Post by: h20hunter on September 19, 2012, 08:21:55 AM
Doe?
Yep, doe. You see, I'm taking my boy, Mark with me for his first real hunt alongside me. A while back some of you may remember that I took my dad along for a hunt with Oren and Tanglewood Guides, a sponsor of this site. I had done a big write up building up to the hunt as well as a post hunt recap. I enjoyed our time with Oren and his family and now consider him a good friend. Next month I'll be back again with my father as well as my brother to hunt with him as clients. My dad will be looking for his second muley and my brother will be embarking on his first big game hunt with the goal of taking a buck with his rifle. After talking with Oren during the scheduling phase it was offered that my son and I should come out for a few days and try and add a little meat to the freezer by thinning the herd a little bit.
So, you see, this is my first chance to take a trophy. Having my son with me during the hunt has added a level of excitement that rivals putting a bullet into my first bear this year. He and I have been going to the range, shooting our bows, getting ready. We have sent a note to school letting them know that he will be missing a day. I'm very proud of my wife for supporting not only me but him missing a day to hit the road with me. He will be in the blind with me and God willing he will sit still long enough to let a slick head come in. I have no doubt that when the time comes he will be still and steady....hopefully so will I as I come to full draw and settle the pin.
The hunt may not be all that challenging.....after all it is only a doe....but with him next to me I will consider it a trophy.
Wish me luck. I'll post a follow up with pictures of two smiling boys, one 6 years old and one 35 years young, with our trophy doe after the hunt.
Post by: Button Nubbs on September 19, 2012, 08:50:26 AM
Post by: crschralping on September 19, 2012, 08:54:11 AM
Post by: mrmoskillz on September 19, 2012, 08:57:32 AM
Post by: h20hunter on September 19, 2012, 08:59:40 AM
Post by: DoubleJ on September 19, 2012, 09:03:03 AM
Post by: runningboard on September 19, 2012, 09:07:49 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 19, 2012, 09:11:02 AM
Post by: 270Flat on September 19, 2012, 09:57:06 AM
Post by: 724wd on September 19, 2012, 10:18:49 AM
next year i want to try to stalk a muley (doe is fine!) in the CRP wheat fields. not sure if she'll be much help on that! :chuckle:
a phone with games on it can be a great distraction!
Post by: h20hunter on September 19, 2012, 10:21:13 AM
Post by: Kowsrule30 on September 19, 2012, 12:10:07 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 19, 2012, 12:50:12 PM
Post by: sako85 on September 19, 2012, 03:39:03 PM
years back and it's something we will never forget, he still brings it up all
the time. Good luck!
Post by: Mark Brenckle on September 19, 2012, 06:10:49 PM
Post by: 3nails on September 19, 2012, 06:21:12 PM
Post by: saylean on September 19, 2012, 06:24:30 PM
Post by: 250savage on September 20, 2012, 06:54:09 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 20, 2012, 07:32:48 AM
Post by: SeaRun1 on September 20, 2012, 07:37:24 AM
SR1
Post by: h20hunter on September 20, 2012, 07:47:11 AM
Post by: h20hunter on September 21, 2012, 09:39:42 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 21, 2012, 09:44:34 AM
Post by: h20hunter on September 21, 2012, 09:56:28 PM
Post by: Button Nubbs on September 22, 2012, 05:17:25 PM
Doe down. Story tomorrow.
:tup: good deal! now wheres the story?
Post by: Austrian Hunter on September 22, 2012, 05:28:06 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 22, 2012, 05:46:21 PM
Post by: h20hunter on September 22, 2012, 06:53:41 PM
Post by: h20hunter on September 22, 2012, 07:28:04 PM
So the ride over went smooth as butter. We hit the road right on time and pushed straight to Winthrop for bacon and eggs. Funny to be up there and still be able to smell the smoke. We made Omak and met up with buddy Oren and his family while they were out running errands. Hung around and chatted then went to go get settled in. We got the blind up and were hunting yesterday by about 3 pm. Man was it hot. Oren and Mark promptly got tired and started to doze off a bit. I was fading but stayed alert. I'd like to say my son hung in there and sat still for 6 hours but that was not to be. He made it a solid three hours sweating in the blind. We same a couple of forkies come in, a spike was milling around, and the sage dragons (chipmunks) were entertaining. After a few hours it was clear he was maxed out. The boy was spent. I reminded myself that my dream of him sitting next to me while I shoot a deer is mine...not his (yet!). So, Oren loaded him up and ran him back to the house so he could relax and play with the other kids. If I force him with the cruel and unusual punishment of sitting in a blind when he doesn't want to it will simply not work in either of our favor. While Oren was gone I had a couple of yearlings come in with momma. She got a pass only because she spooked a bit when I began to draw. Probably for the best. Oren comes back and the deer are starting to move pretty good. By now it is about 6 and way cooled off. As the evening was winding down we were down to about the last 10 minutes of shooting light. Soon I would not be able to see my pins. Oren perks up for what I think is no apparent hearing. His sixth guiding sense had kicked in and he knew a fat doe was close....very close. I double checked my release and told my heart to slow down. I still get excited, what can I say. Then, there at 12 yards steps out a smooth headed doe. We sit, hold still, a few moments go by, and I slowly draw. Now, Oren is leaning back and out of the way, I'm at full draw and see her standing dead on straight at me on alert. Again...only 12 yards away. My top pin is floating steady low on her chest dead center. I know chest shots are not the best, I know the margin for error is tiny, I know it could be a long night if I don't aim true. I simply steadied the pin, focused, and let it fly. Immediately I hear Oren grunt along with the distint sound of a Montec G5 sinking in. I guess Orens knee was as a touch close to my lower limb and it whacked him. Whatever...he's a big sissy anyway. We could hear the distinct "whomp" "whomp" of a deer bounding away. It lasted a second or two then just stopped. No thrashing, no sound, just instant silence. Oren looks at me and says chest shot huh. Yep. We were quickly loosing the light so we got out to look around where she stood. We figured there would be no arrow since she was shot straight on. Right where she stood was good blood. Heavy red blood, no bubbles. We didn't really talk about whether we were going to back out or start tracking right away...it just kind of worked out. I would go to the blood, Oren would follow, I would advance. This was my first time tracking an animal and in hindsight should have taken it slower. We easily could have bumped her and made things go from good to bad. The blood was good and consistent. Every few feet would be a nice easy to see patch. We went about 25 yards, I was looking for the next spot, and Oren says hey, look over there. She was piled up next the base of a small tree. The arrow was sticking 3/4 out of here. The fletching had caught in her and held the arrow from coming out. It appears that upon being hit she took off bounding leaving a blotch of blood every time she landed. She must have gone 7 or 8 big bounds, stopped to look back, and then fell over. There was no sign of struggle or distress where she lie. I am thankful that she died quickly. The arrow entered almost dead center of her chest and did a complete center punch of the heart. She was dead where she stood, just didn't know it. We snapped a few pics then got her loaded up on the ranger and headed back to the house. This is the best part for me. Once we got to the house I hollared for the boy to put on his shoes. When he asked why I simply held out my hands. He knew what the blood meant. He says "We got one!". Thats right...WE did. All the kids came out and checked out the deer. We got it hung up and got to work on it pretty quick. Once we got the hide most of the way off my son as well as Orens boy came over and took the knives. Pretty cool to have the boys doing a little skinning. We would pull on the hide and show them to just run the blade over the connective "spider webby stuff". They got a little blood and loved every damn second of it. By about 10 we were done, kids in bed, and just taking it all in.
This morning Oren and I quarted the deer, cut out the tenderloins and backstraps, and got packed up. I kept a rear quarter to use as a practice hunk. The rest is at Kelsos for cutting and wrapping. Having steaks done and the rest as salami. Tonight the family had a section of backstap as a side dish.
It was fantastic and my son ate more than his fill.
Overall I of course wish he would have been there for the shot. In the end what I hoped for is not important at all. The important things like him participating, hanging out, playing with the kids, seeing deer, simply hunting, all were a complete success. We talked for a moment while working on the deer. I told him I was proud to have him along and thought he did a great job all around.
It was a good evening.
Here she is on the ranger....you can see the tag on her leg and the hole in her chest.....
Post by: h20hunter on September 22, 2012, 07:29:30 PM
Post by: h20hunter on September 22, 2012, 07:30:01 PM
Post by: h20hunter on September 22, 2012, 07:31:47 PM
Post by: Todd_ID on September 22, 2012, 07:40:42 PM
Post by: Whitpirate on September 22, 2012, 07:54:22 PM
:tup:
Post by: X-Force on September 22, 2012, 08:16:59 PM
Post by: Buckmark on September 22, 2012, 09:37:37 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on September 22, 2012, 09:58:57 PM
Post by: oldleclercrd on September 22, 2012, 09:59:24 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on September 22, 2012, 10:07:27 PM
Great job h20 and little h20, too bad we did not meetup but we were busy also...
Yea, sorry about that :chuckle:
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 22, 2012, 10:07:27 PM
Post by: jrebel on September 22, 2012, 10:13:20 PM
Post by: h20hunter on September 23, 2012, 08:38:14 AM
Post by: h20hunter on September 23, 2012, 08:39:12 AM
Post by: h20hunter on September 23, 2012, 08:40:15 AM
Post by: saylean on September 23, 2012, 08:53:10 AM
Post by: jrebel on September 23, 2012, 10:33:06 AM
Post by: Button Nubbs on September 23, 2012, 10:34:00 AM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 23, 2012, 10:42:54 AM
Post by: CoryTDF on September 23, 2012, 11:17:50 AM
Congrats on a great shot and job well done my dad took me out when i was 7 and i was hooked for life.
Post by: kckrawler on September 23, 2012, 11:59:58 AM
Post by: h20hunter on September 23, 2012, 12:33:06 PM
Post by: Maligator on September 23, 2012, 12:42:36 PM
Post by: TW GUIDES on September 23, 2012, 08:01:13 PM
Great hunt. I dont often get to step back and have a little fun. It was enjoyable.
Post by: h20hunter on September 24, 2012, 07:44:04 AM
Good thing we got it done because I think I broke my toe. Was cleaning out the cooler, putting gear away, getting organized and basically tripped over myslelf and rolled my foot. I got one toe that is killing me and has turned pretty purple. Oh well, what are you going to do.
Post by: DoubleJ on September 24, 2012, 07:45:20 AM
Yeah....the tears were short lived.
Good thing we got it done because I think I broke my toe. Was cleaning out the cooler, putting gear away, getting organized and basically tripped over myslelf and rolled my foot. I got one toe that is killing me and has turned pretty purple. Oh well, what are you going to do.
Your toe, my hand. Apparently Noth central washington takes a piece of you when you take one of their deer :chuckle:
Post by: h20hunter on September 24, 2012, 08:02:30 AM
Man....last night we had 3/4 of the backstraps. I trimmed every bit of fat and sinew off and soaked them in the Double D White Zinfendel Tri-Tip marinade. I seared them and cooked them on the grill with a little wood chip to medium. Best damn venison I've ever cooked.
Post by: CoryTDF on September 24, 2012, 08:54:46 AM
Man....last night we had 3/4 of the backstraps. I trimmed every bit of fat and sinew off and soaked them in the Double D White Zinfendel Tri-Tip marinade. I seared them and cooked them on the grill with a little wood chip to medium. Best damn venison I've ever cooked.
makes a difference doesn't it.
Post by: h20hunter on September 24, 2012, 09:27:57 AM
Post by: Carl on September 24, 2012, 10:18:36 AM
Any time together is priceless, but add the desired outcome and it’s even better. :tup:
Carl
Post by: Kowsrule30 on September 24, 2012, 01:16:31 PM
Post by: de0827 on September 26, 2012, 10:42:22 AM
That sounds great - possible to get that marinade recipe?
Thanks for sharing a great story!
Post by: h20hunter on September 26, 2012, 10:47:32 AM
However....you can swing by D&D meats in Mountlake Terrace and buy some! The have a line of house sauces and marinades and this one by far my favorite. Any lean cut of meat.....tri tip, flank, venison, takes the marinade really nicely.
Post by: h20hunter on September 26, 2012, 10:48:03 AM
Post by: de0827 on September 26, 2012, 11:15:11 AM