Wyoming Wild Bison Hunt Pic's, More Pic's added.

[Halo]

As some may know I was drawn for Wyoming wild any bison nonresident tag #19 out of 22. With the season coming to an end tomorrow I guess its time to post some pic's of my adventures. The season runs from mid August through the first week of January and takes place on the outskirts of the Grand Teton National Park in the National Forest and on the National Elk Refuge. I made three trips over pursuing bison making this hunt the most miles I have ever driven in an attempt to fill a tag. It was also the most I have spent on a tag at $2,502 so I was going to give it my all. The tag was also a good excuse to buy a new rifle, a Savage stainless model 116 Bear Hunter in .338 Win. Mag. with a Leupold VX3 4.5-14 CDS. I spent a ton of time and money trying different rounds for it and getting it all dialed in. With Federal 210 grain Nosler Partitions I got it shooting a 1-2" groups at 200 yards. My first trip over was in late October. I kind of wanted to wait until the bison got "haired up" a little in their winter coats and the heat would not be such an issue with that big of an animal on the ground. My time, being tag holder #19, that I was guaranteed access to the Refuge was December 15th to the 28th, as it turned out I was never denied access. I was told those were great dates and by then the bison would be out of the park and wintering on the Refuge, so I was optimistic. I figured when we headed out in October I might have to make a second trip but didn't think three would be in the cards. I guess I will start with pic's from round 1 and go from there.

[Halo]

More pic's from Bison Quest Round 1, Late October.

[Halo]

Even More Pic's from Bison Quest round 1.

[Halo]

Last of the pic's from Bison Quest round 1.

[MADMAX]

Great pics
Did you get a bison ?

[Halo]

Well, round 1 was an education in hunting wild bison. Those things know the park boundary's like you would not believe. We only saw bison outside the park one time, that was at first light and when they saw us driving up the road from a half mile or more away they ran full speed back across the line and then came to a screeching halt and continued to graze 30' inside the park. The boundary is only marked every 50 yards with a post like a freeway road reflector, and most of those are missing or bent over from bison moose etc. rubbing on them. As we pulled up to within 50 yards of the now completely relaxed and grazing bison just feet inside the park We figured out there were other hunters just ahead of us on the road, including an outfitter pulling a horse trailer. So here are 3 tag holders, an outfitter and a half dozen other people standing around debating the zigzagging boundary with maps and GPS's and there 50 yards away are 450 bison that know exactly where the boundary is. That is where I realized I had severely underestimated my opponent.

[boneaddict]

I have so dreamed of going there to photgraph moose.    You are living the dream man!   PS I put in for it every year, obviously have never been drawn.   

[Halo]

Round 2 was the first week of December, This time it would be motel time, round 1 we took my travel trailer. When we hit Jackson on round 1 pulling the trailer it started to snow the minute we unhooked the trailer and snowed off and on the whole time. when we left I never saw anything but white on the road for the first 2 hours but was OK then. I didn't figure December road conditions would be as kind, that was one of the few things I was right about. So now its time for pic's from round 2.

[bearpaw]

great pictures....

[BOWHUNTER45]

WOW.. Awesome photos man .. that moose is a dandy ... Now where is your buffalo 

[Halo]

More pic's from Bison Quest round 2, (first week of December)

[Widgeondeke]

The photo op alone would be worth the 1st trip.   Can't wait for the rest of the story.
Thx for sharing.

[bearpaw]

looks like its going to be a successful hunt... 

[Halo]

Last of the pic's from Bison Quest round 2

[Widgeondeke]

You musta scared that last bull moose.   He dropped his raisins 

See I didnt use a "bad" word