It's that time of year again, elk scouting time. This last weekend I went up to my usual spot to put in some sweat equity and place a couple of trail cameras. I went up with my dad and a few other friends, and I have to say (if I haven't said it before) that patch of wilderness is hands down my favorite spot in Utah. 

My dad and I hiked out to a couple of spots that I thought had potential, spots that I came across last year during my hunt. A couple of other buddies went out to another location to check out some trail cams that they had placed a few weeks ago. While my dad and I didn't see any elk, we saw a lot of sign to include fresh (that morning) droppings. We placed the cameras in two spots where it looked like elk trails were converging. 

There were a ton of empty camp trailers up there. I probably came across a dozen or so. I'm not sure if people were taking them up there and leaving them to save a spot (which is bullshit) or what. I hope that it isn't an indication of the amount of archery hunters there will be.

I was able to try out my tent and wood burning camp stove. Both worked out fantastically, although I still have to mess around with the stove to figure out the optimum way to keep it burning. The tent was nice and toasty when it was running, and let me tell you, it got pretty chilly at night up there. Hopefully, these spots will pay off come hunting season. 

In other news, I've tried using a bow drill to create fire every time I go camping/hunting since I had that survival skills class and I haven't been able to recreate it. That just tells me that I need to keep practicing. I've come close a couple of times, but close isn't going to get a fire lit. 

Here we are at the start of a new year and it's looking like it's going to be a big one. Good things are on the horizon.

First and foremost, if all goes well, my wife and I will be welcoming our second daughter into the world at the end of February! We've got a name pinned down (and no I'm not sharing it). We're pretty danged excited and anxious about the new addition.

On the writing front, I'm editing the second book of the Dark Tyrant Series and will hopefully be done with it by the next couple of weeks. I'm editing the draft of my children's book about a magical teddy bear who keeps children safe from things that go bump in the night. I'll hopefully have it done by the end of the month and submitted for consideration. I'm also drafting the third book of the Dark Tyrant Series and hope to have that finished and submitted by the end of July or August. On another front, I'm involved with the second anthology put together by the Utah Chapter of the Horror Writers Association. That anthology is finished and in the processed of being put together by the publisher. If you liked Old Scratch, then definitely check this one out, it's going to kick some ass. It's called, It Came From the Great Salt Lake: A Collection of Utah Horror. 

On the hunting front, I've already put in for a Turkey tag. I'll be putting in for big game when it opens up. I think I'll mix things up and try my hand at archery for elk and maybe go back to black powder for deer. I'll continue to put in for pronghorn, bison, and bear, but I doubt I'll draw for any of those because I lack the points.

Finally, I'm hoping to get some more reading in this year. I read some kick ass books last year, but not as many as I'd like. 

​Happy New Year!

It's that time of year again. That time when hunting is just around the corner and it's time to put in the sweat equity. I went scouting yesterday. Even though I know the area, I needed to ensure that the deer were still there, and I also needed to start to make a game plan. My original plan, involved hiking up to the top (see the picture above) and setting up a trail camera to see what's moving. I got up there, and found a lot of sign that deer were moving around, but I couldn't find a good place to put my trial camera. So that spot is definitely on the list as a potential hunting spot, but I moved down a little lower.

Lower, I found a nice little meadow and actually spooked a buck out of his sleeping spot. I set my camera in that meadow. There were a couple of other places that hit my "might-be-a-place-to-hunt" radar, so I'll keep them in the back of my mind. I'll return in a few weeks to check on the camera, and possibly move it to another place. 

I drew out of the archery hunt this year, so things a little different. Generally I black powder hunt, which means I need to get within 100-120 yards away. With the bow, I really want to be about 40 yards or less, especially since I'm new at archery hunting. The last thing I want to do is injure the animal and not kill it right away. I've already told myself that I won't take a shot unless it's within a comfortable range and the deer is positioned right. 

By most accounts, you could say that I fail at hunting. In all my time hunting creatures, I've only killed two deer, one elk, and a handful of pheasant. I just returned from turkey hunting for the second year in a row and still haven't produced a turkey. Hell, even on a lesser level, I haven't been able to catch a fish for the last three times I've been out fishing. One might ask, why do you keep hunting then? Why continue to pour money into something that produces little results? Furthermore, even when you are successful, it costs even more money to have that animal processed and packaged. So, why hunt?

I hunt for several reasons. First and foremost, I hunt because I enjoy hunting. I love being in the outdoors, in wild places, in the mountains, in the woods, by creeks, rivers and lakes. The fresh air and the cool breeze is enough to put a smile on my face. There are a lot of people who take the outdoors for granted, especially in this day and age. They would rather sit on their couch, point their nose towards a computer screen (ironic that I'm on a computer at this moment typing, lol) and never leave the comfort of home/the city. That's fine. If that's what makes you happy, then embrace it and find all the enjoyment you can. I find enjoyment being out in the wilderness.

The second reason I hunt, is because it is a great time to bond with family and friends. It's pretty rare that I strike out to go hunting alone. Generally I'm with someone and it is a wonderful time to talk, tell jokes, and just hang out and have a good time. Sitting around the campfire late at night shooting the shit, or even hiking around the wilds on your way to the next hunting spot. You're there together, sharing an experience and making memories that will last a lifetime.

I would love to be "successful" each time I go out and harvest my intended game animal. However, I know it isn't going to happen all the time. My advice, don't let it get you down. My family used to have a scale for success. First, just going out was a success. Second, seeing animals was a bigger success. Finally, actually harvesting the animal was the ultimate success. This recent hunt was pretty successful in those terms. We went out, saw turkeys, hell, we even struck up a couple of conversations with turkeys using my box call. However, we didn't harvest one. Still a success.

It would be easy to let things like not harvesting an animal get you down. My advice to you, figure out why you are hunting and enjoy making memories.