From the Colorado DOW:

Variety, they say, is the spice of life. And for hunters, no other state offers as much “spice” as Colorado. From upland birds and waterfowl to majestic big game animals like elk and bighorn sheep, Colorado’s wild game species are as diverse as the Rocky Mountain landscape.

Colorado’s varied and distinctive hunting opportunities are now featured in “Hunt Colorado,” a new online video from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Filmed in high-definition video and recorded in digital audio, “Hunt Colorado” takes viewers on an entertaining and concise tour of Colorado’s game species. Featured in the seven-minute video are: turkey, quail, grouse, pheasants, ducks, geese, squirrels, rabbits, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk and deer.

“‘Hunt Colorado’ provides a great overview of some of Colorado’s well-known and not so well-known hunts,” said Debbie Lininger, DOW marketing director. “Colorado is famous for its exceptional elk hunting, but I don’t think people realize just how many other amazing opportunities exist right here in our own backyard.”

To play “Hunt Colorado” and other DOW online videos, viewers need a high-speed Internet connection and the latest version of Adobe Flash installed on their computer.

Videos may be accessed directly on the Division’s Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/Videos/

Hunt Colorado from Colorado Division of Wildlife on Vimeo.

The 2009 Chukar Forecast holds good news for those who like to hunt Nevada’s favored upland game species. This season will be better than the previous two years and will provide sportsmen with ample numbers of young birds. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) recently posted the full forecast at ndow.org.

The report references aerial surveys, which point to a 2009-10 chukar hunting season that should be good for most of Nevada with some areas providing excellent hunting. Coveys comprised mostly of young birds will allow the hunter to approach within shotgun range for at least the first half of the season. Hunters across the state should enjoy good success early if conditions remain dry through October. As the season progresses, hunters will still have to spend a fair amount of time on foot pursuing the species.

Look for great hunting in northwestern Humboldt County (Pine Forest and Black Rock Ranges) and portions of Washoe and Pershing Counties. Expect good hunting in most of Lander, northern Eureka and western Elko Counties. Additionally, some areas in southern Nevada should have fair to good numbers of birds as a result of improved production.

“The issue with many of these areas is crowding on opening weekend, especially in the Pine Forest Range,” said Shawn Espinosa, biologist with NDOW. “Even though it will be good hunting in this area, there are plenty of other spots that will be productive and we recommend seeking these out during the early portion of the season. The Jackson Mountains showed much improvement from 2008 and there are some remote portions of the Black Rock and Bilk Creek Ranges that will be good with fewer people.”

Although counts appear down in Washoe County, the very hot and dry survey conditions could have altered the sample as a number of birds were observed running on the ground, reluctant to leave the shade and water sources. In central and southern Nevada, brood surveys conducted from the ground as well as general observations indicate good production levels which should lead to fair to good hunting in this region of the state.

Higher populations can be attributed in part to the late spring rains this year, which came with mild temperatures that were ultimately conducive to chick production. Native bunchgrasses and forbs responded well to the ample moisture and provided birds with incredible food resources and nesting cover. This plant growth also produces diverse and increased insect populations, an important food source for newborn chicks.

Wildfires have not adversely impacted additional chukar habitats to date in 2009. However, many traditional chukar hunting areas are still suffering the effects of almost a decade of the worst fire events ever to occur in Nevada. During the period from 1999-2007, approximately 6 million acres of various habitat types burned in Nevada resulting in the establishment of cheatgrass and other invasive non-native weed species across the low to mid-elevations. This has been detrimental to many chukar populations because of the lack of native shrubs that are important for cover, nesting and forage purposes.

Sportsmen can thank the Nevada Chukar Foundation and other sportsmen’s groups for funding aerial surveys, water developments, and habitat improvements aimed at increasing populations of the tough-to-hunt quarry.

Chukar season opens Oct. 10 and runs through Feb. 7. Start planning online, where you’ll find the complete Chukar Forecast, distribution map, seasons and regulations and more at ndow.org/hunt/resources/Wildlife_Heritage/upland_game/.

“During the early portion of the season, we really stress getting out and walking and not simply driving up and down canyon bottoms along water sources,” Espinosa said. “If conditions are hot and dry during the early portion of the season, chukar will rely heavily on these water sources and young birds especially will be at a disadvantage. Walking rather than jump shooting birds from the pick-up is much more sporting and can provide birds with at least some access to water.”

As hunters and outdoorsmen, we spend many hours in the field when it is not light out.  Usually we are trying to get something done like set up a tent , saddle a horse, or make  dinner where you need both hands. 

A headlamp fits that need and today’s models are a far cry from the old days of “Miners Lanterns” .  One piece of technology that has greatly added to the compactness and effectiveness of todays headlamps is the LED or “Light Emitting Diode”

• Energy use: As opposed to standard incandescent bulbs, LEDs consume less electricity. By choosing the strength of the beam, the quantity of light can be adapted to the activity and to lighting duration needs.
• LEDs emit a smooth, white light. A light blue halo can be seen. Cylindrical, 5 mm diameter LEDs have an integrated lens. They don’t require accessories.
• Light output: When LEDs are powered at the levels defined the manufacturer, they generally have greater output than incandescent headlamps.
• Lifetime: The lifetime of an LED has been defined as the time up to which its flux remains above 50 % of its original. For quality LEDs, this lifetime is close to 100000 hours at standard voltage and current values. Under these conditions, the light output then becomes very weak .
• Durability: With their molded, single capsule and their lack of a filament, 5 mm diameter LEDs are resistant to impacts and vibrations.

The weather proof 4LED headlamp from Energizer takes these benefits and provides a compact hands-free lighting system for active outdoor folks. 

There are two lighting modes: A single red LED for better Night Vision, or three LEDs for a bright white spot.  The adjustable hinge lets you direct the 28 lumens beam more precisely.

The 4 LED light has a runtime between 21 and 38 hours on three AAA Energizer batteries. Each push of the power button switch goes from 1 red LED, to 3 white LEDs to off. 

I compared this headlamp to my 10 LED headlamp that was a freebie with my Badlands pack, and is no longer in production.  I found that the Energizer headlamp was a brighter more focused beam of light, even at a distance. 

The size of the headlamp is much more compact .  That makes it better suited to keep in a pocket or use when actively moving, like an after dark training run. 

The price point of $12.99-$14.99 means you can buy a couple and keep one in your pack, and one in your coat.  They are available at Home Depot stores.

While I had been out hunting, the girls were enjoying the amenities of bustling Greeley, Colorado, and the outlying area.  That included a trip to the Denver Zoo, and Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Since I hadn’t had a chance to enjoy these trips, we decided to head West Via RMNP to hit highway 40.  It would be a chance for me to see new country. 

RockyMountain National Park’s elk herd was in rut, and they put on a show. 

We drove through Eastern Utah and saw the Devils backbone as we rolled along.

We listened to classic country on the only radio station  that would come in in the Vernal, Duchesne, Roosevelt area, known as the “Dinosaurland” after the famous fossils, and National monument in the area. 

The next morning we would make our way through Salt Lake City, and even have a chance to stop in Elko, Nevada for a quick visit to J.M. Capriola Co., a custom saddlemaker and western tack seller famous for quality, high desert buckaroo gear.

We pushed on to Winnemucca, where the girls got a chance to experience a Basque Lunch at the famous Martin Hotel. 

It was then a grind home through the Sierras, and the California traffic. I missed the lonely two tracks of Northern Colorado, but gratefully shut off the engine as the trip odometer turned over 2900 miles.

After traveling 1200 miles in two days, it was anti climatic to head out on the dirt and gravel roads in search of speedgoats and to get a lay of the land and formulate a plan for how I was going to get into archery range. 

As a horseback and afoot type hunter in my usual mountain hunts, it was different to be driving at 50 mph and “hunting”.   It is foolhardy to think that you are going to set out on foot from camp and cover enough ground to see antelope.  These critters live in wide open country and even though they are prolific, it still can be a couple miles between sightings.  So if you are going to spot antelope, you are going to be burning fuel in some motorized conveyance. 

With the wetter than normal rainfall the area received, water was plentiful.  I had my doubts about setting up on a water source.  both because the ranchers have developed abundant numbers of pipelines and windmills for the cattle, and the fact that every low spot seemed to have a small body of water in it.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

In the first three days (OK 2.5) I concentrated on spotting pronghorns from the road and trying to execute a stalk.  In that amount of time I attempted over 20 stalks.  Never did I ever think I was in my effective range. 

I tried decoying bucks with harems and I tried decoying lone bucks.  I got their attention but they could see all they wanted to see from 150 yards, and didn’t feel the need to get any closer.  The rut was not on yet.

I tried to find bucks on the back side of a hill for a stealthy approach, but the long sloping topography made for a long shot once I crested the hill.  Inevitably, I was spotted before I could get into range.

So I resigned myself to finding a water source to set up a pop-up blind and wait in ambush.  In my travels I spotted a ridge that separated a large chunk of public land from view from the road.  I walked the 1/2 mile to the top of the ridge and spotted a buck with a group of does in a draw.  On the ridge behind them was a galvinized steel watertrough.  “AH-HAH!”  I thought.  “I’m going to set up on that trough and catch that buck when he comes to water.”

So I went back a mile or so and parked at another trough on the pipeline.  I loaded up the blind on my backpack and hiked to the trough.  As I was setting up the blind, a sharp eyed doe in the draw spied my movement and the whole bunch ran over the ridge I had spotted them from.   So I set up in the blind in the hopes the speedgoats would return. 

Well, it wasn’t a fun experience. I’m used to “runnin’ and gunnin’” making multiple setups for critters and hiking between attempts.  Sitting in a small tent for the daylight hours was contrary to everything I have come to love about hunting.  The first afternoon I did not prepare by having reading material.  That was a mistake.  Cabin fever set in early and I was a twitchy mess when the sun set.  When I hiked out to the pickup I saw  the herd I spooked feed back behind my blind into another draw.

That night I delivered “the girls” to Greeley to spend the next three days with the kid’s  uncle and grandmother.  While I was hunting on the Grasslands they would be at the Denver Zoo, and Rocky Mountain National Park.  I had a chance for a quick shower, and a shopping trip to outfit myself for a long three days of blind sitting.   That meant snacks, and reading material. 

Thursday, Friday

I sat and looked at a yellow prairie and a silver trough at 20 yds. for fifteen hours from dark ’til dark. 

At 8:30 I had a pronghorn buck come into 160 yards and feed in my direction.  I really thought he was going to come to water and offer me a shot, but he fed past, out of range. 

I read a 400 page novel TWICE before I had any more action.  As the sun dropped down to the horizon, a buck with three does came out of the draw behind me headed for the trough.  When they spotted the blind though their female intuition held them out at 130 yards.  Not liking what they saw, they went over the hill.  I never saw them again before dark.

I was back in the blind the next morning before daylight.  But the resident buck was nowhere to be found.  At 2:00 pm I spied a travelling buck out 400 yards from the trough crossing the prairie.  Just then loud bellows erupted behind me as three range bulls came lumbering past my blind into the neighborhood. 

The three bulls proceeded to drink their fill and then started raising a ruckus, pawing and shoving each other around like 2000 pound teenagers.  When the dirt started hitting the side of my blind, I decided I didn’t want to become collateral damage.  I boogied out of there with 4 hours of light left.

I decided to relocate to a pasture that didn’t have any cattle in it.  There was a creek oxbow that held water a few miles away.  I set the blind up and counted three bucks in the vicinity driving to and from the waterhole in the evening light.

Saturday

I arrived well before daylight hoping the evening was enough time for the resident speedgoats to become accustomed to the blind.  at 10:00 am a group of does and a small buck fed by well out of range.

Other than that, and two bucks who blew in alarm a few hours later, The only other excitement was the bird life at this natural waterhole. 

As the sun set, I resigned myself to another meal of tag stew.  The silver lining to this hunt was that I had a chance to spend it with my wife and children and still get a hunt in. 

I would break down camp the next morning and begin the trip home with the family.

When it comes to hunting, preparation is the key to success. Sportsmen from across the state will be taking trips to their favorite sporting goods stores this fall to stock up on all the necessary items to assure a successful hunting trip. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) would like to remind those sportsmen to remember to pick up free hunting brochures that are available at all NDOW offices and license agents.

 Brochures for furbearer and migratory bird seasons were delivered to license agents this week and join brochures for upland game and fall turkey, which were sent out in August. The information included in these hunting brochures includes season dates, bag limits, hunting hours and a synopsis of important regulations for specific hunts. Specific regulations for hunting on wildlife management areas are also included in several of the brochures.

 The brochures can be picked up at all license agents, including Wal-Mart, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Long’s Drugs and Ace Hardware stores. They are also available at any NDOW office statewide as well as on the NDOW website at www.ndow.org.

 The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org

This trip was a unique one for me since it was the first time I have included my wife and 3 daughters (aged 11-9-3) in an out of state big game endevor.  When I go on a trip “with the guys”, it has a tendancy to be less than fully orchestrated, and the creature comforts are less than you might need for three young daughters and a wife.  This was going to require more equipment and planning to be sure it was an enjoyable trip for all.

We had planned on leaving within an hour after I finished work on Saturday.  I thought I would arrive home, throw my bagin and roll.  WEEEELLL, after we put in the pillows, and “blankies” and stuffed animals and DVD’s, it was two hours before we got on the road.   

We fought our way through the Sacramento area weekend traffic and made a quick stop at the Reno Cabela’s store to purchase our shelter for the week.  At a cost of seven hotel nights, we were pleased that the staff threw in a pair of cots with the purchase. 

We found a nook in the pile of supplies in the bed of the pickup and continued on to Winnemucca for the night.   Traveling with the kids seemed to add about 10% to the travel time needed.  We didn’t make it in time for the Basque dinner at the Martin Hotel I was planning, but went straight to sleep.

We were on the road the next morning as the sun came up with threatening clouds overhead.  For the next 14 hours we hit sporadic showers, and in Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming  we were treated to a lighting show the high plains are famous for.  That sealed the fact that we would be spending that night in a motel as well.  

The girls got to see their first antelope in Rawlins when we made a pit stop.  The town buck was tending does just off of the highway, feeding on the landscaping outside of the DOT building.   It was a thrill for the girls to see a new critter.

The thunder and lightning ceased that night, and bright and early we drove to the Crow Valley Campground near Briggsdale, Colorado and set up our camp on a bright sunny morning.

We were fortunate to find an unreserved campsite in a  shaded spot, as the weather was bright and sunny in the 80′s.  For most of the week we were the only residents in the 12 spot campground.  We missed the weekend rush, and had a nice lunch before we ventured out on the prairie in search of an antelope.

Many of you might recognize Nate from his African adventures chronicled here in past years. Well his far flung archery success hasn’t taken away his appreciation for his local deer. Once more he has produced a freezer full of venison with his bow.

I had just settled into my stand last night at about 5:00. I wasn’t expecting anything yet so I broke out my new book about a guy who walks the Baja Peninsula on a burro. I figured I’d kill an hour or so reading and then get serious. About 20 pages into it I glanced up just in time to see a lone deer cross an opening 25 yards below me. I put the book down on the seat of my treestand, stood up and grabbed my bow. She went behind a thick oak tree and out of sight. Several minutes went by and thought she had walked away, out of sight. A gust of wind came and started ruffling the pages of my book. I thought, well at least she’s gone now because the noise of the pages rapidly flipping would have surely scared her. I re-situate the book to quiet it. I look up again and the deer had stepped out into a small clearing. She had been there all along, just silently hanging out under the tree limbs, blocked from my view. I made one last check to make sure no fawn was with her.

She stood broadside at 28 yards, but not where I ever expected to shoot at a deer from out of this stand. I had to turn around in the stand,squat into the catcher’s position to get under a limb, and make a clean shot. I hit her right through the shoulder, cutting off the top of theheart and both lungs. She did a death run out of sight crashing into every bit of deadfall in the process. It sounded like a herd of buffalo crashing away. Then all went silent. I waited 20 minutes, went and checked a game camera, then went back to the site of the shot.

I found my arrow, broken in half, and a good blood trail. The blood was heavy. I followed it about 40 yards where I could see she jumped over alog and some deadfall. Right over the top of the log she lay. It was pretty textbook. I wished they all worked out this way.

She was very healthy and covered in a nice layer of fat. Surprising, given our drought conditions. Even the fireman who validated my tag remarked how good she looked. My only concern was that she did not get bred last season. She was totally dry. That is a good doe to take, but it still concerns me as a healthy doe like this should have had at least one fawn.

No apologies here. I like venison and these deer are some of the best on the table. This is a heavily hunted public land area in San Diego County where success is very low, even for filling an either sex tag.

She’ll be a welcome addition to my freezer. Even better, I still have another tag left! We’ll see if I have the restraint required to holdout for a buck.   Probably not!

While John is pursuing Colorado Pronghorn, he left a few stories that you might find enjoyable. He will be back on the 22nd.

“If a fella can’t buy someone a ham sandwich when he’s alive, why bother buyin’ him flowers when he’s dead?”
A local rancher as he was turning down payment for a few gallons of fuel from a neighbor.

This epitomizes the Western tradition of taking care of folks in the community when they need help. It is one of the things that makes living in the west such a privilege.

The following footage has some strong language in it. However I think it illustrates that nature can be pretty harsh itself. I think if more people were to witness predators “doing their job” then society might appreciate human hunters more.