2019 Season: "It's not that bad guys, it only hurts if I walk on it"

[grundy53]

Another amazing thread.  How boring would life be if you didn't have some setbacks and obstacles.

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[jackelope]

One of those bucks looks familiar...

Kinda what I was thinking

[Karl Blanchard]

With Idaho rifle season looming in my future,  I dis my best to lay off the foot and get it as stable as possible. Basically phoned it in for muzzy elk, and opted for a few easy limits of grouse instead

Opening week of Idaho's rifle season snuck up fast! A long overdue group hunt of a few other members has been trying to come together for a while now. We all hunt together  but we have yet to all be in one place except for a bear hunt back in 2016.

JonathanS, Bullblaster, and Coop2424 all met me at the trailhead the night of opening weekend and we made our way up the mountain. With two big tipi's with stoves we had a comfy camp, and 4 backs meant shared loads so extra comforts and snacks

[jackelope]

I only see 1 foot in the photo. Did you have the other one amputated to cut down on the pain?

[Karl Blanchard]

I only see 1 foot in the photo. Did you have the other one amputated to cut down on the pain?

the thought crossed my mind 

You ever get one of those cramps in the bottom of your foot that is like someone trying to stick a screwdriver through your doot and your toes lock up? I had that for 4 days straight in Idaho.  It was absolutely excruciating. Made sleeping, glassing, and hiking a real pain. Literally

[Karl Blanchard]

First evening of hunting Bullblaster and I caught a glimpse of a buck right at dark that looked to be a good one. We tried to make a play but he stayed just into the timber enough that we had no shot.  The plan for the next day would be to turn him up.

Sun up found us glued into our glass scouring the landscape for the buck from the night before. We had been seeing TONS of deer but few bucks and even fewer bucks of the kind we were after.  Mid morning Bullblaster glasses up a good framed up a long ways off.  To my surprise he deferred his right as spotter of the deer and offered him to me.  With my foot the way it was and as sore as I already was from not being able to condition for the last 2 months, I gladly took him up on his generous offer.  Long story short, we let him bed (out of sight) and gave him plenty of time to settle in. Took us (me ) a long time to make it over there but after 7hrs of waiting and hiking we were working our way down the spine ridge at a snail's pace. Step. Glass. Step. Glass. Sure enough, there he lay underneath a big gray back log. He had his face into the wind and had no clue we were there. I laid out prone and one shot at 200 yards left him dead, still in his bed. 

It was darn near dark and I was glad to have chris to assist in the chores as we had a long, dark walk back to the tent where Jon and Jared were impatiently awaiting our return. Chris and I have only known each other for a few years but we hunt very well together and always have a great time! This was another one of those times and I'm always thankful for his humor and strong back. Mainly just his strong back

[Karl Blanchard]

The next morning chris and I were right back after the 3x4 from our first evening with no luck.  We knew he was in there though so just kept at it.  Several days pass with no sighting but our luck changed on the morning of day 5 when him and another buck were making their way up a little spine ridge part way up the same basin I shot my buck in. Here we go again! What I consider a chip shot for ol Bullblaster, he pulled off in fine fashion putting a 215 berger right where it needed to go. I tried to fake a pulled hammy but he still snuck meat into my pack. He isn't much of a friend

I dont like posting other peoples grip and grin pics much so if the guys want to post up their bucks they can.

[Jonathan_S]

And Karl was FAR from done on this hunt... 

[Karl Blanchard]

We felt like we had played out the area so we broke camp, stripped the meat tree and headed for greener pastures. 

We found ourselves on the edge of a storm front hoping to catch some old bucks heading for lower elevations. We spent the next few days in the fog. On our last day of hunting and what we affectionately refer to as "full send friday", we were on a mission to get Jon some meat in the freezer. Once again we were sitting in a glassing spot staring at fog. Jon jumped the ridge to see if the back side was blown out or not and sure enough, the second he leaves, here come the deer. In great haste I slithered across the ridge to find him. We barely get setup for the shot as the group of deer reach the timber. I call out 340 yards no wind hold and Jon touches off his shot. With a POP, the Buck hops and then runs into the trees! Heck yes! Last day buck!

We gather up our gear and head over to collect Jon's grocerys but upon arrival we find no blood, no hair, too many deer tracks to decipher and no dead buck!  I've seen literally hundreds and hundreds of animals shot. I know when a buck gets hit and that deer took a bullet.  But 2hrs of searching the area we couldn't find a stitch of evidence of a hit. Guess anyone can get fooled 

As the fog rolled in on the mountain and our spirits, we began our climb out to head for home. We were momentarily held up by a weasel sighting. Cool little creatures and a rare sight. While we were standing at the edge of the drainage watching our fury little friend. It's hard to explain and I think anyone who has been around can attest that sometimes you just get that "feeling" and this was one of those times. I turned around just in time to see a a deer standing in the fog as it blew through the drainage. I frantically get Jon's attention once again and we setup for the shot.  It took a bit for the fog to blow out and all the while this 4pt stood motionless with his attention affixed to something down drainage.  As a window cleared, Jon pulled through his trigger and I got to watch the vapor trail as the bullet arched right into the shoulder and crumpled the buck in his tracks. Just when we thought our hunt was over......sweet sweet redemption

[nwwanderer]

Thanks for the weasel and has the palouse tag happened yet?

[2MANY]

Perhaps you should look into the Big Cat Electric Walker.

Titanium frame, Cerakote high temperature Sitka Camo coating, brush-less motor, solar re-chargeable battery, 4 fat tires, disc brakes, man sized wire basket w/vertical trek pole sleeve, CO2 horn, mono pod seat, and self erecting sun shade.
If your willing to upgrade, the patented Eazyfind panic button on the walker handle can be Bluetoothed to your Inreach. The Yeti Athletic Ice Keeper option keeps ice wraps cool for short day gimps and the insulated, PVC lined candy pouch guarantees your Starburst will never melt.

[Karl Blanchard]

Perhaps you should look into the Big Cat Electric Walker.

Titanium frame, Cerakote high temperature Sitka Camo coating, brush-less motor, solar re-chargeable battery, 4 fat tires, disc brakes, man sized wire basket w/vertical trek pole sleeve, CO2 horn, mono pod seat, and self erecting sun shade.
If your willing to upgrade, the patented Eazyfind panic button on the walker handle can be Bluetoothed to your Inreach. The Yeti Athletic Ice Keeper option keeps ice wraps cool for short day gimps and the insulated, PVC lined candy pouch guarantees your Starburst will never melt.

is this a real thing? Please don't tease me 😍

[Karl Blanchard]

Thanks for the weasel and has the palouse tag happened yet?

we are headed your way friday after Addison gets out of school!

[BULLBLASTER]

Thanks for the weasel and has the palouse tag happened yet?

we are headed your way friday after Addison gets out of school!

We should be able to stop by and say hi sometime over the weekend nwwanderer

[jstone]

As always, great hunt, great pictures and great story
Thanks for sharing