Scott’s Blog

This trip to Texas found Kazden and I on a father-son adventure.  Kazden would soon be turning 12–seven years had passed since he’d been to TX.  It took some digging, but once good friend Tony Hartelius introduced me to Kyle Hawkins, plans started coming together for some quality free-range hunting (we wanted nothing high-fence).  Kaz’ and I couldn’t have done it without the help of these two men, both of whom I look forward to hunting with more. Kyle is a life-long Texan, and like many folks, loves to hunt.  Tony guides in multiple western states, and both Kyle and I had spent time in bear, elk and deer camps with him. The priority was to get Kazden an axis deer, and Kyle had done his homework.  After seeing over 100 axis on day one (no shooter bucks), Kaz’ was pumped.  We also got a giant rattlesnake!  The next day we were back at it, and after a slow morning, Kyle suggested we head to another property.  It’s called the Thompson Ranches, and the property is in place for farming and hunting whitetails and hogs, along with the occasional axis deer. After a couple hours of sitting, once the shade started [...]

For several season’s, either spring and fall, I’ve been going to Idaho with Boulder Creek Outfitters hunting bear, elk, deer and turkey.  This spring I returned, with my oldest son, Braxton, who’d just turned 14. Braxton has hunted bear by way of spot and stalk and calling, but never over bait.  I’m addicted to hunting bears and love watching them over baits.  The number of bears thriving in this part of Idaho, atop the Joseph Plains, is mind-boggling, something that has to be seen to be realized.  I also like hunting in this way as you can be selective about the animals you take, and it’s a very efficient way to help alleviate predator problems (bears are killing up to 70% of calf elk in this part of the Northwest). Last season I was at the same spot, with wounded Veteran, Orlando Gill.  Orlando took his first bear from a stand I’d taken a gorgeous cinnamon bear from a year prior.  Orlando killed a bear on the same bait, two hours into his hunt.  I sat in the same stand the following afternoon, and killed a gorgeous chocolate bear.  The next evening, the last day of the season, another hunter in [...]

  Four and a half years passed and finally I was eligible for a nonresident brown bear tag on the Alaska Peninsula.  The last bear I took here–my first coastal brown bear–was with registered guide, Bruce Hallingstad, of Becharof Lodge (www.becharoflodge.net), and I couldn’t wait to get back with him on another hunt. Nonresidents are required to hire a guide when hunting brown bear in Alaska, something that’s a bit different from the years I spent living and hunting throughout the state in the ‘90s, on my own.  Bruce specializes in big brown bears, and when I took a bear just under 9’ on our last hunt, he immediately made a spot for me to come back on a spring hunt.  Bruce’s goal was to try and get me a bear over the coveted 10’ mark, something I knew was possible, but deep-down, highly unlikely.  I know of many accomplished Alaskan hunters who’ve worked a lifetime chasing a 10’ bear, and never hit the mark, that’s how hard they are to find. Upon my arrival in Egegik, Alaska, we prepared gear, walked through the village observing bear-damaged homes, and watched locals subsistence fish for early-arriving red salmon.  With only a few [...]

I just came off a great Aleutian goose hunt near Eureka, California. You goose hunters who are looking for an awesome, end of season hunt, this is it. The season runs through March 10 I believe. It’s a special, late season, damage control hunt that takes place on100% private property (by law). Tens of thousands of Aleutian geese stage on private grounds and graze on valued pasture land, prior to their upcoming journey to Alaska. The geese pull the grass up by the roots, causing large-scale damage. Landowners and cattle ranchers want them gone, and with a 10 goose per day limit, a day or two of great hunting can be experienced. Aleutian Canadian geese are one of waterfowling’s greatest conservation success stories. Once on the brink of extinction, they can now be hunted during multiple seasons in this part of California, which is the most efficient way to keep their numbers in-check and move them off large tracts of land. I hunted with guides Brad Smith and John Corbett of Pacific Outfitters, longtime goose hunting gurus in the region. They have several dozen decoys and access to some the best farms. They monitor bird movement, daily, and work hard. Hunting [...]