Post by: Fishhog on October 19, 2009, 11:06:24 PM
Our focus was to get the boys on deer and hopefully add more after they got theirs. Weather was surprisingly warm. I saw 73 on Saturday on the temp gauge :jawdrop:
Here's a pic of my son Austins first deer. It's a 3x4 or if your an easterner, a 9 pointer :D Jim from our party had seen him bed down and showed us exactly where he had been. Lucky for us, he was still there. I ranged him at 168 yards downhill. He was lying in his bed in a patch of rose brush. All we could see was his back right ear and main beam. Austin had about a 2 foot window to shoot through. Got the shootin sticks set-up and I readied myself to back him up if need be. He shot and I was looking to spot the running deer. I put my scope where the deer was. He was still there. My first split second thought was he missed and the deer didn't know what was up. Then I realized the deer was dead. SWEET!!!! High fives, hugs and smiles were in order. I'm not sure who was happier, me, Austin or Jim.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2FAustindeer1.jpg&hash=f10f7f07edfde39bae945e649ecec7986e26648d)
Here's another shot. Wished I had cleared the grass out of the way before the shot:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2FDadAustin.jpg&hash=930bcf7cd1f5f083730c4adff9c7d65cc8331cc6)
I then had to "inform" my son that now the work starts. We prepared the deer for packing him uphill back to camp. Did I say uphill. Yeah UP FRIGGIN HILL.
Here's a shot of me before heading down to pack him out:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fpackmule-1.jpg&hash=a7cbfafc1e044ed876e6909577616e218327540c)
Here's me after the first load. There are not shots of the second load, because I died LOL:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fpackmule1.jpg&hash=afd30cf9be69849686e8ea37d17f228acbce6d1b)
The next day, I spotted a group of deer heading across the other side of the canyon, so I dropped down and headed up a draw ahead of them, in hopes of heading them off. I had spotted a decent 4 point with the group. They dropped into the draw I was in but were below me and headed up the other side. So I sidehilled to try ad intercept them. I crested the crown of the hill and there they were at about 60 yards. I had an ass shot, but opted not to take it, mainly because it's a poor shot and there were a lot of does right by the buck. They rounded the hill out of sight and I followed. I expected to catch them on the hillside, but they were't there. I sidehilled to another draw and expected to catch them there. They were no where to be seen. So I sat down to catch my breath and have a drink. After about 10 minutes, I spotted the same group side hilling now on the other side of the canyon. *censored* I think. They are directly across from me at 400 yards. I can't find the 4 point, but there is a small 3 point . Hmmmmm what to do. Lets see, he's below camp, the pack out won't be TOO bad. OK, I'll shoot. First shot goes low, so I aim higher, this time I hit him. He walks downhill a little and lays down. I watch him for 20 minutes to see if he rolls over. NADA, so back down to the bottom and up the other side. I crest the hill and spot him in his bed at 40 yards. I shoot, he gets up and the next shot does it's job
:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fmarkdeer.jpg&hash=b42f010a2124bbff3a398a7f7adea0aa5f024e4b)
Here's one of me and my son:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fdadaustin1.jpg&hash=d0b892b3a83633a066e2121af89fab4e46cfaf05)
My dad at the ripe young age of 71 shot a pretty decent 4 point. And my nephew shot a nice 2x3 whitetail. Again if your an easterner, it's a 3x4 :D :
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fgrandpaboys.jpg&hash=71dac4bd46958b4ad42493fb993af4336aa0c865)
Here's the final tally:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fcarnage.jpg&hash=d4122214b28fea7f2e7bf48a4f5f715699d8846e)
Here's a couple shots of the country we were hunting:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fcountry.jpg&hash=86631e7613a328e85c5464b1b9cba439f5c91d44)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fcountry1.jpg&hash=52af8e45e6a065fca147fcd2223e3fa158d0c313)
Here's a shot of my bro trying to spot a whopper:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc85%2Ffishhog%2Fnathan.jpg&hash=8bdad6570afb24c0d033ccffb25794252a0b0bf6)
All in all, we had a GREAT hunt. Can't wait to do it again next year !!!!! Note to self, get in shape PRIOR to next season LOL
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