Snake River Outdoors Fall 2015

Training starts earlyat Hun Hill Kennels

A dog’s life

Recreational access offers hunting just outside Ontario

Unique partnership

OUTDOORSSnake River

FALL 2015

2 SNAKE RIVER OUTDOORS Fall 2015

EditorKristi Albertson

Letter from the Editor

Natalie Snook photo

Natalie Snook photo

Kelly Jones photo

Nancy Kimball photo

SNAKE RIVER OUTDOORS Fall 2015 3

OUTDOORSSnake River

Publisher EditorsJohn Dillon Kristi Albertson

Leslie Thompson

DesignersTom PerrymanLori Schaffeld

Melissa Swetland

ContributorsKyle BratcherApril EhrlichJessica ElseEd HoffmanKelly Jones

Nancy Kimball

Larry MeyerLisa Puccio

Mike SchaffeldNatalie Snook

Brandon WaltonJim Yuskavitch

AdvertisingDebbie Regalado

Kelly JonesLark MacKenzieDoug Spencer

Contact informationSnake River Outdoors

c/o The Argus Observer1160 S.W. Fourth St.

Ontario OR [email protected]

Advertising inquiries(541) 823-4816

Snake River Outdoors is a publication of

The Argus Observer, a division of Wick Communications Co.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Western Treasure Valley.

Copyright 2015 by The Argus Observer.

ATV & UTVAccessories

Take I-84 Go West Past Ontario to Exit 374

541-889-4099

WWW.EDGEPERFORMANCESPORTS.COM

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UTVs

Hunter’sHeadquarters

FOR ATV’S, UTV’S, HUNTING ACCESSORIES, & MORE!ATVs

HUNTING ACCESSORIES,

Fishing:Salmon, steelhead forecasts look good

16

Big game hunting:

could help hunters

14Outlook

28

Ontario 3C Busters:Youth shooting team sets sights on competition

34Young Sportsmen

On the cover: Hunting dogs live the good life at this Weiser training facility.

See the story on page 20.

Pheasants Forever:Group creates unique recreation opportunity

6Spotlight

Mike Schaffeld:Passion for hunting takes guide around the world

28

FoodDutch oven:Satisfy hungry families with a camp-ready recipe

10

WildlifeBighorn sheep:Leslie Gulch home to healthy herd

18Tag em & bag em

Your submitted trophy kills and catches

38’ ’


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208-919-1911

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Malheur County Chapter of Pheasants Forever has public access to 600 acres to hunting and � shing

on Ontario Recreational Access property.

Looking for Committee Members and volunteers for habitat projects.

Come join the PF Team : Call 541-881-6491 for more info

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Looking for Committee Members and volunteers for habitat projects.

PF Goal is to Bring Back the Tradition.

Call 541-881-6491 for more info

PF Goal is to Bring Back the Tradition.

“Thank you, to the TCCV Natural Resource Dept. for their many years of support to the local PF Chapter!”


UNIQUERecreational access offers hunting just outside Ontario

Story and photos by Larry Meyer

partnership


TThere may not be many communities that have a hunting reserve within about a stone’s throw of their city limits, but that is exactly what Ontario has.

Ontario Recreational Access opened to the public Sept. 1, 2008, funded by an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Access and Habitat Grant and the Malheur County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, said Dave Stiefvater, county chairman of Pheasants Forever.

Located on the city of Ontario’s wastewater treatment property northwest of the city, the recreational access has two points of entry. One is along Malheur Drive on the south side of the property. The other entry is on the northwest corner, off Foothill Drive.

“It’s all walk in and walk out,” Stiefvater said. Before the property was leased by Pheasants Forever,

came up for renewal, Pheasants Forever decided to get the lease in order to provide hunting access, Stiefvater said.

“Members would bring their hunting dogs,” he said.Though Pheasants Forever didn’t build it themselves,

people have come, he added. In the seven years since it has opened, more than 3,100 people have accessed the property.

permit and place it in the drop box before entering the

drop box when leaving the recreational access.

Permits and drop boxes are located at the kiosks at the entrances to the property. The kiosks also include information on the property boundaries, safety and safety zones.

The safety zones keep hunting activities from getting too close to private property and buildings, Stiefvater said.

Pheasants Forever members and Treasure Valley Community College natural resource students take information from the access permits and create annual harvest reports.

According to data taken from permits left in drop boxes at the entry gates, more than 3,100 visitors have utilized the facility since it was opened to the public in 2008. Of those, about 17 to 20 percent are hunters from out of state and visitors from elsewhere in Oregon, Stiefvater said. People have come from as far away as Florida and Pennsylvania on the east, and from Alaska on the west.

Locals are using the site as well, Stiefvater added.

“It’s a great opportunity for local people,” he said. The site provides good hunting opportunities, he

said. In 2014-15, 334 visitors harvested 53 quail,


48 doves, 18 pheasants, 130 ducks and 22 geese.“It’s free to the public,” Stiefvater said of the

recreational access. “It’s always open to the community.”A lot of people take their hunting dogs out to the

area for training, he said, and it popular with local high schools students who enjoy hunting after school.

Pheasants Forever works to increase pheasant populations though such efforts as improving habitat along with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and other organizations. Money raised at Pheasants Forever’s annual banquet goes to habitat projects, Stiefvater said.

Hunters seem appreciative, he added. While pheasant numbers have declined from years past,

“Every motel was booked in advance,” Stiefvater said.

kind in the United States, Stiefvater said. It is a unique partnership between the city, ODFW and TVCC’s natural resources department.

“We have a very successful project,” he said. “It’s surprising how many people don’t know about it.”

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Story and photos by April Ehrlich

Pack up the oven, take it with you

Going

DutchDutch

G

12 WTV MAGAZINE Fall 2015

Cooking with cast iron Dutch ovens

When cooking with a cast iron Dutch oven, outdoor chefs will probably want a chimney starter, Tally said. It’s a small metal cylinder in which cooks can stack bisquettes for heating up. Chefs can crumple some newspaper beneath the

wait for them to get hot enough to turn gray. This can take 10 to 15 minutes.

Once the coals are mostly gray, they are hot enough for cooking.

When the coals are ready, chefs

whatever recipe they desire. Tally suggests trying her enchilada

requires very little preparation.Once the oven is ready for

cooking, form a circle of coals on the ground or on a metal table. Place a metal trivet on top of them, then put the Dutch oven on top of that. Now line the oven’s lid with coals.

To know how many coals to use, Tally suggests looking at the number on the Dutch oven’s lid. That number represents the size of the lid’s diameter. Subtract three from that number to know how many coals to put underneath it, then add three to know how many to put on top.

For instance, if someone is working with a 10-inch Dutch oven, he should place seven coals underneath it, then 13 more coals on top.

Once that is done, just wait for the

to gauge how hot the oven is. Tally uses what she calls the “1-2-3-ouch!” method: She hovers her hand over the oven and counts to three. If she has to remove her hand after three seconds because of the heat, then the oven is likely around 350 degrees, she said.

When the meal is done cooking, remove the lid with a Dutch oven lid lifter — a tool that can be found at a kitchen supply store. Allow the food to cool long enough to handle, then serve and enjoy!

Everyday cast iron careThe big rule of thumb is knowing

how to care for a cast iron Dutch oven, Tally said.

Cast iron is a porous material, Tally explained, so it will soak up whatever soap is used. The soap will remain in its pores even after the oven is rinsed. It will go rancid, and that will get into food.

Instead, scrape out whatever food is left on the cookware once it has cooled to room temperature. Kitchen supply stores sell special

purpose, or use a wooden spoon. Then rinse with warm water and place the Dutch oven onto a heat source to cook off the water, like a stove burner or barbecue. The high heat will kill any germs. Once it’s done drying, rub a paper towel with a little bit of oil and wipe down the cookware with it.

A Dutch oven lid lifter will make handling your Dutch oven much easier. Jody Tally uses the tool to lift the oven’s lid and to rotate the pot to ensure even cooking when baking.


Supplies:10-inch Dutch oven (smaller or larger for different serving size)Dutch oven lid lifterMetal trivetHot padsMetal tongs

Ingredients:1 15-ounce can red enchilada sauce1 15-ounce can black beans2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack or

Monterey jack work well)1 pound ground beef

1 large onion, dicedCooking oil (olive, vegetable or canola)

Heat up oil in a pan or cast iron skillet for 5 minutes. The oil will start to shimmer when ready.

Toss in ground beef. Break it up with a wooden spatula and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until meat is fully cooked and evenly brown. Drain any leftover liquid.

Add onion. Cook until translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.Open and drain the can of black beans. Add them to the

ground beef skillet and cook until heated through, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce at the bottom of the Dutch oven. Lay a tortilla down. Trim the tortilla if it is too large, or add strips of another tortilla if it does not cover the bottom.

Spread out a layer of the black bean and meat mixture, then sprinkle a layer of cheese. You can make these layers as thick or thin as you like. Add a tortilla.

Repeat until the ingredients run out or until the Dutch oven is full.

Add one last tortilla and dampen it with a touch of enchilada sauce. This ensures the tortilla does not get crispy when cooking.

Cook until cheese is melted and food is heated through, about 20 minutes.

Dutch oven enchiladas

Old and oily cast ironThe best kind of cast iron

Dutch oven is an old one. That’s because it’s made out of a stronger material. It also has years of use, or “seasoning,” within it, thus adding a

There can be a problem with old cast iron cookware, though — it can be rusty. Rust occurs when cast iron is stored wet. This is why cookware should be heated every time it is rinsed.

Old cast iron can also look a little bubbly or shiny, or it can be sticky to the touch. This is from storing the cookware with excess oil.

Both situations call for the use of soap and steel wool. While you might not want to use this cleaning method on an everyday basis, it’s OK in extreme circumstances. Excess oil can also be removed by putting cast iron over a really hot

off.Once the pan has been scraped

down to its core, it will need to be reseasoned. Rub it down with oil or shortening, wipe off excess oil with a paper towel, then bake the cookware in a 400-degree oven or grill for 45 to 60 minutes. The end result should be a healthy-looking sheen, almost as if the cookware were coated in

Dutch oven enchiladas


For this year’s big game hunting prospects, the operative word is “winter,” in that there hardly was one in most of the state. While a

warm winter and low snowpack brings with it potential problems for farmers,

it also facilitates better overwinter survival for all age classes of big game animals.

very bad news for sage grouse, but

created a mosaic of early successional growth that deer, elk and other animals

populations along. These and other factors point to a potentially good 2015 big game hunting season, and in some parts of Oregon perhaps better than we have seen in some time. In fact, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently planning to increase

controlled deer tags by about 1 percent statewide, and elk tags by 3 percent.Here’s what a sampling of ODFW wildlife biologist are saying about big game for 2015.

Deer Overall mule deer numbers are down throughout the state, although that is the case across the western U.S. and not just in Oregon. However, that doesn’t necessarily translate into lower populations and reduced hunting opportunities across the board. According to Justin Primus, ODFW assistant district wildlife biologist in Baker City, mule deer numbers are stable to increasing and buck-to-doe ratios are at a decent 15:100, although fawn-to-doe ratios are a little low at 30:100 (38 to 40 would be better for growing the populations). Nevertheless, “Because of the mild winter there was good overwinter survival and there should be a fair

number of older class bucks available,” Primus said. “Our deer are doing pretty good and are mostly at management objectives,” John Day assistant district wildlife biologist Angelique Curtis said. Things are looking especially good in the Murderers Creek unit with a fawn-to-doe ratio of 41:100, which means an increasing population, while the Northside Unit has a ratio of 29:100. While the John Day area isn’t known for trophy bucks, Curtis expects

forked-horned animals to harvest. The mule deer situation in the High Desert Region around Burns is less rosy, with the deer population below management objectives in all area units. On a positive note, the animals went into winter in good body conditions, and because the weather was mild, came out of it in good condition as well. One big concern is that the High Desert has had several

Story by Jim Yuskavitch, Oregon Hunters Association


years of severe drought, and another dry summer would suppress vegetation growth with an adverse affect on deer, particularly in the desert units. “Overall, though, we had good survival and it should be a pretty good year for deer hunters, but we are watching our desert units,” said Autumn Larkins, assistant district wildlife biologist at ODFW’s Hines

Elk Elk are doing very well in the eastern half of the state. Curtis, in John Day, reports that elk are above management objectives for all their units. “It will be great elk hunting this year,” she said. She also noted that much of the

Murderers Creek unit burned in a patchwork that has created very desirable habitat conditions for ungulates. Elk in the High Desert units are also doing great. “We are above [management objectives] in all of our elk units — Silvies, Malheur and a good chunk of the High Desert elk hunt,” Larkins said. In northeast Oregon, Primus said, “Elk are increasing as well, with the Lookout Mountain unit at management objective and Pine Creek and Keating elk numbers also very good.” A big problem for elk managers in this part of the state is limiting elk-caused crop

damage, but blocks of private land often prevent hunters from getting access to reduce herd numbers where needed.

Pronghorn As with any big game species, pronghorn have their ups and downs, but in general rarely give wildlife managers much to worry about as far as big population declines go. They are pretty steady and reliable and that remains true for 2015 as well.

Rocky Mountain goat Rocky Mountain goat populations continue to thrive in Oregon. Last year the Strawberry Mountain herd

tag (with the tag winner successfully harvesting an animal) and another tag will be offered again this year. “Mountain goats are doing well,” Primus said. With about 180 animals, the Elkhorn herd provides the source animals for reintroductions into new areas and supplementing established populations around the state. One recent translocation was the reintroduction of Rocky Mountain goats into the central Oregon Cascades. However, Primus reports that so far there are no requests from any of the ODFW districts for animals for this year.

Bighorn sheep Although, as in other parts of the

West, bighorns in Oregon sometimes have problems with disease outbreaks, for the most part they are doing well and numbers are generally stable. The Lookout Mountain herd is the only one in the state that has never had any disease issues, according to Primus. “We have a few old age class rams and a few in the 180 to 185 range,” he said. In the John Day area, the McClellan and Aldrich Mountain herds are doing well, although in southeast Oregon the Riverside bighorn hunt has been cancelled for the time being due to a decline in that herd. ODFW biologists have been seeing more lambs recently, indicating the animals may be rebuilding their numbers again.

though, and Hines-based biologist Larkins reports: “We have lots of mature rams.” She also notes that “ODFW manages bighorns conservatively so that when hunters draw a once-in-a-lifetime tag they have a very good chance of getting an animal.”


Idaho Indications are that Chinook and steelhead returns are looking good. Fishing is not allowed in all rivers; for a complete list of seasons, rules and

idaho.gov.

Chinook salmon Forty thousand Chinook are expected

good number, it is down from 60,000 last year. This drop was due to the excessively high temperatures during the summer months. But despite the high temperatures having an effect on not only the salmon

Game doesn’t foresee it causing a big

actually show up,” said Joe DuPont,

based in Lewiston. According to Idaho Fish and Game, the Chinook salmon that do show are expected to be quite a bit bigger than they were last year — at least 20 pounds bigger, in fact. However, like last year, many of

and will need to be released.

Steelhead The outlook for steelhead this fall should mirror that of last season when approximately 70,000 passed through Lower Granite Dam. But it may take some time for the steelhead to get here as Idaho Fish and Game expects a slow start to the season, again due to the high water temperatures caused by this summer’s heat.

holding out in the ocean waiting for

temperatures to cool, and those entering the Columbia seem to be taking their time getting to Idaho,” DuPont said. “The counts should really pick up as water temperatures cool in the Columbia.”

Oregon

Oregon, the forecast is positive as well.Fishing is not allowed in all rivers; for a complete list of rules and regulations, visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/

Chinook salmon Expect high numbers once again for Chinook salmon. Oregon Fish and

be more than 900,000 Chinook this season.

down from the nearly 1.6 million that were in Oregon rivers last year.

Jkicks into high gear. The forecast is looking good for both Idaho and Oregon.


Chris Kern, the Columbia River

heat.

in several locations across the state

primarily due to disease outbreaks

and concerning, but probably unlikely

Coho salmon

Oregon rivers this season. This is

catch last year. “We may see some issues on

not unusual. “Whether those become more

Steelhead Well over 300,000 steelhead should

year.

substantial changes in catch rates or

good. “Temperatures have moderated and


If your travels take you near Jordan Valley, then you should travel just a bit farther to Leslie Gulch. There you will have a chance see some

truly majestic animals: Leslie Gulch features a large population of bighorn sheep. “They are an elusive animal out there. Out of all my trips into the [Owyhee] Canyonlands, I have only seen them a few times,” said Tim Davis, founder of Friends of the Owyhee, a conservation group. The bighorn sheep at Leslie Gulch are part of the total 4,500 bighorn sheep in the state of Oregon and the third oldest herd in the state. The California bighorn sheep were put

there in 1965. Between 1965 and 2002, biologists released a total of 124 sheep in seven releases into Leslie Gulch.

Mountain in Plush between 1965 and 2000. The other two came from British Columbia in 2001 and 2002. There are now approximately 350 bighorn sheep at Leslie Gulch. To maintain and care for the sheep populations, groups like the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management have installed guzzlers to make sure the sheep have clean water. According to Scott Torland, the assistant district wildlife biologist at

are “a system that collects precipitation and stores it in a tank, providing quality drinking water for wildlife.” They were installed at the tops of the ridge away from Owyhee Reservoir with the hope of having the sheep drink from the guzzlers and not the reservoir, which provides water for irrigators and sportsmen alike. Another issue that comes with taking care of the sheep has to do with the diseases they contract. “Sheep don’t come without challenges. Bighorn sheep that come in contact with domestic sheep get respiratory diseases,” Torland said. “Infected bighorn sheep herds experience all age class mortalities, lamb recruitment drops drastically, and die-off may occur where 70 percent of the herd is lost.” But Torland said biologists take precautions to ensure the sheep’s safety.

350 bighorn sheep make home in Leslie Gulch

MAJESTIC HERD

Story by Brandon Walton


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“Maintaining separation from domestic sheep is the best way to avoid contact,” he said. “Veterinary labs at several universities are working diligently to better understand

“Fortunately, the sheep in Leslie Gulch and the Owyhee unit do not have respiratory diseases and are healthy and growing.” To help with the costs of caring for the sheep, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife auctions one bighorn sheep tag each year.

in an additional $60,000. This year, 10 bighorn sheep tags will be authorized for the Owyhee unit and will be spread out over three different seasons. “Bighorn sheep hunting is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for hunters in Oregon,” Torland said. “Bighorn sheep hunting is very popular hunting, and without sportsmen’s dollars we would not have a bighorn sheep program.” The bighorn sheep in general have a lot of support in the area. “Sportsmen and sportsmen’s groups are very engaged in sheep management and a pleasure to work with,” Torland said. “Having a dedicated fund to support research, develop new herds and maintain sheep existing herds is an invaluable asset. “We conduct bighorn sheep surveys from a helicopter, which gives a view of bighorn sheep and their habitats which is truly an unforgettable experience.” But there are some risks to having bighorn sheep in the area, particularly when it comes to grazing. “Ranchers that run domestic sheep operations have been affected by bighorn sheep on public lands,” Torland said. “But in coordination with BLM, domestic sheep are

bighorn habitats.” The only issue that Torland mentions is that there are no restrictions for landowners when it comes to their private

most part, ranchers don’t mind having the sheep on their property. “Landowners enjoy having bighorn sheep on the landscape and are concerned over the well-being of bighorn sheep,” Torland said.

20 SNAKE RIVER OUTDOORS Fall 201520 SNAKE RIVER OUTDOORS Fall 2015

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LISA PUCCIO

STORY BY JESSICA ELSE


Shoop is a 3-year-old wirehaired pointing griffon who hails from Montana and is currently in

school for bird dogs at Hun Hill Kennels, a training company located just outside of Weiser. Her long, wiry hair bristles out from the sides of her face, framing a happy-go-lucky grin that is matched by a wagging tail. After returning from a morning of hunting lessons, Shoop buzzes with excitement, but Frank Puccio, owner of Hun Hill Kennels and professional hunting dog trainer, says that hasn’t always been the case.

“Shoop, she’s a rescue dog,” Puccio said. “She was born in Alaska and she’s had three owners, but this last guy, he is a good one.” Puccio has had Shoop for about a month, and he said it took the dog awhile before she adjusted to being at the kennel. Now, though, she’s enthusiastically learning what she was bred to do: track down birds. Puccio said he suspected it hasn’t been easy for Shoop, because she’s had to transition so many times in her life, but she’s happy and at home at the kennel now, and he’s sure she’ll be happy to see her owner. “That’s one of the rewarding things



about [training dogs],” Puccio said. “They’re taken out of their element, and we get to win them over.” Puccio said it always takes awhile to adjust, but when he’s taking the dogs

fast friends. “It never takes long to adjust back when the owners come and pick them up, either,” Puccio said, “but there is adjustment.” Puccio said hunters go one of two routes when they decide they need professional help to train their dogs: They can train with him hourly and then take the dog home with a few new tactics to practice, or they can leave

the dog with Puccio and his wife, Lisa, for daily training. “It takes about three months of regular training to take them from a

Puccio said. Puccio recommends beginning informal training at around 8 weeks, which means getting the puppy into the

all of the sights and smells of the world. “They start out timid and shy and curious,” Puccio said. “Getting them

everything that’s out there.” Taking a puppy outside daily and

Previous pages: Charlie is on point.

Above: Jinx checks out her work for the day.



developing a dog that will come to its owner on command. “If you take a dog out there and just

there’s too many new smells and

there are too many neat things to

recommends starting them in formal

a mild electric shock to get the dog’s attention.


Young puppies have fun with a chew toy.

Shoop is a 3-year-old wirehaired pointing griffon who hails from Montana and recently trained to hunt birds at Hun Hill Kennels.


“We have a reputation of being one of the more light-handed trainers,” Puccio said. “We don’t rough up the dogs.” Puccio works with a reward-based system and mainly uses ropes in his training. He said the keys for training a dog are time and experience. “It takes an even temperament and time for the dogs to learn,” Puccio said. “There are some trainers that crank up the electric collar and they break them more quickly, but we don’t do that. We use a gentle hand.” Puccio has been working with wirehaired pointing griffons for 17 years. He got started with the breed when Lisa decided she wanted a dog that was “more civilized” in the house than the German shorthair pointers they were breeding. “Griffons have an on/off switch,” Puccio explained. “They don’t counter surf or tear up the furniture, but you can turn the switch to on, and they are full of spirit when they are out hunting.” Puccio trains all types of pointing breeds, which is a class of bird dogs that track the scent of the bird and stop on point before they get too close and startle it. “The hunter startles the bird up, and

Within the pointing class of bird dogs is the versatile pointer class. That class includes dogs, like the wirehaired pointing griffon, that are good in the water as well as with upland fowl. Puccio said the wirehaired pointing griffon is a lesser known breed, but it is gaining popularity because the dogs have hypoallergenic hair and a great temperament.

Puccio said. Puccio owns seven dogs, including an 8-year-old championship-winning stud who goes by the name of Jacque. Jacque, whose registered name is VC CH Griffe D’Automne Mr. Brown, is a bench champion with the American Kennel Club and is a Versatile Champion with the National Versatile Hunting Dog Association. “Jacque has won it all,” Puccio said. “He’s so well-known throughout the Northwest that he’s pretty much sold

Kora perfects her fetching skills on water.


Puccio gives Kora a lift because the ground is covered in puncturevine.

Kora gets to pause during a busy day for a water break.


himself out of the area.” That’s because Jacque has fathered around 300 puppies, and he won’t be out of commission for a couple of more years. While Jacque is still potent, Puccio said he’ll collect deposits from the dog and freeze them, making

insemination long after the dog himself is gone. “They’ve made huge strides in

Puccio said. “It’s been around a long time, but it’s far more reliable now.”

insemination for breeding the bird dogs, and through the technology, he has access to studs all over the world. “I spend hours and hours matching genes,” Puccio said. Once he’s found the perfect gene match, Puccio turns his attention to the health screenings. For wirehaired pointing griffons, his main concern is the condition of the hips. “Hip dysplasia is a common problem among the griffons,” Puccio said. “The dogs have to be in the 75th percentile or higher in order to be considered for breeding.” Puccio also considers the rest of the dog’s physical condition before moving on to the next step in the process, which is taking a look at the dog’s record in hunting tests. The American Kennel Club and the National Versatile Hunting Dog Association both offer hunt tests at which the dogs compete against a standard. Each dog that competes gets a score, and those scores tell breeders like Puccio what kind of hunting talents the dog has. “We’re go for quality, not quantity,” Puccio said. “We’ll only breed the best dogs with the best genes.” Puccio sells his puppies for around $1,500, which he said is in the middle range for the cost of well-bred hunting dogs. He only has one or two litters every year, which can range from two puppies per litter, to up to 10 or more. “The biggest litter we’ve had was 13 puppies,” Puccio said. “We’ve named them the Lucky 13, because they’re doing so well in the hunting tests right now. They’re winning everything.” For those who have bird dogs, now

Puccio receives a bird from her trusty sidekick, Jinx. Jinx won the cover photo of The Argus Observer’s 2015 calendar.

Baby Bree lies around enjoying the summer sun.

Lisa Puccio says: “Griffs have the cutest faces, in my opinion.”



Jacque, an 8-year-old championship-winning stud, is one of seven dogs owned by the Puccios. Jacque has al-ready fathered around 300 puppies and won’t be out of commission for a couple of more years.


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is the time for dogs and hunters alike to get in shape before this year’s season comes around. “Hunting dogs are athletes,” Puccio said. “When you go out there, you’re going to ask them to run 5 miles or

careful in the heat.” Puccio said if the dog has spent the entire off-season lying around the house, it’s going to take some time to get it back into shape — just like it will take the owner’s body awhile to get used to the exercise of the hunt. “I recommend going out for daily walks on the leash, but you have get the dogs out and run them off the leash, too,” Puccio said. “It’s a good time for bonding with your dog.”

Puccio and Skete pause for a photo after an American Ken-nel Club hunt test. The test was for her Junior Hunter title. It takes four ribbons to get the title, and this was her third, so she has one more to go.



Many people in the Western Treasure Valley like to hunt, but for those of us who have never

seem daunting. Where do you even start? Where do you go? When is the best time, and how do you get a license?

The best answer, of course, is to follow the lead of a more adept hunter. That is where a hunting guide could come in handy.

Mike Schaffeld of High Lonesome Hunts outside Vale leads hunts for both inexperienced

and well-practiced outdoorsmen aiming to learn something new. He specializes in just about anything — elk, deer, antelope, sheep, birds, coyotes. You name it, and if you’ve got a tag for it, he can help you out.

Choosing an animal to hunt depends on the time of year and the state you’re in, as does choosing your weapon of choice. All of this is outlined on a case-by-case basis by each state’s Fish and Game department.

“The law requires a certain caliber of guns for certain animals,” Schaffeld said. “I recommend good modern cartridges and guns.”

Hunting guidance

Venturing on hunting tours the professional way

Mike Schaffeld plays the customer role during a guided hunting tour in Africa. Here, he is pictured with a warthog he successfully nabbed.


He said the biggest mistake he sees most frequently is someone handling a gun that is too big for their weight.

“If you’ve got too big of a gun,

As for time of year, it’s best to hunt during mating season

November in Oregon. The season

them with an elk horn or bugle.

squeal through his bugle as a demonstration.

makeshift tree house to hunt.

tree, string some meat along one

There are various ways to

made the kill. If the terrain allows,

designated wildernesses tend to

the body there. The operation

storage.


“If it’s warm, like in archery season, you’ll have to be careful with the meat temperature,” Schaffeld said.

Schaffeld has been hunting for as long as he can remember. He started with a BB gun when he was 6 years old, aiming for squirrels and birds.

“I just loved it,” he recalled. “Every chance I could, I went.”

There’s something peaceful about the experience. It’s also a means of exercise and getting outdoors, he said.

He kept at it all through his adult life until one day, 32 years ago, he decided to turn it into a business. Schaffeld dedicated enough hours for it to be a full-time job, all while he managed his family farm in Willowcreek, 10 miles outside Vale. He farms cattle, hay, grain and corn.

rafting trips as well, but lately he has become more of a full-time farmer and part-time hunter, he said, so his tours are limited. His

farm has had a good season this year, so he’s focused more on that.

There’s also not much of a demand for hunting guides in this neck of the woods.

“It’s the culture,” Schaffeld said. “Most people around here grew up hunting with their family as a tradition.”

Even if someone grew up hunting, there is always more to learn. For this reason, Schaffeld goes on hunting tours with other guides, particularly in foreign countries. In Africa, he and his guides have hunted warthogs, cheetahs and zebras. The meat from these kills was served to local residents, who eat the animals frequently.

Schaffeld tried a little bit of the zebra. The verdict: “It wasn’t bad.”

“The thing about my business is, there are other hunters who are just as good or better hunters than me,” he said. “I just fell into the job and decided to take people with me.”

Even as an experienced hunter, Schaffeld has run into trouble in

a bear bite that happened in 2001.He was camped out in a sleeping

bag and no tent, when a black bear jumped over a log and landed on top of him. Schaffeld awoke and they broke into a brawl. The bear bit his hand, he punched the bear in the nose, the bear took another swipe and Schaffeld kicked him down. Eventually the bear ran off, taking with him Schaffeld’s sleeping bag and toothpaste.

Black bears do not usually attack people without reason, he said.

“Attacks like that are rare,” Schaffeld said. “That was just a

me.”Despite the infrequent face-off

with a wild animal, Schaffeld said taking inexperienced hunters on guided tours is what he likes most about this job. “I like taking beginners,” he said. “They are usually more appreciative than

“I like taking beginners,” he said. “They are usually more appreciative than some experienced hunters. Kids especially.”

From left, Schaffeld poses with Ryan Crane, Danny Silveria and their mule deer on a guided hunt in eastern Oregon.

Schaffeld helps young hunters Matthew Mcbride and Peter Mc-bride in catching a mallard duck in Willowcreek.


Schaffeld hosts guided hunting tours as a professional, but he also participates in them as a customer. Here is a blue wildebeest he shot during a hunt in Africa.

A bushbuck is a type of antelope from Africa. Schaffeld took part in a guided hunt while he was there and managed to nab this animal.

Schaffeld keeps a collection of his hunts in a building just outside his home. Shown is a nyala he caught in Africa.

Schaffeld shot this goat during one of his guided hunting tours with High Lonesome Hunts.

Schaffeld is a professional, well-traveled hunter. Here sits a Dall sheep he shot in Alaska.

Schaffeld keeps all his hunted trophies in a “man cave,” complete with a bar and pool table. The cougar pictured once tried to attack him, but he shot the animal once on the side and once in the neck.

some experienced hunters. Kids especially.”

He offers this advice to those

hunting trip. “Practice persistence,” he said.

“Even after not being successful for a few days, keep going.”

Persistence and patience are key in hunting, he said. Sometimes hunters come home empty-handed, but that is not the point of hunting. The point is getting outdoors, getting exercise and enjoying the company of those nearby, he said.

are staff members from High Lonesome Hunts, back row from left, Brad Jacobs, Dave Seida, Dusty Bourasa and Schaffeld. At center is Thomas and her husband Brad.


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Above: Schaffeld took down a wild pig during a guided hunt in California.

At left: From left, Rick Caussel, Dan Francio-ni, Dusty Bourasa, Ryan Crane and Schaffeld pose with their prize mule deer during a guided hunt in eastern Oregon.


STORY AND PHOTOS BY LESLIE THOMPSON


For the past four years, on any given Thursday or Sunday afternoon, the Ontario 3C Busters youth shooting team can be found at the Snake River Sportsmen shotgun range setting their sights on various targets.

“Let your eyes focus and don’t hurry,” coach Mike Strong said at the beginning of a practice round in mid-August. “Take your time and do it on your speed.”

Strong is the president and shotgun director for Snake River Sportsmen, the team’s sponsor. The youths shoot for the Scholastic Clay Target Program, and all scores are reported to the Amateur Trapshooting Association. Team members may live in Oregon or Idaho. They can join as young as 10 years old and stay on through high school. After that, if members are still interested in competitive shooting, there are collegiate teams to join.

Team members are taught all three disciplines of shotgun shooting: trap, skeet and sporting clays.

There is no off-season for shooting targets; practice is year-round for its members. All shotgun shells and travel to tournaments are paid for. Strong said that is thanks to grants through the Friends of the NRA, which is geared toward fundraising for the

“In the last two years, the Friends have given 3C Busters $40,000 in grants,” Strong said.

That really helps the bottom line, because during each practice, the youths will shoot 50 to 100 rounds and a couple of boxes of traps. On occasion, the youths get the opportunity to practice skeet shooting with Bill Kishpaugh, the team’s assistant coach.

All that practice pays off when the team members head to competition. Most of the tournaments the youths participate in are hosted by the Amateur Trapshooting Association or the

Association.The youths had a busy summer

with competition. They went to the

Scholastic Clay Target Program’s Oregon State Championships on Memorial Day weekend,

place in the senior division trap shoot. The team’s two leading shooters, Taylor Dominguez and

and third highest in trap overall, respectively.

The team also shot at the

Trapshoot Association’s state shoot in Caldwell. While there was no team competition, the youths did well individually, Strong said.

Smith won eight out of nine events, Aiden Dwyer placed in the out-of-state shooter event, and Parker Blake placed in the handicap shooting event. That event is based on the number of wins and the distance shot from.

The 3C Busters all shoot from the 18- or 19-yard line, Strong said. The better they are, the farther back from the target they go.

“The idea is that the ultimate goal is to reach the 27-yard line,”

Scholastic Shooters

There are six members on the Ontario 3C Busters. Though there have been several girls who have joined in the past, there are none on the team today.

Here are the team members’ names, where they are from, how long they’ve been on the team and whether they hunt.

Taylor Dominguez, Fruitland, three years, hunts birds and game Ethan Smith, Boise, four years, hunts birds Caden Roper, Payette, started in August, hunts birds and big game Aidan Dwyer, Ontario, three years, hunts deer Parker Blake, Meridian, three years, hunts duck Jake Nelson, Ontario, two years, the team’s tech guy, doesn’t hunt

Ontario’s youth shooting team aims for competitions

Meet the team:


he said.Getting to that range is no easy

feat, though. Strong, who has been shooting a shotgun for 17 years, shoots from the 21-yard line.

Before that, he shot with a pistol for 25 years doing police combat shooting, which he began in 1972 when he started working for the FBI. While he was in the Army, Strong started shooting competitively and got to travel all over the country by competing on a national pistol team.

“Our team won a title three times,” Strong said.

Blake, who is from Meridian and has been shooting with the 3C Busters for three years, placed in a handicap event this year, too. It was at the Oregon State PITA shoot in Hillsboro. That event drew shooters from Washington, Oregon, California and Canada,

with a handicap of 95, then lost in a shootout.

“He was shooting against veteran shooters, though,” Strong said, “so it was quite an accomplishment from him.”

Blake, who also hunts ducks, said his favorite part about going to the competitions is spending extra time with his teammates and getting to meet new people at the different events.

With competitions happening year-round, team members also deal with various weather-related challenges.

Some of the team members don’t like shooting in the heat and said it presents a challenge when sweat gets in their eye just as the target launches. Still others said after awhile it’s easy to acclimate to different weather conditions, including wind, which can change the direction of the shot enough to miss a target.

“It’s easier in the winter on a white background,” Blake said of

in front of him.But the weather hasn’t deterred

the team members from enjoying themselves.

“You get super competitive,” Dwyer said.

And while the team is continuing with its regular competitions, Strong is aiming to get them more experience. A year ago, he spent four days at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Their biggest interest was getting us trained to get kids up to international shooting levels,” Strong said.

That means their sights could soon be set on getting on the Junior Olympics shooting team.

Top left: While team members are practicing, coach Mike Strong steps forward to offer advice as needed. Here he’s talking with Parker Blake.Top right: Caden Roper, of Payette, tries his hand at shooting trap. He started in mid-August and is the newest member of the Ontario 3C Busters.Middle: Aidan Dwyer, of Ontario, gets ready to

of him.Bottom: Parker Blake, left, blasts a skeet that

are visible in the sky near the right edge of the photo.


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Members of Ontario 3C Busters gather around tables in the shade on a hot day to take a break from shooting and rehydrate.

Ontario 3C Buster members and a couple of visitors get into position to do a round of skeet shooting.

Ontario 3C Busters coach Mike Strong, left, gives advice to new-

est member Caden Roper. Strong reassures the shooter to let his eyes

focus and take his time.

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