Author Archive for Trev

UPDATE – Outback Outdoors Bow Giveaway Winner – REALLY Scores!

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
Here is an update from our 1st Quarter Bow Giveaway for 2011 winner Andrew Basabe. He scored this fall with his new Hoyt bow he won on Outback Outdoors 1st Quarter Giveaway… Congrats again Andrew… Here is the story!
When I received my residency in Montana, all I could think about was how exciting the upcoming archery season was going to be. Little did I know, the season was going to consist of an endless stream of unfortunate events. I honestly do not know how I kept my composure and continued to strive toward success. The combination of inconsistent wind currents, wolves, bears, high temperatures, an abundant number of other hunters, and limited time to hunt created a perfect recipe for failure.

I eventually ended up relocating to a different area in attempt to find some unpressured elk. After my son’s football game I was able to put in a good afternoon hunt. Once I arrived to my new “honey hole” Tthe temperature was starting drop and the conditions were shaping up in a hurry. The elk were close so I decided to hang tight and wait for a bugle in order to play the wind and make a move. Within minutes, a deep screaming bugle echoed a few hundred yards away with two other bugles following. I rushed to the edge of a clearing and quickly set up. I then moved about thirty yards toward the action. I blew a few soft cow calls from my temptress in the opposite direction and waited patiently. The bulls were going crazy, the wind was in my favor, and this was my chance! It was no more than thirty seconds before a bull came crashing off the hillside. He quickly let out a scream and scanned the clearing, looking for cows. The bull saw my decoy, started to lick his lips, and quickly closed the distance. I could tell he was a respectable bull and there was no doubt in my mind that I would take him if an opportunity was provided. He was coming in on a string; I drew back and waited for the bull to walk by broadside. “Meeeeww,” the bull hit the brakes and looked in the dark timber behind me. I settled my 30-yard pin in his armpit and watched my arrow punch its way through his vitals. My Hoyt Rampage Xt that I received for OO performed flawlessly. The bull crashed through the timber and quickly stopped. I made several more cow calls, attempting to ease his emotions. The bull slowly walked through the timber and disappeared.

 

Another long thirty minutes passed before I found myself on the huge and always reassuring blood trail. After 100 yards of tracking, the blood trail was tapering out. It was now down to pin drops and I was starting to second guess my shot. I found a fresh broken limb lying on the ground and beyond that some small, thick pines. I analyzed the small pine needles and found some dried blood that had been brushed off the bull. I looked up and there he was, piled up in the middle of the thick pines. I rushed over to lay my hands upon my trophy. A respectable 6×6 with a small sticker between his fourth and fifth points. I found myself lying on the ground overwhelmed with emotions of joy. I finally got my break! After all of the discouraging events, I never would have thought I was going to make that telephone call seeking help to pack out my elk. I could not have been happier with my first public land harvest in Montana. This had been a long time coming . . .

We had a very late spring this year and a late summer followed! I assume this is the reason for the late rut. In reference to Adam Wells, he is spot on with his “herd shadowing” tactics. Every bedded bull that I pursued situated himself in an area that was cool, heavily timbered, and had swirling winds. Adam’s advice was very helpful. I was fortunate Adam was able to harvest his bull before I did, therefore he was able to provide the useful information. Thank you once again Trevon and the rest of the OO team for the bow as well as the useful tips and tactics on the site.

Keep the wind in your face

Andrew Basabe

Posted in Elk Hunting, Gear Giveaway, Hunting Gear, Outback Outdoors | 1 Comment »

Colorado Elk Season Rolls On

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

The 2011 elk season rolls on here at Outback Outdoors and sometimes we aren’t always the ones actually pulling the trigger. As most of you know all of us at OO are hardcore hunters at heart but we also spend a lot of time guiding other hunters. The OO crew met up on Big Mountain Ranch where Adam Wells guided Graylen Goff and Jim Brennan guided her brother Rudy Goff to nice 6 X 6 bulls during Colorado’s 1st rifle season while Trev ran the video camera capturing all the excitement.

There is something awesome about young hunters in the field successfully harvesting trophy bulls, but more so is when a 14 year old gal (Graylen Goff) shows great composure and whacks a great bull on video….well that is just dang COOL!

Keep checking back at Outback Outdoors for Adam’s upcoming archery elk hunt and also for Graylen’s….. and maybe even another surprise archery elk hunt where Dave Beronio switches places with cameraman Chris Callinan and Chris gets it done with his bow!

The 2011 season is ROCKING! Let us hear from you and how your season is going! The rut is just around the corner and team OO is getting ready to head out to Missouri and Kansas for some big whitetails, too! Good luck and shoot straight and fart downwind.

Team Outback Outdoors

Posted in Elk Hunting, Outback Outdoors | No Comments »

Outback Outdoors Rolls On – Adam Wells’ 2011 CO Archery Elk

Monday, September 26th, 2011

The 2011 Colorado Archery elk season started off very slow, the rut was late and the bulls didn’t show up in any numbers until the last week of the season.  I had three days to hunt this last week and all I can say is “WOW” the elk were going crazy, the rut was in full swing. The problem was there were so many elk, so many elk calling at each other we had to get in close, very close for the elk to engage my calling.  As amazing as it was to be surrounded by upwards of 100 elk at a time, it was a difficult challenge to get in close to that many eyes, ears and noses. Especially the noses!

The tactic Trevon and I employed on this hunt was what I like to call “herd shadowing“.  This is one of my favorite ways to hunt elk, what I like to do is locate the herd from a distance, wait and observe the elk, the wind conditions and try to anticipate where the elk are headed, and what the winds will do.  Once I have a good idea of both, I maneuver into the herd at an angle that will keep the winds favorable and get me in front or parallel with the movement of the herd.  Just like with fly fishing where you read the currents of the river, I have learned over the years how to read the wind currents of the mountains. Believe me when I say that the locations that elk choose to bed are not by accident, they choose areas that are not only cool, but have swirling winds. This is where I have learned just how close to push the herd and where to sit on them without letting my wind drift into the elks location.  Knowing the wind and the location of the elk are key to being able to successful is this type of hunting strategy.

The particular herd that Trevon and I moved in on was very vocal, both bugling and cow talk.  We could never see the elk herd as the vegetation they we in was very thick, but we could hear where they were and where they were headed. We kept a safe distance from the herd, about half a mile to a quarter mile, just close enough to listen to the herd and keep track of their movements. While waiting for the thermals to stabilize and the prevailing wind to set up, we had some exciting encounters with some very nice satellite bulls. Once the winds were favorable, Trevon and I made a big loop to get even with the elk and get the winds favorable.  We worked in close to the herd, stalking up on a few more satellite bulls and keeping our calling to a minimum, calling just occasionally to get the herd bull to bugle. I knew he wouldn’t commit to coming into the call until we were in his “red zone” as there was too many other bulls in the area for him to want to leave his cows. We followed the herd without seeing them for almost an hour.

Finally the aspen grove we were set up in had a thick understory of Chokecherry, visibility was less than 10 feet in most of the area, and in some areas the Chokecherry would thin out and we could see upwards of 20 yards.  (There is nothing more exciting than hearing an elk bugle less than 20 yards away just waiting for it to step into the clear.)  We again shadowed the movement of this herd for almost 2 hours. The elk finally bedded down in an area where the aspen stand turned into a mature stand of gamble oak. This oak grove was very open and shaded. This is where the bull wanted his cows to bed as he could see other bulls encroaching on his harem. Of course just like normal this was a key strategic location complete with swirling winds.

This is where we first started catching glimpses of the herd bull, a very nice 6×6. We set up close to the herd but still keeping our wind favorable, and started calling. We were literally overrun by elk. Cows, calves and small satellite bulls. We were actually surrounded by elk but the herd bull kept just out of my clear shooting lanes. We were still not quite in his “Red Zone” and we just couldn’t grab his attention with our calls as he was busy herding a hot cow or chasing off a smaller bull. We had to get closer!

Once the elk herd that surrounded us settled down and went back to the bedding area we slowly stalked in closer.  We set up in the area the herd bull was most active in but we couldn’t move closer due to the swirling winds. We were as close to the herd bull and his cows as we dared go.  After 15 mins of sitting and doing some soft, cow calls, we saw the herd bull pushing a cow back into the bedding area. The cow went through a shooting lane and the bull was in hot pursuit. The big bull entered the shooting lane at a run and I tried to stop him with a loud cow call, but he didn’t even break stride.  No shot.

Finally though we were in his “Red Zone” and we engaged him with the call.  He got that cow back into the bedding area and circled back to herd me into the bedding area. This time he came into us at a slow walk, I drew my bow while the bull was behind some oaks, when he entered the shooting lane I settled the 30 yard pin tight behind his shoulder and let her fly.  I knew my shot was on the mark and made some quick and excited cow calls to calm the bull down. He only ran about 20 yards, stopped and offered me a chance to put a second arrow in him. My second arrow hit inches away from my first.  Two double lung hits, I knew the bull was mortally wounded as he crashed down the slope.  Trevon and I waited a few minutes to let the bull expire and heard his last cough and a crash about half way through our wait.  The blood trail was thick and short. The bull a beautiful 6×6 was down and better yet, a short downhill pack out.

My 2011 archery elk season was over, a tough one in the beginning but one with an incredible ending.  I can’t wait until next year to do it again.

Adam Wells – Outback Outdoors

Posted in Adam's Blog, Elk Hunting | No Comments »

Outback Outdoors Scores Again – Trev’s Wyoming Public Land Bull Elk

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

With archery elk season in full swing and one antelope buck bow kill in the books, I headed to meet good buddy Quentin Smith owner of QRS Outdoor Specialties at their lodge on the Split Rock Ranch north of Rawlins, Wyoming for some archery elk hunting. This tag took me a LONG time to draw and I knew there was going to be some great bowhunting action as I anticipated awesome bugling bull encounters.

As the hunt unfolded we came to realize that the rut seemed to be 2 weeks late. The bulls weren’t really talking and the big bulls hadn’t even started taking over the small band of cows and young bulls yet. Never-the-less we saw multiple bulls everyday as we covered a lot of country and had numerous close calls.

I unfortunately was only going to be able to hunt 4 days as Quentin had to leave to guide other hunters at his Colorado camp. When the last day rolled around, and with no bull on the ground, my buddy Jeff (and ace cameraman) had to leave to head back to Fort Collins, CO for prior commitments. Quentin and I talked Travis Stevenson, the  ranch manager for the Split Rock Ranch, into running camera for us and we headed off for one last valiant effort.

The last morning brought 25-30 mph Wyoming winds and 20 or more other hunters to the area where we had been encountering numerous bulls in our prior days of hunting. The morning came and went with no encounters as everywhere we went there was hunter or an ATV already there. After a quick lunch we headed back out to try and find some new honey holes where we knew some bulls had to be hiding with their harems.

As we drove to a new area Travis suggested we stop and try calling in an area that was “too easily accessible” (using reverse psychology) hoping that it would have been overlooked by other bowhunters because it was SO close to the road. We hiked in over a ridge and Quentin ripped off a bugle. Sure enough a bull hammered back about 200 yards in a small draw below. The hunt was on!

Travis and I sprung into action as Quentin continued to call and keep the bull talking. We moved forward and met up with the bull (by this time getting quite aggravated at Quentin’s infringement on his territory) and his cows. We found ourselves in a thick stand of small pines and had a cow come into 4 yards and the bull bugling at Quentin at 7 yards, but it was so thick I had no shot. The bull bugled again making the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention. I finally found a shooting lane where I thought the bull might walk through and drew my bow. Somehow the bull caught the movement and spun and blew out. Travis and I did are best to cow call and calm the herd as we knew they had not winded us.

Frustrated and disappointed we met back up with Quentin and worked further down the draw. Excited at the encounter but dejected at the lack of a shot opportunity we decided to try calling again and the bull answered immediately having just crossed the bottom of the draw. Travis and I back tracked and set up in the draw’s bottom which was filled with tall lodge pole pines and dead falls. In this setup at least, if the bull came back in, I would have some shooting lanes.

Quentin aggressively called and 15 seconds later Travis looked up and said, “He’s coming!” I got ready and Quentin’s calling brought the bull across the draw at a run. He came to withing 20 yards and I stopped him broadside in a gap between two trees with a quick cow call. I let the top pin of my Spot Hogg – Tommy Hogg sight settle just behind his elbow and released the arrow. The bull blew out and I quickly cow called after him as he crashed through the scattered down timber. He went a mere 40 yards and crashed hard! He was down and we had gotten it done in the 4th quarter, on the last afternoon of our hunt. I was overjoyed and to top it all off our “rookie” cameraman, Travis, had captured the exciting event all on video as if he was a seasoned pro!

I can’t thank Quentin Smith of QRS Outdoor Specialties and Travis Stevenson of the Split Rock Ranch enough for all their help on this adrenaline packed archery elk hunt!

NEXT… Colorado Archery Elk, hopefully I can do it again in Colorado! Look for this exciting hunt on Outback Outdoors soon and check back often for more updates and webisodes of what is starting to look like a banner hunting season at Outback Outdoors!

Trev – team Outback Outdoors

Join us on Facebook – Outback Outdoors – TV Show

 

Posted in Elk Hunting, Trev's Blog | No Comments »

SNEAK PREVIEW – California Archery Black Bear – Dave Beronio

Monday, September 12th, 2011

I thought I’d wet your whistle with a preview of one of the most exciting webisodes we have ever had on Outback Outdoors. You wont want to miss this show as Dave Beronio and cameraman Chris Callinan spot and stalk big bruins in the high country of the Sierras in California. After months of trail cams and scouting Dave and Chris get up close and personal in this heart pounding and physically demanding bowhunt.

 

Posted in Bear Hunting, Bow Hunting, Dave's Blog | 3 Comments »

Outback Outdoors Wyoming Antelope Archery Hunt 2011

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Bowhunting Antelope can be quite a challenge. With eyes like a set of 8 power Nikon binoculars, blazing speed, and skittish demeanor, harvesting an antelope with a bow can be a roller coaster ride. In 2011 Adam Wells and I kicked off the fall hunting season with a speed goat hunt with Scott and Angie Denny with Table Mountain Outfitters in Douglas, WY. This was truly exciting to me as this would be my first chance to bowhunt since my shoulder surgery.

The first morning of the hunt Adam and I both went (with our camera crew, Sarah with me and Kyle with Adam) to our blinds set up on water holes with excited anticipation. In our blind Sarah and I had some excitement at around 8am as a doe and a fawn followed by a small buck came into drink. After sizing him up I made the decision to pass on him and instead just shot him with my camera. Throughout the day a few more does came to drink as the squelching Wyoming heat set in. A group of 4 bucks circled but never committed to the water hole or offered a shot, and that was the last of the excitement for us in our blind for day 1.

Adam and Kyle, on the other hand, had a little more action. Mid morning some domestic sheep payed them a visit and soon a few doe antelope. That started the party and soon they had a group of four smaller bucks getting hydrated in the heat. Adam wisely passed on the smaller bucks, and not 10 seconds after those bucks finished drinking and headed back out on the prairie, Adam spotted a good buck coming at a steady pace right to the water hole.

Adam got ready and when the buck dropped his head to drink he gave Adam a great 20 yard broadside shot. Adam’s arrow flew true and the buck went down 30 yards away on video. The footage was great and Adam was tickled, as this was his first Pronghorn buck with a bow since he was in high school.

The next morning Scott Denny, Sarah, and I jumped in the truck ready for another scorching hot day in the blind (AKA. the sweatbox) and hoping that some big bucks would be thirsty. On the way to the blind we drove by a lone antelope that was feeding by the two track road we were on and was paying us no mind. As we rolled by him I mentioned to Scott what a great buck he was and how I would love to have a shot at him. Scott smiled and said, “These antelope are so use to seeing the gas and oil field trucks they sometimes ignore them, watch this!” He circled around out of sight and we got out of the truck. Slowly we worked our way angling toward the buck’s slow line of travel cutting down the distance. Soon we were out of cover but since we wearing our Hecs (Human Energy Concealment) suits we decided to try and push our luck. As we continued we were in plain sight. The buck just looked at us, apparently feeling no threat, he went back to slowly feeding. We cut the distance down further until we were in bow range and I was able to slowly draw, settle my pin and drop him with an arrow. It was amazing! I had never seen anything like it. We basically angled toward the buck (all 3 of us) until we were in bow range. If you haven’t seen how the Hecs Technology works you owe it to yourself to check it out. (www.hecsllc.com)

The trip was a huge success and a great way to kickoff Outback Outdoors fall hunting season! For me it was extra special as this was the first big game animal with my Hoyt Carbon Element after my shoulder injury and surgery.

Check back we have more exciting hunts lined up as Dave Beronio spots and stalks bears in California, Jim Brennan tries to get back to the lower 48 states from a disastrous guiding experience in Alaska (he will have to fill you in on those details) and for Adam and I bowhunting Bugling bull elk is just around the corner!

Thanks

Trev

Outback Outdoors

Posted in Adam Wells, Outback Outdoors, Trev's Blog | No Comments »

Outback Outdoors Nikon Monarch Binos Gear Giveaway – Winner Announced

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

Outback Outdoors Nikon Monarch Binos – Gear Giveaway Winner from Outback Outdoors on Vimeo.

Outback Outdoors Nikon Monarch Binos Gear Giveaway – Winner Announced!

The winner for the latest Outback Outdoors Gear Giveaway, a new pair of Nikon Monarch Binoculars is Joseph Petty from Virginia. Congratulations Joseph and thanks for watching Outback Outdoors, stay tuned for more exciting hunting gear giveaways along with exciting footage of the Outback Outdoor crew as we start the 2011 hunting season.

Trev

Outback Outdoors

Posted in Outback Outdoors | No Comments »

Nikon and Trevon Stoltzfus – Outback Outdoors Partner Up

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Outback Outdoors’ team members spend a tremendous amount of time in the field and Nikon Optics have been a part of that since our inception. It is vital to have good optical products to prevent eye fatigue and head aches from glassing for trophy animals for long periods of time (especially looking over the expanse of country that we at Outback Outdoors do every season.) Nikon Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Rifle Scopes, and Rangefinders are truly a vital piece of our hunting arsenal.

We are pleased to announce that Trevon Stoltzfus has been officially selected as the newest member of the Nikon Hunting Prostaff. This partnership just deepens the relationship between Outback Outdoors and Nikon and shows the commitment we at Team OO have towards using and promoting only quality hunting gear!

Thanks

Team Outback Outdoors

Posted in Outback Outdoors | No Comments »

Gear Giveaway – Outback Outdoors 2nd Quarter Nikon Bino Giveaway – Entries Close Soon

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Gear Giveaway – Team Outback Outdoors 2nd quarter Nikon Bino gear giveaway is coming to a close, so I wanted to remind you to get your entries in ASAP! To enter and win a set of Nikon 10X42 Monarch Binoculars follow these directions and we will be drawing the winner and posting the video in the next couple of weeks. Good luck and keep up the intensity of your off season preparation.. the season is just around the corner!!

Just send an email to info@outbackoutdoors.net with your:

  • name
  • address
  • telephone number
  • a brief paragraph on what you like about Outback Outdoors.

Winners will be drawn quarterly from our pool of emails. It’s that simple! Watch bowhunting videos and win free gear!

Trev

Team Outback Outdoors

Posted in Outback Outdoors | No Comments »

Off-Season Preparation – Tucson Triathlon 2011

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Off-season preparation at Outback Outdoors is important and although cliche, with the OO team there really is NO off-season. Along with my recovery from shoulder surgery this year, I personally make it a priority to ramp up my cardio fitness in the summer months. This not only helps me get in better shape physically for the upcoming bowhunting season, but also helps to sharpen my mental focus as I also start to shoot my bow a lot more with daily practice sessions and local 3D shoots.

One thing I enjoy doing to help keep me HIGHLY motivated (although just the thought of being ready to make the shot on a trophy of lifetime is all the long term motivation a bowhunter really needs) is compete in triathlons. I find that the mixture of swimming (really great for my recovering shoulder), biking, and running helps a ton with my overall fitness and keeps my training fresh and avoid the rut and boredom of the “repetitive training blues.” I pick 2 or 3 local Triathlons to help with my short term goals and to gauge my fitness level. This elevates my daily motivation to achieve my longer term goal of peaking physically when September (archery elk season) rolls around.

I just returned from Tucson AZ and my first triathlon since my shoulder surgery and actually did quite well. My family from New Mexico came over and along with my younger sister Lani Hofacket and her husband Jerod Hofacket and my older sister Lori Gobble and her daughter (my niece) Jessica Gobble we competed in the Tri-Sports Firecracker Triathlon. There’s nothing like completing a triathlon on July 3rd in Tucson for testing ones physical and mental stamina in extreme heat!

I was pleased with my performance and despite my shoulder and the stifling heat finished only a minute slower than last year, as I felt my conditioning and strength were behind last year’s schedule. Gauging from this event I can now focus more on where my weaknesses lie (mostly physical conditioning) and gear up for my next one July 30th in Denver, CO.

I will also continue to shoot daily to fine tune my accuracy and increase my bow poundage as my shoulder allows me and before I know it archery season will be here. I encourage everyone to push their limits and train in that “uncomfortable” zone where you can expand your physical and mental conditioning. I promise it will be well worth it when you find yourself this coming season in the field with the wind in your face and your bow in your hands.

Trev – Team Outback Outdoors

 

Posted in Outback Outdoors, Trev's Blog | No Comments »