Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 09:43:42 PM
At that point, I pretty much assumed my high hunt was over: my feet were blistered and my zeal for the hunting alone in the wilderness was fast diminishing. After 3 days of tending to my bruises and blisters my boyfriend finally dragged me out of my pity party for one; he was making the 6 hour drive late Thursday night to spend the weekend in the woods with me... with the only expectation that we were going on a nice camping trip and happening to carry our rifles just in case. We picked a spot that appeared to be low in foot traffic into the Pasayten and drove to the trailhead early Friday morning. 9 hours later, we were finishing our 7+ mile hike on an unmaintained trail and a little bushwacking into a pristine, beautiful basin: best of all, we had it all to ourselves! We stopped for a break at the first location where we were able to view this gorgeous and steep meadow bordered by cliffs, and Eyeguard pulled his binoculars up. Immediately he exclaimed, "Kari! There's an awesome buck feeding at the top of that meadow, I'm not even kidding!" Moments later, we were planning our best route to close the distance. A mile of switchbacking up an incredibly steep razorback ridgeline later, we decided to wait until the morning: weather and impending darkness made it too risky... the last thing we wanted to do was clear out this basin by rushing a stalk.
Post by: Kola16 on September 18, 2011, 09:53:14 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 09:54:25 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc7%2F297470_10100570814789488_10720117_58692799_766161762_n.jpg&hash=60b01fb2091debecdcc8de63de6a9ad11585a586)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc7%2F312803_10100570820014018_10720117_58692907_319680438_n.jpg&hash=978faad19350381d05f58bb3e85aa1dac1553398)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc7%2F317339_10100570820562918_10720117_58692918_623944242_n.jpg&hash=b914000e32fd9c3210a84369c8e99cb99c7abd17)
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:03:47 PM
The sunrise was breathtaking.. or wait; was it the snow and severe winds that were breathtaking?? Either way, we cooked up some oatmeal and shared a cup of coffee and hiked to our glassing location. After several minutes of not seeing anything, we decided to slowly work our way up and around the basin, glassing as we went. Our third glassing location proved fruitful: we found my buck feeding up the bottom of the draw with some pals... he was joined by a 3x3, 2x2, and another gorgeous 4 point with chocolate-colored antlers.. As I talked with Eyeguard about my stalking route, all the bucks bedded down in the bottom of the meadow. It was obvious these deer had not seen a human all summer. I started my 2 hour stalk to close the distance from 600 yards. Steep, rocky terrain made a quiet sneak difficult, and the occasional doe feeding up the meadow and across the hillside below me proved to be tasking as well. At about 200 yards I flushed 4 grouse, causing the 3 point to pay special attention my direction. After 10-15 minutes of half-kneeling-half-squatting he gave up, but not before feeling uneasy enough to stand and graze, eventually laying down 5 yards behind the chocolate antlered 4 point. My stalk continued: another doe successfully passed. As far as I could tell, there was only one obstacle left before my final destination: a small clump of subalpine fir blocking my approach fro the bucks, and the perfect location for me to have roughly a 100 yard shot. The obstacle was a single doe feeding up the basin roughly 200 yards below me.
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:15:09 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:17:45 PM
Post by: JLS on September 18, 2011, 10:19:14 PM
Post by: JPhelps on September 18, 2011, 10:20:06 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on September 18, 2011, 10:20:30 PM
Post by: high country on September 18, 2011, 10:20:51 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:21:08 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:21:41 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:22:47 PM
Post by: denali on September 18, 2011, 10:25:10 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:30:34 PM
Post by: NWBREW on September 18, 2011, 10:31:57 PM
Post by: 10heiau on September 18, 2011, 10:33:31 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:40:05 PM
For the ladies: I've been stubbornly trying to use the Eberlestock Dragonfly pack all summer long for this hunting trip as well as all my scouting trips. The end result: if you are a small to medium build, even at its smallest size adjustment this pack will never be optimum for women. I love the scabbord and the entire Just-One expandable concept, but at the end of the day, it probably isn't worth the hip and shoulder bruising I sustained: the straps are certainly made for someone with much more broad shoulders.. I spent the entire time pulling them inward with my hands.. it probably is not the ideal pack especially if you have the inclination to hike 80+ pounds out of the wilderness. :) I know realistically NO pack is comfortable with that much weight, but I have certainly used others that are a little less uncomfortable.
If you have broad shoulders or medium to large build, however, I am still a fan of these packs.. just not for me. :-/
Post by: hirshey on September 18, 2011, 10:41:15 PM
Post by: buck man on September 18, 2011, 10:42:38 PM
Post by: bucksbearsbeers on September 18, 2011, 10:56:17 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 18, 2011, 11:03:19 PM
Post by: Miles on September 18, 2011, 11:04:31 PM
I noticed he has a unique little point type thing on the end of his left main beam. I've never really seen anything like that before.
Post by: provider on September 18, 2011, 11:06:27 PM
Quote
so this will certainly not be my most eloquent writing,
Well, I for one would like to see your most eloquent writing then. Because that was fantastic! Great story and well done. Congrats.
Post by: WAmuleyHunter on September 18, 2011, 11:06:42 PM
Post by: wilsongideon on September 18, 2011, 11:15:33 PM
Post by: firefighter4607 on September 18, 2011, 11:15:51 PM
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on September 18, 2011, 11:31:05 PM
Post by: Lunchbox1981 on September 19, 2011, 03:09:31 AM
Post by: 3nails on September 19, 2011, 05:42:20 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 19, 2011, 05:55:54 AM
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on September 19, 2011, 06:00:00 AM
Post by: runamuk on September 19, 2011, 06:30:44 AM
and I also ditched my eberlestock pack as it never did fit quite right I have a short body and had the same issues with fit even after going and trying to get it fitted from an eberle dealer...
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 19, 2011, 06:58:27 AM
Post by: boneaddict on September 19, 2011, 07:06:18 AM
Post by: danderson on September 19, 2011, 07:10:22 AM
Post by: MuleySniper on September 19, 2011, 07:18:18 AM
MS
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 19, 2011, 07:33:41 AM
Post by: goosewhacker on September 19, 2011, 07:51:04 AM
Post by: longashes on September 19, 2011, 07:51:42 AM
Great job and congrats on a most successful hunt. :tup:
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 19, 2011, 07:59:31 AM
Post by: TheHunt on September 19, 2011, 08:10:24 AM
Post by: lokidog on September 19, 2011, 08:20:37 AM
Post by: GoldTip on September 19, 2011, 08:21:26 AM
Post by: C-Money on September 19, 2011, 08:34:02 AM
Post by: PolarBear on September 19, 2011, 08:36:01 AM
Post by: LincolnTWilliams on September 19, 2011, 08:46:06 AM
Post by: jstone on September 19, 2011, 08:53:04 AM
Post by: Firing Pin on September 19, 2011, 08:55:59 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on September 19, 2011, 09:01:56 AM
Post by: Seabeckian on September 19, 2011, 10:10:04 AM
Post by: wamuledeer on September 19, 2011, 10:18:09 AM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on September 19, 2011, 10:28:55 AM
Post by: Buckmark on September 19, 2011, 10:33:00 AM
The 2nd to last pic is a POM winner right there....
Post by: quadrafire on September 19, 2011, 10:44:06 AM
Post by: Wingin it on September 19, 2011, 10:45:19 AM
Post by: Skillet on September 19, 2011, 10:50:19 AM
Post by: jmx369 on September 19, 2011, 11:12:20 AM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on September 19, 2011, 11:45:10 AM
Post by: Alaska316 on September 19, 2011, 11:50:27 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on September 19, 2011, 11:58:24 AM
Thanks for the write up, very well done and thanks for sharing it with us. :tup:
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 19, 2011, 12:01:14 PM
Post by: jackmaster on September 19, 2011, 12:31:50 PM
Post by: 7mag. on September 19, 2011, 12:53:24 PM
Post by: cjensen on September 19, 2011, 02:20:40 PM
Post by: crazyantler on September 19, 2011, 02:44:56 PM
Post by: SkookumHntr on September 19, 2011, 03:11:35 PM
Post by: 840dc on September 19, 2011, 04:34:50 PM
Post by: beave on September 19, 2011, 06:18:08 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on September 19, 2011, 06:29:05 PM
Post by: blacktailer on September 19, 2011, 07:07:26 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on September 19, 2011, 07:21:10 PM
Post by: bullchaser on September 19, 2011, 07:42:36 PM
Post by: True Sportsman on September 19, 2011, 08:07:01 PM
Post by: brackens on September 19, 2011, 08:32:26 PM
Post by: Jason on September 19, 2011, 08:34:16 PM
You are awesome and a bad ass. I loved reading the story. Thanks.
:yeah:
Post by: SuperDave on September 19, 2011, 08:35:23 PM
Post by: BoomWhop on September 19, 2011, 08:41:28 PM
Post by: GoPlayOutside on September 19, 2011, 09:02:08 PM
The pics made my wife say, "Maybe I can go with you sometime".
Post by: Gringo31 on September 19, 2011, 09:09:03 PM
Quote
The pics made my wife say, "Maybe I can go with you sometime".
:IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: Some guys see that as a bad thing, I think it is GREAT!
Post by: losdaddy7 on September 19, 2011, 09:26:11 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on September 19, 2011, 09:54:40 PM
Post by: Forrestrover on September 19, 2011, 10:03:09 PM
Post by: sooperfly on September 19, 2011, 10:58:03 PM
Congrats on the great buck! :tup: :tup:
Post by: sako85 on September 20, 2011, 07:24:12 PM
Post by: hntr on September 20, 2011, 07:53:37 PM
Congratulations and thanks for sharing. :tup:
Post by: saylean on September 20, 2011, 08:24:53 PM
Very nice buck. Now thats a lady! Good for you and your man. Great read too.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 20, 2011, 08:33:06 PM
Post by: Green Lantern on September 20, 2011, 11:02:29 PM
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 21, 2011, 04:59:23 AM
Post by: marmotsafari on September 21, 2011, 07:41:55 AM
Post by: Elkpiss on September 21, 2011, 08:06:53 AM
Post by: CoyoteCowboy on September 21, 2011, 08:20:52 AM
Loved to see you rocking the FirstLite ASAT. just picked some out and glad to see it work on a 600yd stalk.
i am gonna share this story with my new bride who i am easing into the hunting lifestyle.
thanks for posting!
Post by: Elkrunner on September 21, 2011, 08:24:00 AM
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on September 21, 2011, 08:52:56 AM
Post by: 1morebuck on September 21, 2011, 11:26:26 AM
Post by: Rooster1981 on September 21, 2011, 11:35:45 AM
Great story and great looking buck :tup:
Post by: de0827 on September 21, 2011, 12:43:58 PM
:tup:
Post by: AKBowman on September 21, 2011, 04:07:14 PM
Way to take the time and get good pics too. Like the ASAT
Post by: bradslam on September 21, 2011, 05:11:49 PM
Post by: Seatown5 on September 21, 2011, 05:21:23 PM
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:09:06 PM
Kari awesome buck!!!!! All that hard work and the wolf scare paid off!!! So i guess you dont need a trail bike now? :) Again thanks for sharing your story and pictures!
Thanks sir! I would still love to get SOMEBODY on that buck... First to meet me at the trail with a bike gets the guided hunt, I guess. :chuckle:
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:10:59 PM
Beautiful Hirshey! Well done and great write up. My kind of hunting. I imagine one of these days we are going to bump into one another on the top of some mountain.
Thanks Bone! :) Looks like we both have had a shortened season... here's to shooting them with lenses now and dreaming of finding their sheds!
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:13:20 PM
I think gals that do what you do are more rare than 400 class bulls.....and good lookin' to boot!
Thanks for the write up, very well done and thanks for sharing it with us. :tup:
:chuckle: Thanks Gringo... I feel fortunate that my family is stocked with "400 class bulls"... you should see my mother hike circles around me every elk/shed hunting season! ...now if only I could get my act together and give you a run for your money in the Coyote derby this year. ;)
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:15:11 PM
Congrat's!!!
The pics made my wife say, "Maybe I can go with you sometime".
:) Very cool! I hope she does... It would be nice to run into more ladies in the woods.. just not where I'm hunting. :chuckle:
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:17:18 PM
Just got back from three days out and see you have posted this- Awesome! Looks like you guys had a great time!
Congrats on the great buck! :tup: :tup:
Thanks, sir! We sure wished we had more time to play up there... those bucks were only in the first draw of several in this gorgeous basin... perhaps next year we'll be able to spend a little more time up there... as it is, I am VERY happy with my first wilderness buck!
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:19:03 PM
Another great write up Hirshey. Congrats, you definitely are setting the bar high. We are gonna start expecting this every year.
It certainly is getting harder and harder to top the previous season... I can only hope I could be so fortunate to keep up the trend!
Post by: hirshey on September 21, 2011, 06:20:04 PM
Very nice! Great buck, great story and a heck of a hunt! Well done! I will have my 14-year old daughter read this after school, she is a deer nut and would love to have a hunt like that! :tup:
I sure hope she gets the opportunity sometime! Good for you getting her started out on the right foot!
Post by: Eli346 on September 21, 2011, 07:09:33 PM
You could probably edit that a little and send it in to Eastman's Hunting Journal and win a great prize. They have tons of prizes for articles as payment and they aren't cheap. That is a great article and story as it stands but I think you could win a new rifle or a number of other prizes with very little revision. Great job and don't give up your dreams. I can see and outdoor show in your future.
Post by: 7mag. on September 22, 2011, 12:16:07 AM
Hirshey,
You could probably edit that a little and send it in to Eastman's Hunting Journal and win a great prize. They have tons of prizes for articles as payment and they aren't cheap. That is a great article and story as it stands but I think you could win a new rifle or a number of other prizes with very little revision. Great job and don't give up your dreams. I can see and outdoor show in your future.
I agree, a woman's DIY backpack hunt in the wilderness, with a nice buck, and a great write up, that is rare and special.
Post by: dupedc on September 22, 2011, 06:28:40 AM
Post by: hirshey on September 22, 2011, 08:34:17 PM
Hirshey,
You could probably edit that a little and send it in to Eastman's Hunting Journal and win a great prize. They have tons of prizes for articles as payment and they aren't cheap. That is a great article and story as it stands but I think you could win a new rifle or a number of other prizes with very little revision. Great job and don't give up your dreams. I can see and outdoor show in your future.
I agree, a woman's DIY backpack hunt in the wilderness, with a nice buck, and a great write up, that is rare and special.
Well thank you both... you definitely planted a seed! ...most of those bucks in Eastman's are pretty spectacular, though... I couldn't be more happy with my buck but I don't know if the editors would be equally as tickled.
Post by: boneaddict on September 23, 2011, 05:34:41 AM
Post by: Wyoming08 on September 23, 2011, 09:43:10 AM
Post by: 3nails on September 23, 2011, 05:03:34 PM
Have spoke with them on numerous occasions, I know they would Hirshey, just be careful with the exposure to your new favorite spot. There is nothing not gorgeous about your hunt, including you, so the magazine would eat that up.100%. Your story and pics AND buck are what they wait and hope all year for.
Post by: elk123 on September 25, 2011, 09:15:10 AM
Post by: 840dc on September 25, 2011, 10:04:20 AM
Post by: Mike O on September 25, 2011, 11:09:32 PM
Post by: wastickslinger on September 25, 2011, 11:21:01 PM
Post by: Machias on September 26, 2011, 08:35:55 AM
Post by: Co on September 26, 2011, 10:41:32 AM
Congrats, always a feeling of accomplishment when you come out of the brutal high country with success. ;)
Post by: hirshey on September 26, 2011, 03:50:13 PM
:hello:Nice buck. Did you see any other hunters? How about bucks... How many you see and was there any other bruisers you caught glimpse of ?
Congrats, always a feeling of accomplishment when you come out of the brutal high country with success. ;)
I saw one other hunter; my boyfriend. :chuckle: Saw other bucks, some large some small. If we had more time I'm sure we could have found more deer, but for the time afforded I was elated with what I ended up packing off the hill.
Post by: Co on September 28, 2011, 08:30:51 AM
Post by: hirshey on September 28, 2011, 10:30:49 PM
awesome write up and very nice buck!!!
Same to your group! Looked like you guys had a blast as well. Perhaps I'll be running in to you one of these days!
Post by: CplRaines on October 02, 2011, 11:57:09 AM
Oh, and he needs to get a ring on your finger - it was discussed in the cul-de-sac conversation here. ;) hehehe
Post by: 1morebuck on October 03, 2011, 09:19:31 AM
Very nice! Great buck, great story and a heck of a hunt! Well done! I will have my 14-year old daughter read this after school, she is a deer nut and would love to have a hunt like that! :tup:
I sure hope she gets the opportunity sometime! Good for you getting her started out on the right foot!
Thanks! She has already nailed a nice 2x2 Blacktail and a youth hunt doe Whitetail, now she wants her Mulie!
Post by: Co on October 04, 2011, 08:46:38 AM
Post by: hirshey on October 04, 2011, 04:10:55 PM
Out-freakin-standing.
Oh, and he needs to get a ring on your finger - it was discussed in the cul-de-sac conversation here. ;) hehehe
Thank you. :)
Fortunately we both feel pretty lucky to have each other... ring or no ring I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. :)
... I mean, he's a high-caliber hunting partner; those are hard to come by! :chuckle:
Post by: jstone on October 04, 2011, 04:17:10 PM
Post by: bearpaw on October 05, 2011, 05:27:45 AM
Sorry I missed your story till now, what a great exerience and very well written with awesome photos to boot, you are an inspiration to many on the forum and I'll bet you can choose which magazine you want to print your story, any magazine would be foolish to not jump at the chance to print your story. :twocents:
Looking forward to reading your next adventure... :tup:
Post by: hirshey on October 06, 2011, 11:53:44 AM
Hirshey,
Sorry I missed your story till now, what a great exerience and very well written with awesome photos to boot, you are an inspiration to many on the forum and I'll bet you can choose which magazine you want to print your story, any magazine would be foolish to not jump at the chance to print your story. :twocents:
Looking forward to reading your next adventure... :tup:
Thanks Bearpaw! Now on to muzzleloader elk! :IBCOOL:
Post by: rosscrazyelk on October 08, 2011, 10:05:00 AM
Post by: bucklucky on October 16, 2011, 08:46:47 AM
Post by: SniperDanWA on October 16, 2011, 09:08:18 AM
Post by: hirshey on October 16, 2011, 02:28:25 PM
How in the heck did I miss this 9 Page thread :bash: Great work on a dandy Buck, story was top notch along with the pictures!! Great Job ....... I do have a un notched rifle deer tag still :chuckle:
Well, my boyfriend may not be making the trip back up for the last weekend of the season... I couldn't promise one of my honey hole bucks but if a friend of mine cancels on me I'll be looking for SOMEONE to play in the woods with come Thus-Sun. :) And thanks. :)
Post by: RB on October 16, 2011, 02:55:16 PM
Post by: mulehunter on October 16, 2011, 03:12:29 PM
Mulehunter. :tup:
Post by: hirshey on January 26, 2012, 05:07:42 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F400360_10100889077104258_10720117_60582796_1524300702_n.jpg&hash=1849753734b480fb5991d8961addf2aac828f25b)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F402162_10100889075213048_10720117_60582777_229895394_n.jpg&hash=909cca0ee7d0ce0f7288e62d04837c7855c8757a)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F398385_10100889076196078_10720117_60582789_835142088_n.jpg&hash=93b2bd61970161ad77635a947841c7d195e8cb3f)
Post by: quadrafire on January 26, 2012, 05:12:52 PM
Post by: MuleySniper on January 26, 2012, 05:37:23 PM
ms
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on January 26, 2012, 07:11:35 PM
Post by: sakoshooter on January 26, 2012, 08:43:47 PM
Post by: JLS on January 26, 2012, 08:47:24 PM
Post by: NWBREW on January 27, 2012, 01:53:31 AM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on January 27, 2012, 05:00:49 AM
Post by: grunt11B on January 27, 2012, 05:30:34 AM
Post by: Jason on January 27, 2012, 06:46:36 AM
Post by: lewy on January 27, 2012, 06:51:54 AM
Post by: Shed Stud on January 27, 2012, 06:54:59 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on January 27, 2012, 07:11:28 AM
Post by: hirshey on January 27, 2012, 08:30:26 AM
Turned out nice hershey, did you ever put a tape on that buck?Eyeguard did when I got it back... I think he taped it out just shy of 150.
Post by: 400out on January 27, 2012, 10:11:40 AM
Post by: MuleySniper on January 27, 2012, 10:20:43 AM
MS
Post by: trophyhunt on January 27, 2012, 02:12:10 PM
Post by: C-Money on January 28, 2012, 10:43:25 AM