Hunted a week ago when it was 77 degrees and dry. Didn't bother the next two days and wasn't coming back until a week later when temps were to drop by 20 degrees.
Worked a four-day trip, the last day getting up at 5:30am for a Reno - Phoenix- Puerto Vallarta - Phoenix day. Waited a few hours then commuted home late that night, not getting in until after 1:30am.
Normally I'd say I'm sleeping in and hunt the next day, but that night the area I hunt got some rain, which I knew would be snow up at elevation, so after getting home I got my stuff together, gassed up the 4Runner, and drove the 90 minutes to my area. Ended up getting about one hour of sleep while parked, and headed up the trail 2 hours and 20 minutes prior to sunrise.
Cold and windy with a light dusting of snow, my hands were freezing with the windchill while glassing. Felt like the wind was going right through my gloves. Moved around for better vantage points a few times and found a few dozen deer, but due to the distance, light/shade/shadows, and brush I couldn't tell what most were even with 10x Swaros. Some I figured were bucks due to body size, being solo, or with one other deer.
Watched one herd with what looked to be the same small forkie from last week and decided to get a closer look, while also getting closer to many of the others. As I was moving so were they, and I really wasn't closing distance. Also was going fairly slowly not to spook others in sight.
Focused on one that was originally 750, and now 635, was a decent forkie. With the other suspected bucks being much farther away I decided I'm taking this one since I only have two more days before starting another trip and would rather be done and hang out with my dog. Got to 510 and set up, terrain didn't allow me to get closer. Don't particularly like long range shots, especially with wind, on game, but have been shooting one gallon water jugs at 400 and 500, and felt confident.
I always wear ear pro so it's more of a thump instead of a loud bang that has my ears ringing for two days. Scope dialed, bipod is steady, he's still... THUMP!.... smack! Lost sight at the shot but heard the smack. Got the scope back on him, but he's not there. Look through the Swaros, can't find anything moving. Gather my stuff, hike about 15 minutes, dropped and rolled over where he stood. I'd show you what a recovered 145 LRX looks like, but I've never recovered one.
Nearly 13 hours after starting I was at the bottom.
