Let’s see your pups whether they hunt with you or not! 🐕 🦆 🦌 Our dogs are family..chasing game and trained to scent track deer as well. Show your pups!

On Thursday we headed out on family adventure. It was a cloudy rainy day But we started by heading to the elk visitor center in hopes to see some elk. No luck on the live elk that visit but did see some great elk antlers and full mount, They had a ton of information and furs for hands on with animals of Pa. I also learned Pa is in the process of re- introducing ruffed grouse. All the animals were all donated by trappers or hunters far as furs and some of animals mounted. The food plots were empty but a great visit. Next we drove through the Pa wilds to Kinzua sky walk which is what is what is left from the original Kinzua aqueduct duck that connected Pittsburgh to Erie. New York then Canada. It was ripped apart in 2002 from a F1 tornado. It is 287 ft above the gorge below. Then we headed to Cabin we rented in Potter County Pa. Day 2 had us hiking in a few of the many state parks and forest in area. We hiked around a beaver pond in hopes of sewing the beaver but no luck but we did see small snake and eastern newt. That night we scheduled to do star gazing with and astronomer to see the stars constellation s and Milky Way. Great experience as listened to the coyote's yip and bark and watched stars. Day 3 got up to drive back through Pa wilds. As we drove I saw this elk walking across field. Looks to be a 6x6 with a color on as pa tracks some movements of the bulls and cows of heard. We headed to Cooks forest to see the fire tower and clarion river. We had a great family time and great time in the wilds. We saw couple foxes, deer, one elk and small snapping turtle along with the newt and snake. The smell of the woods was awesome. One week and counting till archery opening!

I managed to secure some primary goose feathers from my hunt this morning. I’ve been looking up methods for a while now and was wondering—how many of you use the freezing method before the cleaning? I’m open to anyone’s process, including cutting, shaping, etc.

Hey everyone, Wanted to share a memorable experience from this past week—one of those rarer encounters that really sticks with you, even without taking a shot. My dad and I were sitting on a log pile at a landing in a logging cut, enjoying the evening and calling elk. I decided to go with calf and cow calls with the odd location bugle later into the evening—nothing serious, just seeing if anything might be nearby. After a little while, a single cow elk quietly came in from one end of the landing infront of us, moving cautiously but not alarmed. Moments later, two more cows appeared from the opposite end and behind us, also calm but alert. We stayed still as we watched them work their way toward the middle of the landing, where they met up, nose to nose, with an exchange of huffs, lips curled. From there, they began to move together through the new growth, heading down the logging road—directly toward us. They weren’t spooked, just curious and careful. All three of them came in to about 15 meters, and I had ample time to range them and think about shot angles—had it been 2 days prior in bow season, it would’ve been ideal. But of course, this was rifle season, and in our unit, you need an early draw tag for cows, which I didn’t have—I was there to take a bull with my bow. So we just sat and watched, hoping to learn something and enjoy the moment. As they closed the distance to walk past us, one of the cows must have caught our wind or caught some movement above her. Just like that, the mood changed—she spun and the whole group bolted back into the new growth, heading for the tree line. Thinking quick, I let out a series of frantic cow calls trying to sound like a distressed cow, and to my surprise, they all stopped. They stayed put for quite a while—within rifle distance, scanning and trying to figure out what they’d just seen or smelled. During that time, the biggest cow started barking—sharp, intense, and loud. It’s not a sound you get to hear up close very often, and it echoed through the timber. I managed to get a video of her barking before they move off, which I’ve linked below.

Hey everyone, That time of year has rolled around again—our annual elk hunting trip out on Alberta crown land is just about here—we leave Friday morning—and the excitement’s been building for weeks. I’ve been hitting the range regularly, dialling in my compound bow, and making sure the broadheads are razor sharp. I’ve packed my go-to elk calls—can’t head in without my favourite diaphragm calls and trusty bugle tube. With any luck (and a bit of wind in our favour), we’ll get into some action. We’ll be setting up camp by the river again—same spot we’ve returned to for years now. It’s got no cell service, no distractions, and an endless supply of river rocks, which my three kids take very seriously. Their rock collection efforts are relentless, and every “perfect” one gets proudly presented to me—usually while I’m trying to cook a meal. Honestly, it’s one of the best parts of the trip. As much as we’re out there for elk, there’s a lot more going on. We’ll spend some days hunting grouse and rabbit too—I'll be bringing along my reflex/deflex for that. It’s a great way to involve the kids and get them learning about ethical hunting, patience, and the responsibility that comes with pursuing game. We talk a lot about respect—for the animals, the land, and the process. No shortcuts, no egos—just doing it right and appreciating every part of it. And of course, I’ll be out there with my dad, husband, and a few old buddies—guys I’ve shared a campfire and a lot of missed shots with over the years. The jokes haven’t changed, but somehow they keep getting funnier. Wishing everyone a safe, respectful, and memorable season. May your arrows fly true and your coolers fill up—whether it’s with meat or just stories worth retelling.