Big game hunting news, October 2009

Bill Hall gets a big bull

Long-time Hunts.Net Customer Bill Hall of Michigan has been looking for a trophy bull elk for a long time. We lined him up last year on a ranch where he took his biggest bull ever, a nice 5x5. This year he worked several weeks for the outfitter who has the lease on that ranch and was able to earn a hunt. And wouldn't you know it, Bill got a crack at this beautiful bull and dropped him with one shot. Congratulations, Bill. Click here for Bill's website. -- 10/22/09

Wanted, Colorado landowner voucher for Unit 127 or 132 deer hunt

We have a customer who wants to buy a permit to hunt a ranch that he already has leased. He could use two tags but might have a line on one already.

Colorado Unit 50/501landowner vouchers all sold out

A Colorado rancher who sells his Unit 50 and 501 landowner vouchers to our customers is all sold out. He is not changing his prices for next year, so if you want to go in 2010, reserve one now. Details.

Utah outfitter has deer and elk openings on Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit ranches

One of our favorite Utah outfitters has at least two openings for elk hunters Nov. 16-20 on a 60,000-acre Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit in northern Utah. This hunt typically produces 5x5 and 6x6 bulls scoring 250-320 B&C points. The price is $4,900 a person with two hunters per guided. Add $500 for a 1x1 hunt. He also has openings for deer hunters on a 12,000-acre CWMU either Oct. 30-Nov. 3 or Nov. 6-10. This ranch typically produces mature bucks in the 27 to 30-inch-plus category, and is an excellent place to hold out for a buck in the high 170s through high 180s. He has a couple of October dates available for deer on his 60,000-acre CWMU. The deer hunts are the same price as the elk hunts. These are high-success hunts. In the past few years at least 80 percent of hunters fill their tags, and those who don't are holding out for extraordinary trophies and either missed or didn't see what they wanted. Ask about Hunts EK4563 and MD4563.

Lead bullet ban coming?

My friend Ryan Thomas, who has drawn a Teton National Park elk permit this year, called today to say that he is being forced to sign a statement as to whether he will be shooting a lead bullet. Supposedly the feds are worried about ravens and eagles that might eat any unrecovered game. "As if there aren't already plenty of ravens and eagles," he noted. Besides, ravens and eagles almost surely get more lead in their diet from fish than from anything else. It reminds me of the time when the National Wildlife Federation in the very same newsletter announced that bald eagle populations were recovering far faster than anybody had predicted and that the federation had succeeded in pushing the feds into outlawing lead shot for waterfowl hunting because eagles might be dying of lead poisoning. Ryan also said the state of Utah is asking deer and elk hunters in southern Utah to use non-lead bullets voluntarily. Is the writing on the wall? Will the whole nation go the way of California, which banned lead bullets for big game hunting because of the miniscule chance that carrion eating animals could be harmed?

Brinton Frisby gets his buck

My son-in-law Brinton Frisby, right, and my grandson Parker had a successful mule deer hunt in Utah. Hunting the same ranch where Brinton hunted last year, the pair were together with Brinton's brother Ty, left, when they saw this beautiful buck on opening day. Being in on the harvest of a great animal with his father and uncle gave Parker a special memory. Parker's a real trooper for an 8-year-old and is bound to become a successful hunter. I took him fishing for northern pike this summer, and we didn't get a bite the first day, but he never lost his cheerful attitude and was still up and ready to go before dawn the next morning. And his enthusiasm and persistence paid off, as you can see in the picture below. -- Rich LaRocco, 10/22/09.

Possible record bighorn ram taken in Montana

Montana undercover officer shoots giant bighorn in undercover sting operation

Utah CWMU deer hunt only $3,000 a person

We have a guided trophy mule deer hunt on a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit that has not sold any permits in years past, keeping all of them for friends and family. This year the lessee is selling six permits for trophy bucks and four permits for management bucks. The fee is only $3,000 for a guided hunt. Food and accommodations are not included, but you can stay in an inexpensive motel in a town only 10 miles away. The lessee reports seeing more big bucks this year than at any time since he has had the lease. Hunt MD4976.

More news