Well, my deer season's over. Left the camera back at the truck, along with the pack frame, so all i got is some cell shots so i'll try to make up for it with the story. Probably one of the best hunting experience in terms of execution but by far the worse physically and worse pack out in my life!
on a subnote, i was by myself, hindsight not the best idea, and am not a trophy hunter, will harvest any 3 point that comes my way, as this was my smallest mulie every taken. Here he is, has some interesting character, looks like the eye guard is actually his main beam and the 2 point is coming out of the side:
so here is the story, i get up Friday at 3:00am and head out to my spot where i killed one in 2007. i went back in 2008, and saw no sign, but didn't go in 2009. i get to my spot and start up the mountain at 5:45. Mileage wise, not a far height, but elevation gain wise, BRUTAL! at parts it is hands and knees and just kills your knees. It's probably 1.5 miles to where I glass. So here is where I glass from and I get there about 8:20:
you can see how steep the country is, and it is the same coming up the other side of the mountain.
Right off the bat, i glass a monster buck right in the middle of the picture, below the rock finger with the trees on top of it. huge back forks, a little wider than his ears, so i put him around 26". i only have my 14x scope and can't quite make out his fronts, so all i know is he could be a giant 2x2. So i wait him out until he beds. needless to say, heart was pumping and was exicted to put the stalk on. He beds down right on the end of the rocks, next to the rock which suprised me cause i thought he'd work down hill a bit into those trees. Anyways, i stay on him a few more minutes, the suns shining on him so i figure he'll be there for a while to dry out so i get my plan together. Towards the left, it bowls out a bit so i work my way up some more vertical parts and around the ridgeline. on my way i glass a group of 5 deer, 3 small bucks and 2 doe at 468 yards and they are working towards my bedded buck. didn't see any more than 2 points a side on any of the bucks. I finally work my way to right the first group of trees in that picture and set up shop. i'm about 200 yards from the bucks bed and am on a little point that hides me well, but the way the bed is, i can't see the buck or tell if he's still there. I notice 3 does across the way from where i cam feeding and about 5 minutes into my setup a doe walks within 20 yards of me. I see two small bucks work about 200 yards below me and the doe starts to head towards the bucks bed so i'm hoping he at least gets up to check her out or he may be gone for all i know. After i watch her for a bit, here comes a 2x2 about 150 yards below me, working right along the tree line. I put the scope on him and see he grew a 3rd point. so i debate with myself...do i wait for the big buck, is he even still there, does he have more than 2 points a side, this is a small buck and the pack out is going to be brutal....BANG! probably thought about it for .5 seconds, buck drops his head and runs a few feet and collapes down a little rock cliff and he's dead! right behind the shoulder, threw and threw. the big buck never bolted out after the shot so don't know if he left or just didn't care.
now the work begins, i text/call a bunch of my buddies, snap a picture, gut and skin him to cool it down, pack up all my gear and head to the truck to get the frame to come back and bone him out. So i figure on the way back, i'll go down the creek in that picture, it's longer but not as steep as the way up. wrong idea. i get down to the flat part and the blueberries are waist high, so i get even more soacked than i am. I try to work the timber line, but that get too nasty so i figure i'll try to work across the creek to the other side of the trees, even worse idea! the brush is now above my head and thick. i scratch the hell out of my arms and somehow lose the clip on my handgun full of home defense .40 rounds. i finally get to the tree line, find a cut trail and make it back to the road. now its a 1.5 miles hike up the road to my truck. at this time my legs are cramping with each step and i'm gased. i was completely soaked head to toe and had my boots filled up with water. one of the greast ideas i had was brining extra boots, socks and pants, which gave me a second wind. I refuel, and gear up to head back up. I'll i bring with me is my wallet, license, keys, frame, knives, and rope. i have a tshirt on and its somewhat cloudy. no food, and a small canteen of water.
i bang the creek route and am going to hike up the way i came and back down. So i continue on my way up, legs cramp every step so i'm stopping to rest every 5 steps up or so. long story short, i make it back to the buck to start deboning. now it starts to rain, i'm starving and my waters gone. deboning is quick, i get the meat packed up and head back. i am now soaked through my second batch of clothing and try to find scattered blueberries on my route out and suck water off leaves and the pine trees. My route back is slow and steep down hill, which equated to about 20 falls on my butt. by this time i am battered and bruised and exhausted beyond belief. i shot the deer at 10am and it is now 6pm and i'm working to try to make it off the mountain before night fall. i finally give in and pray a fast running creek wont make me sick but take a few sipps from it to make a final push. i finally make it back to the truck at 7 and get on my way.
make it back home, clean the meat, cut it up and get it in the refrigerator to "hang" it for a few days before i cut and wrap it. i finally get to bed at midnight. i can barely walk up my stairs the next day or bend over to wash my face...but it was worth it. i would definitely recommend having a partner next time. i am also telling myself to pass up a small buck when i go back there, but i know i'll shot the same deer and repeat this story again. so at the end of the day, i saw 10 deer within the same moutain bowl, executed a perfect stalk, and got my deer within minutes of setup and hours of starting so one of my best trips in terms of deer activity and execution, but by far the most physically demanding thing i've ever done, but i'll do it again anytime.
i'm not going to edit this for typos so please excuse any.
my season's over, good luck to you all!
