Well it looks like I'm going to have to do it alone this year. My son and I drew out for the SE Utah San Juan tag this year, but he is back up in Washington working and can't get the time off for Hunting.
My dad was going to come and go with me, but my mom went out of town with her friends for the weekend so he has to stay home and take care of the Shi-tzu's. Stupid dogs.
My Bro in-law can't come, its his wife's birthday on Saturday ( He has the lamest excuse)
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So I guess I get to do it SOLO this year.
Never been to deer camp for 4 days all by my lonesome, but I guess there is a first time for everything. I leave first thing in the morning for the 5 hour drive to Monticello. Then head up on the Abajo Mountains. Abajo Peak...11330' I'll keep you posted. Word is there are some very nice bucks down there this year.
If anyone is up that way stop by to Hi.
I had such an amazing time hunting for the 4 days down in the San Juan's by my self. Like I said, that was the first time I had ever done that by myself. But it was an amazing experience, and the weather was just Beautiful. I had a great Hunt.
So to start things off...I did not kill the Big Buck...I did miss the BIG BUCK!!!
There is just not a lot of air up at about 10500, and after the 5 mile hike up into the backcountry, I thought I could get my breath, but just couldn't get steady enough for the 200+ yard shot. He was a Beautiful 4point buck, Perfectly symmetrical and about 24" wide. Nothing Huge but a great buck. I just flat out missed him on the 2nd day evening. I thought about him all night and what I should have done differently. I figured I would leave the trailhead around 5:30 so I could be back in the same area around first light.
The sandman wouldn't let me out of bed until about 6:30, my legs were shot after the first days 12 mile hike, and the second days 10 miles...I was TIRED...
So I hurried to the trailhead and made the 5 mile hike back up to the meadow where I had missed the buck the night before. On the trail headed in I passed 2 small bucks and about 15 doe. Beautiful Morning!. I couldn't find any blood or sign of my buck from the night before, so I continued hunting. I saw a few more doe running the hillside, and then I found my buck. It was getting late in the morning, and I decided that I wanted to shoot him. He wasn't to far off the trail and would be an easy packout if I followed the trail. I shot him about 10:40 in the morning, and after boning him out and loading him up, I made the 5 mile hike out. I got to the trailhead and my Razr at 3:15 in the afternoon.
What a trip!
I didn't kill a monster, but the Experience, scenery, and enjoyment of being in the woods by myself and doing a hunt all on my own was a huge success in my book.
He sure tastes good as well.
