What started off as a predator hunt, turned into one of the best hound hunting days for the crew.  Darrell and I were out in an area that has a high concentration of coyotes and wolves in it.   I had talked to Larry the night before and he told me he would be in the same area running the hounds after bobcats.  If we didn’t have any luck, then we should find him and film some hound hunting.  So on our last set up, I heard a distinct sound that I have come to love during the winter months.  Yep, the hounds baying at a tree.  So I looked at Darrell and without a word, we were both heading back to the truck.  It wasn’t long and we had found Larry’s truck and up the mountain we went.  By the time we got to where they were at, the bobcat had jumped the tree and was off on the run again.  So we grabbed the dogs and decided to head down the mountain where Larry had seen a few fresh tracks.  Once we got there, we let the dogs go.  Down the mountain and then back up the mountain the dogs went.  Finally, we could hear them baying at the tree and the race to get up the mountain was on.  Once we got there, what we saw was what only dreams are made of in the hound hunting world.  A bobcat over 35 lbs.  We got the dogs all tied up and then the talk on who was shooting it began.  I can up to film Larry so I told him to get it done.  A few minutes later he said that he didn’t want to shoot it and that I should since I have wanted a monster bobcat for my wall.  Larry had harvested one a few years ago that was this big and he wanted me to have my dream cat on the wall as well.  So I grabbed the gun and the rest is history.  Unbelievable experience and one I will never forget.  I am indebted to Larry on this one.

Well Scott, Anthony and I went on an incredible hunt.  We were in Montana at Freeze Out Lake swan hunting.  The hot line sounded really dismal with the lake freezing over the the swan migration tailing off.  But you can’t harvest one if you are not out in the field so we headed out.  Fighting through a snow storm and icy roads we showed up and man were the swans in.  No not the 3000-5000 like they had been seeing, but close to 1000.  We decided to set up and the hunt was on.  There was no way of decoying them with the numbers of swans in the middle of the lake and the water being frozen, so we decided to pass shoot them.  There were hunters all over the place and a lot of them really trying hard to sky bust them (shooting at them way to far up to kill one).  Finally we had 5 fly above us about 40 yards up and the hunt was one.  I was shooting my Benelli Vinci with Black Cloud triple bbb.  As they got right above us, the shooting started and low and behold, my swan hit the snow like a B 52 bomber hitting the ground.  Wow what an experience.  In Montana you have to draw a tag, and for all the years I have been putting in, I finally drew one.  Hunt of a lifetime and I really hope to draw another one soon.  Fish and Game was there checking the hunters for swan tags and also sexing them for their studies.  My swan was a tundra swan.  It weighed 15 pounds and had a wing span close to 7 feet.  Just a huge majestic bird.  Special thanks to Scott and Anthony for being there and experiencing this hunt with me.

Well the SDO team just got back from an amazing adventure in Northern Alaska.  It was a do it yourself caribou hunt.  Let me tell you folk, what an amazing place.  The herds were not migrating like we had hoped but we still came away with 3 nice bulls.  Weather was frigid cold.  Nice thing we were camped near a river so every night we came back to camp and fished for char.  If you ever wanted to do this kind of hunt, please give us a call or email us so we can tell you where and who to contact to get you to where you need to go.

Scott and I filmed this hunt yesterday on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, near Browning, MT…It is a free roaming buffalo hunt (no high fences). They roam the prairie from 10 to 50 miles a day. The cattle fences don’t seem to bother them at all. They either jump them or move them out of their way.  The experience was like none I have ever experience.  I know Scott, Devin and I will never forget the hunt and to be a part of Native American Indian culture is mind boggling.  Special thanks to the Blackfeet Tribe and Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife for such an unbelievable experience.  Not to mention this could possible surpass the Pope and Young World Record free range bison.

The SDO crew is off and running with big game season tomorrow.  Darrell and I are heading up to one of our high country mule deer spots.  We have seen several bucks that we think will be pushing the 200″ mark.  Then it is off to elk camp for a week.  We have 3 bull tags and a few cow elk tags as well so there should be a lot of action packed hunting.  Then the final week of September we are off to Alaska to hunt caribou.  So as you can see, we have a lot of hunting to do this month.  I forgot to mention that I may be heading over to the eastern side of the state to try my hand at free range bison with my Hoyt.  We will keep the pics a rolling in as we get back from all the hunts we are doing.  Remember, send in your photos for our viewer trophy room.  We love seeing our viewers successes in the field.  Shoot straight and good hunting.

Well our hunt in Canada with Amyot Lake Outfitters was great.  We were there for 4 days and put 3 big bears on the ground.  If you have never looked at Brad’s website you need to.  He has huge bears and a lot of color phased ones.  The drive was great and the scenery was amazing.  I would highly recommend if you have ever wanted to hunt big bears in Saskatchewan you need to call him up.  His web address is www.amyotoutfitters.com.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.  Here are a few pics from Marshall Price and Scott Connole’s bears.

I am off to hunt some turkey’s in Montana with a good friend of mine Eric Peterson this Friday and I can’t wait.  I guess the birds are going crazy and I am anxious to use our new Double Header tom decoy.    Then, I leave with Scott on the 5th of May to hunt turkey’s in Wyoming, I will be cross bow hunting in Wyoming, I have never seen it done before so the CX Covert 3.5T is ready to rock.  SO gobble gobble here we come!!

Well it is time to dust the cobwebs off the old Hoyt bows and time to put the hurting on some big bruins and some big tom turkeys.  You have to love this time of the year.  I can honestly say I really love bear hunting.  It would rank in the top 4 hunts I look the most forward to each year.  We will be hunting in Montana, Idaho, and Saskatchewan.  We may also be heading back to Alberta as well.  Turkey hunts are planned for Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska.  So as you can see, the SDO team will be very busy this spring.