Little Hawk
10-14-2008, 08:46 AM
Howdy,
Well I made it back from another annual fall sabbatical chasing wild-things around in wild-places. Home four days now and all I have to show for it is a skinnier bank-account, a still sore left foot, and some wonderful images of spectacular fall-colours ingrained in my head that will surely serve to keep my heart warm through the winter.
Week One: Princeton
My buddy (a.k.a. - Rocky-Ray) and I (a.k.a. - Tracker-Ter... I xspect' you've heard of us...) hooked up with an old friend I've not seen for many years to hunt with him and his (long-time) hunting partner just north of Princeton for the first week. These two (Newfoundland) boys are veteran 'Road-hunter's' for the most part and we had an absolute blast sharing a camp with them. Here's camp located on the back side of Rampart Lake. The two Newfie's crashed in the small trailer while Rocky & I shared the old Mo-Ho. (What can I say... us old cowboys just like to rough it.)
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008009.jpgFrom the outset it was clear that the weather might be an issue (75-degrees! WTF?)...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008022.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008019.jpg
As a foot-note to the butterfly pic (okay-okay, lighten-up, I took it for my Daughter) the place was rancid with bugs! The worst were these 3/4-inch or so long beetle-tick things that took a fancy to starting a breeding colony on the rocks around our fire. At first I was fascinated watching the little peckers interacting with each other (okay... banging each other senseless) then I became concerned when they started attacking me (and only me!) every time I went near the fire. Fortunately for me, this beetle-attack phenomenon only lasted two days and I haven't as yet discovered any additional holes in me where there shouldn't be any.
Our two Newfie pals cooked us up a storm the first night: Roast Llama w/salt-beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage. Took both of them to carry me off to bed I was so full; half-quart of Wieser's didn't help either. I responded in kind two nights later by spinning (yes, on a rotisserie) a football-sized center cut pork roast that left the both of them suitably impressed and many pounds heavier.
With the weather being way too hot and the bush way too noisy, Rocky & I spent way too much time riding our bikes riding as much as 120/kms of logging roads in a single day. I'm still walkin'-funny (Brokebutt?) today. For us, game was virtually absent. Fortunately the two Newfie's nailed a spike and a 4-point for their trouble. Sorry I don't have pics. We rendevoued with them at Mizzula Lk for lunch one day. Beautiful spot...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008027.jpgOn this trip I finally remembered to bring my old slingshot for grouse. I scored a great deal on several hundred marbles and figured any grouse I ran into under 30-yards was 'In the Pot'. As footnote: with this setup I once silenced an older Honda Civic belching out 'Whole Lotta' Love' at 3-AM by taking out the rear side window at over 40-yds... much to the chagrin of the two pot-smokin' assholes in the front seat.
Got to test it out finally on a grouse at less than 25-ft. There he is perched above me giving me that dumb bobbing-head thing. I lets fly at full-pull and nail the little pecker broadside only to watch the marble bounce off. Mouth agape, I reload while he merely jumps to another branch. I let fly again; deflection off a branch; miss. Let fly again - BOOM! - another direct hit broadside... he responds by flying away? Thereafter, slingshot stayed in camp.
Week two: East Kootenay's (south of Fairmont)
After saying goodbye to our two great Newfie' friends, Rocky and I headed off for our usual spot in the EK where I was determined (this would be my sixth attempt) to kill my first Elk. We stopped in Kamloops at Wholesale Sports. God... that joint is the Wal Mart of huntin' & fishin'. Rocky got himself a new grouse-exterminator: 22' Marlin semi-auto/stainless w/compostite stock and a 3 X 9 scope. About $300. Not bad.
My other buddy owns 400/acres south of Fairmont Hot Springs and although he'd let us hunt his land previously I wasn't about to take it for granted. I called him up enroute and he promptly invited us to set up camp on the property. This was good news as there is usually lots of resident Elk and tons of Whitetails on and around the property.
We set up camp...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008045.jpg
The weather again proved to be a factor. Deer and elk where both absent from the property and as well, it seemed all the adjacent lands we hiked and rode.
Lucky for me I brought my full sub-zero Arctic tundra gear...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008034.jpg
Although I could have taken many more pics, I'm glad I had the camera along for the ones I did take. Hard to surpass the scenery in the Columbia Valley...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008041.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008042.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008046.jpg
Ah well, I've had better trips and still haven't shot my first Elk.
But that day will come... only 360 some more days to go!
Happy Huntin' to all!
Terry
Well I made it back from another annual fall sabbatical chasing wild-things around in wild-places. Home four days now and all I have to show for it is a skinnier bank-account, a still sore left foot, and some wonderful images of spectacular fall-colours ingrained in my head that will surely serve to keep my heart warm through the winter.
Week One: Princeton
My buddy (a.k.a. - Rocky-Ray) and I (a.k.a. - Tracker-Ter... I xspect' you've heard of us...) hooked up with an old friend I've not seen for many years to hunt with him and his (long-time) hunting partner just north of Princeton for the first week. These two (Newfoundland) boys are veteran 'Road-hunter's' for the most part and we had an absolute blast sharing a camp with them. Here's camp located on the back side of Rampart Lake. The two Newfie's crashed in the small trailer while Rocky & I shared the old Mo-Ho. (What can I say... us old cowboys just like to rough it.)
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008009.jpgFrom the outset it was clear that the weather might be an issue (75-degrees! WTF?)...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008022.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008019.jpg
As a foot-note to the butterfly pic (okay-okay, lighten-up, I took it for my Daughter) the place was rancid with bugs! The worst were these 3/4-inch or so long beetle-tick things that took a fancy to starting a breeding colony on the rocks around our fire. At first I was fascinated watching the little peckers interacting with each other (okay... banging each other senseless) then I became concerned when they started attacking me (and only me!) every time I went near the fire. Fortunately for me, this beetle-attack phenomenon only lasted two days and I haven't as yet discovered any additional holes in me where there shouldn't be any.
Our two Newfie pals cooked us up a storm the first night: Roast Llama w/salt-beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage. Took both of them to carry me off to bed I was so full; half-quart of Wieser's didn't help either. I responded in kind two nights later by spinning (yes, on a rotisserie) a football-sized center cut pork roast that left the both of them suitably impressed and many pounds heavier.
With the weather being way too hot and the bush way too noisy, Rocky & I spent way too much time riding our bikes riding as much as 120/kms of logging roads in a single day. I'm still walkin'-funny (Brokebutt?) today. For us, game was virtually absent. Fortunately the two Newfie's nailed a spike and a 4-point for their trouble. Sorry I don't have pics. We rendevoued with them at Mizzula Lk for lunch one day. Beautiful spot...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008027.jpgOn this trip I finally remembered to bring my old slingshot for grouse. I scored a great deal on several hundred marbles and figured any grouse I ran into under 30-yards was 'In the Pot'. As footnote: with this setup I once silenced an older Honda Civic belching out 'Whole Lotta' Love' at 3-AM by taking out the rear side window at over 40-yds... much to the chagrin of the two pot-smokin' assholes in the front seat.
Got to test it out finally on a grouse at less than 25-ft. There he is perched above me giving me that dumb bobbing-head thing. I lets fly at full-pull and nail the little pecker broadside only to watch the marble bounce off. Mouth agape, I reload while he merely jumps to another branch. I let fly again; deflection off a branch; miss. Let fly again - BOOM! - another direct hit broadside... he responds by flying away? Thereafter, slingshot stayed in camp.
Week two: East Kootenay's (south of Fairmont)
After saying goodbye to our two great Newfie' friends, Rocky and I headed off for our usual spot in the EK where I was determined (this would be my sixth attempt) to kill my first Elk. We stopped in Kamloops at Wholesale Sports. God... that joint is the Wal Mart of huntin' & fishin'. Rocky got himself a new grouse-exterminator: 22' Marlin semi-auto/stainless w/compostite stock and a 3 X 9 scope. About $300. Not bad.
My other buddy owns 400/acres south of Fairmont Hot Springs and although he'd let us hunt his land previously I wasn't about to take it for granted. I called him up enroute and he promptly invited us to set up camp on the property. This was good news as there is usually lots of resident Elk and tons of Whitetails on and around the property.
We set up camp...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008045.jpg
The weather again proved to be a factor. Deer and elk where both absent from the property and as well, it seemed all the adjacent lands we hiked and rode.
Lucky for me I brought my full sub-zero Arctic tundra gear...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008034.jpg
Although I could have taken many more pics, I'm glad I had the camera along for the ones I did take. Hard to surpass the scenery in the Columbia Valley...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008041.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008042.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w279/andy1canada/Hunting2008046.jpg
Ah well, I've had better trips and still haven't shot my first Elk.
But that day will come... only 360 some more days to go!
Happy Huntin' to all!
Terry