Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: buckmaster_wa on November 20, 2008, 11:11:46 AM

Title: Montana Success
Post by: buckmaster_wa on November 20, 2008, 11:11:46 AM: We went to Montana last week. I shot my buck, the 4x4; on the first evening. I only made it eight hours before I pulled the trigger. And my buddy shot his the second morning. We decided that we have been Washingtonized, which means you shoot the first decent buck you see. The hunting over there is great, lots of land and deer and not many hunters. I spotted my buck with another buck at about 1200 yards and put the sneak on him. He vanished behind a ridge while I was closing the distance. Then I waited at the end of a canyon and then both of them stepped out at 150 yards, I decided which one was the biggest and down he went. We only saw two bucks later that week that were bigger then mine, so I was happy with what I got. My buddy shot his buck because it was wide and he didnt take the time to look it over real good. It is 26 inches wide but only a 3x4, and very spindly. Hoping to draw again next year. Now I have a standard to get one bigger then the one I got this year. The first pic is my buck, the second is my hunting buddy karl and the third is with all of our bucks.
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 20, 2008, 11:14:13 AM: Way to go nice deer!!!
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: huntnphool on November 20, 2008, 11:17:16 AM: Nothing wrong with those bucks. Congrats on a great season.
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: .54 THUNDERHAWK on November 20, 2008, 11:21:41 AM: :brew: :brew: :brew: :brew:
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: Gobble on November 20, 2008, 11:24:51 AM: Well done guys, Congrats! :brew:
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: NW-Eric on November 20, 2008, 11:25:32 AM: NICE GOING
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: MichaelJ on November 20, 2008, 12:12:50 PM: SWEET! Seems like I'm missing out on MT hunting!!!

Michael
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: buckmaster_wa on November 20, 2008, 12:41:24 PM: Yeah Montana hunting was great. You can actually spot a buck and put a hunt together. Here in washington you have to try and rush to get to the critter before someone else sees it. Even on the private land that I hunt here in washington. When I spot a buck I have to hope that no one sneaks in from the adjoining properties to try and get it.
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: buckmaster_wa on November 20, 2008, 12:44:09 PM: Also the body size of the deer over there was amazing. The deer are huge. And the genetics where we were hunting were also great. We were seeing 2 1/2 year old bucks that were four points already. Small four points were all over the place. In the five days that we were there I saw 28 four point or bigger bucks, ad 25 of those were on land that we could hunt.
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: andrew_12gauge on November 20, 2008, 02:59:51 PM: last time i went to eastern montana the body size on the deer that we shot was comparable to a whitetail when compared with washington muleys. :dunno: :dunno:
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: huntnphool on November 20, 2008, 04:28:23 PM: Quote from: andrew_12gauge on November 20, 2008, 02:59:51 PM
last time i went to eastern montana the body size on the deer that we shot was comparable to a whitetail when compared with washington muleys.

That has generally been the case in the past, however this year was completely different. We spoke to outfitters and guides last week and even they were of the conclusion that the deer somehow put all their nutrition into their bodies this year rather than antler growth. They had a wet spring and summer so I headed over this year with hopes of finding several 28"+ bucks but it just wasnt to be. We saw well over 300 bucks last week and besides a handful of bucks that size they were anywhere from 18"-25". We did manage to find a couple over 30" but that was about all they had going for them, crab claws or non 4 points were the norm.
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: big_bucks on November 20, 2008, 04:57:39 PM: Crab claw fronts is pretty normal back there. Definitely tough to find good fronts on the deer in that part of the country.
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: huntnphool on November 20, 2008, 05:10:31 PM: Quote from: big_bucks on November 20, 2008, 04:57:39 PM
Crab claw fronts is pretty normal back there. Definitely tough to find good fronts on the deer in that part of the country.

Keep watching my pics post the next several weeks, you will see plenty that had nice front forks ;)
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: fishunt247 on November 20, 2008, 05:14:28 PM: Maybe I'll draw one of these years. I've been putting in since my senior year of highschool. Was supposed to be my graduation present. Well here we are four falls later, only one more year of college left. Maybe college graduation???
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: DeerHarvester on November 20, 2008, 06:32:47 PM: Looks like a great trip. Congrats. :brew:
Title: Re: Montana Success
Post by: big_bucks on November 20, 2008, 09:10:38 PM: I'm ready! Bring those big fronts! ( o ) ( o )