raygun
10-10-2023, 10:28 PM
Had a cool little story to tell about a nice forky buck I got on September 29. To set the scene, I got completely skunked last year, and while my son and I both got an arrows off (each) during August archery season on the island - neither of us have anything to show for it.
Now while I was looking for a spring bear in Mission this season, I came across a very friendly velvet spike Muley in June. "I'll see you in September....." I said!
Fast forward to September 29, the family and I are camping with friends in Mission, and I went out for a morning hunt on the 29th while everyone slept in. First few hours flew by with nothing but a few hoof prints here and there, but this being the 3rd time I've been back to my spot.... still no sign of spikey. I decided to pop down a different trail that I've only been down once before, just to see if it might lead to another trial I was interested in. Didn't see a thing, but I picked up my phone to take a pretty picture of the lake, then I got reception for a second, so I checked my map, texted the wife, etc. etc.
Well in that 2 minutes, low and behold - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!!!!!! does walked in 70-80 yards in front of me! And one of those does had antlers!!!! BUCK!!!!!
I was so shocked that by time I pulled my rifle and put my sight on the buck, I got a 2 second glance and he bounced off. DAMNIT!
I hung around for a bit, they never came back. And I started kicking rocks back to my truck. IDIOT! PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN!!!
That was about 2km from the road, and it was getting close to lunch. Then as I got about 0.6km from my truck - waiting for me patiently on the trail was a nice forky buck and a a doe. Might not have been the same buck as before, but it turned and gave a me clean, uphill - broadside shot and dropped where he stood. I can't remember the last time I got that excited! He was 1.5km closer to my truck, and only 50 yards off the logging road!
So I went back to get my son, wife and puppy - it would be a good experience for the dog and the boy can help me drag it back to the truck. Now here's where the story goes from neat to AWSOME! I won't give any name or description, but when we got back to load it up, a CO came driving down the trail. The CO had just released a bear not far from where I got my buck, and just let all of us know where it was and to be careful. I mentioned that I was retrieving my buck and I forgot my gun back at the trailer, so the CO offered to escort us back to the deer just to make sure everything was safe. When we pulled the buck down on the road, the CO said - "Why don't you just haul it into the back of my truck, and I'll drop it off back to your truck?" WHAT A NICE PERSON!!! Checked my tag, helped load and unload, and even gave my pup a biscuit. I was asked not to reveal any details, but I have to tell a bit of the story as it was such a great experience.
Well, that is the start to my season. Heading out again this weekend to Merritt area, hoping to put some more meat in the freezer. I've been lurking this forum for more than 2 years now, and felt I should post something. Thanks to everyone I got advice from here, it's a great website.
Now while I was looking for a spring bear in Mission this season, I came across a very friendly velvet spike Muley in June. "I'll see you in September....." I said!
Fast forward to September 29, the family and I are camping with friends in Mission, and I went out for a morning hunt on the 29th while everyone slept in. First few hours flew by with nothing but a few hoof prints here and there, but this being the 3rd time I've been back to my spot.... still no sign of spikey. I decided to pop down a different trail that I've only been down once before, just to see if it might lead to another trial I was interested in. Didn't see a thing, but I picked up my phone to take a pretty picture of the lake, then I got reception for a second, so I checked my map, texted the wife, etc. etc.
Well in that 2 minutes, low and behold - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!!!!!! does walked in 70-80 yards in front of me! And one of those does had antlers!!!! BUCK!!!!!
I was so shocked that by time I pulled my rifle and put my sight on the buck, I got a 2 second glance and he bounced off. DAMNIT!
I hung around for a bit, they never came back. And I started kicking rocks back to my truck. IDIOT! PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN!!!
That was about 2km from the road, and it was getting close to lunch. Then as I got about 0.6km from my truck - waiting for me patiently on the trail was a nice forky buck and a a doe. Might not have been the same buck as before, but it turned and gave a me clean, uphill - broadside shot and dropped where he stood. I can't remember the last time I got that excited! He was 1.5km closer to my truck, and only 50 yards off the logging road!
So I went back to get my son, wife and puppy - it would be a good experience for the dog and the boy can help me drag it back to the truck. Now here's where the story goes from neat to AWSOME! I won't give any name or description, but when we got back to load it up, a CO came driving down the trail. The CO had just released a bear not far from where I got my buck, and just let all of us know where it was and to be careful. I mentioned that I was retrieving my buck and I forgot my gun back at the trailer, so the CO offered to escort us back to the deer just to make sure everything was safe. When we pulled the buck down on the road, the CO said - "Why don't you just haul it into the back of my truck, and I'll drop it off back to your truck?" WHAT A NICE PERSON!!! Checked my tag, helped load and unload, and even gave my pup a biscuit. I was asked not to reveal any details, but I have to tell a bit of the story as it was such a great experience.
Well, that is the start to my season. Heading out again this weekend to Merritt area, hoping to put some more meat in the freezer. I've been lurking this forum for more than 2 years now, and felt I should post something. Thanks to everyone I got advice from here, it's a great website.