Free: Contests & Raffles.
Congrats on the deer everyone!! I'll post no matter the size, as every blacktail hunt is one I treasure. While I'd liked to have taken an older animal, I still learned a lot from this year's hunt. I've never been successful at finding bucks in the early season but had more encounters this year after changing my style up a bit. Shot this little one in a spot I've never hunted much, as it's hard to get to, but this hunt proved I could. I was able to take a perfect shot at a mere 50 yards as he was quartering away. It was one heck of a pack out on the bike! I'll be back to this spot with cameras in a week or so to scout for next season!
Got this beefy forkie on the 24th. Made for one heck of a story. He made it into the river before he died and as dark set it I was watching him drift down the river in the mist, dead floating on his side. Was such a horrible feeling. Huge thanks to a few folks that live on the river. One gal saw me waded out into the river and hollered to ask if I needed help. I told her what happened and she sent her husband out to get the boat. While waiting for him another guy on the other side of the river had his boat pulled up to his property and offered to help. He picked me up and we started running downriver. Not long and we ran into a boat coming up. I ask "ya'll see a deer floating down?" They respond, "we got him." It was the husband and I think the son, of the gal I talked to. They went down after the deer first. No one asked for anything, and I was beyond overwhelmed with gratitude. We switched the deer into the boat I was in. He dropped me off where I had been so I could go back to my rig and gave me his number and address for me to come grab the buck from the boat at his house. Then drove it up into the woods to gut it. Was a heck of a night. I have been beyond grateful.Big thanks out to those that helped. I never got names or anything for the guys in the boat that picked up my deer. If this story rings a bell for anyone let me know.The hunt was nothing spectacular. Jumped him at 10 feet around 2:30pm. Circled around the area a bunch. Then just started still hunting around some trails. Found him bedded at 50 yards. Shot, he kicked around on the ground for a bit then got up and ran off. Tracked blood for a few hundred yards. Good blood then just drops, then good blood, etc. Found him and put another in him. Then he ran into the river. Turns out I was way high on the first shot. about 1 inch above spine through the top of the backbone. Second shot was double lung.3rd biggest bodied deer to date. 130 lbs meat and bones.15th deer in 14 years (including a second doe tag)
Quote from: haftard on November 01, 2022, 09:24:16 PMHere is my 2022 buck. First buck in the timber and first buck I've killed 100% on my own. I was within 100 yards of him for almost 2 hours. He had 2 smaller bucks with him and one bedded down in front of me at 30 yards. Shot this guy in his bed at 60 yards. I find it ironic that I spent all this time getting my gun ready to shoot 500 yards. It's funny that so many guys get into the long distance shooting when it seems like most shots I've gotten on deer, rifle or archery, are all within archery range. My longest shot on a buck was my first, 215 yards and I had a good rest. It's a testament to a hunters prowess to get as close as possible, IMO. If you really want a challenge go open sights with a lever action .30 30. My bro has killed a few whitetail with one, it's always a quick shoot! Way to kill your first solo buck and a dandy at that!It’s better to have skill and not need it than look at a buck out of range on the next ridge, with no realistic way to close the distance. The time will eventually come to put that skill-set to use and you may be rewarded handsomely.
Here is my 2022 buck. First buck in the timber and first buck I've killed 100% on my own. I was within 100 yards of him for almost 2 hours. He had 2 smaller bucks with him and one bedded down in front of me at 30 yards. Shot this guy in his bed at 60 yards. I find it ironic that I spent all this time getting my gun ready to shoot 500 yards.
2022 Idaho Wilderness buck
Quote from: CavemantheHunter on November 07, 2022, 10:27:58 AM2022 Idaho Wilderness buckThat boy is boxy! Very nice!
