[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Spot and stalk quiver #61142

I used a back quiver for years untill I came out here(Idaho) and started crawling after elk in the dew laden snowbrush hereabouts. I was always biased against bow quivers, mainly because I just thought I would never get used to anything hanging from my bow. Last year I started using a Great Norther bow quiver and I love it. Maybe I’d love that thing in the link as well, but it looks a little to modern to me.:lol: I’m like Dave, I’ll stick to my day pack.

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Cameras? #59951

I’ve got a little “point and shoot” Canon PowerShot A720. It’s 8mp and 6x zoom. For a little job, it’s got a lot of options and is small enouth to carry around in a pocket while still taking great quality photos. As an added bonus it takes great video too.

A little while back I was doing some research on timelapse and found a free download for this camera that allows much more control. One of the features allows you to connect the camera to a computor so you can program a timelapse sequence and save the images directly to your hard drive. I haven’t got around to loading it on the camera yet though so I don’t know how well it works.

If you don’t mind my asking, what video camera are you using?

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Hunting Binoculars #55473

I use a pair of 10X42 Nikons with a harnes system. I do a lot of still hunting and they’ve never been a problem while sneaking around. Except maybe when crawling on hands and knees. the optics are fairly good but for another 200 bucks you could get a lot better. Mine were $300.

For me, the 8X binos just don’t cut it.

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Tree Stand and Harness Advise #55463

johnny2 wrote: I’m am also looking into some new systems that allow you to stay attached to the tree until you are in the stand or back on the ground.

Here’s a system I’ve been using for about 8 years or so. I think it’s called a prisic knot or something like that. Anyways, you take enough climbing rope to go from just above the stand to about waist high, then use the knot in the image to clip you harnes to. If you ever fall, the knot cinches around the climbing rope and stops you.

Also, climbing rope has a lot of spring, so it’s kinda like a built in shock line.

If you go this route, make sure you get heavy enough rope. I use stuff that’s about a half inch diameter. Also, you need to roughen up the main line to help the knot grab. You can do this by dragging it down a gravel road for a few miles.

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Five stages of a deer hunter #52208

Pick up a copy of HeartsBlood by the old dude in the post above. It’ll help you answer your questions about why you do what you do. Great read, thanks Dave.

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Awesome Fly fishing video! #51003

top notch work, but you could do that.

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Wyoming Pronghorn Spot and Stalk Success #30673

Congrats on a fine animal and a good stalk. I’ve never hunged lopes, but hear that spot’n’stalk is the toughest way to hunt them. Hellova trophy!

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: What do you like best about Bowhunting? #30670

This query could address so many different levels it’s difficult to even begin to answer. On the surface, it’s exhilarating to be so close to a big game animal that you’re sure they’ll hear your heart beating in your chest. Dig a little deeper and, for me, traditional bowhunting allows me to take part in the natural cycles and satisfy some primal and undeniable urge that screams from deep within.

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Oh so close – yet so far! #28060

Well, I know this isn’t archery related, but I thought some of y’all would like to see anyways. On Oct. 10(deer opener) I headed north to the timber while all the other yahoos were heading south to find a mulie. I headed to a place where, last year, I’d seen a real bruiser black bear but couldn’t get a shot. He was only about 60 yards and I had my flintlock, but there was some brush in the way and I didn’t want to risk an iffy shot.

Things turned out differently this year. Just as soon as I parked the truck and headed up the creek bottom, I was seeing scat piles that were a week or more old. I headed up the ridge, slipping through waist high snowberries when I came to the base of a grand old dug fir. Just at the base, there was a semi fresh bed and scat the diameter of coke cans. I went into stealth mode, slipping and looking, stopping and looking, and just plain looking. About 20 yards ahead was another huge fir and when I slipped to within 15 yards this bruin stands up on his hind legs to get a look over the brush. Instinct took over and the second it took to cock the hammer, set the hair trigger and squeeze it off, seemed like an eternity. The 50 cal. flintlock belched fire and lead, then all was smoke – the smell of burnt powder in the air. I knew he was big when he stood up so close, but I didn’t realize how big until the smoke cleared and I walked up to see his massive form spread on the ground. I don’t know what he weighed but I’ve caught wild hogs that were pushing 250 that didn’t hold a candle to this brute. His head measures nearly 15 inches long with the hide on.

I’m grateful to finally have some meet in the freezer and to have had such an experience with such a magnificent animal. Just as with that massive herd bull from a month ago, if it had ended with only an encounter, I’d still be grateful. Now, just one more week till the cow hunt opens and hopefully a year’s worth of meet for the family will fall.

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Rain Gear #19663

For me, some kind of rain gear is a must. September and October hear can be a little unpredictable for weather and a storm can come up fast. The temp can drop drasticly and hypothermia is a real threat.

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Waterproofing Fletching #13462

I always cary an old bread bag with me to cover my fletchings in a heavy rain. Mine are tied on with sinew so I’ve got an aditional worry.

Rain gear is a good topic, I’ll start another thread for that one.

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: 4 wheelers, Dave Peterson #11864

What many hunters don’t realize is the extent of the direct negative impact that motorized access has on wildlife in general and elk in particular. Dave brings up a good point by saying that a decade ago, you could “road camp” and do well on elk wear as today, it’s just not the case. The growing popularity of ATV’s over the past decade has essentially made vast swaths of habitat “unavailable” to elk. The habitat is still there, and in many cases it looks like it’s in good shape(except for the ATV trails), but because of the species behavioral response to motorized traffic, they just don’t use it. There’s plenty of literature that elk just aren’t generally found within a half mile of an open motorized trail. Of course there are exceptions to this and things like cover type and topography weigh heavily on the rule.

BTW, for the Idaho folks, take a look in the big game regs. There’s a full page ad for ATVs right in the middle. What kind of message is that sending?:evil:

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Oh so close – yet so far! #11829

Well, the last day is done. Another archery season come and gone. Mixed emotions as always – a feeling of sadness, but also of relief.:? I’ve lost 10 lbs since day one. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you start out at a buck 55, it ain’t no drop in the bucket. Twenty two days until the cow hunt opens. I’ll have to dust off the flintlock and heat up some lead. Until then it’s ducks, grouse and spot’n’stalk for bears. Ahh how I love the fall:wink:

ch

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: Anchor Point #9580

My middle finger touches my K9 tooth.

[Clay Hayes]

in reply to: U.s vs. Stevens #59200

I see the point you’re trying to make. I can also imagin what he’s using the pits for. If he’s using them in the way I’m thinking(I can’t think of anything they’d be usefull for other than catch dogs), he’s doing a disservice to all hound hunters.

Call me a softy, but I’d never want to see a bear with two pit’s hanging off him.

But, I haven’t seen the vid so I can’t really say much.

ch

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