Chewuch late tag

[Falcon]

Sakko:

Love the story, and your stay after it attitude.   In the end, it sounded like a tough guy hunt.   I’m glad you a got a nice mature buck in the end without freezing to death 

[huntnphool]

 The deep snow was definitely a issue, I know several late tags went into the soup pot last season, well done!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Awesome buck and hunt! Nice job!

[Deadeyety]

Awesome deer and great story! That deep snow is no joke!

[bigmacc]

Nicely done👍. Deep snow is a chore. Me and a buddy killed a buck back in the 70,s it was about 40 above when we went in, killed the buck at noon, never made it out until three days later! The temp had dropped to about 10 above, started blowing snow and by the second day we had about 3 foot, then somewhere below zero, my mustache was froze solid until I got to a road! We hunkered in below a big ponderosa, ate about a third of the deer before we decided to get out, we made it to the road with the front half and the head. That unit can turn ugly in a heartbeat.looking back, one of my favorite hunting trips. Congrats.👍 long story short, if the weather turns bad in that unit, get out, there’s been more than one “nasty circumstance” in the north valley. Had a friend that slept inside of a gutted deer once.👍

[blindluck]

Good job, tough hunt. Spent 24 days in that snow, we did pretty good but it was brutal. Congrats.

[dilleytech]

Well I’m not the best story teller , but I’ll take a stab at it a bit. After putting in for this tag for many years and finally drawing it - I could not wait for the season to get here and when it did I was committed to hunt the whole 20 day season looking for the buck the tag deserved. Went over 2 days early and set up camp on the upper west Chewuch rd . I brought my 30’ travel trailer and was set up for a solo hunt for the whole time as my hunting buddies were all in Montana at the same time. I hunted the first 7 days or so hiking in 5-6 miles everyday , having perfect weather and seeing lots of animals- probably saw 40-50 bucks the first week or so. Then a big weather change was coming - going to get super cold and a good bit of snow.
Well the good bit of snow turned into getting 36” of snow in 48hrs and temps down around zero once it stopped. The first day of heavy snow I was still able to hike in - with very limited visibility I was still able to get on some deer , but still not what I was looking for.
And then by the end of the day there was 36” on the ground - there was no more hiking - I tried a couple times , but that much snow is no joke! And then the zero degree temps hit and everything in my trailer failed - batteries died, no water and propane furnace failed. Only heat was a small fake fireplace in it that I could run off the generator and would get temps up inside to 40-50.
First day of the 36” of snow I got stuck 3 times and spent most of the day digging myself out and kind of navigating a couple roads the best I could. Was able to get to some spots that I could glass up pretty good numbers of deer.
So I think I’m on day 10 or so and I made the biggest mistake of my hunt - right around 4:45 I spotted a huge buck  ( 5x6 and I would say definitely over 190 )and about 300yrds out with a bunch of does . I made the poor decision to put him to bed and figured I would get on him in the morning and be able to deal with him during the day. Instead of at night by myself 3’ of snow and temps at zero. As you can guess - that never happed - I looked for that buck the next 2 days in the limited areas I could get to. Now I think day 12 - I was done and ready to get the hell outta there! With no water and no heat and not being able to get around , I was ready to be done. So once again - I spot this buck right at 4:45 . He was at 330 yrds pushing does and I decided this was it. Settled in for the shot with my 300WSM and it was over , he didn’t even take 1 step! Just went straight down and sunk into the snow. And boy did the work start then. Made it across the 330 yards in the 3’ of snow - probably took about 45 minutes to reach him. So I decided I was going to cape him and in the process of breaking the head free I snapped my fixed blade knife in half and had the finish the whole parting out process with my havalon. 3 loads later to my truck ( definitely cannot pack as much in that kind of snow ) I got my last load out at 10:30 pm.
Should I have taken the big buck and dealt with him at night - yes!
But am I happy with this buck - 100% and it was a hunt I will never forget and did it 100% on my own

At those temps in those conditions I wouldn’t have worried one bit about killing the buck and just coming back for him in the morning. Sounds like some serious life threatening conditions.

The thought crossed my mind - but the temps that night got to a low of below zero and the deer would of frozen solid - then I would have a real mess on my hands. Got frost bite on 2 of my fingers that night. They were numb for about a month - then all the skin peeled off and got feeling back

I doubt it would have frozen solid but it would have been cold on the hands for sure. Which might have been worse than working late into the night.

[huntnphool]

Well I’m not the best story teller , but I’ll take a stab at it a bit. After putting in for this tag for many years and finally drawing it - I could not wait for the season to get here and when it did I was committed to hunt the whole 20 day season looking for the buck the tag deserved. Went over 2 days early and set up camp on the upper west Chewuch rd . I brought my 30’ travel trailer and was set up for a solo hunt for the whole time as my hunting buddies were all in Montana at the same time. I hunted the first 7 days or so hiking in 5-6 miles everyday , having perfect weather and seeing lots of animals- probably saw 40-50 bucks the first week or so. Then a big weather change was coming - going to get super cold and a good bit of snow.
Well the good bit of snow turned into getting 36” of snow in 48hrs and temps down around zero once it stopped. The first day of heavy snow I was still able to hike in - with very limited visibility I was still able to get on some deer , but still not what I was looking for.
And then by the end of the day there was 36” on the ground - there was no more hiking - I tried a couple times , but that much snow is no joke! And then the zero degree temps hit and everything in my trailer failed - batteries died, no water and propane furnace failed. Only heat was a small fake fireplace in it that I could run off the generator and would get temps up inside to 40-50.
First day of the 36” of snow I got stuck 3 times and spent most of the day digging myself out and kind of navigating a couple roads the best I could. Was able to get to some spots that I could glass up pretty good numbers of deer.
So I think I’m on day 10 or so and I made the biggest mistake of my hunt - right around 4:45 I spotted a huge buck  ( 5x6 and I would say definitely over 190 )and about 300yrds out with a bunch of does . I made the poor decision to put him to bed and figured I would get on him in the morning and be able to deal with him during the day. Instead of at night by myself 3’ of snow and temps at zero. As you can guess - that never happed - I looked for that buck the next 2 days in the limited areas I could get to. Now I think day 12 - I was done and ready to get the hell outta there! With no water and no heat and not being able to get around , I was ready to be done. So once again - I spot this buck right at 4:45 . He was at 330 yrds pushing does and I decided this was it. Settled in for the shot with my 300WSM and it was over , he didn’t even take 1 step! Just went straight down and sunk into the snow. And boy did the work start then. Made it across the 330 yards in the 3’ of snow - probably took about 45 minutes to reach him. So I decided I was going to cape him and in the process of breaking the head free I snapped my fixed blade knife in half and had the finish the whole parting out process with my havalon. 3 loads later to my truck ( definitely cannot pack as much in that kind of snow ) I got my last load out at 10:30 pm.
Should I have taken the big buck and dealt with him at night - yes!
But am I happy with this buck - 100% and it was a hunt I will never forget and did it 100% on my own

At those temps in those conditions I wouldn’t have worried one bit about killing the buck and just coming back for him in the morning. Sounds like some serious life threatening conditions.

The thought crossed my mind - but the temps that night got to a low of below zero and the deer would of frozen solid - then I would have a real mess on my hands. Got frost bite on 2 of my fingers that night. They were numb for about a month - then all the skin peeled off and got feeling back

I doubt it would have frozen solid but it would have been cold on the hands for sure. Which might have been worse than working late into the night.

 Same situation we were in. Took half out in the dark and went back for the rest the next morning. Wasn’t frozen but boy was it cold on the hands!

[Parkern]

Great story. Sounded like a grind! Hard to keep after it especially in those conditions and being solo! That big buck will keep you hungry for years to come, and old timer always told me, isn't it special just to see one?! Darn right!
Congrats on the buck you got!

[KDB]

Great Buck!! That snow was tough we had that same snow in the South Cascades in a late muzzle elk and at 72 it was too tough for me.
I am lucking to draw Chewuck and  Gardner any deer tag for 2023 and I hope I'm to the task,