Huntnphool & Boneaddict

[popeshawnpaul]

Mega buck bird dogging some does...  He did not stick around when he spotted me.

[popeshawnpaul]

Again, mega buck bird dogging some does.  He did not stick around for pictures...  17 scorable points on this buck.

[popeshawnpaul]

Big whitey.  Kind of looks like the brother of Tom's buck posted earlier...  Or maybe the same buck shot a year or two earlier?

[Tom Reichner]

Shawn, I'd be surprised if anybody tops those.

[popeshawnpaul]

Another pose of the same buck.

[huntnphool]

Those are all trophy bucks Shawn

[Tom Reichner]

Big whitey.  Kind of looks like the brother of Tom's buck posted earlier...  Or maybe the same buck shot a year or two earlier?

It's not him, Shawn.  Don Jones had a photo of "my" buck that was published in a bowhunting magazine this past winter.  The image was taken in '07, and it was unmistakably "my" buck.   The antlers were actually substantially smaller then, so my guy still has some growing up to do.  

Yours is very similar, though.  You may have something with the "brother" idea.

[popeshawnpaul]

Ricochet has a bigger buck.

To add to the discussion, this isn't about secret spots.  You have to get off your ass and get out there shooting.  Like Tom this weekend went over to Rainier and shot great fox photos.  Had he not made that trip he would have not gotten those shots.  That big muley photo above I spotted on top of a mountain from 5 miles away.  I hiked my ass off to get in front of him and had the tripod ready when he came up that hill.  It takes hard work, getting out, and climbing hills.  You can't drive up to a spot and just start shooting.  (rarely except jellystone, etc.)

Pros run from area to area putting thousands of miles on the car getting these shots.  It takes a lot of time out in the field.  Many of us take a few days off during hunting season and do this kind of stuff while hunting but many of us want to extend our season.  I pursue wildlife photos probably 6 weeks in the fall and during the year.  I respect guys like Tom and the others that are dedicated at the pursuit.

[boneaddict]

  Spot on.

[Tom Reichner]

Pros run from area to area putting thousands of miles on the car getting these shots.

You're right, Shawn.  Unfortunately, there are lots of times that guys put thousands of miles on their cars and don't get the shots.  Like last fall at Malheur.  A bunch of guys drove a long, long way to get there for the November rut, and got nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  Unfortunately, I was one of those guys.  It happens.  We are dealing with wildlife and there are no guarantees. 

[boneaddict]

That might be why my truck has 130,000 on it and its 4 years old.   AND, 99% of my shooting is IN-STATE.  I do have a list of out of state outings and the Malheur is one of them.   Theres a couple more out there.  I also have alot of fun in my backyard though. 

[popeshawnpaul]

Jasper/Banf is on my list...   

[lamar_hunter]

pope those bucks are absolutely ridiculous!!

[boneaddict]

Banf was on mine too except the wolves have hammered it.  Kiabab is on mine.  I'll never draw the tag, so I figure the money I save by not applying I'll just drive there and photograph it.

[popeshawnpaul]

I've done the Kaibab.  Some of my buck shots are from there.  Good times and there are a lot of turkey up there to shoot also.