Post by: Moosehunt on June 20, 2009, 11:36:44 AM
Part 1
“If you were bleeding, you’d be dead” stated the paramedic. These were harsh words as the demise of my hunting season began to sink in. It all started back in May of this past year as I had applied for a Washington State multi-season deer tag. After the excitement of learning I had been selected in the left-over draw, plans were made to hunt Almota Canyon in Whitman County, something I had been doing for nineteen consecutive years.
October finally arrived and opening day was upon us. The only thing different about this year was the fact that I was looking for a real trophy deer. As was usual, my hunting party made its’ way from Pullman to the Snake River breaks. It was a rather cold morning, a temperature in the 20’s. I had hiked into the canyon about a half-mile from the trucks. After surveying the area, I chose to take a sedentary position along a fence line over looking many travel corridors and acres of dark canyon. As the sun began to creep into the canyon, deer began to appear. Looking for a particular deer, I passed on a few small bucks. I remember watching what I believed to be a three-point mule deer when a shot rang out up a canyon across from me a half-mile away. I changed position to get a view of this particular area and heard a few more shots.
A quick once-over through my binoculars revealed a fairly large mule deer buck on a dead run in my direction. I kept watchful eye of the deer as it made its’ way closer and closer. Blood! I could see it on the deer as it ran at full speed. At this point, I knew that the deer was hit but not good enough to make an efficient kill. I looked for the hunter who fired the shots and found three orange-clad men making there way back to the top of the canyon. These hunters had no idea where the deer was, let alone that one of the shots connected. The bloodied deer continued the high-speed escape in my direction, soon to be in shooting distance of my position. After brief discussion with myself, I decided to try to put this deer down for good so the other hunters could recover their quarry.
As I steadied for a long-distance attempt, I tried to stop shivering from the cold. Shot one..miss, shot two...miss, shot three….miss. After another discussion with myself, my shooting ceased and I decided to watch the route of the deer and determine where it would go. I took a quick look for the three hunters and found them making their way out of the canyon and heading back towards the road. Just my luck, I was left with a wounded deer and a dilemma. Did I want to chase after this wounded deer and potentially end my deer hunting season? I hiked out of the canyon and met with my hunting partner, Scott, and my father. A brief discussion ensued and a decision was made.
Entering the steep canyon, I searched for a route to hike towards the wounded deer. Having been in this particular canyon many times before, I knew I needed to follow cattle trails that zigzagged to the bottom. The descent began and before making it a quarter of the way down, I had already slipped and slid 20 yards on patches of bunch grass. I was able to get my footing and remember telling myself, ‘Slow down Dave, take your time!” I continued to follow trails left and right and made my way farther down. Keeping a watchful eye for the deer and where my partner was, I neared an area where the canyon got steeper. The angle was 60 degrees and only 40 yards from the basalt creek bottom that carved a route through the area. I was on a well-used trail of bare dirt and found a feeder path where the two crossed. I stepped off the trail with my right leg and as soon as my foot hit the ground the trail collapsed into a fairly deep hole. That hole was the bullet that ended my season.
POP! CRACK!! SNAP!!! These were the rapports of my leg breaking as my body spun around to face uphill. At that very moment, every thought, dream and desire for a trophy mule deer came crashing down and so did I. In that instant, I started tumbling downhill towards the creek bottom. Forty yards, tumble! Thirty yards, tumble! I see some brush! Twenty yards, tumble! Grasping for anything to slow me down, I was finally able to hold onto what seemed like twigs and come to a stop.
Part 2 "The Rescue" is yet to be written, but here are some of the pictures that hopefully sum up the event. Enjoy!!
Post by: rasbo on June 20, 2009, 11:40:51 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on June 20, 2009, 11:42:28 AM
Post by: 7mag. on June 20, 2009, 11:43:38 AM
that hurts just reading it.I would have went back for the deer also
:yeah: You can't leave a wouned animal to suffer if you can help it, no matter who shot it.
Post by: Huntbear on June 20, 2009, 11:45:20 AM
that hurts just reading it.I would have went back for the deer also
x4
Post by: Moosehunt on June 20, 2009, 11:46:39 AM
Post by: rasbo on June 20, 2009, 11:49:02 AM
Post by: Moosehunt on June 20, 2009, 11:53:26 AM
Post by: stlhdr1 on June 20, 2009, 12:22:04 PM
Keith :)
Post by: bowhunterforever on June 20, 2009, 01:45:38 PM
that hurts just reading it.I would have went back for the deer also:yeah:
Post by: bobcat on June 20, 2009, 01:54:07 PM
Do you have any more pictures of the cute blonde? :chuckle:
Post by: bow4elk on June 20, 2009, 01:54:42 PM
Post by: zackmioli on June 20, 2009, 02:19:54 PM
Post by: scroder on June 20, 2009, 02:27:40 PM
Post by: scoyoc5 on June 20, 2009, 02:29:28 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 20, 2009, 02:31:54 PM
That's too bad you had to ruin your season like that.I can hear your 911 call now bobcat...back sore send blonde :chuckle:
Do you have any more pictures of the cute blonde? :chuckle:
Post by: tonymoe on June 20, 2009, 03:59:53 PM
Post by: halflife65 on June 20, 2009, 05:00:23 PM
Post by: Bobm on June 20, 2009, 09:49:03 PM
Gotta wonder what that copter ride cost.
Post by: finnman on June 20, 2009, 11:05:19 PM
Post by: fisheral87 on June 21, 2009, 12:34:08 PM
Quote
Do you have any more pictures of the cute blonde?
:yeah: Did you get her number? So, Do you come here often? :chuckle:
Post by: PacificNWhunter on June 21, 2009, 06:35:14 PM
Post by: jstamp on June 22, 2009, 01:40:28 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 22, 2009, 04:16:30 AM
Post by: Gobble on June 22, 2009, 05:11:50 AM
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on June 23, 2009, 10:45:34 AM
-Steve
Post by: Pathfinder101 on June 23, 2009, 11:17:45 AM
heal up and get back out there...
Post by: h2ofowlr on June 23, 2009, 11:42:20 PM
Post by: Hornseeker on June 24, 2009, 07:29:10 AM
Post by: C-Money on June 24, 2009, 08:00:33 AM
Post by: mossback91 on June 24, 2009, 08:12:41 AM
That sounded painful, mentally cause your season was over and physically cause of your broke leg! Don't know which one would hurt more!
From personal experience of breaking my femur........the physical sucked but the mental was worse!!! sitting around with this huge cast cant do a thing worried about hunting season..........I can only imagine his being worse as his season just started!!!
Post by: elkoholic1 on June 26, 2009, 10:08:05 AM
Post by: scotta on June 27, 2009, 09:39:24 PM
Post by: georgia redneck on June 28, 2009, 02:31:04 PM