Pathfinder's Idaho Deer Hunt

[Rainier10]

Back at the truck we unpacked our rucks and enjoyed the air conditioning as we tooled around the unit.  Since it was the heat of the day we were just making notes on our map and looking at roads and hillsides.  Little Pathfinder got to eat a cactus- he was a little disappointed- a lot less like a fruit and more like an avocado than he expected.

AM i the only person that sees the Bigfoot clinging to the rock behind Conner?  You are both lucky to be alive!

Oh I see it and I'm not a biggie guru.

[Pathfinder101]

Back at the truck we unpacked our rucks and enjoyed the air conditioning as we tooled around the unit.  Since it was the heat of the day we were just making notes on our map and looking at roads and hillsides.  Little Pathfinder got to eat a cactus- he was a little disappointed- a lot less like a fruit and more like an avocado than he expected.

AM i the only person that sees the Bigfoot clinging to the rock behind Conner?  You are both lucky to be alive!

Ok, Ok.... calm down everyone.  No child endangerment going on here.

Yes.  There is a Bigfoot scaling the rock in the background behind my son.
Yes.  We are within range of his boulder-throwing abilities

But... that BF is obviously headed over the top of that rock to get to the 100,000 lb throwing boulder on the other side of it.  We had easily 15 seconds before he got there, and by that time we were back in the truck and gone.  That's why Connor has the happy, unconcerned look on his face.  Plus, there were no chipmunks in the area... so that BF probably wasn't going to throw that boulder at all.  More likely just climbing that rock to get a better view. 

[Bushcraft]

Awesome trip!

[7mmfan]

Back at the truck we unpacked our rucks and enjoyed the air conditioning as we tooled around the unit.  Since it was the heat of the day we were just making notes on our map and looking at roads and hillsides.  Little Pathfinder got to eat a cactus- he was a little disappointed- a lot less like a fruit and more like an avocado than he expected.

AM i the only person that sees the Bigfoot clinging to the rock behind Conner?  You are both lucky to be alive!

Ok, Ok.... calm down everyone.  No child endangerment going on here.

Yes.  There is a Bigfoot scaling the rock in the background behind my son.
Yes.  We are within range of his boulder-throwing abilities

But... that BF is obviously headed over the top of that rock to get to the 100,000 lb throwing boulder on the other side of it.  We had easily 15 seconds before he got there, and by that time we were back in the truck and gone.  That's why Connor has the happy, unconcerned look on his face.  Plus, there were no chipmunks in the area... so that BF probably wasn't going to throw that boulder at all.  More likely just climbing that rock to get a better view.

Well that answered all my questions.

[CoryTDF]

Back at the truck we unpacked our rucks and enjoyed the air conditioning as we tooled around the unit.  Since it was the heat of the day we were just making notes on our map and looking at roads and hillsides.  Little Pathfinder got to eat a cactus- he was a little disappointed- a lot less like a fruit and more like an avocado than he expected.

AM i the only person that sees the Bigfoot clinging to the rock behind Conner?  You are both lucky to be alive!

Ok, Ok.... calm down everyone.  No child endangerment going on here.

Yes.  There is a Bigfoot scaling the rock in the background behind my son.
Yes.  We are within range of his boulder-throwing abilities

But... that BF is obviously headed over the top of that rock to get to the 100,000 lb throwing boulder on the other side of it.  We had easily 15 seconds before he got there, and by that time we were back in the truck and gone.  That's why Connor has the happy, unconcerned look on his face.  Plus, there were no chipmunks in the area... so that BF probably wasn't going to throw that boulder at all.  More likely just climbing that rock to get a better view.

 

[Dan-o]

Wow......

Just wow......

And to think I promised myself that I wouldn't pollute this thread with BigFoot stuff.

 

[Pathfinder101]

Wow......

Just wow......

And to think I promised myself that I wouldn't pollute this thread with BigFoot stuff.

 

Pretty sure this one's on CoryTDF (and me, for rising to the bait).  Sleep easy Dan-o... it was going to happen at some point...

[Rainier10]

Couple of questions to get this back on track.

Is the little guy going along with you on the actual hunt?

How old is he?

How much weight was in that pack he was carrying?

[CoryTDF]

Wow......

Just wow......

And to think I promised myself that I wouldn't pollute this thread with BigFoot stuff.

 

Pretty sure this one's on CoryTDF (and me, for rising to the bait).  Sleep easy Dan-o... it was going to happen at some point...

I couldn't just leave it alone. I mean it was like a $20 bill just sitting in the grocery isle. You tried to hide it with other photos but It was still just there, taunting me and now haunting my dreams. Sleep has been as elusive as BF himself since I saw this horrific display of blatant disregard for both your own personal safety and that of your child. And to think my tent was with you and could have also fallen pray to the insatiable lust that BF has for hipster backpacking gear. You are directly responsible for my terror.

I can only hope that you redeem yourself by shooting a 400" mule deer.       

[Pathfinder101]

Wow......

Just wow......

And to think I promised myself that I wouldn't pollute this thread with BigFoot stuff.

 

Pretty sure this one's on CoryTDF (and me, for rising to the bait).  Sleep easy Dan-o... it was going to happen at some point...

I couldn't just leave it alone. I mean it was like a $20 bill just sitting in the grocery isle. You tried to hide it with other photos but It was still just there, taunting me and now haunting my dreams. Sleep has been as elusive as BF himself since I saw this horrific display of blatant disregard for both your own personal safety and that of your child. And to think my tent was with you and could have also fallen pray to the insatiable lust that BF has for hipster backpacking gear. You are directly responsible for my terror.

I can only hope that you redeem yourself by shooting a 400" mule deer.     

I've already determined that I am not shooting anything over 355 3/8".  Anything more would be greedy. 

[Pathfinder101]

Couple of questions to get this back on track.

Is the little guy going along with you on the actual hunt?

How old is he?

How much weight was in that pack he was carrying?

Yes, the little guy is 12 years old and he will be going along on the hunt (at least as much as possible). Since the hunt happens in August we will be spiked out as much as possible (basically living at or near our glassing points), so if I have to cover some ridiculous ground for a stalk or something similar I can leave him at camp while I go try to break my leg. My 20 year old son will be joining us my the 2nd or 3rd day of the hunt.  He's in Fort Knox right now for training, but flies back to Washington on the 16th.
His pack wasn't bad.  His sleeping bag, water bladder, canteen cup and meals/snacks.  I didn't weigh it, but it's not too heavy.  I carried the tent, stove, etc...
Our first day out I marched him about 3 miles uphill before we stopped to camp.  He did fine as long as we stopped every now and then to catch our breath (the last mile was a bit steep). 

[Rainier10]

Kids are actually crazy tough and go a long ways if you can keep them engaged.

Sounds like this will be another epic family hunt.

Looking forward to hearing how it all goes.

I am assuming there is a real chance at a deer in velvet.  What kind of size does the area hold?

[dvolmer]

That looks like a great father-son adventure to be remembered a life time! Thanks for sharing

[Pathfinder101]

Kids are actually crazy tough and go a long ways if you can keep them engaged.

Sounds like this will be another epic family hunt.

Looking forward to hearing how it all goes.

I am assuming there is a real chance at a deer in velvet.  What kind of size does the area hold?

The thing I noticed about hunting with younger kids is that they can physically do a lot more than most of us give them credit for, it just has to be done in short pieces.  Us older guys can keep trudging on for 5 miles if the hill isn't too steep and the pack isn't overly heavy.  Kids have to do 5 one-mile hikes.  They just don't have the sustained stamina we have.  Must have something to do with the phrase "old-man-tough" 

This season goes from the middle of next month until the 24th of September.  Honestly, if given my druthers, I'd wait until the bucks have hard, polished horns to hunt them.  Velvet is cool, but I think it is second to dark, shiny antler (just my preference).
That's not an option for me though.  I am a high school teacher, so this hunt will have to be done prior to me going back to work on the 26th of August (the main reason I put in for this hunt).
 No chance for hard horn there, so yes...  Velvet it is.  Major consideration will be getting the antlers and cape into a cooler within 2 days of harvest. 

[brocka]

This season goes from the middle of next month until the 24th of September.  Honestly, if given my druthers, I'd wait until the bucks have hard, polished horns to hunt them.  Velvet is cool, but I think it is second to dark, shiny antler (just my preference).
That's not an option for me though.  I am a high school teacher, so this hunt will have to be done prior to me going back to work on the 26th of August (the main reason I put in for this hunt).
 No chance for hard horn there, so yes...  Velvet it is.  Major consideration will be getting the antlers and cape into a cooler within 2 days of harvest.

Dont give up hope, I shot a buck on August 27th one year that was hard horned and polished up!

He was the 45th buck I laid eyes on and the only one hard horned though. Still a chance!