Mr. Dean
09-16-2008, 12:55 AM
....And on Sept 11th @ 12:30ish in the afternoon,,,, I got him. :mrgreen:
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0021-1.jpg
Can't do much better for a pic. The day was a long and extremely tough one. Pictures were the last thing on my mind. Meat preservation was foremost.
The buck I came home with was one that I scouted earlier (last wk of July). Although he was my second choice,,, my 1st pick just wasn't meant to be. I found #1 on the morning of the 10th but sadly, God said NO! My hunt was foiled by some others out enjoying Mother Nature in her finest hour... Not much one could do but to shrug it off and get on with matters.
On the 11th I went in looking for Mr. 2nd pick. From July, I knew his rack was weak but man,,,, he was a BIG animal. My initial thoughts were that he was a senior citizen with a regressed rack - A deer that I've hunted for the previous 2 seasons. Now that he's mine, I pretty sure that this one is younger, as his teeth seemed to be in pretty good order. Can't tell for certain until I pull a tooth AND the head is with the animal in a local friends cooler.
WTH, on with the story of a 'cut tag'. :smile:
I absolutely LOVE hiking trails and I was fairly certain/confident that this buck was still in the hood, as there weren't any fresh vehicle tracks entering his area, only mine from back in July. At 7am, I picked a trail and stomped on, prepared to spend the night out, if needed.
After hours of carefully selecting quiet places to place each step,,, WHOMP! - The noise a deer makes when springing into action,,, I hear. I tell myself, "this is good", then hunker down on the trail and listen some more.
I hear some branches break and the noises are definitely coming from above AND it's getting closer. I get a couple peeks of a deer with antlers making his way through the timber. Not enough to tell if he's a shooter (4 pt.) or not BUT, if luck will be with me, he'll end up right in front of me in short order. I take a breath and dare not move.
I hear another stick break then immediately followed by a NICE deer rounding the corner of the trail (get this) not 20' in front of me. WOWZA!!!
Time to count - The buck freezes and we stare at one another.... One two three, CRAP! One two three, DOUBLE CRAP!
He turns broadside - One two three FOUR (WOOHOO!) and I unsling my rifle in one motion, unclick the safety, flip the scope covers and aim, JUST as he steps off the trail and into the timber.
I softly whistle out to him and with the help of my beloved Model 70, .300 Winny, that was loaded up with a 180gr TSX,,, the rest is history.
Except for the hump out. :rolleyes:
Mr. #2 Pick, fell at 12:30 pm and I wasn't done hanging/skinning until well past 9 pm. It was a BRUTAL day but in all honesty, it twas the time of my life also. A hunt that surely won't be forgotten!
Cheers to the Dink!
A super-sized body with a nicely weighted, short tined AND bladed, 4x5 racked Mule Deer!!
WOOHOO!!!
It's all good!
.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0021-1.jpg
Can't do much better for a pic. The day was a long and extremely tough one. Pictures were the last thing on my mind. Meat preservation was foremost.
The buck I came home with was one that I scouted earlier (last wk of July). Although he was my second choice,,, my 1st pick just wasn't meant to be. I found #1 on the morning of the 10th but sadly, God said NO! My hunt was foiled by some others out enjoying Mother Nature in her finest hour... Not much one could do but to shrug it off and get on with matters.
On the 11th I went in looking for Mr. 2nd pick. From July, I knew his rack was weak but man,,,, he was a BIG animal. My initial thoughts were that he was a senior citizen with a regressed rack - A deer that I've hunted for the previous 2 seasons. Now that he's mine, I pretty sure that this one is younger, as his teeth seemed to be in pretty good order. Can't tell for certain until I pull a tooth AND the head is with the animal in a local friends cooler.
WTH, on with the story of a 'cut tag'. :smile:
I absolutely LOVE hiking trails and I was fairly certain/confident that this buck was still in the hood, as there weren't any fresh vehicle tracks entering his area, only mine from back in July. At 7am, I picked a trail and stomped on, prepared to spend the night out, if needed.
After hours of carefully selecting quiet places to place each step,,, WHOMP! - The noise a deer makes when springing into action,,, I hear. I tell myself, "this is good", then hunker down on the trail and listen some more.
I hear some branches break and the noises are definitely coming from above AND it's getting closer. I get a couple peeks of a deer with antlers making his way through the timber. Not enough to tell if he's a shooter (4 pt.) or not BUT, if luck will be with me, he'll end up right in front of me in short order. I take a breath and dare not move.
I hear another stick break then immediately followed by a NICE deer rounding the corner of the trail (get this) not 20' in front of me. WOWZA!!!
Time to count - The buck freezes and we stare at one another.... One two three, CRAP! One two three, DOUBLE CRAP!
He turns broadside - One two three FOUR (WOOHOO!) and I unsling my rifle in one motion, unclick the safety, flip the scope covers and aim, JUST as he steps off the trail and into the timber.
I softly whistle out to him and with the help of my beloved Model 70, .300 Winny, that was loaded up with a 180gr TSX,,, the rest is history.
Except for the hump out. :rolleyes:
Mr. #2 Pick, fell at 12:30 pm and I wasn't done hanging/skinning until well past 9 pm. It was a BRUTAL day but in all honesty, it twas the time of my life also. A hunt that surely won't be forgotten!
Cheers to the Dink!
A super-sized body with a nicely weighted, short tined AND bladed, 4x5 racked Mule Deer!!
WOOHOO!!!
It's all good!
.