fozzy
11-11-2009, 10:50 AM
My wife and I just got back from region 8. I went for a week solo and she drove up and met me for the last week. Last year she shot a Moose in Reg 8 and wanted her first deer this year, a 4pt Mulie to be exact.
During the first week I didn't see too many animals, not like in past years anyway. I just wasn't in the right spot. I did see some smaller bucks but nothing even legal.
When my wife arrived we searched around 'till we found a good concentration of deer and not many hunters. There was two big groups of Doe's that we spotted in the same general area. There were 8 in one group and 9 in the other. The second time we saw the largest group there was a fork with them that bedded down. We watched them 'till last light and planned to go back the next day. With just a little fork with them it was only a matter of time before a bigger buck would show. We figured that they would be coming out to feed around 2pm so the next afternoon we were there just in time. I had just sat down (in my lawn chair :), yes I like being comfy when I can.:redface:) when a Doe came out then another Doe and then mister Buck came out. I scurried out of my chair and got Nadine to belly crawl into position and prone. We were slightly above them and fairly hidden. The Buck was around 212 yards and we were making sure he was a 4pt. Once we both agree'd he was legal Nadine had to wait until he turned. At one point I thought he was getting nervous and he was pretty much full broadside so I encouranged Nadine to take the shot. One through the lungs and he only made it a few yards. I'm glad that she was able to get her first Mulie on this trip, she has passed on a few smaller bucks over the last few years so it was overdue.
We hunted the same group of Does some more and also found another spot that they were coming out on the other side of the timber. The last moring we hunted there I made a mistake and entered the cut block too early and they were already out and they took off before we could ID them all. It was the weekend by this time and the area gets pretty busy so we packed up and headed for other territory.
Nadine had hurt her knee by this point so I headed out on my own while she did some easy snow shoeing with the dog nearby. I had planned to hike up top and hunt east to west, the wind was heading east so sun to the back wind in the face was the plan. I was making my way uphill slowly when I spotted a couple antler tines sticking up out of the sage brush about 50-75 yards away below me and further east. For some reason it never occured to me that it might be a live deer. I remember thinking it was dark antler so not a shed but I thought to myself it was a dead deer, maybe shot and not recovered was my thought. Wouldn't be the first time I've found a carcass in the bush. I crossed a small ravine and was heading down hill trying to spot the tines again when all of a sudden he went bounding through the ravine I had just crossed heading further downhill. I gave a quick bleat noise and he stopped for a look. One easy shot to the neck just after 8am and it was all over with a nice down hill drag to the truck.
I still want a nice big Mulie one day but also wanted meat in the freezer and with two days left in the season my tag was cut.
I envy the guys that live on the mainland, having some of the best hunting in their backyard.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Dino_s_2009_Mulie.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/My_2009_Mulie.jpg
During the first week I didn't see too many animals, not like in past years anyway. I just wasn't in the right spot. I did see some smaller bucks but nothing even legal.
When my wife arrived we searched around 'till we found a good concentration of deer and not many hunters. There was two big groups of Doe's that we spotted in the same general area. There were 8 in one group and 9 in the other. The second time we saw the largest group there was a fork with them that bedded down. We watched them 'till last light and planned to go back the next day. With just a little fork with them it was only a matter of time before a bigger buck would show. We figured that they would be coming out to feed around 2pm so the next afternoon we were there just in time. I had just sat down (in my lawn chair :), yes I like being comfy when I can.:redface:) when a Doe came out then another Doe and then mister Buck came out. I scurried out of my chair and got Nadine to belly crawl into position and prone. We were slightly above them and fairly hidden. The Buck was around 212 yards and we were making sure he was a 4pt. Once we both agree'd he was legal Nadine had to wait until he turned. At one point I thought he was getting nervous and he was pretty much full broadside so I encouranged Nadine to take the shot. One through the lungs and he only made it a few yards. I'm glad that she was able to get her first Mulie on this trip, she has passed on a few smaller bucks over the last few years so it was overdue.
We hunted the same group of Does some more and also found another spot that they were coming out on the other side of the timber. The last moring we hunted there I made a mistake and entered the cut block too early and they were already out and they took off before we could ID them all. It was the weekend by this time and the area gets pretty busy so we packed up and headed for other territory.
Nadine had hurt her knee by this point so I headed out on my own while she did some easy snow shoeing with the dog nearby. I had planned to hike up top and hunt east to west, the wind was heading east so sun to the back wind in the face was the plan. I was making my way uphill slowly when I spotted a couple antler tines sticking up out of the sage brush about 50-75 yards away below me and further east. For some reason it never occured to me that it might be a live deer. I remember thinking it was dark antler so not a shed but I thought to myself it was a dead deer, maybe shot and not recovered was my thought. Wouldn't be the first time I've found a carcass in the bush. I crossed a small ravine and was heading down hill trying to spot the tines again when all of a sudden he went bounding through the ravine I had just crossed heading further downhill. I gave a quick bleat noise and he stopped for a look. One easy shot to the neck just after 8am and it was all over with a nice down hill drag to the truck.
I still want a nice big Mulie one day but also wanted meat in the freezer and with two days left in the season my tag was cut.
I envy the guys that live on the mainland, having some of the best hunting in their backyard.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Dino_s_2009_Mulie.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/My_2009_Mulie.jpg