collapse

Advertisement


« previous next »
Pages: 1 2 [All]   Go Down

Author Topic: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer  (Read 3810 times)

Offline chandler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: Kent
8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« on: October 31, 2016, 11:24:08 AM »
After seven? years of dabbling I had just about given up on this hunting thing. Rarely saw any deer, and saw way too many people. I almost posted on here before the season asking you folks to talk me out of giving up. I didn't even buy my license until Oct 20th.

Having never had any family or friends growing up that hunted, it was up to books, and the internet (a lot of this site) and what field time I could manage to try and figure this out. Still I'm sure this was more luck than skill, but I'd like to think I've learned a few things of the last few years.

Tried somewhere new this year, because where we had been going got overrun with people last year. Went out last weekend with my buddy and just saw a dad and kid head in slightly before us, then I saw a couple orange dots way off in the distance on Saturday and nobody on Sunday, much better than the previous couple years. Didn't see any deer but lots of sign, and tons of bear sign (seems like they should have been running around all over the place with as much as we saw). Still wasn't super excited about things on Saturday and headed home pretty early. I talked myself into going back out on Sunday even though I only had a few hours, but I felt much better about being there. Didn't get a chance to go out this Saturday but planned to go yesterday. My buddy had a bit too much fun at a Halloween party on Sat night so I was on my own.

I biked in to a spot that I found at the end of the previous weekend that I thought looked promising. Apologies to the two guys that walked in ahead of me by 20 minutes or so. I came cruising around a corner and they were both standing in the road like they had heard or seen something, I'm sure I spooked it if that's what they were doing. A little further down the road I jumped a couple does, so from there I walked the last 1/2 mile or so. It was a beautiful morning watching the sun come up, although I had been expecting it to be somewhat rainier and gloomier. I setup near the top of a brush pile where I was relatively hidden and had a good view of a small narrow cut.

I figured there could be deer pretty much any direction due to the treeline being close on all sides. I typically faced the direction I figured would be most likely to see something, but checked everywhere else regularly. After an uneventful 4 hours of listening to a lot of leaves falling and birds, I heard something behind my left shoulder from the direction I thought least likely to bring something out... should have known. I look over and see this nice forkie maybe 20 yards away. Unfortunately my rifle was about 3-feet away...oops. I slowly start reaching for it, while keeping my eye on him. He seemed unconcerned by anything and just kept up his slow mosey. About the time I got my hand on the butt of the my rifle he looks over. I froze, but after a couple seconds he just goes back to wandering along. By this time he is slightly past me so I'm a little more free to get set. I get ready and about this point he starts weaving in and out of some small 3-4' trees. I looked down his path a little ways and see it's pretty clear in another 10 yards if stays on the same route. He gets there, but by then he isn't showing me much more than his butt. Then for whatever reason he turns the one direction that gives me almost a perfect broadside with no obstacles between us. By this time he was about 50 yards away.

I shot. I was a little higher than I planned because I didn't really think about how close he was, but I was also shooting down at him, so he dropped and didn't even take a step. (After getting him skinned I realized I hit him about mid ribcage on the right side, then it went through diagonally and also took out the left shoulder)

After getting him dressed out, I got him strapped to the bike and wheeled him the two miles uphill back to the truck. I wish this part went as smoothly as that sentence implied, but getting him strapped to the bike and then the bike up on two wheels was definitely a challenge. Once back on the roads though it went really well.

As I headed out I came across the two guys I saw in the morning, who were really happy for me so I must not have pissed them off too much when I passed them on the way in. They even offered to help, but by that point I just had to walk and keep the bike upright. I would have liked a pic of the deer on my bike but there was no way I was letting go to get a picture and risk having it fall over.

He's not going to break any records, but he's my first and I'm thrilled. Thanks all who I mooched any pointers from on this site.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2016, 01:29:00 PM by chandler »
Logged

Offline ELKBURGER

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+18)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 2528
  • Location: La Center, Wa
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2016, 11:27:20 AM »
Great Buck! Persistence pays off. My brother went 20 years before finally getting his first. Way to stick with it!
Logged

Offline Boss .300 winmag

  • FLY NAVAL AVIATION
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+22)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 18874
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • How do you measure trying, you do, or you don’t.
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2016, 11:27:54 AM »
Congrats knew you could do it.  :tup:

Now we need pics to see your first buck.  :dunno:
Logged
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

Keep Calm And Duc/Ski Doo On!

Offline 7mmfan

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 5499
  • Location: Marysville
    • https://www.facebook.com/rory.oconnor.9480
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2016, 11:29:59 AM »
 :tup:  Great work! Persistence pays off, especially with blacktails!
Logged
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.

Offline chandler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: Kent
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2016, 11:30:39 AM »
Boss... is the pic not showing up?

It kept hanging up when I was posting, so I posted the text only, then added the photo which seemed to work from my end.
Logged

Offline yakimarcher

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 707
  • Location: Naches, WA
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2016, 11:34:28 AM »
Good work!!
Logged

Offline Boss .300 winmag

  • FLY NAVAL AVIATION
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+22)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 18874
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • How do you measure trying, you do, or you don’t.
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2016, 11:35:04 AM »
Quote from: chandler on October 31, 2016, 11:30:39 AM
Boss... is the pic not showing up?

It kept hanging up when I was posting, so I posted the text only, then added the photo which seemed to work from my end.

It's there now, nice buck.  :tup:
Logged
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

Keep Calm And Duc/Ski Doo On!

Offline Gamehunter034

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 333
  • Location: Marysville
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2016, 11:36:32 AM »
Congrats! Nice deer!! I went about 8 years before finally killing my first deer. It was a doe, then took 2 spikes after that, struck out past year and took a nice little 2x2 forky on Friday! Persistence definitely pays off!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Logged
"A bad day hunting or fishing is better than a good day at work"

Offline Skyvalhunter

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 16010
  • Location: Sky valley/Methow
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2016, 11:51:48 AM »
Congrats way to stick with it. You learned a good lesson there!!
Logged
The only man who never makes a mistake, is the man who never does anything!!
The further one goes into the wilderness, the greater the attraction of its lonely freedom.

Offline Tapp Daddy

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: Buckley
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2016, 11:57:22 AM »
Great looking buck :tup:
Logged

Offline Buckmark

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 5445
  • Location: GPS is searching
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2016, 12:03:05 PM »
Way to stick with it  :tup:

Thats no forkie that is a solid 2 point!
Logged
To hunt and butcher an animal is to recognize that meat is not some abstract form of protein that springs into existence tightly wrapped in cellophane and styrofoam.

Offline L8NITE

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 486
  • Location: Olympic Peninsula
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2016, 12:22:39 PM »
Nice buck and way to stick with it :tup:
Logged
"The Hunts not over!"

Offline DOUBLELUNG

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 5837
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2016, 12:23:31 PM »
Persistence creates opportunity!
Logged
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline JDHasty

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 7012
  • Location: Tacoma
  • Groups: NRA Benefactor Member, GOA Life Member, Father of 3 NRA Life Members
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2016, 12:25:52 PM »
Good job!
Logged

Offline Shaqdiesel

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 112
  • Location: Bonney Lake
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2016, 12:27:28 PM »
I used a kids snow sled and mule tape behind my bike this year
Logged
60% of the time, it works every time.

Offline chandler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: Kent
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2016, 02:53:08 PM »
Quote from: Shaqdiesel on October 31, 2016, 12:27:28 PM
I used a kids snow sled and mule tape behind my bike this year

Haha, that's awesome!
Logged

Offline wt

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 419
  • Location: Bothell
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2016, 03:42:54 PM »
Great job! on a nice buck, similar to the fork horn I took this year. That first is very special. I put one on top of the bars one year about three miles back. So I can relate with that part of your story well. It was a lot harder getting him and the bike up then I imagined. Especially after dressing and dragging first. And yah, I didn't dare upset the kart for anything once it was up also. Congratulations. Wt
Logged

Offline Fl0und3rz

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 51553
  • Location: E. WA
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2016, 03:55:15 PM »
Great story and deer.  Congratulations!
Logged

Offline Eli346

  • Eli
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 2293
  • Location: Shelton
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2016, 05:12:17 PM »
Beaut of a buck!
Logged

Offline Widgeondeke

  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 3374
  • Location: Lake Stevens, WA
  • US Army Infantry 91-98
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #19 on: October 31, 2016, 05:25:08 PM »
Bet you are glad you stuck with it. 

Maybe the 2 hunters heard you and that's why they were standing in road.

Congrats
Logged

Offline JDHasty

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 7012
  • Location: Tacoma
  • Groups: NRA Benefactor Member, GOA Life Member, Father of 3 NRA Life Members
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #20 on: October 31, 2016, 06:22:25 PM »
Can'r remembering how many times I checked "just one" more bit of cover... and on and on it went until I had my birds six hours later.  Can't remember a lot of birds I have shot, there have been thousands and thousands, but I remember all of these. 
Logged

Offline fishnfur

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 3805
  • Location: longview
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #21 on: October 31, 2016, 06:45:28 PM »
Congrats.  Way to stick with it!  It took me five year to bag my first after screwing up in years three and four.  So far, I'm striking out this year.  I'm kind of like a regressive buck.

Love the bike pic.  If you put a golf club in your hand,  I'd swear you were Sergio Garcia!   :chuckle:
Logged
“When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”  - Will Rogers

Offline lokidog

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 15186
  • Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2016, 11:37:28 PM »

Nice buck, congratulations! 

Next time posting photos, be sure to resize so the maximum side is 800 pixels, it will post more easily and take up less server memory.
Logged

Offline Curly

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 20921
  • Location: Thurston County
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #23 on: November 01, 2016, 05:01:45 AM »
That's a great deer. Congrats.
Logged
May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

><((((º>` ><((((º>. ><((((º>.¸><((((º>

Offline chandler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: Kent
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #24 on: November 01, 2016, 01:20:11 PM »
Quote from: lokidog on October 31, 2016, 11:37:28 PM

Nice buck, congratulations! 

Next time posting photos, be sure to resize so the maximum side is 800 pixels, it will post more easily and take up less server memory.

Ahhh...thanks lokidog. I just saw the filesize max, didn't think about the pics just being too big.
Logged

Offline pianoman9701

  • Mushroom Man
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 44809
  • Location: Vancouver USA
  • WWC, NRA Life, WFW, NAGR, RMEF, WSB, NMLS #2014743
    • www.facebook.com/johnwallacemortgage
    • John Wallace Mortgage
Re: 8 Days From Almost Gave Up to First Deer
« Reply #25 on: November 01, 2016, 01:27:20 PM »
That's a buck to be proud of. Congrats.
Logged
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace https://valoaneducator.tv/johnwallace-2014743
Pages: 1 2 [All]   Go Up
« previous next »
 


* Advertisement

Quick Links

* Recent Topics

A lonely Job... by JDArms1240
[Today at 12:59:00 AM]
49 Degrees North Early Bull Moose by westdcw
[Yesterday at 11:11:57 PM]
2025 Crab! by WAcoueshunter
[Yesterday at 09:45:00 PM]
Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help? by Boss .300 winmag
[Yesterday at 09:42:07 PM]
Bear behavior by Boss .300 winmag
[Yesterday at 09:36:32 PM]
Toutle Quality Bull - Rifle by HntnFsh
[Yesterday at 08:09:14 PM]
AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by WoolyRunner
[Yesterday at 06:39:13 PM]
2025 Montana alternate list by Wingin it
[Yesterday at 06:28:33 PM]
MA-10 Coho by WAcoueshunter
[Yesterday at 02:08:31 PM]
KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Yesterday at 01:52:01 PM]
Blue Mtn Foothills West Rifle Tag by Trooper
[Yesterday at 01:18:40 PM]
GROUSE 2025...the Season is looming! by Dave Workman
[Yesterday at 01:01:22 PM]
50 inch SXS and Tracks? by jrebel
[Yesterday at 11:20:33 AM]
Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 11:12:46 AM]
3 pintails by metlhead
[Yesterday at 11:07:43 AM]
Modified game cart... 🛒 by Dan-o
[Yesterday at 08:44:37 AM]
Velvet by Brute
[Yesterday at 08:37:08 AM]
Calling Bears by hunter399
[Yesterday at 06:12:44 AM]
HUNTNNW 2025 trail cam thread and photos by kodiak06
[Yesterday at 05:43:11 AM]
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal