Slow day in the alfalfa field. . . ? ? ?

Crap-o-rama, Lynn and I went up to Iron County, Utah to shoot some chizzlers and help out the farmers, Thursday 4-6-2017.  I couldn't believe it but the chizzlers were all gone to a convention or a party or a revival or a "chizzler--ention" somewhere out of the area.  I saw very few varmints.  I shot at some and Lynn shooting a .22 magnum shot at some at longer distance.  Lynn is quite the head shooter.  He nailed some at over 100 yards and I was truly impressed.  Overall Lynn took about 40 or 50 out of the ranks of profit eaters.  I did manage to end a few chizzlers, like 20 or so.  Most of the shots were at distance and I posed for the above photo with one of the few I harvested.  I was totally let down from the fine shoots we have had in the recent past.  We drove to five different locations scouting targets before we could finally settle down on a shooting spot. We found Bounty Hunter 6 and five of his amigos hunting. They were shooting spurraticly but I could tell it wasn't as good a hunting as just a few days earlier.  A couple of the B H 6 shooters accused us of shooting them all in the weeks before and the reason there were so few targets on this day was due to us.  NOT SO !

I speculate that the females are having their offspring right now and the entire horde is waiting below ground for the births then they will assault in mass on the alfalfa fields in just a few days, like 7 - 10 days.  Figure one male, one female, and about five or six babies coming up in two weeks to mow the alfalfa fields down to the the bare earth.  It will be financially difficult for the farmers.  It will be financially difficult for the poor chizzler reapers buying ammo at "Hillary" prices.  I will dedicate myself to stopping the infestation as much as I am able.

{P.S. I am so sorry for the gross photos on my last post.  I put them on and though they were fun at the time.  Now as I look back I think I went too far using them.  Sorry for my lack of professionalism but I am just a "blogger" you know.}

COLD AS HECK . . . still chizzlers die in the snow

Before we get into the details of hunting chizzlers in the snow lets take a little quiz:

Guess what?

 1. WHAT IS THIS A PHOTO OF?
2. How did it end up on the dirt?
3. Will it be a profit eater for the farmers in Iron County, Utah anytime soon?
4. Can a chizzler reaper count multiple K.I.A.'s for a single shot and multiple reapings?
5.  Is this going to reduce the number of chizzlers to hunt later in the year in any perceivable way?  {Answers to follow at the end of this blog post.}

Bounty Hunter 6 (B H 6) and I went to hunt chizzlers last week.  It has been cold and rainy in Washington County, Utah and Iron County being some 3,000 feet above sea level higher in elevation was gifted with some snow.  I had my doubts if we would see any little profit stealers out in the snow.  Guess what  --  YES, you guessed it  -- there were some eskimo chizzlers out eating the alfalfa and bundled up in fur.  We took no prisoners.

Snow chizzler

 B H 6 did his duty with a .17 HMR CZ rifle and I did what I could to keep up with my Savage .22LR heavy barrel.  We really didn't chat much.  We were both rather occupied with obtaining a target in the scope, concentrating on shooting precisely, and working the bolt to ready for the next cycle of agricultural menace harvesting.  We did our best to do our duty to get the chizzler population down.  We had a pretty darn good day!  I will admit I was almost frost bitten and my fingers were numb.  Agriculture helping work is sometimes not as pleasant as others.  I still had a wonderful time.  I don't now why I like this type of hunting, chizzlers, so much?  {I must have been a very evil person in previous life?  I certainly hope my next incarnation is not as a chizzler in Iron County, Utah.}

3 for 1, at least

ANSWERS to the quiz:
 1. WHAT IS THIS A PHOTO OF?  Soon to be born and start eating profits chizzler
2. How did it end up on the dirt?   Emergency C section via a .22LR round, the mother was                dying from a gun shot wound
3. Will it be a profit eater for the farmers in Iron County, Utah anytime soon? Never to eat in Iron County . . . or anywhere else for that matter
4. Can a chizzler reaper count multiple K.I.A.'s for a single shot and multiple reapings? NO.  One shot per chizzler.  Collateral damage is not counted.
5.  Is this going to reduce the number of chizzlers to hunt later in the year in any perceivable way?  It is highly doubted the total number of chizzlers will significantly change in the next 4 months.

YES . . . YES, YES, YES ! ! !

YES! Chizzler season is open and in full run.  The alfalfa is not yet  two inches high and the little profit stealers are eating like they haven't been fed for five or six months.  Guess what -- they haven't been fed for five or six months and they are starving.  As soon as they eat some hay they are going to start the good old mating ritual.  They will run around and fight with each other, lucha libre style, and move like drops of water on a hot skillet.  It will be an adventure trying to shoot doubles.  It is done.  I have done it in past years.  Bounty Hunter 6 did a double today.  I can hardly wait.

Basically the history is as follows: I went out with Bounty Hunter 6 (B H 6) and we did a pretty good job mowing down the Early Guard of chizzlers that had emerged from their burrows on February 22, 2017.  We nailed about 250 - 300 vermin.

Early Guard

Mr. Bob came to hunt as soon as he knew the chizzlers were out.  He brought his super fine chizzler reaping trailer.  We went out in two different fields and shot dozens of chizzlers for a few days.  His trailer and his laugh make it all worth while.

Mr. Bob at his best.

I took my pal, co-worker, good friend, and soon to be master chizzler hunter J L to hunt on March 13, 2017.  {Remember J L's introduction on the blog post of 6-3-2015} Between 9:05 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. we managed to take about 350 - 400 profit robbers out of the equation.  That is fast shooting.  Think about it -- say 400 hits and maybe 200 misses (pretty good percentage, 67%).  That is 600+ rounds fired.  Given both of us use Savage bolt action guns with the largest magazine of 10 rounds that makes for 60 magazine loadings.  600 rounds fired in 3  1/2 hours or 210 minutes.  600/210 = 2.86 rounds per minute.  That is pretty dang fast and fun.  Targets as quick as you can obtain sight picture, concentrate on trigger control, breathing, and splatting.

J L  having a heck of a time!

 I went at the behest of B H 6 again this morning.  I did my best, to do my duty, to increase the profits of the farmers in Iron County, Utah.  I think B H 6, his pal Dr. Phil. (really a doctor), and I were able to end the economic slide for a week or so on a certain field.  Just one end, of one circular, in one field.  WE have so much more work to do.  I also, unfortunately, have another job that requires me to work.  I know we should continue to strike while the Iron (County) is hot, and mow down chizzlers but alas I must earn some money to pay the bills.  I can not go shoot chizzlers everyday . . . .  yet.

S&W .22 handgun for sappers within 10 yards

See up there fellow chizzler hunters!

CHIZZLER SEASON STARTS NOW ! ! !

Bounty Hunter 6 and I went to Iron County to check for chizzlers on Wed. 2-22-2017.  We saw various chizzler scouts in their advanced chizzler guard positions on the side of the road as we drove to Beryl Junction.  We were getting pretty excited.  When we arrived at the farmer's fields around 9:30 a.m. we were greeted by 20 mile per hour winds, and an outside temperature of 45º F, with the wind chill factor -- it was cold outside for a desert boy like me.  There were overcast skies.  BH6 and I drove from farm to farm looking for possible targets.  Not much out and hardly any shots to be taken.  At around 10:15 a.m. after harvesting about 5 chizzlers total we decided to go back to St. George and have lunch and lick our wounds over a burger.  As soon as we started to throw in the towel and leave the sun broke through the clouds and the wind died down to maybe 10 MPH.  The chizzlers came out and were scurrying around the alfalfa fields.  We proceeded to introduce them to the great alfalfa field in the sky.  We shot for just an hour or so but ended up with maybe 4 dozen reaped.

I have to admit my skills are not what they were last year.  I probably missed 50% + of the time.  I have to practice my marksmanship skills.  BH6 was successful and his CZ .17HMR and he really connected at ranges from 30 to 130 yards.  The 17 HMR seems to be the perfect chizzler caliber.  The sadistic laughs were abounding in the truck cab.  There is now empty brass in the defrost vents of BH6's truck that needs to be fished out with a bent coat hanger.  It was a nice trip and I can hardly wait for the chance to go hunting again.

Notice in the photo below there is hardly any alfalfa sprouted out to date.  The chizzlers are hungry and there is little food available and zero cover for them to hid in.  In the next two weeks the chizzler reaping will move into high gear I am sure.  I hope I have enough .22 L.R. ammunition.

CRAP-O-RAMA I want to hunt chizzlers so bad I am almost ready to buy a 6-pack of hamsters at the pet store and set them out in my backyard as a way to ease to my passion's burning fire.  My trigger finger itches tons.  I am watching TV with my binoculars.  I range finder at my refrigerator.  My Supreme Commander thinks I am more nuts than usual.  I need to start the carnage.

It has been rather reasonable weather around here in Washington County -- 70º+ some afternoons.  Climatically, it should be close to chizzler season opener in Iron County even though it is about 3,000 feet higher elevation up there.  Bounty Hunter 6 and I went up to check out the prospects the other day and saw ideal conditions but not a single chizzler.  It was over 60º, blue sky, and no wind.  I was at least hoping for a few "mentally ill" type chizzlers that would be out and about early in the slightly cooler air.  NO WAY.     NOTHING.     NADA.

To make matters worse, my hunting pals are also going bonkers.  Mr. Bob is pretty much waiting in his truck for the word to come.  I think his wife is almost glad he is getting out of town as he has been driving her nuts with anticipation.

I will post as soon as I draw my first bead.  I have a lot of pent up frustration.  I will take no prisoners.

Waiting. . . . Waiting so long it seems . . .

I am so anxious to go hunt chizzlers.  {I really am evil at heart I guess.}  Today the little vermin are sleeping off the cold old winter but I want to go hunt them RIGHT NOW!  I hope my pals and fellow reapers are able to withstand the urge better than I can.

Happy New Year and best wishes to you and yours.

HUNTING FOR MULE DEER 2016

Mule deer hunting in November with a rifle during the start of the rut is way fun.  There are lonesome bucks around all the small groups of does with fawns and the bucks are rather preoccupied.  They don't seem to give a "buck snort" for humans in the area.  I have never done this before and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity at least once in my hunting career.  I had about 5 bonus points for mule deer hunting and I applied for a CWMU {Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit} tag via the State of Utah drawing process.  I drew the tag in late summer and really didn't know what I had.  My son called to congratulate me.  He is a professional wildlife biologist had a lots better appreciation for my good fortune in tag drawing.  We made plans to go hunt together in the late fall.  I love it when he comes.  His eyes are younger and sharper, he is great at cleaning, packing, and handling the downed game, he is a great conversationalist, and he is an excellent camp cook. Not to mention he is one of my sons and I love my boys with all my heart.

I took my camping/hunting trailer to N39º41.368 and W109º39.883 on October 31, 2016 and we set up camp.  On the dirt road journey into the camping spot we saw several bucks along the side of the less than perfect dirt road we were traveling.  They were watching us but they didn't run away and hide.  I was getting really excited.  The bucks we saw were kind of smallish -- 2x2's and 2x3's mostly.  I did see one 3x4 that had an impressive rack and was rather mature.  I was starting to scratch my trigger finger.

Camp was great. We had stopped at WalMart in Vernal, Utah and bought some important supplies.  I came out of the store with fixings for great meals for 4 or 5 days.  Dax is always thinking ahead.  I usually eat ramen noodles and MRE's when I hunt alone.  The first night in the camper we had shrimp with alfredo sauce over garden pasta with a crusty french bread.  Flan for dessert.  The meal was great.  I learned the shrimp idea from my son and his pal Clint S.  They like to start a new tradition of having shrimp on the first night of a hunting camp.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016 we were off early to hunt for the BIG ONE.  We almost immediately saw several mule deer bucks in various groups following dozens of does as we had the day before on the drive into the area. We saw two young bucks, 2x2's, butting heads and sparing with each other.  We saw a couple of 2x2's bucks that were all alone and wondering "What are these strange sensations I have?"  "Why do I want to smell the does and then get near to them?" We saw a mature buck with rack full of character a 6x7 or so and he was chasing a hot doe.  We watched him for a few minutes and decided it was just the first morning and there are probably others that are even bigger around if we continue to scout for them.  We drove on looking for the best big old boy we could find.  We did see other deer.  Some of the bucks were nice.  I took my rifle out of the case and put the crosshairs on a couple of them but never pulled the trigger.  We saw two coyotes late in the afternoon and I wanted to shoot the walking $50 bills* but I didn't want to scare off any potential big bucks so I held back.  We saw an extremely large badger moving quickly over a short mountain near us.  We watched him go up and over post haste. The badger was maybe as big as a doe mule deer yet with shorter legs.  Finally at dark we went back to camp and had another great meal.  To sleep early as we were hunting and would get up early.  All in all, a great day with my son hunting.  Lots of game and really uniquely spectacular scenery.  The geological formations were very interesting and beautiful in the sunset lighting.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 we were up early, hot chocolate and a cinnamon raisin bagel then off to hunt.  I had been thinking about the 6x7 buck we saw the day before and I told my son if we see him again I want to shoot at him.  He is kind of special with all the trash points on his rack.  My son agreed and said "It's your tag".  We drove toward the east from camp and came across four fellows in a Yukon just out looking at deer.  They were not hunting, they were just taking photos.  As we passed in the road the driver motioned us to stop.  My son was driving and the two drivers started to talk. They could see my orange vest and the Yukon guys knew I was hunting.  They said they had seen a 6x7 that was way "cool" and I should be on the look out for it.  My son told them we had seen the buck the day before and we were looking for it again.  The Yukon scouts told us to go look near a oil drilling well pad up the road where they had seen it about an hour earlier.  They wished us well and good luck.  We started out towards the direction indicated.

Eventually arriving at the well pad area we saw several does and fawns {like over 20 head}.  There were no bucks to be seen.  We scouted around and then got out the glass.  We glassed for sometime without results.  The bucks seemed to be at a "convention" somewhere other than here. We drove south a mile or so and continued to glass without success.  It was still early and I was sure we would eventually see some type of buck as there were so many does around the general area.  We started to retrace our path back towards the oil well pad and my son saw Mr. Wonderful.  He was keeping a low profile and just out of the junipers moving east away from us at about 250 yards.  We quickly walked towards him to get a better look.  We used some lone junipers to walk behind to shield us from the buck's line sight.  We worked our way to as close as we could while still behind the juniper screen.  We both looked out from behind the last large juniper tree, Dax on one side me on the other, at the buck that was now 165 yards away. I said "That's him I am going to shoot."  I worked the bolt on my .300 Win. Mag. and took a sight picture in a standing position. Not my best position for accurate shooting.  I pressed the trigger and shot high.  {I will now call that my "warning shot"}.  I shot high enough the buck didn't really run fast away.  He continued to move to the east and some north.  I sat down in the sage brush and using my knees a rests I held my rifle on the buck's vitals from a quartering away angle.  I figured the bullet would take out his liver and also his lungs at this range.  I pressed the trigger ever so gently and the rifle boomed and the buck jumped and he was done.  He took maybe 10 steps north east and fell over in the junipers.

It took us a moment to recognize all that had happened in just a few short minutes.  We located the big buck and stalked him and shot him in about 4 or 5 minutes.  That is how it happens many times when hunting. You look for hours and days then when the moment comes it all happens so fast.  I am so thankful for my son and the opportunity to be with him on this special hunt.  We went over and took some photos.  Then we drove the truck as close as we could and loaded him on the back for transport to camp.  What a great hunt!  I have been blessed so much from Heaven.  I have enough health to go hunting, enough luck to draw a tag, and sons who like to be with me in the field.

{The meat is not bad either.}  *Utah has a $50 bounty on coyotes taken in deer areas.