CARTOON FROM RUSTY circa 2000

My youngest son Rusty, Matt, has been making cartoons and jokes since he was a little kid.  This is one of his classics from the year 2000.

I'M SICK AS A DOG BUT STILL WELL ENOUGH TO GO CHIZZLER HUNTING !

 I have my semi-annual cold and I am rather miserable.  I have a cough, stuffy nose, and almost a straight grain headache.  Bounty Hunter 6 called me when I was leaving the Dr. office at 10:00 a.m. and asked when I wanted to go hunt some chizzlers?  In between weazes and coughs I said, "In about 1 hour."  I went home, grabbed my gear and went for the ride to Iron County to help out our agricultural friends.

I was shooting my .223 Rem. most of the time and Bounty Hunter 6 shot his cute little CZ .17HMR.  We did our duty !  We shot for about two and one half hours then started home.  We had a great conversation on the way up and back, with sweet remembrances of chizzlers launched into the air by projectiles up to twenty feet high.  I never thought agricultural "work" could be so fun.  Physically, I still feel crappy but had a great time.  I could have been sick at home watching Oprah on TV or I could have shot about 100 chizzlers and been just as sick.  Bounty Hunter 6 shot about the same number of chizzlers so all-in-all we saved maybe 1/2 ton of hay this morning.

OTHER NOTE:  My son and his son went turkey hunting Saturday and did it up right.  check out the photos --

CHIZZLERS ARE OUT . . . . . KIND OF ? !

I have been working construction lots for the last three weeks and really don't have time to go hunting for vermin/chizzlers.  A great old friend talked me into hunting with him on Thursday morning.  I drove to Iron County at 8 a.m. and saw several little critters running near the side of the road as I drove north out of Enterprise, Utah.  When I arrived at the designated irrigated circular of alfalfa my friend was already there.  He had shot several chizzlers while waiting for me to arrive.  We moved out near the center of the field and set up my pal's truly fine high rise trailer with two permanently attached "squirrel-o-matic" bases on top.  Just as I climbed the ladder of chizzler doom to the trailer platform the wind started to blow.  It was coming in pretty good by the time I got my rifles loaded and my binoculars on.  It was a cold wind.  I had to go get my emergency down filled vest to wear under my jacket from behind the seat of my pickup.  My pal put on cloth gloves and we both were shivering as we shot at the "arctic" chizzlers.

Chizzlers were out and were hungry.  The alfalfa current growth is really low to the ground so there is no cover for the varmints.  We managed to bag dozens.  We shot more or less constantly from our perch for about two and one half hours.  I used a .22 LR heavy barrel and a .22-250 heavy barrel.  My hunting partner was using a .22 LR and a .22 magnum.  There were dead chizzler bodies all over the place.  The crows, nature's undertakers, were circling for the buffet that was about to be served.  My hands were sore from loading magazines.  I was shaking with cold on my stand.  Finally, the quantity of chizzlers was running a bit low for immediate area where we were.  I decided to head for home and warmer climes at noon.  I left my pal to harvest more vermin or move to another spot to take out additional little profit eaters.

Yes, the chizzlers were out some, but it was windy and really cold.  I think I will wait for some warmer less breezy days to go again.

COLD AND WINDY WITH A CHANCE OF DEATH FOR CHIZZLERS

The chizzler season has kind of started, early this year.  I was so anxious that Bounty Hunter 6 and I went up for a "hopeful" hunt on February 11th.  We were in 40º temperatures with a pretty good wind blowing.  We saw a few of the bravest chizzlers out and about.  We took aim and fired.  Bounty Hunter 6 has an AR-15 he built for just such sport with a stainless steel heavy barrel, a fine tuned after market trigger and a bi-pod.  It was wholesale destruction of varmints for him for about two and one half hours.

I am sorry to report we killed all the vermin we saw.  I don't think there are any left for seed.  Perhaps we ruined what could have been the longest and most productive chizzler season in decades -- I DOUBT IT !  We shot mostly .223 rounds as the little vermin were far from our shooting station.  The chizzler activity seemed to be between 100 and 250 yards from where ever we parked the truck.  I did get a few "sappers" that were trying to sneak in on us with my .22LR.  Now my juices are flowing and I want to get back to Iron County to hunt and help those in agriculture.  However, I have two projects to build, a house to sell, and a infinitely long list from the Supreme Commander to prepare the garden for spring planting in our very own agriculture, we manage about .00367 of an acre in tomatoes and zucchini.  I will post more news and photos as I can sneak away to hunt.

CHIZZLER FEVER so bad

I have CHIZZLER FEVER so bad.  I want to get out there and start the destruction right now.  I have to wait.  I have to wait a long time it seems.  At best the vermin will come out of hibernation in mid-March. 

In the mean time I am loading ammo.  I want to have plenty of rounds available for my hobby/passion/addiction when March rolls around.  Given the scarcity and price of .22LR rounds I suppose I will have to be hunting with the .223 Remington more this season.  I am planning on needing approximately 1,500 rounds of .223 ammo. to do my best to do my duty for farmers in Iron County.  I just have 1,400 more rounds to load . . . . .

6 X 6 BULL ELK on public land with an "any bull" tag !

I have been excited for a couple of months for elk hunt 2014.  I had prepared by sighting in my .338 Win. Mag. and getting all my cold weather gear out of storage.  I actually cleaned out my camper and put butane in the proper tank and water in the other tank.  I was ready to "party" with an elk.

Thurs. 10-2-14 I traveled to Roosevelt, Utah and spent the night with my son and his family.  I so relish visits with my son and his family.  I really enjoy wrestling with the kids and reading stories to them.  Friday morning I got up with elk hunting on my mind no more Diary of a Whimpy Kid for me.  My son and I took some time to buy food at the local super market and then headed to the mountains.

We found a fine camping place near where we had camped 4 years ago.  I had taken a 5 X 5 elk in a meadow near by and we were hoping to score again.  My son's friend came with his boy.  Clint and Trail were a great addition to the camp.  They had a wall tent complete with a small stove.  Trail and I were in charge of making a fire.  We would all sit around the fire Friday evening and verbally dream about the elk to be harvested tomorrow.  This was Trail's first elk hunt.

A comfortable camp

I must mention when Dax and Clint go camping the food is a big part of the equation.  I have seldom eaten so well while hunting.  I think I will always invite those two hoseheads to my hunting camps if for nothing more than the great food they prepare.   Clint can really cook and Dax is not going to be out done by him so we ate really well.  Elk steaks for dinner on Friday night to get us in the mood.  They were seasoned just right.  They were cooked perfect -- still some pink in the middle but heated all the way through.  To top it all off there were fresh made scones!  These were man sized scones not like the Relief Society would make.  Served with homemade peach jam.  It was heavenly.  Other meals included chicken cordon blu sandwiches and always fresh hot scones.  I could really get into the scones with every meal.

Everyone was in bed by 10 p.m. and wake up calls were set for 5:45 a.m.  Early up and excited we move out to our hunting locations.  We are all tethered by two-way radios.  I head to the west to the meadow where I had scored last time we hunted in this area.  Clint and Trail went to the center of a clear cut timber area directly north and Dax went to the east edge of the clear cut areas.  I walk briskly in the dark with a head lamp for a guide.  I get to the meadow and pick a spot to look like a bush for the morning.  I am waiting for a bull to walk into the meadow and enjoy the grass covered with frost.  I have a cow tag and will shoot any elk I see.  Bull, cow, or calf it doesn't matter to me.  I love the meat and my freezer is getting low on protein.

 The meadow with no elk this year

I hear a shot or two at 7:50 a.m. off in the distance and think some one has scored an elk.  At 8:05 a.m. I hear a shot and the telltale smack of bullet striking meat rather close.  I think Clint or Dax has had opportunity.  A minute or so later I hear another shot.  I figure it is a "finishing off" shot and calculate someone has a elk bagged.  The radio in my pocket beeps and Dax is excited to tell me he has a 6 X 6 down.  I am so happy for him.  I tell him I am coming over to help with it.  I get up and put on my backpack then head east.  I walk down a heavily worn trail covered with elk tracks and am thinking about Dax's good fortune.  I come face to butt with a cow elk who was surprised at me on "her" trail.  She has turned to run away.  I raise my rifle and then think Dax already has an elk down about a mile east of here.  It is only the first morning and I can shoot a cow later.  Besides she is headed down a very steep mountain and getting her out will be a task for an old man with a bad heart like me.  I pass on the "Texas heart shot".  Now weeks later I realize that was the only elk I was to see live on the 12 day hunt.  Crap-o-rama.

I hustle over to Dax's area and Clint with Trail have beat me to the location.  Dax hung an orange vest in the tree so we could find him.  We congratulate each other profusely.  To take a 6 X 6 on public land with an open bull tag is more or less a . . . .  MIRACLE.  This is just a wonderful moment.  I am as happy as could be and I did nothing for the event except to be here.  I am so glad for Dax. 

Bull down -- YAHOO! ! !

Trail wants to straddle the elk and ride him lots.  We take a significant number of photos.  We are all grinning like someone who just won the lottery.  The air is clear and crisp.  The comradry is flowing, and success is already in our camp at 8:10 a.m. on opening day of the season.

We have to cut the beast in two pieces to move it.  It is a "big" one.  We are all pleased with the size of the game.  It seems real healthy and we are thankful to have been blessed with this meat.  Fortunately we can get a four wheeler to within rock throwing distance to the animal so the pack out is not bad at all.  We take the animal back to camp and skin and quarter it.  Wrapped in a special game bag it is cooling in the shade.  We all eat some sandwiches and take a short nap.  Later that evening we go back out to hunt for its twin brother.  No luck this evening.   Back at camp after dark more scones and excellent food.  I am so glad we are eating so well.  Food in this camp is lots better than MRE's and ramen noodles, my usual hunting fare.  SCONES with home made peach jam rock!  I want more scones.

Sunday morning we head out again for another bull, or cow in my case.  No animals are seen but a group from Washington State fill up in Dax's position from the day before and score a 5 X 5 bull.  Good for them, but Clint should have had that 5 X 5 shot I think.  {Public land means the dang Public will be there when you don't want them to be.}  We help them load the 5 X 5 and congratulate them with our fingers crossed.  Back to camp mid-morning.  We listen to LDS General Conference on the radio, eat lunch and have a nap.  In the afternoon we listen to conference again then Clint, Trail, and Dax have to go back to town for work Monday.  I am left alone in camp to defend against hopefully an onslaught of elk for the next few days.

I don't mind hunting alone.  I really enjoy the quiet and the mountains and the clean air.  We have had a full moon every night.  It is so bright it is gorgeous.  The stars seem brighter than ever and it is so quiet up here.  I love every thing about the 9,800 ft. elevation except for the lack of oxygen and the cold.  I wear my thermal underwear all the time.  I sleep in a sweat shirt with a stocking cap on my head.  Yes, there is a heater in my camper but still I wear all the warmth I can.

I hunt for several days alone and see no elk.  I drive around to some camps in the afternoons and don't really see any elk hanging.  Maybe the elk have read the hunting proclamation and have all moved on to the Ute Indian Tribe lands where they can't be followed or hunted.  {I hate that when the elk learn to read.} 

I look down on the Unitah Basin and can see Gusher, Ballard, Roosevelt and other towns.  It is really cool to be up on top of the mountain.

 Part of the Unitah Basin

Dax calls it Mountain Church and I agree.  One can feel closer to the Creator with these surroundings.  It is a spiritual experience to enjoy the magnitude of nature God has made for us.  I am so glad to get to go out to do this.  I am so blessed to have been in a group that harvested an elk.  I am blessed to have two sons that appreciate nature and enjoy it as much as I do.  Life is good, even if it is cold and I can't catch my breath hiking.

EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR, HOLD THE SNOW PLEASE

The Utah "any bull" rifle elk hunt is just one month away!  I also have a cow tag this year.  I am starting to think about elk hunting all the time.  I can't help myself.  I just love getting out and being in nature with my son -- trying to find a bull or a cow for the freezer.

I need to go shooting some.  I haven't pulled a trigger for over 10 weeks.  I need to practice my rifle skills.  Who knows, maybe my rifle has grown mold in the barrel?  Maybe my scope has lost its eyesight?  I need to practice.  I also need to walk to the park or to the intermediate school or to Cool Canyon and back everyday or two and get in better shape for the opening day of the hunt.

Some photos from days gone by elk hunting:

I hope to have more results photos to post soon.  I know I will have a great time!  With harvest or without -- any day hunting is better than a day working.  Days with family just make the whole camping, hunting, outdoor experience even better.  I am so blessed to be able to do this.