This Sums up my past several seasons

[mike31154]

Plenty of hiking the alpine & sub-alpine of regions 8 & 3 for the last 3 seasons. I'm a newb at large game as of 2015 but have done some waterfowling way back in the '80s in Alberta. Bagged one Goldeneye last season up in the Monashees. Had some close encounters last couple years, but never 100% sure of a legal kill so didn't pull the trigger. Haven't been out as much as I'd like this season due to personal issues, but the times I have, fresh sign has been scarce.

However, as in past years, the domestic mulies mock me in my yard! Taken this morning, a doe & young one basking in the sunshine in the front yard.... I got within about 12 meters & didn't phase her. A little closer the ears perked & she got ready to move, but I backed off & they stayed put.

https://0b3fyg.dm2302.livefilestore.com/y4mC2ttJkMrywQG5LwehulC_eMK3MFHAumKf_oW65vuMwS1B-yIAePywrxJARahu7BJLU-bps6_CPkhbOI0zpUMywh1a6SnTwp_5hG9mgbMQRN9glmghzZJY W8tUvg0mp2Z59IBKfMgjtCqMRSp0-3txC7sjyBgiE-PNi7RxQ8nhAzD637cJlP0i7jm0cVdCb2Vlit7cGrSju_P2-e3IHJGiw?width=1024&height=1024&cropmode=none

I purchased a new 250 Honda to aid in scouting. Covers roads a lot quicker & gets through washouts the Taco won't handle. With any luck, I'll have better luck this year!!

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The Monashee Pass area, if this ain't mule deer country, I don't know what is... Whiteys too for that matter. Saw a few relatively fresh hoofprints, but scrambling around with the Honda likely spooked anything before I went for a hike.

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Even tried my hand at bow hunting early on before the guns came out, no joy...

https://2b1epw.dm2302.livefilestore.com/y4m14r0IlaF-o49vhwvsO4hYN0xZSTLpTD0hhJndCMl4iqBgTWC3X1mno8FLJC O9aVvSglH54JpXxt8yk5hzWpvlfOoEvw3487OaeOuNyFHeqdW9 kj2TB_jlDurp2KZaT3VgBwTQfXPQa88liG0B12UwaM7HGOi1lr QeTQNUeSNVGgZEpDz_oYkaTk9Fa4C6Q6qC3wEguXPIcrmblEGf Qbt4Q?width=1024&height=1024&cropmode=none

My lack of success is certainly not due to lack of effort.... but hey, in the end, it's my love of the outdoors & the mountains that keeps me at it. This is above Mabel Lake November 2015. That hunt ended up turning into a nice afternoon ski tour. I doubt anything was up that high any longer, only tracks I saw were wabbit. I have a few more photos, maybe put them into a subsequent post if there's interest.

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[mike31154]

'smore from 2015 Mabel Lake

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https://atlqmg.dm2302.livefilestore.com/y4mv3taxCnW7IKi0EHWF0J7cHOkCKTIcWPrwD1OJRYO7BRA8RG g0f0fppxxyh1YJF0CeJAeiS6lLjNnSYDyRNWDZBvlsbm_Grile N-h5pw4zaoBYIENlWqxvVe1PTaK63dVXoUWrdqCAz7hhMd835_sW qc1-S1R8AtSgVh_EJnE4dBBv19108EXlP_USTeUFWSOqB88eN5HW8H jzBxtFavlfA?width=768&height=1024&cropmode=none

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how 'bout a nice panorama to finish...

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[Ajsawden]

I think everyone on here loves photos! If you got more I'd certainly love to view them. In the latter photos it definitely looks like you're too high that late in the season. Good luck this year!

[thepitchedlink]

Good effort there fella. I was out Monashee pass way for the last day and a half....very little sign. Saw 1 half decent WT buck, but that it......need some more cool weather me thinks

[Rattler]

Thanks for posting, the pictures are great. I would ditch the dirt bike for hunting unless you are only using to access area and going on foot. I have travelled over Monashees hundreds of times. Have you hunted the power lines on top? Recommend them and fresh cuts up near the alpine. Good luck and keep at it and you will be successful.

[mike31154]

I think everyone on here loves photos! If you got more I'd certainly love to view them. In the latter photos it definitely looks like you're too high that late in the season. Good luck this year!

Thx for the encouragement & yep I realized I was up too high on the Mabel Lake hunt, although I've done the same in the Monashee Pass area and found a lot of tracks in the snow there. For some reason I just kept driving until I almost topped out. Then decided to ski tour up a cut block. It was my first time in that area to hunt so it was more of a scouting effort I reckon. If there hadn't been active hauling on that road I would have been stopped much further down. I'll dig up more pics, might need to upload some to OneDrive cloud.

[mike31154]

Good effort there fella. I was out Monashee pass way for the last day and a half....very little sign. Saw 1 half decent WT buck, but that it......need some more cool weather me thinks

Thx for the input regarding what you saw up there recently. I saw a lot of bear scat, more than any sign of deer. Last season I heard wolves howling. Hope to be back up soon myself.

[mike31154]

Thanks for posting, the pictures are great. I would ditch the dirt bike for hunting unless you are only using to access area and going on foot. I have travelled over Monashees hundreds of times. Have you hunted the power lines on top? Recommend them and fresh cuts up near the alpine. Good luck and keep at it and you will be successful.

Yes, the bike is mainly for scouting & getting me a little deeper before I hoof it on foot. I had hoped to use it before hunting season but everything was closed due to the fire hazard.

Thx for the input on the power lines. Often considered them but haven't actually tried hunting along one yet. Something about them reminds me too much of civilization! But hey, forestry roads & cut blocks are man made too & if it will put some meat in the freezer...... There are several fresh cuts in the area I've hunted so I'll definitely give them additional scrutiny.

[Bugle M In]

Hey...good stuff there....
If anything, you certainly look like your having fun out there....and lots of it...

[kennyj]

Keep at it! You will get one. Thanks for sharing your photos.
kenny

[mike31154]

Looking for mule deer in Region 8, come to Vernon. The irony continues, rolling off the couch, ready to grab the Friday morning paper and this.... a 4 point buck, count 'em 4.... and my bow is strung...

https://0b3dyg.dm2302.livefilestore.com/y4mpESgWYq0mrQdJlx6CBtWQyEyy4765fucRAYfaKZ9VEh9OAB qeq-AsQZQOB-JVNXf9JnvEg59DDvuAyw2DoMlHJsODIHjJhLfCX0IHZo4_HT8T 6ONwzg25R0NXGPl1bYxn1ylS3iwSIf7uFaO7JNeiyaBQDL0Kq1 ioDHQTsgHBrvZETJyuTdrUoUw1fCnILzeK1_hgZ5edXMPgBMrR-ON4g?width=1024&height=1024&cropmode=none

Mattress sale at the Brick, but I don't think I need one, clearly my front yard is preferred bedding in the neighbourhood... same spot as the doe yesterday.

https://0b3eyg.dm2302.livefilestore.com/y4mYzHEHQus9961xEr0-kxBlIRxv3zzVSPsEelTqUABI0JmNUnrOFSUi0TibPQWgq_2T_B EU6oUSkeno2mTrJcau0HoQn1iOeA375wh21JhnFvAduYAE3N4s zDAjwztbHzYDzOC_bw6crPW1FYWpD1oJHD5RpF_OPWQuwErzpb Btk9yHrn8fHcmNmjky6Jr-2-KMJb7qe540-a2OSk3Y3rhng?width=1024&height=1024&cropmode=none

He had company too, a smaller 2 point & a good sized doe. This little dink broke a branch off an already anemic slow growing evergreen rubbing his little rack.

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The gilrie, mooning me.

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[mike31154]

My vintage FN 30-06 with a Weaver scope on a Pachmayr swing away mount November 2015 at the top of a snow covered cut block. I purchased the old piece at the Vernon Rod & Gun outdoors show a few years ago to get me started in the big game game. I have no history on it from the vendor, but it's a decent shooter and am sure it's taken an animal or two, but not yet by me.... Since this photo was taken, I stripped the stock, finished it with linseed oil and changed the sling back to a leather one, same as the worn out one that was on it. I like old stuff, maybe 'cause I'm no longer a spring chicken either.

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Relaxing after slogging thru a substantial snow pack with my winter mocs. The old snowboard pants are the only thing I have that remotely resembles camo gear, so they do double duty in these conditions.

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Panorama of the cut block that was the center of my attention that day.

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[mike31154]

The FN spring of 2016 with 20+ coats of hand rubbed linseed oil. Looking a lot better after stripping off the patchy varnish on her when purchased. One or two dings that were too deep to completely raise with the steam iron, but not a bad result on a '50s-'60s vintage piece. The linseed oil finish is super easy to touch up with additional applications as needed.

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I pulled the action out as well & cleaned/rubbed the innards with oil. She was a dirty girl, the previous owner had let her slide a tad. Couldn't do the dollar bill scenario where you pull it between the barrel & the fore stock when I got it home, but that's been taken care of.

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Tempted to replace the scope with something modern & better, but I really like the swing away option of the Pachmayr mount & not sure a newer scope would clear the rear iron sight. Swing away feature may come in handy should I encounter an angry bear at close range. Would have to be a 1 inch tube with similarly small diameter front on it. Higher rings might work.

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I had to slice a little rubber out of the front lens cover shroud so it would clear the iron 100 meter leaf sight when scope is down & locked.

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[chele]

Hey nice pictures. I am curious what mountain range(s) of the monashee mountains you hunt.

[mike31154]

I generally venture out solo and there have been some minor adventures almost getting stuck in the boonies. Along with my newer Taco, I've been using my winter beater diesel JDM Hilux Surf to get into the back country. Almost slid into a nasty hole 2016 because I was too lazy to put the chains on sooner. Lesson learned....maybe. A couple hours of shoveling saved the day, but if I hadn't been able to extricate myself, it would have been a long walk to get help. Didn't get much hunting done that day.

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Time for a cup of tea. There were tracks all over this stretch of FSR, a veritable super highway for the deer once the snow falls.

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Now we're in biness, chains on. Just don't get stuck now, get stuck with the chains on & you're really looped....

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No firearms on this trip, scouting cut blocks for possible ski touring as well as getting a feel for the terrain next hunting season.

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[mike31154]

Hey nice pictures. I am curious what mountain range(s) of the monashee mountains you hunt.

Hwy 6 east of Cherryville in the Monashee Pass area. Takes me about an hour and 1/2-3/4 from Vernon. Headwaters of the Kettle River. One area that I hunt up there gets me pretty close to region 4.

[mike31154]

A little closer to home there is surprisingly much to explore, although I'm sure the pressure is greater than an hour or two away. The area definitely holds game, I spotted a mule doe with young one last year & whitetails crossing the road on my way home. This was my first early season bow hunting only outing. Chainsaw is on the shopping list. I was able to pull this old log aside with a beefy cargo strap, but a healthier tree with an anchored root ball would have stopped me cold well short of where I wanted to go.

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[mike31154]

Time to get off the keyboard & venture outdoors! Hopefully get out next week for a day or two. Taking the son in law to the range tomorrow as part of birthday gift. He's not a hunter but is keen on a little shooting. Really good guy & said if I ever need help hauling a carcass out of the woods, he'd be in for that. Getting a hold of him after a kill in the boonies is another matter.

[chele]

Oh I see. I asked because I need some info on how to approach the Jordan range and you seem an mountaineer type of person.

[boxhitch]

Good pics, m
those deer know where its safe and where the irrigated grocerys are.

[Dash]

Love your pics! Been following your posts since you started. I hope all your hard work pays off this season :) I'm in the same boat. 2 1/2 years and I'm still working towards my first as well.

Best of luck!

[mike31154]

Oh I see. I asked because I need some info on how to approach the Jordan range and you seem an mountaineer type of person.

I'm familiar with that area through backcountry skiing & cat skiing. Haven't hunted there. Up Gorge Creek FSR is an area known for good ski touring. That road is accessed by turning off Hwy 1 on to Lybarger Road east of Malakwa. Not that far from the famous Last Spike site. It's a snow belt up there so be prepared. A VHF radio will be needed on weekdays if there's active hauling. Once snow flies if no logging you'll need a sled. Plenty more FSRs around there but I've only been up Gorge Creek. Mustang Powder & K2 are the cat skiing operations, check their sites for possible info on access.

[mike31154]

Good pics, m
those deer know where its safe and where the irrigated grocerys are.
He, he, yessss. Coincidentally there was a letter in one of last week's issues of the Morning Star where the writer was admonishing some folks bow hunting a field in the Bella Vista area. Interesting read! Made me do a little research on local bylaws regarding firearms & weapons in city limits.... I will be building a tall fence between my front & back yards next year to try & keep them out of my garden. Will need to put netting on my grapes. They pretty well ruined my crop this year. I have a good sized property in an older part of town, but it's not the 2 hectares that seems to be the number in the bylaw to legally bow hunt. It gets a bit frustrating at times between the deer/raccoon raids & neighbour's loose felines using my garden as their kitty litter box.... but what're you gonna do, my hands are tied. Might get a live trap for the smaller critters.

[mike31154]

Love your pics! Been following your posts since you started. I hope all your hard work pays off this season :) I'm in the same boat. 2 1/2 years and I'm still working towards my first as well.

Best of luck!

Thx & best of luck to you. Mostly it's still all about getting off the couch & outdoors for me, but after a couple seasons it certainly would be cool to bag a critter. First season I had 2 pretty good opportunities that really got the adrenaline pumping, last year not so much other than bagging a duck. Perhaps season 3 will be the one.

Duck for dindin. Link to photo, Google+ doesn't seem to play nice with respect to embedding photos any more & I don't have this one on OneDrive.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YT59iqSL-v37fm2xIyyfXOE5mxJZa4_GQg/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pk1I_tDmp65-yssuz8dXJkSUMfTqxFc4XQ/view?usp=sharing