4 whitetail bucks

[xlcc]

Yesterday I hunted all day,from dark to dark.

I saw 4 bucks and a pile of does.

At first light I see 3 bucks.A 4 pointer and two 5 pointers.They were chasing does.
The two 5 pointers were both shooters in my mind.One was exceptional.There is no doubt when you see a deer like this.He was half again bigger than the largest doe.The wind was blowing hard quartering towards them at about 25mph with strong gusts.A good 300 yards from me.I sure felt like shooting but decided to circle around into the trees and get down wind and close the distance.

It was still just barely shooting light.By the time I got into a better position most of the deer buggered off including the bucks.There were sheets of rain coming down sideways at times.I figured with most of the deer in heavy bush it would be hard to see the buck and get a shot so better to try and intercept him on the way to a bedding area up the hill.

I was slipping along this long narrow opening in and out the tree line that has clover mowed down by cows pasturing in the summer heading to a skid trail up the hill and paused to study my suroundings.Off another skid trail into the opening the smaller 5 point shows up 50 yards in front of me.
He got wind of me and peeled'er.

A little later I'm hunkered down just watching and a 3 pointer walks by me about 30 feet away or so.Didn't have a clue I was there.No,not this time.

I already got a 6 point elk so I don't really need any more meat.The rut is starting to happen so it will only get better for the month of November.

The rest of the day I didn't cover that much ground but every step counts when still hunting the bush, I was tired. Jumped a few deer.I found a good spot to sit later in the day and made a little blind where I saw the deer in the morning with a small folding saw I carry in my fanny pack.Just enough branches to cover my movement and to clear a shooting lane.

A doe here then another and a couple more then a few more show up and are feeding.I have deer anywhere from 200 yards to 45 yards from me.All I need is Mr. Big to show up.The wind dies down then the rain picks up.Then the rain is going sideways again.

I have a perfect rest to shoot from.It is starting to get dark.Any time now would be nice.I've got 9 live decoys feeding.Where are you?It is dark enough now I can barely make out a deer real close to me.

Finally I stand up and slowly slip away as to not disturb the does and work my way back to the truck.

What a great hunt.Maybe next time!

[Walking Buffalo]

Nice.

Sounds like you got it.

And I'll still bet on that big buck winning. ;-)

[joshbazz]

Awesome! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

[walks with deer]

great you got good bait there a doe in heat is the best ticket.

[ratherbefishin]

I just love being out and seeing game...

[835]

Any time chasing deer around is a good time... Especially when you already have a freezer full!

[Getbent]

Good luck man, really enjoyed the play by play...thought we may see an "as it lays" photo...

[boilerroom]

wow, what a great day! I'm heading up somewhere between Merritt and Barriere for 3 days starting Monday so hoping I get a chance to even see one buck!

PS I'm basing out of Kamloops so if any kind souls want to point me in the right direction from there I'd be greatful. I've not had success over the last 7 years at Loon Lake and north of Princeton but finally ditched my pals that prefer to road hunt from ATVs. I much prefer being alone hiking in the forest and from all I've read on HBC over the years it should give me an opportunity some day.

Cheers,
Mike

[HarryToolips]

Sounds like a great hunt even though you didn't bag the big buck...

[xlcc]

wow, what a great day! I'm heading up somewhere between Merritt and Barriere for 3 days starting Monday so hoping I get a chance to even see one buck!

PS I'm basing out of Kamloops so if any kind souls want to point me in the right direction from there I'd be greatful. I've not had success over the last 7 years at Loon Lake and north of Princeton but finally ditched my pals that prefer to road hunt from ATVs. I much prefer being alone hiking in the forest and from all I've read on HBC over the years it should give me an opportunity some day.

Cheers,
MikeI hunted the Dewdrop on the north side of Kamloops lake in the later part of November in the snow and got a few 4 point mulies.You could try that area.Indian Gardens on the south side late season as well is worth looking at.I prefer the high ridges above the lake on the north side on foot.It can be a chore to get a deer to your truck.Better bring a pack and some ribbon or gps to find your deer if you have to leave it overnight.

[xlcc]

thanks guys
This afternoon I went back to my area seems the wind died down and the rain quit.On my way to my sit position I saw a pretty good buck with a doe.They saw me too.
Once sitting in my blind if you can call it that I waited about an hour or so and a couple of does showed up.A bit later a 2 pointer then a few more does.
Some of the does must have got my scent as they started running around then settled down.There is a couple of burn piles smouldering away behind me that helps to mask my presents.No deer have seen me yet at my ground blind.Some of the does disappeared in the bush then another one showed up by herself quite close to me.A bit later a 3 point arrives near the big old doe.Eventually the 2 bucks meet up and start sparing.It was nice to sit there and watch.
There was a loader or something big working not far from me.I see a new road getting started.Maybe some logging going to happen.Things might change here at my honey hole.
No big ones this afternoon so I waited there 'till dark and worked my way back to my truck.I will give it another try tomorrow morning at first light.

[xlcc]

This morning was dead still,a little frost on the ground.A perfect morning to hunt deer.<br>
Early at first light a small 4 point came so close to me I could almost touch it.That was pretty cool.I took a picture but it was pretty dark and the photo is poor.Too bad.<br>
I continued hunting and skirted around some old skid trail where I run into a doe.I froze.She came quite close then wondered off.<br>
At this location I tried some rattling and a few grunts.No luck here.Following a deer trail above a creek for a quarter mile,nothing.I turned around and headed baack as it was pretty thick.Back into the old logging I spotted a buck running in a big opening.This surprised me to see a buck in the open as the sun was up.<br>
I grabbed my antlers off my shoulder and started rattling as loud as possible.The buck was about to enter a brushy draw then hit the brakes and turned around.I rattled hard again.He started running back where he came from.I moved my location about 25 yards where I stood in some small fir trees near and opening about 75yards wide.I figured at the rate the buck was moving if he was going to come to me I'd better be ready to shoot.I grunted a few times then lightly rattled some more.<br>
He was sneaking through the far edge of the bush trying to get down wind of me.Quartering away I took a shot at him moving through the trees.I hit him a little farther back than I wanted with an offhand shot.That slowed him down and confused him.I could barely see him now.He was stumbling around.Then I could see his head and a bit of his neck.I took a quick shot and hit a branch.That was OK as he moved in a better position and I put one in his lungs and down he went.<br>
Everything happened pretty fast from when I first saw him.<br>
Not the big brusier I saw a few days ago but the way it all came down made for a real cool experience.<br>Hell if I can get a picture on this site.Sorry guys

[boilerroom]

Congrats on an exciting morning!

[IronNoggin]

... Hell if I can get a picture on this site.Sorry guys

First: Congrats on the buck! Nice!!

Second: I am sending you a pm re: pix...

Cheers,
Nog

[boilerroom]

xlcc's Buck:

https://i.imgur.com/dPijncFl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3mV3dmQl.jpg

yup... I've been relegated to posting other's pics cause I can't get a buck of my own :roll:

[xlcc]

Thanks boilerroom!

[LBM]

quit the neck on that guy

[boilerroom]

Thanks boilerroom!

Glad to help! And thanks back :)


quit the neck on that guy

That's what I was thinking when I saw the pics - seem like he's in rut??

[BeerMan]

Nice Buck xlcc!
What caliber is the rifle?

[stinkyduck]

Nice hunt there man.

[nature girl]

Really nice deer. Thanks for the story.

[DannyO]

I appreciate the story being shared, thank you and congratulations on the buck!

[xlcc]

Nice Buck xlcc!
What caliber is the rifle?
My pipe is a Howa HB in 6.5 Grendel.Super accurate rifle.

[xlcc]

Thanks guys,
I have seen a good number of bucks this season ,both whities and mulies.I have been out a lot.I hunt on foot as I am not into window shopping.I don't like to shoot the first thing I see as then my hunting is over and you don't learn as much as being there with the deer.
Of all the bucks I've seen this year this is the first one in full rut.
It is so cool watching deer move through thick bush ducking in and out of the branches trying to get down wind of you without making a sound.
Calling any game is where the fun of it is too me.Being able to speak the language of wild critters.
Best of luck to you.The harder you work the luckier you get.

I will now try for a 4 point mulie.

[HarryToolips]

xlcc's Buck:

https://i.imgur.com/dPijncFl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3mV3dmQl.jpg

yup... I've been relegated to posting other's pics cause I can't get a buck of my own :roll:
Beauty buck xlcc congrats....

[Nimrod]

Great WT Buck Congrats.
Good mass, looks like he could be a bit of a bully.

[jac]

Nice buck thanks for sharing

[RICKADY]

Nice write up, very cool to be so close, congrats on a nice deer.

[bigbadjoel]

Beauty buck! Congrats.
What region was this?

[xlcc]

Beauty buck! Congrats.
What region was this?
Region 7 Rocky Mts.

[xlcc]

Here is the buck at first light that walked so near me I could have touched him.You can see the burn pile behind smoldering away.http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8151&stc=1

[chola]

nice buck.....great story too

[Arctic Lake]

Congrats that’s a nice deer you got there ! Always enjoy fellas stories !
Arctic Lake

[Rattler]

Great stories and a solid buck. No doubt he’s in the rut!

[Islandeer]

Dandy!!
keep your spot to yourself.