My 2013 Season - Year in Review - Picture Heavy

[DawsonCreedmoor]

Hey guys, figured I’d throw up my entire season in one thread!

There’s a couple picture duplicates from threads I’ve already started, but I had lots of other stuff to add for a whole review of my season that I thought would be cool to share.

Lots of pictures and video, enjoy!

[DawsonCreedmoor]

I started out my year with a highway sheep hunt. It was a good hunt, but we came out empty. We did see a ton of sheep though :D The weather was HOT HOT HOT, and the bugs were terrible. Some incredible lightning and thunder storms too! It was a little nerve racking being in a tiny tent on top of a mountain, but very cool.
Here’s a video of a nice 7 year old ram. Pretty thin out to his tips and close on curl, a good candidate to be left on the mountain, he was the biggest ram we encountered on our trip.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qonSVmgAw8A 

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Here are a couple other nice up and comers, if I remember right, one was 6 and the other 7.


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Some young rams and ewes trying to get up into the little bit of wind there was to get away from the bugs.


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It was a good time, minus the bugs which you can see swarming the camera lens haha.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

We came out from the spot and with a couple days left ventured into another, we didn’t see too much for sheep in this drainage but we didn’t have a whole lot of time either. It sure was easy on the eyes though.

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A nice bull caribou that came out to feed one night

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

So after the sheep hunt, I had to return home for my shift at work, but as luck would have it, my next days off started on August 15th, Opening day for moose. I spent four days out and about driving from town most days, sometimes sleeping in the back of my truck. I was not seeing too much, 30 degree temps aren’t the most fun to hunt in and getting up at 330-4am sucks too. You basically hunt the first and last hour of light, so long days of exploring on the quads. But as luck would have it on my fourth day I managed to get this nice bull in the evening. Which was nice as it afforded us lots of time to work with him as its much cooler evening.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

So with a moose in the freezer it was time to start searching for some elk. On my next week off I spent some time scouting a couple different spots. I found some good trails that were being used and spotted a few elk during my hikes. I figured I’d be set when the season opens on the first.

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Well sure enough I show up the day before opener to set up a camp, and I find my area invaded by oil and gas work. Water trucks were hauling for a frack non-stop night and day, I did spend a few days there still and we saw a few cows each day, but no bulls and no bugles. The steady drone of a drilling rig and water trucks gearing down was the only noise I heard.

[bigneily]

That's it ? Don't keep us hanging here. Very nice pics. Neil

[DawsonCreedmoor]

After 2 more weeks of work I headed out on my 2nd sheep hunt of the year. It was another awesome hunt, but again I came home empty handed, still searching for that first ram!!!
Here’s a couple bull elk we came across during out hunt. The rut was on and the elk were screaming all day and night. One night while glassing we had a couple bulls fighting below us in the trees, we couldn’t see them, but could hear the awesome battle.

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We also came across lots of sheds and kills.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

The elk were fun to watch, but they were not on our minds, we were looking for sheep, and we saw a ton of them! But couldn’t make it happen…..
A nice young 5-6 year old ram, and a band of ewes.

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A couple mountain goats.

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Here are a few rams from a bachelor group we spotted in the evening, they were quite a ways away and we were not able to make it to them that night. I was hoping to get a closer look the next day as one appeared to be a mature ram (bottom) and the other was quite close on being legal on curl (top)

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But of course my bad sheep luck continued and we awoke to pouring rain and the hills all socked in. A message home told us a big weather change was making its way in, and it wasn’t going to improve for 3-4 days, which was unfortunately the remainder of our hunt. So I never did get a better look at those rams.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

So I returned home and headed back to work, I had one more week off before goats and sheep close and after striking out twice, I had to give it one more go. I didn’t find any sheep but took a nice billy on my first solo hunt. (thread)

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

So after this trip I returned home for another shift of work, I still had an elk tagging burning a hole in my pocket, so I went out a couple times, no luck. I had all but given up, when on Halloween I decided to head out to a farm I have permission on to look for a mule deer I had seen earlier in the year, as the next day was opener for 4 point bucks. I didn’t find my buck but I did get this nice cow elk, on the last day of season. Not a bull like I was after, but I won’t complain.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

The following morning I got invited out to try a duck hunt. It was pretty slow as most of the birds had moved south. But I managed to kill my first duck! A wigeon. I shot at couple others but no luck, damn birds are quick when they’re not decoying lol Next year I am definitely going to do a lot more waterfowling, it’s a ton of fun

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[outdoorsk]

What a great season you had. Great photos and some very nice animals. Thanks for the story and photo's.

[DawsonCreedmoor]

Next up was deer season, I had a good bait going and I was lucky enough to take this buck on my 2nd morning sitting in my blind. (thread: http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?102068-2013-Whitetails )

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With my whitetail tag punched it was on to mule deer. I spent quite a few days trying to get a big muley but to no avail, lots of young bucks, and a screwed up opportunity on a pretty decent buck. Next year they will be a priority for me and will spend some more time finding some good area. Going to give the September bow season a go, as I always seem to find bucks in early season.
Heres a young buck I saw many times, no fear of people, he’s lucky they changed the season this year or he would have been killed by someone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6XxjdU8VvQ


And a small whitey I bumped into well chasing mule deer.


https://www.facebook.com/kyle.bartels.31/photos#!/photo.php?v=10151998244867088&set=vb.515602087&typ e=3&theater 

[DawsonCreedmoor]

So the last trip of the year was set for Saskatchewan, I have got some family out there so it’s a great trip to go and visit and have a fun hunt. This trip was to be extra special as my soon to be wife would be coming along, hoping to tag her first big game animal.
My uncle had built a nice blind for us to sit in, he had started a bait a week before we got there, so there was lots of deer coming in. On the first morning Adrienne took a nice 4x4 saskatchewan whitetail.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

Now with Adrienne tagged out, it was my turn to try and find a buck, now that I have killed a couple whitetails, I decided I was going to hold out for a big ol Saskatchewan buck. As a result I came home empty handed lol.

In this video is the biggest buck that came under the stand. A nice young 5x5 which more than likely would have been my biggest buck to date, but I was waiting for the buck that broke off the 4 points antler. His head was still bleeding and he had a pretty good limp! The young 5 point would not go anywhere near the busted up 4, so I know he was not the other scrapper! You can see how much bigger the broken 4’s body is, definitely an older buck. But I never did see the other culprit, so no buck for me.

***working on fixing video***

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However one morning my uncle was out feeding his cattle and came across this stud of a buck! 11 inch brows! Had almost no teeth left, not sure if he would have lived much longer. He scores around 160, only 13 inches wide, another 10 inches of width he would have been a booner.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

And last but not least I finished off the year by heading home to Quesnel to visit my parents and brother. When I got home on the 29th I found out my brother still had his leh doe tag. So we went out on the afternoon of the last day and he filled his tag.

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[DawsonCreedmoor]

And that’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed.
I had my best year hunting I’ve ever had, can’t say it was easy, lots of time and hard work invested!
Can’t wait for spring bear season! And have even bigger plans for next year. Sheep hunt in August, Caribou hunt in September, Wyoming Antelope in October, and all the usual local stuff! Can’t wait!!!

[Blainer]

Great share!
Awesome to see you are making the best of living in the Peace.
Plenty of quality animals!

[ru rancher]

thats awesome thanks for putting it all together was thuroly enjoyed hope your next year your even more successful!!!

[coach]

Incredible season, KB! Thanks for sharing.

[Trojans16]

what a fantastic year

[Bighorn hunter]

Awesome Kyle ! Think u need a couple kids to help eat up some of the meat!

[Muleymaniac]

Awesome season congrats, looks like I need to move off the island.

[mwj]

Kyle.

You've been busy lol !!!!

Mark

[moosinaround]

Good season KB!! Your lady's whitie is awesome for a first!! Moosin

[knightcc]

Holy smokes!! What a season. Congrats!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing with everyone. Truly epic!

[BiG Boar]

Epic thread Kyle. Good work on another hard pressing season. You put some serious time in, and were well rewarded for your effort. Keep it up!

[Sitkaspruce]

Wow Kyle, awesome season!!!!!

Thanks for bringing us along on your season and a great season it was.

Now onto yotes and wolves!!

And when are you going to have time to get married with all those plans for next year??:wink:

Cheers

SS

[DawsonCreedmoor]

And when are you going to have time to get married with all those plans for next year??:wink:
SS

Wedding is Uclulet in June! I made sure to have my wedding & future anniversaries far far away from any hunting seasons :D

[yama49]

Awesome job buddy, looks like a great year was had.. best of luck next year..

[moose2]

Great job on a successful season Kyle, those sheep should be worried for next year. Really nice pictures and once you taste that cow elk you will be happy with your decision.
Congratulations again.
Mike

[markt308]

that's a fun little scroll! thanks and congrats on an awesome season

[hunter1947]

Thanks for taking the time to put all together no kidding you had a good season a big congrats to Adrienne getting her first WT buck it a very nice deer to get for her first WT ,,,as Mike said some of them sheep will be shooters next season ,,congrats to you on the great season you had..

[M.Dean]

Holy Cow, I'm beat!!! I feel like I just got home from your Hunting trips!!! With all your Pictures, Video's and story's it was about as dam close to being there as I'll ever get!!! And thanks for taking the time to share your Hunting trips with us! It's nice seeing someone take the time, and effort to put together there pictures and video's so all can enjoy!!! And Congrats to all the hunters involved, keep up the incredible work!!!

[kennyj]

Thanks for sharing your season! Awesome story and photos.
kenny

[jaeger]

Well done. It looks like your eating well for the next year. Thank you for posting the storys and pics
cheers Jaeger

[MB_Boy]

Awesome season Kyle! Well done and thanks for sharing!


I never get tired of looking at sheep country pics.

[guest]

Wow Great season ....... congrats to you andthanks for sharing.

CT

[pnbrock]

great thread !!! the man of many aliases gets er done!!

[rcar]

Awesome post. Thank you for sharing.....I think. I am so green with envy!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Wow!! Great year!!
Don't worry...your ram will come soon. Just keep at it!!

SSS

[pescado]

Should have enough to eat. Well done, looks like a real fun season. Now its time to get some cats & dogs. Keep it fun.

[Everett]

That's a hell of a good season in my books thanks for posting.

[dana]

Kyle,
Way to go on a great season. A great way to put it all together as well. You should go over to Monster Muleys and join the Hunt Adventure Challege. A copy and paste of what you just put up could get you in the running to win.

[DawsonCreedmoor]

Don't worry...your ram will come soon. Just keep at it!!


I sure hope so!!! :D

[DawsonCreedmoor]

Kyle,
Way to go on a great season. A great way to put it all together as well. You should go over to Monster Muleys and join the Hunt Adventure Challege. A copy and paste of what you just put up could get you in the running to win.

I'll go have a look, thanks dana

[Call of the Wild]

Kind of cool to see your whole season all together, a good way to put the last past four months in perspective. Congrats and keep it up

[Hillbros_96]

Great job and thanks for sharing, on the bright side you should be able to eat likes king with all that meat.

[glen8221]

Awesome job Bud. Spectacular season! Huge amount of effort to attain the success you did. You obviously love to hunt. Way to go and here's to your future successes. Thanks so much for your story.

[ElliotMoose]

Sounds like a great season. Congrats on all the success! Looks like a freezer full there

[BillyBull]

Action packed season, thanks for sharing.

[mark]

Awesome thread Kyle! Congrads for making the most of a hunting season!

[Jim Prawn]

Ahh to be young again.... What a phenomenal season! Cant wait to see how you make out next year, I'm sensing a big ram may fall...
JP

[325]

Thanks for sharing!