Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:28:21 AM

Title: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:28:21 AM: Well on this day of Thanksgiving I'd like to share the outcome of my special draw hunt. I felt fortunate to draw a 2XX series unit with only 11 points. I had hunted this particular unit years ago and had some special memories there hunting with good friends. The unit has been on my list of places to hopefully return and take a crack at a mature late season mule deer.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:32:39 AM: I did some forum research and contacted past tag holders, biologist, friends and co-workers who have experience in the unit. Doing the research and putting together a plan is a big part of the enjoyment for me.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: JBar on November 23, 2017, 07:35:30 AM: :tup:
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:39:35 AM: Through the research I learned that the herd is not in the shape it was the last time i'd hunted it and older age class bucks had been really hammered in recent winters. This was discouraging news for the deer herd and for my hunt prospects but I was reassured that there I would still see more deer every day and there were still a few good bucks around, just more difficult to find.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:44:07 AM: I took a pre-season scouting trip to get reacquainted with the road system, campsites and areas of focus recommended by my sources. It brought a smile as the memories returned from being in old haunts.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:49:04 AM: Due to work and family commitments I wasn't going to have the time and resources to spend the entire 20 day season in the unit. So I made a plan to take 3 separate trips if needed, one early, mid and late in the season.

My wife and I went over for 4 days in the early season. I spent that time showing her around, telling stories and doing a few hunts on foot to glassing areas.

We saw a lot of deer in those 4 days including several 4 point bucks but nothing I was too interested in. So I'd be back for round two.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 07:58:12 AM: A hunting buddy joined me for trip 2. I did more serious hunting this round, covered a lot of ground, new areas and glass, glass, glass. Unfortunately the unit was socked in fog most of this trip but we still saw an amazing amount of deer. I saw a few better bucks this trip and almost spent the tag but exercised some restraint.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 08:07:58 AM: So back for trip 3, this time it's solo and i'm prepared to hang in for the final 5 days of the season. Some heavier snows had fallen in the crests so I was keeping fingers crossed that might push a fresh crop of deer down while I still had some season left. But the mental game was playing tricks on me at this point. I had already been away from my family for 10 days in Montana and had now spent 8 days in the unit and hadn't seen the class of buck I was looking for. The next two days of hunting was more of the same and I began to wonder if I was investing my time doing the right thing. I spent some time Saturday on a high snow capped lookout doing some soul searching and the Lord told me to basically buck up, enjoy the experience and his creation and stop worrying about deer.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 08:10:35 AM: I texted my wife and told me to keep after it. I know the family wanted me home but having her support to stay in the game meant the world.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: jackelope on November 23, 2017, 08:12:03 AM: Oh boy. That fog is enough to drive a guy batty. The pressures of a high quality hunt are enough by themselves. You don’t need Mother Nature messing with you at the same time...

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Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 08:18:11 AM: I'll cut to the chase. That evening, I finally found a buck that got me going. While making my way back down the mountain toward camp I glassed up two does in one of the holes I routinely check. And there hot on their tails is a good buck. He was definitely not one I had seen previously and assumed he was a new boy in town. There was no internal debate I made up my mind to make a move.

The deer weren't alerted to my presence but we're moving steadily through timber and heading to thicker cover where I would soon lose them, especially with only 20 minutes of legal light left.

I followed briefly and was able to find him in the scope. Yes buck fever set in hard. I had put a lot of expectations on myself. The MOAR retitcle settled down and from an off-hand position at 150 yards the 264 Win Mag barked.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 08:26:56 AM: I briefly lost him in the scope. I see the two does trotting away without a buck in tow. That's positive. I scanned with my glass and now spot him staggering. I cycle another round and take aim but at that moment I hear a crash. I moved quickly toward him to ensure he was down before I lost light. I soon found him among a tangle of limbs and branches.

I gave thanks to the deer for his life and to God for rewarding me with a good deer and an incredible experience.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 08:30:34 AM: Considering how difficult this hunt was I am extremely grateful and happy to have taken this solid 4x4 typical mule deer.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: bigelk1030 on November 23, 2017, 08:31:37 AM: Great story and great deer! Congrats.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: GOING2HUNT on November 23, 2017, 08:36:09 AM: Great story, it brought back memories of my hunt in 2011 in the 2XX. Congratulations on your success!
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 23, 2017, 08:41:38 AM: Oh and yes as the title implies it happened to be the week of my birthday making this just a little more sweet.

Thanks for letting me share my experience with you all and I wish you a great Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: Igor on November 23, 2017, 09:12:42 AM: Beautiful buck. I guess I just might be a little dense, but I don't get the reference to the "2XX series unit".
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: Katmai Guy on November 23, 2017, 10:12:31 AM: Quote from: Igor on November 23, 2017, 09:12:42 AM
Beautiful buck. I guess I just might be a little dense, but I don't get the reference to the "2XX series unit".

He doesn't want to tell the unit he drew the permit for.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: BoomWhop on November 23, 2017, 10:16:37 AM: Wow nice Buck thanks for the writeup :tup:
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: elkpack on November 23, 2017, 11:19:17 AM: Great job CaNINE...beautiful deer. Patience and perserverence paid off.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: fishnfur on November 23, 2017, 08:27:06 PM: :yeah: Gorgeous Muley!
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: Dan-o on November 23, 2017, 09:00:08 PM: Carl, you've killed WAY more than your fair share of trophy animals the last couple years.

How about you take a yea off and give the rest of us a chance?
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: elkrack on November 24, 2017, 05:55:59 AM: Great buck! :tup:
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CJ1962 on November 24, 2017, 07:12:28 AM: Quote from: Dan-o on November 23, 2017, 09:00:08 PM
Carl, you've killed WAY more than your fair share of trophy animals the last couple years.

How about you take a yea off and give the rest of us a chance?
lol Dan-o you are confused who was on this hunt. Unfortunately I wasnt able to join and help out. Hopefully i was able to give him a little inspiration from a far though.

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Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: Machias on November 24, 2017, 08:04:07 AM: Awesome!!
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: Dan-o on November 24, 2017, 12:11:43 PM: DOH!!!!!

Sorry Ron.

Stud buck...... definitely not Florida genetics.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 24, 2017, 04:36:40 PM: Great looking buck

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Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: CaNINE on November 24, 2017, 05:28:29 PM: Thanks for all the comments guys. It's tenderloin and bourbon black pepper cream sauce for dinner tonight.
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: zackmioli on November 27, 2017, 03:05:22 PM: congrats man! that's a great buck!
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on November 27, 2017, 03:37:02 PM: Thank you for sharing. I like everything about your hunt!
Title: Re: CaNINE's Late Season Birthday Buck
Post by: 2MANY on November 27, 2017, 03:55:38 PM: Persistence pays again.
Nice.