PDA

View Full Version : Hunting success from 2014



Buckmeister
07-06-2015, 06:31 PM
I really put off posting up these pics and hunt details from last fall. But hey, I know a lot of people appreciate seeing this stuff in the off season, especially when waiting for LEH to be drawn.

In this thread I am posting my hunt stories as well as my dad's success's as he is not too computer savvy, so keep scrolling down for more. He actually had a triple crown this year (or is that a hat trick? :confused:) as he got a moose, a white tail, and a mulie. Only problem is I have no photos of the mulie.

So my season started as most do, I could've tagged out on the first day. Problem is I don't like shooting mini bucks, so I just sit there and enjoy watching them do their thing and I dream of what they will look like in a number of years if they survive. And thats the way the majority of the season went, seeing smallish bucks and passing on them. I did see some good size mulies however.

My first kill happened sometime in October when I took a buddy out for a hunt. We were driving back out of the area when this little fella decided to run under my vehicle at the last second. To small to eat however...this was his "good" side...

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0518a.jpg
On Oct 31 I took a couple friends up to an area I just started to get to know. It was first light and we were easing our way into a cut block. I spotted movement off to our right. Brought up the binos and counted 5 deer, one of them being a massive buck with junk and all, I figured him to be a 180" class buck at least. Ranged him at 325 yards. My gun isn't good for that distance and neither is my one friends, but the other buddy says his special scope can be dialed for that distance. Buddy drops to the ground and lines up. Boom. Complete miss. He said he hasn't shot long distance before and wasn't even sure if he has his scope set up right. Yikes!

I continued coming back to that cut for the next 7 out of 10 days hoping to see Mr. Big again but to no avail. Did see a number of small bucks and medium size bucks, but I held out for the big one. After a few days my son and I spotted another big guy, not as big as the first, but big none the less and at about 225 yards away. My old .303 just couldn't lob a bullet that far without considerable drop and so I too missed. I'm currently looking for a new rifle that can do the job out to 300 yards no problem.

After mulies closed in Reg 8 I concentrated my efforts on White Tails. Again, more nursery aged bucks. After coming home empty handed and explaining to my wife that I let yet another one walk away, she gave me a stern talking to about shooting the next buck I saw. A day or two later I went out to my bro-in-laws property where I have some blinds set up. I was walking in and was 3/4's of the way to my blind when I spot a deer through the trees. The binos comfirmed antler. He was standing broadside at 80 yards watching me. I found an opening through the trees and took a knee. The old .303 came to life. I watched him wheel around 180 degrees and take off in full gear. I could no longer see him for the trees, but could hear him just fine, lots of sticks and dry leaves on the ground. After 10 seconds I heard nothing, I figured he was stand still, teetering. 10 seconds later I heard him fall. Buck down!
I walked down to where I had seen him standing. Nasty mess! Bits of lung and blood everywhere. That old .303 can sure do a great job up close! Easy blood trail to follow. Found him not 50 yards away, perfect double lung-er. Not my biggest buck ever, but a clean 4x4 that was well fed, skinned out on the hook he weighed just shy of 150 lbs. Pretty tasty too!

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0543a.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0545a.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0546a.jpg

Buckmeister
07-06-2015, 06:40 PM
After that I had a short break until bow season opened up. I haven't been able to christen my bow yet. This year I had 5 good opportunities and messed 3 of them up. The first I couldn't get a clean shot, so not my fault, but he was a dandy 4x4 170 class mulie at 45 yards. All I could see was his head. Next was a super wide (close to 30") and low 3x3 mule at 40 yards. Never presented a shot and walked clean away. The next 3 were goof ups. I shot at a 2 point mule twice, once shooting under and the next shooting over. Problem was my range finder batteries crapped out at that very minute and I was guessing at distances. Lastly was a white tail doe and I shoot over again. @%$& :x

Buckmeister
07-06-2015, 06:48 PM
So that was my season in a nut shell. I don't have any stories about my dad's (.308 NORMA) hunts as he was by himself for every one, but he can tell them if he wants to, but I will give minor details. I do have pics of his moose and dandy white tail (6x7). The moose was just a case of being in the right spot at the right time. All I can say is that moose had some unlucky antler genetics. The white tail he got at one of his many regular spots.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0521a.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0520a.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0561a.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0563a.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0564a.jpg

Buckmeister
07-06-2015, 06:54 PM
Well last year was the year of the misses. In addition to the ones already mentioned, my son also missed on a nice big white tail. Such is life I guess. I'm glad I got a deer though as the last one was back in 2011.
But all in all it was a very fun and memorable hunting year as I also helped my buddy get a small whitey. I got to see a wide array of bucks and I couldn't believe how many grouse were out there. Also saw some nice bull elk that escaped the open season. Crossing my fingers on getting one of them this year!

Cheers everyone and good luck in the draw!!!

Downwind
07-06-2015, 07:02 PM
Now that is what I call a 2 point! That is a hell of a whitetail too. Now I really want to get out there again.

weatherbyjunkie
07-06-2015, 07:13 PM
Right on!! Thanks for posting those pics,good to see in the middle of summer

deer nut
07-06-2015, 07:28 PM
Awesome whitetail and congrats to your pa. Hope your arrow finds its mark next fall.

ydouask
07-07-2015, 06:10 AM
Great timing on your post. Heck of a two point Grandpa ! :smile:

rides bike to work
07-07-2015, 07:25 AM
Sounds like a great season with some tasty meat for the freezer I ate my last steak from last season and am getting itchy for some fresh game.good luck this season. Hope to have been practicing your 300 yard shot

BearStump
07-07-2015, 07:37 AM
Couldn't ask for a better forked bull!! And wow. That's. cranker of a whitetail!
ThNks for posting. Nice to see they're out there. But you forgot to type in the coordinates for the clear cut where the big mulie was.....
still a couple months to practice those long shots.

markt308
07-07-2015, 08:25 AM
Those are some sweet pics! Thanks for sharing with us. It's that time of year where I just really can't wait for sept

wideopenthrottle
07-07-2015, 08:29 AM
very nice to have a full freezer and some great stories