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My First Bull Elk!

Comment by Wendy Koons on October 29, 2009 at 12:10pm

My first bull elk! Taken last Saturday (10/24/09) on the last day of a controlled/lottery hunt in literally the last few minutes of shooting light. I ve taken a few cow elk over the past several years since moving to Idaho, but never a bull. The hunt opened on October 1st and we turned every weekend into 3 or 4 days of hard hunting. Saw tons of elk, probably 300+ head all together, but just couldn t get it done “ either we were winded by the cows or the bulls changed their minds and didn t give me the shot I needed. Then we had a hard freeze and snow that really put the brakes on the rut and the elk pretty much stopped talking, no matter how much calling we did. I had pretty much given up on taking a bull, but on Saturday evening, about 15 or 20 minutes before dark, my boyfriend Jeff and another friend decided to give calling another try. And the bull I took let us know he was there. They called and he came charging in, screaming all the way and pushing a good number of cows and calves ahead of him. There was one smaller bull with the group, that I saw first, but couldn t get a shot on him. I m glad, because I m really happy with this guy. I was afraid there wasn t enough light when he finally came into view, but when I looked through the scope I could see him clearly and pulled the trigger. He hunched up and disappeared into some thick timber. It got dark on us, so we backed out and came in at first light the next morning. Found him about 100 yards from where I shot him. The best part though was having my boyfriend Jeff with me. He contracted the neurological form of West Nile virus in 2007 and it nearly did him in. He spent over 9 months in physical rehab, and last year this time was in a wheelchair. To have him there with me and help call in that bull after all he d been through was nothing short of miraculous. I think he was more excited than I was. Before the hunt I told him I thought if I got one bull, I d probably go back to hunting cows, but now that I know how exciting it is, I might have to change my mind. ¦

See the original article at CampWildGirls.com

Pull Up Your Big Girl Camouflage Grannies

Whenever I write about myself it is never flattering. I am very open with all of my outdoor insecurities. You all are very aware of my outdoor attack I d have the minute I d step foot in the woods because I just know a squirrel would makes its way in my hair. Those kind of things do happen and I would end up on the news.  My news story would never read, Girl in Woods Gets 20 pt Buck no, my news story would read Girl in Woods Gets Squirrel Clawed.

From the way I portray myself,  I often wonder what some of you amazing outdoor women really think of me. Because we all know you could careless if I got a pedicure today with a cute little flower on my big toe.  No, these women are flipping around the net reading about this one hog tied an elk, this one wrestled a gator, this one tackled a bear, or this one that lived in the woods for a year. And then there s me¦

I can only  imagine some of the things they think or say about me:

Her hair really does look like a nice comfy squirrel s nest.

That Hunter s Wife has no business running an outdoor site, she might break a nail.

Good god women, it s only a spider.

I m sure she has tinkled at the gas station sometime in her life and those can be some nasty s#itters. So what s so bad about the woods?

She ll shoot her eye out.

A couple more cupcakes and she will tip the boat over.

With all that whiskey, she will fall in the campfire.

Would you pull up your big girl camouflage granny panties already.

And she probably really does wear grannies.

I think I need to make a list of things I need to start experiencing before I attempt to meet any of these outdoor women.

Have a good day all¦I m off to complete #1 on my list¦I need to go find me a tinkle tree.

Let s hope Girl Tinkling in Woods isn t tomorrow s headline.

P.S. “ I m did a guest post at Surf and Sheds about Wendy s son s first deer.

See the original article at TheHuntersWife.net

TeamHuntress-Priceless

Well I have finally decompressed from the fantastic TeamHuntress weekend that Jane Keller put on at Pheasant Phun, in South Dakota, hosted by Dave Olsen. I have never, in my life, had such a wonderful time, with a bunch of women.
Team Huntress Family

Team Huntress Family

Life for, me, has forever changed. I was the first to arrive at the TeamHuntress event and as I met each woman that arrived there, I knew something was different. I immediately started to connect with each of the gals arriving. We all had so much in common that it felt like we had known each other for a lifetime. I didn t have to try to explain my love for the outdoors, the others felt that way too.

Growing up I always had more guy friends, than girlfriends. Not that the girls I knew weren t great, they were just not interested in hunting and fishing and being outdoors, like I was. I related more to what the guys were talking about. Things like, where the big bucks had been seen, or what kind of food they were eating. I hated going shopping, and didn t really get into things like home parties, or doing your hair and makeup, etc. Participating in such things, for me, was usually agonizing. On the other hand, as I grew older, a lot of my guy friends wives, didn t exactly want me to go hunting with their husbands anymore.

I started to realize I was gaining a new family or Sisterhood as northern California girl, Holly Heyser from Norcal Cazador Blog calls it. For me, someone who has lots of girlfriends, that she doesn t have much in common with, it was an unbelievable experience.

We had a great mix of personalities. Joining us from the state of Colorado, were Kirstie Pike of Prois Hunting Apparel, Anne Vinnola from Colorado Institute of Taxidermy Training Inc., Big Timber South Taxidermy Studio and Annie Got Her Gun, along with Gina Pollard who is an up and coming huntress. Wyoming brought to us, wildlife photographer Stacey Huston, author of , A Focus in the Wild, and her Husband Mike Hawk Huston from Journey with RedHawk. (O.k. he s not a girl but he has a great respect for women with weapons!). Joining us from Missouri was Barbara Baird, with Women s Outdoor News and The WOMA, as well as her husband, and gentleman photographer, Jason Baird. Our mother daughter team, Janice McKenney and Marin Broucek , along with Julie Rozell all from joined us from South Dakota and all fantastic outdoorswomen. Last, but not least, Realtree s Lynn Pankey from Alabama finished the mix.

Our mornings started us out with some social time or yoga followed by a tasty but healthy breakfast. Directly after that, was either some kind of fun skills in the outdoors or an interesting presentation indoors, depending on the weather.

It was hard to tell who was supposed to be the teacher, and who was there as a student. Everyone had very interesting experiences to share. I don t think any one person walked away without having been both, a teacher and a student, at one point in the weekend. If one person was an expert in something, there was someone else, wanting to try it and to learn it. Others were practicing and the skills they already had. Fresh eyes and new perspective were just what was needed to hone them. Without pressure or preconceived expectations, it was, for the most part, gals helping gals. Occasionally the guys added their perspective, but never in a demeaning or better than you way. They always treated us as equals and as skilled outdoorswomen.

We learned about archery with longbows and compound bows. We gained shooting skills in both handguns and shotguns. GPS, optics, gear, safety, emergency care, field dressing for taxidermy, native wildlife to South Dakota, we learned it all and just when you thought there couldn t be anything more, there was.

At the end of the day we would come into the beautifully decorated lodge and be treated to fabulous food(Thanks to Annie and staff!), incredible massages, refreshing facials, marvelous manicures, soothing foot massages, outstanding wine-tasting, and a relaxing social time. To top it all off there would be gifts on our pillows.

I mean cool gifts, like camo t-shirts, hats and videos, nutritious bars, scent-free personal care items, leather journals or gift certificates, and everyday there was something new and special waiting on your bed when you arrived there. I have never been that pampered before, ever. I didn t even know how much I would like all those things. I am now ruined for life. I tried it all and found out, I like it!

Most of all, I will never forget the unbelievable time I had at TeamHuntress. The special feeling of knowing I had been accepted. That becoming part of an unbelievable group of gals, with whom I have so much in common, will far outlast any of the skills that I gained. I have never before felt that way.

I can t explain my new found self confidence, my improved self esteem and the feeling of empowerment that I left there with. Those things will never be taken from me. It is not something money can buy. It was a weekend that, for me, was simply¦priceless!

A Special thank you to those who donated our gifts!

Haley Vines: www.haleyvines.com/

Hahn Creek: http://www.hahncreekwinery.com/

Realtree: http://www.realtree.com/

Prois: http://www.proishunting.com/

Camp Wild Girls: http://www.campwildgirls.com/

Tanka Bar: http://www.tankabar.com/

Berdette Zastrow: Women s Guide to Hunting

Faini Designs: http://www.fainidesigns.com/

Doeville: http://www.doeville.com/

See the original article at CampWildGirls.com