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Jonesy in my office with my assistant, Shadow.

Spring 2003 Newsletter

Newsletter April-June 2003
I have been in the process of writing this newsletter for over three months. This has been an extremely busy winter, with projects that needed attention. I apologize for neglecting my most important project, my hunters.
 

Photo of Shadow, the boss of the outfit

Wolf Legislation
I wrote and pushed through some very important Wyoming legislation regarding federal jurisdiction over the wolf. On Oct 28 in a Game & Fish Commission meeting in Jackson, I wrote an outline on a piece of paper and then said publicly "what we need is a legislature and governor who will have the courage to declare our jurisdiction over wildlife" then I made the points which, for the more part, were in the final bill, Senate File 97.
I came home and spent several days writing the original. I then took it to Senator Roberts and we made some revisions and then he introduced it. The bill basically claims Wyoming has exclusive jurisdiction over our wildlife and the final version directs the Attorney General to prepare a lawsuit to exert our jurisdiction and to require the feds to remove their wolf and to pay damages to Wyoming. One legislator looked at the bill and said, "It’s not a matter of IF it will pass, it’s a matter of WHEN it will fail." (because of its controversial nature) Another called it “wacky, absolutely wacky”. In spite of that inauspicious start, the bill passed two committees 13-1, it passed the Senate 23-6, it passed the House 54-6, and the Governor signed it. It was the most popular bill of the legislative session (Wyoming legislature meets for 40 days every two years in General Session). We did some SERIOUS lobbying and a huge effort by many with me directing the effort. You can read the details by going to my website http://www.JacksonHoleOutfitters.com

Pat on the Back
I wasn’t going to include this, but my wife, Din, said I should. For my efforts on this wolf thing the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association gave me the Outfitter of the Year Award. Greatly appreciated!

Prairie Dog Hunts!
I have a contract with some landowners in eastern Wyoming to guide prairie dog hunters on their land. We have thousands of acres of sage rats just waiting to be hammered by you. Give me a call and also go to my website http://www.PrairieDogOutfitters.com  .You should shoot 200 to 500 rounds per day and we have heavy-duty swivel shooting benches. Lots of fun and helps the ranchers control a real pest problem. Frankly it also helps the prairie dogs. By keeping their numbers under control the rancher is less likely to poison the whole town.

Prairie Dog Hunt pic and Jonesy on shooting bench pic.

Antelope hunts, permit guaranteed!
Along with the prairie dogs I also have access to some very good antelope hunting. Permits are available THIS YEAR, so give me a call right away. We (Steve Clonts and I) plan on doing mainly semi-guided hunts. That means we will take care of all the details of private land access, BLM permits, State Land Permits, lodging, food, and providing you with a detailed map of our leased ranch, and then you will do your own hunting. We will also have some fully guided hunts available, but most of you can hunt antelope if you have a good place to do it. Cost will depend on what we have to pay for a particular lease. Call for details.
 

Sparky has Swarovski
Sparky Wallace has guided for me for years and he has a line of sporting goods and outdoor clothing. He makes those big saddlebags that we put on the horses, as well as saddle panniers, fleece camo clothing, backpacks, etc. He says he can get Swarovski optics for you at wholesale, so give Sparky a call and tell him I sent you. Call him at (406)467-2668 He also breaks horses, in case you have one that is only slightly bent.
 

Scenery on a mule deer hunt pic.  More scenery pic.

Schultz, the German Jeep
When I was a teenager, and continuing into my mid-twenties, we had a ‘57 Volkswagen that we named Schultz. With the engine in the rear that thing could go almost anywhere. It was our huntin’ vehicle. On one trip we got lucky and bagged a couple of mule deer, then stuck them in the trunk (trunk is in front on a VW) with legs and antlers hanging out each side. It was quite a sight going down the highway. Another time we found a baby skunk and put it in the glove box to take it home. Seemed like the thing to do at the time, but for weeks afterward the girls wouldn’t ride in Schultz with us. We seldom, if ever, had a proper box or cage with us to hold our treasures, so the glove box was the repository for many an artifact including vegetable, animal, and mineral. Over the period of its life it held a variety of novelties such as kangaroo rats (complete with bubonic plague fleas), tarantulas, various snakes including a rattler, numerous rattlesnake rattles—sans snake, a Gila Monster, baby Gambel’s quail, baby cottontails and jackrabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, injured birds of varying colors and sizes, Poison Ivy (to be used for a rather awful prank in conjunction with toilet paper), small barrel cactus, homemade fishing lures which would scare the bejeebers out of any fish, and various rounds of ammo of different calibers. One time we shot a jackrabbit and delivered her full-term babies via Cesarean and took them home in the glove box, and they lived until the neighbor’s dog found them. Our dog, Queenie, knew that anything we brought home was not to be chomped, but became, by default, a member of the family.
 

Pure-Blooded-Ringtailed-deer-dog
I had a loveable companion named ‘Smiley’ who was my fast friend. Someone dropped him off at our house, not realizing that he was a unique, one-of-a-kind, pureblooded ringtailed deer dog. We discovered this when I came back to the ranch one day where my brother was supposed to be painting the bunkhouse. There was Smiley looking forlorn and he had a yellow stripe down his back and yellow rings around his tail. I exclaimed “What happened to Smiley!” Doug explained that he had suddenly grown his fall hunting coat and was ready to go in hot pursuit of the deer which inhabited the surrounding mountains. I suppose Doug was right, because when Smiley grew his winter coat the rings and stripe disappeared. Anyway, Smiley was a companion on various pack trips. One time he got stomped by an mama elk who didn’t take kindly to him barking at her baby. Broke three ribs. Smiley was usually a fearless watchdog, protecting us on overnight campouts, but one time he hid behind our legs and stared out into the darkness, whining. We told him to “sick-em” on the unknown threat, but Smiley just hunted for a place to hide. Sure made the hair stand up on the back of our necks. Must have been Sasquatch, as Smiley had previously shown no fear of a bear.
 

Drought Continues
We have had adequate moisture this winter, but the snowpack is below average. Lakes are still far below capacity. Hope we don’t have a dry summer, or we could have very high fire danger. Do a rain dance!
 

Rifle Raffle
The Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association is once again raffling off a rifle to support our efforts. This one is your choice of either a North American Arms Model 93 Black Powder rifle in 50 caliber mag OR a Winchester Model 70 rifle in 7mm Rem. Mag. Winner of the raffle gets choice, second ticket drawn gets the other weapon. Tickets are $20 each or 12 for $200. Make check out to WyOGA & send to me. I’ll send you the stub and send the entry in for you.
 

Rocco Makes Front Cover!
Rocco Covalt’s 36 1/2 inch buck made the front cover of Trophy Hunter magazine. Congratulations, Rocco! Pick up a copy.
 

Tips on hunting the elusive muley
People are always asking for my special secret regarding killing a whopper mule deer buck. It is a secret passed down to me from mountain men of ages past. Since I won’t live forever (only 43 years to go, unless a horse vetoes my scheduled departure date) I will be more than happy to share this knowledge so the secret will not die with me. Here is what you do. At the exact moment of the full moon (check a Lunar calendar) prior to the opening minute of deer season you jump in the air repeatedly while chanting three times aloud the words “Be in the right place at the right time and shoot straight.” You MUST chant those words three times, then you MUST chant them backwards three times, “Straight shoot and time right the at place right the in be,” (keep jumping!) followed by chanting three times the words “Hail to thee, mighty Nimrod, God of the Hunt”, (keep jumping!) followed by chanting loudly “Oh Wah, Tah Goo, Sy Am!”, slowly the first time, then faster, then very rapidly the third time. Only then may you cease jumping. Then fall to the ground and prostrate yourself in obeisance to the full moon, which, of course, controls hunting destiny. If you do the above exactly and correctly you will be assured of killing a whopper muley.

     There, I‘ve told the secret to my success. Now quit bugging me any more about it.
 

Keep your trigger finger warm and your shootin’ eye away from knotholes in the fence!

                                                                                                                            Jonesy
 

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