SBC & Derek Mayfield out of Layton did the OUTDOORSMAN shirts

Derek (SBC) www.sbcgo.com,

Heres a little testimonial and some pics for you.

Thanks again for getting the OUTDOORSMAN shirts to us so quickly. I have attached some photos from last weeks trip. Everyone loved the look, feel, and durability of the shirts. SBC is always quick to respond and the quality is unmatched.

Jared
www.outdoorsman.com
Hunting and Fishing Directory

2009 ATV Ride - Logan Canyon, Utah to Grace, Idaho and back

Jason and Kurt (www.rotopax.com),

How are you guys doing?

Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you about OUTDOORSMANS 3 day trip this last weekend - we rode from Beaver Mountain Ski Resort in Logan Canyon to Grace Idaho and back. Of course the Roto-Pax atv water and fuel packs were a necessity on this one.

Thanks again for producing such a fine, functional product. Your innovative secure attachment system provides an unusually simple on/off procedure and offers a high degree of rider confidence when on the trail. The size of these containers is perfect for handling - and they all hold enough water or fuel to satisfy even the most nervous trail rider.


Yes, we ran out of gas. Yes, we had at least 2 gallons every time to get us out of the pinch - Thanks to the Rotopax.

Yes, we camped. Yes, we had plenty of water to cook and drink - Thanks to the Rotopax.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Sincerely,


Jared Nichols
OUTDOORSMAN.com
45 North Main Street, Suite 103
Logan UT 84321
www.outdoorsman.com
Phone (435) 752 2900
Cell (435) 757 5066
Fax (435) 752 2919
jared@outdoorsman.com

MRE Supply - meals ready to eat for the OUTDOORSMAN

I just got off the phone with Aaron Bishop, the owner of MRE Supply. He is a good friend and has an excellent eye for quality products and is a very innovative web marketer. His new MREs are one of those products that cross all borders in their potential use. Sportsmen can use them when camping, hunting or fishing. Backpackers can take them on short day hikes or extended overnighters. Great for family storage and perfect for emergency situations. Lightweight, stackable, packable, and the most convenient thing is that they are all-in-one. Just throw the pack in and you have one full meal that could easily be stretched into two if the situation dictated.

Last, but not least, this is the same product the military uses. So, 'be a man - you maggot' and order some MRE's today - for your foodstorage - for your outdoor trips - for your life.

Starting at just $69.95 for 12 meals thats less than $6 per full healthy meal.

Each meal includes

• 1 Main Entree
• 1 Side Dish
• 1 Dessert
• 1 Crackers
• 1 Jelly Pack
• 1 Spread
• 1 Beverage
• 1 Instant Coffee
• 1 Accessory Pack (Salt / Pepper, Spoon, Napkin Etc.)

Quick Facts

• 5+ year shelf life.
• Compact, light, easy to pack.
• No cooking, heating, water or preparation required.
• Can be eaten hot or cold.
• 1200 - 1300 Calories per meal.
• High energy and good nutrition.
• Fresh off the production line. The shelf life is YOUR shelf life!

MRE Supply, Meals Ready to Eat

More viewers for the cable show

Hi, guys we picked up 100,000 more viewers in Mississippi. Jackson and part of Harrison county. Air time will be 11a.m on Sundays.Thanks for your support

John Church High Country TV

Jake Nichols, Filming @ Pine Meadows Elk, Kings Desert Shadow Camo

12% Discount on 2009 Northern Utah Elk & Mule Deer Hunts

Notice:
We have an inside track on a Mule Deer and Elk hunting outfitter in Northern Utah - he hunts premium fair-chase property with trophy animals. He is offering a 12% discount to all OUTDOORSMAN clients for the 2009 fall season.

For more details including hunting outfitter, website, and discount information please contact Jared Nichols at OUTDOORSMAN - jared@outdoorsman.com or call 435 752 2900.

Thank you

The Team @ OUTDOORSMAN.com

www.outdoorsman.com

Jared Nichols, Bull Elk, Kings Desert Shadow Camo

Andrew Shaw Bow Fishing for Carp

Andrew Shaw - OUTDOORSMAN.com Pro Staff with his 'World Record' Bowfishing Carp

Another 4 million viewers in Florida for High Country TV

OK, guys we got vision TV network out of Palm Beach FL, 4 to 6 million house-holds of hunting and fishing sportsmen on their satellite and local TV station it will take me a couple of weeks to get us up and running - I will keep you updated.
Thanks for your support.

John Church
High Country TV

A nice comment on S&J Outfitters out of the Midwest

Tracy,

I just wanted to drop you a note thanking you for setting up my two friends and I with the Nebraska turkey hunt.

The country is beautiful and there are more turkeys there than I've seen anywhere in my hunting travels. The turkey hunting guides, which quickly became friends, are knowledgeable about their areas and the birds habits. The accommodations were great! And the friendliest people anywhere live in that area! (My arm is still sore from waving!) Anyhow, thanks again. Two of us completed our Grand Slams!
This was the first time I'd used a hunting outfitter (always booked the hunts direct) but it won't be the last. You'll be seeing me again!

Anxiously awaiting your South Dakota report,

Richard Allen

Bakers Narrows Lodge - Filming For TV Show

This is from Bakers Narrows Lodge out of Manitoba Canada:

In your newsletter we received today, you mentioned that you were interested in doing some shows with the lodges that are a part of Outdoorsman. We have a premier Fishing Lodge, and a neighbor who does great Bear hunts. If you would like to shoot a show featuring both fishing and hunting, we would be glad to accommodate you. We are in Northern Manitoba, Canada, beautiful Canadian Shield country. Our lake is famous for its Lake Trout Fishing, with the Manitoba record having been caught here in July 2007 – a whopping 64 lb monster. The lake has lots of great Northern Pike and Walleye fishing as well, with more Master Angler awards being caught by our guests every year. I have attached a shot of the huge Laker, as well as a brochure on our lodge and amenities. You might want to look at our website – www.bakersnarrowslodge.com

Thanks for your attention. We look forward to hearing from you further.

Warm regards,

Peg Baynton

Outfitters - this may be of some interest

Outfitters: Below is some information that may be helpful to you in booking hunts or fishing trips in '09. Contact Andrew Shaw if you have any questions 435 752 7000 or andrew@outdoorsman.com

Name: Marv Fremerman

Email: marv@outdoorwildernessadventures.com

Phone: 1-866-228-6116

Details:

If you would like to provide all of your fishing charters and hunting outfitters with a free listing in the American Outdoorsman Television and Radio Shows' AO ADVENTURE CLUB, all they have to do is contact Krystal toll-free at 1-877-531-3111 or e-mail her at krystald@theamericanoutdoorsman.com -- They will pay no booking agency fee but will be required to offer club members discounted trips. The American Outdoorsman reaches an estimated audience of 85 million viewers and listeners every week. Have them tell Krystal they were recommended by Outdoor Wilderness Adventures.

Good Hunting & Fishing!

Marv Fremerman
www.outdoorwildernessadventures.com
669 West LaSalle Street
Springfield, Missouri 65807
1-866-228-6116

Andrew Shaw Pro-Staff - Cat Fish April 2009

Andrew Shaw - OUTDOORSMAN.com - Pro Staff

Two nice channel cats.

Andrew Shaw - 11 lb Channel Cat Fish

Andrew Shaw - 11 lb catfish on the left and 9 lb cat on the right

High Country TV Cable Show update

HERE'S SOME INFO ON ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR CHANNELS WHERE THE OUTDOORSMAN HUNTING DIRECTORY WILL BE FEATURED ON THE THE NEW HUNTING OUTFITTERS AND FISHING CHARTERS NETWORKS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND EASTERN TENNESSEE. WE WILL BE ON ASHE COUNTY CABLE CHANNEL 15, CHARTER CABLE 13, WATAUGA, AVERY, JOHNSON COUNTY. CHARTER CABLE 18 IN EASTERN TENNESSEE AND CHANNEL 24 AND CHANNEL 49. THANKS JOHN CHURCH HIGH COUNTRY TV

OUTDOORSMAN has teamed up with High Country TV and John Church

High Country TV, The Outdoor Show with that Old-Western Flavor, has been producing quality hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure programs for The Cable Networks since its inception in 2003. Over half of our shows are filmed on horseback in some of the most remote and pristine wilderness areas found in the Colorado Rockies. All this and a unique western theme has made High Country TV one of Cables most popular weekly programs.


The host of High Country TV, John Church, has been nominated for several awards including Sportsman of the Year. This is a true testament to Johns dedication to bringing viewers the best in outdoor adventure.

John has offered to all the outfitters on OUTDOORSMAN.com a chance to have him visit, film and produce a show about their operation. The production will be featured in 27 million households and show for a minimum of 2 full episodes. The outfitter also receives master copies of the DVD to be used in their Media kits and at sportshows.

John is currently looking for content for spring shows to be filmed this year in the Southern States - primarily Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana.

If interested please contact John Church at highcountrytv@att.net or Jared Nichols at jared@outdoorsman.com.

The host: John Church with a Southern Gobbler

White Eagle Productions, producers of High Country TV, invites you to climb into the saddle and become a part of the High Country experience each week.

SJ Outfitters - Tracy Laws - Wisconsin Deer Hunting News

Notes from Tracy Laws on from Wisconsin Deer Hunting:

http://www.outdoorsman.com/outfitter/S_J_Outfitters_Unlimited/

Hunters that have wanted to go to Wisconsin for the chance to harvest a buck of a lifetime have had second thoughts because of the states earn a buck policy. Paying a hunting fee is becoming harder for the average person and those that are able to afford the hunt have been haunted by the fact that they had to harvest a doe before hunting that trophy buck.

News Flash “BUCKS COME FIRST!”
Great news! For the 2009 season, Wisconsin is allowing hunters to come and hunt for mature bucks only. This is a great opportunity for you to get on board with us and take advantage of a full week of all inclusive hunting. They have some of the best hunting in the entire state and guides that know what it takes to keep you coming back year after year.


Scott is the owner of the operation and has hunted whitetails in many different states in the last twenty years and has applied his many years of knowledge and experience to his business. Because of this, they continue to be one of the most successful operations in the area. Hard work, persistence and patience are the keys to success, so wait no longer, give us a call and book your hunt of a lifetime.

http://www.outdoorsman.com/outfitter/S_J_Outfitters_Unlimited/

For more pictures and information contact Tracy Laws at 336-240-1244/336-752-4038

Thomas Jefferson Quotes

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

Thomas Jefferson Quotes:
When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.


The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.


It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.


I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.


My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.


No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.


The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.


The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.


To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

True Reagan-isms

'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.' - Ronald Reagan

'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Ronald Reagan

'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' Ronald Reagan

'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.'
- Ronald Reagan

'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.' - Ronald Reagan

'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.'
- Ronald Reagan

'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.'
- Ronald Reagan

'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.' - Ronald Reagan

'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.' - Ronald Reagan

'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.' Ronald Reagan

'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.'
- Ronald Reagan

Lake Bonneville Bison Ranch - Bison Hunting Video and Pictures from 2008

Mark Nichols - Bison Hunt

Jackson Nichols - Bison Hunt

L to R Ryan Nichols, Jackson Nichols, Dillon, Wes Wright, Jared Nichols, Jack the Dog - Bison Hunt
(Kings Desert Shadow Camo)

Greg Henderson, bow hunter, and, alot of fun. - Bison Hunt

Mark Nichols, Rod Nichols, Justin Nichols - Bison Hunt

Ryan Nichols, OUTDOORSMAN.com - Bison Hunt

Lambert Dutson, owner Lake Bonneville Bison Ranch. Best guy you will meet.

Pine Meadows Elk Ranch - Photo Journal November 08

Jared & Jackson Nichols - Prairie Idaho - Pine Meadows Elk Ranch

The outfitter tent at Pine Meadows Elk Ranch

Walt Sturgis in the processing barn at Pine Meadows Elk Ranch

Walt Sturgis and the boys at Pine Meadows Elk Ranch

kept us warm all night and we cooked our breakfast on it the next morning

Can't think of a cleaner more efficient outfitter operation. Max Nichols, Jared Nichols, Jake Nichols and Jackson Nichols outside the outfitter tent at Pine Meadows Elk Ranch.

Journal. Wade Cornia Muzzleloader Spike Bull Elk Hunt Oct 30 2008

Journal of a Muzzleloader Spike Bull Elk hunt with Wade Cornia. October 30 2008

6:30 am. Hot chocolate

7:00 am. Grant, Chad, & Wade discuss the spike they have spotted and put together a game plan.

7:45 am. Josh giving directions.

10:30 am. Wade and I break off from the group and decide to hunt a different area. We split up and I push above him in the trees while he works below me. I make it back to the ATVs before he does.


1:30 pm. Little warm soup while I wait for Wade to get back to the bikes. I hear the 'whack' before the report of his muzzleloader. By the sound of it - whatever he shot it is hit good. I finish my soup and then go looking for him and presumably a dead elk. Throw in some extra water and granola bars for Wade. It is going to be a while before we get back to the bikes.

2:30 pm. It is thick in here. We look for blood and can find none. There must have been 10 - 15 elk when he jumped them. Fortunately the spike gave him about a 4 second window to shoot after he used his cow call. When we find him he is almost impossible to see in the deadfall. 25 yards from where he was shot.

Picture time. Any Bull Elk is a trophy.

5:30 pm. This one did not end here. We cleaned him out and decided to take him downhill to the closest road. Should have quartered him and taken back up to the ATV. With all the deadfall we need reinforcements. After further discussion with Josh and Grant we decide they will all 5 go in tommorrow morning and bring him out. I wish them luck and get off the mountain. It is My Dads birthday and I want to celebrate with him and the family. This is one time I'm glad it's not my elk on the ground.

If you are over 30 you will love this. Thanks Lisa

My sweet sister sent this one in. Another great email that gets the endless forward. Who has the time to put this stuff together? Thanks Lisa. If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!! When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning. Uphill... barefoot...BOTH ways Yadda, yadda, yadda And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to layA bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of Thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it! I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, We had to go to the library and Look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!! There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter, with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there! There were no MP3' s or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you Were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it! And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, Your mom, your boss, your bookie, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister! We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video Games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games Like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your Imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or Screens, it was just one screen Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE! You had to use a Little book called a TV Guide to find out what was On! You were screwed when it Came to channel surfing! You had to get off Your butt and walk over to the TV to change the Channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons On Saturday Morning. Do you Hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK For cartoons, you spoiled Little rat-bastards! And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat Something up we had to use the stove ... Imagine that! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980-1970-1960-1950-1940- I'm stopping there, ain't that old! Regards, The over 30 Crowd

Newt tasks a reporter that tries to discredit Palin

Journal Oct 2008 Bull Elk Hunt - Max Nichols

Max Nichols the day we left for our hunting trip to Canyon Creek Outfitters
(Kings Desert Shadow Camo)

Yep, it was only 15 degrees that morning. Welcome to October hunting in Idaho

Max and Jared Nichols on Idaho Bull Elk Hunt with Canyon Creek Outfitters
(Kings Desert Shadow Camo)

My sweet mom, Teri Nichols, on the porch of her cabin in Grace, Idaho

Journal 2008 Jared's Idaho Elk Hunt October 15 & 16 - Jared Nichols

Max Nichols, Southeast Idaho trophy bull elk hunt 2008

Journal - Jared Nichols Idaho Trophy Bull Elk Hunt unit
Monday 10.13.08
9:50pm
It's Monday night - the hunt doesn't start until Wednesday morning. Dad calls, I have fallen asleep on the couch watching Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers give up a nice lead and lose game 4 to the Phillies, he says we are ready to go in the morning. I tell him I need to go to Jacks last flag football game in Logan tommorrow night and then I will travel the 100+ miles to our camp and meet him after dark.

Tuesday 10.14.08
5:38 am wake up. William, our 2 year old, has come into the room crying - he is afraid the green monster is after him - 'climb over me buddy and get between us' - mom and dad will take care of you. No use going back to bed now, I have to meet Dad in Preston w the trailer by 7:45a.

7am dad calls me as I'm pulling out he says if I am not feeling good I can just wait until tonight to come meet him. I figure I am going to work today no matter how I feel so I will meet him regardless.

8am
meet and deliver the trailer with all our atvs and gear for the next few days. It is going to be cold. It was 5 degrees on Monday morning when Jake and I took Jackson hunting spike bulls on the utah hunt - no luck.

9am
Back to work in Logan. I am happy. The stock market has moved up for the second day in a row (not saying much for how far it has dropped recently). Yesterday it had the biggest upward movement since 1933. Conversely, the week before, it had the the biggest percentage drop since 1933.

5pm
Go to Jacks game. Sit with Mel. I love her. Last hunt I told her she had overdone it on the food and next time I would just like canned soup. I really didn't mean it but she took it to heart and just smiled at me and said 'you are on your own this trip'. Usually she doesn't listen to me. Why does it have to be this time?

6:30p
stop by the office and get the last of things. Drive north.

7:45p
Arrive at mom and dads. Of course Mom is there and we have a nice visit. She gets me some cold medicine and Dads pillow and kicks me out of there. I still have an hours worth of driving and she knows how Dad gets when your not on time especially in the mountains.

8:39p
get to camp. Dad can hardly contain the excitement. He thinks tomorrow morning there will be elk on the ground. He saw 6 bulls tonight and one was a monster. We talk about our plans for an hour. Heat up some water and I make us some hot cocoa.

10p
We get our gear ready for tomorrow. 'Yes Dad, it's a Kings camo day tomorrow. Yes they sponsored us. No you can't wear that other companies camo w your Kings I need you to match. Yes you can wear it to bed'.

10:55p
Dad is asleep. The blackpine sleeping bag is doing its job again. I go throgh my pack one more time. Brush my teeth. Pray for my family and thank the good Lord for freedom and the chance to be here in this warm sleeping bag with a cold face listening to the steady breathing of my dad and best friend. Looking forward to tomorrows elk hunt

Wednesday 10.15.08
5:10a
Cold. Just the enclosed trailer, our black pine sleeping bags. No heater, 15 degrees and us. Why do we do this? Because they are elk. We talk back and forth for 20 minutes until nature forces us out of bed. I turn on mr heater buddy to knock the chill. It works.

6:30a
On the ATVs. Let's go. Starting to get light

Bulls and Cows all morning long. This is an awesome canyon. The other hunters in the area have really been pushing the animals around. They were smaller and I didn't want to shoot too quick on opening day.

11a
Meet back up with Dad ad we return to camp for a late breakfast. He brought the eggs and bacon. We lounge around camp and go for a ride to look over the area. This is really beautiful and seems to be perfect elk country. Too bad its all private.

3:30p
Back on the ATVs and out to our hunting area. Not much happens for the rest of the night. We see two cows and a doe and fawn.

7p
Decide to pack up camp and go stay at Dads house tonight. Jake is coming in and we figure we will all ride out together in the morning. We call Mom on our way home and she says she will get dinner ready for us.

11p
Take a shower. Go to bed.


Thursday 10.16.08
5:30 am
Early morning. Warm last night. Sweet mom is mad at me for sleeping on the floor in my sleeping bag. I didn't want to mess up that pretty bed she had made up. She has homemade toast and juice ready for us. Jake's here. There's not much conversation this early in the morning.

6:10 a
On the ride to our area I take out the camera and show Jake the elk from yesterdays hunt. I probably should have shot that big bull first thing yesterday. We are cruising now. This is the only time dad gets excited enough to drive fast.

8:00a
Sun hits the top of the mountain briefly. The wind kicks up. The sun disappears. Temp drops 20 degrees. Jake and I are both getting chilled. He wants to go for a walk and push the pines for me. I don't object. He takes off. I try building a fire with the waterproof matches. Wouldn't you know it they are waterproof - strikeproof - and fireproof!!! To heck with these coughlans I grab the bic lighter wrapped in duct tape . My survival lighter. It fires right up.

8:51a
It is really snowing now. Thank goodness for blizzard caps, if not for them the Burris would be filled up and fogged up right now. It is hard to type on a Treo in this kind of weather. Fingers frozen.

9:45a
4 cows come out in the top of the meadow 400 yards away. Jake must be coming down that side. Last time I saw him he was on the top of the mountain. I lay down to get a dead rest in case there is a bull w the cows and my line of site changes. The cows go behind a knoll by the time I stand up they are gone. I'm kicking myself.

10:30a
I'm bored looking off into the sagebrush flat wondering how many elk have slipped past me today. Look back into the canyon and think to myself 'that is a nice looking bull'. 'What?' I try to get the camera on but its not cooperating. The bull is not rushed but he is moving through the clearing. Forget the camera, I'm running out of time. Lay down take a dead rest. What am I doing with these gloves on? Apparently not shooting this elk. Gloves off. He's still moving. First shot from the 7 mag hits him. He tries to run but its labored. 2nd shot too quick. 3rd shot humps him up. He's stopped. I'm not letting him get away. He's almost in the trees. I need to finish him as long as he's still up. 4th shot feels good. I can't see him any more. He's hit hard. Dad and Jake are both within 500 yards - they are going to be pumped after hearing the shots. Yep. Dads ATV has started up and Jake just showed up in the top of the canyon.

11:15
Walking up to a dead animal is always a humbling experience. You've taken something you absolutely cannot give back. I'm so greatful for the experience. Dead elk. Dad. Brothers. What could be better? Picture time. Make sure we are all in our kings camo. The work starts. Skin it quarter it. Cut off the head. Backstraps. Loins. This is a lot of work but nice to be sharing it with those who appreciate the magnitude. The only regret - not enough time to get the camera going and no footage. Pictures will have to do.

1:00p
Strap the quarters on the back of the ATV and the head to the front rack.

1:30p
Stop and re-live the events with Dad and Jake. Always have to talk about it 2 or 3 times - heck you wait 365 days for this you need to savor it when you have success.

3:00p stop at the EZ-way and spray off the atvs. Full of mud. Head home to Mom and Dads. Mom called and said she has steak and salad waiting for us. Always concerned. Always a sweetheart.

4:35p
Thanks Dad. Thanks Jake. Love you guys. Gotta go. Mel said if I hurry home I can go with her and the kids to the corn maze. I better take the head with me so I can show it off to the kids.

Stalder's 2008 Montana Bear Hunt

This hunt was a bear hunt in the state of Montana. This is my journal entries from the hunt. I was hunting with my long time friend Brian Allen. He operates an electrical company here in Arizona. We were hunting with Rick Wemple Outfitting. This was my first ever guided hunt and I was ready to go.

10/1/08

6:00 PM: It's go time! 18 hours to Montana. After several trips back and forth from Brian's house to shop we are off. No sleep needed just Gatorade, sunflower seeds, and Doritos. Crank up the radio and lets roll!!!!

10/2/08

6:30 AM: Drove all night long. Brian and I cramped into my Toyota Tacoma (AKA the Princess truck) and we didn't get a lick of sleep. We saw a ton of deer driving through southern Utah. The Princess truck almost got a redneck hood ornament. Four point of course. We are here in Salt Lake City at the Cracker Barrel. They have just what is needed for the next 8 hours of fun filled drive time. I need caffeine!

8:30 AM: Meeting Jared to grab some rain gear and the video camera. After hooking us up with some new hats he hooked us up with a full tank of gas. Luckily it was my turn to fill up so I didn't argue at all. I've been awake for 28 hours straight now. I think I see flying objects (is that a good or bad thing?)

3:00 PM: Idaho! We are getting close. We stopped at Salmon Idaho for a quick bite to eat. Note to self NO MORE DRIVE THROUGH BURGERS!!! I will be paying for this later. The trees are changing colors here and the river is running right next to the road. This is a huge jump from the cactus and sticker bushes of Arizona. I think I could learn to love this place. But on to Montana!

6:00 PM: Montana, we meet at last. Now for a quick unload of the gear and we are off to check our rifles. Rick our outfitter and guide told us a great spot to sight in the guns. The motel we will call home for the next 5 days looks nice. More deer spotted on the way into Montana this evening. I can't wait till the morning.

9:30 PM: All my gear is out and ready to go. For this hunt I will be wearing my Kings Desert Shadow Camo. I will carry all my gear with King's Core Hunter day pack. I took this pack out in Arizona and it worked great. Now is time to see how it does in the back country of Montana. I'm not sure how much sleep I will be getting tonight, but I hope morning comes fast.

10/3/08

6:00 AM: Day 1 of the hunt. It is finally here! I was up at 5:30 ready to go. Actually with the train wreck Brian calls snoring ALL NIGHT, I was surprised I slept at all. Note to self, EAR PLUGS are needed! Rick said he would be here at 6:30 to pick us up. He told me his hunters he was with the last few day missed a bear. Then he got them in on it again and they didn't shoot because they were playing with there gear. Hopefully I can put the El Whappo on one today.

7:00 AM: We just arrived at the orchards Rick has been telling us about. In the 40's some settlers of this area came up on this mountain and started planting apple trees all over. Now they grow wild everywhere and the bears love them. The hike in is about a quarter a mile up. It looks like Rick likes to get there quick. He hasn't stopped walking since he got out of the truck. This guy is a mountain goat.

7:30 AM: We just walked up on some whitetail deer. These whitetail are a lot bigger than our Arizona Couse deer. There are apples all over the place.

10:00 AM: There is bear sign everywhere. I can see were the bear have climbed into the trees for the apples. It looks like they sit at the top of the trees and eat apples up in the trees all day. Rick really knows the area well.

4:00 PM: Haven't seen a bear yet. Rick told me about a trail he wanted me to walk down. I think I took the wrong trail. The 1 mile loop has turned into 8 miles. I have been walking for a several hours and it looks like it is making a big circle back to were I started. My feet are jacked up! I have got to get new boots. Mole skin is calling my name.

7:30 PM: We gave it a great run today. We didn't see anything yet. Rick feeds us at a local restaurant next to our motel. The food is awesome. After a quick stop at the store for some ear plugs and some mole skin it is off to bed for me.

10/4/08

6:30 AM: Missed alarm clock this morning. Ear plugs work great! It rained last night. Extra mole skin is going to be needed.

7:30 AM: Back in the orchard today. The plan today is to work our way really slow up the hill and hope to see a bear finishing his breakfast after the storm all night. There is a ton of new sign. The bears are definitely in the area.

12:00 Noon: We have been in on a lot of whitetail deer today again. Brian and I walked up and around the orchard this morning. Brian is a lot of fun to hunt with. Every time we sit to glass he doses off. I get to whack him with a big stick to wake him up. Kind of hard to see any bear when every few minutes you hear sticks breaking over someone.

4:30 PM: We didn't get in on any bear today. Brian and I decided to go to a local church service this evening. I think we just needed a break for our blisters. Wet feet, bad boots, and Montana mountains don't mix well. Rick is working like crazy to get us on some bear. Today he walked through the thickest stream bed I have ever seen, just after it rained, to try to jump some bear to us. When he came out on the other side he looked like a half drowned alley cat. It was great.

10/5/08

6:30 AM: Rick had to wait on us again this morning. Those donuts are just to hard to walk past in the morning. Brian and I are trying to get him to show us some of Montana's deer country today. The weather looks like it is going to rain all day so we thought is would be a great day to drive up north. In other words our feet still hurt.

9:30 AM: There are deer all over these mountains. Rick knows every draw and hill out here. He knows were the deer are before we even get there. It looks like it is going to snow on us today.

11:00 AM: SNOW!!!! What is this. This Arizona boy is confused. I have made Rick stop about 20 times for filming. I recommended several times to Rick that we put the snow chains on, but he told me he likes to at least wait until the snow starts to stick to the ground before he gets them out. I questioned his sanity but he assured me we would get through it.

4:00 PM: More deer. I just saw a beautiful 3 1/2 year old buck. He was sitting right next to the road just relaxing. This would never happen in Arizona. Rick is telling us about the huge predator problem Montana's deer and elk are having. He is really passionate about hunting. He has some great stories to share.

6:30 PM: We just came across some new bear sign. It is at the bottom of a canyon with berries all over the place. It looks like a great spot to set up and glass up the sides for the bear. We just climbed up the side. We don't have very much glassing time left so we are coming back in the morning.

10/6/08

6:30 AM: After filling up on gas we are heading back up the canyon. There is just too much sign to pass up.

9:00 AM: I went up one side of the canyon and Rick and Brian went up the other. This way we can shoot across if anything is moving. These mountains are steep. Sheep country for sure. I hope they push a bear out.

11:00 AM: My wife just called and told me it was time to come home. I guess all my kids are sick and she hasn't slept for the past few nights. I told her one more day and I will come home. Can't make Momma mad. I am now on the back side of the hill. I lost sight of Brian and Rick a couple of hours ago. This looks really nice back here. Lots of sheep and elk sign.

2:30 PM: Sheep spotted! I just glassed up a group of bighorn sheep. There is 16 total. They are only about 300 yards out. I shot some great footage of them. There are two small rams in the group. Nothing huge.

5:00 PM: On the way out of the canyon I glassed up a nice mule deer buck. He was a perfect 26 inch 4x4. I would say he is about a 165 to 170 class deer. Shot more video. I just met up with Brian back at the truck. He is wore out. Rick is working his way toward us up the creek trying to push something up the side on his way. It is thick in there. I don't know if we will see him again. Still no bear sightings today. Tomorrow is our last day.

10/7/08

7:30 AM: We decided to go back to the orchards one last time. Last day of the hunt. It is go time. We started working our way up the ridge just like always. We are going to do a quick pass through and then head up north to another orchard.

8:00 AM: Rick spotted a bear!!!! I had to run a half mile up the hill to catch up to him though. By the time we got there we couldn't find him. We started down the last draw we saw him in and worked real slow with the wind in our face.

8:30 AM: I spotted the bear. He is 120 yards below us working through the trees. I whistled at Rick to get his attention. The only problem was I got the Bear's attention also. The bear spotted us and started heading down the draw. I didn't have time to find a rest so I knelt down below the trees and let some led fly. I did the El Whappo on the bear. I hit him right behind the shoulder. Then he turned on the after burners. After about 25 yards he piled up. I was jumping up and down like a school kid that got out on summer break and extra month early. My first bear, on my first guided hunt with my great friend Brian and my new good friend Rick. As soon as we got to the bear the rain started again. It is going to be a cold hike out. Boy was it worth it!

10:00 AM: After an attempt at pictures we all grabbed a side and started up the hill. It took us awhile but we made it. I don't know who was more happy Rick or myself. My bear was down, and at the truck. This is were the guided hunt part really pays off. Rick sent Brian and I back down the hill to hunt for Brian a bear, while he took care of the dirty job. I could get used to this. Ever since I was old enough to hold a knife, I have been gutting and skinning animals with my Dad. I think even he would appreciate this.

3:00 Pm: The rain never stopped. We met Rick at the bottom of the hill and he brought the truck down to us. We were done. We didn't get Brian a bear but we still had a blast.

Now for the pack up and drive home. We need to stop off in Utah to show the bear off a little but most of all to thank my great friend Jared Nichols. Without Jared, Brian and I would never been able to be here. Thanks Jared. I also want to thank Rick Wemple Outfitting. Rick will do whatever it takes to get you on the game you want. He also has elk, deer, moose, goat, sheep, antelope, lion and other big game hunts available. To contact Rick go to outdoorsman.com and click on the outfitter link. You won't regret it.

On this hunt I used the Kings Camo Desert Shadow. The fleece jacket that I used made the rainy days easy to hunt in. Not only did it keep me warm, but pretty dry also. The camo blended in great. Even though it was the Desert Shadow and not the Mountain camo I was still able to blend perfect. I had deer walking right up to me withing yards and never saw me. It really made me a believer of quality camo. The rain gear made the heavy rains feel like a walk in the park.

My backpack, the Core Hunter by King's, made my life easy. I carried a full pack the entire trip. The Core Hunter is one of the most comfortable packs I have ever used. My guide was also really impressed with it. A good pack makes all the difference in a great hunt and fun hunt to a miserable hunt. I was walking up, or crawling up, some of the steepest mountains I have been on. The pack hugged to me, was balanced great, and didn't make me sweat like a stuck pig. I can't say enough about the pack.

I can't wait until my next hunt with Rick Wemple Outfitting. They made the entire trip fun and comfortable. I have heard horror stories about hunters going out with guides and life being miserable for 5 days. I can honestly say I would recommend Rick Wemple Outfitting to any hunter for any Montana big game. Thanks again Rick.

Chris Stalder Fall 2008 Black Bear Hunt with Rick Wemple Outfitting in Montana

Monday October 6 2008
11:30a
Spoke with Stalder today. He was watching a big canyon that Rick was pushing to try to move some black bears around. They have been hunting since Thursday the 2nd and have yet to see anything. Chris's personality is such that he understands hunting and recognizes that it is not always 'go out and you shoot something'. He said that he and Brian are having a good time and that Rick is working very hard for them. That is Ricks style. Go, Go, Go.

Tuesday October 7 2008
8:57a
Stalder just called me and screamed into the phone "I shot one, Baby!". They found them down in the orchards and both he and Rick put the sneak on it. I am excited to see the pictures and have Chris tell me his story when we meet later tonight as he passes through Utah on his way home to Arizona.