Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Kazekurt on December 09, 2017, 10:39:47 AM

Title: Montana 2017
Post by: Kazekurt on December 09, 2017, 10:39:47 AM: For the first time in years, I rolled solo opening weekend in MT. My dad and some other family members decided to hunt elk in a different unit, and I didn't splurge for an elk tag this year, so I decided to stick with my usual deer spot. I also had a complicating factor in that my wife and some friends booked a vacation for mid November that included me, so hunting the rut was out of the equation this season. So recognizing I probably wouldn't get to make 2 trips over, I went fully intending to notch my tag on opening weekend.

The weather was crazy! Rain, snow, and everything in between, and a windstorm that was buckling trees all around me. I literally witnessed at least 40 trees come down and heard many more. Fortunately, The storm eventually subsided and I was able to take a nice buck on top of one of my favorite ridges. I definitely missed my friends and family when it came time to pack the buck out though!
I ended up deboning him, shed every ounce of weight I could, and was able to get all the meat and the cape/Antlers out in two trips. From shot to truck my total time was 9 hrs, which wasn't bad considering the steep, nasty terrain and the distance to my truck.
Title: Re: Montana 2017
Post by: Kazekurt on December 09, 2017, 10:50:04 AM: As it turned out, I ended up getting to go back in early November to help my dad, stepsister, and stepmom fill their tags. 8-15" of snow and we couldn't even get to the area I shot the buck on opening weekend. Pic of my stepsister's buck below.
Title: Re: Montana 2017
Post by: Jason on December 09, 2017, 11:00:30 AM: Congrats on harvest!! :tup:
Title: Re: Montana 2017
Post by: Dan-o on December 09, 2017, 11:19:40 AM: Nice.

Solo trips can be uniquely rewarding..... but hard.
Title: Re: Montana 2017
Post by: Mark251 on December 10, 2017, 09:14:57 PM: Nice! Congrats :tup: