Bearpaw Season - Spring 2015

[bearpaw]

We started another bear hunt but the weather cooled off and got rainy so I sent the hunter home until next week. I'm stuck with catching up on paperwork and other details until the next hunt. 

Just got this 5 acre food plot planted last week between hunts and the recent rain should really get things sprouting, 1.5 acres of clovers, 1.5 acres sainfoin, and 2 acres reserved for winter wheat in August. Should be some killer hunting (pun intended) come fall and next spring.

[Gringo31]

You're farming now Dale?   

[bearpaw]

You're farming now Dale?   

I didn't grow up farming so that has been a learning experience. 

This is my (hobby) tractor and disc, I don't have a drill (wished I had a small one), my atv seeder is broke and there are none for sale in town and there wasn't time to order one so I walked everything with a hand held lawn seeder and then drug the seed in, but it seems to be sprouting and growing OK! 

[Duffer]

That is gonna be a HOT SPOT this fall 

[BOWHUNTER45]

That is gonna be a HOT SPOT this fall 

You think ? 

[bearpaw]

We had another bear hunter arrive last night. Derrick started hunting today with Daniel, they had a great day, they saw deer, elk, a cow moose with 2 calves and 3 bear, the last and best bear they dropped and to top it off they made it back just in time for a steak dinner tonight! I love it when a plan comes together!

Eight days of bear hunting and 4 bear down! 

Congrats to Derrick on a great shot and a nice boar! 

[KFhunter]

You're farming now Dale?   

I didn't grow up farming so that has been a learning experience. 

This is my (hobby) tractor and disc, I don't have a drill (wished I had a small one), my atv seeder is broke and there are none for sale in town and there wasn't time to order one so I walked everything with a hand held lawn seeder and then drug the seed in, but it seems to be sprouting and growing OK! 

All I use is a cone spreader Dale,  seed and fertilize just about everything with it.

I seeded oats then alfalfa over top and got a huge crop of oat hay and this year I've got a really nice looking stand of alfalfa 
all cone spreader planted.  I use a drag made of light horse fence for alfalfa, and heavier spike tooth for seed like oats.

[bearpaw]

You're farming now Dale?   

I didn't grow up farming so that has been a learning experience. 

This is my (hobby) tractor and disc, I don't have a drill (wished I had a small one), my atv seeder is broke and there are none for sale in town and there wasn't time to order one so I walked everything with a hand held lawn seeder and then drug the seed in, but it seems to be sprouting and growing OK! 

All I use is a cone spreader Dale,  seed and fertilize just about everything with it.

I seeded oats then alfalfa over top and got a huge crop of oat hay and this year I've got a really nice looking stand of alfalfa 
all cone spreader planted.  I use a drag made of light horse fence for alfalfa, and heavier spike tooth for seed like oats.

I don't know what a cone spreader is?

We use an ATV with a section of spike harrow to drag in large seed or a piece of horse fence for fine seed. I been reading and think I might try planting some winter rye grain this fall to compare it to the winter wheat, 1 acre of each. Supposedly the rye releases chemicals in the soil that discourages weeds and the deer are supposed to like rye too, so I might have to give it a try next to the wheat as a fair comparison. I might mix both grains with some oats and clover that will provide extra nutrients for the grain to grow the following spring. This food plotting is actually quite interesting and a lot of fun.

[KFhunter]

hooks on the back of your tractor

http://www.cabelas.com/product/King-Kutter-S-Cone-Spreader/1332699.uts


winter wheat you can plant in the fall before first frost and till it under in the spring to build soil.  Peas, vetch, alfalfa make their own nitrogen from the air (leghumes)  good soil builders. 

[Jonathan_S]

a cow moose with 2 calves

Sounds like a great day Dale.  Show me where that cow moose is.  I'd like to go and provide some on site security for those calves 

Seriously though, I am seeing very few moose calves this year 

[bearpaw]

a cow moose with 2 calves

Sounds like a great day Dale.  Show me where that cow moose is.  I'd like to go and provide some on site security for those calves 

Seriously though, I am seeing very few moose calves this year 

These calves were freshly born and could hardly stand, the predators haven't had a chance to eat them yet. We too have noticed a lack of calves from last year, lots of cows with no calves. I also saw a yearling calf with no mother, I wondered if predators got the cow?

I've been watching tracks pretty close, seen more wolf tracks than ever this year, lots of lion tracks and coyotes all over the place too. Bear numbers seem high as well, we've had no trouble filling spring bear tags. This morning we saw the first cougar of the year, it crossed the road on the way out hunting.

[bearpaw]

Today was another great day, more wildlife spotted including a cougar crossing the road, and this afternoon Gary connected with a nice color phase boar. Gary held for the shoulder but accidentally hit the head, so the pictures aren't the best. At first look you can see this bear has some age, his teeth were worn down too, the premolar was almost smooth with his gums. I would guess he's 10-15 years old. He's about 200 pounds, a little shy of being a 6 footer, but a real nice bear with good thick fur. Congrats Gary!

[Twispriver]

Short tracking job on that one    Great job all

[bearpaw]

All 5 of our bear hunters are filled out now in 10 days of hunting. We would gladly do a couple more bear hunts if anyone has a tag and not having any luck. We offer a 5 day hunt for $1950 and you can break the days up if needed to fit your schedule. I also offer a guaranteed hunt for $2550, but to be honest why spend the extra money, we have been 100% at putting our guided spring bear hunters on bear every year.

[bearpaw]

I have a group of turkey hunters from Alabama who just started hunting this morning. One gobbler came in within 100 yards but then got nervous and took off, he just didn't want to play ball. Another gobbler was sounding off before leaving the roost but shut up on the ground. Jared and Cantrell left him and looked for another bird, they came back to the same area later and the bird answered, this time the bird got fired up and came in on a string, textbook style, Cantrell nailed him with one well placed shot at 40 yards. Her first western bird! 

The tom had a decent beard and spurs but unfortunately something had ripped out all the tom's tail feathers, about 6 half grown tail feathers is all this 2 year old bird had. Nonetheless Cantrell was happy to get her first bird down!