There's always time for one more stand!

It's been cold and windy and snowy here the last few days, and that means that predators will be hungry when the storm breaks. Well it broke early this morning and I knew that meant it was time to hunt. I headed out to try some local spots, but at my first stand the wind was still blowing so hard it blew my hat off and nearly froze my fingers, so I packed it up and headed a bit farther south. It was a bit of a drive but I knew if I was going to beat the wind I needed to get to a different weather zone, and upon arrival at my new location I was glad I had committed to the travel time. There was no wind and the air was a few degrees warmer.

It turned out that someone must have come by just before me and killed all the coyotes, though. I hiked far back into washes and thick brush, but three stands produced no fur, and my free time was running short, so I jumped back in the truck and headed home. As I neared the freeway, I noticed a small canyon that was tucked out of the way and in some thicker brush. Part of me wanted to continue the drive home, but the better part of me (the part that almost always wins) said "there's always time for one more stand!" It would be pushing my time constraints, but I threw caution to the wind, parked in a small turnout, and headed out into the cedars. Right away I knew it would be good, as I nearly tripped over coyote scat when I got out of the truck. I walked about 1/4 mile back into the brush, near the base of small mountain, and set up the stand. I started it off with some low and raspy fox distress, and about four minutes in this coyote comes busting into the open, standing directly in my downwind and getting a nose full of rizzo, to be sure. I knew I didn't have much time, and he looked like he saw me just as I raised the shotgun and settled the barrel over him. But it was too late to run as a load of #4 buckshot found its mark. The yote gave a loud 'yip' as it fell, no, more like nosedived right into some prickly pear cactus.



He had quite a few needles in him, but I couldn't just leave him there so I pulled him out, and while I was at it I grabbed a hero shot.



So remember: even if things aren't cooperating, even when you're thinking of going home - there's always time for one more stand!

My handcalling sounds are now available as MP3s

One of the questions I get asked the most about predator hunting is "what sounds should I use and how do I make them sound different than everyone else?" Since I do most of my predator calling using mouth blown hand calls, it is much easier to replicate different sounds on stand, even with the same call. With some practice and some field time, you can figure out how to make different sounds with even the most common handcall, but sometimes it's hard to explain what they should sound like. I decided that it might help if I recorded my calling sounds and turn them into MP3s. Now everyone can hear what sounds I use, and you can also download them for use in your digital caller.

To download a sound, right-click on the link of the sound you want, choose "Save Target As", and then choose a location to save to.

The sounds can be found on the right hand side of my blog, under the "Blog Archive", in the section titled "Hand Call MP3s". The type of sound I am producing is listed first, and then the call and manufacturer are listed. That same info is also imbedded in the file, so it should be displayed when you play the sound. I will add more diverse sounds in the future, especially if I get comments or emails from anyone asking for more.

Enjoy the sounds, and happy hunting!

A fox and my 6-year-old son

A friend of mine named Tim recently wrote on Predator Masters about some hunting he did with his 9-year-old daughter. After reading about it, it occurred to me that I haven't taken my son, Garret, out on stand with me yet this season. He often goes shooting and hiking with me, and anyone who has read my book will remember him well.

Tonight we made plans for a couple of stands out on a local rancher's land. My son was so excited to be back in his hunting gear, and he trudged through the mud like a real trooper. Our first stand we set up near a wash and tucked ourselves into some cat claw brush. I let him do most of the calling, but nothing showed up. We headed to the next stand, which was all uphill, but he never complained - it must have been a little tough on him because I got a bit short-winded! We nestled into the base of a cedar tree and I started in on some high-pitched distress. The sun was starting to set, but about 6 minutes into the stand Garret taps my leg, just like I told him to do if he sees something. I look to where he's looking and there stands a grey fox, looking in our direction but not alerted. I raise my shotgun, the only gun I had brought, and realize that this fox is a little too far away. He starts to run downwind and I get a little excited about dropping this fox with my son on stand with me. I squeeze the trigger and BOOM! I think I shot over him! He turns and heads out and BOOM! I let another one rip, but he's already back in the brush. Normally I'd keep calling but instead I turn to Garret and say "You saw that little fox, right?" He's got this huge grin on his face, and then as only my own son could do, he starts to give me a hard time about missing. We walk over to where the fox was and Garret says "I thought it was a squirrel!" We pace off the shot and it turns out it was a little far indeed - 70 yards! Guess Dad got a little "fox fever" and shot too soon. As we headed back to the truck, I watched my son walk through the wild outdoors, and as the world let a beautiful sunset crest the horizon, I knew that life is good.

And we've already made plans to go back after that fox next week!

Before we packed it up, I took a picture of Garret on stand. He really wanted to hold my shotgun . . . .

The Copper Cat

I decided to try something a little new with my skull cleaning. I took a bobcat skull, sprayed it with some primer and then did three coats of hammered copper paint. I then took a wood plaque and stained it with a walnut color. Next I got a small 1/4 threaded steel rod and painted it dark brown, then clear coated it for some shine. Put them all together and I ended up with this:



I think it looks very different! Not really my favorite, but I'm glad I did the project. I donated the whole setup to the Xtreme Predator Callers (XPC) here in Arizona for their Chirstmas party silent auction. I don't know how much it ended up going for, but the guy who won was very happy, so that's what matters!