SEASON OF THE "SON"

Midnight

Active Member
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Gary Wilson
MIDNIGHT- MonsterMuleys User Name
Salt Lake City, Utah
BOWHUNTER

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SEASON OF THE "SON"
The title of 2011 Adventure Challenge is only fitting as my 12 year old son is going to be hunting along side of me this year. Seeing this is his rookie season, I am very excited to share with him my hunting adventures in the outdoors.

Heck, he might even get me a couple more "hall passes" from mom.

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POST SEASON SCOUTING
Even though the hunt ended... I am in a routine of watching and glassing. After work, I would make a quick run to the hills and look in all the favorite spots and without a hitch... I would always get a glimpse of a good bull or buck.

I began to see particular bucks and bulls in the same general spot.




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BIG 5
Before I knew it... March was upon us.One night I had spotted BIG 5 and Pete Carney (C3)and I went up to get some photos. It was a bit dark. But got a couple of photos and video non the less. (C3 is making up a short film or video clip of footage. Its awesome.I will link you to the footage when it is available.)

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Wouldn't you know it, Pete returned the next morning and this large cow had appeared in the same spot with two red circles on its head!

We arranged to go out and look the next morning. Pete found this one. It took about hour to find it.

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In between looking for the other side of BIG 5 I found this old big mossy back shed. It's one of my favorites. Tons of character.


The next shed we spent about two hours combing the hillside. We basically were looking in the wrong direction most of the time. I climbed up on a high advantage and started looking with my binoculars. I was combing over some scrub oak and caught a glimpse of bone among scrub. CAN YOU SEE IT?

We call this one needle in the haystack. Its right in the middle, pretty much standing straight up with it 4th and 5th looking like a "T" in the open snow.

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No bad for a 5 point. Dang this one doesn't have grown scrinkage.
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Pete and I with our first sheds of the season. It was a first for both of us to watch, film, video, and pick up a particular bull matching set, let alone a bull we were targeting to find. We both are still just all tickled inside to have such a moment.
The best part was Pete's new camera set up. I'm telling you. Good photos make a better memory than crappy blurry photos.

LESSON; Buy as much as you can afford. They are worth it. Thanks, Pete for hauling your gear.
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Bryan Tucker came along as he was a hunting partner on this bull during the season. Sean Morgan just about shot this bull as I made a push for him, but the BIG 5 was too smart, he winded us and blazed out of area before I could get around hill to push him into Sean. Next year, I guess!
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I don't have the photo, will seek it out from PETE, But someone has a story on this bull as we found a perfect broadhead mark on the back of the right side antler. It was hit on the right side smack dab in the middle of this horn, penetrating about 1/2 an inch.

BIG 5 is one bull we have on our 2012 season as a bull to look for!
 
"RN"
All bucks and bulls have a name with some meaning to help keep them all seperate and easily identified. This was a bull that surprised me as to where he was wintering. I didn't think much of him as I was focused on another bull in a different area, but this bull was not to be ignored.

Pete Carney and I kept tabs on this bull for several weeks. Many of these photos are his taking and so I owe him the credit for the photography with RN and BIG 5.

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The mass on RN was staggering. Many people that saw footage of this bull agreed he would score well but as a decieving score as his mass was so incredible the bull was such a big mature bull that it was hard not to think he was just another typical 6 point.

Once again Pete was watching the bull on the evening that he shot this photo. He was getting some incredible video and turned away for about 8 minutes. When he turned back to look at the bull, One had dropped. We knew we were going in a pick up the next morning as daylight was fading fast.

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As it laid...
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RN with RIGHT ANTLER
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RN the next day was scabbed over... The bright red was gone, but he packed that shed all night and the next day.
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We returned the next morning to look for him and wouldn't you know it... he had turned into a cow. He had feed over the hill and allowed us to slip in where he was the night before and early that morning. It began to snow and if we didn't hurry, his tracks were going to be covered in about 4 inches of new snow. The old snow actually eliminates alot of area if you have tracks to follow. Otherwise, there would be twice as much ground to cover.

After a good hike up the hill, and combing all over the hill, I was lucky enough to stumble on the shed. It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment. Two shed from this incredible bull. What are the odds?

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As I was shouting at the top of my lungs a big "yahoo," Pete stumbled upon a good deer shed himself. Not bad for this Public Land area. Problem we have is this is 6 months and miles away from where they probably spend the season.

Let me begin to try and explain my feelings at this time. I didn't know two things could impact me so much.
1) Shed Hunting can be as exciting as harvesting an animal. Reason; The animal is still out there and the challenge is still going!
2) Capturing the moment on video and camera is priceless. I am so thrilled that Pete took the time and effort to capture this footage. A Legacy is being created and documented each time we go out. Again, buy the most expensive camera you can afford.

Here is RN in all his glory as we brought his 2011 shed hunting season to a close.

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Well the end result was worth the quick trips to the hill early in morning for Pete and late in afternoon for me, well I believe Pete did both actually. The best part of this entire story is that Pete got both shed sets of BIG 5 and RN all on HD video. He is working on the production of a short film of sorts. He and I are both stunned at the footage he has captured.
 
"RD"

Let me introduce my next greatest challenge; A Bull named "RD"
RD 2010
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RD has been a bull I first laid my eyes on in March of 2010. Pete had his camera handy and he captured some amazing footage of him in 2010.

RD Video 2010

RD 2011
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As the season rolled around, I returned to look for RD and after several days of searching, there he was. He had returned and made it through all the hunting seasons. What a majestic bull. As the monarch of the herd in this area, he has a special meaning to me.

Whether I ever harvest him or find any sheds, he is the one that I dream about now. The bull that gives me that extra adrenline to climb those hills and crawl through the scrub oak in hopes of finding a piece of ivory antler. Silly, you bet! Dumb? I would agree, but gosh, I get a kick out of it. I can't seem to get excited about hitting a golf ball. I wish I could. Instead, I am hiking around for hours searching for a needle in a 20 mile haystack.

RD Video 2011
 
Search for "RD"

Found the "CLUB BULL"
6 point on left side & 16 inch drop tine Club on the right side. We saw this bull during the season and never again for about 4 months. Today he was just chewing his cud. It would be cool to find a club. I bet I would walk right past it and never even notice it. They look so similar to a knot of some scrub oak and very dark.

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Climbed up to the top of a ridge and found a couple of bulls about 800-900 yards away. None of them had antlers and you could see (1) inch fuzzy dark velvet growth starting to show.


Again, I am sorry for my quality of shots, but here is a needle in the haystack. I glanced over it and came back due to the whiteness and contrast from everything else on the hillside. The shape was smooth as antlers are and my eye is getting better and better at picking this out. I guess that's what I love about this shed hunting. The target has become smaller and more difficult. Hidden most likely by blending in the environment. LUCK is a huge factor as well.

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The shed is a six point with what looks like a cheater or something coming off the 4th.

I decided to leave it and go back for it this next week. I was out of time and it would have put a lot of distant from the car. I will return from the opposite hill side and walk right up to it. I doubt anyone will find it. It's literally in the middle of a huge oak brush patch.

I got to give a shout out to Sean Morgan AKA Bugleboy for the SOCK SAVERS! He gave them as a gift. They have already saved one pair of socks from all the mud and dirt that get in my shoes. Thanks sean. So far, so good!

Vintage Scope and crappy binoculars that are missing an eye piece. Looking up from your binoculars can't be good when your focus is blurred and you seem cross-eyed for about 30 seconds.


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PART II; RETURN to pick up the shed from last week.

After work, I couldn't wait until next friday when I had time to go out, so I ran up to the hill in a spring rain shower and nearly got drenched. Not to mention the spring run off was at an all time high with record snowfall and constant rain, the trail was a small stream.
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Higher up the hill all signs were of the dethaw in full swing. Small flowers were breaking out. everywhere. If you haven't seen the hills at this early time of year, your in for a treat. The hillside looks like a well trimmed lawn. Everything is turning green. Grass in only one or two inches tall.
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From the earlier shot you can tell I had to search in the middle of a scub oak patch, the only problem was the whole hillside was scrub oak. What looked obvious three days ago, wasn't so obvious. I just trusted my instinct and kept climbing higher until I was sure I was in the right spot.

I entered into a tall thick clump of scrub oak and penetrated to the middle of the thicket. Right on cue... there it was. White bone sticking straight up in the air. I let out a yahoo, and walked up to see how big it was. I was in for a treat.
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It was a good sized 6 point.... wait, seven point, oh crap, a devil horn cheater too! That makes it an 8 point! I could have been more excited about another great discovery. This is getting fun!
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After pulling it out of the grass, it was obvious this shed had been there for a year or two.
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The disbelief to me is the size of the bases. He is a big bull for these parts. This is a public land area and we don't see this caliber of bull here. Winter bulls are rare and big ones are even rarer. BIG 5, RN, and RD are the biggest I have seen, and here is another in their class. Too bad I missed him earlier. It makes you wonder how many we really miss each year.
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After some searching around for the opposite shed, all I could find was this cow skull. I hung it up for the next vistor to discover in an awkward place. I like the colors so I took a couple of photos.
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Day light was burning so I had get motoring back to pick up another shed I saw on the way in. I glassed the opposite hillside and to my surprise I found this small 6 point. I took a photo of the hillside to help me remember where it was from a large clump of scrub oak and another couple of land marks.
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As It Lays; this is how I found this one. It was stuck straight in the dirt. The terrain is very soft and soggy. With all the rain, it's no wonder it was sticking straight up.
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All in all not bad for a quick trip to pick up a shed spotted from the other side of the hill and to find another, I was happy to say the least. I am beginning to like this new hobby for the spring. The temperature for hiking made it very pleasant and the new signs of spring and smell is refreshing after a long winter.
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Each trip is one less place to search for RD. Too bad the haystack is so large. Chances of me finding him are slim. But that is where the lure to hike come from...perhaps I can narrow it down by guessing and checking where he might have migrated.

Stay Tuned...
 
Yesterday was a quick trip to the hills after afamily easter hunt and lunch. Rain and snow greeted me at the hill. Regardless, I was itchn to go walk the hills for more shed hunting. Hiking isn't a mental block for me, as it use to be thinking of how far and how steep or how tired I am. Now days, my mind doesn't even think about distance.

Many of my trips in the past were determined as to where and how far it would be. I have accepted the fact that deer and elk are most likely where most people don't like to go. Less pressure.

Today I decided to do something I have never really done before. I took another step forward for conservation. I decided to make a photo journal or collection of trash.

Lately, I have been coming across alot of trash and I have a semi empty pack so I thougth I would take a photo, sort of like a shed hunt photo and then do my part and pick it up and pack it out. I thought... geez, maybe I will see how much I can do each trip and keep it all for a final photo, but then I decided to avoid hoarding trash, and the picture will do and the dumpster will get the pack out results. LESSON, bring a black garbage bag, one of them leaked. Old Beer or water stunk and was gross.


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TRASH
I was a bit disturbed by the amount of trash I was seeing and this trip as mentioned before decided to pick it up.

As I was trying to post my last post, I accidently posted it instead of preview... so here is the garbage. I am amazed at the amount in just a short quick hike to the top of a peak. Each ridge or saddle seemed to have some garbage.

Tossing a bottle or can in the bush isn't going to magically disappear.

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I also found a huge flannel camo shirt, but my iphone battery died.


SHEDS...continued

While I was about half way up the hill I was scouting with bino's and studying every hillside. I was looking up at a kill shot last season and could make out the bones and down below it was a white shed. I first thought it was bones from last season kill, but after zooming in with spotting scope I was certain it was a satelite bull shed. It was about 700 yards up hill from me. As you can see the hill below me I was on the ridge walking up and glassing as I went along the ridge.

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No RD sheds... but I am narrowing down the possibilites.
 
Geez, This is turning into "SEASON OF THE SHEDS"

My son hasn't been on the hill yet with me a he is in school, but I am able to hit the hills after my work and here is what i found this afternoon.

Smallest moose shed ever!
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Smallest moose shed set
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Ole Timer Whiskey bottle? Heck if I know. This was at the top of a ridge. Milk, water, apple juice? Who knows. Whiskey sounds better and more fitting.
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Whiskey bottle was the only trash I ran into this trip!

NO RD Sheds again, but I did cover alot of his area. The buck sheds were right in the area that the video was shot. These were old and about 5-8 years ago I did see a giant buck running around in these hills. Maybe they were his. Who knows.

Stay Tuned. Narrowing down the search area, Trying to get out as much as I can before the grass grows taller.

Midnight
 
Went out hunting for RN Sheds and found a couple of his friends.

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These two were about 500-600 yards from each other. Same size, same length, bottoms look identical... so my guess is they are a match. One side is 6 point with cheater making it a very cool 7 point. I can't wait until this guy grows up!

Here is the best angle to look for sheds. Straight on. You can see everything that is contrasting to the hillside, especially if it is white. But believe me... you will find 100's of sheds that is "branches" that look like sheds.

I love to glass and pick apart the hill side for deer, seem like I found a new way to pick apart the hill trying to find a shed instead of an entire body. Full bodied deer or elk is easier. This is some good eye training for picking out an elk or deer in the thick stuff. I have found more in the rough than out in the open.


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Hillside glassing for sheds
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First thing I noticed was this white dead head
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Up close with dead head 2 point

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Then I glassed around looking for remains and picked up another white object. a definite antler... I couldn't tell how big, but I knew it wasn't too small and too big.

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Up close

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I could also see the very white stick... but I could zoom in to see that the top was very similar to the bottom of an antler. I have seen enought shed bottom to recogize the shape of the base of the antler to know I needed to mark some landmarks so I could find it when I got over the hillside.

I got my bearings on one obvious landmark and plotted my course by numbering the turns in the various terrain. I later walked right up to the spot. Here is what I found.
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I couldn't believe the amount of antler under the ground. It was covered with about four inches of dirt.

Still no RN, but I am getting lucky enough to find something while I am make a quick trip to the hills.
 
Home sweet home. The Wasatch Front
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Mug shot on the Front
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Bowcast at the Bird 2011
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Jake Shooting at the Snowbird
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Superior is the name of the tall mountain... spent plenty of time on that hill in the winter hiking to the top with friends
Sort of funny watching the nature lovers shocked when the Plaza was engulfed with guys dressed in camo and carrying a bow.
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With so much snow up high I went on a couple of extra shed trips in lower country to see if i could find anything.
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About all I found was perfect weather and lush green country.

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Not every trip comes back with a sovenior, but I did find a great game trail I didn't know existed... which I will use make a mental note on for later.

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Actually I did find a shed... if you can call it one. I would use the term "Crappy Shed" in this photo.



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The grey looking stick is a spike shed. Right in the middle of the trail... The crap was a coyote marking his spot.

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I scared the "Crap" out of this guy as I interrupted his sun tanning session. He was just 50 yards away from the spike shed down the trail.

When they are every where... its hard not to notice and become a nature lover.

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Dusk on the Wasatch

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Took at trip with Kelly Hicks to his honey hole with his pooch.
Good set up. Fun to go to new places...
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Scruboak doens't take kindly to the rain gear. It started to rain and a steady wind was a bit too cold, so I put on the rain/wind gear.

MENTAL NOTE... buy new rain pants before next storm!

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Tried out some new ground on the front... many probably recognize this photo. Very unlike me to show such obvious locations.... but this year I am all over the map so... good luck to all those that go to the same spots. The photo is incredible back drop. I wish I had bucks to go with the scouting trip.
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You got to hike it to hunt it...

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Cross Training. My Dad's gear. My knees have been bothering me so thought I'd ride his bike for a change... ended up shaving my legs, if that tells you anything. I have always driven up so many canyons and seen so many road bikers suffering up the hill, I wanted to compare it to hiking.

Biking is all about the 5-10 feet in front of you. I even took my mountain bike up and had a bad experience... that it was faster to walk up the hill. Besides, I bush wack too much to bring a bike that I have to return to after I ditch it off the side of the trail.

I could be persuaded to ride road or mtn bike anytime... thats the problem, this crazy addiction to scouting doesn't warrant a bike in the ideal hunting areas I frequent. So, back to a good pair of shoes.

Bryan Tucker snapped a photo of this bull this summer and so we naturally decided to haul a stand into the area and try our luck with some attractants and trail cameras.
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Not to miss any of the fun, I volunteered and we spend half a day putting up a tree stand. I am seen here gearing up with my harness. You don't want to fall out putting the stand up. I use a daisy chain to wrap around the trunk and two big carbiners to clip into the loops. Quick and easy protection while climbing up and hanging on to the sappy trunk. Gloves have come in handy. Don't forget to wear your old pants. I have a good set of wranglers I don't care about and they get the scrub stain and sap spots.

This year you can tell I have been wearing the sock gaitors. They are great. No more brown socks to wash. I like them and they eliminate on all the dirt getting into your shoes. Far Less spurs etc.
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Still alot of snow everywhere. We joked about making a snowcave and sleeping in it. Last year I was at the top of a ski resort and someone had done that in the huge snowdrift that was left from the winter. That could happend everywhere this year.

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Hiking around one weekend looking for new spots, from last year. If I don't find anything new... I go back to the old spots that have produced pretty well over the years.

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Here is a photo of what I hope to provide some good shots this year. Most of my best stuff is on a GoPro. I will try and upload it to this site, but it takes alot of space and I can't convert it yet. But in time I will figure it out.

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Jake and I stopped up at Beehive Wasatch Bowhunters, Inc. 3D Course and got some practice in.

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Suprise... Surprise... when a arrow is caught in mid flight it looks pretty cool.

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GO UTES! PAC-12! What out there's a new kid on the block and they aren't going to just roll over cause their from the old Mountain West.


Things are looking good...if you hunt at the local elk farm!

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HOME SWEET HOME... This one goes out to Sean Morgan while he is working in Texas... dreaming of hiking the wasatch front in 14 days. They'll be here when you get back Sean.

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Did another hike scouting some more new area. Found the flowers.

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Archery Film Tour at the 3D Shoots
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Organized a film tour of bowhunting short films with producers from all over the country. Jake came along and we watched some good footage in the mountains after shooting at the Timpanogos Archers 2011 Rendenvous.

Zac Jones won the Hoyt Rampage bow

The Utah National Guard supported the event and talked with several bowhunters about their programs. We were happy to have them up at the event. Look for them at other events and perhaps you will go away with some cool giveaways too.

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BADLANDS GEAR SWAP
It was long overdue. Isaac organized a gear swap with United Wildlife Cooperative and they did an awesome job moving all sorts of products. I was able to score some amazing deals. I traded a couple of great items and sold some old gear.

PM me for details about film tour or gear swap in your neck of the woods. I can tell you what worked for these events.

(What's up Cody B. )

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Here was my set up... I went home plenty happy. Best deal was bivy tent swap for a Dakine ski pack.

Weirdest trade was an older trail camera for a deer hide. Going to make up some sort of decoy with the hide on my pack during the rut.

Boys doing some practice at the grandparents tree house.
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I took Jake up to the Treasure Mountain 3D Shoot. He lost two arrows but did good for anything under 40 yards.

I hit the hills today to retrieve a trail camera.I had 4 hours to get up and back down the hill.

I pushed hard to get up to this years honey hole for Jake. I have had a trail camera on an area with Bd2 and salt plus water dug out.

I remember why I don't like to hike during the day... It's too hot!

I gave myself my own nickname for a reason. It so much cooler and pleasant walking in a night time. It perfect temperature. Not so hot. I burned up today. The undergrowth is so tall, it's nearly 6-8 feet tall in places. With so much growth there is a lot of sap that comes off all the green vegitation that I have boycotted the shorts. It get too sticky, Hence the hot pants.

Elk tracks were everywhere, hitting the attractant very well, but very disappointed with the failed trail camera. I replaced it with my last one and will hope for the best.

Carried up my clippers and clipped some overgrowth on the way out. It was getting hard to get up and down the trail.

All the trail of a good hitting stand are evident. Several hooves will make a very good dirt trail. Any time you run across one follow it...it means your close to heavy traffic area for elk.

Good Trails are coming in from all angles. We should see elk on the first sitting.
 
Here are the first trail cameras I have been able to post this year after several attempts to bring photos home.
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This is a perfect bull for Jake on his first year. Looks promising. If we get lucky... he will bring this bull home.18 yard shot from stand.
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Gosh, I hope that went we get our hunter safety card on August 17th, they still have a youth mule deer archery tag. Not going to hold our breath, but this buck could spoil him early.

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OK...out of desperation I am posting photos from 2005. I hope you believe me though.... LOL (I didn't reset the camera or.... maybe I am BS'ing you) These are from one trail camera of three that I have out there. I have to go and retrieve two more tonight and the following night. I hope to get a couple of early morning glassing sessions before by Saturday Morning.
 
Week Prior to Opener Aug 20th
Checked out the other trail camera. I have been having difficulty getting these camera to work.

Finally I got the right camera to take some shots and I finally have somthing to motivate Jake to hike back into this spot.
Nice three point.
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I can count at least 6x6, so this would make the best bull but I cant tell for certain. Only good shot of bull.
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Here is the front view.
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Horrible photo... glad to be upgrading my trail cameras, thanks to Wildgame Innovations. My night shots will never be this crappy again. Sending back these WildView cameras.
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Good starter bull for Jake
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Nice to be watching the only bath tub in the area!
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Good 5x5 for the 12 year old, too. Velvet gone
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Plenty of day time shots of this 5x5 bull.
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White had been my favorite color for daytime hiking. Its so Hot!
I swore no more afternoon hikes. Their way too brutal, hot and humid. Night time is about 20 degrees cooler. I make sure jake understood this on our opener day. Pants due to the sap of all the undergrowth of the hillside.
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Utah Elk Archery Opener Day:

Jake had football weigh in this morning so for the first time in 12 years... I missed the opener sunrise hunt. No big deal, good to do for the family. We finally got to the hills at about 2:00pm
Bush wacking up through the quakies
http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/1570/Midnight-Son-Jake-Wilson
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Hiking into the Jackpot stand
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Set up in the stand and waiting for the critters.
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Right as the thunderclouds came rolling throught that afternoon, so did this cow. It was the first animal Jake got to witness froma a stand. It was perfect. We had a dry run with getting his bow into full draw, but today, this time it was animal that he got to practice on before a real live bull elk comes in. Jake was anxious, as anyone would be, but as you can tell from the photos, the cow moose was facing us. It looked up at us a couple of times, so we knew it could hear us. I was able to teach Jake about the ability of animals to hear and how quite we have to be in the stand. 100% Stealth is our goal. The cow finally turned around and we were able to get ready to practice drawing back, but the cow spooked off and so we learned again, we have got to be quieter. Good practice and that cow made our night! I was able to whisper and be right behind his ear the whole entire time! I was a proud poppa!

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We stayed till dark and were hoping to see some elk come in. I wanted him to see that the area will come alive after dark, but nothing came in. We both slipped off to sleep and finally woke up at Midnight... (Hence the name) and since it was now Sunday packed up to hike out to get home.

It's different hiking at night. We bought him a new headlamp so he could have good clear light while hiking. I was able to show him my trail markers that I have put up years ago. Told him the difference of hiking at night was it was definitely cooler, and your might even see more animals as you go in and out of your area. It's always tougher to see right in front of you as the light reflects off the bushes and blocks the area behing the bush. But he was a trooper. Never complained, we laughed, sweated and had a great father/son bonding adventure. He looked like a mini-me... I couldn't be prouder!

We will have to hit the area again for an early morning hunt and hike in at Midnight after one of our football practices before school starts. Maybe Wednesday.
 
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