So here's the story. I have spent the last 4 months reading books threads and magazines about predator calling. I have watched DVD's and hours of youtube. This past Friday I had the chance to get out and go calling. I load up my truck and head out on the highway. There are two spots that I want to try forsure but everything else is just exploring and trying to find areas to call. I pull up to my spot to try calling for the first time ever. I have my foxpro, my white camo head to toe and camo .22 hornet in hand. I sit for 30 mins and don't see anything. I get up collect my gear and head back to the truck. When I get there is decide to head down the other way a couple hundred yards. I set up and after about 15 mins i decide to call it quits knowing that there is another place where I have seen fox and I want to make sure I get there before well before dark to hike in and set up. So I slowly stand up and step out from the brush I was sitting behind. I'm trying to look down the way I thought they might be coming from. I'm not sure why but i look back over my shoulder scanning the wood and low and behold there is a lynx sitting on his haunches watching me. He was about 20 yards away. I could't believe my eyes. I pulled up and harvested my first Alaska predator. By the time I basically sprinted over to him he was already done. I couln't believe it. Everytime I still close my eyes I can still see that lynx sitting there looking at me. After that I only made one more stand and drove back home because I was so excited I couldn't sit still. Plus I had to call all my friends and family and tell of my adventure.
On the drive heading to go calling I was thinking to myself after reading all of the post on here that I would be happy if I called and harvested one animal this year. I didn't care what it was I just wanted to get ONE. I could have never imagined that the first time I went and on my second stand I would already be adding to my collection of Alaska trophies. So to say the least I have been bit by the bug bit time. I am now planning a 3 day calling trip over Thanksgiving. Being single and not have much for family up here has it's advantages. I would be willing to bet that I'll be out treking around in the snow everyweekend and every free moment I have. I'm already looking at getting a snowmobile so I can access more areas.
Looking back at the hunt I know I made some mistakes. I shoud have sat longer. I should have tracked the lynx back to see where he came from or if maybe there was more then one. I should have had my shot gun. It was a brushy area and a shotgun would be better slection for this area. I should make sure on everystand to get up slowly and scan the ENTIRE area not just where I think they will be. I also need to start a log of times and locations and temperature and resluts so that maybe I can start to find paterns of sucess.
I honestly owe a huge thanks to everyone that has posted on this forum. I have read from page one through page 50 and picked up lots about calling and where to start with this new addiction of mine. I hope they have support groups for people like me. I know it might be a long time before I connect again but my heart is pumping just thinking about it.
On the drive heading to go calling I was thinking to myself after reading all of the post on here that I would be happy if I called and harvested one animal this year. I didn't care what it was I just wanted to get ONE. I could have never imagined that the first time I went and on my second stand I would already be adding to my collection of Alaska trophies. So to say the least I have been bit by the bug bit time. I am now planning a 3 day calling trip over Thanksgiving. Being single and not have much for family up here has it's advantages. I would be willing to bet that I'll be out treking around in the snow everyweekend and every free moment I have. I'm already looking at getting a snowmobile so I can access more areas.
Looking back at the hunt I know I made some mistakes. I shoud have sat longer. I should have tracked the lynx back to see where he came from or if maybe there was more then one. I should have had my shot gun. It was a brushy area and a shotgun would be better slection for this area. I should make sure on everystand to get up slowly and scan the ENTIRE area not just where I think they will be. I also need to start a log of times and locations and temperature and resluts so that maybe I can start to find paterns of sucess.
I honestly owe a huge thanks to everyone that has posted on this forum. I have read from page one through page 50 and picked up lots about calling and where to start with this new addiction of mine. I hope they have support groups for people like me. I know it might be a long time before I connect again but my heart is pumping just thinking about it.
