Glassing
Buy good glass. I realize that everyone is on a budget but
on this purchase, don’t leave any pennies in your pocket.
Figure out what you can afford and go compare everything
in that price range for the best deal. I’ve had super luck
with Leupold products. They have lifetime warran-
ties. If you have cheap glass, after a day of glassing
your eyes will be wobbly and out of focus. It will
be hard to go to sleep, as you’ll be hallucinat-
ing.
Get shooting
By Glen Bruderer
gbruderer@idahopress.com
Hunting with stick and string
brings about a side of hunting
that appeals to just about every
outdoor lover. Archery hunting is
an experience that, for those who
have experienced the excitement,
gets in your blood. But the sport,
with all of its intrigue, needs con-
stant attention.
There is something primitive
about hunting big game with a
bow and arrow. Most of your shots
are limited to around 40 yards de-
pending on your shooting ability.
Over my years as an archery
hunter, I have run the gamut of
experiences. Close calls, success- IPT file photo
es, failures and beautiful country Practice often, and make sure your bow is in good working order before you head out on any hunting adventure.
have all played large roles in why
I chose to hunt with stick and
string. Archers don’t choose the use it! Guess a distance to an ob-
sport as an easy way of getting a ject, then range it to see how close
trophy each fall. you were.
Your role varies from scene to I don’t think it is possible to
scene. shoot too much. Find a safe place
You are walking down a to shoot and set time aside. The
dusty old road that winds its way valley has great places to shoot
through a grove of aspen that are here close. There are two outdoor
softly singing a song to anyone shooting ranges for the public to
who will listen. Something abrupt- go and shoot at all distances. One
ly breaks the tranquility. You hear is in Caldwell near Rotary Ponds.
a rustling in the brush just over This range has target butts out to
the crest of the road. You nock an 60 yards.
arrow and your heart begins to Another range is in Nampa and
race. You edge your way closer to funded by the Nampa Bow Chiefs.
the sound. There it is, a beautiful The clubhouse is located at 222 W.
muley buck. You slowly draw your Railroad, behind Fred Meyer. They
bow. You guess the distance to be also have an indoor range that is
about 35 yards, take aim and let available to members to shoot at
the arrow loose. just about any time. Emmett also
C r a c k! has a archery club called the Black
Off bounds the animal you have Canyon Bowmen. They host a
dreamt about several times over couple of shoots a year and hold
the last 10 months. You walk down leagues.
to where the animal was standing Go to www.idahoarchery.
and see something shining about com/nbc or www.black-
the place the deer stood moments canyonbowmen.com
before. It’s a mangled broadhead Mike Vogt/IP
and give them a call
attached to about three-inches of to find out how to
Danny Aden talks to a shooter at his shop Archery Central in Nampa. His shop offers great support and an
shattered graphite. Your arrow lays indoor range that is open for shooters to practice here in Nampa. Archery websites join. These are
in many pieces in the rocks. great organiza-
site.archerycentralllc.com tions that offer a
This scenario replays itself http://www.idahoarchery.com/nbc/
many times each fall. Either you great support sys-
to mark where your bow and its be ready to go. Not so much. broadheads www.blackcanyonbowmen.com tem for archers.
misjudged the yardage, hit a limb, www.gemcountyarchery.com
jerked the trigger or pulled your accessories are set. This gives you With the faster bows out there, are flying su- There is also
head trying to see where your ar- a reference point to return to if some heads need more stabiliza- per. Opening a shop located
row might hit. things change or something hap- tion. I have tried many different morning finds just off the freeway
Archery is a sport that needs pens. things. I like Blazer vanes. I have you waiting at at the Franklin exit
your constant attention. There are The most important factor is shot them for a while and love a common elk in Nampa. Archery
many things that can go wrong to practice — often and with pur- them. They stabilize surprisingly crossing where you Central is run in conjunc-
while shooting a bow. You owe pose. I shot a lot in the spring, but well for a small vane. Plus, they know a bull frequents. You tion with TriState Marine. They
it to the animal to be in your best lightened up when summer came have less cross-wind drift. Regard- hear something coming and ready are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
shooting form and your equipment around. When I started shooting yourself. Out steps a great bull through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6
less of what you shoot, get a feel p.m. Saturday. They have a great
must be tuned and ready to go. serious again, I was a mess. Force for what they do. I like to shoot a at just 24 yards. You slowly draw
This is no easy task. yourself to work through your your bow and settle-in your sights indoor shooting range. Danny
lot and shoot in the area I will be Aden, the owner of the pro shop,
weaknesses. Mine is my trigger. I hunting. I have noticed that the just behind the shoulder.
can pull up at any given time and THWAP! You missed! offers great advice and might have
Issues wind up in the area I hunt will
hit a 10-inch circle up to about 40- affect the shot quite a bit. If I know The sound of the shot was not the answer as to why things are
Make sure your bow is in good yards, but this is not sufficient. normal. When you look down at not where they should be. He even
working order. Check for cracks in this in advance, I can allow for it as made me a set of BSU-inspired blue
Yes, this might kill an animal, your arm the jacket you put on
the limbs. Sights should be secure if all factors are perfect. For those best I can. this morning is all bunched up and orange Death Harp strings for
and pins straight and intact. Be who hunt, you know that things Many people adjust their sights on your arm. When you did all of my bow. Go BSU!
sure all the moving parts have are seldom perfect while hunting. to accommodate for their broad- your practicing it was 90 degrees. Every Wednesday Archery Cen-
been lubed and the strings are in I work on holding the pin on heads, but I think that is a mistake. You had a light T-shirt and did not tral has a 3D fun league that starts
good shape. It is not fun to have the target and fight it through There is a reason they are hitting allow for a heavier jacket. at 7 p.m. It is a great way to stay in
your bow sighted in and ready to the entire shot. Your trigger pull a bit off, provided your broad- This is a common mistake. practice and have professional sup-
go, only to find your string needs should almost startle you when it heads and arrows are straight and Shoot with the clothes you plan to port to answer your questions.
replacing. The process then starts goes off. I work on pulling with uniform. A broadhead accentuates hunt in. This sound like a trivial We have had many outdoor
all over again. my back rather than my finger. any deviation in form and tuning. thing, but trust me, this has hap- shops come and go in the area.
Make sure your bow is in tune. Once you start to tighten your Your field points might be hitting pened to me too many times. Hopefully we will all support the
Every archer has their own way groups, check your bow and acces- perfect, but a broadhead often ones we have and keep them in
to do this. For me, I take mine in sories again. Check your reference reveals issues. business.
before the season. They make sure marks and make sure things have Some broadheads just do not Mix it up A bit more practice and I should
everything is good to go. Trust not changed. work in some setups. Find what As a final step in your prepa- be ready to go.
me, they will see things that you works and stay with that. ration, shoot at odd distances. I All archers have their own style
might miss. The point is to remove have a small target that can be and opinions. That’s what makes
any variables you can. This is well
Broadheads moved and set at different angles, hunting with sticks and strings so
worth the money spent. The addition of a broadhead is Clothing distances and up or down hill. Do appealing. Try it and you will be
Tuning doesn’t end there where things can get dicey. Many Another dilemma that archers not skip this. Judging distance is hooked. Remember to PRACTICE.
— this is just the beginning. people will assume that if you are get themselves into is with cloth- not easy and takes time to perfect. Be diligent. You owe it to your
You will constantly be tweaking shooting the same weight broad- ing. Lets say you have spent hours Shadows and heavy brush will trip game to be in the best form you
throughout the process. I like head as your field tip you should on shooting in late summer. Your you up. If you have a rangefinder, can be.
t Ask Fish and Game: Dove permit must have a federal “Migratory Game Bird Harvest
Information Program Validation,” migratory bird permit
Q. I plan to go dove hunting. Do I need for short – not a duck stamp. It costs $1.75 for
a permit other than a hunting license? resident hunters and $4.75 for nonresidents. For more
A. Yes. The mourning dove season opens September details see the 2010-2011 & 2011-2013 Upland
1 and in addition to a 2010 hunting license, hunters Game, Furbearer and Turkey rules brochure.
DON’S
MAIN STREET BEVERAGE
Dove, crane and grouse LIQUOR STORE
our shoulders and headed out to the of the blind and saw nothing in all di- Scott McGann shot this nice turkey with his bow in the 2010 season here in Idaho.
ATV for the long ride back to the rections. I packed up and headed for
truck. The ride looked much differ- the ATV to go to another spot. Upon
ent on the way out than it did on the reaching the new spot I began to use right. Two hens were feeding along. me at about 22 yards away. I got my and arrows blessed me with a real
way in at 4:15 that morning. With my binoculars to glass the draws and All of a sudden, the Tom on the arrow ready on my bow and rose up trophy. I cannot wait for the next trip
both of our turkeys now cleaned and hillsides. After about 20 minutes of hillside jumped up and flew down slowly to peek again when I realized out with this set-up. I’m confident it
in the freezer, I asked Kami if she was glassing I spotted a big Tom strutting the mountain like a big glider. He the best-case scenario was happen- will produce another great memory
interested in buying a second tag and for his girlfriends. He was with five landed right next to the hens and im- ing. It was the back of his feathers I in the field.
go out again. Bless her heart, but at hens, so I knew it would be tough to mediately began a puffed up strut. I was seeing. He was looking straight
seven months pregnant another trip call him away from his girls. called and he ignored me. I did this away from me so his own feathers
on the ATV did not appeal to her. I looked over the area and planned off and on for 30 minutes before I blocked his vision of me rising up. I n Scott McGann lives in Emmett and is
“Can I?” I asked. One thing about out my approach to the area where came to the decision that this bird drew back my bow and set the sights regular contributor to the Messenger Index.
being blessed with a beautiful wife he was. Well, when I got to the area I was not coming to me; I needed to go for what some people call a “Texas He is a member of the Mossy Oak Pro Staff,
who also loves to hunt is I rarely here set up some decoys and began calling to him. Heart Shot.” The arrow struck true. Parker Compound Bows National Field Staff,
the words,“No I don’t want you to go and calling and calling. Thirty min- I crept along the side of the moun- I had just harvested my best archery
tain, peeking up over a small rise ev- turkey with a bow and arrows that Carbon Express Arrows Shooting Staff, Cop-
hunting.” utes later I noticed movement up the
With the permission to get a sec- hill a good 500 yards away. There he ery couple of steps. About the fifth were only two days FRESH OUT OF per John Shooting Staff, Blacks Creek Guide
ond tag, I opened up the newly-ar- was, strutting around and I knew my time I peeked through the brush I THE BOX. The bird was a little over Gear Field Staff, Browning Pro Staff, Trophy
rived boxes and began putting my hunt for this bird was over. Then I no- noticed the circle of feathers of the 22 pounds and had an 8-inch beard. Bag Kooler Pro Staff, Gem County Archery
new bow together that evening. I ticed movement about 80 yards to my Tom’s fan was spread out just above The first day out with my new bow Pro Staff and runs Scooter’s Hunting Camp.
Pre-season scouting
By Tom Claycomb area a few years to learn the lay You can’t put all your eggs in
scout and prepare for weeks in
advance.
In Idaho there’s so much to
do that many don’t adequately
scout, but still I’m convinced
by the time you find the game, everything.
it’s time to go back to work.
Scouting hints
Learn to look for evidence.
Tracks, feces, trails, wallows,
scrapes and vegetation that
has been eaten all point to evi-
of the land and how animals one basket. What if another the guys that get big bulls year Guys that get an elk year
For the Idaho Press-Tribune after year set aside nine or 10
dence of game, you just have to
move. I discovered a draw that hunter is there? What if wolves after year scout more than the
Successful people scout for cut through a bald mountain in have moved in and devastated rest of us. The problem is, they days to hunt. Elk hunting is be smart enough to read it.
game, but most hunters don’t Wyoming. It turned out to be a your area, as is happening with thereby somewhat limit their tough. Just because you find a draw
do it. If you just moved here good crossing for antelope. You alarming regularity now in Ida- other activities. That’s the Use your other outdoor ac- with the proper food source
from the flatlands, you had to could set there and drill your- ho? What if there was a fire? problem, I want to do it all. tivities as a chance to scout for doesn’t mean that they are
scout around at first to find self an antelope every morning Don’t just keep pounding Moral to the story — every game. there. Let’s take for instance
where to build a blind, but af- at 7:00 year after year. the same deadbeat area. The minute spent scouting is worth Realize that no matter how bears. Many draws will have
ter that the deer habits stayed Game has certain trails/ first elk I ever got, I moved it. Scout all you can. Have more much you scout, things can berries in them. On a good
pretty much the same. In Texas drainages they use as escape camp three times before I got than one spot lined up. The lon- change. People there, hound year they can’t hit them all.
for example, winter or summer routes and to travel. Usually into them. If you set up camp ger you hunt an area, the better hunters hit your bait or wolves You must find one in which the
they live and die in the same it makes sense after studying and there’s no sign — MOVE. you learn it. If you don’t scout, moved in and scattered/killed bears are feeding — currently.
spot, maybe even living and them. It just takes a few years Deer/elk can’t fly. If you don’t
dying within a one square mile to learn these spots. Many see tracks, they’re not there!
BIG
area. times when spooked, deer will Word of caution — an area can
Nebraska/Kansas/South always escape a certain way. be dead today and game get
Dakota — whether it’s 100 This is good to know. spooked into it tomorrow.
degrees or -30, they live in the I’ve got a spot in Idaho Now the real question. Who
LABOR DAY
same place (they do bunch up where I’ve hunted elk for three has a month of weekends to go
around shelter belts in times of years and feel like I really just scouting, even though we all
deep snows). It doesn’t matter learned how the game moves know that it is the proper thing
where they go, it’s still –30 de- there last year. I’m the world’s to do? That’s the bad deal about
%
10 OFF
whole, they summer up high area. were out scouting for bears.
and as bad weather moves in You should always have The discussion turned to deer
LABOR DAY
they move down to lower el- more than one spot lined up hunting and what a big deal it
evations following their food to hunt. I once hunted with a is in Pennsylvania and Texas.
Salebration!
source, moving literally 5, 10 guy that had scouted out an Used to Pennsylvania shut
or even 20 or more miles when area. We walked one drainage down schools opening day.
ALL AMMO
Take a slip-on pad to put over your rifle butt. If you plan on taking long shots, shoot your
This will minimize the kick so you flinch less. rifle at 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards so you
While on the subject, buy a good butt pad. know where it hits.
Start off sighting in your rifle at 25 yards to Wear double ear protection. Not only
make sure that it is on paper. Then go to 100 can shooting hurt your ears, it can make you NOW THROUGH LABOR DAY!
yards. flinch.
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Tires • Brakes • Custom Wheels • Power Steering • Cooling System Services • Fuel Injection 277706
hunting 2010 Idaho Press-Tribune/Messenger Index • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010
C M
Y K
hunting 5
ticipated the time it would went in search of another buck just inside the trees.
take to get there, and as we group of deer. We were She pulled up and the buck
got to the area we wanted talking about various plans pushed does out towards
862CFA7@C9F?E:?8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010 • Idaho Press-Tribune/Messenger Index Hunting 2010
hunting 6 C M
Y K
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