Post by: True Sportsman on November 22, 2011, 06:52:49 PM
Saturday of late buck was my last day to hunt. I was planning a grueling death march about 5 miles behind the gate. I was certain of seeing some bucks. There was a couple inches of snow at the gate, and I was headed high. When I got to the gate there were several other rigs at the gate and people on horses, too. I was late to the gate. I headed in anyway and passed several guys on the way in.
I got a couple miles in and headed up a spur and into some timber. I immediately cut some big tracks and started to follow them. The tracks led right up to a really fresh rub. I'm no expert, but i was pretty sure this was a buck. :chuckle: I tracked him for a while but never caught a glimse of him. I hunted out of there and up the hill. There was about a foot of snow on top of the hill and no fresh tracks. I decided to head back to the timber patch where the buck tracks were.
I set up just below the road in the timber and decided to rattle. I started soft and did a few sets. I only sat about 10 minutes. I got up and gave up. I put my pack on, grabbed my rifle and took about 10 steps down the hill. I looked up and saw a buck walking towards me and he stopped behind a huge old growth stump. I threw my rifle up and waited. It took him about 2 minutes for him to poke his head out. I saw he was a decent buck and I moved to get a shot. I crunched some snow and the buck snapped his head and stared right at me. He was about 20 yards away and I could only see his face and a couple inches of his neck. I had a really tiny window to thread a bullet through the brush. I shot and he went down immediately. I hit him in the neck. I was so pumped! I had called in my first buck. He isnt my biggest buck, but definitely the most memorable. I was solo about 3 miles in, and there was about 10 inches of snow on the ground. I boned him out and started walking. I got lucky, some guy (who wasnt supposed to be road hunting behind the gate) drove me the last mile. I thanked him repeatedly and was happy for the ride. Hope you guys like the pics. I had a fun time. :tup:
Post by: True Sportsman on November 22, 2011, 06:54:22 PM
Post by: hoyt5199 on November 22, 2011, 06:58:28 PM
Post by: JBar on November 22, 2011, 06:59:38 PM
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on November 22, 2011, 07:00:02 PM
Post by: lewy on November 22, 2011, 07:01:00 PM
Post by: big wood on November 22, 2011, 07:07:16 PM
Post by: Jason on November 22, 2011, 07:10:37 PM
Post by: True Sportsman on November 22, 2011, 07:11:49 PM
nice job. IT WORKS JUST NOT EVERY TIME. CONGRATS
I know, I hear you. I tried rattling for about 4 years before it worked for me. I learned a lot this year about what works and what doesn't.
Post by: buck man on November 22, 2011, 07:18:01 PM
Post by: TeacherMan on November 22, 2011, 07:24:23 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 22, 2011, 07:47:35 PM
Post by: MuleySniper on November 22, 2011, 07:56:44 PM
ms
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on November 22, 2011, 08:11:07 PM
Post by: jason4429 on November 22, 2011, 08:21:30 PM
Post by: topnotch on November 22, 2011, 08:35:05 PM
Post by: wt on November 22, 2011, 08:36:21 PM
gate chasing elk around and got way tired, and met a nice guy on a pilot/ rancher type quad and he gave me a lift out, I'm not sure he was supposed to be back there
but I was happy to see him. Again good job.
Post by: pope on November 22, 2011, 08:57:02 PM
nice job. IT WORKS JUST NOT EVERY TIME. CONGRATS
I know, I hear you. I tried rattling for about 4 years before it worked for me. I learned a lot this year about what works and what doesn't.
Good work, nice buck and pretty awesome to take one up in the snow! Was this near Belfair? Also, do tell what you learned about rattling. Thanks in advance.
Post by: WenHunter on November 22, 2011, 08:59:25 PM
Post by: julzzz on November 22, 2011, 09:01:39 PM
Post by: mdbuck5x5 on November 22, 2011, 09:04:08 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 22, 2011, 09:04:51 PM
Post by: Arteman on November 23, 2011, 12:28:26 AM
Post by: KopperBuck on November 23, 2011, 01:10:02 AM
Post by: Elkpiss on November 23, 2011, 11:12:48 AM
Post by: doyourtime89 on November 23, 2011, 11:14:55 AM
Post by: elkhuntindad on November 23, 2011, 11:32:02 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 23, 2011, 01:01:59 PM
Post by: True Sportsman on November 23, 2011, 04:04:11 PM
nice job. IT WORKS JUST NOT EVERY TIME. CONGRATS
I know, I hear you. I tried rattling for about 4 years before it worked for me. I learned a lot this year about what works and what doesn't.
Good work, nice buck and pretty awesome to take one up in the snow! Was this near Belfair? Also, do tell what you learned about rattling. Thanks in advance.
No not up in Dewatto. I shot him down by Morton. I love it down in Morton.
A couple things I learned about rattling this year. The deer I shot was by himself and was bedded about 100 yards from me down the hill (I found his bed later). I think you should assume something will come in on every set up. Get into the timber and rattle. So many times I tried to rattle in a clearcut thinking a deer would come out of the timber to me. I feel like a deer would be more likely to come in, when hearing rattling in the timber. If you cut some big buck tracks in the snow, try some rattling...
Post by: ANDERWAGON on November 23, 2011, 04:11:22 PM
Good work, thanks for the tips. :tup:
Post by: True Sportsman on November 23, 2011, 04:12:17 PM
Dam, did you shoot him in the face?
No, I shot him in the top of the neck. He got a little frozen blood on his face.
Post by: Greg Mullins on November 23, 2011, 04:44:45 PM