Big Atlantic Salmon

Got back from my fishing trip in New Brunswick Canada and what a great trip it was. I was fishing with my dad on the Miramichi river and we were fishing as part of the 2013 Salmon Classic put on by the Miramichi Salmon Association. I caught a big Atlantic Salmon on a Shady Lady salmon fly and it was a beautiful salmon with an estimated weight of 12lbs and we had to release it quick due to the hot water temperatures and the 10 min plus fight on the rod. I did get the entire catch on video and got some still pictures off the video. Just another great trip with my father, an amazing fish and another memory to last a lifetime



                           

New Brunswick Canada Black Bear

I killed this beautiful color phase black bear in New Brunswick Canada and what a beautiful bear and trophy. He had chocolate brown coloring from both shoulders to his hind quarters. Going to get the hide tanned and he will look awesome in my man cave. This was a very exciting hunt and a memorable hunt that I will never forget.

Rockfish

Went out with a good buddy of mine to do some fishing on the bay and even though it was a slow day I did manage to catch this nice 37" Rockfish and he will be some really good eats.

Ohio Youth Turkey Hunt Smackdown!!

Just got back from an AWESOME!! Ohio youth turkey hunt and man did we get it done. Went with my good buddy Rich and his twin girls Vicki,  Becca , son Josh and two other youth hunters and we went 5 for 5 on toms. I personally called in two big toms for Vicki and Becca and these awesome girls put the Smack Down!! on old mister tom and Rich got it all on film. Just as impressive Rich’s son Josh called in his tom by himself and this kid is only twelve and quite the accomplished hunter. Me and Rich also did a little fishing on some private ponds and caught some nice bass, bluegills and crappie.  To cap off a great week of hunting I managed to kill a beautiful bearded hen when I got back home and she will look awesome mounted in my house. Just a great week of turkey hunting with great friends.

                                                                                                                                 

Shed Hunting and Trout Bonanza

Went out over this past weekend to do some turkey scouting for next weekends youth hunt and decided to do some shed hunting too. Had a great day as I found three really big sheds. One was a fresh shed and two were chewed up sheds that were both older but the one had 5 1/2" bases and came off one dandy buck. After scouting for turkeys in the am, met up with buddy Big Fox and his family/son's friend to do a little trout fishing and we absolutely slayed them. The five of us caught our five fish limits in 1 hour 45 min and we had a blast.

Late Muzzle Loader Buck

It's been awhile since I have posted here on my Blog but life has dealt me and my family a couple of tough blows and dealing with that has kept me from posting and hunting very much. I did manage to take this nice last season muzzle loader buck last week and I am happy to have harvested him. Not my biggest buck for sure but a hard earned one. I'm hoping 2013 is a better year for my family and my hunting.

                                                                    Stoner

October is National Audiology Awareness Month and National Protect Your Hearing Month

My good buddy John O'Connor wrote this article and if you hunt or enjoy the shooting sports please protect your hearing at all times.

                                    Stoner 


Protecting Yourself from Hearing Loss While Shooting and Hunting
Hunting and shooting are essential American pastimes in this day and age. People love to take out their guns and blow off a little bit of steam. Some do it regularly as their favorite sport. Hunting can be a fun activity when it is done the right way. There are some serious safety concerns that you have to keep in mind, though. Hearing loss is one of the major problems that hunters and shooters face in the wake of their activities. You must understand the risks of hearing loss and take the proper precautions to protect against long-term ear damage. My father did not realize the potential harm hunting could have on his hearing.  He usually did not pay much attention to his hearing and now he is severely affected by hearing loss.  In his late 70’s now he wears hearing aids to help him hear better.  This is a prime example of not protecting your hearing while hunting.  Take the right precautionary measures now to ensure healthy hearing for the future.
The Danger of Firearms

An article from Ball State University, suggests that many hunters do not wear ear protection at all times. In fact, younger hunters regularly fail to take care of their ears when they go out shooting. Firearms can be dangerous when you do not take the risks seriously. Firing certain guns can lead to chronic ear pain or long-term hearing loss. Though this problem is not felt by all people who shoot guns, the effect is substantial enough that it needs a broader audience. Given how easy it is to protect one's ears, it makes sense to take this precaution.
Enclosed Shooting Ranges

People who go to shooting ranges must be more conscious about their hearing protection. If you do your shooting indoors, you are in greater danger of running into major hearing issues. A smart hunter will do everything in his power to avoid these types of situations. If you need to practice or just want to do some shooting, you are better off at an outdoor range, but if you choose to take your practicing indoors make sure you are fully protected. 
Using Earplugs

Many people think that they are protected when they use foam earplugs. These can be molded to your ears and are designed to protect on the most basic level. More importantly for some, these earplugs are very cheap. If you lose a couple of them, there is a good chance that you have an entire box waiting at home. These should be considered the baseline for ear safety. In many cases, they do not do enough to protect your hearing, but are better than nothing. 
Earmuffs and Noise Canceling Earmuffs

If you want to take things more seriously, you should consider earmuffs and noise cancelling earmuffs. These products have been known to provide adequate protection for people who are shooting in outdoor areas. Those individuals who do the bulk of their shooting indoors or with especially loud firearms should strongly consider the more expensive noise cancelling earmuffs. Protect your hearing today in order to ensure healthy hearing in the future.