Butte Meadows Bucks!!!!

Well another C4 Deer season has come and gone. And what a season it was. We had brought 6 tags into the Stronghold this year and we all had some high hopes after a mediocre year last year. The great hunters this year included Brian Russel, Jim Strong, Gary Davis, Chad (me), and guest appearances from Malinda Russel, and Will Murphy.

Upon opening day there were many deer seen by all except Gary. Will and I gave the Doe Hill at the transfer a hard try with the few blinds that were built there. We saw a lot of doe and fawns. On Sunday we saw 3 spikes. One of them had spikes at least a foot high. This began to be a common theme throughout the rest of the season.

It seemed that every day that we would go out and then there would be another set of spikes running by. By the end of the season we probably saw over 25 spikes.

The First tag was filled by our first guest star "Malinda" with a cute little forky we call Skippy! In week 2 Gary filled his tag with a good looking 3 point that was running with a monster. Monster is still a monster because he is still running. The 3 point stopped. End of story. In the final week Brian filled his tag. With a Pretty good looking Buck much better than the first shot by "Malinda". Then came Sunday...The big day. It has been a long time since a Buck like this one has been taken. An absolute Monster stepped out on the side of doe hill and Gary happened to have his jeep there. The Stronghold once again had an absolute monster buck hanging!

So 4 out of 6 tags filled...Pretty good. Especially for California! Next year is only going to be better. We are hoping that all those spikes will grow an extra point or 3 for next season.

2008-09' Waterfowl Season is Here!!!

Well it is finally back. The duck season is upon us! Those that know me best know that one of my favorite things to do in life is to get up at 3 AM drive 45 minutes to stand in line for a half an hour to race out to get the best place to stand waste deep in freezing cold water all the while throwing plastic representations of waterfowl all around me and then blow through a plastic tube making farting noises trying to fool some sort of duck into thinking that the two flatulent noises coming from those weeds are others of its kind and he should come on down and party with the rest of em'. Needless to say I love it!

So Sunday October 19th was our big day for the new season. Will Murphy and I loaded up the decoys and Jakers the Black lab in the truck and began the trip to Gray Lodge. Being that it is opening weekend we new that it was going to be very crowded. We wound up getting numbers 194 and 195 I would assume that we were close to the 350th or so persons let out on the refuge. This was going to be a little tight. We went out to parking lot 7 and proceeded to head north on the refuge. Although there were 3 or 4 groups near us we were able to settle into a decent spot. The early morning shoot came a little early. I think that the hunters surrounding us watches might have been a little fast! The flight was not that great but there were birds in the air! Jakers (the black lab) was getting so anxious to get out and get something. All those gun shots around us usually meant work to be done. He held is ground and finally was rewarded.

Our First bird came in and we dropped him with one shot! Now it was Jakers turn to shine. Since this was Jakers first bird I wasn't expecting much. I was surprised that with only a little direction he picked up that first duck and brought it right back to the blind and dropped it right there. He was ready for more. I only wish we were too.

A short time later another set of ducks came in. We missed. Jakers was beginning to become very aware of the birds flying around him. He's got it!

Will later dropped another and gave Jakers a chance to do a blind retrieve in the weeds. It took awhile, and more direction, but he eventually found that duck too!

I think we all learned a lot on this trip. We got a chance to learn some new spots...as well as new tactics with the dog. As far as Jakers goes, it was a great step to his new role as a hunting dog! Now we owe it to him not to miss so much.