Solo Scouting: Gain the Public Land Advantage

Typically the sound of my alarm going off at 4:00 am causes me to roll over, hit the snooze button and pull the covers over my head wishing that I could go back to sleep uninterrupted; on this morning however when my alarm sounded off, I jumped out of bed. 

My first solo scouting trip of the year into the backcountry signifies that my favorite time of year, archery Elk season, is just over the horizon. Once I loaded my horse Fury and mule Otis into my trailer, we made the two and a half hour drive to a majestic place in the National Forest that I have been fortunate enough to hunt over the years. 

Hunting public land, I am always looking for ways to gain the advantage over the next hunter whether it comes to spending countless hours conditioning in the gym, shooting my bow, preseason scouting, mastering the art of calling Elk, or reading anything and everything that I can get my hands on hunting related. My philosophy is that you can never learn too much and often times you can take bits and pieces of information that you find relevant from a plethora of sources and figure out what works best for you. 

I found this bull in a bachelor herd.

My goal for this trip was to set up three different locations with trail cameras so that I can better establish patterns of Elk movement, determine which bulls are in the area as residents or passing through, and of course I want to see antlers on film, a sneak peek of what is to come during hunting season. 

As time goes by, with the help of my trail cameras, I will be able to better monitor when the herds of bachelor bulls start to break up in search for estrous cows. Plus as I revisit the area over the next 5 weeks, I will be able to identify the exact week that the bulls start to scrape the velvet off their antlers and begin territorial marking areas. The more I can learn before season starts about past and current behavior patterns, the better I am able to anticipate future behavior and strategies for hunting. 

I made quick work of organizing and loading all my gear onto Otis and struck out cross country through some of Mother Nature’s steepest, roughest terrain covering over a 12 mile span (as a crow flies).  I had anticipated riding most of the trip because I was leading a pack mule; what I hadn’t anticipated was the change in terrain over the course of a single year that would force me to walk most of the trip. 

The vegetation had grown to heights that I have never before witnessed, creeks and streams in places that are normally dry, countless mud bogs, and new windfall that caused me to zigzag mercilessly across the mountain. All of this on top of topography that is either straight up or straight down. I had my work cut out for me; double that work load since I was solo and I chose to take the “Rookies” of my livestock herd. 

Thick vegetation made for slow travel.

Going in, I had already pre-determined where my trail cameras were going to be placed. All three locations have similar attributes; close proximity to heavily used game trails between bedding and feeding areas in an area that has a nearby water source or wallow. I did vary the elevation levels of my chosen camera sights in order to capture movement patterns more accurately. 

This wallow will be tore up in another month.

After 11 hours, I finally made it back to my horse trailer; exhausted but thrilled in having accomplished my goal.  Successfully hunting public lands requires a lot of hard work and even more heart. I am passionate in my pursuit of Elk and am constantly working towards finding ways to make it happen, giving myself the advantage over the next hunter. 

Training hard, scouting hard, doing what it takes, pushing through preconceived personal limitations, you are on public land, you are doing it yourself, you have to dig deep and give it everything you’ve got. 

The same day I set up my trail camera, this bull was photographed. 

Big game.big prep.always prepared. Always lethal

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Under armour clothing

Evo Cold Gear Pants

Base 1.0 Long Sleeve Top

Charged Cotton T-Shirt

Ridge Reaper Crew Socks

Under armour footwear

Valsetz Boots

Gear List & equipment

Swarovski EL 42 Binoculars

Eberlestock X1 Backpack

Garmin GPS

Trail Cameras

Hydration 101

Big game.big prep.always prepared.Always lethal

 

Climbing mountains in the most severe conditions, pushing your mind and body to the limit on a daily basis, hunting season is almost here. The only true test of our individual performance level and overall toughness comes courtesy of Mother Nature.

When pushing your limits this hunting season in the backcountry, your body can lose as much as 4% of your entire body weight in the form of sweat potentially causing severe dehydration and hyperthermia.

Proper hydration is critical before, during and after your next trip into the backcountry in maintaining normal hydration levels, circulation and natural cooling of the body. As the body sweats, your blood becomes less fluid due to water loss, subsequently causing the blood to become thicker, therefore increasing the workload of the heart, which could potentially result in a heart attack.

Proper hydration is critical in the prevention of dehydration, hyperthermia and even heart attack.

What to consider before entering the field

            Outside Temperature- The higher the outside temperatures are the more your body is going to sweat, the body’s natural cooling mechanism causing higher levels of water loss within the body that needs constant replenishment.

            Hydration Level-  If you enter the field in an already dehydrated state, you are in the great danger of suffering from severe dehydration or hyperthermia. Before your next trip into the field drink a minimum of 96 ounces or three quarts of water per inactive day and during days of high activity, double that amount or an equivalent of 192 ounces or six quarts of water per day. In the morning before you take your first steps in the morning, be sure to consume an additional 2-3 cups of water to boost your hydration level.

            Relative Humidity- When the air is saturated with moisture, the body loses its ability to naturally cool itself off by evaporating sweat efficiently therefore causing the body’s internal temperatures to potentially reach dangerous levels causing hyperthermia. Water intake is critical in humid environments.

Did you know…

If you are thirsty, your body is already in a state of dehydration.

           

Thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Mild to moderate dehydration can cause sugar and food cravings, especially in the evening, so before you pick up a snack, drink a large glass of water.

            Mild dehydration may slow your metabolic rate by as much as 3-5%

80% of people suffering from dehydration have increased back & joint pain.

           

Dehydration can cause daytime fatigue, decreased motor skills, concentration and memory retention.

Dehydration can be attributed to an increased risk of colon, breast & bladder cancer.

           

Drink comparison

Drink                                                                    Sugar                          Carbs                  Calories

W.A. Hydrate & Recover                                       0                                  6                      27

           

COKE                                                  27                               27                    100

ORANGE SODA                                 34                                35                    130

CLUB SODA                                       0                                 0                      0

                        

GATORADE                                       14                                14                    50

G2                                                       7                                  7                      25

POWERADE ZERO                            0                                 0                        0

SOBE ELIXIR                                     26                                26                    100

SOBE LEAN                                        0                                 1                     5

APPLE JUICE                                      25                                27                    110

FRUIT2O                                             0                                  0                      0

MINUTE MADE LEMONADE            27                                28                    100

CASCADE ICE                                     0                                  0                       2

LIPTON ICE TEA                                21                                21                    80 

LIPTON UNSWEETENED ICE TEA   0                                  0                        0

             

GLACEAU VITAMIN WATER           13                                13                      50

SNAPPLE ANTIOXIDANT WATER   12                                12                      50

CRYSTAL CLEAR VIT WATER          0                                0                        0

PROPEL ANTIOXIDANT WATER     2                                   2                     10

PLAIN WATER                                   0                                   0                     0

1 SUGAR CUBE= 1 PACKET OF SUGAR= 1 TEASPOON OF SUGAR =

4 GRAMS SUGAR =16 CALORIES

           

Other FACTS:

1)      One can of soda per day = additional 15 lbs per year

2)      Start drinking soda at 2 years old (1 can per day) = 250 lbs as a teen

3)      One 12 oz soda per day increases the risk of obesity by 60%

4)      Average Recommended Daily Allowance for “added sugar” (at an 1800 calorie per day intake) = 6 tsp

Wilderness Athlete hydrate & recover Benefits

By adding Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover to your infield hydration system, you are not only replenishing fluid loss but also necessary electrolytes. Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover provides an excellent source of electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and metabolic cofactors that power their way into the cells of the body.
• Amino Acids to help feed your muscles through cellular repair.
• Provides a precisely balanced mineral and electrolyte composition to replenish these vital elements and maintain peak muscle physiology
• Antioxidants to fight free radicals and improve metabolic function
• Glucosamine for repair and lubrication of hips and joints.
• Oxygen enhancers to promote optimal oxygen uptake and utilization
• B Vitamins to help sustain your body's natural energy production
• Is formulated to optimal isotonic strength for and effective hydration
• Provides a spectrum of metabolic cofactors essential for energy production
• Helps maintain tissue hydration for highest metabolic efficiency
• Supports the oxygen demands of the active body
• Delivers essential vitamins and amino acids for maximizing energy reserves such as 1000 mg of Vitamin C

 

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Under Armour Always Lethal 

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