Post by: Muleyslyr on November 06, 2008, 11:39:57 AM
Anyway....took off Saturday afternoon the 1st, loaded up for at least until the following Saturday. Sunday morning was foggy but still had some visiablity and ended up passing on a 160" 4x4 first hour into the hunt....7:30am. Had him at less than a hundred yrds. and just couldn't get myself to pull the trigger. Beautiful lookin' buck....I thought I must be crazy.
Then almost immediately the fog came rolling in even thicker. Pretty much socked me in for the rest of the day. Ya...I continued hunting and even saw some deer, does and smaller bucks, but it sucked!
Next day, Monday, Foggy and rainy all day! Saw a handful of little 2pts. and a bunch of does. Poured all night that night....and woke up and realized I was now camped right at the snow level. Hunted low below snow line Tuesday morning. Saw some smaller bucks again, but nothing real big. Deer were not moving like I thought they would be. Hit the snow up high in the afternoon and saw a 20" 3pt, 18" 3x4 and five or six 2pts.
Came back to camp and my cousin who had been with me had some work issue come up and had to take off. So after a quick bite to eat I headed back out for the last hour or two off light. Didn't see anything but a couple doe and right as it was getting dusk I glassed up what looked like a smoker buck lookin' right at me from about 250yds. away. Through the nocs I could see his rack was well outside his ears and tall, just couldn't tell if he was a 3 or 4 or what. It was literally getting darker by the second. I decided my only chance was to come around a little corner and try and cut off a hundred yrds. or so. As I did, I looked down and a hundred yards below me there he stood looking away, and all I could make out in the nocs was a big 4 on one side. Thinking he was as wide as I thought and now minutes away from legal shooting light I hammered him.
As soon as I was able to get to a phone I called my cousin and said turn around. He was a little over an hour out, so it gave me time to get back to the truck and grab a head lamp and some other things I thought I might need and get the buck cleaned up and ready for the pack up the hill. We ended up having to cut him in half to get him out. Thought about quartering him, but half worked. Big bodied deer no doubt.
Anyway....here a few pics. I never really got a chance to take any good pictures of the country.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3659.jpg&hash=5471a638a549d01ac3cc23d031463def96785d80)
And of course my pics with the buck are in the dark....again (Killed a Bull in MT. last year and had all pics in the dark) Oh well. He is not nearly as wide as I thought he was in the low light, but a good buck either way.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3666.jpg&hash=a118fd494a3319df97bd8215aea22358d78b6cf7)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3668.jpg&hash=daab8dc1de7397f30f582219650e9cf1240771b4)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3676.jpg&hash=47a0c090bbf0ca073b60dc8e95a8af8e3e735f23)
Definitely one of the most symmetrical bucks I've ever seen....let alone taken.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3682.jpg&hash=217e71c310070d73f1406a88e0631293c2f5cb62)
One last parting shot when I finally got him back.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3693.jpg&hash=167c3e5a3e0175a74fece36103565f95990b8917)
Got home a couple days early, makes the wife happy. Now it's off the Montana in a week or so to fill one more Deer tag. :)
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 06, 2008, 11:42:50 AM
Post by: Gobble on November 06, 2008, 11:43:36 AM
Post by: Colville on November 06, 2008, 11:45:41 AM
Post by: Elkstuffer on November 06, 2008, 11:50:27 AM
Post by: arrowflinger on November 06, 2008, 11:53:41 AM
Post by: saylean on November 06, 2008, 11:56:58 AM
Post by: 1bowhunter1 on November 06, 2008, 11:58:45 AM
Post by: MichaelJ on November 06, 2008, 12:11:24 PM
Michael
Post by: 300wsm on November 06, 2008, 12:15:48 PM
Post by: eburghunter on November 06, 2008, 12:17:56 PM
Post by: skunkmaster on November 06, 2008, 12:22:56 PM
Post by: wamuledeer on November 06, 2008, 12:26:15 PM
Post by: bowsandhose on November 06, 2008, 12:27:46 PM
Post by: Craig on November 06, 2008, 12:57:21 PM
Post by: GoldTip on November 06, 2008, 01:15:09 PM
Post by: blacktailer on November 06, 2008, 01:24:06 PM
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 06, 2008, 01:28:56 PM
wamule...I remember helpin' you out a bit. I remember you ended up taking a pretty decent buck out of there. I helped out Hunting Cowboy a little last year as well. Can't believe I've been drawn for this unit two out of the last four years. My fourth choice this year too. ;)
blacktailer....I've always wanted that late Pearrygin tag but some how always end up with this one. I'm sure you'll do well over there. Good luck.
Thanks again guys....
Post by: wamuledeer on November 06, 2008, 01:44:50 PM
Here is my buck from a few years ago. Really symmetrical with big eyeguards.
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10267/100_1367%7E0.JPG)
Post by: grizzlygibbs on November 06, 2008, 01:52:38 PM
blacktailer....I've always wanted that late Pearrygin tag but some how always end up with this one. I'm sure you'll do well over there. Good luck.Quit yer bitchen, i have never been drawn for a late tag after 7 years of putting in!
Thanks again guys....
Post by: 270Shooter on November 06, 2008, 03:05:57 PM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 06, 2008, 03:54:18 PM
Here's my son with my 07 buck you helped us with!.
Post by: bowsandhose on November 06, 2008, 03:55:45 PM
Post by: Falcon on November 06, 2008, 04:09:29 PM
What a HOG !!!!!!!!
Awesome Buck !
Congrats !
Post by: Hornseeker on November 06, 2008, 04:10:35 PM
Post by: huntnphool on November 06, 2008, 04:19:15 PM
Post by: bow4elk on November 06, 2008, 04:21:56 PM
Post by: snipekillr on November 06, 2008, 04:37:33 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on November 06, 2008, 04:40:04 PM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on November 06, 2008, 06:12:01 PM
Post by: Ray on November 06, 2008, 06:16:37 PM
Post by: BENCHLEG on November 06, 2008, 07:35:18 PM
Post by: coastalghost on November 06, 2008, 07:45:09 PM
Post by: jae on November 06, 2008, 07:52:40 PM
Congratulations.
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 06, 2008, 07:55:36 PM
coastal....do you got any idea what they are/where driving over there. Saw a few rigs on Sunday but not many other guys the rest of the way. Met a couple guys up there I seemed to run into everyday and swap reports. I'm interested to see how it is from here on out. Tough to end a late hunt early.
Post by: jackelope on November 06, 2008, 08:01:02 PM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on November 06, 2008, 08:02:22 PM
Dman....good to see ya around bud. Two reason for no smiles....one, I got braces awhile back. :) And two....it's dark man, couldn't really tell when the camera was gonna take. :rolleyes:
coastal....do you got any idea what they are/where driving over there. Saw a few rigs on Sunday but not many other guys the rest of the way. Met a couple guys up there I seemed to run into everyday and swap reports. I'm interested to see how it is from here on out. Tough to end a late hunt early.
Likewise, done the braces thing, no fun at all. I've been stuck working 12-14s every day for about nine weeks, I can finally get out and hunt now, see if I can break in my new Parker on a doe, at least.
Post by: coastalghost on November 06, 2008, 08:05:41 PM
Post by: demontang on November 06, 2008, 08:09:52 PM
Post by: X-Force on November 06, 2008, 08:19:28 PM
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 06, 2008, 08:26:03 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv421%2FMuleyslyr%2FIMG_3696.jpg&hash=ba20884bf59f95e0d0308fca84e1fe9c8373f6e8)
Looked to my right and they were everywhere. Apperantely they're not kidding with those Bighorn Sheep crossing signs. I've seen em' along there before, but have never actually witnessed an accident because of em'. Saw at least one dead one on the shoulder, not sure how many got hit.
Post by: Slider on November 06, 2008, 08:27:39 PM
Post by: SuperDave on November 06, 2008, 08:58:52 PM
Post by: zelda02 on November 06, 2008, 09:39:44 PM
Post by: HighCountry10 on November 07, 2008, 10:06:53 AM
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 07, 2008, 01:51:38 PM
Post by: Ironhead on November 07, 2008, 02:29:56 PM
Post by: sdwwaverider on November 07, 2008, 02:41:54 PM
Post by: blindpig on November 07, 2008, 04:30:20 PM
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 07, 2008, 04:41:09 PM
Nice buck slayer, your house has to be getting packed with all those shoulder mounts. Congrats
:) Ya...just kinda! 15 on the wall so far and 10 more on their way. Really not sure what I'm gonna do with the 10. ;)
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 07, 2008, 04:45:08 PM
Looks like a little more wall space just got designated in the trophy room. Great job. It's always hard to end the season early. Luckily we probably all have buddies that want help out in the woods. I'd rather be packin out a buddies buck that sitting watching football, etc. It would have to be an absolute pig to shoot one opening day. A one day deer season is kinda deflating. I've only done it once, you wait all year to get out there and then it's over. At least you got a few days in and that country and weather definitely isn't a gimme. Anyway again great job & something worth smiling about :chuckle:.
Your absolutely right. It's pretty much the reason my buddies and I don't go in as partners. If one gets drawn, the others are there to help. Has work out pretty good the last 4 years or so. This is the first time I've ever had to wait until Nov. to even start huntin'. It was hard and I really didn't want to end it on the first hour of the first day. :)
Post by: Guy on November 07, 2008, 07:27:03 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on November 08, 2008, 07:13:45 AM
Post by: WildBear on November 08, 2008, 11:57:09 AM
Post by: Red Dawg on November 08, 2008, 12:46:06 PM
Post by: tlbradford on November 08, 2008, 01:04:53 PM
Post by: poulsbo on November 08, 2008, 07:12:37 PM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on November 09, 2008, 06:30:38 PM