Bearpaw Fall 2010 Season

[NRA4LIFE]

Where are the buffalo hunts?  Are they considered fair chase?

[bearpaw]

Where are the buffalo hunts?  Are they considered fair chase?

The buffalo ranch is northeast of Billings Montana

As with all hunting it depends on who you talk to. By B&C or P&Y standards no, this buffalo hunt is not fair chase. By SCI standards it is fair chase. They are privately owned on 12,000+ acres, no high fence, but with a standard cow fence that they could jump or run through if they wanted at any time. We will go out in the morning and we are going to find them and shoot one. As long as we are careful and take our time we will get within 50 yards. I have actually been closer to totally wild yellowstone buffalo than I can get to these bison on the ranch and so I consider the buffalo that migrate out of the park and get hunted to be less fair chase and wild than these.

You can have a fun vacation, kill an animal, and fill your freezer with healthy eating meat. Most people refer to it as more of a shoot than a hunt, I figure it's much better than buying beef that someone else kills for you.  

[bearpaw]

Just waiting for Dale to okay me a date and we are off Rasbo. Hope to get some good pictures it looks like Dale has been busy and things are hitting the ground.

buckhorn2 I have you scheduled for Nov 2 as we last talked.

[bearpaw]

I am up late working on the computer and just heard the bull bugle in the front lawn of the lodge again, I opened the door to the balcony and sure enough about a dozen cows and a 6x6 bull less than 30 yards. He's here every night after 10pm.

We started our Idaho mule deer hunts yesterday. It wasn't a very good day, collectively we saw 96 does and only 9 bucks, a 3x3 that was missed was the biggest buck seen yesterday.

Today was a much better day. About 15 bucks spotted, two 4x4's passed by a hunter who has killed several anmals with us and is looking for a B&C, a 3x3 killed, a 2x3 killed, and another buck wounded that got away unfortuntately. This morning Brian had two bull elk bugling, can't wait for elk season to start in 3 more days. Another 5x5 bull spotted and another fresh wallow found.

Ray is after the big buck from last year that he figured was way over 30". He has it located, fresh rubs, wide trail worn through brush by wide horns, fresh beds, Ray is like a coyote on a blood trail, we may get this buck this year.

Tomorrow afternoon I am hoping I can break away for a day, I have a hunter doing a quality Utah private ranch elk hunt, would love to be there to video the kill. Last year every hunter killed a 280 to 340 bull, that pretty good for elk hunting in an over-the-counter tag area.

[bearpaw]

Congrats to Mike, he is an Iraqi war veteran, was shot in action by a sniper, was decorated with a purple heart, he's recovered and back at work, now he's home on leave, he's on American soil, and the buck isn't a big one, but Mike is happy. Congrats my friend on a successful hunt, it was a pleasure to serve you! THANKS for your sacrifice while serving your country.

[gasman]

The smile on his face say's it all................

[Machias]

That is AWESOME!!!

[saylean]

Mike, you deserve a record book buck. I guess the debt of thanks from the American people will have to do. That, and that fine buck.

Welcome back, thanks for your service.

[ribka]

Congrats Mike and thank you for your service .

 Nice buck. Should be some good eating!

[bearpaw]

Two 25" and one 26" mulies taken yesterday in Idaho. It was a great day of hunting, shown is Hunt-WA member WSMNut with his awesome 25", Josh from Virginia with his tall 25", and John from Virginia with his wide 26" mule deer. So far this group of 8 has taken 5 bucks, missed four bucks, and passed many others, only two hunters have not shot, but we are seeing bucks daily so its just a matter of time.

Ray "WSMNut's guide" has been after a huge 30+ buck for two years now, Ray has the buck pretty well patterned, yesterday Ray posted WSMNut and his wife in the bedding zone of the big 30"+, WSMNut was sitting there and a spike come walking right up to him with a bigger buck following. When the spike was out of the way, WSMNut had a 15 yard shot on his 25" buck. That must have been exciting. Today they are back in the same area with WSMNut's wife trying to get the 30+, my fingers are crossed.

One of the other hunters "Dave" missed a buck the other day. This morning he missed two more nice bucks so they came in at lunch to check the gun, sure enough it was hitting way low, he said he had fallen the other day and he didn't realize his gun must have hit the ground. Hopefully he sees another good buck before the hunt is over.

WSMNut is the top photo.  (sorry all I have available at this time is the blurred photo)

[whacker1]

some deep forks in those bad boys.  keep up the good work - we want to see the 30 incher.

[Pathfinder101]

Holy Cow!  Knockin' em down in Idaho Bearpaw!  Congrats to all your hunters!

now he's home on leave, he's on American soil, and the buck isn't a big one, but Mike is happy.

No better feeling in the world.  Congrats Mike!

[bearpaw]

Mrs Nut (WSMNUt that is) smacked the biggest buck of the hunt this last morning of the first Idaho hunt. This was her FIRST BUCK, I am so happy for her and hubby, they killed a pair of dandy bucks. She stuck it out till the last day, Ray said they were sneaking into the big buck hideout he's been hunting and suddenly all he could see was a small sage field full of bucks, seven of them total, one bigger buck, 3 the size of the one she shot and some smaller bucks, Ray said it was "The Field Of Dreams". Kris settle onto the tripod and put the smack on this dandy. Ray calls him "The Field Of Dreams Buck".

A total of four big bucks taken, two more nice bucks taken, four bucks missed, numerous bucks passed, and a giant buck spotted that got away yesterday for the next group to look for, all on our first Idaho Mule Deer hunt of 2010. It was a heck of a hunt, one of the best in a long time, I love it when a plan comes together.

[Gringo31]

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome....

I can imagine THAT is what helps make an outfitter keep going.  Well done!

[Machias]