Howdy,

 

Just like to open up our new page of what we are going to call the hunting reports page.  It is just something we are adding in effort to provide our current clients and interested potential clients with a more detailed update of what is going on, on a more detailed fashion for each specific area we are hunting.

  First of all to start off I would like to say I am glad to report that we are enjoying what I remember to be as one of the best seasons we have probably ever had.  For overall quality, success and trophy quality.  The only thing we have hunted that I was somewhat disappointed in this year has been the Antelope.  Not that they were terrible but just not what I expected.  We had a really super cold winter and that has a lot to do with there "tops" not developing the size they should and that is definitely what they were missing. 

 

As of 5/8/2008 the 07-08 fall and winter season was the best we have had to date for overall quality and success. 

 

Antelope

 On a more detailed note our new Antelope ranch, the "Levi Ranch" we enjoyed an 80" SCI average with 100% success.  The La Festa Ranch as always produced for us 100% success with a two inch below normal average of 81" SCI at 79" SCI.  The Raton Ranch was also down an inch at 77 SCI from last years 78" SCI average but still enjoyed 100% success with both rifle and our bow hunts.  Hunts for fall 08' are expected to be 100% success with great as always quality.

 

Elk

 Elk were great this year as well enjoying 100% success in both Colorado and New Mexico so far.  New Mexico averaged right in there at that 325" SCI mark average with out top bull being 374 6/8 taken by Mark Tate of AL.  Colorado's top Ranching for Wildlife bull was a 350 SCI killed by Marcus Klintmalm with an overall average of 330 SCI.  The Colorado high fence also produced very well with 100% success with some giants taken.  Next year should be better yet with range conditions improving all the time for all our Elk.

 

Mule Deer

 The Mule deer now is really going gang busters right now.  We enjoyed our very best year yet in NM.  We took our biggest deer to date at 195 SCI by Don Moore of Kilgore, TX.  We took a total of four deer in NM this year over 190 SCI.  100% success with a 170 overall average.  WOW, she has really come to her milk.  Seven years it has taken us to nurse it back to health and it is looking even better for next year.  We have just started into our CO deer hunts but starting with a bang.  Dan Moultrie opened it up with a 175" P&Y buck with one of our great new PSE X-Force Bows.  Dan Has taken a total of seventeen deer in CO with us with a rifle with an amazing twelve of them over the magic 190 SCI mark.  Dan thought it to be time he take one with a bow.  So he picked up my X-Force shot for a half a day and it was on.  Being a seasoned Bow hunter the transition was easy with a bow like the X-Force.  Right after Dan's deer Mike Callahan and Jim Cabela of Cabela's follow up with a whopping typical 208 SCI buck taken by Callahan and a 224 NT SCI by Cabela with rifles.  Looks like it will be good this year as normal. 

 

Now to follow up on the season conclusion for Colorado I'll say it finished well.  Making it short...Eleven hunters, nine were successful out of the eleven, 196"SCI average.  Nuff said!  Cabela held the top spot with the 224 buck.

 

Black Bear

 Bear season was great this year with 100% success.  The hounds working great and staying safe.  Dan Braman took the biggest bear this season shooting a giant black colored bear on the ground as the hounds bayed and fought him.  We were able to get it out weighing an impressive 389 lbs.  We are going to start a limited number of spot and stalk hunts for those who would be interested in bear hunts other than with hounds.  There are parts of these NM ranches that will not allow hound hunting due to geographic location causing neighboring conflicts with the hounds running on them.  However the country is some of the best we have in the way of bear hunting.  So if interested please call on the new spot and stalk hunts as we have very little to sell.

 

Mountain Lion

 

Well 08' is off to a good start.  100% in Wyoming so far.  Dan Valberg killed a monster, estimated 170# B&C Tom.  100% in Colorado so far as well taking really good Lion so far.  Will give a more detailed update at the seasons end. 

 

As of 5/8/2008 we are all wrapped up on the '07-'08 Lion season.  It with no exceptions was my best ever yet.  My Wyoming Lion hunts have proven to be some of the country's best.  100% once again, all Toms with one B&C official and two P&Y Lions as well.  Every hunter we took got to see multiple Lions treed and all had a great time. 

 

Colorado was 100% as well going six for six.  Five Tom's and one female with one B&C Tom out of the bunch.

 

New Mexico was good as well for our "bare ground hunts" coming out three for five.  One of which being the very biggest Lion I have ever come in contact with.  A monster Lion with a B&C skull he is by far the best Lion Tri-State has ever taken.

 

Merriam's Turkey

Spring '08 has been awesome to say the least.  All the shotgun hunters were 100% on two birds each and we had one bow hunter that never did tag out.  Of course it isn't my fault he missed FIVE stinking Turkey's!!!  But I promised him I wouldn't identify who he was.  Your misses are safe with me Troy!  Oooops!!!

 

Whitetail Deer

 The Whitetails were really off this year.  Troy Valenti killed the best buck this year.  A broken up 160 SCI buck.  Great deer but lots of battles.  We were 100% but average way down.  The rut was off and lots of warm weather.  Next year should be better, I hope. 

Very Best Regards and Good Hunting.

 

Bridger Petrini