Bearpaw Season - Spring 2014

[bearpaw]

Mike Bags Two Birds
Our next hunter "Mike" had never taken a turkey. Mike dropped a double bearded Jake on the first day. Second day he saw a couple toms but they didn't get them and the day ended up a bust. On day three Mike saw a couple toms but couldn't get the shot. Finally on the evening of the third day a group of 12 jakes came within shooting range and Mike sacked up another Jake. Great shooting Mike, hope to see you again soon.

[bearpaw]

Morning Gobbler
Alex arrived yesterday afternoon and we nearly got a bird last night but we knew right where that bird roosted so we set up before daylight this morning. The bird was gobbling loudly on the roost but went off the roost away from us. I called hard and it sounded like he came back our way but then moved away down the canyon. As he sounded farther away I decided we better move and so we moved about 100 yards to a new position. I called and nothing. Suddenly he gobbles and he is right over where we had just moved from. Oh nuts, who's great idea was it to move! 

I had no choice but to try and call him from that spot to our new setup so I started calling and I called and I called, that bugger really liked our first set up and was expecting us to come to him. Finally he moved off the ridge back into the canyon and away from us. His last gobble was going farther away so we moved around, relieved ourselves, and got comfortable again.

I heard another distant gobble and decided to call hard again. I give it to him loud and hard, again and again. Nothing, he wouldn't reply back. So we waited and waited, finally I saw his head poke up about 45 to 50 yards away. Then he moved up where we could see his whole body but wouldn't come any closer. I give him a little soft enticing sounds but still he stayed his distance, I was getting as nervous as the pacing bird that was going back and forth in little circles, I was afraid the bird was going to split so I told Alex to take him. Alex pulled up, the bird saw the movement and stretched his neck up trying to see us and Alex mowed him over, whammo, big bird down at 40-45 yards. He's not too heavy about 16 pounds or so, but 9" beard and about 7/8 spurs, missing a tail feather but other than that a beautiful bird. Congrats to Alex on great patience and a fine shot. 

We are having some coffee then going to see what else is stirring in the bush. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Good work!

[jackelope]

Congrats to Alex. Heck of a nice guy.

[bearpaw]

Hunter Gets Skunked
Well we've had a pretty good run on birds for our hunters but yesterday we had a hunter leave with no bird. Justin's time was limited to 1 1/2 days of hunting, he did pass some jakes and did get a shot at a bearded hen, but we couldn't find a mature tom and he simply had to get back to home and work. I asked him to come back for another weekend but it sounds like that will be tough for him to do. Hope to see you next year Justin. 

Afternoon Hunt A Bust
Alex hunted again yesterday afternoon and last night but it was a bust, we saw some hens but I couldn't find any birds that wanted to gobble so in the evening we set up to intercept some birds on their way to the roost, but I chose the wrong spot to sit and the next thing we know they had gone to roost behind us. Because they are roosted right next to another property and I expected them to fly off the roost onto the other property in the morning we will wait and try to go after them again this evening.

Four (4) More Cougars
This morning we tried to find a gobble but the only gobble we heard was on a neighboring property that we can't hunt. I decided the next best thing was to sit and watch one of the fields where we have been seeing birds. Alex and Daniel are sitting there right now, they saw two toms at 70 yards a while ago but the birds went the wrong way and the guys couldn't get a shot. I just got another text, 4 cougars came through the edge of the food plot, yes, 4 cougars! Daniel says he has them on video! That's the first cougars Alex has ever seen. That's 7 cougars we have seen in the last 1 1/2 weeks. 

[quadrafire]

Did you have any spring bear hunters?
I may have missed it.

[bearpaw]

Did you have any spring bear hunters?
I may have missed it.

I have an unguided bear hunter who just started hunting yesterday. Also have a guided hunter coming later in the season and I have a tag myself. 

[bearpaw]

Yesterday Afternoon No Luck
In the afternoon guide Daniel and Alex went to set up on the birds that roosted behind us the night before. Unfortunately the birds were in a different location and the guys got busted getting into position and the birds flew off the property. Daniel opted to go to another property which nearly paid off, they saw a flock of jakes and two mature toms and roosted them for the morning.

Alex's Second Bird
Last night we talked about the possible options and Daniel decided to go after the two toms that were out of range yesterday morning. He moved the location of the blind a little and they got into position early. They saw some other birds and then Alex said there's a jake, Daniel took a second look and said it's a tom. Alex carefully moved his gun into position and tipped over turkeyrex with one well placed shot. We took photos, weighed and measured the bird, 19 pounds, 1 1/4 spurs, 9 3/4 beard. Congrats on an excellent bird Alex. 

[quadrafire]

How's the Northeast Tick population this year Dale?

[bearpaw]

How's the Northeast Tick population this year Dale?

Out of all the hunting we've done we have only found 1 tick so far, usually found dozens by now, hardly seems to be any around where we've been hunting. 

[RadSav]

How's the Northeast Tick population this year Dale?

Out of all the hunting we've done we have only found 1 tick so far, usually found dozens by now, hardly seems to be any around where we've been hunting. 

Now you've done it!!!  JINX

[jackelope]

1 tick in 4 days is all we saw too... I was shocked.


Congrats to Alex again. That's a great bird. I wonder....is he making a trip back over to John's with that one too?

[quadrafire]

How's the Northeast Tick population this year Dale?

Out of all the hunting we've done we have only found 1 tick so far, usually found dozens by now, hardly seems to be any around where we've been hunting. 

Thats good.
I've literally been into nests of them up there turkey hunting, years past

[bearpaw]

1 tick in 4 days is all we saw too... I was shocked.


Congrats to Alex again. That's a great bird. I wonder....is he making a trip back over to John's with that one too?

I think he is having John do something with the beards and the spurs from both birds. Alex could explain better. 

[tarbabyone]

Well last year John of Willow Creek did a full mount of my first bird and a tail mount with spurs and beard for my second bird.  He is a nice guy and he does great work.  The wife let me put the stuffed one up stairs.  This year we cut the spurs off of the birds along with the beards.  John is going to treat them for me and send them to me.  I am thinking of mounting them on a board to display them.  Dale and Daniel sure gave me a great hunt.  As good or better as last year.  They worked from before dawn until after dark working on trying to put me on birds.  They were successful.  Need to say that Tara (Dale's wife) did a great job with the home cooked meals.  Nice to have a warm breakfast and great dinner.  I will come back for sure.  Would like to see my wife and younger son take a bird.  Daniel did some video taping on this trip and Dale put them on my chip for me.  Neat to watch the birds work the field and the next day we got a Tom from there.  We also got to see a mother cougar and her three year and a half cubs at a distance.  I had never see them in the wild before.  Beautiful at a distance.  Jackalope, it was fun meeting you and your hunting partner at camp this year.