Well,
Last night was the night. I finally landed a beaver! Chuck and Mike have been great guides and fellow hunters.
I skinned it out today and will try to get it to the tanners sometime this week.
Right now it's late. Tomorrow I'll try to get some pics up and the story of the hunt. I have to say that I am pumped!
Glad to hear it, Curlis. Just landed yourself one of the toughest animals you can take with a bow... :clapper:
CONGRATULATIONS BILL!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Glad to see your having fun out there :archer:
(We sure do miss ya though)
I'm looking forward to the story, Bill :campfire:
Congrats :clapper:
Congrats Bill!!!!!! Way to go!!!!!!
How bout some pics!
Jake
Congratulations!!
Congrats!
Moyle in Heyburn ID did my last hide-came out perfect
Bumped one off a number of years ago. The hide is still on display on my TV with a bear skull on it. Caught it sitting on the side of it's dam, hit it right square through the pump room and it literally died on impact. I was very surprised...
Congratulations Bill! Did you use your pretty Widdo I saw at Golden Arrow? When you get rested we'd like the story. Frank
Talked to Bill before he went out,It was just a matter of time.I gave him a few pointers on shooting and told him to pick a spot and concentrate LOL Bill you old Dog first you shoot a black bear in new york and now beavers in Cal,Way to go. :clapper:
I'd be careful about bragging rights on shooting fur bearers. Depends on where you are from. I know a guy who got into deep doodoo in a state where it is illegal to shoot fur bearing species. Its unlawful in many states.
Your right Gene....I hope he's talking about the wild furry ones because Bill is married.....
I understand it is legal to shoot beaver in CA but you can't trap them. Here in NY you can trap them but hunting them is not allowed. Any how Curlis congratulations on the beaver i wish we could bow hunt them.
Gene, like you said, in some states, you may not have the priviledge of hunting them! In California, we do! Congrats to you Bill!
Mike G and Mr. Chuck have been kind enough to include me in one of the most exciting hunting experiences that I've ever had. Beaver here in California have a hunting season but not a trapping season.
They are very hard to recover. I have been out four times and have shot 7 of them but I finally recovered one this past Sat. night.
The moon was not out so it was darker than the past nights I have been out with the guys. They have been very good at giving me the opportunity to land one. It has kind of been a running joke weather or not I would get one in the boat.
We got to the boat landing and had no keys for the boat. Back to the house. No keys, they were in Chuck's jacket pocket all the time. LOL
I thought that was good luck for me. I'm usually the one to do something like that. LOL
We saw a few beaver but not the action that we usually see. Then we went to "action island" right away we were into the beavers. After Mike's turn it was my turn. We came around the corner and there was a big fat beaver sitting on some river weeds. He had his head down and didn't even know we were there. I took the shot and hit it a little low. He stayed on the weeds. We could tell he didn't feel well and he wasn't sure what to do. I had to decide if I was going to shoot him again. I've shot them twice in the past and had them jump into the river!
Finally I decided to put another one in him. He was starting to sink through the weeds. We were very close and I could pretty much deside where to shoot him. I made a good shot and he flipped over on his back and started to give the death kick. Mike played the hero and reached down to grab him. That's pretty scary considering he was still chopping his teeth!
Finally I had one in the boat! I told Mike on the way home It sure was good to get that monkey off my back. I would like to thank Mike and especially Chuck for taking me along with them and trying so hard to get one for me. (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180402.jpg)
Mike and Chuck
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180405.jpg)
The happy beaver man.
Here are some pictures of the beaver before I skinned him.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180411.jpg)
Look at those teeth!
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180410.jpg)
The entry hole of the fatal shot.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180408.jpg)
Entry hole of the first shot.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180407.jpg)
For those interested, Ca. does offer a license for trapping using certain kinds of traps. Body & limb crushing type traps are prohibited, period.
well done bill.
Damn, I thought this post was about something else!
One more picture before skinning.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/bcurlis/P3180412.jpg)
Hey Wayne,
What going on on the East Coast?
Glad to hear everything was on the up and up. Well done!
gw
Thanks Gene,
This hunt really is a test of ones skills.
I'm glad that Bill has finialy got his Beaver in the Boat....
Now I can stop giving him all the easy shots.... :bigsmyl:
Nice going Bill - thanks for the pics and story.
:clapper:
I trapped for the State of CA when it was legal to trap. My trap got a work out on one that weighed in at 78#. I never shot one, but know on the eastern slope of the Sierra there are ranchers who will invite you down. They are amazing animals. Again, Moyle's tanning in heybern ID will make a garment quality skin out of your hide.
So, what were the specs on the gear you used to take that monster?
What makes hunting those critters so difficult?
nice beaver bill
sounds like quite an adventure!!
RamiusEng..
Beavers like to sink like a rock after they get shot. I've had the opportunity to shoot them while bowfishing or by other means. If they're on the bank and you hit them, they'll smash into the water and deep six themselves, and IF they surface, they'll do it quietly, trying to make their way away. When they do surface, they'll float for a while, then either sink and die or they hole up in a below bank den.
Bill, thanks for sharing & congratulations. Now that you have one in the boat Mike will probably rock the boat when it's your turn to shoot. Frank
Frank,
No doubt!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/whoffman1955/Bears%20and%20Caribou%20and%20other%20Critters/th_beaver.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/whoffman1955/Bears%20and%20Caribou%20and%20other%20Critters/beaver.jpg)
I shot one a few years back. Uncle Gene said I should eat it with the skin on like a real mountain man. I prefer them bare skinned. Didn't taste anything like I expected.
"Boy, pay a mind to where we set those traps and go fetch us some proper food"
- Jeremiah Johnson -
Chuck,
That is my all time favorite movie!
Right up there on my list too! Frank
Congrats! They make some good jerky!
Congrats on the beaver, but can I ask a question? If you plan on gettin it tanned, then why would you shoot him instead of trap one? If you shoot them, that only creates more work on the tanner to sew the hole and be careful then finishing the tanning process as not to "enlarge" the hole. I have been tanning critters for many years, and have even done several beaver, but this just puzzles me when it is just as easy to trap one in a #330 coni...then you have no holes which in-turn gives you a higer quality show piece.
Just my 2cents.
P.S. they make great table fare.
Because it's way to much fun Hunting them....
Nothing like being out on the river in a boat at nite Hunting beaver with a Longbow....
I like the swimming Beaver shots myself....
Pure instinctive shootin at's it's best....
Congrats my friend!! Well done Bill..looks like quite a tan ya got goin'.
Miss seein' ya around these part bud, got any trips planned back to the east coast?
Bill,
Not to much here.
I hunted in 3 hour midday spurts (had to run back and forth to drop off and pick up my son from school) this season and finally connected on a nice doe with a week left in the season.
I saw plenty of deer and found some new spots, but was never able to put it all together till the last week.
Now it is 3d season. While I did shoot last week with Paul and Bill, I have not been shooting as much as I would like to. Hopefully the weather will break for a few weeks and I'll get out there some more.
With the change in venues for the IBO worlds, most likely I will just shoot the states.
Hope CA has been treating you well.
The best to you and your family.
Wayne
Curt,
I miss you guys too. I have hooked up with lots of nice guys out here who are making me feel right at home.
The hunting is different out here but there is lots of cool stuff to get after!
The only trip eastward is for the IBO Worlds in Indiana. Did you hear that Wayne?