Post by: Thwack on October 23, 2011, 10:44:45 PM
I usually hunt with a friend on some private property on the Snake River breaks but this year he had plans to attend another friend's bachelor party on opening weekend (Lame). So Gage and I decided to hunt opening day close to home. Wasn't too sure where to go but Couesbitten stepped up and pointed in a few directions. Thanks for the help. We went out and saw a few deer but came home empty handed.
Fast forward to the second weekend and we were on the breaks. Saw tons of deer which is typical there. I did seem to see a higher buck to doe ratio though this year. Saturday morning we spotted a small group of deer with a legal 2x3 in it. They fed over the top of a ridge so we followed.
As we crested the ridge I knew the deer would be below us in the canyon. As we were formulating our plan of attack and stressing for him to walk softly (Hard to do at 11 years old) I saw a bigger buck straight across the canyon walking in our direction down into the canyon. I could see he had at least four points. He was about 400 yards away. We waited for him to move out of sight. He was moving at an angle downward so we quickly moved down slope about 100 yards.
We slowly crept back over the ridge and spotted him milling around on the side of the canyon opposite us. I ranged him at 200 yards. I set up the shooting sticks and told Gage to shoot when he was ready. I could tell he had a case of buck fever. His first shot hit the dirt about 20 feet above the buck. The buck had not seen us and didn’t flinch. Gage chambered another round. As he tried to steady the shot his breathing sounded like an asthma attack. I told him to lower the gun and take a few breaths. Little did he know I was just as excited as he was.
After a quick recovery he sent another shot downrange. This one impacted about a foot over the buck’s back. Now he knew something was up and started trotting away. I also had a tag but there was no way I was doing any shooting until he tagged out; no matter if it was misses all weekend he was taking the shots. Luckily the buck stopped one last time to try to figure out what was going on. I had my binos on him and heard Gage’s 7mm-08 bark. The buck rolled at the shot and didn’t move. I ranged the shot at 240 yards.
After a lot of high fives and whooping and hollering the work began. He was in an area we could not access with our ATV for the recovery so out came the deer cart (side hilling with a deer cart in the breaks is no fun).
He turned out to be a nice 4x4 and a heck of a first buck. He made the shot at about 8am and we were back at the truck at noon. Best hunt I ever had. His smiles say it all. :IBCOOL:
Post by: PolarBear on October 23, 2011, 10:52:19 PM
Post by: GUHunter on October 23, 2011, 10:53:44 PM
Post by: NWBREW on October 23, 2011, 10:54:00 PM
Post by: Hyde on October 23, 2011, 10:56:40 PM
Post by: sebek556 on October 23, 2011, 11:00:43 PM
Post by: Ellensburg on October 23, 2011, 11:29:31 PM
Post by: bucklucky on October 23, 2011, 11:54:57 PM
Post by: CountryslickR on October 24, 2011, 12:29:02 AM
Post by: buck man on October 24, 2011, 02:16:52 AM
Post by: couesbitten on October 24, 2011, 04:30:48 AM
Post by: teanawayslayer on October 24, 2011, 04:58:02 AM
Post by: 3nails on October 24, 2011, 05:41:29 AM
Post by: Mudball on October 24, 2011, 06:49:35 AM
Post by: Rooster1981 on October 24, 2011, 06:50:49 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 24, 2011, 07:13:52 AM
Post by: Huntbear on October 24, 2011, 07:46:49 AM
Post by: blacktailer on October 24, 2011, 08:50:55 AM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 24, 2011, 09:40:37 AM
Post by: Fishhog on October 24, 2011, 11:54:43 AM
Post by: saylean on October 24, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
Post by: Thwack on October 24, 2011, 03:42:04 PM
Post by: 400out on October 25, 2011, 03:53:50 PM
Post by: CHUCK S on October 26, 2011, 05:59:54 AM
Post by: Lunchbox1981 on October 26, 2011, 06:03:37 AM
Post by: hunter360 on October 26, 2011, 06:21:57 AM
Post by: patton1 on October 26, 2011, 09:52:03 AM
Post by: Bearmtn on October 26, 2011, 06:55:43 PM
Post by: HOYT6.0 on October 26, 2011, 07:00:23 PM
Post by: scudmaster on October 27, 2011, 05:43:55 PM
Post by: Elkslayer on October 27, 2011, 07:35:30 PM
Post by: Tman on October 27, 2011, 07:43:33 PM
Post by: mikelonsford on October 27, 2011, 09:56:33 PM
Memories for a Lifetime!
Post by: blindpig on October 28, 2011, 05:12:39 AM