Jackson Hole Outfitters

John Stephenson Picture

This has been another extremely mild winter, so the critters should be fat and sassy come fall. I trust you all have wintered well and are also getting fat and sassy. Be sure and be slim and sassy by hunting season. It is disgusting seeing bucks and bulls laugh at hunters as we try to climb the mountains in hot pursuit, tripping over our tongues and wheezing. ‘Nuff said.

First, a couple of mistakes to avoid on future hunts. These examples are from this past hunting season, but in 26 years of outfitting I have seen it all, I think. One hunter missed a 50 yard shot at a massive 25 inch buck.  He was used to an 8 oz set trigger and in the excitement didn't set it, so the 6 pound pull drew him off target. Another hunter was using a new scope with focusing objective lens. It takes time to focus, allowing the buck to get nervous and leave. Another hunter was trying to get an exact yardage with his rangefinder on a bull that was obviously less than 300 yards. That is close enough to not matter. Other guys seem to have all the latest equipment that they haven’t tested or become familiar with. New equipment is fun to experiment with and sounds like a great idea in the sporting goods store but is often a handicap on a hunt. Don’t get new gadgets or rifle or be so encumbered by gear that it interferes with your hunt. Use your old familiar equipment, and not a lot of it. You’ll be better off. Also, please leave those blinkety-blank bipods at home. By the time the hunter lays down, tries to adjust it for the slope of the hill, tries to get the grass out of the way, etc, I could have sat down and fired three shots at the beast. Bipods are also a major pain to try and get into and out of the scabbard. If you are proficient and wish to use it feel free because it is your hunt. We won’t bad-mouth you for that extra equipment, but you may be handicapping yourself.

While I am on the subject I’ll mention another error that is common which causes guides to get gray and hunters to get skunked. One guy this fall missed a nice buck because he was looking at it with his binocs instead of his rifle scope.  We have missed chances at lots of bucks and bulls over the years because of this same error.  If it is obviously a deer or elk, look through your rifle scope.  If he is good enough then just slip the safety off and shoot rather than having to lower your binocs, get your gun off your shoulder, find him in the scope, etc, etc

One of my guides, Brian Thomas, has a world-class sport fishing and wildlife viewing Alaska and Baja Mexico operation. In Juneau they have fishing and sight-seeing tours. They see whales, glaciers, bears, and all kinds of neat stuff. Brian now has bear hunts where he can help you get a great black bear by boating to an island to hunt and at the same time do some incredible fishing and wildlife viewing. Go to my website, JacksonHoleOutfitters.com and click on Brian’s link. Or give him a call at (208)787-1038.

George Joest has hunted with me a couple of times and this year killed a buck that would have been a book buck, except it forgot to grow one tine. The buck had really long tines with deep forks, but didn’t fork on the left main beam. Stupid buck! It is still a great trophy!    George Joest Picture

Game & Fish Commissioner Kerry Powers has given the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association a 2005 Commissioners License. We are raffling it off, $20 per ticket, 3 for $50. It is good for elk, deer, or antelope, your choice. Also included is a fully guided hunt with the WyOGA outfitter of your choice (Me! Me! Pick me!). If you already have a permit we will pay you $CASH. If you don’t want the guided hunt we will pay you $CASH. Go to our website link http://www.wyoga.org/raffle.html and check it out. Or call Laurie at the office (307)265-2376

We, guide Brian and 3 hunters and I, had spotted a 5 point bull elk more than a mile away. We traversed a rather harrowing trail in hot pursuit and then stopped to connoiter. You see, when you plan a move on the Wiley Wapiti you must have a plan. Most of the time, in execution of the plan, you have to stop and reconnoiter. It is obvious that you cannot reconnoiter unless you have once connoitered. Anyway, we just dropped the reins and stood by the horses as we concocted a foolproof plan guaranteed to put elk meat in the panniers. Brian suggested we tie the horses up as they seemed a bit restless but the blades of grass didn’t look stout enough to hold a rope so I dismissed it as unnecessary. The nearest trees were a good 50 yards away and that would waste valuable time.  In the midst of our connoiter one horse suddenly spooked and bolted and the others figured, "Well, heck, if Bullet is running hell-bent-for-leather we might as well go too" so off they went.  It was kind of a group panic sort of thing.  I took off down the trail trying to cut them off, dreading the thought of having to chase them to the bottom of Monster Mountain, when, about the time I started to trip on my tongue, Brian thundered up behind me on Shadow, dragging Ranger behind.  Shadow, being the nice horsie which he is, would not desert me, so had only gone a few yards when he realized I was not one of the group panic-ers and stopped to look for me.  Ranger is loyal to Shadow, being his new understudy and replacement for Duke, so also stopped.  Guide Brain caught them and came to my rescue.  We hopped on and charged down the trail.  A couple hundred yards further the horses were all standing where they had been tied at lunch.  They claimed they hadn't finished their nap. Horsies is sooo stupid!! You can quote me on that.  Shadow, the Boss, Picture

Larry Johnson killed a 7x7 with us a few years ago. He gets this guest shot from his 2004 hunt; "We soon heard cows making their mew sound and two different bulls whistling.  We moved ahead to a small knoll and watched about 5 cows for a fairly long time.  All at once the elk started running downhill and out of sight, but three seconds later there was a stream of cows running over our ridge about 20 yards away.  There were elk running all over, some right below us.  A branch bull showed up from my left and stopped between two trees about 120 yards away.  I got my scope on him and fired.  Down he went in a heap.  Sparky and I looked at each other and both of us said 'What a great experience.'  Words don't describe the excitement I felt from that hunting experience, from hearing the elk, the stalk, the amazement when there was elk everywhere, the five point bull stopping to offer me my shot.  Sparky did an outstanding job on this hunt. A great guide.  Thank you again!"  Larry Johnson with his 5x5 bull.

Well guys & gals, until next time,

KTW, (Kill Them Wolves)