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  1. P

    Fire

    The FS did well with a full time ranger and a part time secretary. The didn't even have roads. My Dad and uncle worked summers on lookouts and trail maintenance. I worked on trails and on lookouts in the 70s as well as district smoke chasers and habitat typeing. By the 80s, I spent much of...
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    Fire

    Lightning started a fire north of me. I rode in yesterday cutting out the winter downfall on one of my trails. The fire was at 11 acres. Met one of the FS voyeurs watching the fire burn. Nice guy but upper management said to let it burn so they were documenting the growth. A cold front is...
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    Burn out

    It depends on the year. If we have extended periods of -30 or greater or a a long spring, I can burn up to 7-8 cord because I have a stove at each end of the house. I try to keep about three years on hand in the garage. The last couple years had put me behind and I bought a logging truck load...
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    Burn out

    This summer has been hell! When I retired, I felt now I can manage my life and time -- wrong. This year I maintained my consulting; disced, seeded and harrowed my north field; put up 750 bales; rearranged My barn and shop; finished my deck on the front of the house; cut,split and stacked 14...
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    Elk that recently moved through area

    You have that right. I have tracked them from where the fed all night on the median of I-15 to the bedding area which was 3 miles south and 1500 ft higher. They were bedded in the cliffs happily chewing their cuds when i stepped up and filled my freezer. I normally find the bedding grounds...
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    Elk that recently moved through area

    I had 12 head in my yard this morning a daylight. Within 10 minutes they were gone. The odds are they are feeding all night long and then bed someplace else. You need to quit hunting where they were and find where they are. That could be within 3-5 miles. Try some of the mid ridges on the...
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    How do you deal with poor harvest rate in the field?

    This year will be 50 years of elk hunting. The last 5 years has been tough weather wise and I have felt like I was two days behind nearly every day. We have suffered with erratic weather and weird elk movements but we keep at it. Thirty five days on horseback in the snow can challenge your...
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    What would you do?

    I agree on the souring. I shot a bull in the 80s. By the time I unraveled the tracks it was 8 pm and I had three miles to get out with 18" of snow. I came back in at 8 the next morning and found him. In gutting him, the pounch had already started to dissolve out. I got him quartered and packed...
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    How Many Still Prefer To Hunt Alone?

    I have a couple partners that I travel with on horseback. However when we get to our destination, we tie up our stock and each take a differant ridge to hunt. That way we can hunt at our own pace and can explore as we feel the need. The other benefit is that as we kick the elk out in front of...
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    If you’re 60 or older, you know the feeling….

    I remember being at some spots that I had frequently hiked down into and starting to question whether I could get back out of them in a reasonable period of time. Over time I have developed new paths to accomplish the same trip or just found new traverses that meet my needs. My toughest task...
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    2024 Bugle Report

    When I got up yesterday, there was a nice 6pt bugeling so loud that I could here him through my 8 in walls. He had 12 cows with calves within 30yds of the front porch. He was desperately trying to herd his cows and they could care less. They provided 30 min of entertainment and then moved on. My...
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    Made It, I'm Retired!

    I retired from my long term job 12 years ago. Then I worked private industry for three years in management. Since then I farm and do just enough consulting to support my farm as well as staying current in my focus areas in mining. I find the toughest commodity is time. As I fight weather...
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    Why?

    I farm between consulting jobs. Except during hunting season when I hunt every day. You have to have a freezer full to last a winter. As to previous generations, my father maintained his practice into his 80s and my grandfather was an engineer for the Milwaukee railroad for 48 years. I guess...
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    Why?

    I finished harrowing a field today in preparation for seeding this week or next. As I went around and around, I watched my neighbor digging up stumps with a backhoe. My wife spent the day staining the wood ceiling on the porch. After the field I spent an hour welding my harrow back together...
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    Day hunt vs backpack hunt

    As a horseback/hike hunter, I found as much as I enjoy a camp there is no guarentee that elk will be where you chose. By the time you find them it is difficult to properly put in a camp. The issues are time, weather and strength. When my kids left home I was having to do everything by myself...
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    Summer is over

    Fng Tony: A little bit of both. North of Butte at about 7000 ft. It's been running 25-30 every night for over a week.
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    Summer is over

    We got an inch of snow early in the week. The day before that the elk left, the does and their fawns left, and the hummingbirds started south. Now we are starting Indian summer. Hot days - cold nights. A lot of California campers are heading south on I 15. Good days are on the horizon and the...
  18. P

    What is your oldest firearm?

    Remington model 12 22.
  19. P

    Spreading myself thin...

    Forget the meadows and focus on the northside thickets about about a third of the way down from the top. Learn the trails, focus on prevailing wind direction.
  20. P

    What the cat drug in

    Sorry. Nope

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