Re: 2020 - My Quarter Century Year in Review
With it only being early October, I still had a lot of hunting to look forward to. 9 days in the middle of the month meant I could head out to meet friends to do some elk hunting. We went out and hunted the same area I had been early in September, except this time the elk were around. We turned up over 20 bulls in 4.5 days but none that we could pull the trigger on, nonetheless, it was a great time. After that, I headed back into a couple spots I know of to do a little bit of bird hunting and some poking around for a muley buck. I haven't killed a muley in 4 years since taking a 170 class buck that I'm on a mission to top. I passed on some smaller deer and spent some time with friends looking for sheep before returning home.
The next couple weekends towards the end of October and Early November saw more mule deer action. Again, the deer were around but nothing that I had wanted to cut my tag on. I knew I still had my Alberta White tail hunt to look forward to, so I decided I'd spend some weekends around town and with family before heading away for another week. But just because I was down in the lower mainland, didn't mean there wasn't triggers to be pulled. I got out for some duck action and was able to have some good days and scratch some limits.
November 18th rolled around quickly and it was time to head to the flat lands. I met my cousin at his place in the Okanagan and we made our way to Alberta from there. We were in camp late that night, and right away after meeting our guide/outfitter, I knew we were in for a great week. Never really hunting whitetails, I underestimated how tough it would be to sit in a blind all day long. On day 2, I had a mid day opportunity at a 160 class 6x5 at 350 yards, I sailed 2 shots over his back... to me 350 yards isn't a overly long shot and it didn't make sense. I decided I needed to check my rifle, only to realize it was shooting 6" high at 100 and my correction would have just had me shooting higher. That evening, I had an opportunity at another big, tall, and mature 4x4. I couldn't get the rest I wanted and opted not to take the shot. The morning of day 3, my cousin punched his tag on a stud Alberta bush buck.
For me, days 3-5 were anticlimactic. Many smaller/younger bucks passed on, even a really nice mid 130s class 5x5 that just wasn't what I came to Alberta for. I wanted something mature and representative. Day 6 came, and it was the last hunting day for me. Now as a hunter, I can be pretty tough on myself, after blowing an opportunity like I had on day 2. We decided that it may be best to go check some fields for first thing in the morning, and the first one we did, was the one where we had seen the big 4x4 days before, as soon as I put my binos up on the field, I could see a big mature bodied buck, chasing does on the far side. At this point it was to early to shoot, but I told my guide to leave me there and I'd start working out my play. I was able to creep into 350 yards just as shooting time came, as soon as I put the buck in my scope I knew it was that 4 that I had opted not to take a shot at due to a poor rest. This time wasn't the same, the pack and bipod were down and I was steady. I squeezed of a round, and on day 6 of 6, I had my buck on the ground.
After returning home, I did a few more trips into new areas in search of maybe finding a new honey hole for muleys and surprisingly did. Although I didn't cut a tag, I find that locating a new promising area can be just as successful for years to come... hopefully.
To wrap it all up, this year year has been one for the books, in more ways than one. I had someone make a joke when I posted a picture of myself after packing out my ram, they noted that the gold chain I wear around my neck was to heavy, and sheep hunters need to crack weight. It reminded me though that the gold chain, was one my grandfather brought home for me on his last trip to portugal, there isn't another mountain I wont see, that the chain wont be with me as well.
Hunting sheep is my passion through and through, taking my first ram, solo, and a ram that will be just shy of making the record book, is something I can't put into words. I had set a personal goal of taking by 3/4 BC Slam before the end of my hunting season when I turn 30... that gives me 5 more years to take 2 more, if it happens, it does. If not, I'm sure every trip in attempt to will be great. Its thanks to great groups like WSF and even more so Wild Sheep Society of BC. I don't think I'd be able to tell these stories if it wasn't for groups like that doing the work they're doing in the field... so just to put it out there... JOIN.
Hunting over all can mean so much to so many people, and for me, its life. It helped me cope and deal with many things and has taught me so much about myself. It's made me stronger, its brought me to my knees, and at times it's made me smile like I never have before.
Sorry for the long winded post but hope you all enjoyed. Cheers to 2021 and hopefully a year that will bring on more memories!
Last edited by porthunter; 12-15-2020 at 11:48 AM.
Life begins where your comfort zone ends
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