Outdoors

Winter Sports Opportunities

I want to be sure my readers are aware of one  a great recreation spot in our area.  If you like winter sports Pomerelle Mountain Resort offers great snow and friendly service for the skier and snowboarder alike.  I grew up skiing Pomerelle and have seen many changes and improvements over the years.   It is a great area for snowshoeing and cross country skiing also.  Snowmobilers will find their own parking lot, restrooms,  and trails nearby.  Learn more at www.pomerelle-mtn.com

Why Pink Salmon are Cool

by Deneki Outdoors

True, not many anglers head to Alaska specifically to target pink salmon. That’s OK though – we still think they’re pretty awesome fish. Here’s why.

1. Every other year there are billions of them. OK, not billions, but on even-numbered years on the Kanektok, our pink numbers are very, very large.
2. They eat poppers. Find ‘em where they’re fresh, and they’re more than happy to eat surface flies, and surface flies for salmon are cool.
3. They’re a ton of fun on a 6 weight. It may not be a big-game experience, but fishing a lighter-weight rod can be a nice break when you’ve spent most of your week pulling on the big boys.
4. They make a great shore lunch. Pinks don’t keep well in your freezer over the winter, but on the bank of the river, just minutes from swimming, they’re awfully delicious.
5. They’re great for kids. We love hosting family groups, and pinks are ‘friends of the family’! Easy to hook and fun to fight, but not too heavy or powerful…perfect.
6. Their metamorphosis is pretty amazing. All salmon change physically when they enter fresh water, but a pink’s Jekyll and Hyde transition from silver and slender to pink, toothy and humpbacked is just a neat natural thing to witness.

See the original article at GotHunts.com

Bald Eagle Thrill

There are so many opportunities to view wildlife in the Magic Valley.  I’ve really enjoyed these wildlife viewing opportunities this winter.  I hope you enjoy this picture of a mature and immature bald eagle that I saw in a field  this weekend.  It is always a thrill to watch bald eagles within the striking contrast of the black ond white on the mature eagles. Click to see pic. Watch for more area wildlife pictures.

Fly of the Month – CDC Shuck Biot Body Sparkle Dun

Late fall/early winter is a great time to start tying up some patterns to restock the fly boxes depleted by another year on the water, lets not abandon the fishing quite yet.  I have had several great days on the river this past month.  It does get a bit hit and miss as the weather and the water temps cool but when you hit it right the fishing can be outstanding.  I have still been running into some great baetis hatches around here and so with that in mind I thought I would share my favorite pattern when fish are sipping the Blue Winged Olive Duns off the rivers surface.  This pattern is basically a Sparkle Dun with a biot body, and I use a CDC feather for the trailing shuck instead of Z-lon. I like the Sparkle dun because it is so versatile.  I think fish feeding on emergers, duns, and spinners could all find a reason to take a well placed Sparkle Dun.  This version is quite simple to tie, it floats well, and is fairly easy to see even in the small sizes that will often be required.

Lets get started with the materials:
• Hook: #18 or smaller Tiemco 100 or equivalent dry fly hook
• Thread: Olive 8/0
• Wing: Olive Deer Hair
• Tail/Shuck: One Natural Brown CDC feather
• Body: Gray Olive Turkey Biot
• Thorax: Medium Olive Fine Dry Fly Dubbing

1) In the winter months the bugs that do hatch tend to be small.  For our rivers in Southeast Idaho I usually tie this pattern in sizes from #18-#24.  You can definitely go larger or smaller if needed.

2) Tie in a clump of deer hair about 2/3 down the shank of the hook.  I make about 3 good turns while holding the back of the hair so it stays on top of the hook while the tips flare out.  Then clip the backs as close as you can at a 45 degree angle.

3) Next I pull up about 1/3 of the hair and make a wrap in front of it, then proceed to pull up another third, again making a wrap in front of that, then finally pull the remaining hairs straight up and wrap in front so that all the hair is standing up on the fly.  Then be sure to build up a good thread dam in front of the wing as if you don’t, when the fly gets wet the wing will lean forward on you.  Then wrap the thread back to behind the wing and tie down the loose ends on that side.

4) Now tie in the CDC feather on top of the hook shank.  I don’t worry about how long the tail sticks out as I cut it later.

5) Continue securing the CDC feather wraping back to where the shank meets the bend.

6) Now I trim the tail to about 3/4 hook shank length.

7) Next tie in a Goose or Turkey Biot Quill with the notch facing left.  Advance the thread to just behind the wing.

Wrap the biot using nice even wraps toward where you stopped the thread, then tie it off and clip the excess.

9) Next I simply dub a nice football shaped thorax using 2-3 wraps behind the wing and 3-4 in the front of it.

10) Finally make a nice even thread head and tie off the fly.  Dab some head cement on there and you are ready to fish.

Play with the color scheme to match other mayfly hatches in your area as well.  I like this pattern tied in appropriate colors for the summertime PMD hatches too.  Most of all have fun and catch some fish!

This article by: BaseCampLegends.com

See the original article at TeamHuntress.com

Peachka Knocked Your Deer Over

I know my husband isn’t the only one with an imaginary friend.  Even if you’re over the age of 3, it isn’t unusual for some of you to have an imaginary friend.  If strange things happen around your house, like they do ours, you too probably have an imaginary friend.

Our imaginary friend is a female named Peachka and has lived with us since the day I moved in with my hunter…

Jody:  Mark, I can’t find my keys.

Mark:  Maybe Peachka took them.

——————–

Jody:  Why is there a penny in the bathtub? You got undressed in the bedroom.  WT? Ewww.

Mark:  It’s probably Peachkas.

——————–

Jody: Who ate all my cupcakes and put the empty box back in the cabinet.

Mark:  It wasn’t me.

Jody:  There are two of us that live here.  Me and you.

Mark:  It was probably Peachka.  I noticed she’s gaining a bit of weight?

——————–

Jody suffering from 29 year old hot flashes:  Umm Mark, did you turn the heat up again?

Mark: No.

Jody:  Well it’s on 72 and I had it on 66.  This isn’t Florida.  If you want to walk around the house in a t-shirt move south.

Mark:  I didn’t touch the heat. I’m not kidding.

Jody:  Today is not the day Mark.

Mark:  It wasn’t me.

Jody:  Oh .. I suppose Peachka did. Go ahead say it.

——————–

My hot flash took over…

Tonight when I get home, there better be a place setting for Peachka.

When we go shopping at Cabelas this weekend, you need to sit in the back seat ’cause Peachka is sitting in the front seat with me.  And when I’m having a conversation with Peachka at Cabelas, everyone will be staring at you.

Oh and tonight … make sure you sleep in the guest bedroom ’cause that’s where Peachka sleeps.

Have a good day all … I have to go pick up a deer head and glue it’s 20 point horns back on.  Peachka knocked it off the damn wall and I swear it wasn’t me.

See the original article at TheHuntersWife.net

Critter Decor and Stacey Huston Photo Giveaway

Would you look at these cute little critters…

They are about to go on my wall just as soon as I find the perfect frames. I found this photo at Stacey Huston’s photography site, Stacey Huston’s Photos, and thought it was the perfect picture for my dining room wall.

Because … well … we decorate with critters around here.

What was nice about working with Stacey is that the original picture is the one on the left.  I asked Stacey if I could get the same picture; one facing left and one facing right.  And with a click of a flip, I was able to get two adorable critter pictures.

And I’d like to mention that I took the above picture myself.  (Note: the flash shine there in the center.) Yes, I need a photography class.  You will never see my pictures on the cover of any outdoor magazine like Staceys.

On to the giveaway:

Stacey is offering one of my readers the chance to win one of these beautiful photos…

This one she called Willows

And this one she didn’t have a name on it.  Darn her.  If I knew my critters, I could tell you these are bull elks or cow elks or horse elks.  But I don’t know my critters. For the love of a critter identification class, I’m not sure those are even elk.

If you’d prefer one of the chipmunk pictures instead, we can make that happen.

To enter answer the following question:

Do you have a critter room in your house?

Maybe it’s your basement, or your gun room, or your library, or critters have taken over your house in all rooms, like mine. For the love of bathroom privacy.

• The winner will be selected randomly and the contest will run from today, December 7, 2009 – Thursday, December 10, 2009. The winner will be announced on Friday, December 11, 2009. An e-mail notification will be sent and the winner must claim their prize within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. US residents only please.

If you’d like to see more of Stacey’s photography, you can visit at – A Focus in the Wild – Photo a day project. Or Stacey Huston’s Photos page.

And if you’re looking for a unique gift for the outdoors person on your gift list, Stacey’s wildlife photography is absolutely beautiful!

Thanks Stacey and good luck all!

This post is sponsored by Stacey Huston.

See the original article at TheHuntersWife.net

Introducing Doak Worley

Doak Worley and Cory Glauner have now teamed up to bring you one of the most powerful and efficient hunting and fishing booking agency in the industry. Cory brings with him the best networking and technical skills in the business as well as a passion for the outdoors and experience as an outfitter himself. Doak brings age and experience and a passion for hunting and fishing. He has hunted all over the world and owns a very successful marketing company.

Our promise to you is to give you the best outdoor experience possible based on your particular wants and needs. We will match you up with an outfitter that will give you the most enjoyable experience possible.

—–

You have all known Cory for quite some time now. This post is to introduce me, Doak Worley. I was born in Farmington, New Mexico in 1956 and baited my first hook at age 4. I have been in the field hunting since I was 6, and I killed my first deer at 8. I had 40 deer under my belt by the time I graduated in 1974. I barely graduated because of my passion for the outdoors. I have been self employed for the past 35 years and I live, sleep, eat and dream Africa. So this partnership just makes sense.

I think every red-blooded American male has dreamed of going to Africa. So why don’t they go? Is it to expensive? No, it’s about the price of a good whitetail hunt. Is it dangerous? No, it’s safer than climbing your tree stand. In South Africa you’re not going to get eaten by a lion, and the whole country is Malaria free. Is it hard to get my rifle or bow in the country? Not really. We supply all the forms you need and help you with the process and always have a team member meet you at the airport to help you get through customs. You can even take your family with you. There are lots of activities for them as well. So why do most hunters never travel to Africa? I think they are afraid of the unknown. They just don’t know what to expect. They just want someone they know and trust to lead the way. That’s why we are personally escorting three hunts to South Africa in 2010.

• The first hunt will be a 7 day Rifle hunt to the Limpopo province in South Africa for a group 8 hunters starting May 6th. This is a 5 animal hunt for around $4,500. This is an all inclusive hunt (excluding air and tip).
• The second hunt is a 10 day bow hunt for 5 animals and has a cost of around $6,000 (excluding air and tip) for a group of 6 hunters starting May 13th.
• The Third hunt is a combo rifle and bow package and is a 7 day hunt. It includes 5 animals and has a cost of around $5,000 starting May 23rd.

*Any of the packages can have animals added and the additional charge will be from the trophy price list on our web site.

Check out these packages on our web site, and if you would be interested in joining Cory and myself in South Africa in 2010 Contact me.

Look for next weeks blog with the story and photos from my hunt in South Africa last May.

See the original article at GotHunts.com

Online Shopping with Your Favorite Blogs

If you’re like most people shopping for the perfect Christmas gift, you are probably doing most of your shopping online.  More and more people are shopping right from the comfort of their homes.  But did you know you can do your online shopping while helping support your fellow bloggers?

Here’s how it works:

I have an affiliate link on the left hand side of my blog for Cabelas.  Right now Cabelas is running a promotion for $20 off merchandise orders of $100 or more.

If you click on the link from my blog, you get $20 off your purchase and I would get a commission from Cabelas for your purchase.  Your purchase is completely confidential with Cabelas.  So there are no privacy issues.  It’s that easy.

Help support your favorite blogs by shopping through them this holiday season.  I know that is how I’m shopping this year.

If you run a blog, please make sure your affiliate links are easy to find. I know a few bloggers I wanted to do shopping through but I couldn’t find their affiliate links.

Have a good day all and happy shopping!

See the original article at TheHuntersWife.net

Fly of the Month – Modified Zebra Midge

Late fall has arrived and a short flurry of snow here today reminded me that winter is on its way. Unless your favorite fishing location closes for the winter though you don’t need to hang up the fly rod just yet. I have a pattern that has become a favorite of mine from late fall through the early spring months. It is simple, and it works as a great midge pupa imitation.

I fish it a variety of ways. Often I will fish it with a double nymph rig as the bottom fly fishing it deep with the aid of split shot. In the spring I like to use it as a dropper off an adult Skwala Stonefly pattern on rivers that have that hatch and fish it in the top foot of the water column. It will work all year I am sure but my focus during the summer seems to shift to the many other hatches that take place and my use of this midge pattern takes a back seat.

Midges though are a popular winter staple for trout as they do hatch in many locations all year. Even on a cold winter day, the mid day sun can warm things up enough to bring about a midge hatch that will bring even the most lethargic of cold blooded trout to the surface.

This pattern is basically a Zebra Midge with a few slight modifications. It’s simple to tie, and has for the last couple years been my top fish catching pattern on a variety of rivers.

Figure 1-I usually tie this pattern on hooks size #18 or smaller. This one is on a #18 TMC 2457.

Figure 2-Push a 2mm nickel bead onto the hook.

Figure 3-Lay a base of black thread then I tie in a short tail of a few grizzly hackle fibers. Midges do not have a tail like a mayfly but I tie this with a few fibers at the end as I like to think it gives a little wiggle to the end of the fly.

Figure 4 – Tie in a short section of fine silver wire and advance the thread to the head of the fly building a slight taper with the thread as you go.

Figure 5 – Make evenly spaced wraps with the wire up to the head and tie off with the thread.

Figure 6 – Tie in a small loop of Iridescent Krystal Flash. Then whip finish and drop some head cement on the head and a little on the body of the fly.

Figure 7 – The finished product.

This article by: BaseCampLegends.com

See the original article at GotHunts.com

Do Wolves Keep Forests Nutrient-Rich?

A friend of mine, best selling author and fellow hunter Marc Warnkerecently got into an online tussle with an anti-hunter about wolves. They sent him an article from a blog which included all of the “facts” on wolves and how they keep forests nutrient-rich. Neither Marc nor I are wolf haters, but we are realists. Here is Marc’s well thought out reply:

Thanks for the thought and I know your intent was to educate me and I appreciate that. I found this [article] interesting, yet not without obvious bias. I’ve personally witnessed different results, multiple times. But it’s all good. My main concern would be that we participate intelligently in the “predatory” cycle along with the wolves. People, hunters, and wolves are not the enemy or inherently bad. For some reason there is an agenda to slam one or the other to meet an agenda based on feelings. This is a logical issue. We all have a right to the resources, wolves and people alike. Population control and balance is the issue at hand, as it concerns prey and predictor species. Humans are the ones who are responsible for population control and people must claim our God given right to harvest wild game. This issue is not at all about the wolves. It’s about someone’s “pet species,” and the eventual agenda to replace our role as population controllers by eliminating hunting. Who is protecting the Idaho elk herds that are down as much as 90% in some areas. If humans did that, we would be put in jail. Please don’t take offense to this. I am very, very fearful of having my sons rights to hunt with me, taken away.

That is the agenda behind the “science.” If you think I’m exaggerating or a kook willing to entertain conspiracy theory please ask me the story sometime about the biologist I hired to tour me through the rain forest of N. Australia. He laid out the whole agenda because he didn’t know who he was speaking to. He thought I was friendly to the idea of gun ownership bans and making hunting illegal. He was very globally connected and said the agenda behind the wolf was to replace humans with a large predator for population control. When I asked him about the “predator pit” that will show up for the next several hundred years he said it was just a “cost of doing business.” A predator pit happens when a large predator is introduced into an environment and they eat all the prey species and boom in population. As the predator booms, the food (prey species) runs out and the predator dies off. In short, there are huge population swings that take hundreds of years to stabilize. My son will be attempting to learn to hunt during one of the lowest of lows of this population swing and for that I am resentful of someone’s pet project that was truly unessential.

~ Marc Warnke

See the original article at GotHunts.com

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