Frozen ground made for easy driving. We knew temps would rise and conditions would change, but thoughts of mud, chains and spending the night were shoved to the back of our minds. Instead we hunted. Side hilling steep faces, post holing through snow on north facing slopes. following the noses of our dogs. As the sun, Read More
Staying comfortable outdoors is difficult in wet, soak you to the bone, conditions. Think early season snow storms while elk hunting or non stop rain while chasing steelhead. Weather you are out for multiple days or just trying to get warm midday, lighting the stove to make a hot drink or starting a fire to, Read More
Coffee coursed through my veins. My trap was running well above the speed limit. “SHEEP” yelled my buddy from the passenger seat, just in time for me to step on the breaks and avoid a ewe and lamb big horn crossing the highway. It was an unusual sighting, but that hardly registered at the, Read More
My heart sank. Three shots, three hit birds, none in the bag. It’s called hunting for a reason. Do it long enough and things don’t always go right. Good dogs, responsible shooting, and practice mitigate lost or crippled birds. Normally, in a given season I might lose a couple, but this was entirely new, Read More
Years ago I read an account of a contemporary deer hunt in Gray’s Sporting Journal in which the author, after making the kill, swore to the animal that he wouldn’t waste any part of her. “Not one ounce,” he wrote. I don’t remember much else about the story, but that piece has stuck with, Read More
This is supposed to be a story about an elk hunt – a chronicle of scouting, spying and scrapping all fall; a tale of braving the elements, rugged terrain and early morning dark for a chance at a chance. There should be tracks in the snow and fateful first glimpses, stalking, crawling, held breath, Read More
It isn’t South Dakota. Grease wood at eye level impedes all progress. Russian olives pierce through layers of clothing, and they are out for blood. It’s tough country not traditionally suited for pheasants. Roosters take on the character of their surroundings – tough, wily, birds with well developed legs, that loathe to fly. They relish in mocking, Read More
Kids are in the back seat, headphones on, watching a new National Geographic DVD. Under the seat is a 12 gauge and six weight. Interspersed throughout the cab are stuffed animals, a fuzzy pink blanket, tripod, binoculars, sippy cups, and a soft sided cooler with enough snacks to feed a small army. Confined in the, Read More
The question was simple enough. “What’s on your bucket list, for places to travel?” It threw me off completely. I’m game for going almost anywhere. I want to go everywhere. The list of places to explore in my back yard is extensive. Looking farther afield it all sounds great. GT’s in the Seychelles, Permit, Read More
“Dada, Dada did you get a elk?” called my four year old from the front door as I slid from the pickup into the icy, floodlit driveway. I used to greet my Dad in much the same way, I realized, when he returned from a business trip, hoping he’d brought me a toy or, Read More