Summer/Fall Activities
#7010525
10/06/20 04:22 PM
10/06/20 04:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144 AK
bfisch
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
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After breakup and after the water went down some we headed to the river to begin fishing. We started off just having fun catching pike. As time progressed we became more serious. Our net regulations make it difficult to catch many kings, but we managed to get a few small ones here and there. Along with more pike and a lot of dog salmon. Then we went after some sheefish. We made dry fish, half dry fish, bagged some up fresh, and jarred some as well. We have more fish than any year previous, but our kids are not eating any less so we'll probably need it. Of course we filled the freezers with berries as well! The blueberries, highbush, and low bush berries were incredible this year. It helped make up for our garden getting nailed by an early frost we were unprepared for in mid-August. In September we all headed out and did some camping up river. My wife had a draw permit and so we were looking for her to shoot first. On the second camping trip out I was back off the river moose calling while the family had lunch on a birch ridge. On my way back while crossing a grass lake I spotted a wolf paralleling me. I ran to cut it off, but soon realized that the wolf was now running towards me. It could obviously he could see me, but he was running with the wind. By this time I was only about 30ft from my wife and kids who were chatting away and could easily be heard by me and by the wolf too I expect. The family didn't know I was back from my walk as I kneeled on the other side of some willows and birch from them and the wolf picked up the pace still coming right at us. Finally, the wolf paused looking over his shoulder. At about 75 yards I squeezed off a round and knocked the wolf over backwards and didn't even twitch. The girls and wife were surprised to hear the shot so close and wondered what I was doing. There is a lot of wolf sign in that area. I can't help but wonder what would have happened when the wolf would have closed the distance between him and me or him and my family. My guess is that he finally would have figured out that we were not what he thought we were and spooked but then again. . . After two times camping out and seeing bulls really far away or only hearing them, we took off one more time before my wife's draw permit expired. We didn't make it very far before one of the girls said, "There's a moose." Sure enough a little bull had made his way out of the willows for some water. I cut the boat motor and we started drifting. My wife, nearly 30 weeks along with our fourth, made her way to the front of the boat with her 30.06. Our waves passed us rocking us up and down. Forever later the waves subsided and the bull was still drinking. She took aim and dropped him with the first shot. We made it home that evening with our winter supply of red meat. With the moose put away, I shifted focus to black bear and was able to connect on my first! With my wife getting her first moose and me getting my first bear, it was now the kids' turn. I took the older two girls out and the second oldest got her first spruce chicken (the older one got one last year)! She was pumped and ready to do it again! Hope your summer and fall harvest was successful!
Last edited by bfisch; 10/06/20 04:24 PM. Reason: Add info
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: bfisch]
#7012156
10/08/20 11:57 AM
10/08/20 11:57 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,883 MT (Big Sky Country)
Allan Minear
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,883
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your fall, your kids look like they're great helpers especially the little one as Ken mention what a wonderful picture of her and a berry ha ha ! Bird hunting is fun too ! Allan
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: bfisch]
#7012932
10/09/20 11:18 AM
10/09/20 11:18 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,984 Montana
beartooth trapr
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,984
Montana
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Like Looks like fun. Little one with her spruce chicken my favorite.
Let me sugar coat this
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: bfisch]
#7014744
10/11/20 05:33 PM
10/11/20 05:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,331 north Idaho
decoy
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,331
north Idaho
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Never seen fish put up like that. Can you explain please.
Hunt with your Kids, not for them. >>>----->
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: bfisch]
#7015166
10/12/20 01:23 AM
10/12/20 01:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144 AK
bfisch
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
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martentrapper- Oh Ok. There is none that I know of, but my wife has medical reasons (pregnant) that make traveling allowed or maybe even encouraged. I don't know if I could buy a gun without holding it first. decoy- It is in the process of becoming dry fish. The fish is chum salmon and sheefish (maybe a couple whitefish too) that has been filleted, but the two side have been left attached to one another by the tail. Each fillet is then thinned removing a large portion of the meat and bones. We jar the removed piece and later make chowder, patties, or sandwich filling. What is left on the skin we cut at an angle and stretch the skin slightly. It is then put briefly into a salt brine and hung in the smokehouse. We usually use cottonwood. Once dry we eat it usually with crackers. If you cut it thicker and/or don't let it dry all the way you can always call it half dry and finish it off by either baking or grilling. That's just the way we do it. There are many variations even among individuals here and more variations in other villages. Tasty snack and made for some good eats while camping out looking for moose.
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: bfisch]
#7016030
10/12/20 11:27 PM
10/12/20 11:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
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Well done bfisch great post and pics.
Last edited by Boco; 10/12/20 11:28 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: martentrapper]
#7019752
10/17/20 02:29 PM
10/17/20 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144 AK
bfisch
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
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Thanks! 2 whitened skulls should get almost enough for a 22. Did you brine and smoke the sheefish? How is that? I’m thinking a light smoke and then canning would be good. I like the line of thought, but have to sell them first. When I caught dry fish or half dry I cut off the top of the fillet containing most of the bones. We jar that portion for patties or chowder (unsmoked). By cutting it off I remove bones from the dried portion and they dissolve while in the canner. It also dries faster as there is less to dry. We use a slat brine for the fish we hang and smoke. Haven't tried jarring in after smoking, but it does sound good. I would either have to scale it first or remove the meat from the skin after smoking. We do brine, smoke, and jar kings and some of the better chums.
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: martentrapper]
#7032750
10/30/20 04:56 PM
10/30/20 04:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144 AK
bfisch
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
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Well that turned out pretty dang awesome! The wife wants to get beetles and give them a try on critters. I thought about beetles briefly, but only briefly. I don't clean enough skulls to justify it and I don't have place to keep them warm. I think beetles would be more stable than boiling. I lose some of the small and very delicate bones when boiling and power washing. I also remove some nasal and ear bones to aid in the cleaning process. That shouldn't be an issue with beetles. I say if your wife is for it, go for it! How is the village handling voting? Masks? Social distancing? I imagine an election person has to mail or air freight the ballots? I believe the ballots and ballot box is freighted. At the primaries they had masks and hand sanitizer available, but none of the volunteers were wearing masks. Not sure how it worked for those in quarantine. . .
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Re: Summer/Fall Activities
[Re: bfisch]
#7032951
10/30/20 08:42 PM
10/30/20 08:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,286 Mt.
g smith
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,286
Mt.
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Thanks and Blessings to you and yours especially for those nice pictures ! You and your Missus have every right to be very proud of your family .smith
You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
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