As the sun rises for the last time in 2009, most of us will take a look back at the year behind us and then look forward to what 2010 will bring.
With that in mind, let’s have a look into the Crystal Skull, and see what’s in store for us here at Native Hunt!
Skull art by Ruth Heyser
Hmm… things are hazy. I’m seeing something… it looks like Head Guide, Sam McGuire.
Ahh.. here it is! In 2010, Sam and his dogs will bay up a SCI record-book feral boar for a Native Hunt client. They’ll be deep in a hollow over at the Priest Valley property, hunting at mid-morning, when the dogs will sound off and charge into a chemise thicket. After an epic battle, the dogs will bring the boar to a stop and the hunter will step in to finish the game with a single, well-placed pistol shot.
Sometime in the coming year, another record will fall as I guide one special guest to the opportunity of a lifetime on a new Boone and Crockett record blacktail. The hunt will start like any ordinary outing, but things will ratchet up during the evening as this monarch of the woods will show himself across the canyon. After an initial bout of buck fever, the hunter will steady herself, level the rifle, and make a textbook shot.
What else do I see?
Nugent comes to Native Hunt! After hearing through the grapevine about a fellow, rock-and-roll hunter, Uncle Ted himself will decide to come out to Jolon and bring the spirit of the wild with him. After a wild day in the field, Michael, Ted, and the crew will sit up late by the fire pit, jamming on acoustics and telling tall tales of adventure, blood, guns, and music.
The visit will be televised on Nugent’s show, and will be quickly followed by an invite to come down and do a big hunt with the Nuge on his Texas ranch. A collaboration will begin, and Riddle/Nugent will crank out an album and tour of hunting-oriented hard rock!
That’s right… you heard it here first!
And yeah, I’m making it all up.
But hey, who knows? It could happen.
What I do see, for real, is a coming year full of great times, great hunts, and beautiful country. Michael Riddle and the whole crew at Native Hunt is gearing up to make 2010 an epic year! The operation is coming into its own now, with a solid population of wildlife on the existing ranches, and bright prospects for access to new properties as well.
One of the big changes coming this year will be an increased opportunity for bowhunters. Archery blinds have been set up on the property, and archers will have the opportunity to take their best shot on big Eurasian boar, a long-horned ram, or maybe even a trophy fallow deer. The Jolon ranch is particularly well suited for bowhunting, and every time I walk onto the Priest Valley ranch I find myself wishing I were carrying the bow.
Stick around, and we’ll keep you posted on more new stuff as the year rolls over and we get things cranking!
Here’s wishing each and every one of you a Happy New Year. Hope to see you out at the ranches in 2010.
Just saw this cool little video, posted by a member over at Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors forum, and thought it was worth a share with this crowd. Enjoy!
*Response to an Animal Activist’s comment which when edited of all the foul language and expletives, was devoid of any real content worth posting here!
After reading a post which <Norcalcazadora>; placed upon her blog this morning I really started thinking hard about the Vegans/Vegetarians/Animal Rights Groups, and how a very large portion of them seem to genuinely believe that they are intellectually superior to most other humans surrounding them.
They seem to be under the strong impression that they have achieved some sort of elevated consciousness by giving up meat, eating vegetables and defending all animals (except humans of course), against all perceived cruel treatment of those animals by we humans.
Perceived, is exactly the operative word here because what I personally perceive to be cruel treatment of an animal and what They, “Animal Rights Groups” perceive as cruel are obviously entirely different each from the other.
There are two books which have been my bibles (figuratively speaking) for the past 17 years since their publications, one: SLAUGHTERHOUSE , by Gail Eisnitz which takes a close look at the often times cruel treatment of animals within our factory farmed meat industry.
The other is: ANIMAL SCAM, by Kathleen Marquardt in which Ms. Marquardt exposes the many myth’s often associated with Animal Rights Groups and their ongoing obsession with Power, Control and overall detest of the human race in general.
While both books show opposing philosophies concerning the subject of animal rights, Animal Scam tends to be quite a bit more realistic, dubious of the stated intentions of the A.R.G.s and less condemning of our overall human made carbon footprint upon this earth.
I see so much of this Higher Awareness thought process these days, and in general most of the people whom I have made contact with concerning this supposed elevated mental status do not even wholly believe their own diatribe concerning this much touted subject.
They appear to be merely regurgitating someone else’s philosophies which have been spoon fed to them, and to the public at large for such a long time now that it has become the gospel by which they live. And also by condoning all attempts at dictating another’s philosophies and lifestyle by force if necessary through changes made within the legal system, and then making it mandatory to follow said philosophies.
There is not a darn thing wrong with trying to connect yourself to an elevated state of awareness by becoming more sensitive to your surroundings, as well as connecting with the other life forms with which we share this planet. And I find myself enjoying reading and learning about as many subjects that are at hand as I can, and also by participating in a lively debate through any discussion which might come up concerning such matters.
But, when people such as: Ingrid Newkirk & Kathy Guillermo , both of the now infamous organization known as P.e.T.A. make public statements like: “Eventually companion animals would be phased out of existence, Just like us!” and ”Im against the use of seeing eye dogs, In a perfect society there will be no need for them” on ”Speak Your Mind with Howie Green,” WHFS radio, Annapolis, Maryland, August 11, 1991.
Then my first thought is that these individuals thoroughly believe their own rhetoric to the point of thinking that they have achieved a higher Spiritual, Moral and Intellectual plane than any of the rest of us have! They first would impose their own set of philosophies upon our society to the point of complete discrimination against someone who is blind! And in the same motion would phase mankind completely out of existence? And this is supposed to be acting upon a higher plane and a level of consciousness which has been achieved through a vegan lifestyle. There are so many things which are fundamentally wrong with this train of thought that it would require a full length novel to address even a small portion of the issues here.
I enjoy watching Rex Reed in the movie Dr. Dolittle as much as anyone else does and I must admit that the idea of being able to converse with the animals is very intriguing to me. But, that fantasy abruptly ends when I have to get up bright and early the next morning and go to work to pay my Taxes, Vote and to put Food on the table for myself and my family!
Show me any insect, reptile or animal other than a human being which is capable of and does these things in order to survive, and I will be the first to stand in line to vote for it’s emancipation.
As I have stated many times and I will say again: “Extremism in any form is entirely non-productive” And I have not a single problem with someone choosing an alternative lifestyle. Just do not try imposing said lifestyle upon me and my family and do not belittle our way of life as being somehow less Moral, Intellectually Inferior or Spiritually Challenged.
Torrey's Zombie Hawg
Innards in the ice chest?
Here is another fine, exciting and heart poundin’ hog hunting story from my good buddy/hunting guide Torrey Farmer, enjoy!
Hey Mike here is another Hawg Doggin adventure from last saturday, hopefully its a fittin’ for the blog!
Last Saturday I took to the hills with some of Sonoma Countys finest dog men! My good buddy’s Pat Turner and Scott Galloway, both seasoned “hog doggers”, and both avid sportsmen! When I get around these guys, the conversation always ends up being dogs, and all that, that implies! We try to get together and run ‘em out a couple, three times a month, during the winter months.
We met up at Pats ranch before light on Saturday and over coffee we put a plan together. Pat was to go to one end of the ranch with a couple guys and Scott and I were gonna dump ‘em out down by the “vineyard”! Light, came quickly and we jumped on our “scooters”. The feeling of the crisp morning air hitting your face, while the dogs are on “red alert” clipped on to their platform of the “scooter”, is a feeling like none other! Scott and I drove about twenty minutes before we discovered some fresh rooting.
Bingo, perfect spot to dump ‘em! Scott dumped his three McNabb crosses and they bolted immediately. I took my two strike dogs and “Honeybunch” (my trusty Catchdog), over and dumped them about a 100 yards away! Boom, Scotts dogs opened up, baying their blasted heads off, yet I heard squealing, meaning a shoat or small sow. Then Boom Boom over my way my two started baying hard. I radioed to Scott and he went for his as I went for mine. Here is where it gets interesting. I caught up with mine to find a very large (250lb+ range), jet black, very pissed off Boar Hog, flustered by the noisy bay dogs! Mind you, we were in heavy manzineta brush and the action was on. At this point I sent in the “Closer” ie. Honeybunch. As I let the 42 pound “bulldog” of her lead, she charged to the bay like she was possessed, then she hit the Boar (who out weighed her by 200 lbs) like a linebacker hits a quarterback! At this point boys, things were getting crazy, this hog was a lot for those three dogs, but they were holding their own!
I had one quick opening and I threw a round from the .454 into the boars dome! He dropped like a rock, and it seemed I finally breathed. As soon as I exhaled the bastard came to and was up on his feet again! “What the Fudge?” I yelled. It was back on, and I mean ON! Now, Scotts dogs left their hog and were at mine, 6 dogs on this bastard now, and no room to shoot! If I got any thing from ten years of running around with Mike Riddle of Nativehunt, its no fear, and you do what you gotta do! So, I climbed up into an old Manzineta snag and pulled my knife out. When the rukus wound up under me, I jumped on the hogs back like a rodeo cowboy and reached in and finished that old boar! Judas Priest, what a battle! Dogs were all good to go and I was shaken but not stirred! We did it, and in good old heart pumping fashion! Scott finally got to me and was floored at what happened! “Torrey, you are one crazy mother trucker”. I just smiled, and said “nope but that boars was”!
It’s Christmas Eve, and I don’t really think anyone is gonna be sitting around reading blogs right now, but if you are…
Merry Christmas to all the Native Hunt clients, friends, and a special Christmas wish to all the Native Hunt Staff I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the past couple of years. It’s a great bunch of folks, and it has been a pleasure!
Here’s looking forward to a great 2010!
If you’ve got your speakers or headphones on, here’s a little musical Christmas cheer. 01 Christmas in My Hometown
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Most of you folks reading this will be planning some kind of special time with your family, participating in whichever traditions you have, and enjoying the warmth and safety of a comfortable home.
But don’t forget the men and women overseas, many living daily in harm’s way, who will not be sharing those same, basic comforts. For some of them, this is not the first Christmas they’ll spend away from home, and it may not be the last.
So spare a moment or two to think of them and to thank them for their service. Remember George Orwell’s words, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
So here’s a Christmas Wish to all of the “rough” men and women of our fighting forces, and to those who are over there to support them. I only wish it could be true for all of them.
It's not all climbing hills and chasing hogs!
So I had a little time to hang out with Michael over at his music studio the other night. Our new friend, Cork Graham came over for our first face-to-face meeting, and as usually happens around this group, the stories flowed freely. Conversation ranged from Cork’s new book to hog-dogging, and all points in between.
One topic that came out though kind of hung with me. We were talking about Michael’s operation, and how it’s becoming more and more common in many parts of the country. Hunting land is being locked up by entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to hunt it will have to pay admission.
It wasn’t that long ago that all you had to do to get access to a property was just ask a property-owner’s permission. I remember my youth back in NC, when it was a matter of getting my dad to run me over to Mr. Batson’s house so I could ask permission to hunt his farm for whitetail, doves, and squirrels. With a stern warning against shooting his pigs (domestic, not wild) or shooting up his barns, and to leave gates the way I found them, he turned me loose over his place.
Of course, a large part of Mr. Batson’s farms are gone now… seeded over with subdivisions and mini-estates along with the blight of golf courses that cover such a huge chunk of the southeastern US. The remaining large land-holders (big farms, paper and lumber companies, etc.) are now drawing down thousands of dollars per year in leases from hunting clubs, effectively locking out the individual hunter, or the father-and-son partnerships who could once wander these lands for the price of asking permission.
Likewise, out here in central CA, 15 or 20 years ago it wasn’t at all unusual to be able to simply ask a farmer for permission to come hunt hogs. In fact, many ranchers were happy to have folks come shoot the destructive beasts, and would throw open the gates with an enthusiastic, ”come kill as many as you can!”
Since then, the spectre of the almighty dollar crept into the picture. Ranchers found out that folks would pay for the privilege of shooting hogs, turkeys, or deer. At the same time, outfitters and guides began to lock in leases on these properties, in order to take paying clients to these productive areas.
It’s happening all over the country. Prime, private land is being locked up and folks who want to hunt it are going to have to pay. Texas is a prime example, of course, with almost 98% of the state in private hands, but we’re seeing it in other places as well. Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina are all experiencing the phenomenon.
On the other hand, there is a trend in other direction. In Montana, the Access Montana program has been working with private landowners to provide access to public hunters by offering incentives to the landowners. Other states, particularly in the west, are trying similar things.
In California, the DFG and other organizations are working on similar programs with private landowners. The California Waterfowl Association (CWA) has a program called “HUNT”, and the CWA is also working with California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) on the SHARE program. Both of these programs are designed to open private lands to public hunters, either for free hunts, or for a reasonable fee.
Even so, the bottom line is that someone has to “pay” the landowners for access to their lands. What happens to the hunter who doesn’t have the means to pay the price? Public land is the only remaining option, and as more people take to the field, that option gets more and more crowded.
Not that this is new. In 1960, Outdoor Life magazine ran a three-part series on Paid Hunting, and addressed a running argument about whether pay-to-play would spell the end of hunting, or if it is simply the way of the future. The articles looked at the upsurge in pheasant preserves, land leases, etc. The final part of the series, in the November edition, left the question pretty-well unanswered.
That was almost 50 years ago, and the biggest change since then is that we’ve lost huge tracts of huntable land to development and the flight of suburbanites into formerly rural areas. More non-hunters are taking to the field, even as hunter numbers have dwindled. The influence of these non-hunters threatens to close areas to hunting, as conflicts (real and perceived) arise.
All in all, the picture of the future is murky. Will hunting become a rich man’s sport… the domain of the monied and privileged? Or will the “common man” still prevail? Any readers out there have an opinion on this?
Yupp, the lights are hung, the packages wrapped, and lots of kids are pretty excited right about now. Here’s a little something for those who haven’t quite got into the spirit of the season…
Enjoy!
The Guide Sam and Ming Li
Kats First Hog
Starting the year 2010 with a bang!
No pun intended here but we will be featuring a new section in the Native Hunt Blog.
We here at Native Hunt currently have an impressive roster of 10 Professional Hunting Guides working for us who’s experience and knowledge of the wilderness, hunting and the outdoors can be utilized by the readers of our blog.
This new feature will be added to our Hunting Tips section, and will be a completely open forum. This forum will enable you to have full access to over 100 years of collective knowledge gained from these experienced woodsmen.
Please stay tuned and look for: Ask The Guides to be up and available after the first of the year!
Happy Hunting and a very merry Christmas to you all!
Tom Remington over at the Black Bear Blog has some great information about a parasitic invasion in wild game.
When I was a kid back in Pre-Disney Florida way back in the swamps on the outskirts of Orlando, parasites were a big problem.
When I would become infested ie: Hookworm, Roundworm etc. etc. my Mema (Maternal Grandmother) would make me eat a slice of Raw Irish Potatoe each day for about a week to rid me of the worm infestation.
By golly! It worked!
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