Coyote Calling Season

It's that time of year again. The time of year when Jeremy gets to have some fun hunting for himself. Every January, he and his brother-in-law, Nick Peterson, enter up in a coyote calling contest. Usually, it's the Midwest Coyote Calling Event in St. Francis, Kan., but they have a rule requiring teams to sit out a year after winning two times in a row. So this year, Jeremy and Nick got in the Woodward Coyote Calling Contest, in Woodward, Okla.

It was Saturday, Jan. 1, and they again stomped the competition with 15 coyotes killed in one day (second place had 10). After passing the polygraph test, they went home with bragging rights and a check.

They are planning to go to another contest in Elk City, Okla., next weekend.

Big News

Wanting life beyond our own is humanity in its simplest form. Jeremy and I are no exception to this simple rule. We’ve dreamed of giving life to a perfect combination of the best of us.

Raising a child will not be without its challenges. Due in June, I doubt I will be much use by April and May when we’re receiving and doctoring cattle. With just the two of us to get things done, the baby will have to go along as things need doing and help out as soon as he (or she) is able.

Although this is something we have discussed for quite a while, I must admit when I saw those two pink lines I felt a twinge of fear. It was soon replaced by excitement, but not before I contemplated that raising a child is a daunting responsibility. I think if parents-to-be aren’t a little bit overwhelmed by the task at hand, maybe they don’t fully grasp the challenge they are about to embark upon. It’s one that we accept and are looking forward to. Especially now that the nausea has somewhat abated.

This is the dating sonogram done around 10 weeks. The sonographer typed the word "BABY" next to it so there wouldn't be any confusion. I thought it looked like I was growing a peanut.

A Buck 20 Years Coming

This year we had the privilege of hunting with Les Butters from Arizona. When he booked he told Jeremy he wanted to kill a 200 inch (or bigger, obviously) mule deer. He knew it would be tough, but wasn't interested in shooting anything smaller. Jeremy told him we would sure try our best to find him one. During the early muzzleloader season in September, Les, Jeremy and Jerad glassed, glassed and glassed some more but with corn standing, were unable to find the 200 inch dream buck Les was searching for.

He returned during firearm season this week to continue the search. The first evening he found what he'd been looking for. This buck:

His goal, one he'd been working toward for 20 years, was accomplished. He shot with a muzzleloader, this deer, which measured 202 7/8.

"Droopy" the Giant

Rifle season for deer is off to a great start. On opening morning, Georgia hunter Ernest Gilbert shot a new ranch record Whitetail buck. And a very unusual one at that.

Last year, we had seen this buck and got some pictures of him on the trail camera. He was impressive then. We were confident with another year of growth he would be a monster.

That was definitely the case. It seems that, while in early antler development in velvet some type of trauma caused this disruption in the growth of his left side. He certainly made an impression when we saw this picture of him on the trail camera this year.
"Droopy" he was dubbed and categorized as definitely a shooter. When Ernest arrived the day before, the buck was rutting hard and several miles from where he had been living. By the next morning, he had moved again and was intent on a doe. Ernest was able to shoot him from about 150 yards.

He measured 187 4/8" making him the largest whitetail harvested off the ranch.

Antelope Season Wrap Up

We had an excellent pronghorn season. We acquired a couple of new ranches this year that proved to be great hunting. We had 8 hunters this year and all 8 got their antelope. The average score for all 8 was 77 and the average height was 14 7/8 inches. The smallest buck scored 72 6/8 and the biggest scored a whopping 84 1/8 and was 16.5 inches tall. This antelope is the largest buck we have ever killed on the ranch. I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Sagebrush Hunts, LLC has a limited number of openings available for pheasant hunts this season. Hunt all wild birds over excellent dogs in southwest Kansas.

Day Hunts
Pheasant Hunt $250/ day

*Day Hunts include a guided hunt over dogs and lunch

Premium Hunts
Pheasant Hunt $350/ day

*Premium Hunts include:
A guided hunt over dogs along with
first class meals and lodging at the ranch.

*All prices based on 2 or more hunters
*Your dogs are welcome

www.sagebrushhunts.com
806-333-4358

2010 Antelope Season: Part I

The cow is a success!

On opening day of antelope season in Texas, our first four hunters were all successful. Jeremy had recently purchased the Outfoxed Zebu Cow Blind designed to make it easier to stalk up on the antelope and despite some skepticism it worked well. Three of the four antelope were shot with the aid of this blind.

The next four hunters will be here at the end of the week. Hopefully the streak continues.