2006 Hunting Summary
We are happy to say we had another
successful year in 2006. |
| Spring Bear Hunt |
 Our
2006 season started with our May black bear hunts. The weather
was great and trail conditions were pretty good. We started
brand new bait run to the North in the Birch Mountains; this
area had an unusual high number of color phase bears. We also
discovered a new trail at trophy camp that heads south into
untouched area for 2007. All in all every hunter got at least
one bear, we had 18 hunters with 29 bears total.Bear numbers seem higher then ever with lots of sightings with multiple bears. We took some more 400lb plus bears but still have not got the 600lb bear at trophy camp, although he was seen again. 2007 will be as good as ever we are looking forward to our new trails and bridges. Our tree stands are almost all permanently built now except in new areas. Road access may be increasing for 2007 which will take our main camp further in. |
| Mule Deer |
 Archery
Mule deer was the best ever with stalks everyday and four hunters
shooting four bucks as well as Gunther and myself tagged nice
bucks. The scores were 183, 176, 150, 174 and 2 average bucks.
Some of the best shooting we have seen from our bow hunters,
well except for one guy but we won't mention Mike's name because
in the end he redeemed himself with a last evening kill. |
| Elk Hunt |
|
Rifle hunts started September
17th. Tom and I opted to try a new area for the 1st 2 days
which did not pan out for us. On the 3rd day I went back to
an old faithful spot and at 1st light we called in a nice
bull to 75 yards and Tom made the shot which put us eating
lunch back at the lodge. The following day same spot same
result with my hunter Larry. Day 5 I took out Eddie who had
just arrived for an Elk, Moose and Bear combo we went to an
old spot I had not been to for 2 years and again at 1st light
called in a good 6x6 for some nice footage with some good
shooting. Gunther and his hunter also took a big heavy 6x6
at close range. Day 6 I was able to take another hunter back
into old lucky and called in a bull to 100 yards, which ended
my Elk season. With a personal best with 4 elk in 6 days.
In total we killed 5 bulls for 7 hunters with some very close
calls for the other 2 hunters. |
| Moose Hunt |
 Moose
season started with a twang when our luckiest hunter ever, 1
hour into his archery moose hunt with my bow shot an 800lb dressed
out old bull. I will give Eddie credit for following instructions
perfectly. Eddie was able to shoot his Elk in 15 min., his Archery
Bull Moose in 1 hour and archery bear during supper off the
lodge deck at 6 yards. The following 2 weeks was rut moose where
13 moose hunters killed 12 bulls with a couple over 50 inches.
Moose are at an all time high, it was lots of fun. |
| Whitetail Hunt |
 Next
I got to hunt for myself and took my best Whitetail yet 177
gross, October 29th; it was very nice to have the pressure off
early this year. Gunther looked after all the whitetail hunts
this year his archery hunts were a bow hunters dream with 2
bucks over 170 with only 3 hunters. His dedication to year round
scouting paid off extremely well. Congratulations to Gunther
and the lucky hunters. We had some bad luck with cancellations
for rifle hunts but the guys that came all saw the biggest bucks
of their life and tagged out. |
| Big Horn Sheep Hunt |
 I
want to thank my Whitetail partner Gunther and soon to be wife
Zabrina for covering for me this year. As I was on a once and
a lifetime Archery Bighorn sheep hunt the last 10 days of November.
I ended up doing this hunt by myself and on day eight in -25
Celsius weather. On the top of Windy Ridge I shot a 174 full
curl ram, he would have scored 3 inches better but he took a
nasty 300 yard tumble over a cliff. This was the highlight of
my Archery career and the end of a great season. |
We are looking forward to next season and the return of many new friends from this year.  |
Next
was archery Elk which was excellent with bulls calling very
good. It was an awesome week with a rough ending as a nice
bull was wounded at 12 yards. Brian was very good about it
and opted not to try for another bull as we both felt the
wounded bull would die and end up feeding the wolves. I am
very pleased with Brian's decision and will be looking forward
to hunting with him again.