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View Full Version : First Experience Hunting Today!



clte
11-18-2016, 12:32 AM
Hi everyone!

I joined here a couple years ago when I was going through CORE and PAL for info and help in getting into hunting. I was too busy, broke and missing gear in 2014 to hunt and spent most of 2015 out of Canada. This year I picked up a new Truck and being mostly geared up now I FINALLY got out into it today about 20 KMs east of Squamish looking for Mule Deer with a friend who dirt bikes around there quite often and says he sees sign.

We parked, got all ready and went down a steep wooded area. I figured he would want to spot and stalk but turns out he's really into Still hunting and doesn't like sitting in one place for very long. I was really expecting nothing from the day other than to get experience and maybe see some sign so I paced along behind him. We split and I went down the hill 20 meters or so and we moved slowly along through dense ferns and trees along a ridge. About 45 minutes in I look up and he's wide eyed looking at me and I look just to his right and 30 or so yards off is a Doe. I see him go to raise his gun ... but a blur moves behind the doe that I hadn't seen then the doe takes off in another grey blur. Found out there was a buck above the doe that I only saw the blur of and my friend was unsure how many antlers but GEEZ! Right after we saw them I saw so much sign and droppings... but the rest of the morning no more deer.

My friend busted his foot climbing over a patch of deadwood so we went back to the truck. He took me to another area I walked alone for an hour but couldn't find anything.

We also did a drive up a logging road looking for grouse and ran into 3 Spruce Grouse but sadly spooked them before we could get shots off.

Anyways I think it was very successful for me! :) Was not even expecting to see game for the first time out but ended up seeing the 2 critters we were looking for and lots of sign.

Shot from where we parked:
http://i.imgur.com/sZAa1m2.jpg
(http://i.imgur.com/sZAa1m2.jpg)
First time seeing CLEAR sign!:
http://i.imgur.com/PiM5gpR.jpg
(http://i.imgur.com/PiM5gpR.jpg)

coach
11-18-2016, 04:53 AM
Cool stuff, welcome to the addiction!

HarryToolips
11-18-2016, 07:51 AM
Yup, welcome, it's lots of fun just getting out there, and yes just seeing game is a good day..

604Stalker
11-18-2016, 08:30 PM
Oh your screwed now. Call the bank out a cap on your card and save your sick days. Kiss the ol lady and tell her goodbye in september. Because your hooked!

r106
11-18-2016, 08:43 PM
Sounds like your off to a great start. 1 bit of advice, never hike downhill looking for game always go uphill.. you will thank me after you shoot something. Lol.

Chuck
11-18-2016, 09:01 PM
When you see the poop, then you know you're there!

adriaticum
11-18-2016, 09:09 PM
Phew, the addiction is sure keep coach awake

clte
11-19-2016, 08:54 PM
Thanks everyone! Heading back up tomorrow to take another look.


Sounds like your off to a great start. 1 bit of advice, never hike downhill looking for game always go uphill.. you will thank me after you shoot something. Lol.

We actually weren't going downhill. If you see the first image I posted we were down from the road there about 50 meters and going along a ridge in the woods. My buddy was 20 meters up and we just stalked along. Tough stuff to move through but fun day, marked it on GPS and going to check again tomorrow.

clte
11-20-2016, 09:49 PM
Just wanted to say we had success today back out again!

My 2nd time out with my buddy and he shot a spike buck 30 meters downhill from where we saw deer the last time out and we saw another 4 pointer head deeper into the woods but as we are newbies we weren't sure how long everything would take and man moving and processing a deer is far far harder than stalking and shooting one!!!

Anyways 2 times out and a total of 9 hours looking and i've seen 5 mule deer and my companion got a spike buck. :)

HarryToolips
11-20-2016, 09:52 PM
^^^^^nice congrats to you and your friend! You helped and were involved in the hunt so make sure he gives ya a decent portion of meat lol...

coach
11-20-2016, 09:52 PM
Congratulations on your success! It gets easier processing them the more times you do it. Make sure you google different methods of processing - especially "gutless".

clte
11-22-2016, 12:40 AM
^^^^^nice congrats to you and your friend! You helped and were involved in the hunt so make sure he gives ya a decent portion of meat lol...

Hehe I grabbed a couple chunks of back strap I am aging for a couple weeks and he will give me some ground next month.

He's a family guy with a wife and a couple kids + all the gear to process while I'm single + it's his deer and I was far more interested in working through the process this time.

I plan to head back up on Wednesday but I threw my back out today so I'm hoping it feels better by then.

Cheers all! Hope everyone is having a good year.

hunter1947
11-22-2016, 03:50 AM
Good luck on finding what your looking for ,,just remember every time you go out its never a wasted trip its a learning experience..

ducktoller
11-22-2016, 06:47 AM
If you are 20km due east out of squamish and seeing that many deer and a 4 point then keep that spot secret.

Tough hunting out that way.

tigrr
11-22-2016, 02:22 PM
Post this for you.
Shot from where we parked:
http://i.imgur.com/sZAa1m2.jpg
(http://i.imgur.com/sZAa1m2.jpg)
First time seeing CLEAR sign!:
http://i.imgur.com/PiM5gpR.jpg</a> (http://i.imgur.com/PiM5gpR.jpg[/img])