Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 10, 2007, 11:45:03 PM
Having spent the past week in a splint and on crutches nursing a possible ruptured tendon, ruptured ligament, or fractured bone in my foot, my son and I headed off to try and fill my late season rifle tag. I am scheduled for an MRI next week so we were determined to do our best tag out this weekend. As a precaution, I brought along the crutches and splint just in case, although I had no plans to use either.
We left our house Friday morning (11-9-07) at 2:30 am which put us in position at first light. When we arrived we were disappointed to find the area was saulked in with fog. We were hopeful it would burn off before too long.
We decided to alter our game plan electing to drive a route that was not too heavily affected by the weather.
I generally prefer still hunting and glassing even though this unit lends itself well to using the road system to cover a lot of ground. Unfortunately, walking/hiking was not in the cards this trip for obvious reasons. Driving and locating likely finger ridges and draws to glass and watch for animals would be our primary method.
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 10, 2007, 11:46:02 PM
As we rounded a bend, we began to get back into the fog. We had maybe 100 yards of visibility, but it looked like it wanted to lift. We decided to pull off at a wide spot in the road and have a snack. We did some glassing eventually continuing on down the road. A short time later, we spotted a doe. Andrew stopped the truck. As we were watching her, her fawn stood up next to her. Then I noticed a small little four point get up a slowly begin to walk down an old skid road. The deer were about 173 yards below us on a steep hillside. (Andrew ranged it) I grabbed the rifle and got out. As we sized up the buck we pretty quickly decided pass on taking him. We watched him for a few more minutes. Andrew jumped back in the truck ready to move on. I decided to walk or more accurately “Gimp” ahead of the truck a little ways and continue to watch the buck as he meandered down an old cut in the hillside.
As I continued to glass, out of nowhere another buck materialized in my glasses standing just below the two doe. He was peering at me from behind a bush. In comparison to the smaller 4x4, this buck was taller, wider, and showed more mass. We also now counted a total of six doe.
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 10, 2007, 11:46:46 PM
As Andrew caught up to me, we continued to work our way around a bend up ahead to get a better angle. The sun was now breaking through and was directly in my face and the buck was in the shade. Andrew helped me keep an eye on him. Finally, after sizing him up as best we could, he quietly and slowly began to creep down the hill. After some discussion, we decided to take the buck. He finally stopped down the hill a ways facing away from me. And, as they often do, he ended up under a snag blocking any chance of a shot.
By now he was 270 yards away. After another period of time, he moved slightly offering a 277 yard shot. My first shot was low. He appeared confused after the report of the rifle. He turned and slowly walked down the hill. My next shot was a quartering away shot at 315 yards. I hit him a bit too far back breaking his hip. (I was aiming for the far shoulder) He stumbled and Andrew saw him react as if he was hit hard. I saw him roll into a brush pile. We moved as best we could down the steep hillside. I was heading for where I last saw him stumble. As I came up to a point where I could see the brush pile I noticed that he was lying as if he was bedded in the lower road. I was approximately 80 – 100 yards above him when I finished him off.
As I made my way up to the buck it was obvious that I had broken his hip and had ruptured the femoral artery.
We’re not sure what he scores, but given our circumstances this past week, we don’t care. We’re extremely happy and relieved. There is no doubt that if we found ourselves in normal circumstances, I think we may have tried to hold out for a bigger buck. We took care of the carcass today and I caped him readying the cape for the tannery. We’ll mount him sometime later this winter.
I want to thank a bunch of you for your assistance in helping us with our research of this unit, you know who you are! I will post a couple of pictures because I know we all like to see those bucks! Enjoy!
Post by: FWilliams on November 10, 2007, 11:51:54 PM
Fred
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 11, 2007, 12:04:20 AM
Post by: hogsniper on November 11, 2007, 12:26:12 AM
Post by: skagitblacktail on November 11, 2007, 06:30:56 AM
Post by: Bearhunter on November 11, 2007, 06:57:51 AM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 11, 2007, 07:42:55 AM
James, I shot him on the hill side on Tyee Ridge. Luckily there was a road below us. Given the condition of my foot, we lucked out in that respect. But I shot low on the first shot (277 yds), broke his hip trying to angle for the far shoulder on the 2nd shot (315 yds). At that point he stumbled near a bunch of brush. When I got down to just above that brush, I saw him "bedded" in the middle of the lower road. He was bleeding out, but he was alert and he looked as natural as he could look if you did'nt know he was hit. It was an odd sight. He must have been hit hard cause he could have dove off the side of that road and we'd have plaved hell getting him out of there it is so steep. I put him down at that spot at about 80 - 100 yds.
Andrew went back up and got the truck and found a connecting road to bring the truck in on. I do have to say that I thought he was a bigger buck, but next to that smaller 4x4, he looked so much larger which played a part to sway our decision to take him. We had a blast! Here's a pic from Coopers.....I have a few more to post later. Thanks.
Post by: boneaddict on November 11, 2007, 08:07:21 AM
Post by: Slider on November 11, 2007, 08:08:40 AM
Post by: actionshooter on November 11, 2007, 08:28:18 AM
Post by: MichaelJ on November 11, 2007, 11:30:47 AM
Michael
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 11, 2007, 11:31:44 AM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 11, 2007, 12:41:54 PM
Boneaddict, wish I was with you....Man you seem to have a knack for finding some big ole bucks!
Here'e a couple more...thought I'd better include my right hand man, he sure was a lot of help!
Post by: PacificNWhunter on November 11, 2007, 12:47:43 PM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 11, 2007, 01:10:46 PM
Great buck man! We stopped there the day before you and got our picture taken aswell! Way to stick it out!
Michael
Thanks Michael! You did pretty well with your hunter! Nice job and congratulations for helping him get his buck!
The picture below is just after the shot!
Post by: Muleyslyr on November 11, 2007, 01:40:36 PM
Post by: Bearhunter on November 11, 2007, 02:32:29 PM
Post by: huntingnut on November 11, 2007, 03:43:35 PM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 12, 2007, 07:12:42 PM
How longs it been since you did a deer mount? Probably looking forward to doing one for yourself I bet!!
James,
Yea, it's been a while since we mounted one of ours. I did'nt renew my Taxi license last year so I can only do family mounts. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to it. Last one of ours I did was my sons in 05. Not a big buck, but his first 4 pt. I'll post the picture. Does Jeremy need some help with his hunt? Hows the vidiography going? I want to check it out. Keep us updated on the rugrat :)!!
Post by: Ellensburg on November 12, 2007, 08:45:57 PM
Post by: MikeWalking on November 13, 2007, 07:31:08 AM
I really appreciate the pictures and comments. I'll be headed that way as soon as I clock out Thursday night. (Hurry up and be Thursday already :chuckle:)
Of course the more I look at the maps the more I change my mind HA! I'm checking the Weather sites 5 times a day...can't hardly wait.
Post by: Bearhunter on November 13, 2007, 09:49:47 AM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 13, 2007, 08:28:08 PM
I really appreciate the pictures and comments. I'll be headed that way as soon as I clock out Thursday night. (Hurry up and be Thursday already :chuckle:)
Of course the more I look at the maps the more I change my mind HA! I'm checking the Weather sites 5 times a day...can't hardly wait.
MikeWalking; We expect to see some great pics! Do you have this same tag? I think this week should be awesome up there. Keep us posted! Good Luck.
Post by: MikeWalking on November 14, 2007, 08:25:42 AM
Haven't made the jump to Digital yet but I can talk Sis into getting my pics on line.
Geezz quitting time Thursday seems like a year away........Buck Fever? :IBCOOL:
Post by: GoldTip on November 14, 2007, 08:40:53 AM
Post by: jkononen on November 14, 2007, 07:10:21 PM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 19, 2007, 09:41:51 PM
Post by: HuntinFool on November 20, 2007, 11:35:29 AM
Anyways good looking deer and im glad that you filled your tag.
Ky
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on November 21, 2007, 07:25:35 PM
Hey mike its Ky good looking deer and I'm glad that you filled your tag.
Ky
Ky, thanks man.....Much appreciated. I know we talked about holding out for a bigger buck. I would have liked a 150 -160 class muley. I think given different circumstances with my foot injury and all, I would have passed on this buck. We saw several 3 and 4 points but this was the heaviest we saw. We saw one with deeper forks but not near as heavy. The circumstances ended up being right for the situation we were in. Don't get me wrong, we're thrilled with this buck and are enjoying our good fortune.
Andrew and I had quite a discussion before deciding to try for this guy. We knew he was heavier than the buck he was with, Although he's not extremely massive, but when compared to the other 4X4, he just looked a lot bigger. I have to admit that we were fooled a little bit by the contrast of the two bucks at 175 yards, which is the distance they were when we first ranged them. We figured his width was about 22 inches which we over estimated. We also knew he wasn't real tall. In fact, a little shorter than we were hoping for. His front and back forks were not very deep either.
On the plus side, he was the biggest buck we'd seen both in antler size and body size. And as I said, we liked that he was heavy. Also, being a 4x4 with eye guards that are over 2 inches long (One measures 2-1/2 inches) didn't hurt. Having a road below us was a plus in our case as well....although he damn near went over the edge into a steep basin. But the final decision came down to the fact that I had a Dr. appointment scheduled for the following week and we were unsure of whether or not I'd be in a cast or recovering from surgery costing us our last weekend of hunting. We ranged the shots at 277 yards (too low). 315 yards (hit a bit too far back), and 80 -100 yards (finishing shot).
All in all we had a blast. I want to thank you and your dad for all of your help (along with a few others). We really enjoyed meeting you guys..... I'm impressed with the standards you've set for yourself for being a young guy, I take my hat off to ya for setting high goals and sticking with it. It worked out for ya last season!
Here's to the end of another season :brew: Happy holidays!
Update on the foot..... Not a broken bone or a ruptured ligament or tendon. It is a "strained" tendon requiring Ibuprofen, heat, Ice, elevation in the evening. (It sucks to get old!) Although still black and blue, the swelling is down. In short, I am recovering!
Post by: MichaelJ on November 21, 2007, 07:51:49 PM
Hey mike its Ky i got your PM i have been in montana hunting with a friend for a week. While i was gone my dad had the week off and went up on the entiat side and saw one buck that was a 28" 3 point but real heavy and tall, and then went up another day to a different area and saw a 26" 4 point that he thought would go 170ish. He got his buck mount back and our taxidermist knows the entiat pretty well and from what my dad saw and talking to the taxidermist some of the big boys have slipped through the entiat without ever getting shot. On the 18th it rained all day but the hills around wenatchee had snow on them not a whole lot but enough to probably push some of the deer. I saw pictures of another entiat deer that was 30" wide and im not sure what it would score but it was the best buck i heard of getting taken so far.
Anyways good looking deer and im glad that you filled your tag.
Ky
Ky whats up man? How was montana? I know I talked to a guy I know and he said he was up Preston Creek Tuesday and was seeing quite a few big bucks moving down out of the snow... I'm sure you're right that some big boys were down low, but there's always the few that don't come down until really forced... You've seen that 30" buck? Is he pretty tall/massive? I'll give you a call tonight...
Michael
Post by: johnsc6 on November 24, 2007, 08:43:21 PM
Post by: Guy on November 25, 2007, 08:03:11 AM
Post by: WAmuleyHunter on November 25, 2007, 10:04:02 AM
Post by: HuntinFool on November 25, 2007, 11:28:46 AM
Post by: WAmuleyHunter on November 25, 2007, 12:26:26 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on November 25, 2007, 03:20:21 PM
Post by: stew on December 03, 2007, 08:25:13 PM
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on December 03, 2007, 09:02:08 PM