Wild high hunt ends in success

[hirshey]

So I must appologise because I am VERY tired and have to be at work at 7 AM for a week-long trip into the wilderness tomorrow so this will certainly not be my most eloquent writing, but here goes... perhaps some of you check the wolf sighting board, but if not, I'll summarize my experience the weekend before the high hunt opened: hike in 7.5 miles intending to stay through this weekend, spend the night, glass all day only to find a monster 4x5 deadhead, hike down to see it, find unhappy wolves, hike out 7.5 miles partially by headlamp.

At that point, I pretty much assumed my high hunt was over: my feet were blistered and my zeal for the hunting alone in the wilderness was fast diminishing. After 3 days of tending to my bruises and blisters my boyfriend finally dragged me out of my pity party for one; he was making the 6 hour drive late Thursday night to spend the weekend in the woods with me... with the only expectation that we were going on a nice camping trip and happening to carry our rifles just in case. We picked a spot that appeared to be low in foot traffic into the Pasayten and drove to the trailhead early Friday morning. 9 hours later, we were finishing our 7+ mile hike on an unmaintained trail and a little bushwacking into a pristine, beautiful basin: best of all, we had it all to ourselves! We stopped for a break at the first location where we were able to view this gorgeous and steep meadow bordered by cliffs, and Eyeguard pulled his binoculars up. Immediately he exclaimed, "Kari! There's an awesome buck feeding at the top of that meadow, I'm not even kidding!" Moments later, we were planning our best route to close the distance. A mile of switchbacking up an incredibly steep razorback ridgeline later, we decided to wait until the morning: weather and impending darkness made it too risky... the last thing we wanted to do was clear out this basin by rushing a stalk.

[Kola16]

Well, that sucks that you saw wolves on a deer, but it is cool that you saw a nice looking buck. I haven't even got time to try a high buck hunt this year. Keep it up 

[hirshey]

(sorry for the pause, was trying to break the story for photos but they hadn't finished loading on facebook. 

[hirshey]

Morning could not come fast enough: especially since the night was VERY cold, and there was no flat ground on which to pitch a tent: we settled for a king-sized deer bed but I was still rolling onto Eyeguard all night.

The sunrise was breathtaking.. or wait; was it the snow and severe winds that were breathtaking?? Either way, we cooked up some oatmeal and shared a cup of coffee and hiked to our glassing location. After several minutes of not seeing anything, we decided to slowly work our way up and around the basin, glassing as we went. Our third glassing location proved fruitful: we found my buck feeding up the bottom of the draw with some pals... he was joined by a 3x3, 2x2, and another gorgeous 4 point with chocolate-colored antlers.. As I talked with Eyeguard about my stalking route, all the bucks bedded down in the bottom of the meadow. It was obvious these deer had not seen a human all summer. I started my 2 hour stalk to close the distance from 600 yards. Steep, rocky terrain made a quiet sneak difficult, and the occasional doe feeding up the meadow and across the hillside below me proved to be tasking as well. At about 200 yards I flushed 4 grouse, causing the 3 point to pay special attention my direction. After 10-15 minutes of half-kneeling-half-squatting he gave up, but not before feeling uneasy enough to stand and graze, eventually laying down 5 yards behind the chocolate antlered 4 point. My stalk continued: another doe successfully passed. As far as I could tell, there was only one obstacle left before my final destination: a small clump of subalpine fir blocking my approach fro the bucks, and the perfect location for me to have roughly a 100 yard shot. The obstacle was a single doe feeding up the basin roughly 200 yards below me.

[hirshey]

I slowly snuck across the last avalanche chute, but rustled a rock causing the doe severe concern: I stayed in an agonizing half crouch for what seemed like an eternity. The doe lost interest and fed out of sight behind a tree. This was what I had been waiting for: a few quick steps and my subalpine fir clump would completely conceal me from all the animals! One step, then two... HUFF! I look over my downhill shoulder to see two does who COMPLETELY have my number. I freeze, but its too late: they blow and stot down the meadow. I sit down, expecting the bucks to follow or appear on either side of the fir stand. 45 seconds. 75 seconds. No bucks, so I make the decision to get to the fir patch and peek around the corner. All the bucks are up and clustered in a group: the white-horned 4 point I want being the bottom-most animal, but not clear of all the other animals. The chocolate horned 4 point had enough, and started up the opposing basin wall, pulling the 2 point and 3 point with him. JUST the opportunity I was looking for: a broadside, 117 yard shot at the 4 point. I put the crosshairs right behind the shoulder and squeeze the trigger: time seems to stop. All at once, I feel I made a good shot, but panic as the buck takes a few quick steps after his comrades. 1 step, 2 steps... a third step uphill is all he gets before collapsing. I have another bullet in the chamber, but it isn't necessary: he's down and down for good. I radio to my hunting partner: "well, he's down... now the real work starts!" Elated, I jet down to my fabulous buck: no signs of life so I immediately want to grab the horns and admire what a beautiful creature he was. I don't know if it is because he was fresh out of velvet or what, but he gave me one last parting gift: a sliced palm! Those stickers around his bases are SHARP!

[hirshey]

[JLS]

Great buck, were you falling when you snapped the photo?

[JPhelps]

Nice buck and story.  Sounds like you earned him.

[CementFinisher]

   nicely done. Awesome write up. Just got back from colonel bobs wilderness, not nearly as fun lol. Great animal.

[high country]

Hell of a story and a stud buck.....good job.

[hirshey]

[hirshey]

[hirshey]

[denali]

Congratulations  Nice buck    great photos and write up   

[hirshey]

Special thanks to my hunting partner and boyfriend.. he is a champion! The animal hit the ground at 9:30AM and we (mostly he) had the entire animal boned out and packed up ready to leave by 11:00AM. The only thing we were unable to take out was the cape and liver and a small amount of bloodshot rib meat. Other than that, we loaded up all the meat and horns and ended up back at the vehicle at 8PM. Spent a few good hours today cutting and packaging the meat: my entire deer is packaged and in the freezer. Now I get to play guide for friends and family for muzzleloader and modern rifle general season!