Bearpaw Season - Fall 2017

[bearpaw]

Guide Nick and his hunters have been sitting on that herd all day, finally a 320ish bull is coming, hunters are in position, bull is still coming, dad let's the big bull walk right past at 4 yards hoping his son will get the shot, but the bull winded dad and blew out. Gotta take the shot when you get it! 

They moved and are on more bulls now, I'm anxiously awaiting more news and hoping for better results! 

[bearpaw]

Another text, right now two of the bulls are close and fighting, they can hear the horns clashing loudly!

[bearpaw]

The silence of my cell phone is deafening... 

[wsmnut]

Go get 'em Nick!

[bearpaw]

Go get 'em Nick!

I sent a message, no answer, I'm hoping that's more good news! 


Update: Unfortunately it didn't work out.

[Ghost Hunter]

Man, you just gave me something to dream about!!

[pianoman9701]

Helluva cougar pic on your FB page, Dale.

[bearpaw]

I'm sitting watching a bachelor group of 10 bucks and about 10 dos just joined up, there is one real good shooter and one other 4x4 is probably a shooter too. The other guide Nick has both hunters on the other side of the mountain and headed my way. I'm hoping they can get here and get on them.

[Brushcrawler]

Love this thread. Thanks for sharing the adventures!

[bearpaw]

By the time the other guys got here the deer had moved up the canyon out of sight we decided we're going to wait till tomorrow and try to catch him out in the open again at first light. I couldn't tell on the small phone screen if I was on the right buck, but one of them is a definite shooter.

[bearpaw]

We are hunting my Utah ranch lease for mule deer, we saw over 150 deer yesterday on the property. Last night each hunter had chances at tall with good mass 24" to 26" bucks standing broadside. Multiple misses at both bucks! This morning the guys went after the big buck I spotted yesterday morning, they had him broadside at 256 yards, the deer had no idea anyone was there, it was missed twice! Later in the morning another nice buck broadside at 60 yards, two misses standing and then emptied the rifle at him running away. Fortunately we don't think any deer have been wounded. My fingers are crossed for a miracle! 

[teanawayslayer]

We are hunting my Utah ranch lease for mule deer, we saw over 150 deer yesterday on the property. Last night each hunter had chances at tall with good mass 24" to 26" bucks standing broadside. Multiple misses at both bucks! This morning the guys went after the big buck I spotted yesterday morning, they had him broadside at 256 yards, the deer had no idea anyone was there, it was missed twice! Later in the morning another nice buck broadside at 60 yards, two misses standing and then emptied the rifle at him running away. Fortunately we don't think any deer have been wounded. My fingers are crossed for a miracle! 

nothing more frustrating than that!

[bearpaw]

That was fast, miracle delivered!
Normally we hold out for the best bucks we can get, at lunch today we decided to let them shoot at any buck they want to shoot that is close rather than suggest passing bucks that are close targets to look for big bucks. This evening right at sundown the "Young Miracle Buck" stood proudly daring any hunter to give it a go. First shot was a hit, then six follow up shots and the deer went down, guide Nick ran over and finished the buck off with his knife. It's not a big buck but the hunter is happy that he hit a deer and that's what matters, hunting is in the eyes of the beholder. Congrats is in order!

The other hunter ran out of cartridges for one gun, we convinced him to shoot the second gun at a target again, 2 shots missed the target, 2 shots in the black. This ranch is way out in Egypt, it's 1.5 hour to 2 hour drive each way to get more cartridges and he only has a few left so we quit shooting, we'll cross our fingers and hope for the best. This hunter killed a 25" buck with us last year, he says he's holding out for one of the bigger bucks, he's missed two big ones so far, I sure hope there's a big "Miracle Buck" on the ranch, maybe the third time will be a charm?

[bearpaw]

Another Buck Down
This morning we missed a dandy mid 160's buck. A smaller buck was spotted later in the morning that was closer and the hunter hit that buck, there was a tracking job into the bottom of a big canyon and another shot finished the buck. The guys are dragging it out now, I haven't seen a photo yet, but they said it's just a young 3x3. I'm disappointed the five big bucks were missed and I'm sure the hunters wished they would have hit them too, I guess that's hunting, but I'm really glad we were able to get him a deer before he ran out of cartridges, I think he has one cartridge left. Congrats is in order again! 

[7mmfan]

Wow. Sounds like some range time is needed there, or a thorough check of equipment for something loose.

I've had my days though too. I once shot 8 times in Wyoming at a deer standing broadside at 150 yards. He finally left, and the next buck I saw was 250 yards away, dropped him in one shot. 

I've also emptied my gun at a buck standing no more than 60 yards away and then tried in a panic to load my chapstick into my gun thinking it was a cartridge. 

Everyone has their days