HUNTING
Zimbabwe Hunting Safari Adventure - Part Three by DJ
Zimbabwe Hunting Safari Adventure - Part Three by DJ Part Three… Crossing Paths with a Record Book Sable As we welcomed each new sunrise from behind our makeshift blind, peering through the fleeting darkness as morning’s new rays bathed the African bush, the promise of another wild African adventure began to unfold. In the distant darkness the huff of lions at the bait, once a point of concern, became common and almost welcomed. As the light chased the darkness, the night hunters moved into the shadows for a day long nap. With the coast clear, we moved forward and inspected the bait. Again no hyena tracks only lion. With two Hyena tags burning a hole in my safari pants, I became resigned to the fact that it was time to change our strategy. Leaving the bait, Darren and I return to the trail. Our trackers, waiting in the distance, are trained to bring the safari vehicle either at the sound of a rifle shot or 15 minutes after sun up. Stowing our gear in the fully supplied Toyota 4x4 we agree to make a push deep into the hills of Matetsi Unit 2 and pursue the large Sable male that eluded us the prior day. Unit 2 can be described as a mixture of large flat pan’s with cross cut riverbeds buffered by gently rolling hills. Boarding Botswana to the west and a managed forest lands to the north, this clump of densely brushed wilderness proves excellent habitat for a myriad of species. Without fences, large herds of mixed game species roam freely across these nations borders. More importantly, MU2 is well known for holding large sable bulls. This is the key reason I’ve selected this area from all others in Africa. Since arriving and covering many miles, we’ve seen mostly immature males, small family groups composed of females and calf’s, except for the brief sighting and unsuccessful stalk on what appeared to be an excellent bull. As the hours rolled by I starting to second guess myself, did I pick the right area? Was this the right month? Was it too dry? Noticing my concern, my PH reminded me that mature male Sable Bulls are very territorial. They can sometimes be seen traveling within a family group or more commonly out alone inspecting their range and driving out any trespassing rival males. But “they are here and haven’t gone anywhere”, Darren reassures me. 
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Zimbabwe Hunting Safari Adventure - Part Two
Lions and Leopards – Up Close and Personal By: DJ Part 2 – Lions and Leopards, up-close and personal After delivering my Impala Buck to the skinning shed, it was time to scout out the pan, just beyond where we had setup our Hyena baits. This large flat area of elephant grass and scrub trees was known to hold good Sable. Darren had seen good Sable in this area before. It was about a 10 miles across some local flatlands, a bit of rolling hills and then down to the pan’s main trail. This would be an easier ride than the cross country trek we took the prior day where we were crossing streams, climbing hills and blazing trails. Following the main trail to camp we circled around the back side of the field and exiting the safari truck. The team composed of Darren the PH, our two trackers, the government game scout and myself started to peel off our cold weather layer that insulated us against the cold winter morning. Thirty five degrees is not uncommon during the African winter, but warming up into the 70’s by mid day is just as common. With our vehicle covered in outerwear, the team headed down a well worn game trail that paralleled the grass. This gave us a reasonable opportunity to see anything working the edges. The grasslands can be both safe and extremely dangerous for game. It offers the safety of the cover, but doesn’t prevent game from walking into a deadly close encounter with a predator as we would soon experience. Working the edges of the grassland requires quiet stalking, an eye for movement and the ability to stay low and out of sight. About a city block into our stalk we spotted the black rump of a mature Sable bull. As luck would have it, the business end of the Sable was totally obscured by a rather thick clump of brush. The inability for us to see his horns left us wondering just what we had. After a few brief minutes, the Sable turned to look back. I can only presume he heard us talking. I’m not sure who was more anxious, us or him. Once our eyes met, we both reacted. He ducked into the grass which was twice as tall as he was, while I tried to pull up the rifle to make a shot. He was faster. That left Darren and I looking at each other with wide eyes and eager grins. Darren motioned for the team to follow him at a brisk trot. Down the trail we went while still   paralleling the grassland. Circling in about a 500 yards down, Darren instructed one of our trackers to climb a tree and see if he could identify which way the Sable went. His dark black coat should stand out nicely against the dull yellow of the grass. The dexterity of our tracker was amazing. Up the tree, limb to limb bending slightly under his thinly weighted frame he reached a vantage point. Pointing is hand he looked down at us and motioned the direction of the sable. In only minutes we were headed into the grass on an interception route. It can’t be this easy I thought, as I pushed back the ten foot poles of grass just bending enough to let me pass. I wondered what the heck I would do if we came face to face with this 500 pound Sable in this tall grass. I could barely make out the guy ahead of me let alone a fast moving Sable. I’m sure I’ll need to think of something if it happens I said to myself. After crossing the field, it was obvious our prey was no dummy. He circled back the way he came, mixed is tracks with those of other animals, headed across the trail we cut and disappeared into the thick tangled bush beyond the grassland. To the credit of our trackers, we were able to follow him for a few miles. He had us at a disadvantage since he knew where he was going and we didn’t, all we could do was follow. With no way to catch him at his pace, so we stopped and decided to back off. Tomorrow or the next day we can check this area again. I was told that Sable bulls are rather territorial. They can be found either with their herd or patrolling their area looking for other bull intruders to run off. Since we knew where the herd was, we could start to pattern this big guy.
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Fourth Season in Wisconsin
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
Took out a client yesterday and this morning, we tried a new property I gained permission to hunt earlier in the week.To say this season is like night and day compared to the first three is an understatement! We arrived in the woods at 5:00 to a chorus of no less than 8 gobblers sounding off from their perch. Right away a mouthy boss hen cranked it up and got into a war of words with me. We traded insults for nearly 30 minutes till she finally had enough and went the other way, the gobbler however wanted to get a look at the new chick in the neighborhood and proceeded our way..............that is till he got to 80 yards and hung up: roll: After letting him move off we circled around to reposition on him, he cranked up and gobbled from 300 yards out and closing............ Read more...
Fields Of Gobbling Gold
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
“Gobbler on the right”, dad said as the huge bird emerged over the rise in the field. He then eased up his gun and clicked off the safety as the bird strutted from one hundred yards down to forty. With a quick cut on my diaphragm to get the gobbler’s head out, dad took the shot and down went to bird. My dad, Mike Lee, cousin, Matthew Story, and I had just completed and amazing hunt together on that muggy April morning. This particular bird had been seen several times strutting in this same harrowed cotton field. The 21 pound, 10 inch bearded gobbler was another result of hard work that finally paid off in the Turner County farm fields. Hunting turkeys in farm fields can be extremely difficult but adrenaline filled throughout the entire spring season. Many times as hunters, we have to deal with many factors when hunting birds in this manner, with most of the factors not in our favor. Having started turkey hunting about seven years ago, the circle of emotions runs from the highest high to the deepest low all in a matter of seconds. This holds true especially when hunting difficult field gobblers. Read more...
Florida Osceola
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Yesterday I went to listen to see where my bird was, he was missing in action so I decided to see if I could roost a bird and I did two of them, I was so torn between two birds deciding which one to go after should I go after the one that I roosted or go after my gobbler that I got on audio, the one I bonded with for weeks now. I called my sister and hunting partner and she convinced me to go with my gut feeling, because it's never wrong saying that with a giggle. Although I really wanted that one gobbler, it was heartbreaking to let him go. I slept in the truck so I was the first one out in my hunting area I finally make my way down the trail and I run into a herd of cows bedded down, well I have to go through them there's no going around them  so I made a noise and flashed them with my flashlight, you would of thought I started world war 3, the whole heard scattered  then I come face to face with this single cow down a ways , I had to stand my ground again, it freaked out and the whole heard that was hiding in silence spooked, I had cows running everywhere It was pretty hillarious  I know the 2 birds I roosted were not going to say a word, and they didn't. I did hear one of the birds finally and I worked him for about 2 hours, then I decided to move to my honey hole, where I should have been first thing that morning. Read more...
My Biggest Buck
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
The day 10/10/07.It was our first real cool front for the South.I was in my stand a half hour before daylight.As day started to peek through I caught movement from my left.It was a nice young 8 point that was feeding on acorns right under me.I was 30 feet up in a Red Oak full of acorns dropping.As the 8 point fed off,and went into a large bedding area, a couple fawns came out and started feeding where the 8 point was.m look small.A few minutes later another young 8 point came in feeding.I remember thinking to myself that this was pretty cool.About 15 minutes goes by and the young 8 point started going crazy as he was looking past my stand.I was thinking that it was probably a Doe which was fine because we needed some more meat in the freezer.All of a sudden I caught movement from my left directy under me.It was a huge Buck. Read more...
Everglades Wildlife
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
There are very few places on earth that are as filled with wildlife as the Everglades, which are located in South Florida. The total acreage of the Everglades including expansion, land and water, are 1,509,000 acres (2,358 square miles), located in the Dade, Monroe, and Collier counties. From the American alligator to the rare Cape Sable seaside sparrow, the wildlife in the Everglades is abundant. In terms of the amount of Everglades wildlife, there are nearly 45 species of mammals that frequent the areas around the Everglades, in their numerous bays, sounds, coastal estuaries, and offshore waters. There are hundreds of different species of fish and thousands of species of marine, estuarine, and freshwater invertebrates that call the Florida Everglades ecosystem their home. There are also in excess of 50 types of reptiles and almost 20 different types of salamanders, frogs, and toads that live in the wetlands in South Florida. With all the wildlife that is found in the Everglades, it can be said that the area is one of the most biologically rich areas in all the United States. Read more...
Summer Food Plots
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cultivating food plots is an ideal way to provide much-needed forage for wildlife through late summer and attract these animals before hunting seasons begin."Planting food plots is a part of good land management," said Ben West, associate wildlife specialist for Mississippi State University's Extension Service. "Warm season plots can provide a number of benefits, such as preventing soil erosion and providing forage for many game animals when food quality and quantity are low. They also can provide a nesting habitat for smaller animals, like bobwhite quail."Landowners often overlook the value of warm-season food plots, but since deer population levels are so high in late summer, finding adequate forage may be difficult. Native plants do not produce as much nourishment until fall, when acorns and nuts are plentiful. Read more...
Why I Carry a Pistol While Bear Hunting!
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Landing in Yakatut is like flying into any of the Alaskan costal village towns. Half the plane is freight and the other half is an odd mix of hunters, business people and a local or two. After exiting the plane and entering the small room size terminal I get a sense that the cargo is more anticipated than the new comers. All sorts of crates, boxes and products are unloaded prior to our gear. So we sit and wait. They must see a fair number of short timers here. Well, I’m only here for 6 days so I grab my gear off the rack and meet up with my outfitter after a good 30 minute wait.   Read more...

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