AnthonyMoth
12-07-2009, 11:43 PM
I wanted to wait until the end of the season before I posted but I can't wait anymore so hear is my 2009 season. I hope its not too long winded :)
Muley hunting region 3 Mid November:
I had scouted the area out the night before our last day and came up with my plan of attack. The next morning I proceeded to the spot I wanted to hunt, I was a few minutes late as I seen few smaller bucks on the way there. When I finally got there before I even got quad turned off I see a hat rack standing exactly where I was gonna begin my hike! I jump off and head in to the timber. This area is really steep and he's about 150 yards above me and would push his doe further up about 35 yards at a time and stop and look back at me. He gave me several opportunities but I just couldn't put a 4th point on him. I'm still not convinced that he was only a 3 point..but either way he was nice.
As I continued after him I came across this 3 point which I assume was killed by this buck or the buck I ended up shooting..it was fairly fresh day old maybe and there was nobody else hunting this area.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/PB110278.jpg
Eventually I was unable to continue heading straight up this hillside so I went back to my quad and took the road up in the direction he was heading hoping to get above him and hike back down on him. No such luck, I was unable to find him after that. At a loss of what to do I decided to go with my original plan and return to spot I had planned on hunting and head in on foot. It was 9 am when I headed in. After about 250 yards I seen 3 does that were chasing each other and sort of play fighting. I continued on sidehilling until I hit a large gully (250' Drop) where I was forced to head up. After a couple hundred yards of straight up I seen two white bums! I couldn't see either of their heads and was exhausted so I just I took at knee and put the scope on them and waited for them to move. Sure enough the one on the right takes a few steps and gives me a broadside look, I count 1..2..3..4. Then hes hidden again, I say to myself did I Just count 4? Not wanting to shoot the possible 3 point I waited for another look, when I was sure I squeezed one off just behind his shoulder with my 30-06 he ran 20 yards before nose diving into the grass. Then the work began! :mrgreen: But it was well worth it! He's my biggest buck to date.
He netted 130 3/8 and is just over 20" wide. I shot him at 10 am he was the fifth buck i'd seen that morning. I got him about kilometer from the nearest road and managed to drag him most of the way out by myself, close enough to get my quad in to him anyways.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/14442_333351300470_718365470_966755.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/14442_333351295470_718365470_966754.jpg
Remains of a 4 point I found.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/PB100259.jpg
Elk Hunting in Fort Nelson area Mid September:
Here's a few pics from our september elk hunt on the Tuchodi. We spiked camped 10 kms from the river and managed to get one 6x5 between the 3 of us. Not bad for our first time elk hunting! Seen lots of wildlife including two separate herds of wild horses with one rather frisky stallion. No grizzly problems but I did end up with a severe tooth infection and my whole face swelled up lol not a pleasant experience. After having several bulls screaming at me including one within 20 yards that never did actually let me see him, i'm hooked! Heading back next year for elk and sheep! Enjoy the pics!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278219935470_718365470_8820-1.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278219540470_718365470_8820-1.jpg
My spike tent!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214895470_718365470_8820765.jpg
Two of hundreds of sheds I found and was not allowed to bring home :(
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214920470_718365470_8820767.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214725470_718365470_8820745.jpg
My Dad with his first elk!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214760470_718365470_8820750.jpg
Island Hunting October:
After days and days of shed hunting last spring I had it pegged I was gonna get my first blacktail and my first bow kill on or the near the archery opener...boy was I wrong! lol.
I would practice everyday with my compound and head out every evening to my local spots. For the first month or so I never had a good look at a buck just bums bouncing away. I was given permission to hunt a piece of land that I was dreaming about! I went there every night for a week straight. I would just walk in to the edge of the timber along a meadow and stand there and wait..every time I went I seen deer. Spooked several good bucks until one night about 25 minutes before the end of shooting light I hear a few branches break about 15 yards beside me..this is thick Vancouver Island brush by the way. After a few crunches and snaps I see this small tree bend over back and forth and start shaking..took me about 2 seconds to realize it was a buck rubbing! Dark was coming and I new I was running out of time so I burped at him..he immediately stopped and it was silent..I burped again and I heard a few snaps as he stepped closer to he edge of the meadow. I burped once more and sure enough he comes straight into the meadow which is 4-6 ft tall grass..all I can see is brown antlers coming in my direction..it didn't pause or look around he was coming right for me..when he got with in 10 yards I drew on him (my first time ever drawing on an animal) he proceed in to about 7 yards when he spotted me. He stopped at a quartering towards me angle and stared right at me..I tried to keep myself from looking at his rack as it was the biggest I had ever seen yet and I placed my pin just behind is shoulder and released. My arrow hit him within a 1/10th of a second and he bolted so fast I barely seen him disappear into the timber. I was left there bymyself minutes before the end of shooting light thinking did that really just happen?
I waited a few minutes before going over to the where he was standing. I found my arrow exactly where he was when I shot him..it had blood and hair on the first inch of it but my broadhead was broken off at the threads and was missing the threads and the insert crack the arrow and were forced into it by about an inch. Not seeing a blood trail I went and got some flashlights and help and proceed to begin tracking, there was no blood and I lost his trail after a 100 yards or so. Being almost impossible to navigate through our jungle like timber I gave up for the night and went back at it again at first light. After a couple hours with out any sign what so ever and this isn't a big area were talking about I had to give up..I was devastated to say the least, but these things happen I guess. My best guess is that I struck the shoulder with my arrow and it broke the broadhead and there was no penetration which is why arrow dropped where he was standing..?
I believe he was a large 3 point with guards but he may have been 4x4 plus guards. The image of those brown antlers coming towards me through the yellow grass we be with me for a long long time. :)
I came away from that experience knowing to never shoot your bow unless you have a broadside shot or at the very least a quartering away shot. But I have since heard that this buck was spotted by someone in the area so thats good news.
I took a few days off after wounding that buck before I tried one of my other spots.
When I did go back to my other spot I found that there was a ton of rubs
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/nov007.jpg
I missed on a few opportunities with some nice 3 points (spooking them trying to draw) before I made the switch to cross bow. As the prime rut seemed to be ending I ended up taking a small 2 point, again in the evening, only this time I immediately found a heavy blood trail..I gave him about 10 minutes before I followed..I couldn't wait any longer as it would be dark soon so I proceed after him only to spook him out his bed 75 yards from where shot him. I decided he needed more time so I left him for the night and came back the next morning with our blue-tick coon hound..hoping he could prove helpful..I took him to the last area I new he was in and within 2 minutes we found him!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/nov025.jpg
Muley Hunting Region 5 last week of November:
A week after I got my muley we headed out again to try and bag another this time in region 5. There was very little deer compared to normal only seen a hand full of bucks in a week. However on our first morning there I was just coming into a slash from the timber when two gun shots went off only a 100 yards from me..scary to say the least! then a 3 point runs across in front of me..I ran up to his tracks in the snow and take a look for blood when I spot the hunter moving through the slash so I waved him over he tells me that the buck he shot was a nice one and it was chasing the 3 point when he shot it. We walked back to where it was when he shot and we found it right away and it was beauty!
5x5 Grossed over 184 and netted 173.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/13334_348028355470_718365470_985707.jpg
After that day we were lucky to see 2 does a day.
But I wasn't disappointed this was by far my best and longest season. I can't wait to back in the mountains listening to bugles while watching the sun rise!!:-D For now I will just have to look forward to the upcoming shed hunting season.
I hope you enjoy my post,
Anthony
Muley hunting region 3 Mid November:
I had scouted the area out the night before our last day and came up with my plan of attack. The next morning I proceeded to the spot I wanted to hunt, I was a few minutes late as I seen few smaller bucks on the way there. When I finally got there before I even got quad turned off I see a hat rack standing exactly where I was gonna begin my hike! I jump off and head in to the timber. This area is really steep and he's about 150 yards above me and would push his doe further up about 35 yards at a time and stop and look back at me. He gave me several opportunities but I just couldn't put a 4th point on him. I'm still not convinced that he was only a 3 point..but either way he was nice.
As I continued after him I came across this 3 point which I assume was killed by this buck or the buck I ended up shooting..it was fairly fresh day old maybe and there was nobody else hunting this area.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/PB110278.jpg
Eventually I was unable to continue heading straight up this hillside so I went back to my quad and took the road up in the direction he was heading hoping to get above him and hike back down on him. No such luck, I was unable to find him after that. At a loss of what to do I decided to go with my original plan and return to spot I had planned on hunting and head in on foot. It was 9 am when I headed in. After about 250 yards I seen 3 does that were chasing each other and sort of play fighting. I continued on sidehilling until I hit a large gully (250' Drop) where I was forced to head up. After a couple hundred yards of straight up I seen two white bums! I couldn't see either of their heads and was exhausted so I just I took at knee and put the scope on them and waited for them to move. Sure enough the one on the right takes a few steps and gives me a broadside look, I count 1..2..3..4. Then hes hidden again, I say to myself did I Just count 4? Not wanting to shoot the possible 3 point I waited for another look, when I was sure I squeezed one off just behind his shoulder with my 30-06 he ran 20 yards before nose diving into the grass. Then the work began! :mrgreen: But it was well worth it! He's my biggest buck to date.
He netted 130 3/8 and is just over 20" wide. I shot him at 10 am he was the fifth buck i'd seen that morning. I got him about kilometer from the nearest road and managed to drag him most of the way out by myself, close enough to get my quad in to him anyways.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/14442_333351300470_718365470_966755.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/14442_333351295470_718365470_966754.jpg
Remains of a 4 point I found.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/PB100259.jpg
Elk Hunting in Fort Nelson area Mid September:
Here's a few pics from our september elk hunt on the Tuchodi. We spiked camped 10 kms from the river and managed to get one 6x5 between the 3 of us. Not bad for our first time elk hunting! Seen lots of wildlife including two separate herds of wild horses with one rather frisky stallion. No grizzly problems but I did end up with a severe tooth infection and my whole face swelled up lol not a pleasant experience. After having several bulls screaming at me including one within 20 yards that never did actually let me see him, i'm hooked! Heading back next year for elk and sheep! Enjoy the pics!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278219935470_718365470_8820-1.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278219540470_718365470_8820-1.jpg
My spike tent!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214895470_718365470_8820765.jpg
Two of hundreds of sheds I found and was not allowed to bring home :(
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214920470_718365470_8820767.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214725470_718365470_8820745.jpg
My Dad with his first elk!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/6825_278214760470_718365470_8820750.jpg
Island Hunting October:
After days and days of shed hunting last spring I had it pegged I was gonna get my first blacktail and my first bow kill on or the near the archery opener...boy was I wrong! lol.
I would practice everyday with my compound and head out every evening to my local spots. For the first month or so I never had a good look at a buck just bums bouncing away. I was given permission to hunt a piece of land that I was dreaming about! I went there every night for a week straight. I would just walk in to the edge of the timber along a meadow and stand there and wait..every time I went I seen deer. Spooked several good bucks until one night about 25 minutes before the end of shooting light I hear a few branches break about 15 yards beside me..this is thick Vancouver Island brush by the way. After a few crunches and snaps I see this small tree bend over back and forth and start shaking..took me about 2 seconds to realize it was a buck rubbing! Dark was coming and I new I was running out of time so I burped at him..he immediately stopped and it was silent..I burped again and I heard a few snaps as he stepped closer to he edge of the meadow. I burped once more and sure enough he comes straight into the meadow which is 4-6 ft tall grass..all I can see is brown antlers coming in my direction..it didn't pause or look around he was coming right for me..when he got with in 10 yards I drew on him (my first time ever drawing on an animal) he proceed in to about 7 yards when he spotted me. He stopped at a quartering towards me angle and stared right at me..I tried to keep myself from looking at his rack as it was the biggest I had ever seen yet and I placed my pin just behind is shoulder and released. My arrow hit him within a 1/10th of a second and he bolted so fast I barely seen him disappear into the timber. I was left there bymyself minutes before the end of shooting light thinking did that really just happen?
I waited a few minutes before going over to the where he was standing. I found my arrow exactly where he was when I shot him..it had blood and hair on the first inch of it but my broadhead was broken off at the threads and was missing the threads and the insert crack the arrow and were forced into it by about an inch. Not seeing a blood trail I went and got some flashlights and help and proceed to begin tracking, there was no blood and I lost his trail after a 100 yards or so. Being almost impossible to navigate through our jungle like timber I gave up for the night and went back at it again at first light. After a couple hours with out any sign what so ever and this isn't a big area were talking about I had to give up..I was devastated to say the least, but these things happen I guess. My best guess is that I struck the shoulder with my arrow and it broke the broadhead and there was no penetration which is why arrow dropped where he was standing..?
I believe he was a large 3 point with guards but he may have been 4x4 plus guards. The image of those brown antlers coming towards me through the yellow grass we be with me for a long long time. :)
I came away from that experience knowing to never shoot your bow unless you have a broadside shot or at the very least a quartering away shot. But I have since heard that this buck was spotted by someone in the area so thats good news.
I took a few days off after wounding that buck before I tried one of my other spots.
When I did go back to my other spot I found that there was a ton of rubs
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/nov007.jpg
I missed on a few opportunities with some nice 3 points (spooking them trying to draw) before I made the switch to cross bow. As the prime rut seemed to be ending I ended up taking a small 2 point, again in the evening, only this time I immediately found a heavy blood trail..I gave him about 10 minutes before I followed..I couldn't wait any longer as it would be dark soon so I proceed after him only to spook him out his bed 75 yards from where shot him. I decided he needed more time so I left him for the night and came back the next morning with our blue-tick coon hound..hoping he could prove helpful..I took him to the last area I new he was in and within 2 minutes we found him!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/nov025.jpg
Muley Hunting Region 5 last week of November:
A week after I got my muley we headed out again to try and bag another this time in region 5. There was very little deer compared to normal only seen a hand full of bucks in a week. However on our first morning there I was just coming into a slash from the timber when two gun shots went off only a 100 yards from me..scary to say the least! then a 3 point runs across in front of me..I ran up to his tracks in the snow and take a look for blood when I spot the hunter moving through the slash so I waved him over he tells me that the buck he shot was a nice one and it was chasing the 3 point when he shot it. We walked back to where it was when he shot and we found it right away and it was beauty!
5x5 Grossed over 184 and netted 173.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/AnthonyMoth/13334_348028355470_718365470_985707.jpg
After that day we were lucky to see 2 does a day.
But I wasn't disappointed this was by far my best and longest season. I can't wait to back in the mountains listening to bugles while watching the sun rise!!:-D For now I will just have to look forward to the upcoming shed hunting season.
I hope you enjoy my post,
Anthony