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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:29:24 PM


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Title: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:29:24 PM
My season is always long and drawn out, from September to December most years, so I decided to start a thread now and that way I can update after every weekend instead of all at once.

First deer hunt was Muzzleloader season.  Headed east to my usual haunts with my good buddy dan.  About an hour into opening morning Dan glassed up a nice 5x5 whitetail and snuck into 100 yards and put a great shot on him.   After I got over to him and we took pictures, I decided to hike over the hill and peak into a little canyon that sometimes holds deer.  Since it was a short hike and I didn't expect much I just grabbed my gun and left my pack and sticks.  Well of course the second I poke my nose over the crest of the ridge I spot a dandy of a 3x3 muley with eye guards bedded up in some sage.  With no rangefinder or sticks, I do my best to get solid for a shot I guessed to be 190-200yds.  When the smoke blew out and he was on his feet (very much unharmed) I immediately knew he was no more than 150yds.  I got inside 80yds on that buck two more times that day but never had a shot opportunity again.

That same evening we moved to a different location and immediately I found two bedded whitetail bucks.  Got inside 30 yds on them and took the bigger of the two with one shot.  It was my first animal since Aaron was killed and I am glad that I was by myself.  I just sat with my buck and my thoughts for a while.  I can't really explain the feeling.  It wasn't happy or sad.  I cried a little and smiled a little.  Just felt.....different.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:31:28 PM
Dans buck!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Jason on October 16, 2013, 09:32:25 PM
A couple dandy Bucks..congrats!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: huntnphool on October 16, 2013, 09:33:20 PM
 :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: ICEMAN on October 16, 2013, 09:34:35 PM
This thread is going to keep tears in my eyes for a long while.

Congratulations, good work, good luck and looking to more posts!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: jackelope on October 16, 2013, 09:36:43 PM
Way to go, Karl.
Keep em coming!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 16, 2013, 09:41:11 PM
Those are a couple dandy bucks!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Natures Way on October 16, 2013, 09:47:06 PM
Nice bucks congrats!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: bullcanyon on October 16, 2013, 09:49:39 PM
Special hunt there bud!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:55:30 PM
Well since Dan and I hunted muzzleloader season, it allowed us to give our wives our undevided attention for opening weekend of rifle deer.  My wife, Dan's wife, my friend Phil and his wife, Dan's nephew and another friend all headed down to the same dirt that we killed our bucks durring the smokepole season.  Phil's wife was the first to draw blood with her second doe tag (also her first hour of hunting ever).  A little while later Ryan drew blood.  Dan's wife, who is also pregnant, made a successful stalk on a group of bucks and shot the largest of the five, and the largest taken that weekend.  That evening the wife and I took a hike up to the canyon where I missed the big 3pt.  As we were slowly working our way up the canyon, my wife grabs my pack and says "deer"!  Yes, somehow I missed this buck bedded in the grass and my wife spotted it.  This buck was playing possom at a mere 110 yds.  His antlers were in the tall grass and points were hard to make out so I eased my pack off and got the spotter out to confirm 3 points.  I finally had to lip squeek at him and as he turned his head in the direction he was getting ready to run, I confirmed 3 on a side.  The words "he's legal, kill him" barely got out of my mouth and she tipped him over in his bed!  We hugged, high fived, took pictures and boned him out.  As we were hiking out we got a call from Dan saying that he had gotten his nephew on a 3 pt and he had made a great shot.  Four bucks and a doe for day one!

Day two came and the only tag left was Phil's wife Trisha.  About two hours after daybreak I finally glassed up a group of bucks, with two being legal.  Phil told me to take her on the stalk since I knew the country better and he is impatient.  The bucks had bedded on top of a little hill with a good vantage point so we had to do a little hands and knees and belling crawling.  We used another little knob to get to 135yds of them.  She says to me, "what the hell are we doing?!!"  I set up her sticks and tell her to aim her rifle at the top of that little knob infront of us.  When she looked through the scope and saw the bucks head and neck she let out a big shudder and started to shake like crazy :chuckle:  Can any of you remember putting the sights on your first buck?  It was priceless!  I made her scope him for a while to get the nerves out and then asked her if she was ready for me to stand him up and she replied "Hell yes! Lets do this!"  Coyote howl with my mouth and he jumped to his feet and stared in our direction.  I don't think he even locked his knees before that .270 barked!  After Phil got down to us and pictures were done, I boned him out and loaded him in the pack and off we went. 

This coming weekend, Dan and I have 4 youth hunters, two of which also have second doe tags, and a disabled hunter so I should have more story and pics coming soon.   This is my wife's buck.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:56:54 PM
Dan's wife and nephew
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:58:18 PM
Trisha and Phil with her doe and me and Trisha with her buck
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 09:59:04 PM
group of bucks and hunters
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 16, 2013, 10:08:41 PM
After rifle season is over I get a week off and then my dad and I are off to Colorado for deer and elk.  Its gonna be good to hunt with my dad, just the two of us.  Last time we hunted together was last elk season with Aaron.  I am gunning for a 170 buck and a legal bull but above all I really want to get my meat hunting father a good buck!  We are hoping to be out of colorado by Thursday to be back into washington for the opening weekend of my dads late palouse tag.  I put him in with Aaron this year just so Aaron's points wouldn't go to waste and they drew.  Phil and his daughter Ashley will be meeting us over there as she drew a tag as well, along with a co-worker there will be 3 more whitetail hitting the dirt. After that Dan, Phil, and I have second doe tags to fill, along with my friend Jeremie who still has a buck tag to fill during the late muzzy season.  To end the season, Phil drew a late smokepole tag for the West Klickitat.  Busy time of year I tell you what!  I love it though! :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 16, 2013, 10:17:17 PM
You are going to be busy! Enjoy those hunts and take lots of pics to share...lookin forward to seeing your guys success  :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 16, 2013, 10:34:37 PM
Awesome bucks, good luck in Colorado and hopefully your Dad gets a dandy.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: X-Force on October 16, 2013, 10:48:31 PM
you aren't kidding. congrats all :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: buck man on October 16, 2013, 11:28:08 PM
Congrats on all your success!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Bigluke1981 on October 16, 2013, 11:30:14 PM
Wow. Nice work.  Congrats :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: coachcw on October 17, 2013, 06:47:51 AM
Karl what a great job . I'd like to say It's because a Aron's looking down on you . But knowing the passion that both of you shared towards hunting and how hard you guys worked to become better hunters is what paid off in the long run .  I'm hoping that the two of you share a great hunt in Colorado and that 170 class buck lines up in your scopes .. Btw How doe's that elk taste  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: rtspring on October 17, 2013, 06:57:24 AM
Brother,  you get the job done! What an amazing fall for you and your family.  Nice to see a smile on your face... 

Enjoy the trip with your father, I know thats the one you have been looking forward to.. 

Keep the wind in your face !!

Good hunting..

"Loose Cannon" Aka kurt
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: ELKBURGER on October 17, 2013, 07:02:07 AM
Great hunt for all involved! Aaron is smiling down!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: BackStrappin on October 17, 2013, 07:04:53 AM
Slay fest is correct !  Very cool thanks for posting up those pics..

Them white tails are dandy's
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: boneaddict on October 17, 2013, 07:08:37 AM
Enjoying the thread. :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 17, 2013, 07:37:30 AM
Don't know Corey, he's buried in the freezer by deer meat!  The wife has to do a follow up visit to children's on the 28th so I will send big nasty over with her and she can either hook up with you or Chris.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 17, 2013, 07:38:06 AM
Thanks all for the kind words.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 17, 2013, 07:41:02 AM
Cool thread, Karl. Congratulations to you and everyone else in the group. What a great season. Aaron's giving a big  :tup: for sure!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 17, 2013, 07:42:41 AM
Brother,  you get the job done! What an amazing fall for you and your family.  Nice to see a smile on your face... 

Enjoy the trip with your father, I know thats the one you have been looking forward to.. 

Keep the wind in your face !!

Good hunting..

"Loose Cannon" Aka kurt
.  You know I'll give er hell!!!!  Snow is already flying in the higher elevations of our unit so the deer should be moving!  Can you say big migration bucks!!!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: sirfunkeybut on October 17, 2013, 07:43:09 AM
You know karl, if you or Dan need any help eating all that meat i would love to help out  :chuckle:

Good luck on your Colorado hunt, and congrats on your guys' season  :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Huntboy on October 17, 2013, 08:09:14 AM
Great pics, good luck in Colorado. :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: MLBowhunting on October 17, 2013, 08:35:40 AM
Great job  :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: bearhunter99 on October 17, 2013, 08:36:23 AM
Congrats.  Great read, keep us all posted!   :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Elkrunner on October 17, 2013, 10:02:04 AM
sweet looking deer!!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 17, 2013, 09:56:34 PM
Your having an awesome season so far, congrats  :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 18, 2013, 10:31:43 PM
Got to the hunting grounds with about 30 min of shooting light left and got the gaggle of kids on a group of deer but they were a little far for the boys so Ashley took a shot and connected.  One doe down, 8 does and 4 bucks to go!  Tomorrow is gonna be carnage!!!!!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 18, 2013, 10:33:43 PM
Awesome! :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: evburt on October 18, 2013, 11:12:15 PM
Wow! Congrats on the success!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: LittleJohn on October 19, 2013, 12:24:55 AM
 :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 21, 2013, 10:14:35 AM
7 more deer this weekend.  All four kids got their doe's and all 3 old farts shot bucks.  3 of the youths used their second deer tags on their doe's so two of them can still shoot a whitetail doe in the late season and the third kid drew a late buck tag.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 21, 2013, 10:20:45 AM
Way to load the wagon with meat! :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: mrmoskillz on October 21, 2013, 10:42:16 AM
Nice work man!  Love seeing people help the kids and love seeing the kids smile with their kill even more. 
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Ripper on October 21, 2013, 10:47:52 AM
Wow, what a season you're having so far. Congrats, I know that Aaron is smiling down full 0f pride. God bless your whole family.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 21, 2013, 11:23:28 AM
Hunting with the kids this year had a whole new meaning.  I hope I have started a life long passion that will bond those boys and together as hunting did for me and my brothers!  Buckmasterwa (Dan) should have some more pics and story as well.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 21, 2013, 11:36:33 AM
Sorry my phone is not cooperating today.  Here is more pics.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Whitpirate on October 21, 2013, 11:44:40 AM
The cook in me is trying to figure out how to help you with the semi-trailer of venison you've got down.  I'm content to say I relish the texts and write-ups I get from you my friend and I can only hope for the best success while you are down in CO.  Corey and I've got one more dance with the elk with your brother hopefully lining me up on the cow he wants culled.  Looking forward to the winter when we can sit down and reflect and hang out again.

Travel safe my friend.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: buckmaster_wa on October 21, 2013, 12:34:40 PM
Here's some pics. Story later. Got to get to work.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: doyourtime89 on October 21, 2013, 12:42:20 PM
The title says it all.....that is what I am talking about....way to get a bunch of people out and into the hunting world.....great job!!!!!   I really like getting the wives and kids out...that is so cool!!!!    :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 21, 2013, 02:31:57 PM
Wow.  Slayfest is right!   :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: buckmaster_wa on October 21, 2013, 02:52:34 PM
Here's my nephews doe. I put him on a couple different bucks, but they just didn't work out. He shot a doe Sunday morning.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on October 29, 2013, 09:58:44 PM
Truck is packed, tank is full, now I just need to get tomorrows work day done and I am Colorado bound!!!!  Elk and deer beware!  I'm coming and I'm determined!!!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: jackelope on October 29, 2013, 10:04:02 PM
Good luck, buddy.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Whitpirate on October 29, 2013, 10:09:10 PM
A drive safe and don't take any wooden nickels.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on November 01, 2013, 10:07:14 AM
First kill of the trip!!!!!  Antelope doe!  Weapon used was a Ford F-350 with a muzzle velocity of about 45mph!  Thankfully she tried to hit the breaks and slipped and fell.  She got both tires!  I had a lung....yes a lung stuck on my spare tire! 
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on November 01, 2013, 10:10:07 AM
Found this guy last night!  Boxy frame but killer mains and deep forks.  Low 170's buck that also has a 5-6 inch inline on the passenger side.  Come on Saturday morning!!!!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on November 01, 2013, 10:25:52 AM
Another.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Ccortez on November 01, 2013, 10:40:30 AM
good luck. and congrats on the camp meat  :tup: lol
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on November 01, 2013, 10:51:46 AM
Worst part is I saw it coming I just couldn't get stopped in time.  Couldn't swerve around either due to the other ten antelope standing in the road!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Pathfinder101 on November 01, 2013, 12:50:40 PM
I think I'd camp out on that buck if it was me... :twocents:  Good luck :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: coachcw on November 01, 2013, 02:26:30 PM
good luck brother !
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2014, 08:49:49 PM
So I kind of got busy and spaced on posting up the rest of my season.  Colorado was some tough hunting.  There wasn't a ton of deer and the pressure from the OTC elk hunters was crazy.  That being said there was some outstanding trophy quality running around.  I found a brute very early in the hunt but where he was I couldn't get in on him where he was bedded and he wouldn't move during daylight hours.   From 800 yards and a thousand feet above him where I was glassing from I could see him fine in his aspen fortress but as soon as I dropped in it was a maze and I didn't want to blow him out of the country.

As I camped out on him each day, my dad was beating his knees to death on the slushy steep slopes each day.  He hunted hard and passed up a few OK bucks.  On the morning of the fifth day he said him and his knees were done.  In an effort to keep him in the fight I offered to have a cheat day and just drive around and look at some low sage country.   We found ourselves parked at the base of a gigantic sage covered slope.  Didn't take us long to glass up a little buck (first buck my dad had seen in two days). It was a two point and my dad decided that he look darn fast and he was ready to be done.  Textbook stalk and a chip shot later and dad was tagged out and darn happy to retire to the camp life.  I hunted my buck till the very last day and thought I had him that morning but no such luck.   I shot a 4x4 on my way back to the truck cause I love venison.  I will be back and he will be mine!

My camera got trashed so the only pics I have are back k at camp with the group.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2014, 08:55:05 PM
So while I was dealing with my buck, my dad was packing camp.  We drove from Colorado straight to the Palouse so we could try and get my dad's late whitetail tag filled because he had to leave for his Montana tag and wouldn't have another weekend to hunt.  We rolled into our trailer late but man did that bed feel good!  We were in position for first light and were hoping that the whitetail rut was going to be more action packed than the non existant muley rut in Colorado.  It wasn't.

I know this ground well and it is a nice little funnel that is very effective for pushes when the rut action is slow.  I didn't know how it would work with only me pushing but I figured what the hell.  I didn't make it 50 yards into my push when up comes a 4x4!  Over the hill he goes and not two minutes later I hear one shot!  Dead 4 pt!
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Smossy on January 30, 2014, 08:56:07 PM
Awesome thread man, Cant wait to find a partner to do an out of state hunt with. Its gonna be awhile.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2014, 09:02:51 PM
Second weekend of late whitetail permits I am back in the Palouse with my co-worker and his two boys.  Two of the boys with the second tags from general season.  Morning of day one Cam makes a good shot on a little whitetail doe.  That evening my co-worker Dan has a buck come plowing into a field with his nose in the air chasing a hot doe!  She was at a full run but the buck hit their wind line and froze.  Big mistake!  Dead buck!  The next day was very slow but right at last light a group of does started to work the edge of the river and Blake had a tough shot but made it count.  Still batting 100% for the season.  I was starting to worry.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2014, 09:10:22 PM
Last hunt of the season.  Me, Phil, Dan, and a friend of Dan's named Les head back to fill our second doe tags that have been haunting the pocket since early season.  Les was sick as a dog and drove himself so if he tagged out he could head home.  He hunted for a whole 5 min the first day and he was loaded up and gone :chuckle:  He shot his first deer in 12 years.  It was stupid cold!  So cold the deer weren't even out feeding!  I was working the edge of some cliffs and down below me is a group of 4 bedded in an old skid road.  I stood them up and let the smoke roll!  The rest ran up the hill right to Dan and he tagged out as well!  Phil got his and we were done for the season!  By the time we got the trailer and truck packed up all the deer were frozen! 

My goal for this coming season is to take more and better pictures!  My camera was old and didn't do all that hot and I don't really like the phone pics all that much.  Mine never seem to come out all that great.
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: _TONY_ on January 30, 2014, 09:15:30 PM
 Sweet season  :tup:
Title: Re: Slayfest 2013!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2014, 09:26:40 PM
Representin in Colorado!
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