Hello, 

I thought it was about time to fill you all in on what's happening here.  It was a less than spectacular bear season for us as we ended up killing only one bear for 4 1/2 hunters (no, the 1/2 hunter wasn't a midget, he just booked a 3-day trip so it was basically half a hunt).  The bear numbers seemed about usual but we just seemed to have a hard time connecting this year.  The first week we hunted there were 2 hunters and they saw a total of 8 bears for the week but they never popped a cap due to the bears being too small, being sows with cubs or being unable to get within range.  The next week there was one hunter and he killed a nice red bear on the 3rd night of the hunt.  The third week of hunting was another single hunter and he saw a total of 7 bears.  He missed another nice red bear but was never able to connect.  The half a hunter was for the final 3 days of the season and we were skunked on it, whether it was due to the hot weather or the increased people activity in the woods due to Memorial Day I'm not sure.  Anyway, despite or because of the lack of blood on our hands this spring we're rarin' to go for next spring.  There are still openings available for a couple of the weeks in May. 

On a brighter note, I've completed the purchase of the neighboring outfitter's territory which means that I've got a lot more country for lion hunting this winter.  With that area added to what I already have it's now a considerable chunk of northern Idaho we're free to roam around and I'm excited about finding some cats in the new area.  I've still got openings for the Idaho lion/bobcat hunts in January and February.  The Montana lion hunts which are always very successful are still available for the second week of December.  Lion tags for Montana have to be purchased by August 31st which is coming up fast so if that interests you we should probably get rolling.

This new area is currently permitted for only lion and bobcat hunting so I'll be beginning the process to add deer, elk, bear and moose, which should take about a year or so.

The moose draw was held in April and I've heard from one successful applicant so far so I'm looking forward to another moose hunt this fall.  If you'd be interested in applying next year just let me know and I'll help you with the process next spring.

I've got plenty of archery deer openings left in September and one good week is left for a November rifle hunt.  Plenty of deer tags are still available.

Hope you're all having a good summer and if I can help you out with a hunt just drop me a line.

Clint Gray
Buckshot Outfitting
208-267-3885
www.buckshotoutfitting.com

Hello,

For those of you interested in applying for an Idaho moose tag, the time is now!  The application period is 4/1-4/30.

I can guide in controlled hunt areas 1-1, 1-2, and 2.  The regular moose season is 8/30-11/23 and you can apply for an antlered moose tag in any of those 3 units: 

They're giving 50 permits in 1-1 and that hunt number  is 3001.  In 2004 draw odds were about 13% for this hunt.  Success in 2003 and 2004 were 87% and 84% and the average spread of the bulls taken was 36.4" and 37.9".

They're giving 30 tags for 1-2 and that hunt number is 3003.  2004 draw odds were about 15%.  2003 and 2004 success was 87% both years and average spread was 38.8" and 40.9".

They're giving 20 tags in Unit 2 and that hunt number is 3007.  Draw odds were about 7% last year.  2003 and 2004 success was 100% and 80% and average spread was 36.2" and 34.2".

They've also started a new antlered bull hunt in 1-1 for 2005.  It's only one week long, 9/24-9/30, and they're giving 20 tags for it.  I prefer to moose hunt a little later in the fall when more of the leaves have fallen and there's a better chance of snow on the ground, both of which vastly improve visibility.  However, I'm guessing that draw odds will be considerably better for this new hunt.  Your competition in the moose drawings is about 95% resident hunters and I think the vast majority of the resident hunters would want the regular long season.  As I mentioned, I do prefer to hunt later in the season but I do think we'd be able to find some bulls during this 9/24-9/30 week.  So you may want to consider applying for this hunt to increase your drawing odds.

If you choose to apply for one of the other regular season hunts which do you choose?  Well, I'd toss out Unit 2 unless you have a particular reason for applying for it, since it has had considerable lower drawing odds and the moose hunting is at least as good and probably better in 1-1 and 1-2.  The difference between 1-1 and 1-2 is negligible.  I'll just lay out the differences as I see them and let you make your choice.  I can only guide on a portion of 1-1, whereas I can guide on all of 1-2.  But the portion of 1-1 I can guide on is very good and contains plenty of territory for hunting.  Our house and bunkhouse is located in 1-2 so the hunting is very close by, whereas it's about a 45 minute drive to hunt 1-1, no big deal though.  I haven't seen any difference in quality or quantity of moose between the two areas.  Honestly, if it were me applying, I'd flip a coin and be happy with either unit.

If you'd like to get a cow moose the hunt to apply for is in Unit 1-1, hunt number 3103.  They're giving 20 permits (5 more than last year) and odds were about 40% last year.  They're also giving 10 permits in Unit 2, hunt number 3104, but drawing odds will be much worse there.  It used to be that a person could only harvest one moose in their lifetime in Idaho, be it cow or bull, but this year they made a rule change so that a person can harvest one of each in their lifetime.

To apply for a permit you must first buy an Idaho hunting license which is currently $128.50.  To do this you can go to this webpage: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/licenses/fees/nrlic.cfm , which will give you a link to a site where the license can be purchased online, or a phone number you can call to purchase it.  You can also download a pdf form to mail in with your license fee.  You'll need the hunting license number for the moose permit application.  The $128.50 license fee is nonrefundable.  The moose application fee is $1,515.00, all but $6.00 of which is refunded if you are not drawn.  You can go here, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/hunt/ch/apply.cfm for the controlled hunt worksheet, which can also be submitted via phone, internet or regular mail.  Basically all you need for it is your name, date of birth, hunting license number and your first choice hunt number.  There's also a space for a second choice hunt number which you can fill in but the only way you have a chance at your second choice is if there are less first choice applicants for it than there are tags offered...and that never happens!  Results of the draw will be out by at least June 10th, and usually it's considerable earlier than that.  Good luck and if you have any questions just let me know.

Clint Gray

Buckshot Outfitting

www.buckshotoutfitting.com

Hello,

Just thought I'd drop a quick note to update you on what's new at Buckshot Outfitting.  The biggest news is that I'm in the process of buying out the outfitter that borders me to the east.  We've negotiated the terms and all of the paperwork is at the licensing board in Boise now.  There's still a fair bit of red tape to wade through but the sale should be complete within a couple of months.  It's really a nice chunk of country that will complement my current territory well.  It's basically all of the area between my existing territory in Unit 1 and the Montana border.  The current outfitter is permitted only for lion so for this year that's the only benefit we'll see from it, but that alone will be a fantastic expansion.  He has been taking 4-6 lions off the area every year for quite some time.  I don't intend to take that many lions off of it but I am looking forward to being able to find more cats in the coming winters and slightly increasing my harvest.

As soon as the sale is final I will initiate the process with the licensing board, the Forest Service and the Fish and Game to have deer, elk, moose and bear hunting added to the permits so that I can conduct those activities on the additional territory as well.  I don't expect that to be a very speedy process but hope to have it completed for the fall 2006 season.  I know it will offer good deer, moose and bear hunting but I'm not sure about the elk yet.  I will spend some time scouting over the next year and decide whether or not I feel I could offer some quality elk hunts there.  Rumor has it there is some good elk hunting there but I obviously need to see it for myself before I get too carried away.

I believe I've already updated you on how well the Montana lion hunts went in December so I'll pick up from there.  We've had by far the mildest, most snowless winter I've ever seen.  It made conditions very difficult for cat hunting.  Fortunately I booked only 2 lion hunters in Idaho for this year and they were both able to connect with good cats, one of which was a really good tom.  We also picked up a few bobcats.  I haven't seen the harvest numbers for the lion season yet this year but I expect them to be way down.  I think a lot of locals didn't even bother to hunt with the poor conditions we had.  These factors, plus the additional territory, should translate into a good Idaho lion season next winter.  I still have good dates available for those hunts.  There are also still lion hunts I guide in Montana available.  My dad lives and hunts in the Swan Valley of Montana where we guide the first week of December and he has been finding lots of lions all winter long despite the poor conditions.

For those of you interested in Moose, the application period, 4/1-4/30, is coming up soon.  If you've already contacted me about your interest in applying for moose I'll be in touch in April to give you the details on how to apply and which units are available.  If you are interested and haven't talked to me about it yet, just let me know and I'll make a note to contact you when it's time to apply.

Spring bear season is just around the corner and I still have some great dates available for either baited or spot and stalk hunts.  Due to a cancellation I've got a week available with no one booked so if you have a group of 2-4 you could be the only hunters in camp that week.  I expect to have another good bear season.

Another mild winter should have done good things for our deer herd and I have dates available for both early archery season and rifle rut hunts.  Every year it seems more and bigger bucks come out of the areas we're hunting in Bonner and Boundary counties.

Thanks for bearing with me and if you have any questions don't hesitate to drop me a line.  If you'd rather not receive this newsletter or if I've somehow got your address duplicated so that you're receiving the same newsletter more than once just let me know and I'll take care of it.

Sincerely,

Clint Gray
Buckshot Outfitting
208-267-3885
www.buckshotoutfitting.com 

Hello, 

I got a little free time between lion hunts and thought I'd drop you all a line and get you up to date.  I just finished adding some new pictures to the website.  They're all on Page 8 of the photo album at www.buckshotoutfitting.com .  The lion that Chris Wells shot week before last chose about the most picturesque spot I've ever seen to climb a tree.  I included a couple pictures of it in the album that you may want to check out.  The lion is sitting placidly in the tree and spread out below him is a huge chunk of the Swan Valley as well as a great view of Holland Lake.  Chris's photography skills and/or equipment beat mine so the pictures are compliments of him.

I just got back from the Montana lion hunts on Friday.  They went very well and all 3 hunters were successful.  I'll be starting the Idaho cat hunts in a few days.  The calendar is close to full for this winter but due to a cancellation I do have a little time left for a mid-February hunt if anyone's interested in an Idaho bobcat/lion hunt.  It's a good time to start planning a December '05 Montana lion hunt as space is quite limited there.

Deer season was slow for me in terms of hunter bookings.  I took only one archery hunter this year and he hit and lost a nice buck on the first night, saw nice bucks he couldn't get a shot at the next 2 nights, and finally arrowed a nice Pope and Young 4x4 on the 4th night.  I had only 2 general season whitetail hunters and the weather was not overly cooperative during their hunt.  They did pass on some bucks and took one nice 130 class 4x5.  Since my schedule was a bit more open than usual I took a couple youth hunters out quite a bit.  We had fun and learned some valuable lessons like, "How to find a buck in your scope at last light" and "Don't forget to load your gun after you get in the stand ('click')."  I'm pretty confident these lessons won't soon be forgotten and we did manage to get some meat hung.  I also found time to make a quick elk hunt and knocked down a nice fat spike for the freezer.  Bookings for next fall are shaping up better than this year, but I still have plenty of prime openings for both archery and general season.

If you're interested in a spring bear hunt, either baited or spot and stalk, now's the time to get signed up.  You'll especially want to act fast if you intend to be part of a group of 2-4 hunters.  If you'd be a single hunter then it's not quite as critical to be quick about it.

We struck out in the moose draw this year but I'm confident we'll pull a tag or two for 2005.  If you're already on my list then I'll be in touch this spring when it's time to apply.  If you're not on my list but would like to be just drop me a line and I'll put you there.  One option that's been working well for people interested in the moose draw is to book a deer hunt with me and then apply for the moose tag.  If you are then drawn for the moose tag we can apply your deposit towards the moose hunt and change your dates if we think it would be advantageous.  If you're not drawn for the moose you still have a deer hunt to look forward to and your $128.50 nonresident hunting license is not wasted.  Odds have been around 15% for getting a tag.

I think that about sums it up for all the usual stuff around here.  I do have one other iron in the fire I'll mention and will keep you up to date on as things progress.  In 1992 and 1993 I worked on a mule deer study for the Idaho Fish and Game in southern Idaho as part of my graduate work in Wildlife Management.  That study was conducted in Unit 45 which was and still is one of the premier mule deer and elk trophy management areas in the state.  There is no general season hunt, all tags are draw only, and they're hard to come by.  But once a tag is drawn it's mostly just a matter of how big your deer or elk will be.  Recently I received a notice from the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board that they were currently accepting applicants for outfitting in Unit 45.  I'm pretty excited at the possibility of expanding my business into that area.  I consider it a very long shot at this point but I am working through the application process.

As always, if you'd prefer not to receive this newsletter just let me know and I'll remove your name.  Or if I somehow got you in the database more than once and you're receiving more than one copy let me know and I'll try to get that fixed. 

I hope you all had an enjoyable and successful fall.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Clint Gray
Buckshot Outfitting
208-267-3885
www.buckshotoutfitting.com