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Author Topic: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR  (Read 6439 times)

Offline jdmecomber

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2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« on: January 02, 2017, 01:34:09 PM »
Mountain Lion 2016. Unit 121.  Ruger Precision .243 Win.  204 yards

We could not have had a better day for hiking up a Mountain.  About 12" of snow and little below freezing,  we hiked about 3 hours close to the top of the Mountain.   We wanting to make it to a deer wintering area.  We saw a few deer throughout the hike.   

We passed some older Lion tracks and a fresh set, but continued up.   

We set up to do some calling and this Lion was sneaking in on the caller after about 30 minutes. A quick shot from me at a few hundred yards and I was able to harvest this amazing animal. 

Everyone says Lion meat is excellent so in the freezer it will go.

Whitetail.  Northeast Washington Savage Long Range Hunter in 7mm Rem mag 527 yards

I didn't have a whole lot of time for this hunt.    I had a much bigger buck in the sights the day before but just couldn't get the shot I wanted and then when I did the scope had fogged some.   

This buck pushed a smaller buck out of the way and would not allow for a shot.  I had to drop down the mountain a few hundred yards for a better angle.   Right before last light I was able to put him down with a quick shot at 527 yards.   

Spring Bear Aladdin Unit.  Ruger Precision Rifle .243 Win.  19" skull
We hunted pretty hard and lucked out seeing a big chocolate boar while loading my gear back into the truck.   I was able to get 3 shots into this bear at 150 yards or so.   

Elk in Wyoming. 285". Savage Long
Range Hunter 7mm Rem mag
I hit this bull twice at 904 and 922. 

I went by myself rifle elk hunting about 30 miles from Yellowstone Park.    I have been learning the art of long range shooting for about 2 years now. 

My first night I found some Bulls but ran out of light and also had two white wolves harassing the herd.

I had a snow storm move in the next night, and I didn't find any elk.

The next morning I woke up to clear skies, fresh snow, and below freezing temperatures.  About an hour after sunrise , I found four Bulls and shot this bull twice at 904 yards and 922. He has a few broken tines. About 16" worth

I spent the next day packing out the bull which was about a 20+ mile adventure.   I had a Grizzly Sow and her cubs using my same trail everyday, but luckily I never ran into her. 

Arizona Coues Deer.   Unit 36a.  92.5 inches       Savage Long Range Hunter 7mm Rem Mag 500 yards

The last hunt of the year.   I drew an Arizona Coues Deer tag.   I shot this on my second day of the hunt.     We found this buck on day one but I passed.   After some tine length figuring, I decided I would shoot it if we found it again.

It was a nice mature deer.    I think the body is about the size of a yearling whitetail deer ;). The meat will be good.

R. Mckinnon and myself decided to take up long range hunting.  It was many hours of reading books and watching videos mostly online without a mentor.      It can be done. 

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2017, 01:42:42 PM »
Here are some pics

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2017, 01:43:26 PM »
Couple more

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2017, 01:44:11 PM »
Bear

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2017, 01:44:57 PM »
The whitetail

Offline hunter399

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2017, 01:53:05 PM »
Looks like a great year of hunting, now you got a lot of work to have a better 2017 good luck.

Offline grundy53

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2017, 01:58:13 PM »
Great year!

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Offline JDhunting_Aus

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2017, 03:25:50 PM »
Congrats mate on a great year

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Offline full choke

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2017, 04:14:09 PM »
 :tup:
Impressive year! Congratulations!
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Offline Timberstalker

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2017, 04:21:21 PM »
Outstanding year!  Thanks for sharing. :tup:
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline Mr Mykiss

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2017, 04:24:29 PM »
ONE HECK OF A YEAR!! Tell us more about the elk hunt...wilderness? Grizzlies?
It is hard to follow one great vision in a world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among these shadows men get lost.
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Offline cbond3318

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2017, 04:59:13 PM »
Booyah!! :tup:
Just tend your own and live.

Offline mtman

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2017, 05:19:41 PM »
wow

Offline Mark251

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #13 on: January 02, 2017, 05:37:59 PM »
Nice!  Congrats  :tup:

Offline coachcw

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2017, 06:00:12 PM »
Mic drop,,,,,

Offline carpsniperg2

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2017, 06:09:25 PM »
Great year! Congrats :IBCOOL:
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Offline ffbowhunter

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2017, 07:43:15 PM »
Congrats! Nice work and beautiful Coues!

Offline bowhunterforever

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2017, 10:27:10 PM »
Awesome :tup:
You sure you know how to skin griz pilgram

Offline deerhunter_98520

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2017, 06:25:04 AM »
Looks like one hell of a season! Congrats!
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Offline redi

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2017, 07:54:30 AM »
Great season. Congrats.

Offline jasnt

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2017, 08:17:20 AM »
Congrats on a great year! Also props to your caller on that cat hunt. You used on of my favorite tactics. I would love to hear more about this cat hunt. I only know a few little details and I was very impressed.  I bet @rainshadow1 would like to hear it too
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2017, 08:25:25 AM »
I hunted close to the wilderness about 4 miles from where I parked.    Before I left I read real quick what do to with the meat in grizz country,  so I hung four bags at around 10ft.   I actually did about 32 miles total packing camp and meat/horns out. I did the head and horns/guarter that evening. I did 20+ the next day.   Then another 4 coming out in the morning.   I had grizzly everyday on my trail.  There was grizzly *censored* right near my truck (very orange in color).   Found a headlamp on the trail and met a horseback guy at the trailhead who I returned it to.  He did mention he would help but was busy.  I told him that I was on my last load and camp so would prefer to do it myself at this point.  He offered his cell incase of emergency. He said as the season gets later the bears get more aggressive but mainly want no contact from human and will get off the trail let you pass and then get back on :).  I tried to be vocal around blind corners and went in real slow to hanging meat that I put in the open.    The wolves were everywhere had them near camp twice and I found at least 9 elk kills. 
I am not the most fit guy. 6'4 275.  I kept fueled with salt stick pills and Gatorade with sugar, water and granola.   Seemed to keep me trucking along with 80+lb packs

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2017, 08:27:04 AM »
Just to rub it in a little.  It was my first ever cougar hunt :)

Offline jasnt

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2017, 08:34:37 AM »
Just to rub it in a little.  It was my first ever cougar hunt :)
oh ... You just go strait to the rock salt...to rub it in worse I was invited to do that hunt a few weeks earlier and wasn't able to get up there  :bash: :yike:   :drool:
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline TrailTreker85

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2017, 08:55:03 AM »
What a great year for you had. Congrats to you. :drool:

Offline jdmecomber

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Re: 2016 DIY WHITETAIL/COUES/ELK/BEAR/COUGAR
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2017, 01:35:39 PM »
Thanks for all the kudos.  It was an adventure

 


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