Rambling Angler Outdoors
Rambling Angler
Photo Ken McBroom
This issue wraps up our first year of publication and it has been great. The response has been positive for the Rambling Angler Outdoors magazine with many subscribers. Having my own magazine has beeen a dream of mine since I was a young man. Digital technology has opened up a feasible way for me to publish outdoor content and share the outdoor lifestyle with both seasoned outdoor enthusiast as well as those ready to begin a new and exciting lifestyle that the outdoors can provide. The outdoors is a way of life for many and as an outdoor communicator, sharing this lifestyle with others is what it’s all about. As a young man I talked about the outdoors adnauseam with anyone that would listen, just ask any of my co-workers over the years. Now those same co-workers have reached out to me to congratulate me not on the deer I’ve killed or the fish I’ve caught but for still, after so many years, living the life I love and sharing it with others.
I was introduced to the outdoors by my father and I can remember standing on the tailgate shooting my Jennings recurve alongside him as he prepared to go on a bow hunt. I was only 5 years old and I know this because my dad left when I was 5. My dad lit the fire and my mom thankfully kept it going until I left Nashville to live with my cousin and hunt and fish all I wanted to. Of course after the chores and work was done. As a kid I loved to read and I remember pretending to write in cursive before I knew how. I would fill every page, front and back, of a spiral notebook with squiggly lines pretending to pump out a novel in mere hours. Reading stayed with me but the writing bug would not reemerge until after high school and a war, while in a tent in Alaska. Reading John Gierach and Robert Service began to rekindle my desire to write and a chance meeting with John, realized years later, would spur it on. Be sure and read The Passing of an Inspiration on page 55.
I want to thank my contributors to this magazine for adding a different perspective than just my own. Here’s to 2024 Rambling Angler Outdoors, a dream come true. Thank You
Haddiebell a squirrel dog story
Haddiebell doing her thing. Photo Ken McBroom
Haddiebell was a squirrel dog. I met Haddiebell on a tailgate prior to a squirrel hunt and it was obvious she was all business. I wanted to pet Haddiebell and get to know her before heading into the woods, but she would have none of it. Her mind was on hunting as she watched the treetops nearby for a fleeing gray squirrel. I did mange a single lick and a look of acceptance before it was over and Justin Robertson, Haddiebell’s master, told me that was more than he expected her to give me.
After a big breakfast with the typical sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, big fluffy homemade biscuits with milk gravy like your momma made, we hit the woods. Haddiebell treed a squirrel right off. I still wonder if she spotted this squirrel back on the tailgate so she would be ready at the start. The squirrel was dispatched and Haddiebell retrieved it like she was trained so many years before and she quickly returned to hunting because that’s what a hunting dog does, and they love it.
This was just my second time hunting squirrels with a dog. I have always preferred still hunting or sitting in the woods quietly watching and listening for the flick of a tail or the rustling of leaves. As a kid my dad and I hunted quail and trained bird dogs. This is where my love of hunting dogs comes from and watching Haddiebell work those squirrels brought back many great memories of walking the hills and hollers of Lynchburg Tennessee watching our dogs work singles, after missing every bird on the rise.
Over the years I have stayed away from hunting squirrels with a dog. Not because I didn’t like to but because I was afraid that I would purchase a good squirrel dog for myself. My love for hunting dogs is still there from my youth and I know that watching one work diligently to tree a squirrel, and see the enthusiasm after a successful harvest, just might have me looking for my own. You see when it comes to a hunting dog there is more to it than the hunting.
Justin began training Haddiebell as a pup. The bond grew stronger as together they worked through the ups and downs of hunting with a pup learning what is expected of them. These ups and downs with Haddiebell along with time spent laying by a campfire or keeping her quiet the couple times she was sneaked into a motel room, all builds a relationship like no other. A hunting partner evolves, and a best friend is forged. This is the relationship that Justin had with Haddiebell and it was evident.
Justin told me about Haddiebell while standing there by the tailgate before breakfast. Haddiebell had beat cancer and had been cancer free for several years. She was tough and her demeanor showed it. Even through all the cancer treatments and the pain, her love for squirrel hunting never waned. Of course, this only made Justin’s love of his hunting partner stronger.
You could hear the relief in Justin’s voice as he told the story that Haddiebell was still with us and able to do what she loved. This story only made me respect Haddiebell even more. Not just for being a squirrel dog but for being a survivor.
The day went well as Haddiebell treed squirrels for a group of youth hunters, many who had never hunted before. Squirrels were harvested, stories were told, friends were made and smiles created on that hunt with Haddiebell, like so many other hunts she provided unselfishly. Her mission was to find a squirrel, tree it and offer a shot, the rest was up to you. There was no time for disdain when you missed or congratulations when you hit it was just on to the next squirrel for Haddiebell.
This hunt was a great one and might have rekindled that fear in me to get me a squirrel dog for myself. I would get me a squirrel dog if I wasn’t so busy with other things, but I have been known to do things I shouldn’t, that’s the fear part. I have always loved hunting dogs no matter what kind. Squirrel dogs like Haddiebell don’t fall from the sky. They are created through hard work, time in the woods and love. I think love might be the most important part of making a great hunting dog and Haddiebell had plenty of that over the years.
I got a call the other day from Justin. He told me that Haddiebell had a new cancer, and you could hear the optimism in Justin’s voice. “She’s going to beat this cancer like the other.” Justin told me he wanted to do one last hunt with Haddiebell and get some more photos of her doing her thing. We made plans to take Haddiebell hunting here in Kentucky this season. I looked forward to seeing Justin and Haddiebell for one last hunt and taking some photos.
Haddiebell was 11 years old, and Justin informed me that this would be her last hunt, and I felt honored to be a part of that. “Yep, after this hunt with you I’m hanging up her collar and retiring her to a life of relaxation,” Justin said. I knew and Justin agreed that the hunt needed to be an easy one for Haddiebell and I had just the place. Justin was driving to the vet with Haddiebell during this call so the worry was in the air, but Justin kept his optimistic outlook at the forefront. “Oh, she’ll beat this too like she did before,” Justin told me again with no doubt in his voice.
It was just a couple days later when I got the call. It was Justin and his voice told it all. “I’m going to have to put Haddiebell Bell down. She won’t be making it to Kentucky for one last hunt. She’s going to the big squirrel woods in the sky Ken.” My heart sank and I was speechless. I let Justin gather himself and he continued with nothing but great admiration for his hunting partner. I think he knew he could spill it all to me knowing I would understand his pain. It’s a pain like no other, tempered only by great memories and adventures.
I was in the woods hunting deer when I got a text from Justin that Haddiebell was gone. It was my birthday. While my time with Haddiebell was brief, I don’t think I will forget her. Hunting dogs like Haddiebell find a special place in a hunter’s heart that few people can truly understand, that is unless you had one for yourself. Rest in Peace Haddiebell 10/27/14 – 11/09/24
Haddiebell
Justin Robertson with a Haddiebell squirrel. - Ken McBroom
RUN & GUN SLING
Bill Cooper has published over 1,500 articles and hosted TV and radio shows over a half century as an outdoor communicator. Recognized on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives in 2016 for his career of promoting the outdoors, Bill has stood the test of time through his unwavering love of the outdoors.
Bill is also a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame and still going strong. We welcome his experiences and outdoor communicator skills to Rambling Angler Outdoors and look forward to all the remarkable stories and adventures ahead.
Bill Cooper
My Favorite Six Flies for Wintertime Trout Fishing
Winter is by far my favorite time to fish for trout. The crowds of summer are gone from our Ozark Streams, biting insects are nonexistent, the air is cool and fresh and the water cold and clear. To take a breath of cold, fresh air while wading a free flowing stream is an exercise in sensory overload. River smells are like no other. It’s trout that attracts me to this spectacular environ.
The metabolism of trout slows in colder weather. What this means for anglers is a flip from summertime fishing when trout are far more active. Cold weather anglers will need to slow down and work the slower, deeper hides. Trout become lazy this time of year in their natural efforts to conserve energy. You’d be wise to do the same. Get the weight right for your flies to get down deep. It becomes necessary to place your fly offering as near to the nose of a trout as possible. They are far less likely to chase flies during the cold weather months. Get the depth right, then it is a matter of offering the right fly.
Trout during the colder months concentrate on aquatic insects, primarily midges. Midges, baetis nymphs and micro worms are my
favorites. There are a million fly patterns on the market, but these six flies are common in my wintertime fly box.
Rainbow Warrior Midge
OK. Perhaps it is in the name. I have known a number of warriors who crossed the rainbow bridge. I never fish the Rainbow Warrior without thinking about those soldiers who made sacrifices in far away places. This brightly colored midge pattern will defiantly stand out in your mind and in the water. I like to fish this flashy nymph on very bright days. Lots of light penetrating the clear water of a trout stream will light up the blues, reds and silvers of the Rainbow Warrior like a neon sign.
Winter time trout feed heavily on the tiny nymph stages of aquatic insects. Use size #18-to-#22 Rainbow Warriors and enjoy the hits. I once caught dozens of chunky rainbows on a 300-yard stretch of pea gravel bank on Taneycomo Lake. The takes were so slight, it took me 10 minutes to figure it all out. Trout were spitting the fly out before I could set the hook. I thought some of the pauses were the fly ticking the bottom. Wrong. Every one was
a trout taking the fly…on virtually every cast.
Wooly Bugger
The Wooly Bugger is one of the most universal of fishing flies. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. I prefer a bead-head Wooly Bugger in sizes #6-to-#12 in brown, black, olive, or yellow. The larger flies represent everything from crayfish, sculpins and minnows. I use this common fly on dark, dreary days for brown trout. They often come out of the deeper runs to feed in shallow riffles on these dark days. Numerous
I have had good days fishing tan and white worms as well. Although plastic worms per se are prohibited in some areas of Missouri trout streams, San Juans and Cerise worms are legal.
Hot Head Soft Hackle Sow Bug
Equipped with a hot pink bead-head and a a pink soft hackle body, this is one of my favorite nymphs to fish in murky water. Sow Bugs are often called Cress Bugs and are vital in many trout streams, especially so in the famous White River in Arkansas. I catch both
times I’ve caught dozens of brown trout from the Meramec River on Wooly Buggers on the nastiest of days. An added bonus is that I never encounter other anglers on these grayest of days.
San Juan Worm
This small worm pattern works great as a bottom drop fly, with another fly pattern 12-to18-inches above it. I prefer San Juans with a gold bead-head to add a little flash. Red and pink in #12-to-#18 are my favorites, but
brown and rainbow trout on the Hot Head and prefer to fish sizes #14-to-#16 in deep pockets with moderate current. This scud, shrimp, and sow bug imitator has long held a top spot in my winter time fly box.
Hare’s Ear Nymph
The Hare’s Ear is a classic nymph that is one of the most common flies found in angler fly boxes. This attractor fly is not a replica of any aquatic insect. However, its wooly yarn body and a scraggly legged looking appendages and
My wintertime fly box ready for action. Bill Cooper
slight deer hair tail, with a thin orange collar, make it one of the buggiest-looking fly creations of all time. I generally add a tiny split shot to my leader to get the Hare’s Ear to the bottom. I high stick the drift to keep in contact with the fly. If I feel the slightest tick, I lift the rod high to set the hook. It takes a good deal of on the water experience to differentiate between the fly merely bumping bottom, or being picked up by a trout.
Soft Hackle Sulphur
This mayfly imitation has been a good producer for me every month of the year. Its buggy appearance and the swimming action of the soft hackle make it virtually irresistible to trout.
Winter is a great time to fly fish. Bill Cooper
Although the hackle and body material generally consists of mottled tan, brown and black material, I like to downsize this offering in the wintertime to a #22 or smaller in all black. The pattern then resembles a tiny, black swimming midge. At times it has proven deadly, eliciting strikes on almost every cast.
Wintertime trout fishing is a grand affair that can often be enjoyed in total solitude. As a bonus, the air is fresh, cold and clean. You can’t go wrong with these pristine settings. Pack a lunch, a small, hot thermos, and plenty of your favorite wintertime flies.
Nice brown trout fell for one of my favorite winter flies. Bill Cooper
News-Tips-Information
Savage Arms Now Offering Model 334 in Camo and New Calibers
“We are thrilled to introduce the Model 334 in Mossy Oak Terra Gila camo while also expanding the caliber options to include 30-06 Springfield and 270 Winchester to the 334 family,” said RJ Contorno, Senior Product Manager at Savage Arms. “These additions demonstrate our commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality firearms that deliver both performance and value.”
THE MINNER CRITTER STORY
On a trip to Mississippi I was paired with a legend in the crappie fishing and tournament scene Jerry Gross. In addition to Jerry being well known as a crappie angler he and his wife Debbie also gained crappie world recognition with their jig company Meat Getter Jigs. During our conversation on that day in Mississippi after photographing Jerry with his 3.29 pound crappie he caught while spider rigging on Lake Washington his jig company came up. READ MORE...
Here are some tips for hunting in the winter
Dress in layers: Wear a warm hat with ear coverage, neck gaiter, and gloves. A windproof vest can help keep your core warm without adding bulk.
Hand warmers: Put in your gloves, coat, and boots.
Stay warm from the inside: Bring a thermos of hot coffee, tea, or soup to warm up with. The calories in soup can help keep you warm for longer. You can also bring a lightweight stove to heat water for instant coffee or tea.
Avoid sweating: Sweating can cause you to lose up to 85% of your body heat.
The Hare's Ear Nymph is a classic fly fishing pattern with a long history that can be traced back to the early 1900s in England:
Origins
The exact origin of the GRHE is unknown, but it's believed to be a modification of the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear wet fly. Some say the pattern may date back to Izaak Walton's Compleat
Materials
The original GRHE was tied using natural materials, such as hare's mask fur, to create a lifelike appearance. Today, rabbit fur is more commonly used because it's easier to obtain.
Variations
The GRHE has many variations, including bead head, micro jig, and different color schemes.
Effectiveness
The GRHE is a versatile pattern that can be used in many conditions and is effective throughout the year. It's often used as a searching pattern when fishing in unfamiliar waters.
Fishing technique
The GRHE is typically fished on a dead drift, where it's cast upstream and allowed to drift with the current. It can be fished weighted or unweighted, and with or without a strike indicator.
Youth Hunters Check 10,449 Deer During Two-Day Firearms Season
Hunters ages 17 and younger checked 10,449 white-tailed deer during Ohio’s youth gun hunting season on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Each fall, youth hunters enjoy a weekend of deer hunting with a firearm before the statewide gun season begins.
The 1987 16 LB Tippet IGFA World Record
King Salmon Still Stands Today
On November 13, 1987, Bill Rhoades was fly fishing the Trask River, Oregon, when he landed this 28.57-kilogram (63-pound) Chinook salmon in 35 minutes after it struck a double egg pattern fly. With this fish, Bill set the IGFA Men’s 8-kg (16 lb) Tippet Class World Record, which still stands today.
Scout Now for Next Season
The season has ended and you’re sitting at home with nothing to do. A great cure for cabin fever is a late season scouting trip to your hunting area. Many hunters consider pre-season scouting as a week or two before the season opens but pre-season scouting can be as early as February or March. In my opinion the best time to scout is soon after the season closes and there are several advantages to this approach. My favorite reason to scout now is to get out of the house and into the woods.
I usually only hunt in November and by scouting in February or March I already know the trees I will be climbing when November rolls around and I can focus on fishing instead of trying to find a weekend to scout. I believe that the best reason for scouting this time of year is the fact that you’re not educating mature deer in your hunting area. Impacting your hunting area with human odor, even a month before the season, can alter the local deer population and its use of your hunting area, especially on public land. Here are a few things to look for and consider during your late season scouting trip.
LAY OF THE LAND
By February all the leaves have falling from the deciduous trees and the sign is very visible throughout the area. This is the time to just focus on the lay of the land and try to visualize the travel routes of the deer in your area. If you have hunted this area then you have an idea of the direction the deer come from or go to and now is the time to follow their trails and figure out where they went and why. It is always advantageous to know where the deer are bedding and where they are feeding. This allows you to select a tree in between and mark that tree on a map and study that map at home and mark wind directions for that tree so you know when to hunt it and when not to hunt it. Knowing the deer’s travel routes will allow you to choose when to hunt that spot with confidence and all of this is best obtained now when the woods are not so grown up and these travel routes are easier to find.
STAGING AREAS
If you watch deer hunting videos you have seen successful hunts along field edges and open woods. These areas make for great videos and are even a good approach when hunting low pressured whitetails on private land where the deer pressure is strongly regulated but for most hunters we are limited to hunting public land or heavily pressured private land where field edges and open woods just does not come into play for harvesting a mature whitetail. Yes there are always exceptions but to increase your odds you have to focus on thicker areas of your hunting ground.
Prepare now for next season. Photo Bill Cooper
Scouting after the season or during if you are tagged out will help prepare fot next season. Photo Tammy McBroom
Staging areas are places that big bucks will “hang out” while waiting for the cover of darkness before moving on to the open woods or fields. Locating these hot spots in your deer woods can offer some fantastic opportunities for harvesting your next trophy. Staging areas can be close to these open areas or several hundred yards away. It really depends on the pressure in your area as well as the cover to and from the open areas which is usually the deer’s feeding areas. Does congregate in these areas and mature bucks know it and will parallel these does but will stay back until they feel safe to move in.
Staging areas are usually located within small patches of thick cover somewhere between their bedding area and the fields or open woods. These thick patches can be very small and I have even seen bucks use a single fallen tree to stage at. These areas are noticeable by the amount of buck sign with rubs, scrapes and droppings concentrated in a small area. Staging areas are much easier to locate in February and is a great place to hang a stand when November rolls around. While bucks will use the same staging areas season after season they may only use this staging area during the rut because he is hunting does to breed so this is yet another great reason to scout after the season because this sign not only would be hard to find in a grown up woods but might not even exist until the pre-rut. In February this sign is very visible even if the buck is finished using it for the season.
LOCATE BEDDING AREAS
Thick areas are usually where the deer bed during the day but locating where deer spend their day can be vital to a successful hunt. During February you can penetrate these thick areas and look for heavy browsing which indicates a deer’s core area and where they choose to be most of the day. This core area can be vital in setting up a stand come deer season and knowing precisely where these core areas are only tips the odds in your favor. I have started on the edge of possible bedding areas before and slowly moved my stand deeper trying to figure out where the deer were bedded. This is time consuming and can either lead to no deer or spooking deer but by finding these areas now you can also locate great stand location and be ready when the time comes.
There are some hunters that consider bedding areas a “sanctuary” and should be treated as such and this is a great practice on private land or hunting clubs but for the public land hunter bedding areas can be your only way to get a shot at a mature buck, especially once the bullets start flying. Scouting now and locating core areas where the deer bed will only add valuable information to your scouting logs. Once these areas are located and trees are marked then you can stay out of these areas until the season,. Knowing where the deer are heading when you spot them is vital and can also help you devise an educated move into the bedding area, without going too far, if hunting the fringes just hasn’t paid off.
If you have never scouted this time of year you should give it a try. Remember to always practice strict scent-control even on late season scouting trips and get in and get out gathering
information as quickly as possible and don’t linger too long. This might seem extreme but I spent many years hunting public land without seeing any bucks and when I adopted this method of scouting and began taking it seriously I began to see a lot more deer and have even harvested some good bucks. This is a great time to be outside and enjoy a day or two in the woods scouting for next season while also searching for a couple of backup areas as well.
Trail Cameras are a Great Way to Locate a Shooter Buck for Next Season.
CONNECTION
After 20 years as a helicopter mechanic in the Alaskan bush, and living on a boat in Southeast Alaska, my heart and soul is still and forever will be a part of Alaska. My writing career began in a tent in Chicken, Alaska and I owe Alaska a great deal for who I am and for inspiring me to write. I hope that you enjoy the stories herein as we bring you the great history, outdoor adventures and more from The Last Frontier.
Hunting the Sitka Blacktail
My first time hunting the Sitka black tailed deer was epic. It involved a taildragger Cessna 150, a beach landing, and a smack on the dash to get the plane started back after the first landing. My friend, that was the pilot, decided to leave the plane running for the next two landings. It was 10 degrees. We had planned on using the
company float plane, but the boss told us he couldn’t do it. He told us he didn’t want to be responsible for us freezing to death and refused to fly us to Admiralty Island for our hunt. Luckily a co-worker and good friend overheard the conversation and approached me soon after and offered to fly us over in his plane. He only
Jaydn Kennedy with a giant Southeast Alaska blacktail
asked that we give him some venison if we happen to be successful.
We had to play the tides and only had the second half of the already short Alaska winter day to hunt. We needed low tide to be picked up. It would come early the next morning. So we hastily set up camp and made our way into the dense forest to hunt the Sitka Blacktail deer. The camp was simple. A tent, some sleeping bags, a saw and a coffee pot. The saw and the old percolator would make many trips in my backpack in those days and I still have both.
This was one of the first of many adventures that I would embark on in my years in Alaska. It marks the beginning of my new life after Desert Storm and aviation school in Colorado. I made it and the thoughts and excitement that permeated my mind then still dance around in there today. Those memories are still my greatest investment and I withdraw from them often.
We split up to hunt our own way and try to increase our odds on our short hunt. The cold was only a slight inconvenience and
discomfort. Being 25 years old hiking off into the Alaskan wilderness can overshadow any inconveniences or discomfort. I honestly don’t even recall the cold on our trip. I guess I chose to leave that out of the memory bank. It had only been an hour or so and it was already getting dark. The forest was both dreary and beautiful, a scene I would come to love about Southeast Alaska. I spotted a lone blacktail doe looking around a giant spruce tree. She was motionless. I made the shot. Just like that within hours of leaving Juneau I had harvested my first of many Sitka blacktail deer. I made that shot with a Marlin 30-30 Lever action rifle. Carrying a 30-30 into bear country will get you grief in Alaska, but that 30-30, like back home in Lynchburg Tennessee, would take many deer in Alaska. I finally broke down and bought a Winchester 30’06.
I skinned and quartered the deer back at camp. My friends returned to camp with a fire to welcome them. The heart is sliced and ready for the pot. My friend David pulled a
container from his pack for his dinner. I still see the lid that read corn chowder soup. I asked if he wanted to add it to my pot with the deer heart. He thought that would be a splendid idea and dumped the dried soup into the simmering water with the fresh sliced heart. I remember there was a small silver packet that had the spices for the soup. David carefully added these spices and the aroma still lingers. It was ready in minutes. This was the first time having corn chowder soup with sliced deer heart or corn chowder soup for that matter and it was the last. It still ranks up there with the greatest meals of my life. It might be that the hunting adventure and the cold damp air helped it rank, but as I recall it tasted pretty damn good. I think I’ll add a pack of dried corn chowder soup to my pack on my next hunt. When I take my first Sitka Blacktail buck I can sit right there and cook up corn chowder soup with sliced deer heart on the mountain side.
I spread the fresh deer hide on the floor of the tent to sleep on that night and I slept like a baby. I found out later that Brown bears will come out of their dens in the winter sometimes. Especially if they smell food. Maybe the deer hide under my sleeping bag and a fresh kill just outside the tent wasn’t the best idea looking back, but it sure was a great idea then. We could hear the Cessna coming in early the next morning. The hunt was quick. We had our payment for the flight out to my very first Alaska hunting adventure ever. It took three trips to get us back. Only 2 people can ride in the Cessna 150. With our gear we were hoping that the meat wasn’t adding too much weight to make it off the short beach runway. We divided the gear equally and made it fine. This trip would begin my forever desire to hunt the Sitka Blacktail deer both for the adventure and the meat.
I would hunt the Sitka Blacktail many times over the years I spent in Alaska. Each trip was as exciting and challenging as the last. I was fortunate enough to harvest many Blacktails, but there’s one caveat to all those hunts. I was
never able to harvest a Sitka Blacktail buck. It wasn’t all misfortune or a simple lack of luck. I just never really pursued a Blacktail buck. I hunted for the meat. The hunting was so tough. Tromping through rain forest with downed trees and tangles, I never even considered passing up a legal deer. Now I’ve added that quest to my bucket list. I think maybe, in some ways, my inner soul left the Sitka Blacktail buck as my nemesis so I would have a reason and drive to go back to conquer it. I’m not sure if nemesis is the proper word here. I honestly never set out to kill a Blacktail buck and it never really entered my mind as something I was unable to accomplish until after I had left Alaska. Now it’s there and will linger until I conquer it.
About the Sitka Blacktail deer
The Sitka Blacktailed deer is a smaller specimen next to all of its cousins. It is distantly related to the mule deer and closely related to the Columbia Blacktailed deer of the Pacific Northwest. The rack on a Sitka Blacktail tends to be a dark brownish or chocolate color. The antler size is small and rarely measures more than 110 inches on the Pope & Young scoring system. However, the antler size is secondary and relative to the hunt. Trust me when I say a 90 inch Sitka Blacktail deer is just as much a trophy as a 165 inch whitetail. That is if antler size is your marker for trophy status. I would love to harvest a 90 inch Blacktail one day but any healthy representation of the species would do as a trophy to me.
Sitka Blacktail deer has a range focused on the rugged, wet and remote. They range throughout the coastal rainforest of Southeast Alaska and into northern British Columbia along its coast. Sitka Blacktail deer are excellent swimmers and have occupied most all islands throughout the inside passage in Alaska. Sitka Blacktails are also found throughout the mainland as well. The habitat where they reside is inhospitable to humans but safe and comfortable to the Sitka Blacktail. The one exception is in the Alpine. The alpine is above
treeline and is a lot of work getting to but easy to navigate once there. This is where the Blacktail live until the snow depths drive them to the refuge of lower elevation and thicker forest.
Logging and Blacktail Deer
I began my civilian aviation career by building a logging machine called the Sikorsky Skycrane. I was fortunately picked to be on the crew. We would go to the field with that helicopter when we had it ready. The field was the Tongass National Forest. The Skycrane was used for select harvest logging. No roads built, no drainages disturbed. After reading the following study about logging practices and the Sitka Blacktail deer I wonder if we might have been a part of this study. We had forest service technicians that marked the trees we could harvest and when we were done you could not tell we ever logged the area.
“The cumulative conversion of productive old-growth habitat into even-aged second growth will result in long-term declines in the deer herd.”
Here is a summary of that study that you might find interesting. I know I did. I know that I always thought that the clear-cut areas were great for the Sitka Blacktail deer. What say you?
Since the early 1940s, timber in Southeast Alaska has been harvested almost exclusively by the clear-cut method. While clear-cutting offers a number of economic and silvicultural advantages over other harvest methods Ruth and Harris 1979, it also causes significant, longlasting changes in the vegetative composition and structure of the stand Alaback 1982. These changes can create adverse habitat conditions for a number of old growth-associated wildlife species, including Sitka Blacktailed deer.
In Southeast Alaska, a lot of wildlife and forest research has focused on habitat relationships of Sitka Blacktailed deer. Studies indicated that deer used second-growth stands that were 30 to 150 years post logging much less than nearby old growth. This low use could be due to the lack of forage in these younger stands. In comparison, old growth forest provides deer with good cover from the canopy from snow. The snow in old growth forest does not get as deep as snow in clear cuts and forest without extensive canopies. Old growth forest also provide relatively abundant, high-quality forage leaving the deer less susceptible to bad winters thus helping to increase the survivability during those times. The cumulative conversion of productive old-growth habitat into even-aged second growth will result in long-term declines in the deer herd. While I was always told that the cutovers created by clear cuts provided more habitat and food for the Blacktail deer this study offers a different view. It only makes sense to me that a natural approach, even from logging, can be more beneficial to the Sitka Blacktails. There is plenty of great research and study about the Sitka Blacktail deer and logging by Thomas Hanley. There is one thing that I found interesting and that was that selective harvest where single trees are chosen to be cut helped the deer more than clear cutting. While the clear cut does provide a lot of food for the deer creating more habitat and more deer the winter snows do two things.
First, if deep enough, the snow covers the food that the clear cut provided. It also
Helicopter logging my first job after aviation school and the Army- Photo by Phil Kemp
makes travel way more strenuous using more energy reserves which the deer needs to survive winters. This is especially true when the snow is heavy. Another factor is the loss of certain lichens that are vital, especially during winter, for survival. Here’s an excerpt from the study. Arboreal lichens that are important sources of energy for deer during winter are available in significant quantities only in old-growth forests
August the snow has yet to come in Southeast Alaska. The alpine is open and where you will find most of the deer during the early season, especially bucks. Like whitetails the Sitka blacktail bucks travel in bachelor groups in the early season. This can make for some great hunting high in the alpine. This is a great time for multiple sightings and excellent opportunities to harvest a good buck and maybe
source (Bunnell 1979, Bunnell and Eastman 1976, Rochelle 1 980).
Alpine for Blacktailed Deer Deer season opens fairly early in Alaska. In
why I have yet to accomplish that feat. For me the Coho salmon on the fly was way too alluring. I stayed low chasing the Coho salmon while my buddies were hitting the alpine meadows during the early season. By the time
Randy Ingledue with a nice SE Alaska Blacktail-R. Ingledue
the Coho run was over the snow was flying and I was hunting the lowlands. Or I should say the lower lands as the deer usually aren’t all the way into the lowlands until the snow gets pretty deep.
I did make it into the alpine during the early season a few times and it’s magnificent up there. I also hunted the alpine late in the season when the snow was light and the deer were still hanging high eating low bush blueberries.
Hunting the alpine usually involves a spike camp or if your like me just a flop on the ground to sleep away the night. This only happened when I knew, or at least thought, that there would not be rain which is rare in Southeast Alaska. I was able to flop a few times with just a sleeping mat and bag. A quality tent is recommended when hunting anywhere blacktail deer live. Especially in the early season when rain falls more than snow. A bivy works well and is a lot lighter than a full on tent. Find a rock or dip in the alpine and set up your bivy there. This will protect you from the wind that can sneak up on you in the high country. With a bivy and traveling light you can carry everything with you and just camp where the deer take you. It is not an elaborate camp that’s for sure but I liked hunting the alpine this way. I never liked returning to the same camp each night when there was so much more unexplored mountain ahead. This is the beauty of hunting the Sitka blacktail deer in Alaska. The endless trekking as you speculate what might be over the next rise.
Self-Guided Hunt
If you are someone that likes to do it all yourself a self-guided hunt is perfect. There are many different ways to hunt on a self-guided trip. You can charter a float plane that can land you on an alpine lake in the early season. This is where the blacktail bucks are hanging out early. Another option is to use a float plane to land on the ocean. There may be some bush
planes that can land you on the beach for your hunt. You can also hire a boat to take you to great Sitka blactail deer areas and drop you off to tent camp or stay in a forest service cabin. Another option is to hire a boat that offers lodging and food aboard the vessel. Using a boat as your headquarters is a great way to do a self-guided hunt while still enjoying a comfortable place to spend the nights. You can also fly into an airport and get transportation to a trailhead or just take off hiking from there. You can get into great blacktail habitat real quick from the right spot.
Hiking In To Hunt
Hiking and deer hunting in Alaska go hand in hand. You can be dropped off high in the alpine to hunt or you can start at sea level. Either way, hiking will be a part of any do it yourself sitka deer hunt. If you are OK with hard hiking and are in good shape you can pack a backpack with all your needed hunting gear and trek into the mountains to hunt Sitka blacktail deer. All you have to do is get to where the deer are roaming. Hiking in to hunt can be a great way to save some money.
On Kodiak, I know there are ways to get to some great hunting areas by four-wheeler. You could fly to Kodiak and rent four-wheelers for your hunt. This option would be much less expensive than chartering a boat or airplane to drop you off. The part that saves you the most money when you’re camping in the alpine is lodging.
With everything packed up in your backpack, you bypass the cost of renting a cabin or other accommodations on your hunt and this can save a ton. The thing I like most about this option aside from saving money and the adventure that it offers is the fact that you don’t have to hike back down once you are in the deer. With a cabin or boat where you sleep at night, there is a daily hike in and out of the alpine and this can take its toll after a few days.
Chartering A Plane
When planning a self-guided Sitka blacktail deer hunt in Alaska an airplane quickly comes to mind. Alaskan airlines is the place to look for flights to any place in Alaska. Even when flying from Florida check the Alaskan Airlines flights and they can direct you to the right place to get you to your Alaska destination. Once to your initial destination, there is the option of chartering an airplane to drop you off for your hunt. Whether you’re flying to a remote mountain lake or protected cove on the ocean you can fly in all your gear. Two ways to do it well I will mention two ways. In Alaska there seems to be many ways to tackle something.
the airplane landed. If you land at a remote alpine lake keep this in mind. While there are many alpine lakes in Southeast Alaska there are just so many that you can land an aircraft on. Couple this with lakes close enough for the charter plane company to access as well as how much you’re willing to pay to go where fewer planes go. You are probably being dropped where other hunters have been hunting. This is the only drawback I can see to chartering a plane to take you into blacktail country. Having all your gear in a backpack and being mobile you can then hike away from the drop to access some less pressured areas. Be sure to check with the charter plane company to
These are a couple of ways that I think most people will consider on a hunt in Alaska. The first way to utilize an airplane in your self-guided Sitka blacktail deer hunt in Alaska is to be self-contained and mobile. Selfcontained and mobile means having everything in a backpack. This puts everything on your back when you’re dropped off for your hunt. This allows you the ability to move around and venture away from a single point where
see which lakes they are willing to land on. By knowing this you can narrow down your online scouting tremendously. When you have the lakes marked you can then scout from home. You can use google earth and other apps to scout from those lakes to see what kind of options will be available once you’re up there. Without scouting these lakes you might get dropped in a place with a few hundred yards of alpine that drops into
oblivion in all directions. You might as well have just hiked up from the beach if that’s the case. Landing sites may be just as limited when landing on the ocean so get all of that information before your trip.
Knowledge is power especially when hunting Sitka black-tails in the alpine. Just be sure to pick a drop spot with more than one and preferably a few options for hunting. There would be nothing worse than being dropped off at a lake where three other hunting groups have
its perks. You can carry more gear. A cooler with drinks and maybe a few perishables for camp cooking. A bigger tent with a wood stove to keep warm. All this is great if you want to have an elaborate camp and be more comfortable on your Sitka Blacktail deer hunt. But, it has one drawback and that is you must return each night to the same spot to sleep. This can be awesome for camaraderie and that deer camp ambiance for sure and for some this is where it’s at and that is what they prefer. For
already been dropped that season. Especially when you have to climb down the mountain and then back up another, just to get to where there are any deer.
Being dropped off by airplane does have
me I want to be able to move and go to the deer. I would go crazy if I was dropped someplace where there wasn’t deer. I want to be mobile. I’ll sacrifice comfort and the campfire stories to go deeper into deer country in my search
Joe Piston with a great Sitka Blacktail deer- J. Piston
for deer. Besides I usually hunted alone when I hunted Sitka Blacktail deer, but if you have a hunting buddy with the same idea you can make great memories high in the alpine without a campfire or steak.
Chartering A Boat
There are many companies that offer boats for hunting Sitka Blacktail deer. These boats are essentially your base camp. Most of these boats will be self-guided hunts offering comfortable lodging and delicious meals during your hunt. They will have an inflatable raft or aluminum skiff to use as transport to and from shore to start your hunt each morning and will pick you up in the evening. The chartered boat for hunting Sitka Blacktail deer is a very comfortable option. With hot showers and oftentimes gourmet meals the boat route is a great way to enjoy a great Alaska hunt. It also offers much better protection from bears than a tent would in the high country or on the beach. As mentioned above the only drawback that I see is that you have to hike out of the high country each evening and back up each morning. One great advantage though is the ability to use the skiff to change locations easily. Moving just a few hundred yards down the shoreline as your starting point can put you into several new drainages and new areas. This becomes vital when you hunt a full day without seeing any deer you can literally change mountains the next day.
Hunting By Boat
There is a time when hunting Sitka Blacktail deer by boat can be very effective. This is especially true during winters with a lot of snow. When the snow gets deep it will find its way through the forest canopy which usually keeps the snow out. When the rainforest becomes inundated with snow the winter forage that Sitka Blacktails rely upon to get through the winter becomes scarce. This drives the deer to the beach in search of seaweed to obtain
the nutrients needed. With each tide, there is a potential for new seaweed to eat and the deer know it.
This is a great time to patrol the shoreline in a boat when hunting the Sitka black tailed deer. As the tide goes out you can see deer on the beach foraging on the seaweed left behind. During high tide search the tree-line along the shoreline. They will bed along the shoreline soaking up the warmth from the limited sun rays while they wait for the water to recede exposing new food. The deer also prefer staying along the shore to keep from fighting the deep snow which limits their mobility.
Personally, I have hunted by boat many times and it makes for a fun hunt. Spotting a deer on the beach or back in the tree-line offers the perfect spot and stalk opportunity. When the deer is spotted continue on without making noise and the deer will often stay put. Round a bend or beach the boat behind a boulder or log and sneak up the shoreline to within range of the deer. Although I have never used a bow to hunt Sitka Blacktail deer by boat I know it would be a great bow hunt in the late season.
Conclusion
Of all of the Alaska animals to hunt the Sitka Blacktail Deer is at the top of my list to hunt. I will say while I have killed a brown bear and a black bear in Alaska I never hunted any of the other mammals in Alaska. Of course the cost was part of it. Even though I could afford to hunt any of these animals, especially when I lived there, I just never had the desire to hunt anything but the Blacktail deer.
The Blacktail deer live in some of the most beautiful areas in Alaska. They are easy to handle as far as processing and transporting the meat. Of course moose and caribou are at the top of the list for people thinking about a classic Alaska hunt. However, I would encourage you to consider a Blacktail deer hunt for a great time in the last frontier
EXPOSURES AFIELD
THE FLY
at the bench & on the water
It is our goal with this department to provide fly tying and fly fishing information. While we endeavor to cover all aspects of fly tying & fishing we want to hopefully inspire and recruit more people into warm water options and our content will reflect this. Expect some history and interesting stories that involves the art of fly fishing.
THE STREAMER
Early Developments in Streamer Design
The streamer is a fly designed to imitate forage fish upon which otherfish feed. The term streamer refers to both a baitfish imitationconstructed of feathers and to the general class of baitfish imitationsconstructed of feathers, bucktail or both feathers and bucktails. Theorigin of streamers is unclear and probably evolved as a naturaldevelopment in fly design at some remote time in the past as suggested bySchullery. Evidence for the use of fish imitations in England during themid 1800’s is documented. However it was in the US that the streamerbecame a popular fly and streamer design reached its richest maturation. source Lindsey Grandison
The streamer pattern has evolved into an an art form with a staunch following among anglers who target big fish a.k.a. streamer eaters. By stripping a streamer fly past a big smallmouth or brown trout that is lying in wait to ambush whatever swims past you can get a reaction strike. These reaction strikes are important when the fish aren’t biting that well. The erratic action and speed of the streamer streaking past gives the streamer eater little time to decide to ambush or let it go. Oftentimes instinct is imparted in this situation and the big ole streamer eater can’t resist and you can see its excitement as it comes from nowhere to show whos boss and are usually pissed when they get stuck.
OUTDOOR READS
reviews and suggestions
BUY HERE
Sparse Grey Hackle
Fishless Days, Angling Nights
Acknowledged as the “Dean of American Fly Fishermen”, Sparse wove his magic amongst those who fished the Catskill rivers as well as anglers from afar who could only dream of the experiences he created with his unique ability to put pen on paper. Fishless Days, Angling Nights, published in 1971 brought together many of his life experiences and has become a hallmark ofwhat the sport of fly fishing is all about. Sparse brought life to the gentle art of angling and his spirit created the common denominator by which all fly fishermen are measured. His wit, factual and fictional embellishments, and historical knowledge would always play into a tale; both short and tall.
Fishless Days, Angling Nights is a rich and varied treasury of superb stories and articles by the acknowledged “Dean of American Fly Fishermen.” It memorably records the perils and rewards, the delights and disappointments of a lifetime of sporting days and nights on the stream. There is lighthearted philosophy and profound insight into the character of fishermen and campers. There are hilarious pieces and starkly vivid recollections of the terrors of night fishing. Famous fly-fishing stories are here, along with warm memories of chance meetings along the stream and moving reminiscences of such famed anglers as Edward R. Hewitt and George M.L. LaBranche and there are practical and provocative articles. Fishless Days, Angling Nights is a book not only for angling enthusiasts but for anyone interested in the very finest writing about the outdoors. (6 x 9, 224 pages, b&w photos)
Predator Hunting Tips
Predator hunting, like so many other outdoor activities, has progressed tremendously in recent years. I remember when I was young, we would just set up on a field edge and use a squeaker call to call in foxes and coyotes. Those were fun times. Fast forward to today and not only have the coyotes flourished, providing more animals to hunt, but the technology and knowledge available today helps to straighten the learning curve and give you more shot opportunities in the field. There are a few reasons that predator hunting has become so popular and growing every day. Predator hunting is a great way to get in the great outdoors after deer season and have some fun. Here are a few pointers to get you started in predator hunting.
Where To Hunt Predators
A predator hunter needs not only a lot of ground to hunt but more importantly you need land that has plenty of predators to hunt. Thankfully, getting permission to hunt coyotes is not nearly as hard to get as other hunting. Property owners are often happy to have you clear out a few coyotes, bobcats and foxes. Obviously, there must be predators for you to hunt. While most farmland across the country has predators these days it is always great to know for sure. Asking the property owner is a great way to find out about the number of predators on their place. Trail cameras can also quickly help you determine how many coyotes, bobcats or foxes reside on a certain piece of property. Public land is a great place to hunt predators and offers a lot of ground to cover. Being able to move around and have many setups keeps the area fresh. Too much calling and shooting in an area will divert the predators and they become harder to call or are just not there. Most public land options only allow daytime predator hunting so keep this in mind and hone your daytime predator hunting skills on public land.
Scent Control
up with wind direction in mind. Always set up downwind of where you think the predators may approach. Keep this in mind when placing your electronic call. Walking a little further to keep your scent from infiltrating the area you are hunting is important. You don’t want to alert the predators before you even make a call.
Hunt The High Ground
When choosing a location for your setup, elevation is your best friend. You might call a coyote or bobcat in close and never see it if you set up in a tall grass flat. Instead, locate a ridge or point and set up downwind, looking over the area you want to call. If you don’t want to hide, make sure your setup is below the horizon. A silhouetted hunter might be able to get away with it if they remained motionless, but any animal’s keen eyes will pick you up with a single small movement, ending the hunt. You will also be able to monitor the predators’ hidden routes if you set up shop on the high ground where you intend to make your call. Spotting game can be greatly improved by setting up just a few feet above the ground you plan to hunt.
Electronic vs Mouth Call
Scent control is just as important to predator hunting as it is to deer hunting, maybe more so. Practicing good scent control by using scent control sprays and taking care in washing your hunting clothes and storing them for the hunt will increase your success rate. Plan your set
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, we only had a mouth call back then. It was merely a straightforward call that sounded like a distressed mouse or rabbit. Today, there are additional choices. The mouth call is now more than just a squeaker. Like the FOXPRO Furtaker
Robert Rhodus Richmond KY Bobcat Hunt
Combo Pack Predator Hand Call, which has a variety of sounds, including those of birds, rabbits, rodents in distress, and even coyotes. You only need the FOXPRO combo pack to hunt predators without using an electronic call. You can immediately begin hunting with electronic calls like the ICOTEC GC350 Electronic Predator Call. Set your call away from your stand and use the remote to activate 24 calls that have already been programmed into the GC350 to attract predators from a distance. You can set up away from the sounds that the predators are focusing on with an electronic call. In order to get the shot, this diverts attention away from you.
A great addition to the GC350 is the ICOTEC PD200 Electronic Predator Decoy . A decoy gives the call another dimension. Like an old trapper I knew as a kid showed me his bobcat set and it was a trap and a duck wing hanging from a string above the trap. That’s all you need to catch a bobcat he told me. The visual attraction is a big part of predator hunting and by adding a decoy to your set up you increase your chances of calling a predator into range.
Night Hunting Tips
By nature, predators hunt at night. During the day, their prey is most active, and at night, they rest. When it comes to choosing their next meal, this works in their favor. Because of this, some of the most effective predator hunting has taken place at night. Using the right hunting light is crucial for effectively illuminating predators in the dark. Light is needed in different situations. Having these options at your disposal, whether it’s the
hue or the level of intensity, makes it simple to adapt to the current circumstances. When you want to hunt for predators at night, the FOXPRO Gunfire Kit is the best option. The FOXPRO comes with a remote that can be attached to your gun to increase or decrease intensity while keeping the target in the crosshairs. There are three color options that are simple to select. The predator hunter has a significant advantage here. The FOXPRO Gunfire Kit offers a great deal more assistance to beginning and experienced predator hunters.
Keeping your light on is one piece of advice for predator hunting at night. Fearing that they might startle the animal, many hunters turn off their lights. You should never turn off your light, according to The Night Crew, a wellknown group of predator hunters. The light, according to them, acts as a shield to prevent the predator from seeing you. Even with a white light, predators will still enter, and they have the fur to prove it.
Nathan Noblitt with a Indiana Yote
A night vision rifle scope is something you should think about if you want to hunt predators at night. Thermal and infrared products are among the many options. An affordable nighttime predator rifle scope packed with features is an infrared version like the SIGHTMARK Wraith HD 4-32×50 Digital Rifle scope. The Sightmark Wraith has an infrared illuminator that can be taken out. It allows for accurate target acquisition up to 200 yards away. Additionally, this scope includes a built-in 1080P HD digital imaging camera for recording shots. a lot of potential for the money.
Robert Rhodus of Richmond KY with a nice cat
It was ten years ago when I was able to get my first opportunity to travel to South Dakota for a new experience chasing mule deer near the Badlands of the Dakotas. Just thirty miles or so east of the Badlands National Park and Wall, there is a ranch of over twenty thousand acres of leased prime deer hunting opportunity. The price is right, and the mule deer were plentiful and the “by invitation only” was accepted.
I repositioned and popped up over the hill, he had vanished like a ghost.
“You can always see the glass full, half full, half empty or totally empty.“
Bow hunting only gave a greater challenge to the pursuit. With a stick bow in hand and wind in my face, that first time provided me with three opportunities for a shot but unfortunately nothing connected for success. The excitement of spot and stalk with traditional archery equipment gave me a less than optimum advantage of the far shooting compound hunters who were practicing 70 yard shots. I had a great time, learned a lot and was proud that I was light footed enough to get within 15 yards of a nice, bedded buck. The cedar tree between us was the only problem. When
Ten years later, this year, I was excited to get an invitation to venture once again to the Badlands Region, but this time it was with my son. Both of us were practicing and proficient with traditional archery gear for shots up to thirty yards. We were ready. However, as a backup, I will admit that a compound bow was taken along for emergencies as well as a crossbow due to my recent back issues.
The crossbow required a permit, which is free to apply. We heard stories of the hundreds of mule deer seen last year and years past. We were told we could take our pick of some big 140-160 class mule deer is what we kept hearing. They even talked about seeing a few 180-190 class mule deer. Things were sounding too good to be true and the anticipation started to feel like a fairy tale hunt. If we were patient, we might harvest a “Giant”!
Every hunter knows why it’s called hunting. For the first few days, there seemed to
Nice Badlands Mule Deer standing where we were sitting earlier-Jarrett Manek
be a mysterious absence of deer. We were seeing some but unfortunately for us, not on the ranch we could hunt. Things with this hunt kept getting worse as the days proceeded. The rancher finally admitted that the deer just are not there. They suspected that a lot had died over the winter during a few prolonged bad snowstorms.
Secondly, we found out that the rancher had not planted any crops which would attract the deer. The surrounding ranches had. Thirdly, we kept hearing a lot of hype about what it used
to be like from years past. Finally, it was extremely dry with no wind forecasted. If you have looked closely at a picture of a mule deer, their ears are larger than our whitetail around here and act like monstrous radars. Any deer in the area knew we were there long before we could get close enough to get a glimpse of them.
This put me in a very frustrating situation of having the option to sit in a ground blind over a water hole or a well-worn trail. As for me, I did not plan to travel 18 hours and sit in a beautiful countryside and stare at the inside of a blind. Looking out a couple small windows. That’s just not appealing to me, personally. I did however take that option for as long as I could stand it for a few sits. I did see some deer but did not get a quality shot opportunity.
Of course, the hunting was hard, and we made the best of it. We got a lot of needed
Quality father-son time, even when the hunting is tough-Jarrett Manek
exercise, we did finally see some deer, including one of the biggest deer spotted on this trip, literally smelling where we had been sitting earlier. Nothing is as poetic as deciding to move then look back and see one standing where you were from across the valley.
After making the best of it, my son did get two nice stalks on quality mule deer and missed, TWICE. He also performed a similar stalk on a bedded buck like I had previously done on my first trip. When he repositioned just as I had, it was gone as well.
All in all, you make out of a trip what you want. Whether it’s fishing, hunting, backpacking or just a family vacation, we all can remember that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Don’t get caught up in the hype of what was because you are in the now. You can always create the glass either full, half full or half empty or totally empty. We decided to make the best of it.
We created some great memories and a new adventure together as father and son. We saw prairie dog towns and golden eagles. We found dinosaur bones. We had some unexplained rocks thrown on top of the cabin during the night. This happened more than once! Was it Sasquatch? We also had an unusually sounding growl in very close proximity to us on the edge of some dark timber and rock ledge. Was it a mountain lion? We thankfully made it back in one piece with not accidents or mishaps but without any deer meat. I’m not sure if I can honestly say the stress level was better than we left though I will call it a successful adventure and that means a lot.
Mule Deer Buck-Mule Deer Foundation
One of my favorite recipes to enjoy the harvest is venison stew. I have many stew recipes and love them all. This venison stew recipe is a classic stew and is perfect for enjoying your harvest too. Often I utilize the trimmed meat from my deer carcass which amounts to several pounds of venison. This is meat trimmed from the ribs, neck, and anything remaining after processing the large cuts. You should consider trimming your deer carcass for excellent stew meat. I normally crack open a brew and bring out the fillet knife to meticulously trim my deer, chucking the meat into a bowl. This is the meat I use quickly for a hearty venison stew. Here is my recipe. Enjoy the Harvest.
Instructions
VENISON STEW
3 lb of venison (cubed)
1 lb yukon gold potatoes (chunked unpeeled)
1 large yellow onion (chopped)
3 large carrots (chunked)
3 slices of thick bacon (chopped)
2 tbsp of olive oil (extra virgin)
1 pinch of sea salt (to taste)
1 pinch of black pepper (to taste)
2 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 tbsp of butter
4 tbsp of all-purpose flour
4 cups of beef stock
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 tbsp of parsley (chopped)
1 dash of thyme
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 small bay leafs
splash of dark beer (about 2 ounces)
• In your stew pot or Dutch oven cook 3 slices of bacon. Remove bacon when crispy and set aside.
• Pour bacon grease into a heatproof bowl and add 2 Tbs. to the pot and heat over medium-high heat.
• Season venison with salt and pepper and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
• Add another 2 tbsp. of bacon grease to the pot and heat over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens.
• Stir in butter and let it melt. Add a pour of your favorite beer. I like a dark beer and believe it makes a richer stew.
• Sprinkle with the flour and stir well. Gradually stir in the stock, and stir in the tomato paste, parsley and the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Return the venison to the pot and bring to a boil.
• Add potatoes and stir. Cover and place in oven at 300 degrees. Cook for 1 1/2 hours. Or until meat is tender
• Sprinkle bacon crumbles on top
Conclusion
This venison stew recipe is a great way to enjoy the harvest. Often when in camp and I process the deer to get it on ice and will be camping a few more days I will cook this stew over the campfire. Enjoy this stew and be sure to sign up for my newsletter for new Enjoy The Harvest recipes.
Slow Dragging a Jig for Winter Bass
Many anglers hang up their rods in the winter. The bite can slow down, but bass can still be caught in cold water. There are times when the cold-water bite can be just as dramatic as any other time of year, but you must be on the water to take advantage of these times. Many of the same presentations you use throughout the season will also work in cold water.
When the water temps fall, bass fishing can get tough. It’s true that bass slow down, but you can still catch a few with the right presentation. There are definitely windows of prime feeding times in the winter, but you can catch cold water bass throughout the day. You must put in fishing time to learn the winter season just like all the others. Catching cold water bass can be a challenge, but with the right information and time on the water you can enjoy catching a few bass when the water temps drop.
A great presentation for cold water bass and one of my favorites is a jig. Slowly dragging a jig in the winter can trigger bites even in shallow water. Most bass may move to deeper haunts in the winter, but there are always a few up shallow. Jig fishing is always good for targeting big bass in the winter, but learning the technique can be challenging. Bites during the winter can be few and far between, but the bass that do are oftentimes big ones. Fat from the fall feed and then into the pre-spawn gorge winter can produce some of your heaviest bass of the year.
Winter bass are usually positioned around heavy cover. Docks, rocks and wood are a great place to start. Look for this cover near main lake creek channels, especially those channels that swing up next to the shore. These channels let bass move back and forth from deep water to shallow water to search for sluggish crawdads that live there and are hiding in the cover in 4-6 feet of water. When fishing jigs in the winter, slowly drag it, then let it sit on the bottom for a few seconds. Try to target big pieces of cover near these deep to shallow transitions. Big bass like big meals and find a jig very appealing, especially with a big fat crawdad trailer.
Bass are cold blooded, so they won’t chase their food when the water temps are low. They prefer big, slow-moving baits for this reason like like my favorite, a Buckeye Jigs Mop Jig. These Jigs are designed for working thick cover and the large rubber skirts impart great action even when sitting still. The skirt will move slightly on the pause convincing the bass that it’s really a crawdad sitting in the gravels. In the winter, bass prefers slow moving baits with very little action. This most accurately mimics the prey they seek. The only time you will find a jig tied to my line without a trailer is in the winter. Sometimes the bass just wants a compact profile and removing the trailer accomplishes this during those times. I will say, that during the winter jig bite I’ll use a trailer ninety percent of the time. Trailers can serve a
couple purposes for anglers; one is confidence the other is to add some realistic features to their jig presentation.
During cold water situations a trailer that imparts little action is the best for your jig. A plain crawdad body with realistic pinchers with no action is the perfect jig trailer for those sluggish, cold-water bass. A realistic crawdad gives a bass a great visual that will entice even
bination that will help increase your odds. I stick with two colors almost exclusively in the winter. It is a good idea to keep various colors handy just in case you see a crawfish or one is spit up in the livewell. You might be surprised at some of the various colors that a crawfish will display during certain times and in certain locations, even on the same body of water. If the bass are keying on that color it would be
the pickiest winter bass. Its hollow body helps it compress on the hook shank exposing more of its gap thus increased hook-ups are realized as well.
There is often much debate on the color crawfish trailer and jig to use during certain times of the year. You can study the crawfish in your area and come up with a color com-
best to try and match it. Two go to colors are black/blue and green pumpkin/red or orange. Black and blue is for when the water is the least bit stained or muddy. The green pumpkin and red is for clear water, especially during late winter or early spring when the first females of the year move shallow to feed up for an early spawn.
Seal the Deal
tackle tips and techniques
Troy is an avid angler from Bean Station Tennessee. Troy is a “nothing fancy” kind of guy well except maybe for his tackle. Troy is a multi-species angler but loves panfish, especially the sun fish. He has tinkered with and honed his tackle and techniques to target these great panfish. Fishing from a small aluminum boat without electronics or any of the modern day gadgets Troy loves getting old-school in a new world of fishing. We are happy to have Troy’s expertise within these pages and I think you will be too. Troy has the popular Facebook group The Bluegill Network
I just had the best day of shellcracker fishing I believe I’ve ever had! I fished a jig and redworm for a while and had a few fish, but it was slow then I tried a spoon. Holy crap Spoonman... it was on like a light switch; it was like daylight and dark! I caught fish off one spot, while anchored, on every cast for over an hour. I only had about three or four casts without a bite. Water temp was 47° and they were in 10-14 fow. I ran out of worms and ended up tipping the spoon with half of a Berkley power trout worm which worked almost as good.
Spoons for Big Winter Crackers
I’d like to say that I came up with this system, but I didn’t. I first read about a guy up in Wisconsin named Bill Modica who devised a system of delivering spoons to deep bluegills and pumpkinseeds that refuse other offerings. I have seen this myself with my own two eyes. On an outing on December 31st of
Stacking two 1/16 oz spoons on top of each other can help you fish deeper. I can fish this down to 15’ of water. Fished single I can barely get it to 5’ deep. Worked like a charm. The action is the same. Troy
Seal FB-The Bluegill Network
2023 I fished the second half of the day from around 12:00 or 1:00 o’clock to dark. It was a warm day for December and sunny with a touch of wind, which is conducive for a good spoon bite, it seems. I had fished most of the evening with a whole redworm on a 1/16 jighead with a few bites. A couple of big redears but that’s about it. Then at about 4:00 I tied on a spoon and tipped it with a red worm. I caught a fish on the 1st cast then again on the 3rd then after that I caught a fish on every cast except three till 5:00. Of those three casts, I missed one and I lost one and the other one I just didn’t get a bite. I ran out of red worms and substituted the red worm with a Berkeley powerbait trout worm. I couldn’t tell the difference. Now back to Bill. Like I said earlier Bill devised a method and system to deliver spoons to deep-water
panfish, and one of his favorite sayings is the spoon does not discriminate. He’s right; it is a mixed-bag technique for sure. With bluegills and pumpkinseeds being his target. He also catches crappie and the occasional walleye, perch, smallmouth bass, and probably a ditch pickle or two, as our northern brethren call largemouth bass. Back to the method. He preaches the gospel of long rods and thin super line to catapult these spoons long distances. It’s important to make a long cast because it’s a horizontal presentation and the deeper you fish the more important a long cast is. He routinely catches fish down to 45 ft deep. I, however, don’t have fish that deep where I fish so the casting distance isn’t as critical but it’s still a plus because you can cover more water that way.
Winter redear are a blast and tend to school up, once you find them you can catch several.
Nice wintertime cracker. Troy Seal
Troy Seal
Walleye tackle works great a 7 - 7 1/2 ft medium light rod helps with casting distance because it’s not noodly and the spoons you’re using aren’t 1/32nd ounce or lighter they’re 1/16th to 1/4. A thin super line helps with casting distance and depth control, but the system uses a barrel swivel and a short fluorocarbon leader. Bill uses Fireline I do believe, but I find 8 lb Gliss by Ardent to be very good and casts like a rocket. Swedish pimples and Kastmasters swim well as well as jig vertically. They are the ticket when fishing deeper but wobble spoons like the 1/16 oz Johnson Sprite work perfectly down to 18 ft deep or so because I’m stopping and letting it flutter back down to the bottom after every few turns of the reel handle. Do this all the way back to the boat and when you get it to the boat, vertical jig it for a second. You will pick up extra fish doing this; I think it’s because you have followers that won’t commit until it just jigs in the same spot till they can’t take it anymore.
The techniques work and his recommendations for gear are spot on too. Though today I fished a little different. I would make a long cast and let the spoon go to the bottom, then a short snap with the rod tip to pop the spoon off the bottom a foot or two, then I would watch my line as it fell. Most of the time I would set the hook as I was snapping the spoon off the bottom, the fish would just be there. I tried for my personal best shellcrackers at 13.25” and several over 12” and tons over 10”. I should have taken my clicker counter. I’m sure I caught well over 100 fish. It was nuts.
The Passing of an Inspiration
John Gierach aka Trout Bum
John Gierach was an American writer. His topic of choice was fly fishing, but his writing was more than that. The stories John wrote were to the point and you could almost hear the stream trickling in the background or smell the coffee that he brewed in a small percolator streamside. His writing was simple but effective, an immersive style that drew me to his writings.
John Gierach and his writings were my true inspiration to become an outdoor writer. After reading one of his books while working in Chicken Alaska many years ago, I wrote my very first prose as a writer or at least as a wannabe writer. I soon realized how difficult it was to keep the writing simple while taking the reader along for the adventure. I own all of John’s books to include a signed copy of Trout Bum. I can read them cover to cover in one sitting. Writers strive to compose a story that captures the reader and this is something I still work toward with each story. John was a natural.
I have a personal story about John. I was new to fly fishing and was watching a trout rise on the South Platte River in Colorado. I could hear an old pickup coming up the gravel turnoff, the rattles deadened the sounds of the gravel popping beneath the tires until he rolled in to park. A scraggly bearded man emerged from and stood to the side. He was waiting his turn at the pool. He wore hip waders and no vest. I watched as he tied on a fly from a small box from his flannel shirt pocket then tilted back a timeworn fishing hat. It had the shape of a fedora but had seen many days in the Colorado weather turning it from something fancy to just a comfortable fishing hat.
I wanted to give that cutthroat a run for his money as it teased me by rising and gulping a bug I had yet to learn. The man probably knew about the hatch and was there because of it, I did not and was not. I decided that instead of spoiling the pool with my ignorance I would relinquish it and the rising cutthroat. I stepped out and told the man, as he approached, that a fish was rising and good luck. He pulled his fishing hat down to shade his eyes and thanked me. I left to find a more secluded pool to learn flyfishing without anyone to see the debacle.
A few years later I was reading one of John’s books in that tent in Chicken and he described an old pickup truck and one of his favorite rivers, the South Platte. I had a few of John’s books in my bag and quickly rummaged through it to find one with him on the cover. When I saw the photo of John I gasped. It was the man that day in Colorado. That was the very moment, nearly 30 years ago, that I decided I would give writing a shot. Rest in peace John and thank you for the inspiration.
John Gierach 1946 – 2024
John Gierach Photos
Thanks Wayne for the photos from your lodge Alaska Trophy Adventures
BACK IN THE DAY
Hunting was a necessity for the early American mountain man. Flickr
On July 17, 1881, the American frontier lost one of its greatest legends: Jim Bridger. A towering figure in the annals of exploration and adventure, Bridger’s life was immortalized by the words etched into his imposing headstone.
Bridger, born on March 17, 1804, was a quintessential mountain man whose exploits shaped the West. His headstone succinctly captures his remarkable achievements: “Celebrated as a hunter, trapper, fur trader, and guide. Discovered the Great Salt Lake in 1824, mapped the South Pass in 1827, explored Yellowstone Park and its geysers in 1830, founded Fort Bridger in 1838, and opened the Overland Route via Bridger’s Pass to the Great Salt Lake. He served as a guide for U.S. exploring expeditions, Albert Sidney Johnston’s army in 1857, and G. M. Dodge’s Union Pacific surveys and Indian campaigns from 1853 to 1865.”
After a lifetime of daring adventures and invaluable contributions to American expansion, Bridger retired to a farm near Westport, Missouri. However, his twilight years were marred by illness and blindness. Despite these final struggles, his legacy endured, and he was laid to rest in the Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Missouri.
Jim Bridger’s life story is a tapestry of exploration, discovery, and indomitable spirit, forever etched into the fabric of American history
Jim Bridger Mountain Man by Stanley Vestal is a great read. I encourage you to read more on the life of Jim Bridger. He was a remarkable mountain man and helped bring America into its own.
