Category Archives: Backpack Hunting

Why Aren’t I Smarter?

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What can I say about backpack hunting that would fully describe it to the uninitiated? Nothing, it is one of those gloriously miserable experiences that requires boots on the ground and gear on the back. There is something very rewarding…

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Reflections on this Year’s Deer Hunting

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As luck would have it, I tagged out on a beautiful bull elk on the fourth week of this year’s archery season.  With eight more weeks of hunting, I had the opportunity to broaden my horizons and focus hard on…

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Also posted in Mountains & Trails, Mystery Ranch Employees, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Speed Goatin'

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Steven Drake hopes to fill his crew cab on opening weekend of Antelope season.

After three weeks of countless spot and stalks on Montana speed goats my patience and motivation was wearing thin.  It was my last evening of hunting before…

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Also posted in Mystery Ranch Employees, Trip Reports | 5 Comments

2009 Season LIVE HUNT with Mark Seacat

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Mystery Ranch and Mark Seacat have teamed up with Outdoor Life to tell the story of our very own hunting “dream season”.

It all started at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City this past winter. Mark and…

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Also posted in Mystery Ranch Employees, Trip Reports | 4 Comments

Five Mountain Ranges… One Bull.

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This essay appears with permission from the RMEF in its entirety and as originally published in the July/August 2009 issue of Bugle Magazine. Please become a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Help protect the wild places where free…

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Also posted in Mystery Ranch Employees | 2 Comments

Everything Happens for a Reason

After having a rocky archery season which ended without harvest but with a high note, I regrouped and looked forward to the rifle season.  I had film jobs going throughout the first few weeks of November, so my elk hunting…

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Praire Bull

After waiting 9 years of building priority in Alberta, I was lucky enough to draw a tag in a new prairie unit that is known to hold some great bulls. I hiked daily for the week before the season, scouting…

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Multiple Quarters….

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The bugle had been lingering in the background since jolting me awake at 1:24 a.m. I was growing impatient watching Andrew finish his breakfast.  It was time to go.

We had glassed this bull and his 30 cows last night as…

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Also posted in Mystery Ranch Employees | 5 Comments

Second Chance

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The Author after getting her second chance. Photo by Tyler Johnerson

Being fairly green when it comes to big game hunting, I figured my work was cut out for me when I decided to hunt the intelligent whitetail.  During archery season,…

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Posted in Backpack Hunting | 9 Comments

Falling Right Into Place

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The Author with his hard-earned 2008 Montana bull. Photo by Rich Fillbach

No special tags had been drawn, so this year was going to start just like any other.  Before the rifle season started I was searching the mountains trying to…

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