Swakane reports?(updated with photos again)

[Ridgerunner]

stick with it, anything can happen at this time of year.  Those big boys aren't completely stupid, they are probably there.

[bear]

Here's a recap of Day 2 and 3.  Day 2 we decided to try a completely different area.  We were seeing some does but no bucks with them at all.  We came to the realization that this area probably got hit really hard during general season and therefore there were very few bucks left in the area.  It would probably been a decent area had there been any migration as it is an early migration spot.  We ended up hiking down a closed road and watched a doe chase 2 coyotes all over the hillside.  It was fun to watch.  After looking the hill over for quite a bit streak spotted a bear down in the bottom of the canyon.  Nov 15, last day for bear season.  Decided how many chances would I get for a bear this late in the season and because we weren't seeing any deer, what the heck.  I was able to close the distance to 120 yards and had a downed tree for a rest.  Instant death.  I love to see an animal drop like that.  Wasn't a big bear at 5'7" but was about 200 lbs fat.

My friend Pat with his hillbilly back pack.

As far as deer hunting Day2 had less deer then we had seen on any other day for awhile.  Day 3-My last day that I could hunt.  Time to fill a tag.  Ended up on a road that got extremely brushy and scratched the heck out of my truck.  We saw a few bucks and made a stalk on one that was about a 20" 4 point.  He ended up following the does down the hill and I decided not to rush a shot on him at 200 yards as he wasn't a trophy anyways.  We finally got off the brushy road and decided to go to a spot where we had passed on a 22" 2 by 3 several times.  We ended up pushing him out of the area and chased him until he stopped at 300 yards.  Decided he wasn't big enough to pack out of where he ended up.  When we got back to the truck it was 3pm so we decided to hunt our way out.  As we were heading out we saw some fresh tracks on the 1/2" of fresh snow that we had that day.  I walked out the tracks until they left the road and then ended up spotting a buck about 200 yards below the road.  Didn't have a rest, so I had to sit and use my knees for a rest(not something I like to do at that range).  I pulled the trigger and when I looked up I saw absolutely nothing.  Didn't know whether I got it or not, but we were loosing light so streak and I headed down to see.  Found him piled up in the brush right where he had stood.  Had to take pictures quick and start cutting really quick as Pat grabbed the packs and a couple of flashlights and headed down to us.  It was really steep and we all slid several times on the way down.  Not what I was looking for when I drew this tag, but with no migration yet, a decent local buck.

In conclusion, I don't know if I would apply for this tag again.  This is my second time with this tag and neither time had enough weather to push deer in.  It's really only great if you get the migration.  We got my deer at about 6000' elevation and there was about 2" of snow on the ground.  It was raining hard at that elevation yesterday when we got the buck out.  The southern slopes were bare at 5000'.   I had a good time on this hunt anyways and spent some quality time with a couple of good friends(what it's really all about anyways).  Thanks to all the guys that helped me on this hunt.  It was really appreciated.  Bear

[jrebel]

Congrats Bear, with the bear and the deer looks like all worked out ok.  Really glad to hear you harvested an animal and didn't have to eat tag soup. 

[wamuledeer]

Sounds like a great hunt to me, nice buck and a bonus bear. The buck looks to have a huge body on him.

[cle elum bowhunter]

Congrats on the double.  Like you said, maybe not what you wanted with that tag but still a nice deer.

[PacificNWhunter]

Congrats, way to get both tags filled.

[Fishhog]

Nice job one the bead and fine buck.

A bit of criticism on your pictures. It looks like you have a bunch of snow on your beard, either that or you were getting into the powdered donuuts and forgot to wipe your face   

Two bucks and a bear = GREAT HUNT !!!

[MtnMuley]

Great ending to a great hunt with your son!  Congrats!

[bornforhorns]

Bear?

Seems appropriate to have a thread name right now like that.  #1, you sound like a patient hunter and will get another opportunity with or without a late tag at a good buck someday...in the meantime I think you did well and had fun...that is what it's about.  You probably just dumped a butt load of stress off yourself from lifes everyday hustle and bustle.

[bear]

A bit of criticism on your pictures. It looks like you have a bunch of snow on your beard, either that or you were getting into the powdered donuuts and forgot to wipe your face   

:chuckle:It's called old age or stress.  I don't mind it.  I think it makes me look distinguished, but the says it needs to go.  She'll probably have coloring it a couple years.

[sheephunter]

good job Barry, glad you had good hunts especially with your son, can't replace that

[jstone]

That's awesome. There are some big ones in there just some late snow. I was up on Roaring ridge Saturday scouting and fallowed a bear in the snow for a while was he shot up in that area? Great Job.

[eastside boy]

Hey nice buck....you did what you could do with the conditions you were dealt with.  I was up against a similar situation in 07' when I had the late Entiat.....virtually no migration.  I hunted my butt off for 14 days, knowing the type of bucks that should eventually show up, but to no avail.  I ended up shooting a descent local buck on the last day of the season.  Once again nice buck!!!

[KillerMiller]

 :drool:Very nice! 

[shanevg]

Congrats Barry!  I'm particularly jealous of the bear of course!