We had cancellations in our spring bear hunt so bowhunter Neil Scheuneman was our only spring bear client this year. We are not allowed to run bear with dogs or bait them, so our only two alternatives are to spot and stalk or to use tree stands in areas we know they frequent. Neil was in a treestand when he took his bear in a remote small meadow. The bear walked out of the timber directly to Neil’s treestand and turned broadside at 20 yards. The bear nose to tail was 6' 6" and easily over 300 pounds.

Bob Robb was here the last week of August for the beginning of our archery season. He had decided he wanted to do an article on urban Blacktails. Due to our expanding human population, Blacktails are starting to act just like eastern Whitetails that are living in close proximity to the urban neighborhoods. The buck grossed 133 easily qualifying for Pope & Young. Look for articles in the future about this hunt.

Also new in 2005 we decided to ad a young man to our guide staff. I have been contacted by many young men looking for a job guiding and I have never really wanted to take on that much extra work and responsibility. But Sam was very persistant. He came to our house for a job interview, I was impressed with his knowledge and his lack of 17 year old hunter ego. He is a hard working young man with a lot to learn but also with a lot of potential. Here are pictures of his rifle elk kill, rifle blacktail, SCI score 147 and a black bear he took with his bow this fall. All on public ground, not bad.

Check out our 2005 photos below. Click on picture for more details