So I tagged out on Tuesday this week. Here is a brief story...
Went out to my backcountry camp spot for opener outside of Winthrop. My brother and bro in law joined in the same general area. Although I spotted 20+ deer during opening morning, none were shoooters. My bro in law was able to connect, so I spent the second day of season helping him and my brother pack it out. It was fun as always to share in the misery of a packout a few miles back.
The rest of my muley season came and went without a shot. I had my chance at "one buck hill" as we call it, but I blew a stalk on a real nice tall, older looking buck.
Thus is life.
Came back home, and had a day off before I had to get back to work, so I took off Tuesday morning to where I like to bear hunt. Foggy all morning, called for a bit with no luck. I decided I would go check my "bearadise" area and find a place to do my business....get to a fresh cut and tree line...a doe and another deer at about 70-80 yards away.
The other deer raised his head, good enough for me, a spike. I took off my pack and the doe caught my movement and ended up leaving as I crept forward a bit, setting my bipod on a stump. The spike was still eating a bit, but stopped once he heard the bipod open up.
I aimed at the shoulder and let loose. The mule (my guns name) kicked him in the shoulder, he stumbled a bit and then started toward the tree line. I shucked another in but missed as he bobbed and weaved through the cut and made it to the brush.
I let him settle for a bit then went looking. He was bed down in the tree line and bolted when I got close. We played cat and mouse for a bit, through some trees and bush, but I was able to get close enough to finish the job. I was surprised to see that the bullet shattered upon impact (fusion brand) and didnt penetrate all the way through the body. He had a busted shoulder and nasty hole, but that was about it.
Anyway, he literally died about 200 yards from where my spring bear died a few years back. I was able to bone him out and get back into town in time to marinade his backstrap for fajitas last night.
Had a bobcat cross 30 yards infront of me on the way out...no shot though...he was just that quick.
Not a big one, but meat in the freezer and good times all around and thats what Im after.
Below are some pics of my drinking fountain for a few days, and other clips from the adventure.
Now for bear!
