Post by: bowman on September 05, 2009, 03:28:41 PM
My dad was with me on this hunt. He was not hunting because he has a late rifle deer tag!
Day 1, August 30th: We arrived at our hunting area around 6:00pm and headed straight to the alfalfa field. We watched 3 bucks come in early around 7:00pm, including a nice 4-point! After that we went to our camping spot and set up camp. I was really excited about this spot for the evening of the opener. We put together a plan on where I should set up for the best chance at one of these deer. If they came in on the other side of the field and I couldn't get a shot I would wait 'til dark and sneak out trying not to bump them. Then, I would try again each evening until I hopefully got a shot.
Day 2, August 31st: My dad and I woke up early this morning and went to a few spots to scout them. We didn't see many deer. Once we were done scouting we were headed back to camp when we spotted a bear! This was only the second bear I have ever seen. The bear was on private property so it lived to see another day. Too bad it wasn't on public because I would have killed my first bear.
That evening we went back to the alfalfa field and sure enough, the same three bucks came in. I didn't get much sleep that night because I was too excited for the next day to come.
Day 3, Opening morning: I have been waiting since last September for this day to come! I hunted an apple orchard at first light for about an hour. All I saw were a few does and fawns. Next, we headed to another spot where we have seen deer in the past. We hiked and hunted for a couple hours. By the time we were done with this spot the temperature was starting to rise, so I figured that we were done for that morning. My dad and I decided to check out a very popular area on the way back to camp to see if anyone had success. When we got there I spotted a doe on the hillside next to a draw. I told my dad to drop me off at the top and I would hike down through the draw. While I was picking my way down this guy jumped up and pogo'd up the hill a ways. I ranged him at 53yrds. I felt comfortable at this range so I took a deep breath and let an arrow fly. I hit a little further back then I would have liked but it was still a kill shot. The deer walked and stumbled about 25 yards and laid down. We watched him for about 10 minutes. I didn't want to try and get closer for another shot because I didn't want to push the deer at all. When his head went down I knew I had him. I was so excited after I had harvested this guy.
Day 4-5: My dad and I did a lot of bear hunting. We were trying to get my first bear. We did not see any bears on these days. However I did shoot 6 grouse in two days. One was a big blue grouse. On the 5th morning my dad and I hunted through a lightning storm. We sat under some trees waiting for the rain to let up a little. We sat there for over an hour. I think my dad thought he was going to starve to death right there. He sneaked into my pack and ate my muffin. I packed that muffin for ME not him. After the rain passed we continued on. Didn't see any bears, but I did jump another 3 point that I could have killed as he turned and looked at me from 25 yards.
Day 6: We woke up early this morning so we could get my deer home before it got hot. We left camp around 6:30am and had the deer hanging in the cooler by 10:30am. The butcher said my deer was the biggest so far this year. It weighed 160lbs dressed and hanging.
Up next my dads quest for his late season monster!!!!!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F%26lt%3Ba+href%3D%26quot%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fs849.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab60%2FBowmans_photos%2F%3Faction-view%26amp%3Bcurrent%3DP1000005.jpg%26quot%3B+target%3D%26quot%3B_blank%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bimg+src%3D%26quot%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fi849.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab60%2FBowmans_photos%2FP1000005.jpg%26quot%3B+border%3D%26quot%3B0%26quot%3B+alt%3D%26quot%3Bdeer%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%2Fa%26gt%3B&hash=20af6142906550a8b969b5ddc18b9092692e8dac)
Post by: bowman on September 05, 2009, 03:43:44 PM
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Post by: huntnphool on September 05, 2009, 04:55:36 PM
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My deer season is over!!!!
Outstanding, congrats., Get a camera, your season will never end. ;)
Post by: buckhorn2 on September 05, 2009, 05:03:54 PM
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Post by: bowman on September 10, 2009, 03:50:52 PM
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Very cool. Way to get the job done. Btw, just curious how you kept your deer cool for two days while you hunted bear and grouse? Were the temps on the cool side?
My dad has a friend that lives in that area and his neighbor has a walk in cooler. He charges $20 and you can use his cooler for as long as you want. It's a good deal. We left the deer in there for a few days.
Post by: TeacherMan on September 10, 2009, 08:48:17 PM
Post by: bowman on September 11, 2009, 06:02:24 PM
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My wife thinks that you have a nice Jr. Miss smile in your pic, nice deer.
Excuse me??? Are you saying that I smile like a girl?
Post by: TeacherMan on September 11, 2009, 06:13:58 PM
QuoteMy wife thinks that you have a nice Jr. Miss smile in your pic, nice deer.
Excuse me??? Are you saying that I smile like a girl?
:chuckle: my wife teaches Jr. Miss and she just made the comment that you had that really big fake looking smile. So no I don't think you do, that would be weird, my does :chuckle: no big deal.