|
Author
|
Topic: Been Busy...
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted November 29, 2010 12:15 PM
November is mostly for deer hunting around these parts. However there are a few coyotes that get snuck in, here and there.
Started off packing out this buck for a friend.
Went back a week or so later to try to find a buck for me. Saw around 20 bucks, but couldn't find one that I wanted to invite home. Settled for this coyote though. Poor little bugger zigged when he should have zagged and met the bidness end of my 30.06. Sort'a lost his mind. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Before and after this hunt I was also trying to get my 3rd oldest on his first whitetail buck. He'd killed very respectable mule deer bucks the previous 3 years and it was time for a change/challenge. I had no idea it would take so much time, but he finally connected on this buck.
Continued...
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted November 29, 2010 12:33 PM
After my son's hunt I had a friend from California coming out here on his first mule deer hunt. By 8:30am the first morning of his hunt he made a great 305 yard, one shot, kill.
My pard packed out the antlers and hide. Yours truly got stuck with all the meat. Good thing he's a good friend.
We hunted the rest of the day and I really was in the mood to kill something but all I saw were bucks I wasn't interested in. Thankfully this pretty coyote paused when she should have run. Dropped her with one shot at 290 yards. If it looks cold in these photos it is because it is! However it got much worse the next day.
The next day the temps dropped to between -20 to -25 with blowing snow. Visibility sucked and it was a very harsh day. We saw very few deer, but quite a few birds. So I let my pard shoot pheasants, hungarian partridge, and sharptailed grouse as I figured he didn't get to do that much in California. At the end of the day, and only a few hundreds yards from the gate to leave the property, we stopped above a ravine. I had seen some pheasants fly into the ravine and told my partner if he wanted them, he was welcome to go walk the ravine. I had put my rifle behind the seat and figured I was done for the day. Sure as shootin' when he opened his door to get out, up jumps a very nice whitetail buck and two does. By the time I get my rifle from behind the seat, out the door, scope cover flipped up, round jacked into the chamber, bi-pod down, scope turned up, and the buck in the scope, he's packing the mail at around 300 yards. Wind is howling crossways and I get one quick shot...which I missed. Now I'm pissed, depressed, and really upset with myself for letting my guard down. Worse yet the landowner calls to let me know his son in law killed the buck 3 days later. With my spirits low and the season nearly over I figured I was going to eat my tag. While pouting around my house I get a call from a good friend that invites me to hunt on his property and stay at his cabin in the mountains. He said he hadn't seen anything exciting, but there were a few deer around and one never knew...I figured what the heck, my season is basically over I main as well enjoy the company of a good friend, rather than sit around my house and pout. Long story short, we make a long 4 mile hike threw 2 feet of wet-heavy snow, using snow shoes. We see quite a few bucks but nothing that I wanted. Then with only an hour and a half left in my season this buck walks out and chased every dark cloud out of my head. I was very happy to take this "final moments of the hunt" buck. See, even dumb guys get lucky now and then. Looking forward to concentrating only on coyotes now for the rest of winter. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
[ November 29, 2010, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: ursus21 ]
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
DEL GUE
SECOND PLACE: Mad Bomber lookalike contest
Member # 1526
|
posted November 29, 2010 01:30 PM
Very nice bucks!! I've been watching the weather reports from Great Falls and St. Mary, and I saw where y'all got some pretty dang cold weather up there for a while. Kinda cool to see pics of what it was like. And here I am down here in Florida ambling about in shorts and a t-shirt. Our highs have been up around 80. I wanna move to Montana after I retire.
--------------------
"I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart." - Bear Claw
Posts: 588 | From: FL | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted November 29, 2010 01:42 PM
I dunno, Del? That white stuff looks mighty cold! If I can get Albert to call me back, I might be heading to somewhere where it's a little warmer, Saskatoon.
Good hunting. LB
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
tjones
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3081
|
posted November 29, 2010 03:06 PM
Real nice Troy, what a great whitetail! My son slipped home from college and bought an elk tag Wednesday, and hung it on this bull Thursday. Glad big game season is over, on to coyotes and lions.
Posts: 18 | From: Hamilton MT. | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted November 29, 2010 03:25 PM
Waaaay cool bull Tony! Man, I'm glad it was you guys getting that thing out and not me. Everytime I kill an elk, about half way out I ask myself: "Why in the world did I do this on purpose?!!!" I HATE PACKING ELK OUT!!!
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
|
posted November 29, 2010 04:09 PM
Nice pics guys and some dandy animals to boot.
Troy, nothing like killing something with 1.5 hrs left of the season. You got your moneys worth with that beauty of a buck for sure
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Clank
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3687
|
posted November 29, 2010 04:37 PM
You guys harvested some nice animals. congrats to you all.
Posts: 45 | From: IL | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Lone Howl
Free Trial Platinum Member & part-time language police
Member # 29
|
posted November 29, 2010 07:32 PM
Yeah, that looks cold! And a Californian survived out there? 50 degrees is freezing here!
Mark
--------------------
When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.
Posts: 2083 | From: Texas | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
DEL GUE
SECOND PLACE: Mad Bomber lookalike contest
Member # 1526
|
posted November 30, 2010 02:42 AM
That's a nice bull!!!!
And I hear you, Leonard. My father rags me on wanting to move to Mt, too. But it gets hotter than hell here in the summer, and I can always put more clothes on..there's only so much I can take off before it is considered a crime against humanity. Anyway, with Glacier and Yellowstone both out there, and Shiloh Sharps and M.V.A. and the Quigley shoot and lots of history made there, I'd like to give it a try.
--------------------
"I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart." - Bear Claw
Posts: 588 | From: FL | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
JoeF
resides "back east"
Member # 228
|
posted November 30, 2010 07:46 AM
Beautiful animules, all of 'em.
Looks derned cold, too.
Posts: 646 | From: Midwest | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
TundraWookie
Knows what it's all about
Member # 1044
|
posted November 30, 2010 12:23 PM
Good work Troy, glad it came together in the end for you with that beauty of a deer to close the season.
Posts: 857 | From: Alaska | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Possumal
HONORARY CALLS FORUM MODERATOR edit: AND TOKEN LIBERAL
Member # 823
|
posted November 30, 2010 09:42 PM
Great pictures and stories from both of you. Those are great animals and they sure look good on the snow. I really liked the coyote pictures in their winter coats. It was all dandy. Thanks for sharing.
--------------------
Al Prather
Foxpro Field Staff
Posts: 781 | From: Nicholasville, Ky. | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Clint
Knows what it's all about
Member # 346
|
posted November 30, 2010 09:53 PM
So whats the elevation up there? Looks purdy cold.
Posts: 148 | From: Mesa, AZ | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted December 01, 2010 06:28 AM
Clint killed the coyotes and mule deer around 4000 feet, the whitetail was up around 6000 feet.
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
knockemdown
Our staff photo editing Guru, par excellence
Member # 3588
|
posted December 01, 2010 10:43 AM
Yikes, that's a slammer whitetail! And the other critters ain't none too shabby either!!!
Thanks for reminding me that I live in the wrong state
Excellent stuff!
Posts: 2202 | From: behind fascist lines | Registered: Mar 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted December 01, 2010 12:38 PM
For you guys that like seeing a big buck now and then, here is another view of the big muley before we cut him up. He's one of the tallest I've ever had anything to do with. He was not dink and his teeth were worn way down. Love old warrior bucks like this. I would have shot him in a heartbeat had I seen him first!
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted December 01, 2010 12:47 PM
Yeah, interesting rack.
I see some of those, (I call them basket racks) coming out of Wyoming, mostly. California and Nevada Mulies are usually more spread out but not overly like some examples I have seen, elsewhere.
Was that public land?
Good hunting. LB
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted December 01, 2010 12:59 PM
Leonard, no this buck was not shot on public land. Not a whole lot of public land near the area this buck came from.
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
