|
|
Post by kpkot on Nov 12, 2008 20:17:56 GMT -5
Wow thats inpressive for public land. After school i want to take a traveling job where its all expenses paid and they will place you anywhere. I go to school for Physical therapy and they are looking for Pt's everywhere. I'd like to try colorado or alaska...I think the hunting would be amazing there.
|
|
|
|
Post by zemmer18 on Nov 12, 2008 20:46:35 GMT -5
He said it was incredible. There were antelope everywhere. They saw a bobcat, a mountain lion, antelope, coyotes, bull elk and cow elk, doe and buck mullies, and a few others but don't remember them all. This was in 10 days. They booked the motel room for next year too. It was like $65 a night and they were about 5 miles from where they hunted. They had no heat for 5 days but thats another story.
The non resident license was $325 for mule deer and that was from Nov. 1st to the 7th only. He did it online. Then when they got out there, the elk tags were sold over the counter. The cow tag was $200 to $250 and the bull elk tag was $575. They drove out in a van and split the cost 4 ways between the guys that went. It was a 32 hour trip on the way back straight through.
Thats all the details I got so far. If there is any more pics, I will post em up. I know he said he had one of the mountain lion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Burt on Nov 12, 2008 20:55:17 GMT -5
zem,
That was cool letting spike walk! looking at the forecast I don't think Sat is going to be a great day to hunt, 40% chance rain showers near 50. Sunday will be better but the rest of the week looks great, snow showers and highs in the 30's. Good luck my friend and bag a big one!
|
|
|
|
Post by joel on Nov 12, 2008 23:18:26 GMT -5
that means 60% good weather lol
|
|
|
|
Post by Burt on Nov 13, 2008 5:30:33 GMT -5
I like that Joel!
|
|
|
|
Post by Fletch on Nov 13, 2008 5:48:14 GMT -5
For Saturday here it is saying 10 - 15 mph wind mid to high 50's and 70% chance of rain.
Sunday may be snow!??
Well if those days were switched the opening day deer kill would of been tripled!!
Good luck out there!!
|
|
|
|
Post by zemmer18 on Nov 15, 2008 8:07:33 GMT -5
Thanks fellas - Good Luck to all of you. My opener will be Sunday so we will see what happens. Working today and then off to camp. I'll report when I get back Tuesday or Wednesday.
BIL got out Friday for a few hours. Had a nervous doe come into range. He got busted drawing back but she settled behind a few trees. She came out and offered a great shot, quartering away. He released and she moved and he ended up getting her in the neck. He followed good blood for 100 yards or so and then nothing. He circled and grid searched for the next 3 hours and came up empty. I feel bad for him as this is his 2nd deer lost with the bow in 2 years. I know when I lost my 2 nothing anyone said made me feel any better. Guess we need to chalk it up as a learning experience. Things happen beyond our control and sometimes there is nothing that can help.
|
|
|
|
Post by zemmer18 on Nov 15, 2008 16:15:41 GMT -5
Had some freetime so I went back and added up my hours on stand during bow and number of deer sighted like last year. The hours were real close. I spent 49 hours on stand this year and saw 16 deer while on stand. Thats 1 deer every 3.0625 hours. Not too bad and much better than last year. Ok well work is winding down and I am ready to head down in the monsoon. Im out til Wednesday!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Fletch on Nov 15, 2008 17:15:00 GMT -5
Wow we are close!! I was out 76 hours and saw 25 for a 3.04!! 6 were bucks all different ones.
|
|
|
|
Post by Burt on Nov 16, 2008 20:28:19 GMT -5
Zemm,
Saw your field today on the drive back home, very nice! It was about 12:45 and there was this great big 12pt just looking down on rt17! lol Weather sucked this weekend just one deer for us and a bunch of bears in the corn!
|
|
|
|
Post by zemmer18 on Nov 18, 2008 11:41:53 GMT -5
We were very close there Fletch. Burt, if you didn't stop to shoot, then you are a fool!!!! Too bad I was hunting in the mnts. That field is my bow spot and late season area.
11-15-08 Saturday
Left work just after 5pm. Gassed p and headed to camp in the monsoon. Man it was raining pretty hard in a few spots but I made it down there between 6 and 630. The boys were playing poker already and dinner was cold. I unloaded the Explorer and sat down to a chilly dinner. Not much conversation happened that night but I did see 2 deer had been taken, a nice 3pt and a smaller doe by my FIL and BIL in that order. I think the rain dampened everyones mood that night so I was hoping for better times on Sunday.
11-16-08 Sunday
I was pretty tired but the boys got me up just as they were walking out the door at 645. Nice of them. So I scurried to get ready as my FIL slept in with his buck in the back of the truck. I was out to my spot on the mnt by 715ish. It was a little windy blowing in all directions but I decided to stay for a few hours. Saw nothing. Then I said to myself, with all this wind, the deer will be low along the creek so I decided to walk the ridge just above the creek. I made it to the field about 1/2 mile from the cabin and went up to the next ridge. This is my usual doe spot and a spot I put my father in when he comes down to hunt. I wasn't there 2 minutes and I hear "SNAP" and I look and here comes a doe bounding at me. She was motoring and I couldn't get a bead on here. I tried whistling and blatting at her to stop but she ran harder. Then I focused on the way she came as something pushed her to me. I was right. My BIL was headed towards me. He appologized and said he didnt think anyone was hunting up here. I said no problem just wished I could've filled my tag with her. Nice size. There was alot of sign there so I decided to stay for a bit. About an hour and half later another hunting partner came down from the upper ridges. He saw that doe 2 ridges above still running and then slowed after passing him by 60 yards.
I decided to head towards the field and see if my BIL wanted to do a small push with the 2 of us. Well he was nowhere to be found so I said I would climb an old logging road to the property line. There is a small bowl like area off to the right that has deer crossing through all the time. I got to the top and peeked over and didn't see anything. I climbed a small mound of dirt and found a nice Hemlock to stand by. I rested my rifle againt the tree and squatted down to scan the area. I see a quick flash of white and then nothing. All of a sudden a head pops out from behind a tree and then the head goes behind a tree. I have the scope on it and have the ribs staring back at me. It was 100 to 120 yards downhill. I squeeze the trigger and the deer lunges forward 10 yards and smacks straight into a tree. I was more impressed with myself and the shot I made. I headed down the hill and scoped the deer when I was 50 yards away and it wasn't moving. Done deal. To my disappointment when I got to it, it was a spike buck whose horns had both busted off leaving two small 2.5 inch daggers. I took the risk as I had a doe tag for the area and should've waited to see the head so I was wrong. But, he sure will be good eating. I got over it pretty quickly. The real work had only just begun. Checked my watch and it was 12:50pm.
I was able to try the Butt-out for the first time. What a barbaric tool but works pretty slick. I actually peered back over my shoulder to make sure noone was watching when I went to insert it. Sad. Had him gutted and drug off the hill to the old road by 1:30pm. The other boys that usually come up with the 4 wheelers didnt show this weekend. So I had my work cut out for me. Where I got him to the road was the old parking field at the back of the property that is exactly 9/10ths of a mile from the cabin. No help, sore cramped legs, aching arms, heart beating out of my chest, and sweating as if I just jumped out of the creek, I made it back to the cabin by 4pm. Needless to say I was in bed early and snored heavily that night which the boys didn't care for too much.
I tagged it with my doe tag as it wasn't a legal buck. My BIL ended up taking another doe with a tag he had signed over to him just after I got back to the cabin. The shot made me jump as it was close. He was walking up the road and the deer ran straight in front of him and stopped. It ended up being a button buck. No big bruisers this trip but the boys did catch a few glimpses of some 6pts and 1 8pt but no shot oppourtunities. Still have my buck tag and a doe tag for back here at home. Plus both tags for late season so still plenty of time left. FIL and BIL skinned all 4 deer last night so tonight we get to cut and package. Yippee. No pics but maybe I can take a few in the meat locker tonight.
11-17-08 Monday
Hunted half heartedly today. Didnt get out until 10am as I slept in and was still very sore from yesterday. Hunted til noon and went back for lunch. Went back out at 1:45 and hunted til dark with no deer sighted today. Went to town and had a some wings and beer at the bar. Drove back and played poker. Went to get a drink outside and everything was covered with white stuff. Will try a half morning hunt Tuesday.
11-18-08 Tuesday
The boys and I woke up to a freezing cold cabin as the fire went out and they decided the 5 hour drive home was more important so we all packed our stuff and got on the road. I was home by 935am and took a hot, hot shower. Indoor plumbing is the best!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Burt on Nov 18, 2008 12:52:32 GMT -5
Nice story Zemm. I was only kidding about the 12pt in the field!!!! My brother shot a small button buck and we had the tender loin the same evening, it was so good. I have yet to connect so I will be doing all day hunts next Sat and Sunday. I have the kids this weekend so I won't be up. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by zemmer18 on Nov 18, 2008 16:13:17 GMT -5
I knew you were kidding and so was I. I may hit that field tomorrow morning now that I am home. One day of vaca left.
|
|
|
|
Post by NyBowHunter87 on Nov 19, 2008 13:27:38 GMT -5
hey zemmer any luck with that big buck you been after?
|
|
|
|
Post by zemmer18 on Nov 19, 2008 19:38:01 GMT -5
No luck unfortunately but thanks for the well wishes. I am trying thats for sure.
11-19-08 Wednesday
Had alot of stuff to do on my last day of vacation so I completed all of it this morning and skipped the freezing cold temps. I opted for an afternoon watch. I drove to my in laws and decided to hunt the honey hole across the street. I have hunted here the last few years and have always taken the same route to get there. I would walk across the street and cut down between 2 houses to get to the spot. Well same routine today but just as I am about to step off into the woods I hear "Excuse me, I don't want any hunters walking across my property". I asked if it would be Ok if I just passed through and I was greeted with the same reply, "I don't want any hunters walking across my property and I sure don't want you dragging any dead animals across my property either". I know who she is and I couldn't see her but sure could hear her yelling. I said OK Thank you and I walked away. That was my first run in with an anti and my blodd was boiling at that point but conducted myself in a civil manner. I walked down the road past 2 other houses and then cut into the woods. I still ended up hunting down behind her property but I couldn't stop thinking about how she treated me. I know for a fact she has seen me in the past cross through there and my FIL has hunted there for years and takes the same route. Anyways, I respect her wishes and will not go that way again. I thought about writing a note appologizing for trying to cross and assuring her that I would not do it again without trying to gain permission first.
Anyways, I hunted from 1:45 until about 4:15 and didn't see a deer. The streak ran out in the honey hole. I worked my way out of the woods and it was still fairly light so I thought maybe I'd sneak up to my treestand I used during bow. I get about 20 yards from it and I hear the leaves a thrashing. There were 3 deer in the woodline just behind my stand and I startled them for sure and they flew out of dodge. I decided to bring my trail camera in for a little bit so I took it off the tree and called it a night.
My neighbor invited me up to his property on Sunday morning. We usually go and sit for a bit and then do drives. It's a good time and usually see lots of deer. Don't think I will get out before then so I'll report when I can.
|
|
