BIG Buck Down

[PacificNWhunter]

Congrats again Bone...Saw all the other scores from your other animals too. Looks like you had a great year.

[boneaddict]

Thanks PNWH, it was a very good year.  I feel very fortunate to have taken the animals I did.

[MichaelJ]

Attaboy Bone u da man!

Michael

[wastickslinger]

I hope one one good one a year and you filled a whole wall up. Outstanding year Bone!!!

[Head-shot]

Looks like you have figured it out. Great year, Congrats...

[boneaddict]

Thanks again guys.  I'm really looking forward to getting him on a mount.  I'll keep you guys posted with the progress along the way.  If my knees can handle it, I'll be back on that mountain this fall.  I am looking forward to it already.  Its a LONG time until fall. This years apps are already going into the mail for all the other possible big hunts, but who knows how that will turn out.

[Dansk]

Great deer Bone!  ..I'm even more impressed with your strategy/effort/dedication! 

I've been playing around with different strategies for the last 10 seasons trying to find something worth 'dialing in', but haven't found it yet. 

Sounds like you are a day's hike off the nearest road- do you think that's the new rule of thumb to get into low(er) pressure public land?   I'm curious to know how your strategy evolved after you decided the area/GMU.

[WDFW-SUX]

Boneaddict hunts his dear in an old Indian burial ground far from civilization where the only deer are trophy deer and the old spirits like to disappear mear mortals. 

[boneaddict]

Not neccesarily DANSK.  Too much emphasis is put on how far you can get away from the nearest road.  Next thing you know its the new boyscout camp with tents lined up.  Its all about finding pockets or a spot that you know will hold deer year after year that most either walk by don't tend to want to ruin themselves on.  It takes alot of patience to pick a spot that could be alot of work but a total bust and there is no back up plan.  You have to put all your cards in one basket.  It would take one person other than me as the hunter to ruin this entire hunt.  Kurt Darner, one of the famous all time Muley hunters/poacher or whatever worte this in his old book.  He killed one of the biggest bucks in his lifetime, and thats saying something, while looking down at a hi-way of passerbys.   It was a small pocket that all seemd to drive by.  It was no big sweeping ridge where youcould hunt all day.  I am also solo, so I only need to meet the needs of the few.  When you partner up, then you need to divide.  Lots of land out there that isn't very possible to effectively hunt it.  I don't think its effective to have a partner in yourback pocket as you make twice as much noise.  Then if one has a bad day, its always playing on your subconcious.  The largest buck I have ever seen while hunting was less than a 1/2 mile off the road, and I had counted 35 orange shirts that day.  He was in a tough pocket, where no one hiked, until they saw my tracks belly crawling and got interested, but thats another story.  I have another story where I got a nice fourpoint, looking down at the hiway, and civilization, but specifically went to a brush patch the size of your kitchen, knowing not one soul hunted it because it was on the middle ground.  I am sure hundreds of hunters glassed it, but not one hiked to it.  It was too far from the top of the ridge or the bottom.  You had to devote the time specifically going to one spot.  I did, and out jumped a gorgeous 4 point.  He had spent all summer and fall sitting there watching the world.  He had water and food.  Thats all he needed.

I'm probably going to be buried in that boneyard one of these days Passion.  Its awefully hard on those knees.

[boneaddict]

This is the last 4 I was talking about.  I killed this one afternoon after I had a disgrutnling experince some place else.  I had Idabooner drop me off and I took off hiking.  I could see town, hear dogs barking, people farming etc while I hiked to where I jumped this buck.  I "KNEW" that there was probably a buck in a spot like that even with all of the hunting pressure this place receives.  I bet hundreds, and if you have ever hunted stateland in the Methow, then you know I am not exaggerating, walked by this buck.  ANyhow, he waited until I was about 25 yards away, then bolted and I nailed him. 

[boneaddict]

.

[ICEMAN]

Of course you heard people farming and dogs barking, you shot him in someones front yard on their halloween display! 

[boneaddict]

Did I mention he was a little skinny.  I'll get pics up of this mount here shortly.  I have a little painting to do on him to touch him up.  I was waiting for a video to see how the experts do it.  That was a good Halloween display.  You've seen pics of my Idaho deer that year too there.

[boneaddict]

This buck was also killed not too far in.  I went over for a photography trip up in the NE corner, and took my pistol along. Then I had this tag burning a hole in my pocket and I decided what the heck.  I changed my travel plans,drove an extra 2 hours.  I got to the roads end at light and  hiked in, saw nine different bucks, and managed to get this guy.  Took his picture before I pulle d the trigger.  I brought him out whole.  Donated the meat in Spoakne to feed the hunger, and made it home that night.  I don't think I posted those pictures on here ever, maybe one of the one horned buck.  They made it on MM.  You'll have to let me know if you are interested.

[WDFW-SUX]

the biggest bucks I have seen have been in places that would amaze people.........I usually go on a hunt every year with some friends and the bucks are in the exact same exact spot ever single year and they are also very very close to mega deer camp. my 2 friends that are much older than I hunt 2 days a year ALWAYS kill there bucks within 15 yards of the same spot and have 40 years of pictures with the same background to prove it.  

They are getting a  little long in the tooth at this point but they have one of the all time great spots for at 5 min every morning during dear season. to top it off its about 7 min from down town Winthrop.

They have killed 5x5's every year for the 25+ years in the same spot its really pretty funny.