The bullet is a 7mm mag.
The tracks led us into the thicker trees,so we decided to go above and past where the cat went in.Hoping it would go out to a ridge and provide a shot.
1/2 way to the ridge Matt (son)stayed,I worked my way out and down then back,trying to cut tracks.Ian(brother in law) motioned me up a ways.Where I cut track that led to the ridge.I had circled it! We tried motioning Matt out to that ridge thinking the cat would be in the open.But couldnt get the message across.I ended up following the tracks to where they crossed the tracks I made when trying to circle into it.It was headed exactly where I wanted Matt to be.I got to and around the ridge in time to see the tail end of an animal take off.Dont know if it was the cougar, or a deer it that was spooked by it.So much for the cougar hunt.So close!
Sunday Matt and Ian headed home.So I hunted most of the week by myself.I was getting trashed.Hunting daylight to dark.Hardly any sleep.It was taking a toll on me.Thursday morning I was feelin pretty out of sorts.Just too tired to function very well.I decided that morning I was going to take the first decent buck I saw.Then head home.
Fortunately Deep Forks and his Son met up with me and helped me look for a nice buck.They kept me going.And although it snowed a bit the night before.We werent seeing much.Probably the slowest morning since I got there.We decided to go to an area where I had been seeing a lot of deer and a lot of different bucks.Still didnt see much and it was getting to be late morning.Early afternoon.
We knew the deer were there.Just not showing their selves.We decided I would get a ride up to the top,and hunt back to my rig.On the way out to the drop point I spotted a deer down in the draw.Thought it was a doe.
We glassed it and saw it was a 4 point on 1 side.And I thought it was missing a horn on the other side.Just as we realized it had a smaller horn opposite the 4 point side.Deep Forks Son grabbed me and pointed out a nice buck that popped up about 1/2 way between us and the first buck.
I got there in time to see it take off and get down the ridge a few hundred yards.We could see it was pretty wide and I took a shot.Missed.Dang!
It stopped and I got a rest.Deep Forks says 369 yards.I allowed for it and shot again.We could hear the whack of the bullet and the buck did a big swerve.I hit it.But wasnt sure how well.It took off running.DFs son says.You hit him hard.I took another shot.And thought I missed again.Now it was over the ridge and out of sight.
I went up to the next ridge over.Easing my way down to intercept him if it kept going.DF had his son go down the ridge where I shot and guided him to where the buck was when I hit him.It was getting iffy.He couldnt find any track or blood.And I wasnt seeing anything either.We did see the first buck though.He was a very neat 4x spike.With 4 inch eyeguards.The 4 point side was fairly wide and tall and the spike side had the same width height and mass.Looking straight on you would have though he was a matching symetrical buck.If I would have been 100% sure I missed the buck I shot at.I would have taken this 1 and had a head mount done.He was that unique!
I was getting kind of bummed.Not seeing the buck I shot at.Not seeing any sign.It wasnt looking good.I was easing my way over to where DFs son was.Looking through my glasses.Hoping to see something.About the 3rd or 4th time I look.I think I see horns.I get another view and see a body.Theres a buck bedded down below a tree.Its either the 1 I shot or one that died by other means.My hopes escalate.I guide Dfs son down to it.Hes a bit above.Throwing sticks at it.It doesnt move.But he says he doesnt think its the buck I shot.We get to it about the same time.It is the buck I shot!!! It bedded down and died.Yeehaw!!!!
So heres pics of my buck,our buck! Because it really was a team effort.
My new friends
The shot.
I didnt hit it where I wanted to.Come to find out my scope was only on 4X and I wasnt seeing my target as well as I thought.I got the right results though.The bullet hit a ways back.Went through the liver.Then through the top of the heart.
I know its long winded.And a lot of pics.But I hope you enjoyed the story of my Swakane hunting trip.
Thanks again for all the help everybody gave me.Especially to Deep Forks and his Son.It made for an experience of a lifetime.
