The Bruin That Got Away
Jun 18 2008
Well folks, the Fat Lady sang on the evening of June 15 - spring bear season is done. The old bruin - that giant of a black bear boar I’ve been telling you about - won the match this time around. Up here you can’t bait black bear because of all the grizzlies - which are off limits to hunting. So when hunting black bear, you are down to spot and stalk.
There’s an old burn above my place that big boar has been calling home. I spent mornings and evenings glassing, but turned up only small blackies and grizzly. The second to the last day the big boy walked down my tracks. I guess he was giving me the old claw in the air.
I measured his paw print; it’s just over 7″ wide. I will pick up the cat and mouse game with him again this fall.
I noticed a sow grizzly with a last year’s cub pulled in just a quarter mile above my house. I’ll bet she makes this her summer home. The cow elk are calved out and the grizzly are taking their share of the young elk. We’ve also had three older grizzly cubs about that apparently were kicked out by mother this spring. They must be two or three years old took and took an elk calf down just below the house. Mother taught them well, so we probably won’t have to worry about them becoming garbage bears.
Now, about those wary wolves! I was going to Cooke Sunday when I came up on a young wolf - last year’s pup - in the middle of the gravel road. He was only a mile from the homestead. He wasn’t spooked at all. He walked up the hill about 150 yards and stood on a rock to watch me. I had no camera with me. I should fire myself for that. Never leave the place without the cameras! I live in one of Wyoming’s designated a trophy wolf areas. Only five permits will be issued for a fall wolf hunt in the area this year. But a lawsuit against the delisting of the wolves has been filed, and everybody’s waiting for the outcome. So, the hunt so it might not happen.
I’ve been working on my new Pronghorn book. I’ve got about two-thirds of it done; just finished a section on how to find watering holes and antelope near them. A section on stalking antelope and the five points to cover before the stalk is also done. There’s also been progress on a section I find particularly interesting - about hunting trophy antelope after the rut. That’s the most effective time to find a trophy buck. The format of the antelope book is going to be along the same lines as my first book, Hunting High Country Mule Deer. That one just came out in paperback a few weeks ago. It’s priced at only $14.95 and I will sign the copy for you.
Well, that catches you up on my news for now. Take care, folks.
Holy Grizzly!
May 28 2008
Holy grizzlies! The old boy, the big grizzly boar that had visited us earlier, came back this evening as it was snowing. He walked through my yard, then turned and headed down the road, crossing the creek. I got photos of him walking past and crossing the creek. The bruin, I think, is looking for some love; mating season is starting, you know.
An Unexpected Visitor
May 28 2008
Yesterday I went up and broke through to the bear country above the house. Grizzly bears are plentiful in the country around my place, but it’s not yet legal to hunt grizzlies in Wyoming. Even so, I know of at least one huge black bear boar that has also been hanging around up there, and I’d love a chance to hunt him.
A Wyoming Buck
Oct 17 2007
Mike, I know you see lots of pics, but hope you will enjoy this. I asked you about outfitters a while back and decided to stick with Trefrens. We got in at the beginning of the storm and the animals were moving. I took this buck on eighth of October and cant stop smiling. He exceeded my dreams. Thank you for your time and help. Jason Kehr - La Grande, Oregon
Reader Response: A Threat to Hunting we can Eliminate
Jun 14 2007Catch up on this issue here, and here.
Wow folks what a controversy issue! I have received many e-mail on this hunting tag letter of Mike Veile in the last issue of the Eastmans’ Hunting Journal. It is a hot issue with information pro and con on the subject. You need to go to www.monstermuleys.com and you can see 150 post. I suggest read a few of them and your find that most are write by knowledgeable hunters. Then make your owen judgment on the issue of conservation money been raised by special hunting tags. Let me know what your views on it.
A Threat to Hunting we can Eliminate
Jun 04 2007I received this letter from a gentleman who subscribes to both magazines. Mike is a hard hunter who not only hunts his own state, but tries to go out of state when he can draw a tag. Mike is like most of us, playing on a level tag-drawing field. Some organizations do a great job giving to the wildlife. But I wonder, like Mike, if some organizations have wrapped themselves in a veil of conservation, but have other agendas. I think he brings up some interesting points, what do you think?
Response to Mike’s North Dakota Lectures
Mar 12 2007
A letter from Darrin, an attendee of Mike’s North Dakota Lectures.
Thank you so much for coming to Grand Forks. Those I spoke to were very impressed with your lecture. This was absolutely great information that I could have listened to for several more hours. Eastmans’ is first class in
many regards. I can’t say enough about what you guys do. I have every TV show recorded on my digital recorder. Some shows I have watched over and over. It seems like every time I pick up one of your journals I learn something new. On another note Mike, I really don’t’ understand your treatment and poor time slots on the Outdoor Channel. So many shows now are on private ranches that haven’t been hunted and guys are shooting deer like shooting a turkey or a pig. I’ve really have had it with shows like that.
Mike’s Lecture Draws Huge Crowds
Mar 05 2007Feedback From the Fans:
Mike,
I really enjoyed your program on February 25th in Ellensburg. Reminds me of when your dad used to come to the Jr. High Auditorium to show his hunting films. It was always a must see occasion. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Save The WYOMING RANGE!
Feb 06 2007We are writing to you today because we need help!
As a sportsman you understand the great tradition and heritage that Wyoming provides. Our state is home to some of the greatest recreational land in the world. It is why we hunt here, fish here and live here. There is great pride in being a sportsman and an even greater pride in being a Wyoming Sportsman.
It is with that thought in mind that I have agreed to serve as statewide spokepersons for Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range. The Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range is a group of like- minded sporting groups and individuals that have joined together to protect our heritage. In the next several weeks you can look for news stories, billboards and other advertising talking about this crucial effort.
Reader response to feedback section Issue 96
Dec 06 2006Dear Eastman Family,
My college roommate and I recently read an article in your feedback
section from a subscriber unhappy with your marketing “genius” that provided
your organization with the “No fences here” slogan. Basically, there is no
argument. High fence hunting is NOT hunting. This subscriber was upset
about your family “alienating” these high fence “hunters” from the overall
hunting family across the world. Across the generations, your family has
provided all of us with the embedded traditions and fairness towards the
animals that hunting should entail. This is the “big picture” of hunting,
and to this angry subscriber, i say it is YOU who has missed the big issue.