Any Hunters on T-Nation?

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Bpick86 wrote: "Was the bear hunt baited, called, or stalked? Just curious but I have watched videos of some of the hunts where the bears are called and they look like they get pretty intense. A hog with my bow may be on my to-do list for next year. Guy I work with killed a 360lb boar last year.

As a side note, when I was turkey hunting the other day I found two red foxes sleeping under a fallen pine, curled up together with one resting its head on the others back. Was one of the most amazing things that I have seen just wish I would have had a camera."

People who don’t spend time out in the woods don’t get to see the wonder of nature. That’s part of the whole adventure of hunting that people don’t get. Since I began passing on younger bucks and giving them a chance to grow, I have been able to enjoy watching them and learning so much from that. You also get to see cool stuff like your foxes…that’s all part of the adventure we call hunting.

Also, one of my best friends owns the Rolling R Ranch near Harrison Arkansas. You need to check out some of his hunts on you tube. He does the Wounded Warrior Hunts there every year.

I took this pic while in Africa and another friend of mine who is an artist, (google dave garner artist). He did a huge painting of these elephants and of several more of my Etosha pics from Africa. He also does paintings for the families of fallen soldiers and presents them to the grieving families at the Wounded Warrior Event…I think he has some of those on his web site too.

P.S. Keep a camera with you Bpick

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damn, EZ and push gotta be the two manliest men ever. i’ve always wanted to hunt, but i kinda live in a very very urbanized and small country (Singapore).

Hunting is on my bucket list though, is there any place to go where there are beginner hunts? I’m planning to travel to Africa & the USA someday

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[quote]Egg Head wrote:

[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]krazykoukides wrote:

I’m primarily a small creek fisherman. Small creeks usually don’t have as much pressure and if you’re willing to get dirty you can find some real nice spots. The fish aren’t as big… but eh. I’m ok with that. I have a much more enjoyable time because I’m antisocial when it comes to fishing.
[/quote]

I can agree with you there. There is something very relaxing about wading up a creek with a small box of baits in your pocket and a spinning rod (never tried fly fishing). I think everyone should get out and enjoy nature as much as they can. Whether its hunting, fishing, or just hiking, I think it would save some people some money on anti depressants.[/quote]

Warning: If you try fly fishing you may very well end up ditching your conventional gear/spinning rods. At least as it pertains to small creek fishing. [/quote]

That’s what everyone keeps telling me. Probably something I just don’t understand about fly fishing, but I don’t know how I would really squeeze a cast under the low hanging branches on the creek that I like to fish.

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Despite my Grandfather’s disapproval I don’t fly fish either bpick86. I have been taught by probably the best fly fisher I’ve ever seen (my Grandfather) but I just lack the finesse required. He lands monster brown trout and I can barely cast the line.

I prefer an ultra light spinning outfit with 3lb test line. Works just fine.

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[quote]EZrider wrote:
Hunted Africa, Canada, Newfoundland, and all over the U.S. Love taking kids hunting and especially love bowhunting. Here is a pic of my Newfoundland Moose from my most recent hunt. We were dropped off by helicopter for a 7 day back country hunt but the weather turned bad and they couldn’t get in to get us for an additional 7 days.

We had to boil lake water and eat moose meat for that extra week as we had run out of provisions. I lost 14 lbs. so those protein diets really work…it was a great adventure.[/quote]
Fucking badass.

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[quote]Dan Mikals wrote:
Dog loves it more than I do I think. She is pissed when we get limits and have to leave with birds still wanting in.[/quote]
Your dog is a real beauty!

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[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]Egg Head wrote:

[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]krazykoukides wrote:

I’m primarily a small creek fisherman. Small creeks usually don’t have as much pressure and if you’re willing to get dirty you can find some real nice spots. The fish aren’t as big… but eh. I’m ok with that. I have a much more enjoyable time because I’m antisocial when it comes to fishing.
[/quote]

I can agree with you there. There is something very relaxing about wading up a creek with a small box of baits in your pocket and a spinning rod (never tried fly fishing). I think everyone should get out and enjoy nature as much as they can. Whether its hunting, fishing, or just hiking, I think it would save some people some money on anti depressants.[/quote]

Warning: If you try fly fishing you may very well end up ditching your conventional gear/spinning rods. At least as it pertains to small creek fishing. [/quote]

That’s what everyone keeps telling me. Probably something I just don’t understand about fly fishing, but I don’t know how I would really squeeze a cast under the low hanging branches on the creek that I like to fish.[/quote]

Actually, in tight situations like this (low hanging branches), there is more freedom to strategically place a fly in the right spot as opposed to casting with spinning gear. There are many techniques and you can even “sling shot” a small fly on to the smallest of targets. Those areas under low hanging branches are very productive as the fish know there is a regular food source from falling insects.

You learn quick how to put a fly in tight spots by constantly exposing yourself to such situations. Also helps if you have a small fly rod (5-6ft, 2-3wt).

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[quote]bpick86 wrote:
Just curious how many of you on here hunt (or fish)? And if so what game do you go after and how have you done this past year? [/quote]

Yeah, Deer with my old man. I went last year and the year before…it had been a few years before that. Didn’t get anything though. (One guy in camp got 3… guess he had all my luck). I fished a lot as a kid, got a licence last year but only ended up going once. I hope to go duck hunting this fall.

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[quote]Egg Head wrote:

[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]Egg Head wrote:

[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]krazykoukides wrote:

I’m primarily a small creek fisherman. Small creeks usually don’t have as much pressure and if you’re willing to get dirty you can find some real nice spots. The fish aren’t as big… but eh. I’m ok with that. I have a much more enjoyable time because I’m antisocial when it comes to fishing.
[/quote]

I can agree with you there. There is something very relaxing about wading up a creek with a small box of baits in your pocket and a spinning rod (never tried fly fishing). I think everyone should get out and enjoy nature as much as they can. Whether its hunting, fishing, or just hiking, I think it would save some people some money on anti depressants.[/quote]

Warning: If you try fly fishing you may very well end up ditching your conventional gear/spinning rods. At least as it pertains to small creek fishing. [/quote]

That’s what everyone keeps telling me. Probably something I just don’t understand about fly fishing, but I don’t know how I would really squeeze a cast under the low hanging branches on the creek that I like to fish.[/quote]

Actually, in tight situations like this (low hanging branches), there is more freedom to strategically place a fly in the right spot as opposed to casting with spinning gear. There are many techniques and you can even “sling shot” a small fly on to the smallest of targets. Those areas under low hanging branches are very productive as the fish know there is a regular food source from falling insects.

You learn quick how to put a fly in tight spots by constantly exposing yourself to such situations. Also helps if you have a small fly rod (5-6ft, 2-3wt).[/quote]

Would a 2-3 wt rod be enough to handle bass in the 1 lb range?

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[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]Egg Head wrote:

[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]Egg Head wrote:

[quote]bpick86 wrote:

[quote]krazykoukides wrote:

I’m primarily a small creek fisherman. Small creeks usually don’t have as much pressure and if you’re willing to get dirty you can find some real nice spots. The fish aren’t as big… but eh. I’m ok with that. I have a much more enjoyable time because I’m antisocial when it comes to fishing.
[/quote]

I can agree with you there. There is something very relaxing about wading up a creek with a small box of baits in your pocket and a spinning rod (never tried fly fishing). I think everyone should get out and enjoy nature as much as they can. Whether its hunting, fishing, or just hiking, I think it would save some people some money on anti depressants.[/quote]

Warning: If you try fly fishing you may very well end up ditching your conventional gear/spinning rods. At least as it pertains to small creek fishing. [/quote]

That’s what everyone keeps telling me. Probably something I just don’t understand about fly fishing, but I don’t know how I would really squeeze a cast under the low hanging branches on the creek that I like to fish.[/quote]

Actually, in tight situations like this (low hanging branches), there is more freedom to strategically place a fly in the right spot as opposed to casting with spinning gear. There are many techniques and you can even “sling shot” a small fly on to the smallest of targets. Those areas under low hanging branches are very productive as the fish know there is a regular food source from falling insects.

You learn quick how to put a fly in tight spots by constantly exposing yourself to such situations. Also helps if you have a small fly rod (5-6ft, 2-3wt).[/quote]

Would a 2-3 wt rod be enough to handle bass in the 1 lb range?[/quote]

Easily! It’s not so much the rod or fly line as it is the leader and/or tippet that serves as the important factor. I’ve (unintentionally) hooked largemouth bass in the 1-2lb range while targeting bluegill and crappie with a 3wt rod and a 6x(3lb) or 7x(2lb) leader. As long as you manipulate the drag and play the fish, it’ll tire eventually even if it’s relatively big/heavy for the leader/tippet.

If you’re specifically after bass, I’d go with a 4wt-5wt rod with a 5x, 4x or 3x leader. It will make casting bigger flies/streamers more easy.

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[quote]Egg Head wrote:

You learn quick how to put a fly in tight spots by constantly exposing yourself to such situations. Also helps if you have a small fly rod (5-6ft, 2-3wt).[/quote]

A couple of years ago I built a fast action 6’6" 2wt. with an up-locking reel seat & a little pfleuger reel (can’t remember the model), and it is like a sniper tool for tight/tricky pockets.

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[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Egg Head wrote:

You learn quick how to put a fly in tight spots by constantly exposing yourself to such situations. Also helps if you have a small fly rod (5-6ft, 2-3wt).[/quote]

A couple of years ago I built a fast action 6’6" 2wt. with an up-locking reel seat & a little pfleuger reel (can’t remember the model), and it is like a sniper tool for tight/tricky pockets.

[/quote]

Nice. A 2wt is my choice with size 18 and up flies. In addition to sharp accuracy, the presentations are very stealth.

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[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Egg Head wrote:

You learn quick how to put a fly in tight spots by constantly exposing yourself to such situations. Also helps if you have a small fly rod (5-6ft, 2-3wt).[/quote]

A couple of years ago I built a fast action 6’6" 2wt. with an up-locking reel seat & a little pfleuger reel (can’t remember the model), and it is like a sniper tool for tight/tricky pockets.

[/quote]

Yall might have inspired me. May have to find some gear and see what I can do with the spotted bass down here.

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I don’t think there is anything that looks more macho than a guy standing in a freezing stream fly fishing with a couple of bears in the background. I have fished for trout at cottonwood lake in Colorado but just with rod & reel. Also fish for cutthroat trout in the mountain streams while hunting or backpacking…you don’t even need bait…those little trout will go after a bare hook and they are some of the best tasting you will ever eat. Of course cooking them over an open fire while camped out up in the mountains may make them taste a little better…

I live near Roaring River and Bennett Springs where they teach fly fishing…I’ve got to learn that soon.

Anyone ever hunt giraffe? My wife wants me to put a full mount in our living room…thinks the grandkids would like it…probably won’t happen…

For those who are interested an African hunt is much more affordable than you might think.

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Yeah, me and my dad looked into an African hunt one time but we just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I didn’t actually know that you could hunt giraffe. Consider me impressed that your living room is large enough to house a full size giraffe mount. haha

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[quote]krazykoukides wrote:
Despite my Grandfather’s disapproval I don’t fly fish either bpick86. I have been taught by probably the best fly fisher I’ve ever seen (my Grandfather) but I just lack the finesse required. He lands monster brown trout and I can barely cast the line.

I prefer an ultra light spinning outfit with 3lb test line. Works just fine.[/quote]

If you want to develop some good casting skills, these guys are like the T-Nat of fly casting.

My neighbors do think I’m kinda goofy though when I practice out in the yard.

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[quote]bpick86 wrote:
Yeah, me and my dad looked into an African hunt one time but we just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I didn’t actually know that you could hunt giraffe. Consider me impressed that your living room is large enough to house a full size giraffe mount. haha[/quote]

Yeah, I built a log home with a 35’ tall ceiling in the great room. Lot’s of room for mounts and they look like they belong here. I’m still working on the africa mounts…

The worst thing about the Africa hunt is the flight over there and back. Then it can be a pain getting everything shipped back to the U.S. You have to allow for those expenses as well. And of course, if you don’t do your own taxidermy, that can add up in a hurry.

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The best times of my life have been time spent hunting with my sons. Now it is even better because I get to hunt with my grandsons. Watching them get their first kill and teaching them the outdoor skills that they can pass on for generations is incredibly gratifying. When we are all together that is some of our favorite conversation.

This is my 12 yr. old grandson’s first turkey…just shot it a week ago

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Back at the house with his youth model 20 ga. pump

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Got his first deer last year during the youth season. He later told me: “Papa, I just keep reliving it over and over in my mind”. I told him, “me too buddy…me too…”