NWBREW's 2011 Late hunt camp (progression with pics)

[NWBREW]

I needed a break from household stuff so I figured I'd do a quick write-up of our late whitetail hunt. It is always a 7-9 day hunt and this year turned out to be a good one (they always are  ). We went 4 out of 5 tags filled.

The first pic is day one (Nov.11th). When we first got there....little snow, good forcast and a bare hanging pole. No hunting done, just unpacking and getting settled into the cabin.

[NWBREW]

The next two days were set for scouting and tree stand placement. This is the time we spend looking for the fresh sign.....the sign we look for to make sure we are hunting areas with bucks. In different areas we found rub lines and scrapes. Good fresh scrapes made within 24 hours although not knowing if they were made day or night but it does narrow down area. I had found an area with an old trail (swede haven) that had 9 scrapes within 1/4 mile....all in a line (scrapeline). We also found a rubline right down the middle of my property. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

I asked for a piece of pie and all she brought me was the crust!

-Steve

[NWBREW]

Up till the 14th we had seen a few deer. Shots on forked horns were passed in hopes of finding something with a little more meat. One of my hunting buddies (the swede) wasn't quite sure what he was going to do the morning of the 14th so I told him about the scrapeline and said he should go hunt it (I was going up to my honey hole stand). Well, that's what he did. Het set up about 20 yards off the scrape line and at 7:00am he let the lead fly on what is his best buck to date. The flood gates were now opened for tags to be punched. Snow makes tracking a hit deer eaiser. 

[NWBREW]

So....one hanging and 4 to go. With the swede filling his tag his tree stand was now open. (As one person fills his tag, his stand opens up for whoever wants to use it).The next day Sconsin decides to take up the Swedes stand and at 1:30pm....BOOM...more lead flies as Sconsin takes out a buck out for a midday stroll......his best buck to date and his only washington buck.

[NWBREW]

Later that afternoon it started to snow.....and snow....and snow. 6" additional snow by morning.  Perfect conditions for the late hunt.

[NWBREW]

That morning I had noticed a lot of fesh tracks in the snow at the bottom area of my driveway but had gone back up to the honey hole stand. I had seen a couple of forked horns up thete so far and one real nice 4x4 that did not offer me a shot I was comfortable with (around 400 yards). I went back to the cabin around 11:30 to grab a bite and talk about what I was going to do next. Well, The swede had been sitting in the yard stand that morning with his camera and had pics (although very blurry) of a 4 pt. that came through. Around 12 noon I decided to go for a walk to the bottom area of my property........Matt goes to the yard stand. As I get to the bottom area of my property I noticed a few tracks turned in to many tracks crossing in one area....a nice clearing.

[NWBREW]

Two days earlier I had made a little makeshift stand that overlooked this area so I decided to have a seat there and just watch it for a while. A few minutes after I took my stand a doe came in to the opening and stopped.  The wind was perfect for me. She had no idea I was there. I can tell she is watching something farther down that old logging road (I had the property selectivly logged in 1999). Sure enough here comes a deer.........another doe and she stopped in the opening. This was my view from my stand. Took it with my cellphone. If you look close you can see them. The opening is about 70 yards away from me.

[NWBREW]

I watched them for about 10 minutes and all of a sudden the were both staring down the road to my left....ears forward. They scatter and I'm thinking coyote. WRONG. I start seeing antlers through the brush as a nice buck is coming up to the opening. I know he is a buck I would take when I saw him so I did not look at his antlers again. Big body.....he steps in to the opening...I am up and ready...BOOM. He drops in his tracks.

In 20 years this is the only buck I have taken off the property although I have passed on many smaller bucks. He came in at 12:30pm...middle of the day. He is now in the care of bucklucky who is doing the mount.

3 tags down.....two to go.

[NWBREW]

Last one.

That same evening at 4:00pm while Matt was in the yard stand a young buck came in. Now Matt has not shot a deer yet so this could be his break in. BOOM. 4th tag filled. It was great to be around when Matt was able to fill his very first deer tag. All in all it was a great trip as always. We did not go 5 for 5 but that's ok.....there's always next year. 

[Wea300mag]

Great recap Brew, looks like a fun and successful hunt.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Some good looking bucks guys!

[YoterHunter]

looks like some got into the back straps on the one to the left. congrats

[bwhntr350]

Thanks for the story. That was a fun time, I have no doubt.

[lokidog]

Nice deer there NW.