Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:26:56 PM

Title: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:26:56 PM: Well Here goes a lot of pics enjoy :tup:

Started off the year with lots of scouting and one goal: Locate and harvest a mature Alpine blacktail. Lots of nice scenery, lots of endless hiking, scouting and learning more about the areas that I hunt.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:31:01 PM: going to be a lot of sideways pics any suggestions on how I get them to post right?
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: 2MANY on September 28, 2016, 02:33:00 PM: Turn the camera when taking them.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:39:34 PM: Quote from: 2MANY on September 28, 2016, 02:33:00 PM
Turn the camera when taking them.

I figured it out, just have to crop the vertical ones so they post right
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:42:23 PM: As the snow was melting I began to locate some good animals. I found some bucks I wanted to pursue in several different areas
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:45:30 PM: AH THE PIC OF A CANIS LUPUS.

NOT WANTING TO KNOW YOUR EXACT SPOT. BUT THE GENERAL AREA/DRAINAGE THAT WOLF PIC WAS?
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Cleetiswillfeedus on September 28, 2016, 02:48:55 PM: Isn't that a bear?
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:51:34 PM: Quote from: Cleetiswillfeedus on September 28, 2016, 02:48:55 PM
Isn't that a bear?

that's my scouting partner :chuckle:

Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:45:30 PM
AH THE PIC OF A CANIS LUPUS.

NOT WANTING TO KNOW YOUR EXACT SPOT. BUT THE GENERAL AREA/DRAINAGE THAT WOLF PIC WAS?

I have three different wolves I have pics in the last year. two in western skagit and one in western whatcom
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:54:25 PM: Quote from: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:51:34 PM
Quote from: Cleetiswillfeedus on September 28, 2016, 02:48:55 PM
Isn't that a bear?

that's my scouting partner :chuckle:

Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:45:30 PM
AH THE PIC OF A CANIS LUPUS.

NOT WANTING TO KNOW YOUR EXACT SPOT. BUT THE GENERAL AREA/DRAINAGE THAT WOLF PIC WAS?

I have three different wolves I have pics in the last year. two in western skagit and one in western whatcom

HE DOESN'T LOOK VERY BIG COMPARED TO THE ONES FROM THE EAST SIDE PICS. WONDER IF ITS A NATIVE GREY WOLF?
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 03:06:33 PM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:54:25 PM
Quote from: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:51:34 PM
Quote from: Cleetiswillfeedus on September 28, 2016, 02:48:55 PM
Isn't that a bear?

that's my scouting partner :chuckle:

Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:45:30 PM
AH THE PIC OF A CANIS LUPUS.

the bottom picture is my dog- scouting partner

NOT WANTING TO KNOW YOUR EXACT SPOT. BUT THE GENERAL AREA/DRAINAGE THAT WOLF PIC WAS?

I have three different wolves I have pics in the last year. two in western skagit and one in western whatcom

HE DOESN'T LOOK VERY BIG COMPARED TO THE ONES FROM THE EAST SIDE PICS. WONDER IF ITS A NATIVE GREY WOLF?
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 03:10:37 PM: Quote from: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 03:06:33 PM
Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:54:25 PM
Quote from: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 02:51:34 PM
Quote from: Cleetiswillfeedus on September 28, 2016, 02:48:55 PM
Isn't that a bear?

that's my scouting partner :chuckle:

Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 02:45:30 PM
AH THE PIC OF A CANIS LUPUS.

the bottom picture is my dog- scouting partner

NOT WANTING TO KNOW YOUR EXACT SPOT. BUT THE GENERAL AREA/DRAINAGE THAT WOLF PIC WAS?

I have three different wolves I have pics in the last year. two in western skagit and one in western whatcom

HE DOESN'T LOOK VERY BIG COMPARED TO THE ONES FROM THE EAST SIDE PICS. WONDER IF ITS A NATIVE GREY WOLF?

I CAN SEE THAT AFTER ZOOMING IN MORE. JUST A CANINE. :chuckle:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 03:19:39 PM: I started off the season with a multi day archery deer hunt (I drew multi season deer). The weather was un seasonably cold and rainy and even snowed a little bit. I was after one good buck that had been in the area earlier in the summer and on my trail cam. Despite the lack of visibility i was seeing deer every day. I ended up stalking up on a younger 2x4 that will be real nice in a couple years. I got in to 45 yards and stayed within bow range for awhile watching and video recording him. I didn't have a hard time passing him as it was only the first day. I decided I was not going to lower my standard of what I was after just because I have a bow in my hand. I ended up passing on a couple more smaller bucks before I packed up and headed home at the end of the 2nd day of hunting. A good test of my new hillberg tent that performed flawlessly and was worth every ounce.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: yakimarcher on September 28, 2016, 03:27:57 PM: Some awesome scenery so far!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 03:29:28 PM: As September wore on I started seeing a lot of bears. The last four years I have taken bears every year, this year I have been more hesitant to shoot as its no longer much of a challenge. I love watching bears and will sit and videotape them anytime they are close. I still haven't decided if I'm going to take one this year or not but I have passed some good ones :chuckle:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 03:40:23 PM: As high buck time came around I got out the rifle and changed locations and tactics as the blacktail habits change drastically once velvet is gone. High buck opener brought some conditions that were less than ideal: full moon clear skies and warm temps. I stuck with it and started to see a lot more deer the 2nd week. I did a few day hunts for high buck and was seeing good deer numbers even a few bucks just nothing I was after. One afternoon I decided to check out a basin I hadnt been too since early summer. As I dropped into it I saw 4 deer (one legal buck), a pretty good sized bear and three sets of big buck tracks out in the open. The morning low temps were around freezing and I was looking forward to the following day
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Widgeondeke on September 28, 2016, 03:45:56 PM: Enjoying the pics so far...... :hello:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: X-Force on September 28, 2016, 04:04:42 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: jackelope on September 28, 2016, 04:29:16 PM: Killing me.
On with it!!!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: 3nails on September 28, 2016, 04:35:37 PM: Can't wait to see how this turns out! :chuckle:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 06:39:26 PM: The next day ended well. When I have more time tonight I will write the rest of the story
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on September 28, 2016, 07:00:32 PM: That's not nice :yike:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: BENCHLEG on September 28, 2016, 07:32:55 PM: Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story :tup:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: coachcw on September 28, 2016, 07:38:38 PM: you've followed our posts ! lol :tup:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Morse_FJ40 on September 28, 2016, 07:49:10 PM: Can't wait
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: RB on September 28, 2016, 07:53:17 PM: Cool pictures
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 08:01:30 PM: Quote from: deerhunter_98520 on September 28, 2016, 07:00:32 PM
That's not nice :yike:

So body ban this guy. :bash:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: WAnoob on September 28, 2016, 08:09:54 PM: great pics, sub'd!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: shanevg on September 28, 2016, 08:12:01 PM: Haha you crack me up. Finish up the story and post some wolf pics!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: DOsborn on September 28, 2016, 08:15:17 PM: Looking forward to it
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 08:24:28 PM: A few details i'm not catching I will try and update in a video soon. I have a lot of very good footage of the hunt, animals, ect.. from this year. Alright for the rest of the story:

I got up a little extra early the next morning (1:45 AM) so I could hike all the way into my chosen basin in the dark. I have become accustomed to navigating off trail in the back country at night. It was a cold morning right at freezing. I dropped about 1500' or so off into the area I wanted to hunt. I immediately started spotting deer. Two does in the first small meadow, a 2 pt in the next meadow and I wasn't to where I wanted to be yet. I made it to the area I had chosen to hunt and began working my way side hilling through some cliffs glassing the edge of the old growth below. It was rocky and impossible to be quiet. I use the old trick of three steps stop for a bit, repeat, ect.. to sound like another deer not a human bear or cat which all walk without pausing. I bumped two more does immediately and the walked briskly below me. I sat down and let them settle all the way back down. I would take a step, does look up, pause, repeat. It took about 10 minutes to go the next 20 ft. When I finally rounded the corner to glass the ravine the does had come out of I immediately saw three nice bucks looking directly at me. They were 215 yards out all could see me but had not decided what I was yet. I threw the bipod down and had to make the decision of which one to shoot! the one on the right was a decent 4 but a little younger. the buck in the middle was the widest, tallest and with a sky lined rack a clear 4x4 with eyegaurds. The buck on the left was the biggest bodied, heaviest horned, obvious oldest of the three. The one on the left look like he was a 4 but his rack was not skylined like the other two. I chose the older buck regardless and dropped the hammer. The 168 grain berger hit its mark and dropped him like he was struck by lightning.The buck rolled and rolled and rolled. At one point it went off a cliff in a full head over heels summersault more than 15' off the ground. It sounded like a rock slide going down the mountain, finally a loud thud and silence.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 08:29:21 PM: after witnessing a fall that would rival a mountain goat hunt, I expected to find a mangled buck with no rack. I was pleasantly suprised to find the rack in tact. It did have Two compound broken legs, broken neck, lower muzzle dangling from jaw bone, muzzle that could turn 90 degrees either direction. It was not quite as big as I though when I shot, but non the less a good buck for me. This buck was huge bodied, one of the bigger bodied blacktail i've seen
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 28, 2016, 08:34:01 PM: Great buck nice story. :tup:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: clearwater on September 28, 2016, 08:35:31 PM: Very cool....Thanks for the story!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 08:36:41 PM: I have been known to shoot stuff in really hard to reach spots and this one pushed my limit. I went 7 miles, 6:45 packing, 5 hours of that being steep sidehill and uphill with the entire boned out buck cape and my day gear. A friend met me to help for the last hour and a half which was a huge relief because I was spent! I was not able to go up the same terrain I came down so I had to sidehill and go up and down through three basins to make it back over the ridge to the truck. about 1800' or more total gain on the pack out. Looking forward to the rest of my season (just scouting now) and helping a few friends out. I will try and get a video edited at some point
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: sagerat on September 28, 2016, 08:45:15 PM: Very cool hunt and story, thanks!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: jackelope on September 28, 2016, 08:46:39 PM: Congrats. Thanks for sharing a great story
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: shanevg on September 28, 2016, 08:48:49 PM: Congrats buddy! Way to get it done! Now let's go get a bear!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: 3nails on September 28, 2016, 09:15:22 PM: Great job Ryan! I'm sure these stories are going to be a yearly event. One day with a masher!
Just scouting now? Too bad you didn't have another hunt lined up. Like going out of state or something.......
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 28, 2016, 09:20:41 PM: Quote from: 3nails on September 28, 2016, 09:15:22 PM
Great job Ryan! I'm sure these stories are going to be a yearly event. One day with a masher!
Just scouting now? Too bad you didn't have another hunt lined up. Like going out of state or something.......

Yes is I do! A whitetail hunt with the master rattler. and I'm sure that won't be the last blacktail that ends up into my pack this year!

Quote from: shanevg on September 28, 2016, 08:48:49 PM
Congrats buddy! Way to get it done! Now let's go get a bear!

I just need you there to convince me to shoot. Then you can pack it out for me :dunno:

Something tells me that might be happening next week
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Buck Rub Jr on September 28, 2016, 09:26:52 PM: Nice buck! Saw this on Facebook too, congrats!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: pd on September 28, 2016, 10:09:27 PM: Poor guy, his right hind femur is protruding through his knee joint. Totally contorted body.

Great hunt!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: lokidog on September 28, 2016, 10:09:50 PM: Nice!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: fishnfur on September 28, 2016, 10:16:00 PM: Fantastic story. Thanks for taking the time to tell it right and share all the great photos as well. Congratulations on your success!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: liljozie495 on September 29, 2016, 09:08:26 AM: Congrats and great write up man, dandy buck!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on September 29, 2016, 09:19:59 AM: :yeah:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: 2MANY on September 29, 2016, 09:57:13 AM: Gotta love the ones that hunt how hunting should be.
Nice work.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: jkthomps on September 29, 2016, 10:05:37 AM: Awesome photos and story! Thanks for sharing and congrats!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: de0827 on September 29, 2016, 10:19:19 AM: Awesome pictures, story and buck! Looking forward to the video :tup:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: floatinghat on September 29, 2016, 12:03:47 PM: awesome, looking forward to your hunt next year.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: skagitsteel on September 29, 2016, 03:58:21 PM: Quote from: de0827 on September 29, 2016, 10:19:19 AM
Awesome pictures, story and buck! Looking forward to the video :tup:

might be a little while I still have lots of bucks to film before the end of the year 'll post it as soon as its done.
Quote from: 2MANY on September 29, 2016, 09:57:13 AM

Gotta love the ones that hunt how hunting should be.
Nice work.

I appreciate it thanks. wouldn't have it any other way
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: yakimarcher on September 29, 2016, 04:37:51 PM: Amazing adventure!! Congrats on a hell of a buck!
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: 7mag. on September 29, 2016, 07:50:08 PM: Great story and pics. Congrats on a very nice, hard earned buck.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: sjhgraysage on September 29, 2016, 08:24:13 PM: Two thumbs up!
Thanks for sharing your story, congrats.
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: Mark251 on September 29, 2016, 08:25:45 PM: Great post! Thanks for sharing :tup:
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: hunter67wa on September 29, 2016, 08:37:18 PM: Great story and pics. congrats
Title: Re: 2016 Alpine Blacktail
Post by: stewcamp on October 11, 2016, 02:36:11 PM: Congrats. Awesome hunt pics and story.