Eastmans buck hunting

buglinst

Active Member
Messages
147
I haven't been a member in a few years until the ISE in Sac. The magazines looked good. So, I renewed. With my renewal I got to choose a DVD. Recently, I was impressed the the big bucks the Eastmans' had been killing. I have been tivoing the Eastmans TV show when they are mule deer shows.
I had seen a show where Mike takes a very nice non typical with this guide named "Wendel"(I think that was his name). In the same episode Mike showed another nice buck he took with "Wendel" on his ranch a few years back. He had High praise for Wendel on the show.
Next comes one of the other sons on the next show. He is holding out for a 30" buck. He kills it and its a dandy. With, you guessed it.."Wendel". On his property.
I thought, man that must be one great ranch. And didn't think any other thing of it.
Back to the DVD.........The DVD I picked out has 2 beautiful B+C bucks killed.
I get home and pop it in. Here is the other son "Guy" and you guessed it.... He's hunting with Wendel. Guy takes a dandy booner nontypical. I haven't yet seen the other buck on the video but I'm sure Wendel is involved.
WENDEL..............can I hunt with you. Pleeeeeeeeeese.
yes, I am jealous. LOL
 
you can be sure the Eastmans line ol Wendell's pockets with a little more green than the average guy could. Its about the money, not necessarily about being a good hunter.
 
Hi Gramps, Hows it been ?

I'm thinkin of changing my handle something with nasty in it like yours, kinda throwin around B_F_Nasty, or NastyWinter
I don'no yet, but when I do we'll be family.
Hope you don't have any copyrights or any thing like that,
GrampaNasty ?
 
IMO I think the Eastmans are very contadictory to the way they say to hunt...they are always preachin DIY, public land hunts. They rarely hunt like that and when they do, they don't get anything special. I don't know if they are paying Wendell more than anyone else, but I bet most of us could get bucks like that if we made a huntin show and gave him all that advertising!!
 
You don't think the Eastmans are like what? Paying top dollar to make it look like they are better hunters than they are? Anyone of us can shoot bucks like that if we had the constant cash flow that they have. I could go down to Mexico each year and kill 190" bucks if I could afford $10,000 a year to put towards hunting. I don't so I have to hunt the public land that I can draw a tag for. I know the Eastmans hunt public land as well, but they've also got the money to pay for great areas to hunt. More power to them. Just my opinion.

Steve
 
BFE
i'm still around and kicking... sometimes barely. I think i got a few more good years before you get rid of me. Nasty added to just about any name makes it a bit better. BuckNasty, GoodunNasty, BobcatNasty, they all roll off the tongue. Speaking of which, the mrs. is calling me gotta go
 
I am not a big fan of Eastman's, but I won't trash them on a site where they aren't present to defend "Hunting the Eastman Way" and "DYI". I'll stick with guys who are do as I do, not do as I say guys. Nuff said

PRO

Define, develop, and sustain BOTH trophy and opportunity hunts throughout the state of Utah.
 
Eastmans and the major majority of "Video Hunters" pay big dollars to shoot a majority of their animals. They are good hunters, but they also lay out a ton of cash every year. This is not an anomoly for any video production group/person. I agree they are very much a Do as I say not as I do production now compared to what they originally started out as. Just the fact and need of todays competitive market.
 
Back Country, No roads and no people. Just you and huge deer. The only way to go in my opinion. Screw Ranches and high fences and all that other bs.


Timberline
 
Its a buisness, they pay a certain amount of money to get big deer on film period.The same way other t.v. shows (non-hunting)pay for sets and props. Although some of there hunts are on private/guided land, they also do quite a few public land diy hunts. Get over it, They took the initiative to make a buisness out of what they love to do. If you dont like it.....dont watch. Or better yet, start making your own videos, working two jobs to afford your camera gear, and maybe then you could enjoy the success they have earned. Are you really so nieve to think that just poof.....They became popular and rich, c'mon....they started small an succeded.
 
Yep your right screw ranches- like the one that we own and operate and manage better than any other piece of public ground in the state. Maybe we could just let people have free run of the place like public land and after one year it would be equal in all respects to public land i.e. No deer, roads and quad tracks everywhere along with trash and beer cans under every tree and at every water hole. Give the private land guys some credit, it costs us a hell of a lot of money to support and help the Game animals that we love. Now go ahead and bring up the argument that we also get all the money off the hunts-well after spending over $120,000 in the last two years on brush control trick tanks winter holly and cliff rose re-vegetation as well as predator control, I hope we can get a little back. We hunted two tags in 05 none in 06 two in 07 and have booked two for 08. At that rate its going to be awhile before that pays off, if ever- Lol.

Son
 
Wow. I don't understand why people get so upset with "people" for hunting private land or ranches or CWMUs or LE hunts if they can afford it. I have always heard from the experts... Hunt where the big bucks or bulls are... Well, right now due to some poor management of general units and even some limited entry ones across the western states, it is a good bet that you can hunt a well managed ranch and have a chance (key word... Chance) at a great animal. We all know that there are some toads on public land/general units right now, but they're are some areas that are overrun with people and shotout.

CS

www.VIPoptics.com

"When You Deserve The Very Best"
 
I agree with cowslayers comment, and the other buck guy kills is from kansas. i dont care that they hunt ranches, but there are a couple guys that work for them i would like to see more of, that's david long and cam hanes, david used to film himself on solo back pack hunts in some of the nastiest country in the west, hat's off to him!
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-08 AT 07:23PM (MST)[p]What ever they do,they do it right!I give them credit for putting all together !
I enjoy the magazine and the show !
I watched one of there T.V. Shows on hunting public land in Wyoming for late season antelope.I put in for the same area the next year and took the biggest antelope I have ever killed,without watching there show I would have not thought of hunting the area in late season.
 
The Eastman's know how to hunt, and they support DIY and ranch or other guided hunts as long as they aren't high fence. Does the "NO Fences Here" slogan ring a bell?
There is a huge difference, IMHO, between a high fence ranch and a CWMU or RFW property in CO. Yes, the Eastman's can afford to hunt on a RFW property each year if they like. So What? I like the original post - yes, some are jealous, and in the spirit of the original post that is o.k. Some who post on this forum can afford to go on guided hunts each year as well, whether public or private land. No one begrudges them their success.
At the same time a poster above mentions that the Eastmans also hunt public land each year, without spectacular results (sort of like any good hunter), most stand ready to tear them to pieces if they are too successful! A real damned if you do, damned if youdon't scenario. Anyone who pays attention knows that they do reasonably well hunting on public land - some hunts better than others, of course. That is hunting, after all. And yes, they typically do better when hunting on RFW or similar properties. Don't the rest of us do better there as well, at least generally? Isn't that why most of us want to draw these tags? (Or pay for them, if we can afford it.) Sure, it is easier to video hunts on private land. And part of their businessis selling videos and putting on TV shows. No where will you find them stooping to shooting penned animals or canned hunts. If that ever happened, I would be the first to crucify them. Instead, they hunt hard on public land with way better than average success, and also participate in some hunts on ranches where (limited) tags are open to the public.
I have no problem with that, and aside from being envious of their success, true hunters should support this type of publication.

Bill
 
I would like to see them do a show where the big buck spooks and runs down and jumps the fence to run out onto public land and some regular Joe pops up and shoots him.
And then the Eastmans go down and congratulate him and put him in there video.
I don't know them but like to think that they are that sort of people.
 
I've met and talked to Mike Eastman a couple of times. We've even exchanged a few e-mails. He's really a decent sort of guy and does know how to hunt.

It's been said, he can't sell videos of no-big-deal deer. He buys those big deer (controlled-access-private ranches) so he can continue his livelihood.

Remember the beer commercial in which it says the real hero is the man who figured out how to get paid to fish...same goes for hunting. I wish I'd been far sighted enough to do what Mike does before he did it.

I'm older than most of you guys and have done enough hunting to know that many of you guys are just as good at hunting as the experts (I didn't say everybody.). There is a lot of success to be had through hard work and a little time. There is even more success to be had through hard work (maybe not AS hard) and the proper application of money to go along with even more time.
 
sonofthesouth-
Your #12 post was awesome....great post my friend!!

I guide exclusively on CWMU's throughout Utah and it's amazing how much better EVERYTHING is on a proud ranchers private ground compared to our somewhat "trashed" public grounds.
And i'm not talking just about the game, everything about them is usually top notch and maintained.

Prime example-
Take a ride through the Deseret Ranch, Ensign, Two Bear or any other top notch CWMU, take a look around, then drive through the mountains of Strawberry or Skyline drive in the Manti's.
Take a garbage bag with you and pick up some aluminum cans and pay for your gas. ;-)

No wonder landowners are so strict and keep their places locked up so tight!!










Skull Krazy
"No Bones About It"
 
There is a ranch here where I live that because of trespass problems and guys abusing the trust of the land owner, when they do get on, that no amount of money will gain you access. This Ranch is a prime example of that. 100 sections of the best mule deer country in NM and because of one bone head guy nobody will hunt that for years. The last buck that was killed was a 226? 38 ?inch buck that was in Muley Crazy magazine a few years ago. We tried to gain access last year to hunt a buck we believed to be in the mid 230?s and were told by the ranch manager that George Strait wanted to hunt it and was told no and that it didn't look good for us either. lol

Son
 
Yes the Eastman's will hunt privet land but 90% of the hunts are DIY. And they put allot of time into it. What I was saying is they would rather be out there with us hunting then on some ranch with huge deer that you pay $10,000 for. That's why I support them all the way. And they are very nice people! Now David Long and Cameron Hanes now threes some hunters. Yes they all make more money then we do but I but think they don't abuse it.
 
Good luck getting on Fraughton's(Wendell) place to hunt.He hunts with exclusively repeat clients-I don't know why Mike continues to put his phone# in the outfitters section of the mag.I have talked to him twice in the past 10 years and got the same reply both times.Not even a waiting list.Oh well.My only problem with Eastman's is they constantly talk about "patterning" a buck.Pretty easy to do on private land,a different story on public."The Eastman way"also kind of bugs me since at least half of their hunts are on private ranches.I have all but the first issue of the mag,and have talked with Mike a few times and been in the mag a few times.Still one of the best out there,and I try not to miss the show.I wish they hadn't changed the soundtrack-that was kind of the trademark of the show.One thing no one mentioned when talking about them paying top dollar for those hunts.We're talking tax-deductible hunting here,folks.It's their business!Wonder if they can deduct tag fees as well??
 
If I could afford to hunt private land you better believe I would but for most of us public is the only option. With that said, Eastmans do what all of us would do if we could. I wish they would do more with David Long and Cameron Hanes as far as diy and backpack hunts(on public land).
The magazine is awesome and the information is invaluable. I will keep subscribing.
 
I have spoken with Wendel as well about hunting his ranch, sounds like a great place. The only problem I see with ranch hunting, or private land where you are paying money is this...where does it end, are we making hunting in general a rich mans' sport, was it ever intended to be? Does it have to be? I worry that in the future the only "good" hunting will be on private ranches with high prices and the public hunting will be forgotten, because we all know that money talks. Why can't we take care of our public land, manage it, clean it up, respect the rules so that for years to come all of us can enjoy hunting, before hunting becomes something only the rich and famous can do. I feel that the hunting shows glorify killing, not necessarily hunting big game. I hope that we aren't screwing things up for the future.
 
Thank you nontypical! I agree with you 100% on the whole "patterning" and "the Eastman's way" thing. T too subscribe and think they put out a great magazine, but when half of your hunts are on private ranches, you are not practicing what you preach.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-31-08 AT 00:38AM (MST)[p]While I don't have a problem with big dollar folks hunting private land, I would do the same thing had I the $. I do have an issue with these guys thinking or pretending to be the greatest hunters on the planet because they kill giant (bought and paid for) bucks on private land every year. Their version of DIY is a lot different than most people would think. Bucks that are observed all year and spotted before the crew arrives is not really a DIY hunt. That is what annoys me, they mislead people into thinking that they should listen to what they have to say about hunting and adopt or even change their hunting methods to match theirs so they can kill giant bucks. They are also quick to spout off at the mouth about jealousy if anyone even questions their methods or the difficulty of their hunt.

Try some of that "patterning" crap on giant public land buck. Good luck. Put most of these guys in the middle of the colorado or wyoming high country during a standard rifle season and they wouldn't get anything better than the average guy.

That being said, we are fortunate that someone hunts these big private land bucks because if nobody did we would never see them and they would die busted up along some road or gettin eaten by a lion.
 
Sounds like the Eastman's and George Strait's of the world get the sweet spots on the big ranches, well kinda the way the whole world works really, the bigs have always run with the bigs and always will. Nothing new or surprising, but I do have a question for those of you who seem to have outfitter experience or even guide or have guided. If a group is coming in for a hunt, say six guys for the early season and you have joe blow 1 from PA, joe blow 2 from TN, joe blow 3 from MI, and then Mr. Attorney from NY, Dr. Shirley from FL and Mr. Business Owner from TX, who gets the best guides and a crack at the best deer or elk? The joe blows who will tip nominally at best or the big shots who will tip handsomely if successful on a trophy animal? I have always been leary of this scenario, since I am just a average joe blow. I only have two guided experiences for reference, one a guided elk hunt in AZ where the doctor killed a monster bull and I almost feel over when I saw the roll of hundred dollar bills he put in the guides pocket! Second is a guided bear hunt in Canada, where our guide, was very cordial, but gave us a lackluster effort, of course we were just a group of joe blows who were tight on money and didn't tip all that good. Just curious if the outfitters profile their customers before the hunt and if this ever comes into play on who hunts where and who gets the best guides???

WP
 
Eastman's is the best magazine out there and one of the best TV shows on the outdoor channel, in my opinion.

That being said, when they have a DIY, public land hunt on the tv show, they are very quick to add the "Eastman Way" phrase ten or twelve times. And if you mention "Eastman" 2-5 times in an article, you're articles probally gonna get published. I think they understand they are being somewhat hypocrytical, but also know that there is just as big a market out there for "inches". Kind of a tough tightrope to walk.
 
I have a question for everybody. Should these ranch, guided or unguided hunts be listed in the record books? Are the record books fair? Are we glamourizing the killing of trophy animals and by doing so screwing hunting up for the future? Are we becoming elitists like some fly fisherman who will never kill a fish? All catch and release.

I wonder if some of these websites and forums are simply a place for some people to brag about the "monster" the took. I have some friends that rarely ever show their trophies and are very paticular who they show them to, just for the simple fact they don't want to show off. I am worried sick about the critters this winter, things don't look good. Maybe Don Peay can save the day?! Is that funny or is your blood boiling now? Sorry.
 
"Should these ranch, guided or unguided hunts be listed in the record books? Are the record books fair?"

Just because a buck is on my private property today doesn't mean he will be the next. Just because a ranch is big or practiced good management doesn't guarantee a big buck. Don?t confuse high fenced private with low fenced private. It's not the same, not even close.

Son
 
Yes, these animals should be entered in the books. I like to think they are still wild/free ranging. I do begin to worry(and I usually change the channel) when I see guys hunting whitetails over a "food plot" that is specially formulated to grow big antlers. I think well managed ranches and LE hunts are about the only place to actually hunt trophy animals.

Is "trophy hunting" going to ruin hunting? Maybe. I know I like eating deer and elk meat and will always like to be successful, but..............Its's a lot more fun to try to kill a "book" buck or bull, and I dont log on MM every night to look at 150" bucks or 300" bulls. I want to see 200" bucks and 400" bulls!!! I also like seeing em here before I see em in Eastmans. (like Son's 404" bull)




" We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm"
 
Get used to it. The price of a quality hunt is going to go up and up each year until it will be out of the price range of most. Supply and demand is always going to drive the price. I have gotten satisfied with a nice cow elk and occasional good bull when I draw a tag. Nice thing is we can still hunt trophy whitetails on public land out east.
 
There is a cost involved in anything that is properly run and to ignore that fact is self defeating. We know what are management practices are going to, and do cost us, if you don't talk to someone that does.
My wife decided to hunt for the first time in her life this year which is awesome, she hunted with me on our own property and killed a 198" 32?wide Giant; I had to pay to our own Ranch, $2000.00 whether that's cheap or if it is a lot, my point is you have to be committed to putting back into the resource. We can all do the same on public or our own private by donating time and money and following through over the long haul.

Son
 
us little people are here for one reason only, to line the pockets of the big names so they can continue to take monster bucks so we can keep drooling over their bucks and say, Gee's their awesome......
 
Tracker said "Get used to it" I'm afraid he's right but i still don't have to like it. I grew up on my Grandfathers ranch where he never denied permission to anybody who asked to hunt. Infurieated me at times cause of the competition but the deer were there as a result of the natural habitat and the land. Didn't cost him a dime other than the no trespassing signs we posted to keep, those who didn't ask, out. Grandpa got by just fine.

I think many of the guys that did or are now selling out to outfitters don't want to work cattle or farm the land to earn their living. They'ed rather benifit from recieved bribes to sell exclusive hunting for a select few, than let, those with manners and the balls to ask permission, to hunt for free or a small fee.

Sad thing is, i still don't hafta like it, but i don't know that i can blame them.
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-01-08 AT 11:07PM (MST)[p]I'm one of those little guys that don't have much when it comes to material posessions but.... I am whackin monster bucks on a fairly regular basis. I am a DIYer that hunts 100% public land. I love reading Eastman's Journal, just like I love reading most Horn Porn Rags, because of the common passion, Trophy Mule Deer.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Feb-01-08
>AT 11:07?PM (MST)

>
>I'm one of those little guys
>that don't have much when
>it comes to material posessions
>but.... I am whackin monster
>bucks on a fairly regular
>basis. I am a DIYer
>that hunts 100% public land.
>I love reading Eastman's Journal,
>just like I love reading
>most Horn Porn Rags, because
>of the common passion, Trophy
>Mule Deer.



True, but where you live can't be compared to the State's these days, maybe back in the 60's or 70's...
 
The guy is still hunting bucks in black timber Manny. He doesn't need a disclaimer just because non-residents can't hunt there without a guide. Give the guy his due and tip your hat as opposed to making some sort of insinuation that it doesn't countas much.

I'll bet what BCBOY is doing is a hell of alot harder than whacking a buck in the Gunnison basin during the 4th season after a foot of snow has fallen.
 
"The guy is still hunting bucks in black timber Manny"

who, Mike or Steve, if your talking about Steve, then I'd say your right, he's one on one a big ole buck no doubt, but I still think BC is like the old west back in the hay days of the 60's....
 
Manny,
You actually made my point. It really doesn't matter where big bucks are killed, private or Limited Entry or public GOS, there will always be people complain that it ain't really a true accomplishment because it isn't like where they hunt or how they hunt. I've seen comments like yours regarding BC numerous times on these boards. The mindset seems to be that even though I do it the WAY (DIY GOS Public land) everyone claims they respect the most, there are many that discount it because they think it is somehow easy hunting up here. It really couldn't be furthur from the truth. Man, I'd love to hunt some of the 'easy' terrain that seems to be depicted on many of the western hunting videos out there. I laugh my ass off when they actually make comments about how thick it is. The thickest terrain they show would be considered very very open in my neck of the woods. I laugh when they show a big buck walk into a patch of 'quakies' and they say it just went into the thick timber and is gone for good. Meanwhile, I'm screaming at the TV saying 'Get off your asses and get in there and kill that buck for pete's sake!' :)
I will give credit where credit is due. I can truly say that Mike Eastman's book, Hunting High Country Mule Deer, was an eye opener to me. It allowed me to put many pieces of the puzzle together and is one of the reasons I've been having whackin and stackin the big bucks lately. Of course I have my own strategies that I have come up with through trial and error, but the ideas Mike put forward were the foundation. I applaud the Eastmans for doing what they love, hunting. They have been able to make a living at it for several generations now. That's awesome. From Gordon hunting up in Northern BC filming High Wild and Free back in the early 60's on down to the current magazine and TV show, they are doing what they love, hunting wild western big game. I think that is pretty damn cool.
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-02-08 AT 07:03PM (MST)[p]I'm curious to know how a buck killed on a private ranch where they may have 6 hunters during their 10 day season is the same as taking a buck on 100% public land where they are hunted from August to December? Sure the terrain may be the same but the animals are not. My point in posting this question was, do you think that these "hunts" on private ranches (where the owners do a darn good job, work hard, blood sweat and tears etc...) are hurting hunting in general? I'm just wondering where we draw the line? I for one don't ever want a guided hunt on a ranch. I would rather take a 170 class buck out of 100% public land than a 200 inch buck from a ranch, just so I can show it off to my friends. I guess everyone has their own ideas, I just hope the hunting shows, expos with high dollar tags, and whatnot don't screw things up.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Feb-02-08
>AT 07:03?PM (MST)

>
>I'm curious to know how a
>buck killed on a private
>ranch where they may have
>6 hunters during their 10
>day season is the same
>as taking a buck on
>100% public land where they
>are hunted from August to
>December? Sure the terrain may
>be the same but the
>animals are not. My point
>in posting this question was,
>do you think that these
>"hunts" on private ranches (where
>the owners do a darn
>good job, work hard, blood
>sweat and tears etc...) are
>hurting hunting in general? I'm
>just wondering where we draw
>the line? I for one
>don't ever want a guided
>hunt on a ranch. I
>would rather take a 170
>class buck out of 100%
>public land than a 200
>inch buck from a ranch,
>just so I can show
>it off to my friends.
>I guess everyone has their
>own ideas, I just hope
>the hunting shows, expos with
>high dollar tags, and whatnot
>don't screw things up.


DIY;

I totally agree with your points, as for eastman and his possie
they are all a pot load of hypocrites. I know I am going catch hell on that comment and what I am about to say but here it goes and yes remember we all have the right to our opinion here.
The eastman possie has screwed every guy in Wyoming and alot of the westernstaes with the where you should hunt and how you should hunt rather your the guy who has hunted the area as a kid to adult hood or the new guy on the block. We spend our time as locals scouting and finding the deer we want and back off a couple of day's before season to come in opening morning to find an out of state tag camped right were you were going to hunt and yes this happens in every state. The diffrence is not all states have a where to go and what tag to draw spokes person for there, deer elk and antelope "where the next state record book deer area is area ###"
as for me I do not subscribe nor do I purchase any eastmen magazines or watch his shows.
Yes he has done well at making a name for himself it just piss's me off as he explotes public land in all western states for personal gain, then turns around and hunt's private land and kills awsome bucks then turns around and say's yes this was taken in a genral area during genral season in what ever state he hunt's... Now if you would like to attack me for what I have said here go right ahead but this is my opinion and if you get offended because this man is you hero than sorry.
 
I think we all complain too much. Maybe we should move to Europe, then we would have nothing to complain about, since most of us wouldn't have the means or the status to hunt. We should all be thankful for living in a country that, for now, gives the average person the opportunity to hunt.
 
When I read Eastmans mag., I find that I look for the "Public Land" slogan at the beginning of the article. For some reason, if that's not on the front of the article I either read it last or not at all. I guess I just like to reading stories about how guys worked hard on public land and got a great animal.

Shawn
 
I agree, Not wanting to stir the pot but in college my wife worked with one of the eastmans wives and she said they very seldom hunt mule deer or antelope on accessable public land. Alot of the so called public land is land locked by private.
 
There is alot of pissin and moaning going on here and who cares if it was shot on public or private!!!!! My Family owns ground where eastmans hunt and i hunted it last year and guess what? I ate TAG SOUP! I hunted my A$$ off and never had a chance at a buck over 160. Ive hunted on my familys ground most of my life, i have shot a few good bucks over the years but for the most part i have Hunted my Ace off and passed up alot of ok bucks in hopes of a monster with no luck. Public or Private deer are deer, you hunt them all the same! ya i think eastmans Preach public land (diy)and there always hunting private which i dont agree with. but i still think they are good hunters. they do the time no matter what side of the fence there on.. Oh Ya no fences here!!!!
 

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