Bearpaw Season -Spring 2013

[bearpaw]

Worked a couple more birds yesterday, had another mature tom come into about 50 to 60 yds strutting, thought he would come closer so we didn't shoot, but that was it, next thing I saw him leaving, we should have trusted the hevi-shot. 

Saw 6 more gobblers yesterday but they didn't want to call, hopefully today will be a different story. Got a gobbler talking now and then this morning, hopefully he comes the right direction, my fingers are crossed. 

[Killmore]

You need some kind of a Live cam... That would be cool.

[BOWHUNTER45]

BINGO....
Birds flew down and kept gobbling, we had a hen yelping on the ground behind us and that was driving the toms wild, it was a gobble fest back and forth between them and we were in the middle, the tom closest to our right worked around the ridge right above us and come running, literally running right down to 20 yards, one good shot and gobbler down. After about 10 minutes things settled down, the birds were talking again but not coming in and moving away, rather than disturb them more we decided to pick up and move to another property. The bird is about an 8" three year old with about 3/4" spurs, probably 19 pounds. Will try to post photo with phone, if not will post later.

THATS A NICE ONE ...Congrats to the man !!!

[bearpaw]

I have been busy hunting, we've been getting up at 2:45, going to bed at 10pm, having a blast but it's been long hours with these days getting longer all the time.   

Jim and I ran his hunt right down to the last afternoon and then we put the smack down on his 2nd bird, a beautiful 2 year old gobbler that weighed about 16 pounds with 3/4 spurs and about a 8 or 9 inch nice thick beard. 

[bearpaw]

SCI Northwest Chapter organized the hunt for our next 3 hunters, Mike, Todd, and Will, who were Wounded Warriors. The evening before the hunt we familiarized them with our guns and we visited for several hours. What a great bunch of guys, it was a pleasure to meet these guys and take them hunting. On the first day of the hunt Guide Ray and I managed to get them each 1 bird, a long beard and two jakes.

[h20hunter]

Hell yah, some happy hunters right there.

[bearpaw]

In the afternoon of the first day of the wounded warrior hunt things sort of went south. Todd and Ray were calling a bird that just wouldn't quite come into range, while doing so the mosquitos were busy drilling for blood, they both got bit by numerous mosquitos and Todd had an allergic reaction that put him into Anaphylactic shock, he started swelling up and puking, his heart rate went crazy so Ray rushed him into the emergency room at the hospital. The evening hunt was foiled but the attending said they thought they had it under control so Todd would begin to get better, but it sounded like they would likely keep him overnight.

I went back to the house and found out that an unguided bear hunter staying at our place had a vehicle breakdown, he had to get towed into the dodge dealership in Spokane, they discovered that his transmission went out, so he rented a car and was scrapping his bear hunt since his truck would be several days getting fixed.

The only bright news that evening was when Mike called from the hospital and said that Todd was much better and they were releasing him that evening.

Next morning Todd stayed in bed to recover, Mike and Will went hunting and I talked Todd from the SCI Northwest Chapter into hunting that morning. Ray and Will called in a long beard first thing but he didn't come into range before some deer busted the whole set up and sent the turkeys running, but after about two hours the big tom came back into range and Will hammered him, Ray and Will were done hunting for the day since that was Will's 2nd bird. Finally at about 8:30 am Mike and SCI Todd doubled on jakes so Mike was done with his 2nd bird in the bag. Army Todd took it easy all day and I talked SCI Todd into getting another tag, we did a small hunt that evening and put some birds to roost for the next morning.

[bearpaw]

The next morning found Army Todd doing much better and he decided to go hunting again, after breakfast he and Ray headed out after some birds that Ray had been watching. I took SCI Todd and we went after some birds I had patterned. As luck would have it SCI Todd made a great shot on a nice tom with a 9 1/2" beard and we were back to the house early. Ray and Army Todd hunted till 9am, Todd passed up a bearded hen because he said he didn't want to mount her so he didn't shoot, so Army Todd didn't get a 2nd bird. In spite of the mosquito incident in malaria meadows, we had a great hunt with 7 birds for 4 hunters and lots of tall tales shared. They all thanked us and Mike said he never would never have otherwise gotten to do a hunt like this. It was without doubt a great time for all involved.

[bearpaw]

We have had some great hunts so far this week, we've been into shooting range of more than 25 legal birds the last 3 days. My last hunter and I had some really great hunts.

Two mornings ago I called and got an immediate answer, we quickly put on our gloves and head nets, then I called again, the birds gobbled back and had already cut the distance in half, we quickly sat down and I called a few more times, the birds sounded like we should be able to see them anytime. Suddenly one bird comes into view on the right and pauses for a strut but he's not clear for a shot, I called again and he dropped his tail and came almost straight for us as I heard another bird gobble to our left. The bird on the right came through some brush but there simply was not a good clear shot, suddenly he emerged into an open spot only about 15 yards in front of us, whammo, as the bird flies off I whispered "you missed, quick, turn left and stay still", I called a couple more times, suddenly the 2nd bird stepped out at 30 yards less than a minute from the last shot, I whispered "take him when you can", whammo, bird down. We took pictures and then headed for Willow creek Taxidermy. John weighed the bird, a 15 pound two year old. Not real heavy but he was in perfect condition, had an 8 1/2 beard, and was the guy's first bird, it's getting mounted in full strut. I love it when a plan comes together.

[bearpaw]

That evening we roosted two toms and some jakes. The next morning we moved in and set up waiting for our game plan to play out. Unfortunately while the birds were still 60 yards out the wind changed and two does winded us and started blowing. The two closest jakes who were only about 30 yards started to run as the does took off snorting. I whispered to my hunter that he better stand up and shoot before they all took off. We jumped up as fast as we could with legs that were asleep, there was more birds than we had seen, which one should we shoot, with 15 or so jakes I was quickly scanning, the jakes were closer but the big tom was still strutting at about 60 yards I said "take the big strutter". It was a long shot but the tom dropped and started flopping down hill, just to be safe I said shoot him again, reload, and run toward him. We got to the bird and took photos then headed for Willow Creek Taxidermy again. This bird weighed 19.5 pounds, 9 inch beard with 1 1/8 spurs. He is having a fan mount done to go with the life size mount of his first bird. Another great hunt!

[ghosthunter]

We have had some great hunts so far this week, we've been into shooting range of more than 25 legal birds the last 3 days. My last hunter and I had some really great hunts.

Two mornings ago I called and got an immediate answer, we quickly put on our gloves and head nets, then I called again, the birds gobbled back and had already cut the distance in half, we quickly sat down and I called a few more times, the birds sounded like we should be able to see them anytime. Suddenly one bird comes into view on the right and pauses for a strut but he's not clear for a shot, I called again and he dropped his tail and came almost straight for us as I heard another bird gobble to our left. The bird on the right came through some brush but there simply was not a good clear shot, suddenly he emerged into an open spot only about 15 yards in front of us, whammo, as the bird flies off I whispered "you missed, quick, turn left and stay still", I called a couple more times, suddenly the 2nd bird stepped out at 30 yards less than a minute from the last shot, I whispered "take him when you can", whammo, bird down. We took pictures and then headed for Willow creek Taxidermy. John weighed the bird, a 15 pound two year old. Not real heavy but he was in perfect condition, had an 8 1/2 beard, and was the guy's first bird, it's getting mounted in full strut. I love it when a plan comes together.

That was my turn coat hunting partner. We hunted LPO last week. He missed a Jake. First time turkey hunting for him.

We came home and he booked a hunt with you. Got two birds with you.
He booked with you next year and wanted me to come. Nope not my thing.
I do not mind coming home empty handed.
When I get my first bird it will be because I located it, set up on it, called it and killed it.

He had nothing but good things to say about your operation.
Now I am looking for another Turkey hunting partner. You ruined this one.

[bearpaw]

We have had some great hunts so far this week, we've been into shooting range of more than 25 legal birds the last 3 days. My last hunter and I had some really great hunts.

Two mornings ago I called and got an immediate answer, we quickly put on our gloves and head nets, then I called again, the birds gobbled back and had already cut the distance in half, we quickly sat down and I called a few more times, the birds sounded like we should be able to see them anytime. Suddenly one bird comes into view on the right and pauses for a strut but he's not clear for a shot, I called again and he dropped his tail and came almost straight for us as I heard another bird gobble to our left. The bird on the right came through some brush but there simply was not a good clear shot, suddenly he emerged into an open spot only about 15 yards in front of us, whammo, as the bird flies off I whispered "you missed, quick, turn left and stay still", I called a couple more times, suddenly the 2nd bird stepped out at 30 yards less than a minute from the last shot, I whispered "take him when you can", whammo, bird down. We took pictures and then headed for Willow creek Taxidermy. John weighed the bird, a 15 pound two year old. Not real heavy but he was in perfect condition, had an 8 1/2 beard, and was the guy's first bird, it's getting mounted in full strut. I love it when a plan comes together.

That was my turn coat hunting partner. We hunted LPO last week. He missed a Jake. First time turkey hunting for him.

We came home and he booked a hunt with you. Got two birds with you.
He booked with you next year and wanted me to come. Nope not my thing.
I do not mind coming home empty handed.
When I get my first bird it will be because I located it, set up on it, called it and killed it.

He had nothing but good things to say about your operation.
Now I am looking for another Turkey hunting partner. You ruined this one.

I want you to know that during the 3 days he hunted here he bragged about his good hunting friend who he says is the best hunter he knows. Yes that's right, every day he bragged about how great of person you are and how good of hunter you are. He's still the same guy he was before he came here and he still has the same respect for you, it would be sad for you to throw that away. Something to consider! 

[bearpaw]

Yesterday Guide Ray hunted with Neil and his 14 year old son Jaden. Dad brought Jaden over for the hunt, getting Jaden a bird was the only focus of the trip, good job Dad! Ray had roosted birds the night before and the first thing in the morning the trio sacked up a jake for Jaden, his first ever bird. Congrats to Jaden on a one shot kill.

In the afternoon they hunted another property and heard some birds and watched some birds go to roost, but no success that afternoon. This morning Ray went to another property with the birds that I had seen the day before where my hunter killed the 9 inch bird. They worked in toward the roost to set up but were busted by another bird on the roost that we didn't know about, the bird started putting, so they set up where they were. The bird eventually quieted down, but when the birds came off the roost they all flew to the other side of the canyon.

The guys had heard another bird down the canyon and that bird was working his way up the canyon to the other birds across the canyon. With no other choice Ray attempted calling the birds back. The other bird from down the canyon would gobble every so often as he worked his way up to the other birds, but the other birds were not coming. Ray figured he was wasting time but called a few more times anyway. Suddenly the other bird which had been down canyon had reached the other group of birds, he suddenly takes to wing and flies across the canyon and lands 5 yards from Ray. The trio said that bird sounded like a B-52 coming in barely over their heads. As the bird landed he had obviously seen the hunter's surprised reaction and immediately took off running, Ray told Jaden to shoot, Jaden was facing the wrong way right behind Ray toward where they had hoped birds would come. Jaden jumped up, turned around, took careful aim at the big running gobbler and dropped him with one shot at about 30 yards. That was some awesome shooting for a 14 year old boy on his first turkey hunting trip. Congrats to Jaden, another addicted turkey hunter for life, and congrats to Neil for bringing Jaden on a guided hunting trip, what a great dad! 

18 pounds, 9 1/2" beard, 3/4 and 7/8 spurs.

Can't wait to see you guys again for the youth deer hunt. 

(will try to upload pics from my phone)

first bird

[bearpaw]

Neil and Jaden, 2nd bird.

[bearpaw]

The pack out....