Category Archives: Family

Good Ol’ Boys

The talk of a South Texas quail hunt started in the summer of 2014. Years of arid weather had decimated the indigenous quail population, but a wet 2013 brought back habitat necessary for the game birds to successfully rebound. The Cage Ranch would be the target destination. Months of careful planning had 16 hunters heading to El Indio, Texas in January of 2015. Gate to Paradise

Day 1 – Arriving with Anticipation

Our flight into San Antonio landed in mid-afternoon. After touching down, the men picked up our three rented SUVs, and departed for the two and one half hour drive to the Ranch. It was dark, cold and damp when we met Bob at the main gate at around 7 pm. Everyone was pretty fired up to have arrived, and we were all ready to start hunting. We enjoyed a nice fajita dinner, then Colt, Tyler, Chance, Bob and I made an impromptu decision to do a little late night predator hunting. Armed with a Fox Pro game call, a spotlight and a Mossberg MMR Hunter, we made our way down a farm road in order to locate the appropriate place to set up. When we had a 360 degree perspective, we turned the truck off and started to call. Colt ran the spotlight, and I manned the rifle. It did not take long for the first coyote to appear, and move straight down the road toward us. Colt asked me multiple times if I saw the dog, but I could not pick up the movement in my scope. As the coyote crested a hill in the road, two red eyes became very visible. I positioned myself on the truck bed, and attempted to get into a stable position. Once the coyote exposed his right side, I slowly squeezed the trigger. Nothing happened. Panicked, I pulled the charging handle back, and peered down the action. The round was lodged in the upper receiver, and was not going anywhere. I did not need to pick my head up to understand that the coyote had bolted from the scene. Everyone was disappointed by none more bummed than me. I managed to get the unfired shell out of the action, only to see that the firing pin actually hit the round. With my confidence down, we made our way to another spot. Chance slowed down as we approached a cattle guard. Colt confirmed that the area was ideal so we stopped. Bob warned Tyler that we were parked on a cattle guard. As I stepped on the guard with my left foot, I slipped and fell through the iron bars. My Mossberg MMR Hunter and Leopold FX-II scope went flying. Outside of my pride, my knees, wrists and shins were hurting. It took me a few minutes to regain my composure. Colt grabbed the call, the spotlight, and told me to get ready. A constant ten minutes of the lightening jack call did not produce a stalking predator. Colt cycled to the whitetail/doe fawn distress then hit the light. I glanced to my right, saw a big coyote coming in hard. I immediately picked him up in my cross-hairs, and squeezed off a round. The slight recoil in pitch dark conditions caused me to lose sight of the animal. Colt thought my shot was successful so we drove out to the spot where he would have fallen. Fifteen minutes of searching produced nothing so we plodded along. It was close to 1 am, and we made a decision to make one last set. The lightening jack call was only on for about five minutes, when we picked up the coyote at one hundred yards to the left of the truck. The dog quickly weaved in and out of cover, trying to pick up the scent of the injured bunny while moving into a stiff wind. The animal stopped at about one hundred yards, but I could not pick him up in the spotlight. We lost him completely after he picked up our scent at about seventy five yards. Disappointed by my inability to execute, we headed back to camp in order to get some much needed sleep.

Qual Rig Day Ross, Matt, Scott, Jeff, Tony

Day 2 – Relaxation

The three quail rigs arrived at 7:30 am. We were all moving a bit slowly after a late night of excess libations. The group devoured homemade burritos, while ensuring we awakened with the appropriate injection of coffee. The weather was cold (35 degrees) and wet. I had packed warm clothing, but not enough to protect myself from the nasty, unexpected wind chill. Quail rigs are outfitted with dog kennels, shotgun racks, drink holders, but you’re exposed to the elements. My unfettered excitement mitigated the impact of the freezing temperatures. Our guide, Darrell Layman, ran 14 dogs that included German Shorthaired Pointers, English pointers and 1 Labrador retriever. The pointing dogs worked about 100 yards around the truck quartering into the wind as they searched for quail scent. Darrell slowly drove the two track, staring at his GPS. Suddenly we heard him yell “a dog is on point about 125 yards to the west”. We piled out of the truck, loaded our shotguns, and moved towards the stationary dog. This was our first experience in thick, South Texas cover. The group’s walk turned into a sprint when Darrell told us Bubby was on the move. Every bush, plant and tree seemed to rip at my legs, arms and torso. While it did not deter my focus, the two inch thorns hurt. As we approached a clearing, I realized I was looking into the face of a big, black pig. Startled at 50 feet in front of me, he took a hard right, and bounded toward Jeff. I yelled “pig” as he made his way into the deep grass.

Darrell called us back to the truck when the scent diminished. He stated, “Blues run. They take the dogs on a ride. We need to find some Bobs”. We chased blues for the next 90 minutes, but did not force a bird into the air. Frustrated, I started to contemplate the movements of the evasive animals. It became obvious that once the dogs went on point, the covey was already stirring. With that in mind, I decided I would sprint to a flanking position, with the hope that a flush would result from the pressure of the dogs and me. As we continued to patrol the road, one dog went on point 30 yards ahead of us, and just off the road. I jumped off the top of the truck with my Weatherby SA-O8 Deluxe 28 gauge in my left hand, a shell in my right and two in my mouth. I started to run straight into the cover, keeping my eyes on the GSP stationed to my left. The covey flushed 20 yards in front of me, so I selected one bird, and squeezed the trigger. Shot number one missed behind the bird, but my follow up shell crushed the quail as he neared a mesquite tree. Darrell brought his lab in so he could hunt dead. Minutes later, we found the blue quail, and I did a quiet celebration; my first Texas quail was in the bag. We moved 4 more coveys before heading in for lunch. Most of the guys took at least one bird, with some getting a couple.

We attacked the homemade steak fajitas that had been prepared for us. As we were the first truck to come in for food, we awaited the arrival of the rest of the group. Unlike our gang, the rest of the crew did not experience the same in-field action. We discussed strategies before heading back out for the afternoon hunt. Midday did not produce the same findings as the morning had. The weather was warming, and we were all anticipating the late afternoon “golden hour”. Similar to pheasants, quail start to reveal themselves as the sun begins to set. They move toward the road in order to feed on seeds, and small rocks that aid in their digestion. This movement provides the hunter an opportunity to more easily locate the elusive prey. Understanding the near-term opportunity, we drove towards fertile ground just after 3 pm. It not take long for the dogs to discover birds, and for the hunters to knock a few out of the sky. We were in and out of the truck often, as coveys of quail seemed to be everywhere. One particular stalk was memorable for me. Darrell announced that both dogs were on point about 50 yards from our position. We all moved quickly into the woody, gnarly cover towards the stationary dogs. The covey jumped from their hidden position, and flew low to the west. It happened so quickly, the hunters did not get an opportunity to take a shot. We watched the quail land about 80 yards from our position, so we started to sprint with the excited dogs. As we approached some incredibly dense cover, the covey flew again. Three birds soared high and to my right. I locked in on the last bird and pulled the trigger of my shotgun. I watched the leg of the quail collapse, and he plummeted into the mesquite trees. Darrell brought the lab in, and Tony offered to help me search for the downed bird. About 15 minutes later, Tony noticed feathers at the base of a tree. We recovered my first Texas bobwhite quail!

The Boys, Ready to Hunt

Day 3 – Into the Groove

Given Darrell’s day 2 success, we decided to run the second quail rig behind Darrell’s ATV. Some of our guys did not get into a lot of birds due to an ill prepared guide. To that point, we decided that all 11 of us would hunt together. As the dogs exposed coveys, we would alternate hunters. The morning temperature was warm, and so was the pursuit. Dogs found birds almost immediately. The morning action was steady, but we were not getting shots at the running blue quail.   As we approached a new road, Darrell made the proclamation that the dogs were locked up. My group was up so we scrambled out of the ATV, and into the cover. I began my sprint as I thought I could once again cut off the scurrying covey. As I passed one GSP on point, I glanced into the trees in front of him to determine if the birds were attempting discretion. Almost immediately, I heard the covey take flight….behind me. I pivoted left, and watched the birds move to my right at about 20 yards. I picked a bird out, mounted my shotgun and quickly fired. The first shell made fatal impact, and the bird dropped into an open area. We found 5 more coveys before the day got warm, then the birds suddenly disappeared.

We had another delicious lunch awaiting us at camp. After scarfing down some steaks, we started to make an afternoon plan. A few of us noticed a significant amount of ducks in the many water tanks around the ranch. We decided to drive to each tank, and attempt to jump-shoot some waterfowl. Chad, Darren, Tony and I jumped into Ford’s quail rig, and made our way to the first waterhole. From 500 yards away, we could see about 25 ducks on the water. The plan was to sneak down towards the water staying camouflaged by the many trees. Once we got within 100 yards of the bank, Ford would drive over tank dam, and spook the ducks. With the strategy solidified, all of us loaded up and moved cautiously down the tree line. Once we all were in position, Ford drove slowly down the top of the dam. As expected, the ducks all took off, and flew high into the bright sky. Minutes later they circled around, and started to descend back into the pond. Many of the ducks took a flight path right over the set of trees we were sitting under.   Chad slipped from his concealed position, and took the first duck in the group. The rest of us followed his lead, and shot the low flying birds. Given our immediate success, we made our way to a few other water tanks, and employed the same technique. With ducks in hand, we made our way back to camp to join the rest of the group for the late afternoon quail hunt. The group made a collective decision to hunt around the many deer feeders that are situated around the ranch. Most of the units were still loaded up with corn, so we knew that quail would head in that direction as the “golden hour” approached. Running two trucks in tandem, 11 of us made our way to wherever we saw a deer blind. As the afternoon progressed, the dog found birds. We were able to convert more of our shots as we became accustomed to the bird’s behaviors. Late in the day we made our way to a feeder we had not hunted yet. While we were picking off doves as they moved in waves off nearby mesquite trees, two of Darrell’s dogs went on point just yards from our position. Chad was the first to make his way into the brush, followed by Matt and me. A covey of bobwhites took off from the waste-high grass. I did not have a clear shot, but Chad did, and smoked a single bird. We continued to pursue the quail, but they quickly scattered to parts unknown.  The sun was setting, and all of us realized our quail hunt was over.

Once the group finished dinner, decisions were made on who would be hunting what at night. I was a bit exhausted, and a few beers in front of the television sounded just fine. Tony, Darren and Jeremy decided to patrol the grounds, and look for a pig. Tony had lugged a big cooler to Texas, with the hope that he would fill it. At about 10 pm, my mobile phone rang. It was Tony, and they had taken a boar! Once they got back to the compound, the guys executed a flawless field dressing utilizing the gutless method. Tony and Darren had secured their meat.Pig
Ross with first Bobwhite

Day 4 – Heading Home

Most of the guys had an early afternoon flight back to Denver. To that point, they were up early and out the door. Some of us scheduled a late flight back home, so we decided to do some early morning hunting. Tyler had a doe tag that he wanted to fill. He had sat patiently in a few blinds on the prior day, but was not able to close the deal on a deer. He asked me to join him early Sunday morning on our final day in the field. At 6 am we made our way into the blind, and waited for shooting light. As the sunrise exposed the feeder, we watched two bucks start to eat. A third buck ventured in but no does appeared. We waited another 2 hours before Adam picked us up in order to head back to camp. Expedited packing commenced, and we loaded up the trucks for the 2.5 hour trip back to San Antonio.

The South Texas quail was a spectacular experience for everyone who participated. We got to see dogs expertly work brushy, gnarly thickets, forcing both quail to appear against their will. All of us were able to connect on at least one bird, while others put a few more in the bag. We enjoyed great meals, good beer, tasty cigars and a lot of laughs. Planning for the 2016 South Texas quail hunt at the Cage Ranch has already begun.

Video of the South Texas Quail Hunt

 

Things to Consider Necessary Information Comments
Quail Guide Darrell Laymen – 7343 CR 3000 Pearsall, TX 78061 – (573) 820-1729 Darrell knows how to find wild birds. He is a gundog expert, and a lot of fun to be around.
Weatherby SA-08 28-Gauge Deluxe http://www.weatherby.com/ Great shotgun. This is my first Weatherby, and I was pleasantly surprised with the performance.   If you can find one, buy one.
Mossberg MMR Hunter http://www.mossberg.com/products/rifles/autoloading-centerfire/mmr-hunter Sold at reasonable price and reliable. I enjoy shooting this AR.
Leupold FX II http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/fixed-power-riflescopes/fx-ii-4x33mm/ After smashing the scope on a cattle guard, the gun was still was accurate at a 100 yards. I shouldn’t have been surprised as it’s a Leupold.

Our Last Hunt?

Pride is on the back nine of his hunting life.  He is over ten years old, and has recently demonstrated signs of slowing down in the field.  Despite keeping him in good condition, the grind associated with hunting wild birds pushes him to his physical limits.  At day’s end, he is beyond exhausted, and the body aches are obvious. 

The 2013 – 2014 upland season in eastern, Colorado has been challenging.  The bird population is significantly down from just two years ago.  That said you’re not going to experience success sitting on your couch.  In addition, given Pride’s advanced age, who knows how many trips are left for us?  So when the alarm went off at 3:40 am, I was motivated to make my way two and a half hours east to my favorite grounds in Phillips County.

During my drive, I checked the forecast for the day ahead.  Forty degrees and a steady fifty mile per hour northwest wind were not ideal hunting conditions. 

As I approached our first field, the excitement started to build.  The area is a favorite of mine, but had yet to produce this season.  We made the forty minute walk, but never saw a single sign of a pheasant.  I texted my rancher friend and asked if we could hunt his land.  With permission granted, Pride and I drove the five miles to the property.  The strong winds made our strategy clear; point Pride into the wind and see if we could surprise some birds.  I directed Pride to a series of trees that line the north side of the land.  It did not take long for him to get birdy.  The first hen jumped up about ten yards in front of us, followed by three more ladies.  While we did not find our intended target, the action did get the blood pumping. 

We made our way across the road where the CRP is thick.  A large cornfield neighbors the tall grass, so I decided we would bisect the land and hunt the relevant corners.  As we made our way west toward the corn, I gripped my Beretta a bit tighter as I thought we could see some action.  Pride started to move with purpose as we walked the berm separating the CRP from the corn.  As his pace quickened, I worked myself into position.  The rooster exploded about fifteen yards in front of me, and immediately absorbed the power of the wind.  Although he was close, I was not prepared for the absolute speed, and missed on my first two shots.  HEVI-Shot shell number three clipped his right wing, and the pheasant tumbled to the ground. 

Pride and I enjoyed a water break before making our way to a Walk in Area (WIA) just to our east.  The field has great cover, and feed is accessible on all four sides.  The ferocious wind kicked up significant dust storms, and that made the pursuit challenging.   About half way down the tree line, Pride changed direction, and bounded to my right.  A hen made her way through the tumbleweeds, and stood motionless for about five seconds before flying into the cornfield.  A few “no bird” calls had us back on course marching west.  Pride started to quickly cover ground, signaling birds were on the move.  As I picked up my pace, two hens exploded less than ten yards away from me.  Consciously, I slowed down with the hope that a rooster was being coy.   Within seconds of making the decision to decelerate, a rooster busted from his concealed position just out of my range.  After one futile shot, the colorful bird caught a massive tailwind, and accelerated into the mid-afternoon sun.  Immediately, I second guessed my strategy.

I took Pride southeast in order to better position us to hunt the last corner of the CRP.  During our walk I noticed that my dog was favoring his left rear leg.  I removed some sandburs from his paws, but he continued to limp.  As we approached the corner of the field, Pride started to get birdy.  He circled the field’s edge for almost five minutes before a hen took off into the adjacent cornfield.  Realizing that Pride was either injured or drained, I decided to head back to the truck.

On our way home, I wondered if this could have been our last hunt together.  The bond that Pride and I have developed over the last three and one half years is strong.  Hopefully we have more adventures ahead.    

Video: Pride doing what he does best.

 

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Bob’s Day

The first of my two tags on the Cage Ranch was filled on October 5th.  It was a spectacular morning, filled with complex emotions.  The initial anxiety resulted in overwhelming elation.  My pronghorn hunt was a unique life experience forever etched in my memories. 

October 26th was opening day of deer rifle season, and I had been preparing for months.  Bob and I had done some scouting during September and early October.  The north part of the ranch has a dry creek meandering from west to east.  There are cottonwoods and tall grass that provide dense cover for the animals that roam its sandy bottom.  Along with seeing multiple photographs of deer on our game cameras, we had witnessed a variety of does and bucks as we glassed the area from afar.  Bob had set up two tree stands on the west and east end of the riverbed, which provided 270 degrees access to all animals that patrolled the vicinity. 

A 4:30 am alarm was set on my iPhone, but I was already up at 4:15 am, and getting prepared for a successful day.  A coffee and a METRX protein bar would be my fuel for the hunt.  Bob’s nephew Paul and I left headquarters in the pitch black and slowly made our way to our pasture.  We parked about a mile from the west stand, and utilized my Garmin GPS to guide us to the specific tree.  As 5:15 am approached we climbed the ladder, and situated ourselves in the elevated position.  Paul would scan to our left, and I would focus to the rear and right.  It was 26 degrees and there was a cold northwesterly wind blowing at 15mph.  It didn’t take long for my hands to become numb as I had foolishly left my gloves in the truck.  At about 6 am, the sun offered enough light where we could start to glass for movement.  As I turned to the rear, I spotted five does making their way west.  As if they marked my position, the deer suddenly bolted to the south, and were out of view in seconds.  I questioned whether they picked up my scent, and if I was unintentionally giving away my location.   The visibility was improving at 6:30 am, so my glassing become more frequent.  I picked up movement in the trees to my right.  When I trained my binoculars on the image, I witnessed a big bodied deer making its way along the creek.  There was no question it was a buck; I just needed to determine if it was a shooter.  As he made his way across the creek, I could see that his antlers were outside his ears.  He was a very respectable 5×5, and I decided that I would take this animal.  For the next 10 minutes, the buck refused to provide me a shot.  Patience paid off when he turned to his right, exposing his vitals to me.  I chambered a round and clicked the safety to the off position.  My crosshairs were situated on is left shoulder, and I slowly pulled the trigger.  The buck dropped in his tracks at ninety eight yards.  My first deer was down, and I was ecstatic.  

At 10:30 am, we reconvened at headquarters.  The celebration included a big breakfast, and exchanging stories of the morning events.  We relaxed around the house and prepared for the afternoon hunt. 

Brent, Bob’s brother-in-law, would take his daughter back to the east stand, and Paul would man the west platform.  Bob and I had a different plan.  We decided to employ a spot and stalk strategy and quickly cover ground.  After walking Paul to the west stand, we made our way south to see if we could locate a buck in the plains. 

Bob does a great job describing the afternoon events.  

The interesting thing is that I’ve spent my entire life on this ranch guiding pronghorn hunts, and have never bothered to get a license for myself for any big game animals.  I decided that I would this year, and only try to fill the tag if Ross got his deer.  Ross ultimately shot his deer at first light on the opening morning.  His is a beautiful, very symmetrical 5×5.  A trophy for sure.

I glassed the initial buck from about a mile away as he departed a cattle stock tank.  While were putting the sneak on him, we inadvertently walked by a doe about 120 yards to our left.  She didn’t run so I didn’t think we were busted.  We never had a clear line of site on the buck due to tall grass and rolling hills.  In fact, we could only see his rack, and we agreed he was a shooter.  Unfortunately we bumped him and he bolted with his doe to the east.  We waited for him to crest over an adjacent ridge, and then we sprinted 500 yards with the hope he wouldn’t move out of range.  Unfortunately his speed put him about a mile away by the time we reached our spot.  We sat in that position and glassed the entire landscape until deciding to run back to the truck in order to continue the pursuit.  Our plan would be to drive around to the far side of the pasture and cut him off.  While contemplating our next move, I saw a coyote at about 100 yards.  I decided not to shoot him as I didn’t want that report to echo across the pasture.  This decision was fortuitous, and led to our ultimate success.  On the way back, I felt the vibration of my phone signal that I had a voice message.  I decided to return the call en route to the truck.  While walking back, I was quickly yanked to the ground by Ross.  Remember the doe that was gazing at us when we started our stalk?  Well, she didn’t leave and she had a suitor.  He saw us but seemed indifferent as he purposely quartered away from us.  I put the phone on speaker, and dropped it in the sand, while shouldering Ross’ rifle (yes, I forgot the ammo to my gun).  I whispered to the friend on the other end of the line to, “shut up and don’t say a word!”  Ross just about came unglued when he put his binoculars on the deer, and saw that this was a lifetime buck.  I quickly put the barrel in the BIPOD shooting sticks and shot him in the right shoulder.  The deer staggered to the right; he was obviously sick.  I placed the crosshairs on his quartering away shoulder and squeezed off another round.  This bullet entered his right hind quarter and must have found its way to the vitals.  He dropped like a sack of hammers.

I’ve traveled all over North America hunting; white tail and quail in South Texas, bear in the boundary waters of Minnesota, deer and elk in New Mexico and Arizona and even moose in The Yukon.  Not once have I turned in a landowner voucher for myself on my own property.  I’d much rather donate these vouchers to friends, soldiers, Wounded Warriors and youths.  I’m so happy that it worked out the way it did.  Having Ross spot that deer, and be there for the harvest after his success early in the day, is truly a memory that will never be forgotten.

Bob Cage is a good man.  He donates his land, money, expertise and time to people who might never get an opportunity to experience the outdoors.  His success provided me a tremendous amount of excitement and personal satisfaction.  I am proud to say that I was with Bob when he harvested his first big game animal on his own ranch.

Gear in the Field

Product

Review

Tikka T3   Lite chambered in a 30-06 caliber

Three shots, three kills.  The gun’s average is better than David Ortiz in the 2013 World Series.

Limbsaver Recoil Pad

Darn good, low-cost investment.  I shot a lot of rounds when sighting my   rifle in prior to my hunt.  Once I   installed the Limbsaver Recoil Pad, I stopped flinching. 

Bushnell   Elite Scope (3 x 10 x 40)

I made a scope change 10 days before my pronghorn hunt.    That shot was very challenging (270 yards in high winds) and ultimately successful.  My deer was shot at 98 yards, and I had plenty of time to wait for the right shot.  In low-light conditions, the scope worked   very well.

Barnes   VOR-TX 168 grain bullet

Devastating round.  At 98 yards, I hit the animal on my   mark, and he was dead within 10 seconds.

Under Armour

·ColdGear   Infrared Ridge Reaper Softshell Jacket

·Ridge Reaper   Shell Camo Hunting Bib

·ColdGear   Evo Scent Control Fitted ½ Zip

·UA   Speed Freek Chaos Hunting Boots

·UA   Camo Crew Socks

·UA   Base 3.0 Crew and Leggings

·UA   Hat

This was the second time I employed an entire Under Armour   outfit.  Saturday morning was really cold (26 degrees) and very windy.  My body and feet remained warm even though we were stationary in the stand for over 2 hours.  I wish that I had not forgotten my UA   gloves in the truck as my hands were frozen.  

The Speed Freek boots remain extremely comfortable and   warm.  No blisters to date.

When Bob and I put the stalk on his deer in the afternoon, the day had warmed and the wind had calmed.    We did a lot of running during the pursuit, and the UA fabric kept the sweat away from my body.  I never felt chilled when the sun finally set.

The UA fabric is very flexible and seems durable.   I want to wear this clothing on a future elk hunt in the mountains of Colorado.

Vortex   Diamondback Binoculars (10 x[RF1]  42)

These are a great set of binoculars at an ideal price   point.  The early morning was dark, and I could still pick up the deer in low light conditions.  It was easy to distinguish the specifics of the rack at 100 yards+.  I am going to eventually step up and   purchase the Viper HD   binoculars.  Two of my buddies have the   15x50s, and they are remarkable. 

Outdoor Edge   SwingBlaze

Great concept.  That said, the knife was not sharp out of the box.    I should have put an edge on it prior to the hunt.  I wish the knife was manufactured in the   United States.  My deer was  gutted in less than 20 minutes.

Badlands Recon   Pack

Versatile and light pack.  Badlands makes great products, and the Recon is no exception. 

Leupold   RX1000i TBR with DNA Rangefinder

I quickly ascertained the distances of my deer and Bob’s   deer.  This is a great product and was worth the investment.

Garmin   450t GPS

Hunting GPS Maps

Awesome unit – so much functionality and it is pretty intuitive.  I added the Hunting GPS   Maps for Colorado and Kansas.  Great investment. 

BIPOD   Shooting Sticks

Very functional shooting sticks.  Light, easily accessed and quickly deployed.  I need more experience with them in order to provide a comprehensive review.  So far so good.

2011 Ram   1500

Still running strong after almost 2 years.  About to   install an ARE camper shell.

 


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Make It Happen

I grew up watching Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, Roland Martin and Bill Dance.  These television personalities became my mentors as my family and friends did not fish or hunt.  It was relatively easy to learn to fish.  My hometown of Swampscott, Massachusetts had half-dozen ponds that were untouched and loaded with bass.  I could walk the water with a variety of lures and catch fish.  The ocean was in close proximity, so surf-fishing became a regular activity as I got older.  Thanks to Mr. Tom Mann, I was able to participate in a few tournaments down south.  While I did not have success in these events, it certainly fueled my passion for continued involvement in the outdoors. 

Learning to hunt was not effortless as extensive firearm training is vital before you can enter the field.  Unfortunately, that guidance was not readily available in the suburbs of Boston, so I had to suppress my desire to participate in the sport for another fifteen years. 

In my late twenties, my good friend Scott Tynan and his pals in Michigan introduced me to rabbit hunting.  The training was brief and clear; keep the shotgun barrel pointed away from your fellow hunters, and don’t shoot the dogs.  Scott’s friends taught me how to clean my rabbits, and an old cookbook provided the recipe for my first stew.  This introduction was only a teaser as there seemed to be an invisible barrier prohibiting my continued involvement.   

A job took my family to Colorado in the winter of 2008.  Soon after my arrival, my buddy Bob Coyle, offered to help me purchase my first shotgun.  The Google search engine is an important tool when seeking out what to do next.  I was thrilled to discover that there is a local upland preserve & sporting clays range less than thirty minutes from my house.  I bought a membership, obtained some tutelage from a local professional and started practicing.  

In the summer of 2010 I completed my hunter safety course, and later that year, adopted my gundog Pride.  Over the last three years, we have regularly hunted pheasants in Eastern Colorado and Kansas.  My friend, Chad Cadwell, has graciously invited me to duck hunt with him on his prodigious lease in Weld County.  I have put in for big game tags each year but have come up short; until 2013.  With permission from my friend Bob Cage, I applied for tags on his ranch in Wild Horse, Colorado.  Amazingly, I drew both a pronghorn and deer tag.   

Preparation for the Pronghorn hunt involved multiple, and essential steps over an extended period of time.  Step one was to acquire all of the appropriate equipment and knowledge that would lead to a successful hunt (see below).  I leveraged the web and experienced hunters as resources.  Step two was to get trained on how to properly shoot my rifle.

Over the summer, I had Cabela’s bore-sight my rifle in order to get me near paper.  It was then time to visit the range in order to solidify my shooting confidence.  In three sessions, we managed to achieve a 1.5 inch grouping at 100 yards.  That would put me in the kill zone at 200 yards, even if conditions were less than ideal.

On the afternoon of October 4th, Chad Cadwell and I made our way southeast to the Cage Ranch.  Chad is a friend and veteran hunter who offered me his years of experience on my hunt.   We met Bob, Eric Rosel and his son Kelly at headquarters.  Eric also had a pronghorn tag to fill, and for the first time, he would be introducing Kelly to the sport of hunting.  Some cocktails, and a few hunting stories lead to incredible anticipation for the following day’s events.  Right before bed, I took a close look at my tag, and realized that my units were not the optimal areas on the ranch to hunt pronghorns.  I would be sequestered to the northeast where the tree lined habitat caters more to the mule and whitetail deer population.  Despite a new heightened level of anxiety, I managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before the 5:30 am wake up call. 

The Saturday strategy was simple; we would get Eric his animal first, then it would be my turn.  We purposefully traveled the ranch in Bob’s Ford F150; each of us glassing for pronghorn activity.  The early morning produced a few prodigious mule deer sightings, but no pronghorn.  Once we did spot a herd of speed goats, we stopped the truck, and started to pursue them on foot.  The rut was on, and it became evident that the bucks were in hot pursuit of any and all females.   As we climbed over a ridge, we could see the lone male rounding up his chosen mates.  Bob signaled to Eric to ready himself for a shot.  Unexpectedly, the buck initiated a determined sprint, and made a beeline directly at our position on the opposite ridge.  Eric repositioned himself, in an attempt to get the appropriate angle on the moving animal.  The pronghorn actually crested the ridge and then pulled an immediate 180 when he saw Bob’s parked truck.  Bob stood up and waived his hands in order to attempt to make the animal stop.  At two hundred and fifty yards the buck paused and looked back at us.  Eric steadied his aim, and shot him in the shoulder.  We celebrated the moment together; it was textbook execution and a clean kill.  Eric, Bob and Chad field dressed the animal, and we headed back to headquarters to hang him in the barn. 

It was now my turn to hunt.  I was a bit anxious as we headed to my units.  Hopefully we would see animals, and my preparation would allow me to perform under pressure.  As we made our way back down the road, I stopped Bob so we could glass where I would be hunting.  I quickly picked up four white bellies, but could not discern if a buck was present.  Opening day of rifle season presents issues for Bob and his team.  Trespassers regularly slip onto his land, and that can present safety issues when there are many people hunting his property.  To that point, we inspected a truck that had illegally parked on the one of the main roads.  In order rectify the situation; telephone calls were placed to the appropriate people. 

Bob could sense that I was a becoming increasingly edgy, so he took us back to the fields.    We headed to the general area where we had seen the four pronghorns from across the road.  After emptying out of the vehicle, we began a quiet jog to the nearest hillside.  The group cautiously peered over the edge of the ridge to see if we could spot the herd.  Bob signaled for us to get low as he spotted the animals grazing to our right.  He told me that there was a shooter-buck, and I needed to get prepared.  I began an army crawl in order to seek a better vantage point where I could set up for a shot.  Bob told me that the male was to my right, and standing at two hundred and thirty yards.  I carefully put the rifle in the bipod, and got to my knees.  The pronghorn herd immediately spotted my movement and started to run to the south.  The male isolated himself from the others, and dashed forty yards to the west.  He unexpectedly stopped and turned back towards us.  Bob whispered “he is at two hundred and seventy yards” so I put the crosshairs behind his right shoulder and slowly squeezed the trigger.  Despite the recoil of the rifle, I was able to watch the buck through my scope drop straight to the ground.  An intense feeling of elation overcame me as I had just fulfilled a lifelong dream.  I celebrated the accomplishment with my fellow hunters, and thanked them for their guidance.  

Participating in outdoor conservation is a privilege and requires many personal responsibilities.  Getting involved takes time, patience, commitment and direction.  I am proof that it is never too late to participate.  I look forward to paying it forward to younger generations of hunters and fisherman.

Product

Review

Tikka T3 Lite chambered in a 30-06 caliber

One shot one kill.  I like my average so far.

Limbsaver Recoil Pad

The change was worth it, as the pad absorbs the thump.  Great low-cost, easy to install investment.

Bushnell Elite Scope (3 x 10 x 40)

I made a scope change 10 days before my hunt.  That was scary.  I went from a 4x fixed power to the Bushnell with variable magnification.  Great advice from my friend Luke Lindsay. 

Barnes VOR-TX 168 grain bullet

Devastating.  At 270 yards, I hit the animal 4 inches high and 4 inches behind my mark, and the animal died instantly.

Under Armour

·         ColdGear Infrared Ridge Reaper Softshell Jacket

·         Ridge Reaper Shell Camo Hunting Bib

·         ColdGear Evo Scent Control Fitted ½ Zip

·         UA Speed Freek Chaos Hunting Boots

·         UA Camo Crew Socks

·         UA Base 3.0 Crew and Leggings

·         UA Hat

Under Armour has and continues to manufactures great products.  The question I had was whether the quality would translate into their hunting line.  It does.   Saturday started off chilly (29 degrees) and very windy, and I barely noticed the conditions.  As the day warmed, and we started to pursue the animals on foot, I dropped the jacket.   I ordered size large in all products and the clothing fit me perfectly. 

The Speed Freek boots are extremely comfortable, and did not need a break in period.  I stepped on a lot of cactus and yucca trees, and felt nothing on my feet.  I hope these boots hold up over time as I really like them.

UA base layers are and have always been the best.  Their technology and comfort continue to improve over time.

Vortex Diamondback Binoculars (10 x 42)

The Diamondback line from Vortex is affordable (around $200).  These are a great set of binoculars at an ideal price point.  Vortex is a brand all hunters need to consider.

Havalon Piranta Whitetail Hunting and Skinning Knife

This knife is EXTREMLY sharp and highly effective.  It was effortless to field dress the pronghorn.   

Badlands Recon Pack

Versatile and light pack; the Recon has all of the right features/functions.  Badlands makes great products, and the Recon is no exception. 

BOGs Bipod

Held our rifles steady for some challenging shots.  Smart purchase for an inexperienced big game hunter.

Leupold RX1000i TBR with DNA Rangefinder

We quickly ascertained the original and secondary position of the pronghorn.  Awesome product.

K2 Cooler (70 Quart)

I put 4 bags of ice in the cooler on Friday.  We used two bags over three days.  On Sunday, the two remaining bags were still frozen solid. 

2011 Ram 1500

Still running strong after almost 2 years.  Unfortunately my back windows just started to leak.  This is the first major issue with the truck.

 

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Rock & Roll

At 44, most would think I would have evolved and eventually conformed to the music enjoyed by my peers.  Artists like U2, Bon Jovi and The Police represent the mainstream sound of my generation.  In the 1990s, many of my friends migrated to musicians like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and The Dave Matthews Band.  Today, as we approach middle age, my buddies have embraced the retro sounds of our youth, or have migrated to another genre of music; specifically country.

For me, I have and always will have a passion for an eclectic mix of heavy metal.  In the late 1970s I was captivated by the complex lyrics and riffs of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Judas Priest and Van Halen.  In the 1980s, during my high school and college years, it was Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer and Guns n’ Roses.  As the 1990s took hold, I progressed to Tool, Rage Against the Machine and my favorite band Pantera.

I am very particular about the music that I purchase now.  Unfortunately, many of my favorite bands have sold out as they try to maximize their personal income before irrelevancy.  The current product is bland, predictable and attempts to appeal to a general audience.  To that point, I continue to investigate new, fresh and progressive sounds that preserve soul of heavy metal.  I also replay much of the classic rock & roll I enjoyed growing up.

A lot has changed in my life over the last 34 years; except my taste in music.

Ozzy and Randy
Ozzy and Randy

My Favorite Music (in no particular order)

My Top Metal Albums

Artist

Appetite for Destruction Guns n’ Roses
Far Beyond Driven Pantera
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Black Sabbath
Women and Children First Van Halen
Blizzard of Oz Ozzy Osbourne
Aenima Tool
Screaming for Vengeance Judas Priest
Ride the Lightening Metallica
Aerosmith (1973) Aerosmith
What Have We Become Seemless

 

My Top Metal Tracks

Artist

25 Years Pantera
I’m Broken Pantera
A National Acrobat Black Sabbath
Lord of This World Black Sabbath
Disposable Heroes Metallica
Stranglehold Ted Nugent
Dying to Meet You Judas Priest
It’s So Easy Guns n’ Roses
Make It Aerosmith
Lifer Down
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