. We got out to the spot Kyle figured was good enough and set up. Now sitting in a blind with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old is interesting. Pheonix was fine, she had been in a blind before and knew to play quietly. Easton on the other hand....is a 2 yr old boy that can not sit still for the life of him and is not what you would call quiet. So of course, Easton is hanging out the windows, flopping against the blind, climbing on us, and squealing at every noise he hears. After about 5 minutes you could tell Kyle was losing it...but he never said anything. After 10 minutes he started to voice that the elk would never come. At 15 minutes he's shaking his head, still saying we're not going to see anything. At 20 minutes he gave up...That's it, were packing up! Me on the other hand was having trouble controlling my out burst of laughter from 5 minutes in. The look on Kyles face mixed with a 2 yr olds joy had me in hysterics. Oh Easton loved the blind...but is still too young to understand you need to be quiet! 
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