HUNTIN (not hunting) ON HORSES
(more pictures down below)
I love hunting of any kind really wether it's on foot or horseback but if I could choose, I'd take a horse over anything else. Not because I'm fond of them only but I really believe they are the ultimate hunting vehicle and increase the odds of a successful hunt.
One fall I had been riding in the mountains behind the house looking for big elk and deer. It was getting late in the day so was riding back on a chestnut Quarter Horse mare and spotted a deer about 100 yards ahead of us and our scent was blowing right into to it. It was a mountain muley for sure as I could spot it's white rump and big ears but didn't have a rack on it. I was riding down the middle of a big logging road plain as day and it still didn't move the closer the horse and I got to it. It had spotted me first and by the time I saw it the doe could have had plenty of time to scatter out of there. In my haste home I rode right on by it not spotting any other deer nearby and it didn't bother to get out of there until I had rode fairly close. I was shocked that in the middle of hunting season with hunting pressure at it's highest, this lone deer didn't seem to bothered by us being there. While I do believe that animals know when you want to kill them this wasn't the only time that had happened to me while on a horse. I attribute the doe to not feeling threatened by the scent of a sweaty horse and the looks of a four legged animal with a funny object on top seemed to intrigue it and keep it at ease.
If you've ever been around animals you know scent is a big deal to them and while a human scent will scatter a herd of elk or group of deer like no other, I do believe horse scent combined with humans can confuse wild animals long enough to get into a good position. Even more so if an animal spots a horse, it has four legs rather than two such as us humans so doesn't appear as out of place in the wilds. I've seen videos of guys shooting antelope within 20 yards that were able to get that close in a wide open prairie just by standing on the opposite side of their horses with saddles on and everything.
Something about being on a horse just brings out the inner outdoorsman in us all. Horses can get you into some neat country fairly quickly, they are environmentally friendly, feed is usually provided by nature pretty good, and you can pack in and pack out a pretty comfortable camp.
Good horses are made by wet saddle blankets and are worth their weight in gold. They can't be good horses if they don't get used often. If you're a mule runner I do think mules are great hunting and pack animals but I don't know enough about them to trust them. If you're looking to have a smooth fast ride in the mountains Tennessee Walkers and Missouri Fox Trotters are the way to go. Coming down a hill they won't jiggle you to death like riding a Quarter Horse would but I never used my horses for just hunting so preferred a Quarter Horse to chase a cow in the off season and put up with a bumpy ride coming off a mountain during the hunting season. I really feel like a registered Quarter Horse has a better chance of becoming a safe reliable horse due to it's breeding rather than any other breeds out there. I've also found a lot of times that it seems like the bigger the horse the more gentler they are and love a nice big draft horse for packing or a half draft as they can carry a big load and seem to be pretty easy going. One trip up to Elk Flats one summer we were short on horses and I rode a big draft horse. Make sure you've done your stretches if you ever find yourself in the same situation.
There's an art to good horsemanship which comes by a lot of time in the saddle. If you get skunked on a hunt with horses the ride back doesn't seem nearly as gruesome as it does when you're afoot. If you down an animal your back will thank you for a friendly horse. The quartering out method seems to me to be the best way to take out an animal when packing since it leaves some solid mass and bone that gives it form and is easy to tie up. Boning out isn't all that bad either but leaves a pile of meat without any stability to it and needs a good set of panniers or bags to get out.
There's all kinds of ways to get a game kill on a spooky horse. Tie up a leg, blindfold it, rub some blood and scent on the horses nose, take your pick and pray for miracles down the trail.
Many times if you're lost or not sure of the trail. The horse will know the way home. I remember a handful of times coming out the bottom of Mahogany canyon almost half asleep in the dark cause I knew the horse knew the way home. Dad had shot a cow elk one year and grandpa had brought our gray horse Sam up to pack it out. They managed to get the elk on the horse but all it took was one backward glance from Sam and they found him back at the ranch. One other time I remember in the bottom of Blind Canyon we had tied up the horses and something must have spooked them because when we got back to where they were supposed to be we found pulled off halters and broken ropes and had a long walk before we found them almost at home.
If you're going to camp overnight with the horses there's all kinds of tricks and tactics to keeping them around close. You better tie one up or stake one out real good though cause no matter what there'll be a time in your life if you take them out often enough you'll need to play cowboy and find strays. Never stake a horse by the halter or leave the halter on if you stake them out. They find a way to get tangled. Stake 'em out by the foot instead.
I don't know what it is about moose but they must really stink to a horse because elk and deer don't seem to bother a horse like a moose does. We had a black pony once and I kid you not I came home from a ride through the field down wind of a moose and we were a good quarter mile away from it and that horse had a major freak out until it couldn't smell the thing.
If you're trying to be a good hunter on horseback there's nothing more annoying than a lonely horse neighing the whole rest of the hunt blowing your cover until you get it back with another horse friend. Get them trained beforehand or keep them with a horse they like to be around to avoid that. I'm already getting mad thinking about how many times that's happened to me.
If you ever get the chance go chase horses at the Siver Spur Ranch in Medicine Lodge, Idaho go and do it. I had the pleasure of being able to fill in as a wrangler a couple times and learned a thing or two. A horse will wear out pretty fast on a gallop but they can go all day on a good trot and really cover some ground and still have steam left by the end of the day.
Good hunts on horses start way before the hunt so put in your time and condition your horses and it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. If not it'll be one of the worst experiences of your life. Do us all a favor and spend quality money on a quality horse that has some proven pedigree behind it. If you only use your horses once every year, trade them in for a motor vehicle and you'll thank me later. Some of my most fondest memories were around horses or from the back of a horse that I could have never experienced on a motor vehicle.
Don't let yourself die slowly behind the edge of a desk. Do what you're passionate about. The bills will always be there. Success and fortune favor the brave. Grab a hunk of mane and slide up into a well oiled saddle on top of a trusty steed and you'll find a freedom that money can't buy. Money is important but make sure your working to live not living to work. Go out and make memories.
(the following pics are some of my grandpa and friends, my Dad, myself, and some good horses)
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