collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Lucky me...  (Read 3706 times)

Offline lablover

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 105
  • Location: Central Washington
Lucky me...
« on: October 30, 2015, 11:48:01 AM »
Well, because I was expecting the arrival of my second son in late September, my hunting seasons were non existent. Being an archery hunter, my timing with the new arrival was less than perfect. I purchased the multi-season just in case I could go later in the season.

Between returning to work, and having a newborn and a 23 month old at home, my loving wife told me to go hunt for a few days. I didn't look that gift horse in the mouth so off I went. This was the first time I have rifle hunted in Washington in 21 years.

Even though I don't rifle hunt normally, I practice long range shooting regularly for those times I may utilize it during other hunts. I went out three days. Day one yielded one legal buck running at 800 yards as I waved bye bye. Day two only does. Day three I saw several does and then bam! Big light colored body moving slowly behind a string of does. Put my spotter on him and saw he was a 3x3. At well over 1200 yards initially, I knew I had to cut distance since he was cross canyon and moving away from me.

As I cut the distance I kept checking on him and he wasn't moving. I then saw he was a 4x4. Got to 650 yards and got set up. Every time I was ready to go, he'd move.  Because I was cross canyon I had no chance of getting closer. He moved up to 775 yards where he stood stationary looking around. Adjusted my turret to the right numbers, put the cross hairs where they needed to be while holding for wind and exhaled slowly. Bang! I was able to get back on him in time to see the traditional "buck and kick" and then heard the "thwap" of the impact. I watched him trying to look for an indication of where I hit him but nothing. I watched him staggering as he walked over the ridge and out of sight.

The next hour of hiking all the way down to the bottom and back up the other side was exciting yet full of anxiety. Was he lying there? Did he walk off and bury himself? When I got to the other side I looked for blood or tracks and couldn't find either. I sat on a stump glassing the drainage he walked into. I saw a branch that looked like a shed, and then my eyes caught a white butt. There he was lying 100 yards down the steep slope from the ridge line where I had last seen him walking and only 200 yards from where I was sitting. An immediate sense of relief settled upon me as I walked up to him. I could clearly see the shot was right through the boiler maker. All the years of practicing and being dedicated to shooting had finally payed off. Not a huge buck, but I'm very happy to have taken him on public land during general rifle. A big thank you to My hunting partner (csoutfitters) for driving up and then hiking in to help me pack him out. Great friend and great hunting partner.

Offline HUNTaHOLIC5

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 372
  • Location: Anchorage/Yakima
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2015, 11:51:57 AM »
Love the mass on him. Great buck

Offline link

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 1207
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2015, 11:54:05 AM »
Great buck, and great shot! Congratulations.

Offline Fl0und3rz

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 51553
  • Location: E. WA
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2015, 11:54:15 AM »
Good job!

Offline mfswallace

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 2653
  • Location: where I be
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2015, 12:06:18 PM »
 :tup:

Offline HUNTINCOUPLE

  • Lost Somewhere on the Praire of Klickitat Co. Chasing The Elusive BENCHLEG DEERS.
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 8146
  • Location: Lyle WA, 98635
  • Yep, my avatar is from my front porch. #2835
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2015, 12:07:02 PM »
 :tup:
Slap some bacon on a biscut and lets go, were burrnin daylight!

Most peoples health is a decision not a condition?

Kill your television!  ICEMAN SAID TO!

Life Member of Hunting  Washington  Forum.

Time in the woods is more important than timing the moon.

Offline wence5

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 975
  • Location: The Couve
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2015, 12:15:59 PM »
Nice! :tup:
The worst day hunting is better than any day at work!

Offline blackveltbowhunter

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 4109
  • BLAM
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2015, 12:24:44 PM »
Great story. Congrats!

Offline coachcw

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 8821
  • Groups: Team getsum !
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2015, 12:35:18 PM »
nice shooting !

Offline TrkyBob53

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 205
  • Location: (E-Burg formerly) Now Spokane Valley
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2015, 12:53:25 PM »
Great job. 
It's not always as it seems

Offline Mark251

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 2608
  • Location: Spokane
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2015, 05:27:23 PM »
Nice buck  :tup:

Offline ebusa

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 182
  • Location: Covington
Re: Lucky me...
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2015, 03:38:48 PM »
Awesome buck! Congrats!

What caliber did you use on that big boy?  :chuckle:
-Evan
USMC 1994-1998 E5/SGT
Semper Fi!

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Archery elk gear, 2025. by Longfield1
[Today at 05:33:51 AM]


Looking for Solid 22 LR input by ASHQUACK
[Today at 05:29:20 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:19:01 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


2025 Canning by Twispriver
[Yesterday at 09:15:12 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Edminsterquality
[Yesterday at 08:47:06 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Trapper John
[Yesterday at 08:00:27 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:57:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]


GMU 247 Entiat bear hunting by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 11:56:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal