Author: leaddog

Leaddog once again arrives in camp the day prior, Thursday night to get a head start on the next adventure. A strange green glow is seen and is captured in the Northern Sky!
FRIDAY:
A snow covered world is now present, hopefully proving that there are/is indeed mule(s) in the area. Leaddog does another run solo this time, of last weeks Duck Hole hunt; now with much more sign seen! A buck seems to be dogging does, and the Big Bad Bear is laying down more tracks than Spike returning to the endless buffet! A few scrapes are seen as well as more rubs…the crew is informed and a plan is set for Saturday.

SATURDAY:
A good crew of nine are now fighting for space in camp. Robba takes the DIT’s, (now referred to as “The Lads” and “The Hansen Brothers”) to Camp Creek to drive back towards the knolls, Robba has the bell! A secondary “expeditionary crew” is sent afar by vehicle to push back to everyone else, the classic F-Troop pincer move….climbers climb high, Leaddog and Lindy meet at the Barrel and heads towards the gang on the Liz side. More rubs of gargantuan size are seen…it IS here, somewhere. Leaddog sees where a mule came down off of Liz, stopped at his tracks from yesterday and promptly headed back in the direction it came from, UP the hill back on Liz. Just the very sight and smell of his footprints evokes fear! 😉 All converges to Spikes Rock where watchers are found, with the Lads performing their assignment to great satisfaction – they’re learning the woods well so far, lets see what occurs “over the hill” when the time comes!
The Lads are instructed to follow their instructor and spreads out on the trail back to camp and heads towards the property line which was once again done in fine fashion. Meanwhile, Toucher and Polecat plays up in the Notch over the “Little One” where they find a convention of mules! THAT’S where they were today! Toucher actually sees a body or two as they run in the opposite direction thereof, as usual. Leaddog, Digger and Lindy covers the Knolls on exit with nothing seen as well.

SUNDAY:
High winds and snow blowing sideways inhibits once again a decent hunt.

This is the chosen time when the crew, or parts thereof partake in the extended hunt beginning on Thursday to roam the Happy Hunting Grounds unencumbered.

Leaddog arrives in camp Wednesday to prepare for the adventure. Note that this post may be updated to include any omissions and correct any errors due to the time lapse in posting said post! It happens…..

THURSDAY:
Digger arrives and after a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs both ventures to recon the lands for mules. Both head west, one on the “Yellow Feather Route” the other to the to Spikes Trail. Both continue on hitting the Duck Hole on the Liz side, some sign is seen, but no evidence from the 36 pt buck yet…….both work their way back towards camp with nothing observed.

FRIDAY:
A push of the “Western Bunny Hill” is performed, now with additional help from Probie and Jamie the Bear Hunter. All converge to the elusive overgrown Notch, where Jamie and Leaddog are waiting anxiously for anything to occur, appear or happen in any manner or form. A doe walks right up to Jamie without its bear costume on, and Leaddog waits in the ruins of the Jabba Hut where the wind says there a mule just out of his site. Being downwind, Leaddog has blocked the mule from continuing to the Notch as evidenced by its smell wafting through the Notch. Probie hits the Notch and connects with Leaddog who finds Jamie and his driver holding hands! All ventures back to camp….somebody saw something that excites the crew!

SATURDAY:
Jamie leaves camp to perform his husbandry duties, but now Nick and Zack are present as well as the rest of the Rangers. A hit of the Bunny Hill behind camp is planned, watchers are placed up high, Zach is sent to Leaddog’s watch which was actually found! Toucher goes his normal route in the clouds with Leaddog, Nick and Robba performing the drive to the Notch. A bear is pushed by Digger early on and Nick finds Zach, Leadddog finds Toucher and part two is now underway and all heads in the general direction of camp. Lindy takes the Dark Side route, the now well smoked Polecat crawls back on the trail….and meanwhile on the other side apparently a coyote of large proportions is encountered by Robba, Junior, Nick and Zack, but was allowed to leave the area of operations….this time! All converges back to camp as usual.

SUNDAY:
Alaskan weather prohibits any decent attempts to hunt, so all vacates the Happy Hunting Grounds.

Note as previously mentioned this post will be updated as necessary!

Friday:

Leaddog shows up to commence another year of the FAMHC, but typhoon winds hinders any field activities. 35mph plus sustained winds say don’t leave the camp! Polecat arrives, and the two sit and grin at each other.

Saturday:

With a good crew now assembled, a hunt from the west towards camp is planned. Drivers are driven to their points, watchers are placed including now the Polecat. Much sign is seen at he starting point, a scrape to black earth is observed. Three drivers, Leaddog, Toucher and Lindy start and pushes absolutely nothing that they know of to the awaiting watchers. Leaddog finds the Polecat in the correct spot, as noticed by the new clearing that could support a Chinook Helo landing. Toucher and Lindy finds Steven and a second hunt is planned closer to Camp, with the usual results.

Sunday:

A hunt of the whole Bunny Hill is planned, watches manned yet again with the Polecat in the Notch….”Is this the Notch?!”…..Steven not too far down below. Leaddog, Toucher and Robba hits their routes and off they go! Minutes into the drive four does run right into Polecat, who finally gets to see what an Adirondack deer looks like again in the hair! Leaddog sees a mule dash out of sight into the drive towards the Notch, Toucher sees yet another up top….Robba then sees running (flying) tracks heading down the ridge, with leaves still on fire showing the way it ran. All meet for part two, and the next hunt begins, but now with a twist! Robba claims a buck with tiny horns is seen which walked practically up to him and bedded down 50 feet away staring at him. Apparently the two are trying to teach each other their language as Robba and the mule have a most interesting conversation for over half an hour! (whats deer words for “aaaaaaple?’)

Steven comes around the end of the mountain to the two and interrupts the lovefest….

Everybody sees a deer or four! BTW, the two bucks were not the same, and neither were worthy of placement on the walls.

Next week….The Great Alaskan Adventure is planned, four days of stumbling around the Happy Hunting Grounds! Stay tuned!

Saturday!

Does the cart come before the buck or after?

The crew is ready for the woods, including two of three new trainees referred to as “DIT’s”….Dildos In Training! Since it’s opening weekend, and conditions are fairly good it has been determined that the buck cart that has been stashed in a secret far away location, over 15 years ago should now be “recovered”. Polecat shanghais his single “volunteer” to assist in said recovery, the Toucher! Figuring that this hunt is the usual shakedown hunt of the season, no true hunt is planned. Watchers are stationed below, and are on their own……Leaddog with the DIT’s Nick and Jamie (handles to be earned) follows Polecat and the Toucher as the two go up high and over the top with sort of plans set for some type of hunt on the way out. The buck cart recovery duo is last seen heading down the legendary Chilkoot Pass to where hopefully the buckcart was last stashed. Leaddog shows the DIT’s some local territory, and places them on a watch up high until word is heard from the recovery team.

Excitement is heard, as the two finds their target and now ensues on the long pull UP the mountain before going DOWN the other side back towards beer. In reality only one is pulling, Toucher now has both the buckcart and the bell! Leaddog decides that another plan should be implemented, and directs the newbies to go left of the Hooter Ponds along Hooter Ridge to Camp Valley with Leaddog topping the Ridge to Camp Valley. Much sign is seen up top, and hopefully Leaddog will see the DIT’s down below after their exploratory trek. Steven is found down below, and the DIT’s makes it to Camp Valley, who are both surprised to see Toucher and his prize….the buckcart!

What to do next?!

Leaddog and Steven holds quick council, gets jiggy and instructs the Toucher (who now has three under his bell) to put them on watch, one near the Old Hunting Camp and the other down where Junior The Flatlander got his magnificent 16 pointer. Steven goes left on Camp Knob to the base, with Leaddog going on the top and towards the newbie watchers. Both veteran drivers sees much sign, and as both gets close to Jamie, the first watcher four shots ring out like the 16″ guns on the battleship Missouri!
Seconds pass, and Jamie declares “The Buck is Down”! Proper language will be discussed for next time, as “Brown is Down” is the proper verbiage! It appears the rogue not planned hunt worked in fine fashion! A fine 5 pointer (almost six) was on the ground, Jamies first hunt ever! Go figure! By the way, a 45-70 was the rifle of choice, forty seven birds fell out of the trees with apparent heart attacks and anything with four legs fell right over! Toucher is instructed to bring the buckcart back up the hill for retrieval, and all converge to assist!

Polecat ran to the barn…..

Sunday!

Half the Bunny Hill is hit, and that was it!

Pictures will be up as soon as Digger fixes a few issues with the site…stay tuned!

 

Leaddog arrives Thursday night to beat the forecasted 5 to 10″ of snow that is to fall upon the Happy Hunting Grounds…upon awakening a snowless world greets him. Rain, snow and sleet (snrain) is creating miserable conditions, but a recon is still in order. Looking for the Big Bad Mean Ol’ Bear, two does are seen not too far away from camp. Nothing follows…..

Saturday:
The rangers are shanghaied by Polecat in order to get a “check the box” hunt in, and all are forced to hunt to the elusive Fire Rock in the back country. Not the Fire Ring, nor Toucher’s Rock(s), or the 15 other watches with a “rock” name of some sort. Two drivers are sent out and around, with three others hitting the “ridge” to the Fire Rock. Much sign is encountered by the two lower drivers, and the three up above are encountering the now matured woods since the last visit to this area. Toucher encounters something big on the ridge, which is using the wind to determine it’s exit strategy. Touch gets a quick glance at the beast, before it exits the area in front of Leaddog only 100 feet from the Fire Rock. Other tracks are accompanying said beast which splits as usual, the doe one way….and perhaps the buck? Robba gets into the mix and all retreats from the area with Polecat now satisfied on his check the box moment! 😉

Sunday: Lindy’s Birthday Buck!
A return to the Bunny Hill is to be performed, as it has been “resting” for some time. Lindy and Probie has the whole Notch to themselves, which is a big responsibility. Polecat goes on what could be considered a watch down below, with Toucher, Leaddog, Digger and Robba setting up and getting ready to perform the drive. As all gets ready to rumble, shots are heard for the Notch. The declaration “Brown is down” comes from Lindy, before any driver makes a step! Since the only way back to camp is in the direction of the drive, it is to be completed. Five minutes into the drive a rather large mule is kicked from atop by Toucher, which runs in front of Leaddog the Bear Hunter down towards Digger and Robba. It must be said if Steven where on his watch he may have seen the beast, as nothing but a larger body was observed by the two top drivers. It as always, seems to have vanished…..

Back to the kill….A nice eight pointer is down within rock throwing distance from Lindy’s watch! All converge and field activities commence, and the drag downhill to the yapping, talking, whining, yelling, salty Polecat (Spike Jr) is started. Piewhore and Polecat gets two vehicles and picks up the Rangers and said mule.