Christians Oryx March 2009

For months we prepared. Christian spent several months on the range tyring to perfect his shooting, all he wanted to do was shoot an Oryx. We spent most of our time shooting from sticks- its not real easy. When the day finally came- we set out- walked about 4 hours, and got surprised by an Oryx at about 30m walking, the PH grunted and the Oryx stopped- "Click"- the set trigger made the noise, the Dad left the safety on when I put the rifle on the sticks for him. Naturally- the Oryx bounded off- unharmed.

Later that day around 5:00 PM, we came upon another, after about 12 miles of hiking,-hot-sweaty-bugs...ah....Namibia in March. This time the Oryx also stood broadside but at 80m, the Dad put the rifle on the sticks- safety off this time. The bush was too thick, Christian had to move, and move the sticks & rifle. The PH set everything up- "click"- again! This time Christian set the safe during the move....the Oryx turned and faced them- "pow" went the CZ 550 .308 WIN with 180gr bullet--The Oryx ran off. Christian was a bit nervous, but the Oryx was found about 100M away dead!- a perfect shot right thru the chest! The Dad nearly cried! Christian went on to shoot 3 more animals- all great shots on their own- but with the safety off!

The horns measure over 3 feet long! A gold medal Oryx!

A good day at Waubay is definitely better than working.

First Pheasant

This was a decent morning of hunting near Lebanon. We killed two birds up until noon where we got five out of a thick grove right near Lebanon. I was told 50 - 75 birds got out. I didn't know since I was the one walking through the grove. It was worth the effort b/c the youngster in this photo got his first rooster.

Late Season Ducks

Awesome late season duck hunt. These birds actually decoyed and responded quite well to call which I thought was unusual for this time of year. 12 ducks total. 11 mallards and a goldeneye. The weather was perfect but I swear that walk to and from the truck gets longer every season!!!

Jordan shot this big texas pig day after we shot the ducks. 250lbs on foot and a lot of meat. We were worried about the meat tasting bad but the guy that took us hunting said soak it in ice water for three days and it will taste fine. We did, we ate, and it is very tasty. Jordan Shot this thing with a 22-250 and it went down hard so he started walking up to it(mistake) it was not dead it charged him so he shot it from the hip and hit it in the butt, still not dead took out a 9mm pistol and shot it 7 yes 7 times in the head before he died. These are tough animals but fun to hunt. I missed my shot enough said.

Texas Ducks

Jordan and I shot these ducks down in Aransas Pass Texas over Christmas break. Can`t see it real good but there is a nice wigion in there that is going on my wall. 2 pintails, 2 wigions, 4 reds, and a spoone(oops).

Last evening, last 30 minutes, cold and snow….just like last years deer I shot, even from the same spot, and the similarities in rack is amazing, cept this one is a little larger and didn’t have a broken point.
Ryan was hunting with me in my 2 man Tree stand, that made it that much more fun. For what its worth I offered twice for him to shoot it, but, he ethically chose to let me! Fell dead at the shot. It was great.

KS Pheasants

So I havent been able to hunt much this year but this is a nice photo from opening day in Munden this year. Way too warm and way too much cover etc but we did manage a few birds adn got to unt with my Dad and Jim in a place that holds a lot of memories for us all. A little bitter sweet as found out a friend of kellys from high school had passed away minutes after taking this picture.

Game Giveaway

Gents,
If you don't want your game I have a good home for it, literarly. You now must clean and keep all waterfowl, pheasants, antelope, and deer. I have a connection to a church in Sioux City IA that will take all the meat it can get. Give it to me (meat only) and I will find it a way down there. If it's freezer burnt, throw it away.
Bard

IA has pheasants too!

I got these birds Saturday morning. I parked my truck in Lebanon and walked the creek behind mom and dads house and then the draws across the road. 2 of these birds were part of a triple I shot. I couldn't find the 3rd bird so I guess it only counts as a double. Babe caught the hen. I'm not sure if it's legal to keep a hen your dog catches but I kept it and it was delicious. Better for me to eat it than a yote. Wyatt came along with me but decided he'd rather hang out with grandma than have to walk so far. Good thing too because by the time I got back I was tired and soaking wet with sweat.

More SD Birds

Another great day in South Dakota. The weather was great and the birds were a little jumpy. Decent day. Lots of birds again.

IA Doe Down

Two years ago I purchased a rifled barrel w/ a 3x9 scope for my 870. It came in handy this year. Shot this doe at 7:15AM and would have been hard to see with out the scope. 75 yard shot, hit her high on the shoulders and she fell down, straight down. We hot skinned and got her quartered out in about 45 minutes. Dad volunteered to make chislic, needless to say I was a bit nervous. Dad took one of the ribeyes, marinated them, and cooked them on the grill in a cast iron pan. Very delicous and tender and put a great ending to a good day. We also cleaned up 2 extra pounds of bacon in the freezer. Oh, Brian missed badly all day, I think he went through 10 shells. A great day, even if I was the only one to harvest a deer.

Specialist

Thought you guys would like to get a sneek preview of my new shirt "bling". That's right, I have been the distinguished title of "Walleye Specialist" by the province of Manitoba. Remember, anyone can win the yearly competition once (I've won twice, back to back). Anyone can get lucky and land a big one once in a while. But only true masters of the art of walleye fishing get the title of "Walleye Specialist"! Enjoy.

No, Deer

Okay, the last day of deer hunting for me didn't produce a doe, but Mark and I did end up getting our limit of pheasants in just one field. Bird hunting is greatly improved now that Adam and company have finally gotten down to business and started getting the corn out of the field!

Yes, Deer

Well, here it is. My first deer taken on the first day. Saw him go into the corn from my stand in the morning and went back that afternoon to try and get him. About 20 minutes to sundown he comes out of the corn about 150 yards from where he went in. He played around in the bean stubble for a while and I didn't shoot him. He then went back into the corn for a few minutes and came back out. I figured he was giving himself up for me, so I shot.......and missed! He stood tall and I shot again and he took off running. I panicked because I only had one shot left in the clip (the only thing I don't like about my Tikka T3). I fired, he ran another 50-70 yards and made a goofy jump as he disappeared into the corn.

I called Adam and lamented that I missed my buck, but I was going to check for a blood trail in case I hit him. I found him in the first row of the corn right where he jumped. I think he was dead when he hit the ground on that jump. Oh yeah, I did launch a couple long shots at a doe before I went to check for the buck.

Anyway, that's the story of my first buck. It was a nice buck and I'm glad I got it. But looking back on it, I kinda wish I would have let him go and tried for a bigger one. There's lots of corn in up there and in a week or so there would be less cover and more of an opportunity to see bigger bucks. Oh well, it's a decent 4 X 4 and I've given myself a good chance to get a bigger one next year.

You know, looking back on that night, I kinda had the "buck fever" I've been hearing about for years. I don't think I could have passed on this guy anyway. Oh yeah, probably shot him at about 150 yards.

If you want to hear a good story, ask Adam (farmingdakota) about the doe he got that day.

Great duck hunting in Kansas—what a great day! 16 ducks- mallards and green wing teal, sausage and egg biscuits in the blind, perfect weather and no other hunters!

Just another great day of being me. Sure glad I was using my shot gun and not my rifle.

Pheasant Recipes

To all that visit this site:
I am in search of pheasant recipes. I have 8 birds in the freezer already. Posession limit in IA is 12 so I am legal. I want your favorite ways of cooking/frying or whatever.

My Sympathies to Bard

Bard,

My sincerest sympathies in the passing of a VERY close friend. We all know how "into" Tony you were. You know after so many years of taking it in the rear from the Democrats, its nice to know you were giving some payback. Stay strong brother.


Tony Dean
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Tony Dean, a nationally known outdoor enthusiast who promoted South Dakota with his radio and television shows, died Sunday. He was 67.The Hofmeister Isburg Funeral Chapel confirmed that he died Sunday morning.Dean, whose real name was Anthony DeChandt, returned to his Pierre home last week after being hospitalized for complications from appendix removal.Dean was host and producer of "Tony Dean Outdoors," a regional television show that aired across the Upper Midwest. His radio show "Dakota Backroads" was heard across the region.Dean won more than 160 regional and national awards for his programs. He also served as a press secretary for former South Dakota Gov. Frank Farrar.Dean had been criticized for backing Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.Darlene DeChandt said her husband's final work before his illness was recording commercials for Obama's campaign. She said if Obama won, Dean was to have been on his transition team.Jason Mitchell of Devil's Lake, N.D., recorded several TV shows with Dean. He said Dean had the courage to stand up to the National Rifle Association when it backed candidates who he felt did not have conservation at heart.

Pair of wet cocks

Today was the last day of my 5 day license in SD. (What a screw job) Today was windy, rainy, and cold. After ignoring common sense of wanting to stay home and dry I braved the cold and wet weather. I get to a walk in area near fairview SD and realized I forgot non toxic shot. Like an angel a truck come over the hill and put his blinker on wanting to pull in the same drive that Im in. Turns out he's checking the large pond for ducks. I bartered 10 lead shot for 6 - 3 inch -1 shot steel. Not ideal for pheasants. I walked the edges of this piece all the way around and end up walking through some burrs that stuck to my pants something awfull. I was pissed off, wet, and crabby. Walking back to my truck, busy picking the cockle burrs off my pants, a pair of wet cocks burst from cover. After almost dropping my gun from being scared half to death I manged to bang this double. On cue the third cock flew up as the 2nd one hit the ground. I fired and heard - click. SHIT! I thought I would only load three shells in case I would waste shells on frustration shots at a bird that was getting away. Needless to say a little frustrated on missing the triple I continued towards the truck to miss another cock - three times, the ironic thing was the last shot was definitely a frustration shot.

Incredible Trophy Room

These are pictures of a rancher's trophy room just into Montana. These aren't all the animals in the room, and the pictures don't do justice to what it was like actually being there. The guy has traveled the world to get these animals. It was simply amazing! What is not pictured is a full bar and a TV area along with other mounts. From the outside, the place looks like a rundown old farmplace. But inside, there must be over $200,000 in wildlife mounts. We got put on to this guy because Mark's brother dealt with him on some cattle a few years ago. His son-in-law actually showed us the room because the rancher was breaking a horse a few weeks ago, was bucked off and trampled. Pray for him as he in intensive care in Rapid City. He has had 4 surgeries and really needs another one, but they don't know if he can take it. Meanwhile the kids are running the ranch.

Oh yeah, Mark and I are thinking of becoming ranchers so we can travel the world, go hunting, and have a trophy room like this. Enjoy!

Antelope Hunting in Harding County

Here's a picture of the doe antelope I shot this weekend. Mark and I went the northwestern most county of South Dakota. Hunting was tough because it was the second weekend of the season and the goats really knew where they were safe and where they weren't.

I had a shot at another doe at about 120 yards, but passed it up. I had another doe tag, but really wanted a buck, so I didn't fire. I won't do that again! A guy really gets only a few chances a year to shoot his rifle at game and he should make the most of every opportunity. Mark really made me realize that. By the way, Mark had a tough year. Missed a decent buck because he couldn't "hold steady" while leaning on a fence post. He also missed a doe twice that didn't even startle at the gunshot! Why did he only shoot twice you ask? He only brought two bullets with him on the stalk. Hilarious!

Okay, the story on the doe above. We were driving down a blacktop with public hunting on both sides. About 5 or 6 does were running to the fenceline and I dropped Mark in the ditch to the west of them. I sped east and got on that side of them and dropped into the fenceline. A doe came within 10 yards of me, but I was not ready and it spooked. It ran the other way and crossed the road. I ran over to the other side of the road, but saw only a white butt running away fast. I started walking back to the truck in the ditch and suddenly saw a doe walking straight for me about 50 yards away, coming over a rise. I sat down, turned down the scope to 4 power and sited her in. She was walking quickly. I grunted and she stopped. I squeezed the trigger when she was probably only 40 yards away.

Mark talked me through the field dressing process (first time for me) and I appreciated it greatly.

Mark and I hunted hard for two full days. We walked miles and miles. We drove miles and miles. We stalked, belly crawled and ran for many hours each day after these "ghosts of the prairie". I'm tired, I'm sore, my knee is killing me, and I only shot my gun four times in two days. But it was awesome! The country was beautiful, the sky majestic, the ranchers quirky, and the companionship memorable. Mark, I had a great time! Thanks for another hunt that was successful in ways other than bagging a trophy.

The Smurf and Tony Dean

I can't believe I let Mark and Brad have my boat one day at Selkirk. Mark is the Smurf, of course. And we all know what Brad is doing with Tony Dean.

Selkirk 2008 Pictures

Here's a few pictures from this year's Selkirk fishing trip. It's the only picture of Adam that I have. He did catch a few walleyes, but seemed to specialize in bullheads. How far he has fallen. Oh, well. The weather was rainy early in the week, and off and on rain the last part of the week. Not terribly cold up there yet, so we may have been a little early this year. Enjoy the pictures and be jealous.

The Two Biggest at Selkirk 2008

Here are the two biggies caught this year on our Selkirk fishing trip. Mine was 30" and Brad's was 30.75". Brad did win the fishing contest, but actually caught the fish that put him over the top after the usual stopping time of 6:00pm. Granted, that wasn't written in the rules of the tournament, so I didn't complain too much. But don't you think there's a trend with Brad. Remember his first turkey hunt victory, when he shot his bird on the wrong property to get the win, and now pushing the limit on quitting time during the walleye tournament. Brad, gotta let go of this "win at all costs" attitude. Anyway, it was a tougher year, but we still had a lot of fun and are looking forward to next year.