Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 04, 2013, 07:47:46 PM
For whatever reason I got the itch to come over to the east side and try to bag a white-tail. Yesterday I made it over just in time to do a little scouting. I saw a doe and a buck grazing, plenty of tracks, scat...apparently not much scouting needed, they are everywhere!!!!
I made camp at JR Campground in the National forest. WHAT A COLD NIGHT!!! It hit 8 degrees in twisp, must have been colder at 4,000 ft!
Most of my day was spent scouting. At 9 o'clock I saw huge shooter buck standing on a rock ledge 100 yards up. Just to get to know white tail habits I raced up the hill to see what type of escape he would pull. No kidding he just went down the backside of the hill circled back around, crossed my tracks and took off.
Around 230 I found a spot that looked like a few trails bottlenecked. I decided to set up a little blind there and wait for one to come on down. Before doing so I put in every hand warmer and foot warmer I could. I put more layers on and went on too!
Apparently Eastern Washington was prepared for me. That cold set in so fast!
By about 4 o'clock I had had enough. I was shaking so badly I knew I couldn't take an ethical shot. I decided to get in my truck and just drive around to warm up. Apparently it was so cold my radiator was doing its job too well. I could not get heat for a while.
With about 10 minutes of legal light left, I decided to swing back by the area where I had set up and pussed out. Lo and behold, another monster charging off as he heard me drive up.
I am kicking myself so hard right now! I went right to twisp, picked up warmer gear, and I'm laying in the cab of my truck about a half mile from that spot. Tonight is supposed to be the coldest night of the week but i cant miss another crack at him.
Anybody have luck with the white tail coming back to a spot you spooked them from?
My game plan is as follows:
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Wake up, pick the ice out of my beard.
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Hunt a different area in the morning so I don't spook him again (There's no sneaking in with all this snow and ice.)
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About noon I'm planning to make a small blind that will protect me from the wind.
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Planning to put on all the clothes that I own and sit there until I see him again.
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At 5:00 I plan to warm my hands with his guts.
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Put him in the back of my truck with all my camping gear.
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Go home, drink whiskey, sleep!
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Any advice, comments, suggestions? Also if you're in the twisp / okanogon area I'd love to meet up and high five you.
Post by: 300UltraMagShooter on December 04, 2013, 07:55:12 PM
I've sat all day in -6 degree and not even get a chill. :twocents:
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 04, 2013, 08:02:24 PM
Post by: Selkirk on December 04, 2013, 08:06:05 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on December 04, 2013, 08:18:55 PM
Post by: jnevs23 on December 04, 2013, 08:33:55 PM
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 05, 2013, 04:52:20 AM
Tonight's definitely been the coldest so far. But I got the whole sleeping in the cab thing down so I was actually pretty warm. Now Ive got to block of 2/3 of my radiator so that I can have heat today!
The matter what happens tonight, I'm going home!
Post by: headshot5 on December 05, 2013, 06:27:55 AM
Post by: Elkrunner on December 05, 2013, 06:44:41 AM
Post by: Knotabite on December 05, 2013, 06:01:00 PM
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 05, 2013, 06:32:01 PM
This was a big eye opener for me. First of all I was not prepared for sub-zero temps. I do have a -18 sleeping bag which made all of the difference. Each night all of my water in the cab was frozen solid. Totally new experience for me. I have to admit when he didn't come up near the 'blind' I was a little relieved. I would have taken the shot if he did, but not having to track him, gut him, and pack him to the truck in that weather was reasonable consolation.
My experience was, overall, positive. I learned a lot and enjoyed a new area!
Next year WILL be different.