Another fun weekend in God’s country at Tejon.  I actually got to hunt for myself a bit this weekend, which was nice. Nothing to this one really. I went and checked on a herd I’ve seen several times this year. Every time before, they’ve been moving through the thick stuff and haven’t given me an opportunity to stalk. This time we spotted one who fed in one spot long enough for a stalk. I offered it to my cousin and he passed since he wanted a nice boar and this was obviously a fat sow. I grabbed my bow and jammed up one small ridge, down the back and up a larger ridge. As I got into the zone I slowed way down. I couldn’t see the pig. Then I saw an odd shaped triangle sticking out over the top of a downed log 25 yards in front of me. As I was picking up my binos to look closer, the triangle twitched. That confirmed what I suspected. Pig ear. Then I started to see several other bedded hogs materialize around the log. One snorted and got up. I came to full draw. They all got up. One stalled just a second too long and got a Razor Trick through both lungs. She only went about 40 yards, spraying red the whole way. Rolled her down the hill and it was a nice easy down hill drag for once.

The scouting pays off quickly! My best friends boy, my god son Matt got his first Gobbler this morning, the opener of our special youth hunt weekend.

Very short, but very intense hunt! Shortly after fly down we had turkeys in front, behind, and both left and right of us. My bud Tom and Matt(12 yr. old shooter) were about ten yards to my right, and with me, on one side was my 9yr. old son Cade, and on the other side of me was Tom’s other boy, 9 yr. old Will.

A hen and gobbler crossed a stone wall not 4 yds. from Matt and Tom heading for the decoys! Matt held solid as a rock and waited for the big gobbler to get to the strutting jake decoy. But the hen he was following turned away from the decoy at about 15yds and the gobbler followed within second and started to walk off.

I clucked a couple times to try to stop him, but as I was doing that, Matt was adjusting his gun to get on the departing bird….he saw him move and started to “get a little pep in his step”. I thought the jig was up and he wasn’t gonna shoot as the bird was walking too quick for him.

Then at about 30yds, came the startling report of his little 20 gauge ! Gobbler down, and what a gobbler he was! We’d later measure his beard at 9 3/4″, spurs at 1 1/4″, and weighed him in at 21 1/4#! First turkey, first time ever hunting, half hour hunt!

Lt to rt in pic….My son Cade(wearing one of my Sitka shirts and hat), Me(wearing 90%), Will, Tom, and Matt…

Same exact tree his father Tom was sitting against last year when me and another friend called a gobbler in for him in a downpour last spring. Another great thing about the hunt was that everyone was in a position to see the whole hunt develop and end! What a show!!!

Well, Oregon Spring Bear season is off and rolling. It’s the only time of year i break out a gun to take care of business:) Had a couple buddies come up to hunt with me and we’ve had a blast. First up was Jeff Dunn, Jeff made a great shot on his bear and him and another buddy packed it out (I was giggling the entire time). Next, Kirk from California came up and he was looking to extend his Oreogn spring bear streak to 4 for 4. He ended up shooting a very nice bear on his second day here..We had about an hour left after he shot, went to check an area i had earlier seen a bear in and i ended up punching my tag as well. Best part about this season is my little girl has been involved in each of these hunts..

Years ago, researching an elk tag I had just drawn, I ran into HuntScout.com HuntScout provides topo maps of hunting units throughout the west along with detailed scouting information. I found the map for my unit so helpful and accurate, HuntScout.com is my first stop after drawing any western tag.

Through my dealings with HuntScout, I have come to know and trust the owner, Bryan Yorksmith. Bryan is a great guy and has a vision of networking us Do-it-Yourself guys. He has created the Self Guided Hunting Association (http://www.selfguidedhunting.org/). As a member, the biggest perk is getting draw information for each state on the best units for the DIY hunter. Many of us get the Huntin’ Fool, but that is dedicated more to the top, top end trophy units–and I believe it is skewed towards hiring a guide/outfitter. HuntScout’s picks come from 1st hand experience and what it takes to make a unit a good one for the DIY hunter.

Plans are ongoing to set up a secured “community” where members can go and share information with each other.

So, why is this a “special” turkey? Well in addition to the information that is so helpful to the DIY hunter, the SGHA also recognizes animals that have been taken without a guide/outfitter. There are different categories and levels set up and they are shown on the website. This Eastern turkey taken with my muzzleloading shotgun qualifies me for a “Triple Crown”. I have taken an Eastern tom with shotgun, recurve, and muzzleloader.

Now, as long as work doesn’t get in the way, I have a couple days off next week to try to complete my Rio Grande “Triple Crown”.

This shed season has not been near as productive as the last couple of years.  I have found close to 40 sheds, but quite a few have been from last year.  My last time out I saw several deer still carrying both sides, so I am not giving up yet:)  Turkey season started the 1st and is the top priority for a while, but I hope to put a few more miles on this spring.  I snapped a few pictures along the way.

Shed hunting is a great time to scout your area!

Nice find! Ended up being a match to an antler my brother found a half a mile away.

Always a plus when both sides drop right next to the trail.

One good push and this community rubbing post will be history.

You never know where you might find an antler!