To be honest, I was beginning to sweat a little. The chances of getting a bobcat treed for Colter Kaspar were decreasing as the heat began to climb. J. Martin Bassinger had been trotting his hounds for most of the morning without once getting his hounds to so much as wag their tails as if they smelled something that they liked. We called it quits around noon and commenced to make plans for the evening’s hunt. To increase our chances of getting the hounds on a fresh track, I decided to send Steve and Brian with the Compucaller III in one direction and I would go another with my Mini Blaster. If either party called a cat, they were instructed to radio J. Martin and he would bring the hounds.
I left the house around 6:00 p.m. and drove to a deer blind that straddled the intersection of several senderos. I climbed the short ladder that lead to an open porch on the same level as the blind. I decided to call from the shady porch rather than deal with the heat that was no doubt locked inside the enclosed plywood structure.
Shortly after the second series, I poked my head around the blind to see a large bobcat loping across an opening in route to my artificial rabbit. I ducked behind the blind and jerked the radio from my pocket, “I’ve got a bobcat”. After a period, with no response, again I said “I’ve got a bobcat!” This time, J. Martin came back, “Gary, did you say you had a cat?” Again I responded, “Yes, I’ve got a cat” and turned off the radio.
The wind was blowing from the cat to me and I hoped that I did not alarm him. I went back to the Mini Blaster, in an attempt to keep the cat entertained until the other hunters could get there with the dogs. I cupped my hands over the end of the call and bit down on the reed in an attempt to make a higher-pitched sound with less volume. Staring into the brush where the cat had disappeared, I saw shine from the back of a critter moving through the purple sage to me.
Once the cat hit the edge of the brush, he laid down on his belly, studying the situation. I went back to the Mini Blaster and the cat rose, advanced in a sneaking fashion. The tom seemed to have settled down and would look up at me from time to time but did not recognize me as any threat. He walked within 10 yards and lay down in the deep shade of a bush on the edge of the sendero. Rather than risk calling to the cat, I decided to let him lay there for the longer he lay there the fresher the track would be when J. Martin arrived with the Calvary.
When the hunters arrived, I was pointing at the bobcat lying across the sendero. Dennis, Colter’s Dad saw the cat as it rose and trotted away. J. Martin dumped the hounds in the 90 degree heat and the race was on. Long story short, we ran the cat for two hours and 18 minutes in the thickest jungle I have ever seen before the dogs ran up the white flag. Cat 1, dogs 0.
It was a calm 49 degrees the next morning…the coolest I have ever seen it in Duval County in May. Though the conditions were ideal for this time of year, J. Martin and I were nervous as we did not know how well the dogs would hunt after the ordeal they endured less than twelve hours earlier. Taking a wet towel, J. Martin cleaned the dogs eyes that were matted shut from the irritation of all the weeds and brush slapping them in the face.
After trotting the dogs about a mile, they seemed to limber up and hunt. Judge was in front of most of the hounds when J. Martin noticed him batting his tail indicating that he had a whiff of something that he liked. Several of the other dogs sensed his excitement and bailed into the brush where he had disappeared. They dogs trailed for a few minutes before jumping the cat and race #2 was underway.
Forty-six minutes later, a mature female could not stand the heat any longer and found the temporary safety of a mesquite. Young Colter stepped up with his Bowtech bow and sent an expandable broadhead through the cat’s shoulders ending a tough hunt. The dog work and Colter’s shot could not have been better.
See you Outdoors,
Gary Roberson
Last Sunday I drove to Tilden, Texas to meet up with hunting buddies, Brian Hawkins and J. Martin Bassinger. Since we were going on a bobcat hunt with hounds, J. Martin brought eight of his hounds. The plan was to meet up at Wheeler’s Store and then drive to the ranch near Freer.
Shortly after arriving at Wheeler’s, three other pickups loaded with cat hounds drove up assuring me that we were indeed in “Dog Town” which Tilden was originally named over a hundred years ago. Clifton Lyles from Freer, Mike Rooke from Woodsboro met Hensley Weaver at the store. If my counting was correct, there were 30 cat hounds on the parking lot at one time. Our hunting party drove south while the other three hunters headed north.
Our plans were to begin hunting the next morning about daylight but were greeted by rain, thunder and lightning at 5:00 a.m. We caught a little break about 8:30 a.m. and struck a cat. The dogs trailed north for a piece and jumped. After a ten minute race, the bobcat crossed a deer proof perimeter fence. The next morning, we jumped one more cat with the same results putting him through the high fence going west.
The rains seriously began to fall and we returned to the lodge. After checking the radar, I realized that we simply were not going to be able to hunt for the remainder of the day. We loaded our gear and returned to the house without getting the footage that we wanted.
See you outdoors,
Gary Roberson
2010 is one of the most beautiful springs that I can remember. It seems that when we have needed a rain, we have been blessed with one. Wildflowers are blooming and trees and brush are putting on new vegetation. Wildlife and livestock are in excellent body condition and should raise a bumper crop of young ones.
I drove to Terrell County last weekend to put out mineral for the deer. Terrell County and most of the Edwards Plateau is deficient in Phosphorus and Ph is most important for bone and antler growth. I do not worry much about protein as most of the browse on the ranch is high in protein. I began this practice to improve deer hunting over 10 years ago and have seen the average gross B&C score improve by over 10 inches.
See you outdoors,
Gary Roberson
Last Friday, I loaded my 10 year old bluetick hound named Betty and 8 month old Rip (Grandmother and Grandson) and drove to my folks ranch. Along the way, I picked up my nephew, Nathan in San Antonio and then stopped and visited with Windy Miller south of San Antonio. Our plan was to drive to Floresville and pick up Rip’s sister from Robert and Melanie Hittson as her front feet are too flat to be a show dog. (The Hittsons have shown the World Champion on many occasions). We had a good visit with the Hittsons as always and enjoyed looking at all the bluetick hounds. After loading the gyp and showing Rip off, we proceeded to Devine to meet up with Windy and Rick Stewart who wanted to tag along.
We dumped the dogs south of an old stock tank and proceeded to trot them down a pasture road. After going a quarter of a mile, Betty struck. I got out and found that she had taken the back track and told the guys she would turn it around. Though it was only his third time out, Rip was staying with his Grandmother. In a few minutes, Betty realized that she was going in reverse and came back across the road. She open on the other side and Rip went to her, giving mouth as well.
The coon was a tough one, as she was one that would not really run, rather preferred to squat and ease along. Finally, after trailing for nearly a mile, Betty treed and had the coon. Along the way, Rip had picked up the trail when the coon was dodging.
The second track was much better. They jumped the coon and had him running in a matter of minutes and both dogs were doing a great job. The dogs treed along Black Creek in a big oak tree and had the coon. We struck another track but were unable to put an end to it as Betty trailed into a herd of cattle.
I have not predator hunted on the ranch at Devine in almost 30 years. It brought back a lot of memories, listening to the hounds trailing through the sandy, mesquite and live oak country. The coons still run and the brush is still as thick as it ever was.
See you outdoors,
Gary Roberson
Last Sunday morning we met J. Martin Bassinger at his house near Polar, Texas. He already had his hounds collared with Tritronics training collars and Garmin tracking collars. We drove onto a ranch near Lake Allen Henry and cast the dogs. After roading the dogs (driving the pasture roads while the dogs follow looking for the trail of a bobcat) for about two miles, one of the older hounds started wagging his tail as if he smelled something he liked. The other dogs sensed that a bobcat had been in the area and they got busy looking for it.
Most of the dogs crossed the road going west, toward Lake Allen Henry. In a few minutes, I heard the dogs running north along the lake shore. In a matter of minutes, the dogs were out of hearing. J. Martin pulled out his Garmin hand-held screen and we could see that the dogs had changed course and were treeing 672 yards away.
When we arrived at the tree, we found a bobcat in a snag almost over the water. When we walked out on the bluff over the lake, the female feline was at eye level. With two high definition video cameras rolling, we captured the best video that I have ever seen.
After shooting the bobcat, Dustin Whitacre with Mossy Oak bailed off the bluff to retrieve the kitty that was getting mauled by nine excited hounds. Dustin snatched up the bobcat and was holding it above the bouncing canines. It was about that time that two of the dogs bumped him into the lake. Dustin said that it was a little cool as it was 30 degrees.
See you outdoors,
Gary Roberson
I purchased my first and last deer rifle when I was thirteen years old, a Savage Model 110 left-hand in .270 Winchester. I cannot tell you how many deer I have killed with “Old Nasty” but the total would no doubt be in the hundreds.
This last spring, I had the honor to work with Savage Arms at the National Rifle Convention in Phoenix. While I was there to help more with the Predator/Varmint rifles, I found myself straying over to the big game models. I have a new Model 10 Predator Hunter that in my opinion is the perfect rifle for calling coyotes but I could feel an itch for a new deer rifle. A Model 14 had caught my eye and the more I handled it, the more I liked it.
The Model 14 has the features that I feel are important to a deer rifle. The rifle is the proper weight, 7.25 pounds, overall length of 44 inches and a 24″ barrel in the .270 WSM and .300 WSM calibers and it is well balanced. A straight stock helps the rifle to shoulder quickly while reducing felt recoil. The Model 14 features a detachable box magazine, walnut stock with checkering on the forearm and pistol grip and jeweled bolt. The bolt release has been tucked away in front of the trigger guard for added convenience and a more streamlined appearance. In the interest of dressing up all of their new products, Savage has also cleaned up the lug nut that secures the barrel to the receiver. To help achieve the accuracy that Savage is known for, the rifle is pillar bedded and features the ACCUTRIGGER.
The itch finally grew too great. I got in touch with Savage and ordered a Model 14 left-hand in .270 WSM. The reason that I chose the .270 WSM is because I had the opportunity to visit with some of the outdoor writers who carried this caliber to the King Ranch to test on Nilgai cows. Shooting 140 grain Fail Safe ammo, 21 cows were shot in the shoulder and 17 fell in their tracks.
I pulled up Winchester’s new site that gives all of their ammo’s ballistics and the ability to compare various calibers and bullet weights. I pulled up the .270 WSM Ballistic Silvertip 150 grain bullet and found that if the rifle is zeroed at 200 yards, I would be shooting 1.1″ high at 100 and 5.5″ low at 300 yards. The down range energy and excellent ballistics should make the .270 WSM an excellent long range mule deer and elk rifle…a new long ranger.
See you outdoors,
Gary Roberson
Just returned from a hunt with an old buddy, J. Martin Bassinger from Polar, Texas. While J. Martin is a cat hunter with great hounds, he is nice enough to carry me around coyote calling. We hunted near Gail last Friday and the success we had helped me forget about the tough time we had in New Mexico.
Shortly after setting down to make the first call, I heard coyotes barking (socially)about a half mile downwind. I knew that these dogs had me but was hoping something would approach from the west or north. I know that these coyotes got around behind me and later made a visual on one walking back to the truck. That is the bad news, the good news is that this was about the last call I made that day that did not have a coyote or more on it.
I was calling with the COMPUCALLER III and they were loving the Grown Cottontail. I had two different pairs show up on the last call of the day and I killed two of them. The last shot is one that I will replay many times as I killed the dog running at approximately 150 yards. I think that I counted three somersaults before he quit rolling.
We were shooting a pilot for our new TV show, CARNIVORE. It will air on the PURSUIT CHANNEL beginning July, 2011. PURSUIT will be part of all standard packages on Dish and Direct TV which will make it the largest channel carrying hunting and fishing programming.
See you outdoors,
Gary
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Jon LaCorte with Nikon Sport Optics, Joe Betar with Texas Trophy Hunters and my best buddy Brian Hawkins for an Audad/predator hunt. I drove to Marfa and visited with my friend Mike Livingston and then turned south in the direction of Presidio. About 33 miles south of town, I turned west onto the Cibolo Creek Ranch. After driving a couple of miles of dirt roads that fell into a creek bottom, I could see what appeared to be a huge fort. After walking through a gateway, I found a beautiful 5 star resort in the middle of a desert.
Jon and Joe were there to hunt Audads and I was there to call coyotes when we weren’t chasing sheep. I met Robert Cavness, Ranch Manager, who was kind enough to turn me loose to look for predator sign while they pursued audads. Jon killed a really nice ram at 330 yards while using the Nikon BDC reticle that first afternoon. We decided to hunt coyotes the next morning before switching back to the sheep in the afternoon.
The first call produced a coyote from the north that I watched for over half a mile. Sitting on a low gravelly hill, I shifted my shooting sticks to my left. The motion caused a tiny rock to roll that was not detected by anyone other than the coyote standing at 100 yards. He trotted back in the direction from where he came and stopped to have one last look. That is when Jon got in the race. Four shots later, the coyote was growing smaller as he headed to points north. Rumor has it that he was seen running through Marfa around noon that day.
A couple of minutes later, Joe whispered that there were two more dogs farther east but it appeared that they did not want to test our shooting ability. We made three more calls and called three more coyotes, killing two. The next day, we awoke to a light rain that limited us to three calls. The last set produced a gray fox that Jon shot within a minute of the time we sat down.
That afternoon I witnessed Joe Betar killing a Audad at 460 yards. The sheep was shot through both shoulders and fell in his tracks. This shot was made possible by Nikon’s Spot On Accuracy program and the Nikon BDC riflescope that was mounted on his 300 Winchester Magnum.
See You Outdoors!
Gary
I hunted my favorite country in eastern New Mexico last week and while the weather was good, the calling was not. With a full moon and coyotes more interested in breeding than coming to call, that lead to a tough hunt. I feel the primary factor is a low population. I hunted for five days and drove hundreds of miles of ranch roads and found very little sign…you simply can’t call what is not there. We called eight coyotes in five days; we normally call at least 10 per day in this area. I realized that we were going to have a problem the first morning when I heard coyotes howling in mid morning and later in early afternoon. Howling at odd hours is typically exhibited when they are mating. The last morning I witnessed the howling and mating from over half a mile away.
The coyote is a resilient creature and when populations are low, food sources are generally high, resulting in large litters. If conditions are good, which they appear to be this year a coyote will typically raise 6-8 pups. So wait until next year when I will have a chance to get even…heck, I might get ahead.
See you outdoors,
Gary
I purchased my first deer rifle when I was thirteen years old. Being a southpaw and wanting a bolt gun, my options were somewhat limited. Savage Arms was making the Model 110 in a left-handed model and Remington was beginning to build a few as well. After comparing the two rifles and pricing, I chose the Savage in .270 caliber. Over the last 40+ years, “Old Nasty” has served me well. I have no idea how many deer, whitetail and mule deer have fallen to this sweet shooting rifle, but no doubt in the hundreds.
While working the Savage Arms booth at the NRA Convention in Phoenix this last season, I found myself handling the recently introduced Model 14. The smooth action, straight stock and 24 inch barrel in the magnum calibers were most appealing. The Model 14 features a new bolt release, cleaner lug that locks the receiver to the action, hinged floor plate and Accutrigger. Another feature that I am a huge fan of is the three positon safety. The first position locks the bolt and prevents firing. The second position unlocks the bolt but does not allow firing. The third position (full forward) is the “fire” position. When walking through the brush which I seem to do quite often, I have had a problem of the bolt on my rifle hanging on brush and coming open, ejecting the round. The locking position prevents this accidential ejection from occurring.
A few years ago, I hosted a predator hunt along with Winchester/Olin in South Texas. The writers and the folks from Winchester/Olin had hunted Nilgai on the King Ranch before arriving in Tilden to hunt predators. The .270 WSM had been recently introduced and the group was testing it’s killing power on the tough gray ghost of the Texas plains. The group of hunters had orders to shoot all Nilgai cows in the shoulder region with 140 grain Fail Safe ammo. The results were amazing as 17 of the 21 cows dropped in their tracks. The guides on the King Ranch had never seen a rifle of any caliber perform as the .270 WSM. After hearing this report, I had to have one.
I mounted a Nikon Monarch 2.5-10×42 BDC on the Savage 14 with a DNZ mounting system. I have not found a system that is so easy to install as this new one piece system. If you have not seen this new mounting system, I strongly recommend that you do so.
After zeroing the rifle 1 1/4″ high at 100 yards (zero at 200 yards) while shooting 150 grain Winchester Ballistic Silvertip ammo, I was ready to take it on it’s inaugural voyage.
I decided to deer hunt at the head of a rough canyon for a period of time and if nothing showed, to move west with the sun at my back to another huge bowl where I had seen deer in the past. After sitting for about an hour and freezing until I was shaking like a leaf, I decided that it was time to make a move. As I stood up, something caused me to look over my shoulder to the northwest. There on the crest of a low ridge was one of the largest whitetails I had ever seen in West Texas.
The buck was standing broadside looking straight at me no doubt somewhat blinded by the intense early morning sun. Approximately half of his side was shielded by extremely thick catclaw brush, making my favorite shot to the pocket behind his front shoulder impossible. I estimated the distance to be approximately 200 yards and held at the top line of the dense brush.
After recovering from the recoil I saw the monster whirl, make a couple of jumps and disappear over the low ridge. I was sure that I had made a killing shot and fully expected to find the buck just over the hill. Topping the hill, I scanned the low brush for the shine of a heavy dark antler. When the deer was not readily visible, I unsuccessfully began to look for any sign of blood. I decided that I should step the distance back to where I had taken the shot to ensure that it was indeed 200 yards. To my suprise, I had misjudged the distance as I stopped counting when I reached 250 steps. The extra 50-60 yards would have caused my bullet to drop approximately 2 inches which would have caused my bullet to impact deeper into the brush. Boy, I can really come up with excuses.
What a way to break in a new rifle, miss the biggest whitetail that I have shot at in many years.
See you outdoors.
Gary Roberson