15 minute stand...

[Coulter]

Well I ventured out into the blizzard this morning with my snowshoes thinking maybe I could add to the list of success stories using BigB's call. I arrived at my first location and decided the northwest wind was all wrong for that particular spot. That and the fact the parking area was plowed in sent me heading south to whiter pastures...literally. I had some things to drop off to a friends house 20 minutes southwest of me so I decided I would head to his place and try the ridgetop at his house and work my way into the valley below. I arrived in one piece, and once the blood returned to my knuckles we chatted for a spell. He had a prior engagement to go to so I let him know my plan to hunt the ridgetop and down into the valley then I busted out the snowshoes. I gotta tell ya though, snowshoes were no match for the winter onslaught Mother Nature was unleashing on this area.

I had no problem walking across his plowed driveway; however, as soon as I reached the field I ran into a three foot snow drift. No problem I thought as I think of my snowshoes as a sort of four-wheel-drive for the feet. Well, taking the first few steps into the drift had sunk my snowshoes in a good 2 feet of fresh powder. "Okay, that was just a drift, the field should be easier going." Nope! the whole field was at least two feet deep, deeper in some areas.

I managed to trudge my way through the powder scooping mountains of snow with each step and finally setup in a good spot. Well, I actually fell over trying to take the snowshoes off and decided I had a good enough vantage point from where I was at. I just left the rawhide laced ash frames on and got ready for some action.

I wailed on my BigB call for a minute or so and tried in vain to scan the field above and the valley below. Visibility was very limited. I felt nice and comfortable where I was at. But the constant barrage of snow sneaking into my squinting eyes had me reconsidering my predicament. My snow camo was actually becoming legitimate snow camo. The snowshoes were disappearing more with each passing minute. I belted out another set of calls and waited.

Now, being a callmaker and all I had to bring out one of my own new calls (That none of you have seen yet ) and give it a whirl. I really like this new one a lot, it sounds absolutely awesome. But I can't let the cat out of the bag just yet. Anyway to make a long story shorter. I sat on stand for maybe 15 minutes and decided I better head home. The trip out was nerve racking enough not being able to see the road and all. There were areas with open fields that the drifting and blowing was so bad I had to stop the truck to figure out where the road was. Thank God for telephone poles and trees alongside the road. Aim between the telephone pole and the tree and you'll be okay.



It really screwed me up though when the poles crossed over the road. If I wasn't familiar with this road, I certainly would have been in a ditch. There is a road there somewhere...



Here is a nice picture of a sheltered road. There is a snowmobile trail that runs along the left side of the road.


I know I should have brought the camera out on stand with me, but I gotta tell ya - it was tough going even with just my gun. I got back to my truck and unloaded, but not without difficulty. The 19* temps and windchill hovering around 2*  froze up the bolt a little on my gun. I managed to get it open okay, but I would have never of had a follow up shot quickly if needed. I'm glad I opted to go coyote hunting instead of making the trip into New York for a hiking excursion. That wouldn't have lasted long either.

Steve

[Bills Custom Calls]

Wow I am glad I got through your area on Thursday

Glad to see ya got out but I wish the conditions were better for you

[pitw]

Coool story Steve.  Thanks for taking me along even if it was a pain .  Glad you didn't end up driving in the scenery and made it home safe.

[HaMeR]

While that looks cool,, to me anyhow  ,, I'm glad you made it back home OK. That would have been one hungry coyote to have to respond to the call thru 2 feet of that stuff. Heck maybe one did & the visibility was just too short to see. Shoulda looked behind you for tracks. 

[FinsnFur]

  Thank god ya didnt have Bills Dodge ey?

I'm getting to the age I hate driving in that crap and I live in it six months out of the year.

But you got out and gave it a whirl ddint ya Determination

[Okanagan]

Hang in there!  I find that this call contest thing drove me to do things I wouldn't normally have done, like going out in a storm to call in sloppy snow and rain.  Still pondering on the ramifications of that, and my ponderer is kind of slow.

Excellent write up!  You win the description contest hands down so far.  You had me with you every step, miserable. 

You know this already but the longer that storm lasts, the hungrier critters will be at the end.  If your schedule permits, call as soon as it breaks, the sooner after the end of the storm the better.  Our schedules seldom match with nature's timing however.

[Coulter]

Can't say that I'd want Bills Dodge Jim...But I sure like mine. You can see a little bit of the front end in the last pic. I can't imagine a coyote or anything else would have had the audacity to respond in conditions like that. Even if one did respond I would have had nothing but a head shot. The vitals would would have been well below snow level somewhere. You definitely don't want to be on I-90 in a storm like this. Not only do you have to worry about the roads, but there are way too many idiots out there that don't have a clue how to drive in this stuff. I love being out in this kind of weather, but it was a lot of work just to walk a couple hundred yards.

You are certainly right Clyde...There should be some excellent hunting, especially along frozen creeks, when this front passes. I'm not sure if I can make it back out before next weekend though.

Steve