Glad to hear that you are coming Steve. Brings good karma to the hunt.

Map is ordered!

We need to make sure at least one of us stops by the Forest Service district office in Chadron and requests an "MVUM" (Motor Vehicle Use Map) which shows where we can and cannot drive.

I plan on looking over the area on Google Earth too.

Steve,

I have one of the Motor Vehicle use maps. I ordered my maps through Heidi at the Pine Ridge Office out of Chadron, and had her include one of those maps. I also received a brochure/map on the Soldier Creek Wilderness area, one on the Pine Ridge Trails, & the Toadstool Geologic Park.

I have been doing fly overs using Google Earth for the last three nights. With the Motor Vehicle map, and the visible trails on Google Earth, I am starting to picture what we could be seeing when we get there. Love technology. Sure saves a lot of boot leather, and unnecessary hiking around. According to the Forest Service Map I received, it is a checker board of private vs public in many areas. I am going to consider getting a land ownership map chip for the GPS to help keep me off private. I bought one for Colorado, and they are the cats meow. The scale of the forest service map is by section, with no topo lines, only blue lines for creeks to follow. Not the best for respecting property lines, etc when you are on the ridges.

October will come quick. Time to study up, especially on rainy days.

Steve;
Looks like you fell for my sales pitch, too bad.
Now that we've got a "fancy dan", our success is assured. LOL
We might even kill something, I know we will have FUN!
I was going to send you something, where the heII, is Powdunk, Alaska? Couldn't find it on any map.
Later
Jim

Moose Pass = Powdunk

Heck, Moose Pass and my house even made the cover of the Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer. Now that is Fancy Dan!

Maps made it to Po-dunk, AK 99631 while I was away.

Attempting to attach a scan from Bowhunter Magazine of the 1971 PBS Nebraska group hunt.

Ok, who is bringing stuff for Shmores" We HAVE to have Shmores!

I don't think my last attempt at attaching a document worked.. Anyone that is going that wants me to e-mail them a copy of that 1971 Bowhunter Magazine article, send me an e-mail addy and I'll send your way.

Steve;
Send me a copy of that article, please? I had read it years ago, might be fun to check out their hotspots?
Has everyone thats coming, had a chance to order your maps?
Have you found the "Cliffs" area.
How about satellite photos, I use Live Search Maps, same as Bing.
Jim

The NW Nebraska hunt is just a little over three weeks away so----I guess we could start with a head count on who all's coming.

The ones I'm aware of:

1. Jim Curley
2. Steve Hohensee
3. Mike Theis
4. Doug Clayton
5. BJ Martin (youngest son of a good hunting partner. Signed BJ up as a PBS member at Compton's in June).

(Possibles--coming with Mike T.)
6. Paul Karls
7. Kevin Winkler
8. Gary Rieck

Steve and BJ will be staying in my wall tent. Steve---I found a cot for you (BJ's dad's).

As Jim mentioned in an earlier email it would work out nice for the evening meal if everyone planned to cook one for all participants. That way people would only need to cook once--maybe twice--depending on how many show up. Everyone is on their own for breakfast and lunch.

As for water I have four 7-gallon water jugs I'll bring along with quite a few one gallon frozen water-filled jugs plus several cases of bottled water left over from other trips.

Again---mainly looking for a head count so we can start firming up the rest of the hunt.

Doug

Doug;
Glad to see you made it home.
What day do you plan on getting out there?
Tim Jones is also coming, I'll talk to him, later this week.
I'm almost done working for the year, I need to go hunting!
Jim

Jim,

I'll be picking up Steve at his folk's place in Blair early Thursday morning (10/13) then heading to the camping area. On the way we plan on stopping at Dick Mauch's cabin for a viewing. I've mentioned to people that in my mind it's like a "lower 48" Little Delta because of all the people who have hunted there over the years (Glenn St. Charles, Fred Bear and many more). A lot of history in that place.

Should arrive at the Cliff mid to late afternoon--just depends how much time is spent at the cabin. That should leave plenty of time to set up the tent, collect some firewood and maybe do some scouting/seeing the area.

I'll be bringing my Camp Chef Yukon stove plus my Coleman 2-burner stove for everyone's usage for cooking the dinners. I got a longer propane hose so the outdoor Coleman lantern (cooking/social area) will be well lit (it along with the two stoves are hooked up to two bulk 20# tanks).

Looking forward to another good PBS hunt.

Doug

OK - Can't decide what to bring for my meal.

Option One: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo over Rice with Corn Bread - MMMmmmmm

Option Two: Red Beans and Rice - OOooo Thats Nice!

Option Three: Jambalaya - Optional Creole Sauce, if you're up for that!!

These are hand typed recipes from a New Orleans French Quarter chef, which I talked a co-worker out of years ago. Everything is made from scratch.

So, what'll it be gents??

Mike,

It all sounds very good but I number 1 or 3 would be my favorites.

I'll be bringing porkchops that are wrapped in aluminum foil with pineapple and some onions---the recipe is from one of my wife's friends. We've had it several times and is good. I plan on bringing enough so everyone can have 1-1/2 chops each. I'll be doing them on the Camp Chef bbq grill that sits on top of their stove. As with last year I'll also make a large pot of wild rice (the real stuff from northern MN) that we can have for several meals.

I know last year we sure didn't starve and I know we won't again this year!

Doug: Remember I am originally a Nebraska boy so one chop might be a wee bit too little for me!

Mike: #1 or #3!

I'm not sure what Mom will be making us, I'll have to remember and let her know of her duty!

Licenses. Should I be ordering online ahead of time? I know you use to have to go to a NGPC office to get them if you didn't do it by mail.

Steve,

I'd hedge my bet and buy your license ahead of time online---that's what I'm going to do. It would just depend on how fast the license would arrive to you in AK. Don't know if it's possible but could you have it sent to your folks place for you to pick up then? Just a thought. Maybe call someone at NE G&P and ask.

As for the porkchops--they're IOWA chops--not like the paltry ones you grew up on in NE!! lol. I'll make sure that no one goes hungry!

Only 19 days and a wakeup before the hunt--time is going fast.

As for your gear---I've got a cot/pad, sleeping bag, tree stands (I'll bring at least two for you and one for me) and Lone Wolf climbing sticks for each stand. As for food--I've got pots, pans, stoves and eating utensils in my cook box so don't worry about any of that. All you should need to bring is your personal gear and food. Everyone is on their own for breakfast and lunch--with one dinner for all. I'll bring a little bit more for Thursday/Friday night as I think most others are arriving a day or two later than when we are. No matter what we won't starve.

Doug

I talked with Roger Rutz yesterday, looks like he will be joining our little group again.

Jim,

Need to have Roger bring his guitar to camp this year! And---since you got your bear (saw that on another thread---and congrats!) are we going to have some type of bear meat in camp??

Do we have some type of almost final head count for hunters so we can plan on how much to bring for dinners?

Doug

i just talked to "Mom" and let her know of her duties, lol. Actually, one thing I am considering IF folks would want, I think I have enough silver salmon and halibut that we could do grilled fishies BUT I would probably have to go first since it won't keep long. Yeah or neigh?

Jim: based on your research are you purchasing a turkey tag, do you think it is justified? I need to review the regs again regarding antlerless tags, etc. Which tags are everyone getting, just the $209 special plus habitat stamp?

YEAH!!!!!!!!

At least that's my answer--in no one else wants salmon or halibut we can have ourselves one hell of a feast!!

But realistically I can't see anyone turning it down.


Doug

"Federal and State Land Closures -- Public lands in the Pine Ridge Unit are closed to antlerless mule deer harvest."

FYI, New in 2011.

Licenses can be purchased online and immediately printed. I dropped the dime ($91) on the turkey option which is good for two birds for a lucky/accurate soul (unlikely to be me).

Steve;
It's been a few years since I've hunted out there, but back then there were turkeys everywhere. Practice your Kee-Kee run. They are a great target, to "dequiver" on! The ranch that I hunted, is just north of the "Cliffs". I'm all over the halibut, I've never eaten it before. Probably won't measure up to walleye, but what the heII. LOL

Doug;
I make a mean chili, also a pretty darn good "meat" vegetable soup. Bear can be substituted for any meat recipe.
I also like to bake, so will have some extra goodies.
I can't wait, let's eat!
I'll rag Roger a little, maybe he'll bring his guitar. Yee Haw

Jim

Dequivering. Done it before, suspect I'll do it again!

If you'll eat Walleye, then I KNOW you'll eat (and love) halibut.

Attendees:
Paul Karls is coming, Gary Reick has some technical details to work out with the jury duty notice he recently received - poor guy!; and I haven't heard back yet from Kevin. Not sure how his rehab is going after surgery.

Might have to help Gary out with some sure fire "get out of jury duty" excuses. Any come to mind?

Food:
I will go with the Gumbo, no unhappy campers with that yet. And, yes on the fish. Whew, we'll have to walk our butts off during the day to keep all of the calories off of our butts. Our wives may get suspicious if we weigh more when we return than when we left.

Thanks for the heads up on the internet license purchase. Sounds like the way to go.

"get out of jury duty"

Have him tell the defense attorney that his client LOOKS guilty. That should just about do it.

BTW, where are all of these guys from, I don't know a few of them?

Not too painless buying my Nebraska deer, and turkey tags. Probably hurt more, when I get my credit card bill.

Jim

Steve,

As per your question as to where everyone is from based on my knowledge (recollection) which could be highly faulty!

Jim C.---------MN
Mike Theis----WI
Paul Karls----WI
BJ Martin-----IA (Glenwood--about 20 miles S of Co Bluffs)
Roger Rutz---MN

and you make 6 attendees.

Doug;
Here's a couple other attendees.
Tim Jones from Tennessee.
Geoge Belvin from Mississippi.
I'm workin on a couple of guy's that were at the first hunt. Don't think I can con them into going. Whitetail season starts the first of October, I don't think they will leave the state!
Jim