More than the kill...

[HuntingFanatic]

but by reading so many of your posts, You all know this.

Like every year my dad and I spend our time in unit 224. Like every other year we leave saying that it was one of our best and most enjoyable hunts ever. Neither one of us filled our tags. I saw three "positive" shooters, a couple of "almost certain" shooters and a bunch of "That was a nice buck, I wanna see him next year."  Whether it was the untimely blowing snow, the pesky doe shield, or my tired, strained eyes. I never took a shot at the shooters I saw. I made a great stalk on a Beautiful 20+ inch wide 2 point that I was sure was going to be my buck. I was just amazed that he didn't even have a wart on his antlers. OH WELL! It wasn't meant to be this year! But the great thing about hunting is that its not only about the present. Its about dreaming of that big buck wandering aimlessly over the ridge. Stopping to feed broadside at the bush that you just knew he was going to stop at.

Most of all I think hunting is about the past. I could waste the day away thinking of the great times Ive had with my father out in the field. Mistakes Ive made that Ive learned from. And oh yeah! Past successes!

Being certain that almost all of you enjoy looking at pictures of dead deer....here are some pics of my most memorable deer. And the story that goes with it.


Date: 2nd week of the 2004 season.
Area: unit 224 outside of Twisp off the Loop Loop.

"The First Sighting"

Around the magical 9 o'clock hour. I'm struggling to stay in my morning stand. Praying that the rising sun will shine down on my back to warm me up. I notice A few does to my right across a rocky draw feeding on an open hillside about 450 yards away. Five minutes later, out of the aspens at the bottom of the hill came "The Buck". Head down almost crawling up the hill. Within the first second of seeing him I knew that this was the buck I wanted. I watched him for a few minutes hoping that he would stray my way. He did not. I wanted him bad. I decided to put a stalk on him. I slowly rose to my feet, shivering. I made it 20 yards before an overlooked doe that was bedded between me and him busted me and ruined my fun. All I could do is sit down and watch as he trotted over the ridge straight away from me. Pausing right before he crested the ridge, looking back at me as if he knew that that sight would haunt me the rest of the day...and week.

"Big Buck: Take Two!"

The next morning I decide to take my morning stand closer to where I had seen "The Buck". Time around 9 am....again. This time the cold was bearable because I knew there was a great possibility "The Buck" would show himself again. Then.....There he was again! This time he was on the far ridge about 600 yards away. Moving steadily up the ridge toward the steep and thick backside. He had been spotted by another hunter who was trying to scramble up the ridge behind him, losing ground the entire time. I watched as he slipped out of sight. Feeling bad for the hunter in pursuit because he had not realized that it was a lost cause yet. But then again....I didn't feel bad. Because I just knew I would see him again the next day.

"Big Buck: The Climax"

I awoke the next day before my alarm went off. I was eager to jump out of my warm sleeping bag. It was my 30th birthday and I had a feeling it was going to be special. I decide to sit with my dad in our normal spot. We were not in our morning stand for long before we saw him again. Again he was on the far ridge about 600 yards away. This time he was just grazing and milling around the same little saddle. We watched him for a bit. Payed attention to our immediate area. I kept looking back every 30 seconds or so for a bit before he disappeared. Knowing the area and the hunting pressure it receives we decided that there was a great possibility he would be pushed our way. We waited. I watched a hunter working his way towards the last known location of this deer and us. I thought our plan was coming together. Then the hunter stopped 2 ridges away and went back the way he came. It had been at least an hour and a half since we had last seen "The Buck". I sat a talked with my dad. Tested the wind with a Marlboro. We decided that it was time to go get him, assuming he was still there. It took over an hour to work our way above where we had seen him last. Wind in our face the entire time. We moved so slow a slug could have beat us to where we wanted to be. We spent the next Half hour slowly walking down the ridge looking at every possible escape route he had. No sign of him. We decided to look over one last small hump before sitting again. Then my dad said "There he is." I Immediately saw a big, black void broadside behind a sage brush about 125 yards away. He was staring at us. We were not busted...but he sensed something was not right. I raised my rifle. "He's got eye guards" i whispered.  "Take him" my dad says. Buck fever has its grip on me. I am shaking like aspen leaves in the wind(probably sounded like them too with my knees banging together) After what seemed like an eternity(most likely 15 seconds) I had to lower my rifle, Brace my strap around my elbow, and take a gigantic breath. No good....still shaking badly. He quartered towards me one step. That's when I remember thinking that I am not going to let this guy just walk away. The shakes left. And I shot. I saw him take one step in my scope and then he disappeared. I was almost certain I made a good shot. But then I was shaking again. And I remembered how I was shaking before he took a step. The doubt kicked in. I went to the left thinking I could possible see him bounding up the hill past our original stand and into the sights of another deserving hunter. But nothing. We went to where he was. No visible blood. We criss crossed the ridge for 10 minutes until I came to a fence line about 75 yards down ridge. That's where I saw his antlers sticking out the side of a sage brush. I was spent. I could only sit and watch my dad gut my deer. It was absolutely the besthunt I could have ever wished for. This was my once in a lifetime buck. He was definitely not the biggest (23.5 inch spread, 165 lbs hanging at the butcher) but he sure was the best in my mind!

[arrowflinger]

A great story.............Hunting always has more rewards then just the kill.

[boneaddict]

Great story, cool pics and nice buck for sure.   How'd you like my backyard? (what I still consider my backyard anyway)

[huntnphool]

Great story and pics. LOL, I know right where that fence and parking lot are, I hunt there every evening. We typically hunt up the Twisp River Valley in the mornings then hat that area about 4:00 in the evening. Were you there in the evening this year, what kind of car were you in?.................rf

[HuntingFanatic]

Great story, cool pics and nice buck for sure.   How'd you like my backyard? (what I still consider my backyard anyway)

I love it! Ive been hunting your backyard since '87. My dad since....dang....late 50's!

Great story and pics. LOL, I know right where that fence and parking lot are, I hunt there every evening. We typically hunt up the Twisp River Valley in the mornings then hat that area about 4:00 in the evening. Were you there in the evening this year, what kind of car were you in?.................rf

Yep we were there most nights. We spent alot of time in the lot to the east of there. We were in a blue Tacoma. Were you in a big red ford?

[boneaddict]

One reason why I find your story fascinating.  As much as that gets hammered, I can't believe you saw him three times or days in a row.  Sure makes me wonder why I left town.  Ever find any sheds there, its a good spot to.

[jae]

Great story, and a great buck!

[huntnphool]

Dark blue Ford Excursion. I should mention I only hunt the last few days of each season, waiting for the migrators to come down. Not much chance of that in the middle of October..................rf

[HuntingFanatic]

Ever find any sheds there, its a good spot to.

Actually I just found a very nice tall 4 point this year on my last day there. I picked it up its still in my car. I think I may start to collect them! LOL. I also found the skull of a button buck. It was in this small rocky draw with 2 other skeletal remains...one was about 70 - 80 % intact.(all the remaines were within 5 ft of each other,) Must have been a trap for the week deer or somethin.

[robb92]

Great story and pics!!! Love the background!!! Miss the mountians and the snow!!!