Philcott
11-06-2012, 12:42 PM
Here is the story of our hunt. Nothing spectacular just a good hunt.
Our hunt started as many Island hunters know, with an early rise, loading of the rifles and a quick drive to the ferries just to sit and wait an hour or more to load. We partook in the buffet breakfast where my hunting partner "P" had his fill of waffles, strawberries and whipped cream. I got stiffed on ham, eggs, hash, hash browns and some har gow and siu mai. Strange for breakfast but the MSG saw me all the way to Hope and beyond.
The drive was uneventful to the Okanagan. That includes the treacherous curves before the big hill down into Princeton. We've often had issues going through there. We smiled as we went past the West Hedley Mall remembering the one time we went in there and the owner greeted us with a "what the hell are you guys doing in here". We got our apples at Maraposa in Keremeos and waved at everyone we say thinking if it was Simon (Similkamen Slayer) we didn't want to be rude.
We arrived at camp with just enough time to get settled in before dark and had a quick supper of fried potatoes and smokies on a bun. A plan for the next day was formed over a couple rum and we were off to bed early.
Friday saw us up on the snow and we had a great day seeing 14 deer but no shooters. I had an LEH authorization but was planning to hold out until later in the hunt to use it in hopes I would see a nice buck instead. Mule bucks were few and far between in this area the last couple years. I guess due to it not being a 4 point only season anymore but any buck. There is not much that can compare to cooking up a fried ham and grilled cheese sandwich on the tail gate of the truck while standing in 8 inches of snow on the first day of a 7 day hunt. You can't buy food like that in a restaurant. Anywhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/philcott/IMG_1389.jpg
Saturday we were once again in the high country seeing lots of game. 11 in total this day. Mid day we decided to try for WT deer since bucks and does were open and we wanted to give our hill a rest. Down we went to another spot and as we were driving in I spotted a white tail flag. I got out of the truck thinking, if I could, I'd take the deer, buck or doe, to hang and break the potential skunk. The deer was pretty close at about 45 yards but was in somewhat thick cover. I stalked along slowly so I wouldn't spook it and I was amazed it hadn't already spooked. I finally got to a spot where I had a shot and made a clean miss on the first one. To this day I don't know what I did wrong but I'll tack it up to deflection by a branch. That will make me feel better than than believing I had a clean miss at 45 yards. Anyway, the second shot dropped the deer, that turned out to be a spike buck, on the spot. No kidking, nothing.
Here is the spiker. He is great table fare.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/philcott/IMG_1391.jpg
Sunday and Monday had us in all kind of weather. Snow, fog, hail, rain you name it. Anything but sun. We continued to see 10 to 14 animals a day including a heard of 5 elk cows running in the fog like spiritual creatures of the mist. Too fast for pics. We put many miles on our boots climbing into areas we wanted to check out and with fresh snow the timing was good for seeing what was walking around. It was a bit crunchy but mid day recon hikes will serve us well in other years. We also spent time in the morning and evening on a few of our favourite ground blinds. All of which produced animals but none with antlers. I was tempted on Monday evening to fill my LEH doe as I sat watching a big girl slowly feeding about 180 yards away but I was still hoping big Wally would poke his head out and give me a chance at him.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/philcott/IMG_1385.jpg
Our hunt started as many Island hunters know, with an early rise, loading of the rifles and a quick drive to the ferries just to sit and wait an hour or more to load. We partook in the buffet breakfast where my hunting partner "P" had his fill of waffles, strawberries and whipped cream. I got stiffed on ham, eggs, hash, hash browns and some har gow and siu mai. Strange for breakfast but the MSG saw me all the way to Hope and beyond.
The drive was uneventful to the Okanagan. That includes the treacherous curves before the big hill down into Princeton. We've often had issues going through there. We smiled as we went past the West Hedley Mall remembering the one time we went in there and the owner greeted us with a "what the hell are you guys doing in here". We got our apples at Maraposa in Keremeos and waved at everyone we say thinking if it was Simon (Similkamen Slayer) we didn't want to be rude.
We arrived at camp with just enough time to get settled in before dark and had a quick supper of fried potatoes and smokies on a bun. A plan for the next day was formed over a couple rum and we were off to bed early.
Friday saw us up on the snow and we had a great day seeing 14 deer but no shooters. I had an LEH authorization but was planning to hold out until later in the hunt to use it in hopes I would see a nice buck instead. Mule bucks were few and far between in this area the last couple years. I guess due to it not being a 4 point only season anymore but any buck. There is not much that can compare to cooking up a fried ham and grilled cheese sandwich on the tail gate of the truck while standing in 8 inches of snow on the first day of a 7 day hunt. You can't buy food like that in a restaurant. Anywhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/philcott/IMG_1389.jpg
Saturday we were once again in the high country seeing lots of game. 11 in total this day. Mid day we decided to try for WT deer since bucks and does were open and we wanted to give our hill a rest. Down we went to another spot and as we were driving in I spotted a white tail flag. I got out of the truck thinking, if I could, I'd take the deer, buck or doe, to hang and break the potential skunk. The deer was pretty close at about 45 yards but was in somewhat thick cover. I stalked along slowly so I wouldn't spook it and I was amazed it hadn't already spooked. I finally got to a spot where I had a shot and made a clean miss on the first one. To this day I don't know what I did wrong but I'll tack it up to deflection by a branch. That will make me feel better than than believing I had a clean miss at 45 yards. Anyway, the second shot dropped the deer, that turned out to be a spike buck, on the spot. No kidking, nothing.
Here is the spiker. He is great table fare.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/philcott/IMG_1391.jpg
Sunday and Monday had us in all kind of weather. Snow, fog, hail, rain you name it. Anything but sun. We continued to see 10 to 14 animals a day including a heard of 5 elk cows running in the fog like spiritual creatures of the mist. Too fast for pics. We put many miles on our boots climbing into areas we wanted to check out and with fresh snow the timing was good for seeing what was walking around. It was a bit crunchy but mid day recon hikes will serve us well in other years. We also spent time in the morning and evening on a few of our favourite ground blinds. All of which produced animals but none with antlers. I was tempted on Monday evening to fill my LEH doe as I sat watching a big girl slowly feeding about 180 yards away but I was still hoping big Wally would poke his head out and give me a chance at him.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/philcott/IMG_1385.jpg