Well, I'm on my long vacation - 8 weeks total!  Can't believe it - get to make my own schedule for that long.

Doing more camping and more hunt research.  Sometimes I think you can do too much research and really confuse yourself.  I think that's where I'm at now!  Arg.  Oh well. 

Also doing a bit of research on my Native heritage - Shawnee & Cherokee (along with English and Irish).  Geneology can be a fun past-time when you find some long lost bit of information.

I want to go do some shooting, but it's just to darn hot.  Supposed to be 102 this weekend - yuk.

OH!  We do have a new family member - he's a week old German Shepherd/Golden Retreiver mix.  He was a bit of a suprise!  I've got pictures to post and will get them up soon.

Take care, everyone.

Ok - so maybe this post will be a bit more than a rant.  I've been spending several weeks now, combing over topo maps, looking at Fish and Game stats, talking to CO's and Forrest Service folks, all trying to find a spot where I can take my soon to be 13 year old son big game hunting this year.  Last year we got skunked due to wolves moving into the area.  Even found the carcass of a wolf kill.  So, this year, I'm looking and looking and finally think I found a spot.  Talk to a guy who backpacks up there fairly often - elk and deer and black bear in the area, never seen wolves in this place.

Well, that was last year.  He hasn't been up there this year as it's been too wet.  So, what's the problem? Now the area is included on the Fish and Game map for documented groups.  Talked to another friend - yep, he's seen and heard them up there, too.  Looking at the map Idaho Fish and Game has put out puts the damn dogs ALL OVER the prime hunting areas.  I am just fried.

Oh yes - I know, beautiful animals... but cold blooded killers!  Read someplace that they are the only canines that seem to kill for sport, meaning that many times they kill and do not feed on their kill.  I don't know if it's true or not, but none the less, it doesn't endeer them to me any more. 

Looking at the elk harvest stats for 2008, we had a dismal year here.  Mule deer weren't much better.  Sure, there can be other factors leading to this - but listening to all the folks who've been in the hills hunting where wolves have been spotted is enough "proof" for me to see the correlation - Wolf lovers can go jump in a lake before I believe otherwise!  Why else would the elk of this state not be bugling anymore?  It's because they have learned not to, or they'll lose their lives!

I hope the F&G map is wrong and that my friend is wrong - that they aren't in this area.  We will be scouting up there in a couple of weeks, and then again in August for a September 15th opening for both elk and deer.  I'm willing to bust my butt to find game.  I'm out there for the love of the sport and to teach my son the joys of hunting, as well.  I don't necessarily want a trophy buck or bull - although one sure would be nice.  I'm more concerned about seeing game to keep my boy interested.  I'd also like to fill up the freezer with some meat!

Ok - rant over.  Can't control any of this... will just have to do my best.  Oh, and buy a wolf tag for my son and myself!