Tuesday, June 19, 2007

My First Journal Entry

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This is my first journal entry and I thought it would be so easy since I love to write, share pictures and tell stories. But I found it wasn't so easy this time. What should I write about my first time? I have so many memories to share. Should I write about my big buck, my first buck with a bow I harvested just a week ago? So I decided to write a little about myself, show you all some pictures of my memories over the years, but write a story of the most memorable and exciting memory for me this past year.


Teresa's Buck



Teresa's Bucks


I grew up in a household of hunters. My father expressed his love of the outdoors and it spread to my mother, my two brothers and myself. I was even fortunate enough to have both my mother and my father with me when I shot my very first PA buck. And, although I was a girly girl at times, even now out of the field, in my dresses and heels at work, people find it hard to believe that I hunt and fish. But my love for the outdoors as I was growing up superceded my horse shows, basketball and later on my modeling. There is just something about the early morning air undisturbed and so pure. The sounds of the waking forests and the encounters of God’s many creatures.


Bird Dogs


As a child my father raised and bred Irish Setters and Blue Tick Coon Hounds. I followed my father every chance I could when the firearm came out. Walking miles just to see the setters at work in the field and retrieving my dad’s downed birds. When the blue ticks were kenneled I would run and ask, ”CAN I GO?”. Even knowing I was too young to harvest anything, I just wanted to be in the woods, following dad and hearing the bay of the hounds on a trail of a raccoon. Plus, I cherished the time spent with my father, family and friends. Not too mention a deep yearning for a sport I would grow to love more with each passing year.


The mentored youth program would allow my son to experience life’s many treasures as I did through the eyes of a hunter or hunters in this case, with the added bonus of being able to harvest a big game animal. Plus allowing him a better understanding and the thrill of harvesting such a majestic creature at the young age of 11 years old. Unlike myself, who thought the age of 12 would NEVER arrive!
Preseason scouting produced many sightings of gobblers for the opener of Pennsylvania’s first spring mentor youth season. Unfortunately, my son was unable to close the deal that day. Eight, that’s right....EIGHT gobblers came in all between dawn and 10:30 AM. Then a clean miss. Which if you can't humanely harvest your quarry, a clean miss is the next best thing. My son has helped out in Hunter Education classes numerous times, various trips afield and to the range, as all veteran turkey hunters know....it can never prepare you for you first encounter with a big boss gobbler at 40 yards, full strut, spitting, drumming, and gobbling like thunder. This gobbler was displaying every aspect of his dominance, gobbling to every purr and putt, canting his huge tail fan toward our hen and jake decoys and letting us know he was the BOSS gobbler and there would be no invasion on his harem! So it was a little un-nerving for him. He said he had NO IDEA turkey hunting would get his heart pounding out of his chest like it did. He was hooked!


My son and I have an understanding that education is first, our hobbies are second. But I have also learned that compromise can make life easier and provide good incentive. Especially if all parties involved are growing together favorably. As the cliche states, “It pays to get A’s”. I compromised with Jimmy that if he got his one bad grade up and kept his other grades where they were he could take off one day of school, provided he had no tests, to try one more time, in an attempt to redeem himself.


May 3rd was that day. As dawn broke only one gobble was heard way off in the distance. No worry. Jimmy was in good hands with Don who is an avid turkey hunter and excellent caller. A few cutts and purrs and yelps, produces an eager gobble. Knowing the name of the game is hide and seek sparingly, Don serenades the gobbler with some soft purrs hoping the gobbler will seek location of the lustful hen. One more sequence of soft yelps while turning his head and making the gobbler think she is walking away was all it took to close the distance. Don whispered to Jimmy, “He cut me off. He’s coming. Get ready buddy. Relax, get the gun up and ready. Keep it on your cheek. Remember put the bead on his head and squeeze easy!” Just then there was the visual of not one, but 4 jakes single file, four abreast. Don tells Jimmy “the bird closest is the biggest bird. If you are on him squeeze the trigger. He’s sees the decoys and is getting a little nervous.” Just then the youth model Remington 870 12 gauge, chambered with a 3 inch shell went off. The bird goes down and Don jumps up and is on the bird in seconds. Jimmy successfully harvested his first ever spring gobbler and first PA big game animal. It was a jake with a 6 inch beard. A trophy in anyone’s eye. Jimmy’s picture below says it all.


My Son's Turkey


Later that day, Don and Jimmy went fishing in pursuit of crappies and pounded huge slabs on a grub tail and 1/8 oz. Jighead. Jimmy landed his biggest crappie ever.


Crappie Fishing


His exact words to me were, “Mom this was the greatest day ever!!!” Music to my ears.


This is what memories are made of. It thrilled me to have my son have such a wonderful memory enjoying the outdoors. I have many memories in the field. In fact every time I go in the field is a memory to me. To me it is not about shooting or catching your limit. It is enjoying the sights and sounds. The laughs and times shared with family and friends. Enjoying what God gave us. It is a true gift! Being successful, is just a bonus. I hope to pass this on to my son. To enhance his experiences in life. Looks like he is off to a good start!
Below are just a few of my memories in the field from over the years. I hope all you enjoy your time afield as well.
Until next time! Teresa


Geese and Ducks


Bird Dog


Turkeys


Big Fish


Sunset

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Let the Games Begin

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Over the last couple of weeks, my trail cameras have been clicking away and there’s been a lot of activity in the local woodlots. Most of the bucks in southwest PA started dropping their velvet a couple of weeks ago and I’ve noticed some rubs popping up along the well-used trails. It’s been fun trying to get photos of some of the bucks I’ve been watching with the spotlight.


*Please note all trail camera photos were captured along trails without the use of baits or attractants.


Trail cam photos
I think these two photos show the same buck, before and after he shed his velvet.


Few late Night Bucks
A few late-night Allegheny County bucks


More Bucks
I’d love to see this guy from my stand on opening day!; This week was the first time I’d seen this 10-point with the split G2 on his left side.


The cooler evening temperatures really get my blood pumping and it seems to do the same for the bucks. I witnessed a few heated sparring matches this week and the bachelor groups that were common in August are starting to break up.


Fighting Bucks
With the colder weather this week, these two bucks in Beaver County decided it was time to tangle.


I also managed to get out last Saturday for another goose hunt in Clarion County. I knew this outing would be a good one because we had lots of guys who were eager to go along after my brother, Corry, located a flock that was regularly landing in an alfalfa field. The field wasn’t visible from any roads, so we were confident we’d have the spot to ourselves.


We got there early since we had a long walk from the truck. We loaded the decoys onto our custom-built decoy cart, which is nothing more than a retrofitted pull cart for golf clubs. It’s not something you’ll ever see in a sporting goods catalog, but it gets the job done. After setting out a dozen decoys, we hid in the bordering rows of corn, and we didn’t have to wait long for the first flock to arrive.


Goose Hunting Gang
Our goose hunting gang included Dan, my brother Corry, me, my dad Tom, Buck, and Jake.


At 7:00, a dozen geese set their wings and descended toward our spread. For some reason, they didn’t commit and glided over the top of our decoys. Although they didn’t offer us the best shooting opportunity, we still managed to drop three from the group. A bit disappointed at the flock’s reluctance to land in front of us, we tuned our calls and hoped for a second chance.


We got that opportunity when we spotted a long string of birds on the horizon. At least 40 geese were flapping their way toward us. We cut loose with a series of pleading calls and waited behind the rustling corn stalks. The lead geese locked in on our location and began diving toward the decoys. They were only about five feet from the ground when I heard the first shotgun blast. I swung on the bird closest to me, but it folded before I could squeeze the trigger. I moved to the next bird, but encountered the same result. On the third try, I managed to harvest a bird of my own, but the remainder of the flock made a quick exit before I could take any others.


Goose Hunting
Corry was convinced that his favorite Foiles goose call had played a large part in our success; Our homemade decoy cart made the long walk a lot easier.


I think everyone harvested a goose that morning, but more importantly, I know we all enjoyed spending some time outdoors with our friends and family members. Hunts are always better when you can share the experience with others. I’m sure we’ll all be thinking of that hunt the next time life’s responsibilities keep us from the field. Until next time, I hope you’re all out making some memories of you own!

Friday, June 1, 2007

ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent

Product Review by Mike Bell, PSP Staff
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ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent





ThermaCell

Included in box
ThermaCELL unit
1 Butane Cartridge (lasts approx 12 hrs)
3 insect repellant mats (lasts approx 4 hrs each)


Some minor assembly involves screwing the butane cartridge into the bottom of the unit, and inserting a blue mat under the grill in front of the unit. Turn the unit on and hit the start button and you are up and running. To verify the unit is on, there is a lens on the top of the unit which shows a glowing coil.


COST

I purchased this unit for $22.95 and I also purchased a refill package (1 butane cartridge and 3 mats) for $7.95. These refill packages will give you approximately 12 hrs total protection.


ASSESMENT OF PRODUCT
When used as directed, this is one of the only mosquito repellants I’ve used that performs as promised. I have used this product everywhere from sitting on my back porch to turkey hunting, but I will tell you of the most extreme instance, in which I was glad I had this unit. I was on an Alberta Black bear hunt, and the mosquitos were terrible. When I say terrible, I mean they would literally blanket you within 5 minutes of being exposed. After being dropped off at my stand, I turned the unit on, swatted, smacked and smashed mosquitoes until I thought I was going to go crazy. After about 5 minutes, the ThermaCELL started kicking in and within 10 minutes there was not a mosquito in sight. I went on to have a pleasurable, and successful evening hunting, free of mosquitoes. When I arrived back at camp, I heard many nightmare stories. There were a couple of hunters that actually had to call their guide to come pick them up because they couldn’t stand the mosquitoes. We were back in the “bush” and hunters were offering their guides upwards of $150.00 to go back to town and pick them up a ThermaCELL, after seeing how well this unit worked in camp. Luckily, I had tagged out with 3 days left to hunt and gave my unit to another guy in our group. He was equally astounded at how well this unit worked, and killed a bear while using the ThermaCELL. If I were a betting man, I would wager every one of us in that camp now owns a ThermaCELL unit.


PRODUCT LIMITATIONS
Air travel can be dicey because of the butane cartridge. Also, extreme care must be taken as the grill on the front will get hot after a couple of minutes of use. The unit is rated for an area 15’ X 15’ or 225 square feet. This product does not work well while on the move and will decrease its effectiveness if it is very windy. The box says the mats are Odor Free, but I notice a slight odor especially in the first few minutes of starting the unit. I have hunted deer, turkey, and bear with this unit and haven’t seen the unit’s odor have any effect on the animals I’ve hunted. Finally the cost can be significant at 6-7 dollars per 12 hours of use.


RECOMMENDATIONS
If you spend any time outdoors in a mosquito area, you must purchase one of the units. Though a bit pricy, this cordless and portable system is by far the most effective mosquito repellant I’ve ever used.