Here are a couple more pics for your viewing pleasure. These two won’t get your blood pumping, but pics like these are important as they let you know you’ve got some future. We may be talking 2-4 years down the road for these two (that’s if we can keep the few in our family that have touchy trigger fingers away from them- you know who you are 😉
Hopefully I’ll have some stories and some pics or video for you soon – if you wish you can subscribe to my site there on the right and get an automatic email every time I post just to let you know. This is NOT an email capture scam, it’s only used for letting you know when I post.
Let me know if any of you have some luck – Happy Hunting!
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Ok, so most of you will know the itch I’m talking about. That first blast of cool air we experienced several weeks ago got the itch started and it’s steadily gotten worse from there. It’s like you’re dating again and everything else is sort of peripheral as you focus your attention on all the things that will enable this year to be THE year. The year you and Mr. Big meet face to face at 20yrds with bow at full draw. If the cool air isn’t enough, it doesn’t help to begin getting pics back of some nice bucks, with at least a couple of shooters. Fortunately the cure is quickly approaching and I’m as excited this year as any.
Above are some pics that my cousins and myself have gotten over the past week or so. Trailcams are a great way to really begin getting a feel for what’s out there. You can see a nice track, but if you know as well as I that a buck track alone can be misleading.
I apologize for my long absence over some of the summer – it’s been a busy one and I refuse to let this become a job for me – if I’m not feeling it, I don’t write. I expect you’ll be hearing a lot more from me for the next few months.
Until next time – shoot straight!
P.S. – My lovely wife just told me after reading the post that if the itch persists beyond January, that you might try some preparation H!
Had a good day spending time with family down at Bennett Springs yesterday. Notice I said good time with family as the fishing STUNK! Landed a lousy two mediocre rainbows in probably a good 4hrs of fishing hard. I missed several, but two fish in four hours is not my idea of a good day fishing. I do love fly-fishing and I don’t have to catch fish to have fun, but it sure doesn’t hurt either!
I don’t know about you all, but I usually go fishing to get away from people. If that’s what you like to do – a word of wisdom – Don’t go to Bennett on weekend in July with the temp in the 70’s. It was like flies on stinkbait around there today!
Ok, I’ll quit whining – All in all it was a great day – beautiful weather – beautiful scenery – I even got a nap there along the bank while my in-laws clicked away pics of me on their cell phones. You know how it is, it’s a lot of fun to get a little dirt on the brother-in-law.
If you’ve never been to Bennett Springs State Park I do recommend going and giving it a try (you’re thinking, yeah right, after this post?!). Especially if you have some kids, it’s a great place. There’s a swimming pool, playground, and you can stay right there by the stream, either by camping or staying in a cabin/motel. You can check it out here http://www.mostateparks.com/bennett.htm.
Ok, so us hunters all know how turkey hunting can destroy a marriage, but can there be lessons learned in the turkey woods that can strengthen our marriages?
Lesson 1: You need to meet in the middle. Ok, if you’ve ever turkey hunted you’ve ran into this scenario. You’ve got a Tom 60 yrds away that has come in over 100yrds. 10 more yards and you’ve filled your tag but he’s not having it, he’s done, he’s not budging an inch closer. Why in the world would he come all that way simply to hang up on you just out of range? Well ladies, he’s wanting some respect. Now he’s pursued you over half the way, but come on, he doesn’t want to seem desparate! He wants to know that his pretty hen still thinks he’s that dominate Tom worth meeting in the middle.
Ok guys, wipe that smug smile off your face, check out this next scenario. You crawl up to a freshly mowed, bright green pasture and there he is, that ol’ Tom is out there all by himself and he’s just outa range. Easy pickins right, well not so fast. You get set up, even get your hen decoy stuck in the edge of the field. You then let out a string of the prettiest yelps you ever did make – Your heart quickens as that big tom blows up into full strut, turns looks directly at that pretty little thing and does what? NOTHING, he simply struts his stuff back and forth out there, too full of pride to even acknowledge her beauty and let her know that he loves her and wishes to pursue her. You watch, he’ll blame her later on in the day when he wants a little action and his pretty little thing wants no part of it, as a matter of fact, he doesn’t know where she went!
Lesson #2: For you Toms, fight for your mate. Ok, we’ve all seen the videos. The guy is calling with his pretty little decoy out front. It’s not long before a young testosterone filled jake sees the beauty and decides to make a go for her – bad decision for she doesn’t belong to him. What he has yet to see is a big mature tom just out of sight in the brush, close to the decoy. That lovesick jake comes sprinting in with one thing on his mind, we’re talking the opposite of innocent thoughts. Well whatever he’s thinking is rudely interrupted by 24+ pounds of mature tomness as he is pounded by powerful wings and thrashed with razor-like spurs. Lovesick jake is up and sprinting again, but you can bet it’s in the opposite direction and he’s doing so with a few less feathers. Ok guys here is our chance to prove our manliness to our wives, but I’ve seen our great powerful gender fail many times right here. You gotta fight for her! You know exactly what I’m talking about – that someone in her life that continually knocks her down emotionally, maybe even respected spiritual leaders or family that take pleasure in inflicting wounds. Not to mention that stalker in the office that crosses one too many boundaries – it may be time for the flogging! Floggings come in all degrees of severity, but the effect on the protected wife is the same, she feels loved, closer to you than ever, and worth fighting for. Be advised, you’re in for some real lovin here;-) Ever see what happens after the Tom runs off the jake?
Lesson #3: For you hens, please speak sweetly. Ok, I’ll admit this one is a bit of a stretch. I’ve saw some birds run in to some pretty sad calling. Forget that for a moment. My wife is very pro-hunting, but is oblivious to most of the season start dates. That is all the seasons other than spring turkey season – she can tell you a month in advance of the spring season. Why’s that you ask? Well, it’s because I’m driving her crazy with all my turkey calls! I must have 10 different calls and much time is spent perfecting that perfect tone and pitch for each call. There’s nothing worse than breaking the silence on one of your calls with a sound that sends goosebumps up your spine for the shrillness of the screach!
I know I’m not normal, but you hunters know what I’m talking about. It’s not long in working a bird that you begin to get a feel for the mood he’s in. Some are hot, energetic, ready to go and to him I’ll opt for one of my calls that I can get aggressive on. Some are more subdued, they may just talk here and there not giving you much to go on. On these guys I’ll start slower. I’ll go for one of my sweetest talking calls that can easily purr and cut lightly and sort of ease into his world. I’ve saw these subdued guys go away, never to be heard again in the hunt after someone tried pushing him a bit to much. You see the point. I know it’s asking a lot of you lady folk, and it does take some practice, but it makes all the difference when you can judge our mood and respond accordingly. Of course we men have responsibility for the mood we’re in, but sometimes you just find yourself in a bad one and the last thing you want to hear is that screaching that many of us have titled nagging!
So next time that lovely wife of yours complains about you chasing some stupid bird, kindly let her know that the killing the bird part is simply a by-product of what you’re really doing out in them woods, and that’s learning to love her better than ever!
More lessons to be continued at a later date of my choosing! – Thanks for reading!
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I wanted to write a bit before the 4th, but as many of you know that check my website, I don’t post as much as I’d like due to time constraints at the moment.
I wanted to start by thanking God for this great country in which we live. I recently was reading over some of our founding documents and after our founding fathers. You could preach a sermon off of their writings and from their understanding of who God is and His role in forming this country. It was precisely the christian beliefs that our founders had that has made this country the most tolerant country in the world to other religions & beliefs. I believe that this was also the foundation of the humility in which these founders possessed. The understood the place of man in the universe, they understood his frailties, his sinful nature, and I believe it was this understanding that drove them to limit the power of the gov’t. I’m not talking theocracy here and thankfully so, it was the principles and understanding of man derived from the scriptures and history that we all share as humans.
Next I want to express my appreciation for our military men and women and their families for the sacrifices they voluntarily make. I don’t like war when it can be avoided, but I’m thankful that when it is imperative to our security that we have those still willing to make that ultimate sacrifice if need be. Not being military myself, I’m humbled by the bravery and sacrifices that have been and are still being made. THANK YOU!
Lastly, I would like to thank all of you who are willing to take part in political matters and I’m not even talking about politicians here although there are a few of those I would thank. I’m talking of you that write letters, make phonecalls, and most importantly vote. I cannot tell you how frustrated I get to hear and see these modern day elitists try (an many cases succeeding) in ignoring our constitution. Let me tell you, I’ve read after our founders and history has shown the brilliance of what they constructed – our current politicians have not 1/10th the wisdom and foresight. Yet they talk down to us from loft platitudes and arrogantly shred the principles upon which our power and success was derived. With one hand they point skyward making flowery speeches, all the while the other hand is diligently working to saw off the branch on which they stand.
Don’t consider myself republican or democrat – I am a lover of freedom, I am a patriot. I desperately want to hand the same freedoms I’ve had down to my children and grandchildren. I want to leave a country where the poorest of the poor can reach the top, where dreams are not squashed by gov’t mandates and regulation. A country where creativity and hard work is rewarded.
We’re not perfect, never have been never will be. Yet we have something special here, something that has enabled us to export more wealth and aide than all the other nations combined. We have been and for the time being still are a force for good in this world and for that I’m thankful.
May we all be thankful, humble, determined and motivated to remain a country for the people, by the people with rights given to us not by mere men, but by our Creator – the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I know, I know, it’s been a long time. Too long. Just got back from a short vacation with the fam down in the Branson, MO area. Had a great time – kids had a blast! I did get a bit of trout fishing in while I was there (due to my understanding wife).
I mainly fished at night which is my preference, especially on 100 degree days! Ended up catching 5 trout each night, fishing a few hours each time. They bit on a basic yellow egg pattern and a black leach pattern. Fishing was much slower than normal, but I was rewarded with some decent size trout. Was able to catch up with one of my good friends which in itself is worth a fishing trip!
Let me know if any of you are ever going to be in the Branson area and wish to fish Taneycomo. I’m no expert, but I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve and if I can’t help you I’ll point you to some people who can!
I’ll post some pics later, I forgot my camera, but my buddy had his so I’ll get some up here soon.
It’s like clockwork, as soon as those turkeys begin to fold in their feathers for the summer, my mind begins to focus less on the woods and more on the water. Now I enjoy fishing anytime, and most of my best bass have been caught early spring, before & during turkey season, but it’s not till I can get those thundering gobbles out of my head that I can REALLY focus on fishing.
That “fishing” chemical was finally released in my brain just a few weeks ago, so if I appear dissoriented or you find me staring blankly – no worries, it’s normal, I’m just plotting my next trip to the water. (Note to beautiful wife: honey if you see me in this state please don’t take advantage of me by asking loaded questions cause you know my answer is always yes when I’m in this state.)
Anyhow, last weekend the bass were liking top water & crank baits. I’m normally a jig & plastic crawl all the way, but I had to put the jig away and put on the ol’ bass-o-rena plug. The bass on the video was caught on the red & white plug. Many were hitting it just as I let it sit there on top with maybe a few slight twitches. My cousins were fishing with crankbaits diving 3-5ft and were doing quite well.
I’m heading down to Branson tomorrow to do a little Silver Dollar City, camping and hopefully some fly-fishing. I’ll keep you all posted on the results and hopefully I’ll have a few pics to share! — Didn’t get to do the fishing, but had a great time with the fam!
Keep your heart right and your line tight – best advice I have for this time of year!
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It was great to be back in my old stomping grounds! We had a great time doing some trail riding and the fishing was great as usual. I must say that it was my wife’s first time on these trails and to put it mildly, she wasn’t impressed;-) I guess it didn’t help that she was having to hold onto fishing tackle while holding on to me, all while being in fear for her life! She’s too good to me. Special thanks to my twin cousins for agreeing to be on the vid and show me how the trail riding is done.
I refer to strip pits on the video and for those that don’t know, let me explain. I’m originally from North Missouri where there was a lot of strip coal mining. The “pits” or huge craters left from the mining were all seeded and stocked with fish (years & years ago). These now provide some of the best hunting and fishing you’ll find anywhere!
Didn’t put tons of time into this video, but I was fortunate to get a very nice bass caught on camera. Hope you enjoy – thanks for watching!
Here are some pics as promised!
I had a great weekend, below is a pic of a bass I caught the very next day with fishing with the in-laws. Released this one really quick and didn’t weigh, but am guessing somewhere close to 5lbs. Now I’ll probably go the rest of the summer without catching another one the size of these!
This video pretty much says it all. Great hunt today, wish I wasn’t by myself this morning as this could’ve been great footage with someone working the zoom a bit. Persistance pays every time. Haven’t been talking much at all down here but each morning is a new day.
I wanted to write a bit before the 4th, but as many of you know that check my website, I don’t post as much as I’d like due to time constraints at the moment. 
