Hirshey's Hunting Season 2016

[hirshey]

I worked my way up to a small ridgeline and wedged myself into a small rock outcropping with excellent view of the entire basin; I could plainly see two small saddles etched into the skyline, and a hillside decaying into a myriad of small depressions laced with large boulders, blackened timber and brush. While sneaking into position, I made sure to keep track of the general location of my bucks of interest. I ranged a couple of points high above, directly across, and below me in the basin: 400+, 380, 270, 400+. It was a start, but I’d want to get closer if any of these fellas ended up being what I was seeking. As my eyes settled into spotting mode, the deer seemed to materialize from the very nooks they inhabited; I counted tens of does, and to my greatest interest, seventeen legal bucks! Most were small 3’s, but I counted four sturdy 4 points and one big old career 3. The career 3 and the largest 4 point were similar to two tipsy fellas at the local watering hole; they were wandering across the hillside together snooting does… when one bumped a doe, obviously shot down, the other would give a go for the same result. I sat there pondering this odd “buddy” behavior, wondering what would happen if one of those does were actually in the mood to consent. How could this season be so far behind on rut activity? I took some photos of the bucks with the highest potential, mainly the career 3 and 4 point, and as the sun kissed the ridgeline to the west I made my descent back to camp to share my photos and stories, crossing my fingers that my friend hadn’t drowned trying to get his elk back to camp!

[hirshey]

Trolling for babes

[MuleySniper]

i hit refresh just at the right time Good read!

[hirshey]

Thankfully, the elk effort had gone flawlessly, and I smiled as my friends and family recounted the story of Jeff’s adventure with the elk. All but Storm had hiked up my ridgeline in anticipation of me tagging out that evening on one of the many bucks I’d seen, so we shared the final few miles back to camp together under the light of the near-super-moon. Storm had not seen much for bucks, my mother hadn’t actually taken a rest day (unsurprisingly), and I shared my day’s tales. After arriving back at base camp, reviewing my photos and hearing the excitement in my voice due to the wolf encounter, we made plans for Jeff, Storm, Derrick and I to ascend the mountain with the greatest intent of finding another buck fit for the likes of Storm. My mother had one of the InReach devices and was “going to take it easy” and head our direction if/when Storm tagged out.

[hirshey]

Alright... Another pause is in order; a lady needs her rest... 

[7mag.]

You're killing me.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Not again! 

[hirshey]

You're killing me.

It's a 12 day hunt! You can't rush the writing! ...if I weren't called out, I'd have a little more of it written prior to posting! Day 1 started with an elk, and we have 1 of 4 deer tags notched in the story already... I thought I was doing pretty well. 

[7mag.]

You're killing me.

It's a 12 day hunt! You can't rush the writing! ...if I weren't called out, I'd have a little more of it written prior to posting! Day 1 started with an elk, and we have 1 of 4 deer tags notched in the story already... I thought I was doing pretty well. 

That particular hunt is something I've been trying to put together for several years now, but I keep having partners back out when it comes time to start paying for non resident tags. I can't wait to see how your hunt ends up.

[hirshey]

You're killing me.

It's a 12 day hunt! You can't rush the writing! ...if I weren't called out, I'd have a little more of it written prior to posting! Day 1 started with an elk, and we have 1 of 4 deer tags notched in the story already... I thought I was doing pretty well. 

That particular hunt is something I've been trying to put together for several years now, but I keep having partners back out when it comes time to start paying for non resident tags. I can't wait to see how your hunt ends up.

Thanks sir! I promise to finish it up here soon..
Finding good, dedicated hunting partners can be challenging! I think I lucked out these past handful of years and finally found my people. It's a good feeling!

[LittleJohn]

 

[jennabug]

Tagging.  Finally had time to read.  Thanks for writing this up, hirshey.  It's inspiring.

[Colorado Kid]

...my mother and Storm had it pretty much butchered by the time Jeff arrived for photos. 

...I don't know if I like the word "butchered" used when it comes to boning and cutting :-( I thought we had done a great job!   

[hirshey]

Now, I’ll take a tactical pause from the main storyline to share an experience I had thought to omit… the evening we were hiking my mother’s buck and the elk head back to base camp, Storm and I stopped to converse with two very friendly hunters who ended up being game wardens. “I’m so glad you’re here!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air and grinning. They both seemed a little shocked at that greeting, so I explained. The past few seasons, we had not seen them in the backcountry, yet we had run across many game violations in the form of taking excess animals during the season, gross game wastage, abandoning garbage and camp sites, and lack of effort to recover wounded game animals. My party as well as multiple other returning hunting groups had witnessed these atrocities and most had provided feedback to the fish and game that perhaps their presence was necessary. We hadn’t seen anything of note in our current season, but it was sure nice to see them anyways. They’d ridden in on horses, and had three horses and a mule in tow for their journeys. We were camped close to them, but as the light of the moon illuminated the flat area near our tent, we settled in to our evening duties. With the stock animals free to roam, we debated putting our food container and the elk hide in the gear tent, but in the end it was decided they shouldn’t be an issue. We were about to head to sleep when Derrick called me out of the tent. The horses and mule were in a semi-circle around him. Not wanting to be poor hosts, we broke up a few granola bars and pet/fed them for a bit before bidding them farewell.


In the dead of the night, I heard it… what was it? It sounded like digging. A light nicker or whinny. Scraping. Hooves. What was going on? I sat up, dreading the freezing temperatures I was about to face as I pulled on my down booties and fumbled for my headlamp. “What IS that?” My mother inquired. “I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.” I unzipped the tipi door as my light illuminated the scene: I had walked into a mob squad! Those darned horses and mule were pawing the HECK out of Jeff’s elk hide… the rope that had fastened it together had been undone, dirt and needles were smashed into the hair as these giant creatures literally beat a dead horse… or VERY distant relative in the least. I shooed them off and inspected the damage. Aside from being heavily trodden and covered in dirt, it actually didn’t look too bad. I carefully rolled it back up and put it in the gear tent before retiring to my sleeping bag and explaining the situation to everyone in the tent. I was just starting to get warm again when I heard the cooler lid open. “Son of a gun!” I exclaimed. “Do you need help getting rid of them?” Storm inquired. “NO!” shouted Jeff. (Thanks, pal, I chuckled) I went back outside to find one of the horses with our bag of cheese in its mouth. It dropped it, I pushed them away from our tent area, and put the cooler in the gear tent as well. “Brr! Those darn horses were trying to eat our cheese!” I shivered as I enshrouded myself in my sleeping bag. “Cheese? The horses can’t have the cheese… antelope LOVE cheese!” Jeff explained, in a much higher voice than usual. My mother and I laughed, and he followed suit. It didn’t take me long to determine he was sleep talking, so I pressed on. “Why do antelope like cheese, Jeff?” “Antelope need cheese to survive the winter!” “What other animals like cheese?” I said, tears rolling down my face as my mother and I snickered and Storm quietly snored. “Elk LOVE cheese! And the buffalo! The buffalo go MEW! MEEEEW! MEW!” We were dying. Jeff continued on about how much of a beast Derrick was while they were hauling that elk, and the talk degraded into nonsense… but you can bet I asked Jeff if antelope like cheese in the morning. (He was thoroughly perplexed!)

[hirshey]

...my mother and Storm had it pretty much butchered by the time Jeff arrived for photos. 

...I don't know if I like the word "butchered" used when it comes to boning and cutting :-( I thought we had done a great job!   

Ha! Its true; you cut him expertly. But you'd started to disrobe him before his photos!