Northwest Territories

I would like to apologize for not blogging over the past two weeks, but my  Northwest Territories archery mountain caribou hunt for Scent-Loks High Places kept me far away from all communication! The hunt was extremely difficult physically as all mountain backpack hunts are. I had several opportunities, but I just couldn't close the deal. My hunting partner and camera man, John Furness, however, took a beautiful bull with a  bow, and I got to capture it all on video!

Northwest Territories mountain caribou

That part of Canada is one of the most beautiful places I've been, and Arctic Red River Outfitters was one of the best I've ever worked with.

As soon as I got home, my youngest daughter Gracelyn informed me that the bass were really biting on our pond and we were going fishing! We caught several small bass and had a great time. I think her photo says it all..... It sure is nice to be home!

Fishing with my daughter Gracelyn

Lake Waynoka

I had a chance to take my nephew, Joey, fishing this week on the lake where I learned to fish, "Lake Waynoka" where my mom and dad live. We had a great time and even caught a few nice bass. The one thing that is always consistent at the lake is my mom's meals.... Awesome!

Joey's first Bass of the evening at Lake Waynoka

Incredible!

I would first like to apologize for not blogging the past couple of weeks and I am sure there were those of you who thought I must have slit my wrists after my disastrous finish in the FLW Tournament on Pickwick. Not true... I'm still alive and kickin'! In actuality, I have been on a two week long hunt in Africa with very limited access to internet. We videotaped the hunt for an episode of Scent Lok's High Places and the whole experience was incredible!

I will admit that I was very nervous about the nearly 16 hour flight from JFK to Johannesburg, South Africa. I normally get very anxious on flights over four hours... I made it through okay though, and without the aid of sleeping pills!

Once in South Africa, we hunted with professional hunter, Ricus de Villiers of White Lion Safari. He and his wife, Nelia, were incredible hosts and the lodge, food, and hunting were exceptional. I took a beautiful nyala with my bow after many failed stalks and topped the trip off with a 25 yard bow shot on an enormous cape buffalo after a very scary two hour stalk!

Bull nyala

Cape buffalo with a bow

I had fulfilled a huge hunting goal of mine with that animal. One other thing which made the trip even more memorable was the fact that my camera man, Gerry Addison, also got to hunt, harvesting a black wildebeest, gemsbok and a beautiful kudu. I can definately see why people who hunt Africa cannot wait to go back!