Warnniklz Hunting 2016

[warnniklz]

My buddy B-Rad wanted to go on a backpack fishing trip on September long weekend. We decided on the Kootney's, being the midway point between the two of us. I also seen this as a good opportunity for bow season. I also haven't ever hunted or done any exploring in that area. So we met about 2am saturday morning and found a lake to crash at for the night.

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Only one other vehicle parked there. We were up with the sun and decided to do some fishing. The fish were surfacing as there was a mayfly hatch going on. Fishing was steady.

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After the fishing died off, we went and had breakfast and found a dirt road. We travelled down some FSRs. There was Alberta plates and hikers everywhere. I took the truck up through a "road" overgrown in alders. We went as far as we could and started our way up the mountain.
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As soon as we got through the trees, we were face to face with a big cliff. No alpine for us, just vertical.

[warnniklz]

We picked our way back down the mountain. By this time it was late afternoon. We drove around the back roads trying to find a spot where there wasn't so many people. There was hay and horse shit everywhere. I figured the spot is probably where the outfitter unloads his horses. Has to be a good sign. So I went for an evening walk while B-Rad stayed behind and did some gold panning and fishing.
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On the walk, I found the odd deer track. But I did stumble across a well travelled trail. Along with an old ?claim? site.
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[warnniklz]

The trail followed the valley bottom and was sloppy from what I assume to be the horses. We seen one grouse on the whole trail system.
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[srupp]

Another awesome adventure Warren..well done.
Steven

[warnniklz]

We were a 4 hour hike back, we decided to stop and have a quick bite to eat. Just as we finished our lunch, the cutest park ranger I've seen came along. She stopped and chatted to us for a bit. We were the first people she had seen in two days. I felt bad for her, having our two ugly mugs the first thing she had seen. Talking to her, we were still two hours to decent hunting area. She had cut a couple deer tracks and an old bear track. But other than that, she said it was pretty quiet. Between it being quiet and B-Rad's knee problems flaring up, we decided to follower her out.

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grasshoppers were full rut
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[warnniklz]

We decided with all the people running around and only seeing one grouse, we'd relocated further south. There was still lots of people running around the new spot. But we found a good camping spot along a river and some spots that looked pretty good. I spent the evening wandering around. Seen a mulie doe, a whitetail doe and a spike whitetail buck. The ground was dry as a popcorn fart. I got busted trying to make a play on the spiker.

The next morning I decided to go for a walk from camp. Found some tree stands, some whitetail sheds and some nice country. Th only animals I found was a couple chickens and some cows.
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Made it back late morning and had something to eat.

[warnniklz]

After we ate, me and brad busted out the fly rods.

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Right away we were into the cutthroats.

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This guy was a hot ticket! Made with authentic bighorn hair I collected earlier this summer.
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[warnniklz]

B-Rad and myself decided that we'd spend the mid day fishing our way up the river. I would catch two, move up above B-Rad, then he'd catch two and move above me. We continued this pattern all the way up the river.
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[warnniklz]

We stashed our rods and started hunting. B-Rad isn't a hunter at all. We were in some promising country, but B-Rad ain't a hunter. So dragging him through the woods was like taking a three year old along. However I was teaching him along the way and showing him rubs and other things like that. He's wanting to get into hunting now!! We spotted a couple of deer, but couldn't make it into bow range. It finally got dark and we headed back to camp. We finished off the bottle of Delmore.

The next morning we packed up camp and went for a swim. Cold as balls I tell ya w'hat. But the nut butter was gone.
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On our way home, my truck wasn't shifting into third and kept slipping out of gear when it did try to shift. I tried to limp it to town, but I was pulling a hill and ended up blowing my belt and took out my waterpump. No water pump and no tranny... rough estimate was $2500 to fix. This was already tranny number two. So tow truck called, told them to keep it.

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Posted the red alert here and the rest is history. Now I'm on the hunt for a new truck. I did get to show B-Rad a band of bighorns and some awesome fishing. So that's a positive. Next hunt will hopefully be for bighorns come October.

[Whonnock Boy]

Looking forward to your adventures.

[sapper]

On our way home, my truck wasn't shifting into third and kept slipping out of gear when it did try to shift. I tried to limp it to town, but I was pulling a hill and ended up blowing my belt and took out my waterpump. No water pump and no tranny... rough estimate was $2500 to fix. This was already tranny number two. So tow truck called, told them to keep it.

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Posted the red alert here and the rest is history. Now I'm on the hunt for a new truck. I did get to show B-Rad a band of bighorns and some awesome fishing. So that's a positive. Next hunt will hopefully be for bighorns come October.

Interesting. That looks like a Dakota which is one of the vehicles I've been considering purchasing to replace my 94 Hilux Surf once it sells. Hmm. 2nd tranny you say?!

[warnniklz]

Interesting. That looks like a Dakota which is one of the vehicles I've been considering purchasing to replace my 94 Hilux Surf once it sells. Hmm. 2nd tranny you say?!
yeah second one. The tow truck driver has two other dakotas with pooched trannys and a durango with a blown motor. To be fair, I don't drive her nice.

[180grainer]

Great pics and story. Sorry about the truck. Thanks for posting. Any goats in those hills?

[boxhitch]

Garbage dump may have been a g/o camp in the past ?

Looks like a nice truck just to give up on. Who rebuilt the tranny ?

[warnniklz]

Great pics and story. Sorry about the truck. Thanks for posting. Any goats in those hills?

Nothing spotted where I was. Spent a lot of time looking at white rocks.


...

Looks like a nice truck just to give up on. Who rebuilt the tranny ?
#1 - it says dodge... so no
#2 - injectors keep shorting out
#3 - to replace headlights $400
#5 - waterpump $300
#6 - signals were intermttent. Replaced all the fuses and relays. I just tie it in with all the electrical issues
#7 - transmission NOPE!
#8 - needed new driverside window assembly

A buddy of mine dropped the transmission into it a couple years back. Motor had 290,000 on it. This tranny had a 130,000 on it. Even if I fixed everything, I'd be lucky to get $2500 bucks for it. Plus I'd have to take time off work and spend gas money on hauling it back.

So I'm not really giving up on much. Did lose my latest Lamb Of God album and a cooler... which makes me sad.

[decker9]

Good batch of pics bud, beauty country! Will be following ��

[markomoose]

Nice country.Too bad about your ride.What no pics of the park ranger?You make posting pics look easy.I still struggle.

[Rhyno]

We were a 4 hour hike back, we decided to stop and have a quick bite to eat. Just as we finished our lunch, the cutest park ranger I've seen came along.......

Between it being quiet and B-Rad's knee problems flaring up, we decided to follower her out.

Sure...THAT's the reason you "followed" her out:-D

[warnniklz]

Sure...THAT's the reason you "followed" her out:-D

Well... you know... she didn't help the argument on going further

[Drillbit]

Looks like a great adventure!

Great pictures!!


I was also hoping to see a picture of a cute park ranger.

(The last one I met (at Robson this Aug) was living in a camper full of dogs, cats, rabbits, rats and mice. She was CO2ing the small animals and feeding them to the bigger ones and sleeping on the floor of the camper....Whackadooo!)

[warnniklz]

Well me and my brother are oscar mike for some full curl big horns

[huntcoop]

Take your frustration out on a POS milsurp and twist out some more art :lol:

[warnniklz]

Take your frustration out on a POS milsurp and twist out some more art :lol:

Sumbitch... should have packed that thing this trip. Gptta get my hands on another POS

[HarryToolips]

Great pics.........

[Bugle M In]

thought for a second someone had posted a pic of my truck.
have the same one (clubcab, not 4 door), same color, same canopy etc.
same shitty transmission.
not sure what year yours is, but 97's and 98's and even possibly 99's had a "big problem" with the
throttle body? in the tranny itself.
Anyway, to the poster that was considering buying one.....DON'T!
Pigs on gas, worse than even just about any full sized pickup ever made.
It's a dodge, you can guarantee yourself that you will be underneath a dodge doing tranny repairs at some point.
get a Toyota, if your lookin for a smaller size pickup.
Put it this way...how many jap trucks do you see broken down needing a tow?.....
I'm not talking about the ones that rolled or crashed.
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[Stone C. Killer]

Stupid dodge. So back to hunting. Killed anything yet?

[warnniklz]

Well we got camp set-up. Up before daylight and we had packs on. We gumbooted it to the far end of the area we were hunting. My brother wanted to show me a spot he's seen plenty of sheep. If we shot one where he showed me, it'd be a shitty spot, but retrievable. However, no one was home.

We started working our way back the other way just to get the lay of the land. We met another couple sheep hunting as well. They hadn't spotted anything that morning. They showed up the night before like us.

We continued on and my brother spotted some sheep down below. Spotting scope out.

One ram was heavy and tight. Another had a nice wide flare. They were with some bananna rams and ewes. But we were waiting for the two big guys to turn their head.

[warnniklz]

The heavy ram finally turned. Too short. He wasn't broomed at all. So hopefully he lives another two years. Then the couple came up. The guy finally fessed up and admitted he was glassing those sheep. We took a better look at the wide flared out sheep. He as well needed a couple years.

It was getting later in the day so we made it back to camp.

We seen one guy half ass walk in and turn around. So where we were, it was my brother and myself, as well as the couple the only ones hunting the area.

[warnniklz]

Hold the phone... last day and my brother just got off work... hail mary time!

[meat hunter]

Great story and Pics

[kennyj]

Sounds like an awesome trip until the truck gave up.
Great photos.
kenny

[StuBrown]

Great photos! My brother in had his tranny blow in his Durango as well. Seems to be a trend.

[walks with deer]

you have photos of your brother getting blown by a tranny in his durango? and its a trend?

[monasheemountainman]

Ha^ funny!!

[Xenomorph]

you have photos of your brother getting blown by a tranny in his durango? and its a trend?

Careful spreading those pics around, but sheesh ...what a trend!

[warnniklz]

well as I was saying...

We decided to spend the next day chasing deer. We seen a bunch of does. However, my brother's truck had a crack in the rad. So we were having overheat issues.
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So we limped it back to town. When we got to town, we both got text messages that our Great G-Ma had died. This ended our trip. We were on the highway for 30 seconds and we had red and blues behind us. We pulled over.

The cop walked up and asked us what we were doing. We told him "we just spent 3 days sheep hunting"
He asked us if we knew why he pulled us over. We weren't speeding, both had seat belts on... He said we had tag lights out, a tail light out and a headlight out. The truck was muddy as hell, as the road was grease lightning from the rain we were getting at night. He questioned why the truck was so muddy and we had to convince him the back roads were that bad. He then asked why our guns(which were under our complete control) weren't locked up. I sternly, yet politely informed him that legally we didn't have to have them locked up. Understandably with recent events he flipped shit on us. He told us that he's been hunting for 30 years and knows all the rules. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I've been hunting since I can remember (25-30 years). He took my brothers license and registration back to the cruiser. Came back and issued my brother to have his truck inspected within the next 30 days. Turns out he just had a tail light out. The others were just covered in mud. However he's going to need to do some work to his truck for the inspection... the ticket would have been cheaper.

Anyways, we made it home to find out that our Great G-Ma's funeral won't be until November.

My brother decided to head back to work. The one morning, I went back out. There's a spot that I've always wanted to hunt, but the farmer that borders crown land would always chase people off of crown land. My buddy's dad works for forestry, and had been chased off public land by the farmer. However last year or two, the old farmer either died or sold. There really isn't really any vehicle access to the spot, but you can hike in off the main road. So I got my brother to give me a tactical insertion and he'd pick me up after work.

Spent the day exploring this area I've always wanted to hunt. I found this shed in some steep ugly stuff...
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Add a 6.5x55 for reference
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That day I seen a bunch of does and fawns, nothing packing head gear.

[warnniklz]

The next day I wasn't planning on going hunting, but I got a call from my brother saying that his shop had been shut down for the day. We burned out and got up high to try and located some sheep. Sat on the side of the road with binos and spotting scope out. I think our camo was working pretty good, as a CO drove right by us. Thought he'd at least stop and say hi. We couldn't locate the sheep so we spent the day trying to find them as it was the last day. No dice.

The next day we decided to hit up another spot for deer. We were a little late as once again, my brother showed up to work, but no one else did. So we were hauling down the road at a buck ten. All of a sudden! "HUGE BUCK!" By the time my brother had locked up the binders and walked back down the road, we couldn't find him. I tried to follow him, but the bush was so thick with x-mas trees I wouldn't be able to catch up. Well a good start! I don't get excited about deer too easily. When my brother seen me trying to tuck and roll out of a truck while still hauling ass, he knew it was big.

My mule deer scoring system
200"+ = monster
185"-199" = hog
175"-184" = pig
160"-174" = big
140"-160" = porch buck
120"-130" = good
1"-120" = dink

This guy was a solid pig/soft hog.

That day I gave a coyote a haircut, seen a sow with two cubs, passed on a dink 4x3 and collected 3 ditch chickens for dinner.

[warnniklz]

We burned out to my dad's place that night for my brother's b-day dinner. The next morning father, step-mom, my brother and myself were up at 3am to head out hunting. However... my step-mom had to get lunches together, have breakfast and all that other good stuff. So we went to father's and myself's favourite deer spot. We were late and there was a lot of hunters running around. With it being warm out and only seeing one deer. We packed it in early. Which was half the plan. It was more of a scouting trip. We also wanted to time another way in for November. The plan is at least me and father will head to that spot during the last 4 days of November for big bucks.

Got home and being the last day off I had, me and my brother went for another cruise to his favourite spot. Driving we were talking about how in the last 10 years of hunting this spot hard, we had never seen a bear in the area. He dropped me off at a spot I like to walk through. I was making my through some Christmas trees and came to an opening. I seen something move behind some trees. I thought it was a cow. As moved into a spot I could see better... sure as shit it was a smallish bear. Too small for me to punch a tag on. I didn't want to make a bunch of noise to scare whatever deer may be in the area, as I had already bumped a couple of flat tops. So I moved so the breeze would carry my scent to the bear. When the bear winded me, he stopped feeding. Then headed to some trees. But didn't high tail it. Didn't think much of it. So I started my way through the small pine trees on the other side of the clearing. I had just barely cleared the trees and thought I heard something behind me. Sure as shit the bear came wandering out hot on my trail. Inside of 20 yards... I had a bear tag. Screw this snot nosed bear. Too close for comfort, I decided to lead poison him. My smallest bear to date. Measured at a small 4.5' boar.

I marked him and went and met up with my brother. He didn't believe me that I shot a bear in the area. We loaded him up, then spent the rest of the day bumping some does, as well as a cow and calf moose. So at least my meat crisis is adverted, now I just gotta hold out from some good snow for those big bucks. And hoping my dad can get his moose this week so I can raid his freezer as well.

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[warnniklz]

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14716186_10157638327260387_1199585652017856237_n.j pg?oh=2020ebec24cebd5ee7cd4b15e769ec80&oe=588DDDF0

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14681625_10157638328125387_595037511366547498_n.jp g?oh=ab86f66e87802637664c06d6e978e950&oe=58915A50

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14716142_10157638331175387_3621082121135905955_n.j pg?oh=68ec21a428cfeb2ede65dc6ac4567970&oe=588E679F

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14720540_10157654568980387_8307749021075875017_n.j pg?oh=e78415b7f0e0aa5543c1c17a0364634b&oe=58905D3E

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14716241_10157663962765387_2376650651431960544_n.j pg?oh=89ac2457457cbe537036a0a5ef84c715&oe=58950EF4

[warnniklz]

Father and Step-Mom
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14732339_10157663963935387_1393568206396190292_n.j pg?oh=03e65ac6a11c84bf7e2977e9b4844348&oe=58D159CB

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14695563_10157671045070387_5275869867588363932_n.j pg?oh=e5f1c2c8fa130fb01322623258e400ec&oe=58CE47A3

Sample of the rendered down bear fat... grass fed for sure in the area I got him.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14721526_10157671045195387_1550111990968937100_n.j pg?oh=33a2690dcabd2ea6b036b3e98312ad68&oe=58D045E3

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14859671_10157698600940387_9144485189750988262_o.j pg

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14753286_10157698601620387_8430160525489490634_o.j pg

[Drillbit]

Nice write up and pics buddy!

Keep up the great work!

'Luck to the rest of your season!

[Salty]

Always look forward to the niklz chronicles well done son Hope the wind and snow are on your side later in the month :cool:

[barry1974w]

Oh, that's sucks about "little" bros truck. Hopefully he gets it ready for inspection. Sorry to hear about your grandma

[LBM]

Great pic of the tracks in the mud, very cool.

[warnniklz]

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14721481_10157654567775387_3797811905897445950_n.j pg?oh=5c7998d1f537b8644892274e2dc22922&oe=58CFE293

Add a 6.5x55 for reference
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14705613_10157638331260387_7064964860732269355_n.j pg?oh=a5ccc51f7b81c4b7d832d57fef5cbb6c&oe=58D30226
.

My brother and our buddy got out today. They said they missed a pig of a buck twice and bumped him once more only a half click from where they missed him. They were just on the other side of the valley from where I found the pictured shed.

They'll be hitting that spot hard this week. I gotta work this week. Half day in PG friday, then I'm off for a week.

Hopefully the action keeps up.

[markomoose]

Kool I'll be leaving PG friday and heading to the puddle for some hot muley action.

[warnniklz]

On the 26th, myself, my father and step mom went out to spot we haven't been to in a long long time. Our main goals was to help my step mom fill her doe draw and find another access road we've read about. Last time we were in the area was probably 15 years ago. My dad dropped a 4 point porch buck didn't get hung up on the tiniest little juniper bush. We would have had to eat him beside the Fraser river. Anyways, we were a about 20 mintues late. We pulled in, I headed toward the river while my dad and step mom worked the upper ridge. It was cooler -10ish and lightly snowing.

I spotted one doe laying down under a big fir tree. While my dad and step mom worked a ridge up higher. I didn't see much throughout the morning. There was some fresh tracks through poplar stands and some "swampy" areas. Including some beds that were abandoned in the morning.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15135900_10157844113430387_4491510148956017276_n.j pg?oh=e2b1f06028637f143526dad85031a934&oe=58F1C2B8

10am came radio check. I started cutting a lot of fresh tracks, but at the same time, a lot of cattle moved in and the area looked like a barn yard. I jumped one more doe. My dad and step mom had cut some fresh cougar tracks that were working down lower. So the plan was for them to start working the lower side to get my step mom her doe and me to hunt another area. Hiking back to the truck another guy was hunting the same area. He passed me along the way in his truck. I got the call on the radio that we had a flat tire.

My dad and step mom were busy putting on the spare tire. They've never used the spare, turns out it had no air and was smaller than the rest. So they did the big tire swap and the guy that had passed me was flagged down by my dad in hopes he had an air compressor. Sure enough he did. While waiting for the tire to inflate, we started shooting the shit. He was a house builder from Prince George. Somewhere along the line my step mom thought he built tree houses? I don't know... in the next picture you can see she was tired.

Sure enough he had spent some time in the area and has been hunting the area for more than a several years. We've let it cool down for the last few years because so many people have been hitting it. But sure enough he was just getting tuned in. He was leaving the next day and the night before, he had two huge bucks go blowing by him chasing each other around. He hiked back up that morning and from what we gather, he knew where these big boys were hanging out. Sure enough he got busted going into the area. So good to know some trophy class bucks are still hanging around that area.

With the spare tire being mis-sized we decided we'd bail out of there early. My step mom finally succumbed to her fatigue... maybe she was just headbanging to F*CKING SLAYER \m/
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15203222_10157844127210387_1507622148859371617_n.j pg?oh=8c0b2731fb317f8438159e0b36704711&oe=58B0C1C9

That night we hummed and hawed about going out again. We decided that depending what time we got up would decide if we'd go out again. I was running on 5 hours of sleep over the last 60 hours. So I slept until 10 the next morning. So we didn't make it out.

[warnniklz]

My dad took the 28th, 29th and 30th off of work. On the 28th myself and my dad were up at 3. We were on our way to our favourite spot. We had to stop for fuel, which was a bit of tactical error. We got to our spot about 20 minutes late. The main camp spot had quite a few camps set up. So we started gum booting it up the mountain trying to race the other hunters. Spoiler alert, no one else was hunting our side of the valley. They were either up valley or on the other side.

We spotted a lone doe at the top of the mountain. There was lots of cattle around, but we thought it was a little odd that the doe was all by herself.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15230819_10157857303410387_503131916469230849_n.jp g?oh=c5b8fdaa9b6f0f8f63623c67f0a34fc6&oe=58B383D1

We hunted the are according to the wind. We basically hunted shoulder to shoulder along one ridge. 9am rolled around and we decided to keep working the same direction, but my dad would move several hundred yards above me, but I'd work the edge of this ridge. Just after we split, I was pretty focused on what was below me. I was sure that I'd spot something below me. I looked ahead just to re-orientate myself. about 40 yards out I spotted a deers ass just in the timber. I froze in my tracks. Binos up. Sure enough there's a doe and a decent 4 point.

[warnniklz]

I don't know if I played it too casual or got googly eyed. I don't get excited about deer unless it's big. But looking though the binos, I picked up the buck in the trees. 4 point! Before I could get my rifle off of my should, he bolted uphill. I thought the buck was going to cross my dad, but my dad never did get another look. We spent a few more hours working that same ridge. We were coming across several two points and three points, but not the amount of deer we were use to. On top of that we were hunting timber thicker than we were use to for the area.

We worked our way to our usual look out. By now the temperature had dropped and the fog rolled in. We spotted doe laying under a big fir tree in a draw. We decided we'd do the same thing to see what the weather was going to do.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15253588_10157857303570387_7829334606524222594_n.j pg?oh=5cb23e6c63e640ef225efd7ea1df03e3&oe=58B89686

The sun kept teasing us with small patches of blue sky. But it wasn't breaking. So father and myself decided that instead of hunting the area the way we usually do, we'd start picking our way back to the vehicle. We got back to the truck around 3 and decided to explore the other side of the valley for the rest of the day. We did discover a road that we'll probably go camping this summer with quads and see where the spur roads go.

[warnniklz]

We didn't want to camp with the crowd, so we went up valley a set-up camp. Compared to last year it was luxury.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15253531_10157857303880387_6731507898109163665_n.j pg?oh=ad31e179879bc9aa8a9442f9010c4b67&oe=58BD60C1
It wasn't minus 30 something and it was a long box instead of my "standard" 5.5 foot box. We had plywood, foad, wool blanket, comforter, sleeping bag liner, sleeping bag, quilt and wool blanet. don't know if it was the warm Forty Creek or the extra blanket. But my down sleeping bag is rated for -8. I kicked off the extra blankets. We were up and rocking at 3am. Bacon and egg sandwiches were breakfast. WE broke camp and made our way to our insertion point.

We were hiking up the mountain in the dark. There was deer tracks all over our tracks headed downhill. Even after some boot re-ties and gear swaps, we were where we wanted to be before daylight.

My dad re-tying his boot
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15178311_10157857304160387_4029628854697803059_n.j pg?oh=0c7cdd8a4c4c3fcc9f3cf600dd6df773&oe=58FC77A2

[warnniklz]

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15181530_10157857304280387_8415493980487483775_n.j pg?oh=1521fee7dc0455a9e45223a96b0bdd8a&oe=58C1200E

Habs hat... GARBAGE!!
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15267764_10157857304380387_5311659683220769938_n.j pg?oh=65c952d5be6369d7eae259089f4447e7&oe=58B92184

We didn't see what we wanted to see as the sun came up. Sure the sunrise was nice, but the only movement we caught was cattle moving out of the trees.

We decided that we should execute the same mission as yesterday. It wasn't long until father and me split ways. I seen one doe just after we split. Then I heard one shot, then another... and another... then a third. Alright, someone got something on the other side of the valley. Then another AND ANOTHER!

I started working a thick timber stand along a ridge.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15193620_10157857304655387_5259933171277006007_n.j pg?oh=f606845e8f3f7d3dfa0f288e620180db&oe=58B3CFA1

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15285090_10157857304875387_8792649730598565817_n.j pg?oh=8f781a1a07a92e4cf0a489d511b53eb9&oe=58BD4CF5

There was tracks all over our tracks from yesterday. I couldn't figure it out. The deer had me puzzled. The only thing I could think of is the deer have been moving at night, even with no moon and they've been pushed so hard, they're moving at night and hanging up in the thick stuff. I did cut one track that got me a optimistic...

300 win mag for reference
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15267914_10157857305345387_1207861548427575941_n.j pg?oh=2de8cc8edddf9f8b8e5d3f8ccec69d10&oe=58C1D6D6

[HarryToolips]

Nice pics, keep er coming...

[warnniklz]

That day we spotted 3 does between the two of us. This area we're use to seeing easily hundreds of deer. So mid dayish, we decided we'd head back to the truck and do some exploring of new areas. On the way out we found some interesting roads that have severe potential. Some more spots to definitely check out.

We got back to the house and I called my brother to see what him and our buddy had seen.

The next morning my dad and step mom headed back to the area we ended up with the flat tire to see if they could get my step-mom her doe. I met up with my brother and our buddy to another area. My step mom never did shoot her doe. They seen some, but no dry does...

So my brother, our buddy and myself got to our spot nice and early. It's spot only people on quads can really get to. But my buddy doesn't care for a scratch or two to get to our spot. We dropped my brother off to hike up a mountain and our buddy dropped me off to work up the mountain. While out buddy would work mid mountain.

It wasn't long until I seen a deer up on the hill. Body had buck written all over it. I quietly and slowly worked my way to the edge of the clearing. The buck had me pinned. Looking right at me. Wasn't big, but he was almost to the tips of his ears. We had a good one minute stare down. He broke the stare. But when he did, he turned and bailed up hill. He wasn't gum bootin it, but he was moving.

I tried to catch up to him, but I didn't (and still don't) have deer legs. So I never did catch up to him. I mad it back to the rendezvous without seeing anything else. When I made it to the meeting spot, my brother said he jumped a HUGE buck. Later demoted to big buck and once again a buck. Our buddy ended up seeing the buck I jumped and confirmed it was a 3 point. I guess it stopped and fed 40 yards from him... so from his stories, 70 yards.

We conversed and formulated a new game plan. We decided to head up and over the mountain. We made it to our insertion point and all went our separate ways. I ended up crossing 7 does. Our buddy seen 2 of the seven I seen. By the time we hunted our areas, we had about an hour and a half of daylight left.

I ended up picking out a deer about 600 yards out in a poplar stand. My brother and our buddy said it was a doe. But I got my optics up.

[warnniklz]

The deer was on private land and feeding away from us on a slight angle. Optics picked out a rack almost to the tip of it's ears. I picked out 3 points before it turned it's head. It was working it's way towards crown land. I told my brother and our buddy to stay where we were. I loaded up and started closing distance towards the deer.

There was a lot of open ground, but there was a couple spruce trees with a gully. I started running through the snow to close distance. If it was obviously huge and a 4 point, I know my rifle more than well enough that if I shaved a hundred yards off our distance, I'd make it to the spruce trees and squeeze off around more than comfortably.

But not being for sure 4 and still on private property, my plan was to head it off. He was moving at a good clip but not hanging around. I covered the ground faster than I thought I could. by now my 6'9" brother was already on his way. Didn't take him long to catch up.

Where the deer was headed, there was a timbered gully. I thought he'd hang up there. So we started working in on him. We followed his tracks and ended up jumping him. Our consensus based on time and area, he was the same 3 point our buddy and I spotted earlier in the day.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15356695_10157878667625387_2341320956535607349_n.j pg?oh=479187a31914077d75766ae25869a22d&oe=58BBAE1C

Last day of 4 point season, we didn't see the deer we wanted.

That night we headed out to our friend's house...

[warnniklz]

The day before my brother, our buddy and myself went out... our friend shot her first deer. Our buddy went to skin it for her, but had too many and bunged up the skin job. So we headed out to finish the job and cut the deer for her.

We spent the first couple hours picking hair, then me and my brother got to work finishing the skin job and and started quartering the deer. We set up our cutting station. Beer, tenderloin and tongue was on the menu... I'll let you make the tongue joke...

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15349621_10157878668245387_4761407109725122270_n.j pg?oh=16772de676c399899770076384464400&oe=58B3AE81

For some reason, I ended up being the meat cutter. I think the beer was paid in advance... my theory...

Anyways we got the job done at the wee hours of the morning. Early as in it was time to head back out hunting. Low and behold, we ended up sleeping in the next day.

The next day (Dec 1st) I headed to the local sports shop to pick up some more broadheads. Across the street, I noticed a buddy's vehicle at his shop. Wandered across the street. We'll say the rest of the day was a write off.

The next morning, my brother and I head up to my buddy's house. We loaded up our archery gear in my buddys ranger. He has a 570 mid size. Now a mid size is built for two average sized people and am accessory dog. Mw and my buddy are 6 foot 200+ pounds. My brother is 6'9" 230/250lbs. It was tight fit. We burned to my favourite archery area... lots of deer.

My brother and the ranger
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15356598_10157878667375387_4747674712007386822_n.j pg?oh=6772cec29b9079b98224a463cbc24853&oe=58F9FC0E

[warnniklz]

We did have a late start, but we were seeing deer. I went on one walk. It was warm, snow was kind of melting and falling off the trees. I was dead silent... a cougar was louder than myself. I was hooking to the west and my brother and my buddy were hooking to the east. I picked up a fresh track. There was a dusting of snow that night. The track was fresh and of decent size. I was more than positive it was a buck, if not a big ass doe... which we had already seen.

I started following the track deeper into the trees. After about a half hour of quietly and slowly picking my way through the timber, I spotted a deer.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15267703_10157878668540387_5169689722951774797_n.j pg?oh=2983e28ff456c8d848dfa89c4917ace9&oe=58F00694

[warnniklz]

I spotted the one deer, it's head was down. I decided I needed a closer look. Eye's locked on the deer, I took a step.. SNAP!

Right I stepped on that twig, a deer jumped up 20 yards from me and took off. No doubt at least a porch buck. The timber came alive with deer going every which way. It lasted only a moment and all was stiil. I hunted my way back to my brother and my buddy after slogging my way through a half frozen swamp.

My buddy did have to work that afternoon and we called it a day at about 3.

My brother and I went back out the next day, knowing the deer we had seen, there had to be more than that one buck. Only problem is the temperature had dropped. The snow was crunchy and louder than a popcorn fart. Sounded like walking on broken glass. Right off the bat, I spotted a deer's ass bounding away from us through the timber. Well at least it was promising.

We hunted the rest of the day without seeing another deer. we did however came across the most scrapes I have ever seen. Including the largest I've seen in a long while.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15230817_10157878667175387_8085759514677029828_n.j pg?oh=5c4d1183876535c742183f696120c5e3&oe=58B08FCA

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15232225_10157878667095387_1135724215348119908_n.j pg?oh=0358340209be2ff1d7b23cd848f1b16a&oe=58F55F53

The next day it had warmed up a little.

[Dash]

Eagerly waiting for more.... :)

[warnniklz]

The next day I was flying solo. I got a tactical insertion. Got dropped off and was going to make my extraction point at dark.

On my hike in, there was already truck tracks going in to "my" area. I've never seen another hunter in this area... but there's always a first. however there was a dusting of snow and the promising part was there was already deer tracks in the vehicle tracks.

I started hiking in. I jumped one doe pretty early on. I climbed in to some christmas trees and set up shop. I started playing with my deer stopper call. There was gully 20 yards to my right. Sure enough I seen some spikey ears coming up out of the gully. I knocked an arrow.

Next thing you know a red fox came out of the gully with a bunny in it's mouth. As soon as the fox got to the top of the gully he bailed. I started messing around with my deer call again. The fox came back. He came within 20 yards and held up. He still had the bunny in it's yap. It looked and me/trees and then over it's back and back to me. It bailed a second time. I started calling again and again the fox came back, still with a bunny in it's mouth. It held up again at 20 yards. It wasn't sure if it should come after the non existent fawn or take it's bunny back to safe haven. Sure enough it made the for choice and took the bunny and ran.

I continued on. Foolishly making my way through the gully the fox came out of. I wasn't seeing nothing. So I started b-lining it across the open country to another patch of timber. Sure enough I came across a couple hunters in a pick-up. They didn't stop so I didn't talk to them. I made it to the timber I had seen the porch buck two days before. It was not quiet at all. I tried to pick my way through for about an hour. It was loud.

So I made my way over to another spot where it was a little more open, but still with good cover and sign of a lot of deer moving. I found some good cover and hung out for a couple hours. Nothing was happening. So I gathered my gear and just started hiking in hopes of finding something. Just as I was breaking cover I heard a quad coming through. Sure enough he went blowing by me and didn't even notice me. I was just standing in the timber and he went by and 3 paces (yes I measured it out).

I've never seen so many people in this area... except in the summer when hooligans rally their beaters, then shoot em up and burn them. I wasn't really sure what to do. I figured now would be a good time to bust open the beef jerky and snack away. Just before the hemorrhoids started to set in, I was oscar mike.

A minute later another truck came driving by. "OH MY GOD" I thought. It was a family on a successful christmas tree hunt. They rolled down their window. I made my way over to them. The guy told me a couple does had just crossed in front of them and made their way into a gully.

[warnniklz]

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15253367_10157857305180387_4403439329940121351_n.j pg?oh=cb73071081761823afbe86eaf29a29b3&oe=58C0A425

Only does... but what the hell, should be a buck near by. So I made my way to the gully. Sure enough the gully was in a polar stand. Lots of dry leaves under the dusting of snow. Louder than a Motorhead concert. Sure enough though I jumped the two does. I started following their tracks. They were headed down hill. I didn't really want to head down this early. But I followed anyways.

I picked my way through some christmas trees that opened up to a big open timber stand. "Well this looks promising" I thought. So I started picking my way through the timber. Right away I caught a doe standing in the open over my shoulder. I started angling my way closer to her, but not at her. I was too close for comfort for her and she bounded away. Not spooked but not comfortable.

I only made it 50 yards then off in the timber, I seen something that seemed off. It looked like a deer's body, but very well could be a tree trunk or a stump. If it was a deer, it could very well be the same doe. None the less, I needed a closer look.

[warnniklz]

I started moving in closer to this off looking object. Sure enough, it was a doe. She decided to keep her distance. I kept on her path. Next thing you know several other deer started to materialize in the timber. One of the deer's posture was different than the rest. "There he is I thought".

I tried to move in as quiet as possible. The snow was minimal, however the forest floor was dry, frozen and loud. Sure enough the stud postured deer was a porch buck. I was positive he was the same buck I seen the day before yesterday. As I made my way closer, the deer kept their distance. The biggest obstacle I was battling was the half dozen or so lady deer between myself and the deer I wanted to get personal with. They kept creating distance down the mountain. About half way down I decided I wasn't getting close, I needed a different strategy. I made my way out of the timber to a nearby trail. I knew the trail worked it's way down the mountain and hooked below them.

When I got on the trail and was on double time. I followed the trail across the bottom of the mountain side. There was plenty of deer moving along the trail, but no sign crossing. To I held up along a creek bottom where the most deer had crossed.

I set up shop and hung out until the last hours of light. I never did see a deer cross. It was now 4:30 and I had to make my extraction point in half hour. I made my way out by head lamp and never did see another deer. Now it's back to work... enjoying this cold weather and excited for ice up to get into some trout.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10891432_10155006255755387_2678635643657571315_n.j pg?oh=ea92cf18768eca897af871bb19c50526&oe=58B81C83

On another note, my brother got out yesterday and got busted by a 4 point. His first year archery, so instead of closing the gap strategically, he tried basically walking up to it. I can't talk much because I'm still waiting for my first bow kill.







If this was a novel, this would go on the dust cover on a hard cover book:

I feel I may be at a new stage of my hunting career. I've followed my dad through the timber all my life. Before I can really remember. Pretty much any hunter you talk to, the best hunter in the world is their dad. I'm in this boat. My claim to fame is I've tagged a bull moose and a mountain goat before him. But following him around this season, it seems different. I'm use to asking my dad what the game plan is, what he thinks, so on and so fourth. But this past week, it seemed it was him asking me what the plan was. Now I know when it comes to bears and elk, he could take me to school. I'll even throw moose in there. On top of that, in his prime, I'm sure he could shit kick Proguide with blacktails (not today though). But a pound for pound.

But once again... "my dad is the best hunter in the world" - Every Other hunter

But I digress. There was a lot of "what do you think, what should we do?" questions. Even two three years ago, I couldn't even imagine those words coming from his mouth. In short, my best guess is I'm more well read on hunting overall, however NOTHING beats field time and he'll have that over me any day of the week. But it was a different feeling this trip. Almost like I was almost on his level, even though we weren't successful . Hard to explain, but I think most know what I'm talking about.

[srupp]

Hmm Warren I agree your Dad is one of the best hunters I know..and i knew him in his prime..he was crazy brutal..especially after ridge top mulies..your Grandpa Ed was amazing on his black bears..you are blessed a truly knowledgeable capable hunting family .
And yes your Dad could have kept up to Pogue. .I MO. .not many that can ..i have absolute utter repeat for both men.
Good luck on the ice fishing..
Cheers
Steven

["No Choke"Lord Walsingham]

Excellent thread!

Once again it's great to read from you, sure do spin a solid yard in your threads here on HBC. That's what it's all about right here, very entertaining read indeed man, thanks.

[Salty]

Awesome niklz thanks a lot for bringing us along really enjoyed the write up and pics.

I just think your dad sees you're not a snot nose punk any more you've logged some time and you've got some savy ;) Always good to compare notes with others even for a seasoned vet like your ol man, he's just being smart is my guess. But I bet he gets a hell of a kick out of seeing what you've have grown up to. Good times.

[Dash]

Love it :) Very entertaining, had me giggling a couple times. Thanks for taking the time to write about your adventures. Looking forward to the next chapter!

[Timbow]

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed it.

How would you rate this past deer season to others? Did you find the lack of snow have any effect on your deer hunting areas?

[warnniklz]

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed it.

How would you rate this past deer season to others? Did you find the lack of snow have any effect on your deer hunting areas?

It was slower than most. But we've had snow the last two years... maybe three. But the last time(I think 2013) we didn't have much snow,we seen lots of deer. Which is kind of confusing. But with lots of snow, I think they hang up in the timber. My best guess is because the flats have so much snow and drifts in the gullies, it's easier for them to move and get down to the feed in the timber.

[whognu]

hey warnniklz:

very well done, your storytelling, humour and a good choice of pictures made for a great escape (from work, for us)

nice work, I was along with you the whole way, ready to help you drag 'em out should you have needed

gold star, front of the class

chris

[Billy52]

Thanks for sharing…..enjoyed the pics!!!!

[Timbow]

It was slower than most. But we've had snow the last two years... maybe three. But the last time(I think 2013) we didn't have much snow,we seen lots of deer. Which is kind of confusing. But with lots of snow, I think they hang up in the timber. My best guess is because the flats have so much snow and drifts in the gullies, it's easier for them to move and get down to the feed in the timber.

Pretty much the same conditions around Quesnel. We didn't have the snow until the last half of November. Seems like all the deer I had on the trail cameras were pretty much resident deer.

You have the right idea. Ice fishing! Also some predator hunting.

[HarryToolips]

Hey good writeup man, I'm still looking for my first bow kill myself as well..

[warnniklz]

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed it.

How would you rate this past deer season to others? Did you find the lack of snow have any effect on your deer hunting areas?

The other thing I was thinking was the LEH system. I'm not saying the big bucks(190"class) aren't around. I've seen them in my headlights. But there's doe draws in November. I'm not against doe draws. But I think you'd have a lot less pressure if you got rid of the November doe draws and moved them to a youth/senior season in September.

That's just me with no biological expertise.

[Bugle M In]

The other thing I was thinking was the LEH system. I'm not saying the big bucks(190"class) aren't around. I've seen them in my headlights. But there's doe draws in November. I'm not against doe draws. But I think you'd have a lot less pressure if you got rid of the November doe draws and moved them to a youth/senior season in September.

That's just me with no biological expertise.

Makes sense, as the Does seem pretty spooky in November.
Later they seem to settle down, which also helps the opportunity to get in closer if there is a buck around:smile:

[warnniklz]

Makes sense, as the Does seem pretty spooky in November.
Later they seem to settle down, which also helps the opportunity to get in closer if there is a buck around:smile:

I figure if you got rid of the November doe draws, you'd only have the serious big buck hunters. I know I'm being a little selfish, but whatever.

If a guy has to drive 4 hours to the spot and has a doe draw, he'll still be out shooting up the country side during the rut closure. He'll probably also stay longer than if he only came for 4 point season. They have the rut closure to take pressure off, yet the ladies are still getting whacked.

[Bugle M In]

I figure if you got rid of the November doe draws, you'd only have the serious big buck hunters. I know I'm being a little selfish, but whatever.

If a guy has to drive 4 hours to the spot and has a doe draw, he'll still be out shooting up the country side during the rut closure. He'll probably also stay longer than if he only came for 4 point season. They have the rut closure to take pressure off, yet the ladies are still getting whacked.

In all honesty, I have felt the same way.
Yes, it's selfish I suppose, but, I always wondered why hunting Does into the month of November was needed.
Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with Doe tags/hunting etc and those that hunt them, but, if you aren't able to take a doe in October, either
you need to work on your hunting skills or you need to find another spot.

I have always wondered if there were no "any buck and doe season" at all, would the chances of seeing the big boys increase...reason being....
Most of the deer wouldn't be skittish or spooked at all, thus, maybe leaving the big boys more open to be stuck with a doe/s that are "habituated" and not spooked
by hunters.
Just me thinking about the scenario if that was the case, but, by no means am I asking it to happen.
I know all classes of deer need harvesting etc.

It's just after a full month of "any buck" in October along with "Doe LEH", the deer are pretty "alert" so to speak.
By the end of November, these same Does and little bucks are pretty relaxed.
Heck, this year we had repeated Does bedding down only several yards from us! (end of Nov)
And the little bucks would walk parallel with us as they kept on feeding.
Something that we have experienced in the hunting party for the past several years....kinda fun and fascinating.

[markomoose]

Enjoyed the pics and write up.Hunted Meldrum late Oct & late Nov and found the deer almost non-existant late November.Holed up in the thick stuff.Looking forward to you ice fishing pics . Mark

[warnniklz]

Enjoyed the pics and write up.Hunted Meldrum late Oct & late Nov and found the deer almost non-existant late November.Holed up in the thick stuff.Looking forward to you ice fishing pics . Mark

Meldrum is a tough hunt now. Not as much access as there once was. Seen the biggest two point ever in there. Also the biggest deer hunt (gross 192")I've been a part of was out of there.

[HarryToolips]

The other thing I was thinking was the LEH system. I'm not saying the big bucks(190"class) aren't around. I've seen them in my headlights. But there's doe draws in November. I'm not against doe draws. But I think you'd have a lot less pressure if you got rid of the November doe draws and moved them to a youth/senior season in September.

That's just me with no biological expertise.
Having a muley doe GOS, even limited like that, has a high risk of overharvest imo, they do not respond to pressure well like whitetail..and in September they haven't yet had time to adjust to hunting pressure of people driving around etc..

[markomoose]

Happy 30th Warnniklz.No ice fishing pics yet?Cheers Mark