A Hunting Story

[markt308]

I usually post the videos that I edit together each year, but I am a little strapped for time so before I post any videos I thought I could share a couple stories from this past season.

It was November Long weekend, a brilliant time to go hunting so long as you enjoy rush hour traffic as much as you like hunting deer! Luckily our area isn't too bad for other hunters, plus we have been at it so long in this area we know how to escape the madness of long weekends. The first morning of the hunt, my dad and I got up bright and early and drove into a certain valley where we have both had lots of success finding muleys. Unfortunately it was a foggy morning and visibility was lacking. I was so excited to be out hunting that I didn't really care, so into the woods we jumped. My dad and I split up and turned on our radios. I have been on a ton of successful hikes with my dad over the years. Many times we split up, and then within just a few minutes one of us kills a buck! This has been a theme in recent years. This morning, however, I did not even see a deer. Kinda strange for this area not to see anything, but nevertheless it felt incredible to breathe the mountain air. I could feel it revitalizing my brain. My senses were sharpening. Each frozen exhale of air symbolized a release of stress which had been accumulating as a result of a busy life back home. But we were hunting now, and although this morning was quiet, the worn down trails, fresh droppings, and buck rubs were a reminder that these foggy woods were home to the mountain bucks we were after....

[markt308]

[markt308]

Photos might be massive, but hopefully we can get past that...

[markt308]

Some of the guys in our camp saw deer the first morning, but no four points were spotted. Although the morning had been slow, my dad and I were definitely not done with that spot. It had been too productive in the past. At the same time, however, the action just wasn't there in the morning so we needed to make a new plan. I suggested a different area and my dad was into it. The days are short, so after a hearty lunch and 20 minute nap were outta there. I asked my dad to drop me off in a certain cut block where we have seen many deer. I had a plan where I was going to dip into the woods and sort of walk along the treeline and sit here and there as daylight faded. I asked dad what he was going to do. he is so nonchalant about this kind of stuff. He was just like "oh I don't know I'll just drive a little further and hike up that way and pick you up after dark". Doesn't he know you need a plan? What, does he think you can just drive until you feel like it, hop out and smell the roses and shoot a mature buck? I love you dad, but get real...

[markt308]

He dropped me off at about 2PM. Still a decent evening hunt ahead of us. I walked around the edge of the cut slowly making my way toward the treeline, glancing up every so often to catch a glimpse of my dads truck slowly cruising up the road. I guess it's up to me, I thought. I'm gonna have to remind the old man that successful hunting is all about having a plan. So far my plan is looking great. Lot's of poop, there's some tracks, there's some-BOOM...What the? At this point I'm not even sure why it surprises me anymore. As I said earlier, this has been a theme in recent years. He just dropped me off fifteen minutes ago, yet I just heard the old guy with no plan fire his trusty lever 308. History has shown that when he fires a shot, something dies. I stop in my tracks and wait for a follow up shot...nothing. Okay, I thought. He either shot at a four point, or a spike-fork moose. Both are great. I started to get excited. I pulled out my radio and made sure it was on. Yep! I don't want to bug him if he's still after the animal so i'll wait for him to call me. After five minutes or so he called. Four point down...

[markt308]

I elected to stop my hunt and go and help my dad get his buck to the truck while we still had daylight. He came down and picked me up and told me the story.

He drove about a mile after dropping me off when standing in a small bald spot on a ridge was a big deer. He said he instantly got excited and put his bino's on it. A doe? he couldn't believe it. This thing was massive and he expected to see antlers. Lowering his bino's he caught movement. Another deer entered the small bald spot on the ridge, and at 150 yards he could instantly see that this one was sporting some head gear. heart pounding, bino's on, 1,2,3,4 - heart pounding faster, grab clip, load shell...oh no the buck's moving out of view. Now the buck is standing partially blocked by a few small pines. The doe walks into the dark woods, if he follows her just one more step there's no shot and he's gone. It's now or never. He took the shot and bullet hit its mark. The buck folded, and we suddenly had meat in camp

[markt308]

lets try another big photo. As he lay

[markt308]

[markt308]

More to come....

[LeverActionJunkie]

Good stuff right there mark!

I learnt awhile ago never doubt the old guy

thanks for sharing.