My friend Scott Morgan has several trail cams out and he keeps coming up with photos of big eastern Kansas whitetails. The big guy in the background is probably going to drop his rack any day now. Makes me want to get out there and go shed hunting before the rodents get to them.
Full Circle
When I first waded into the swift, cold waters of Colorado’s Rio Grande River in 1958, wearing Ked tennis shoes over borrowed stocking foot waders, I hoped to catch a trout… and not fall down and drown. As I became a more proficient wader and angler I started hoping to catch a limit of trout. As the years rolled by I caught many limits of trout. I ate some and released more. I’m ashamed …but not much… to say I gloried in sometimes being that guy on the stream who caught trout when no one else could. But I was nice about it. I willingly shared my home-tied flies with other anglers. Now that I’m eighty years old I find once again that I hope to catch a trout … and not fall down and drown.
I’ve come full circle.
Another big Kansas whitetail
My friend photographer Jon Blumb bagged this big whitetail buck near Atchison, KS during the Kansas firearms deer season. Just one more example of why Kansas is recognized as one of the best states in the country to shoot a big whitetail.
Hey Jon…maybe next time tuck his tongue in first. OK?
HOAFF Winter Outing
One of the most popular Heart Of America Fly Fishers outings is our annual December trip to Bennett Springs. This year the weather cooperated, fish were caught, hotdogs and hamburgers were eaten and a good time was had by all.
A duck hunt without ducks
Our second hunt at the Five Guys And A Swamp Duck Club was a little slow for Maggie and me. Or I could say I didn’t miss a shot all morning (because I didn’t take any). This is supposed to be a good year for the duck population so hopefully they’ll show up when we get some cold weather up north to push them south. They don’t migrate because they enjoy flying.
Anyway at least the scenery was pretty.
More big Kansas bucks
While Kansas is becoming well known for its big whitetail bucks Missouri’s deer herd seems to be shrinking, at least in the middle and northern parts of the state. My friend Scott Morgan caught this big guy mugging for his trail cam recently.
Little bucks, big fight
Caught these little whitetail bucks on my trail cam last week. While they were duking it out their potential girlfriend probably eloped with a ten pointer.
Kansas big bucks
If this doesn’t get you fired up for deer season nothing will. These big guys showed up on my friend Scott’s trail cam recently. He didn’t tell me where they are and I didn’t ask but they’re somewhere in eastern Kansas. Scott says the one on the left in the second photo is a shooter but Scott is a trophy hunter. I’m a meat hunter so my trophy is a ninety pound doe.
Missouri teal season
The Lone Oak Duck Club (aka The Five Guys And A Swamp Duck Club) sits at the far west side of the Mississippi flyway in Bates County, MO, only a few miles from the Central flyway. My friend Jon Blumb and I squeezed in a morning hunt before the early teal season ended September 27th. We saw a snowy egret, a pileated woodpecker, mosquitos, frogs and several acres of water lilies but no teal.
The big white bird in this photo is not a teal. It isn’t even almost a teal. It’s a snowy egret.
We called it a day at 8:45 AM and threw some training dummies for my black Lab Maggie who performed vigorously as usual. All she needs is for someone to shoot a lot of ducks over her. Maybe she should trade me in for another hunter.
Four days on the San Juan River
I recently joined fellow Heart Of America Fly Fishers Kevin Carril, Steve Hedgstrom and Ron Carruthers for four days of trout fishing on the famous San Juan River in northwest New Mexico. We stayed at the Soaring Eagle Lodge where we enjoyed scrumptious buffet breakfasts and mouth-watering dinners.
After daylong guided fishing trips we lounged outside our riverside accommodations, tired but happy, sipping adult beverages, awaiting the 7PM dinner and watching the river flow past a few yards away.
The trout, a mixture of browns and rainbows, were taken on tiny #22 and #24 nymphs and emergers. Most were 12″ to 15″ but several approached or topped the 20″ mark.
It sounds like a commercial but it’s true. You can’t beat The Soaring Eagle for tasty food, comfortable, clean lodging, helpful, courteous employees, and knowledgeable guides.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a rank beginner Heart Of America Fly Fishers has something to offer. Check us out at http://heartofamericaflyfishers.org.
Interested in learning more about Soaring Eagle Lodge? Take a look at their web site http://soaringeaglelodge.net .
