My 2013

[coach]

Last May I started a thread called, "The Start of a Booner Season". The idea of the thread was to share pics and stories from spring bear season through the end of whitetail bow season in an effort to inspire others to get out and spend more time in the outdoors and to share their own hunting related stories here on HBC. With over 60,000 views, I'm guessing the thread did a lot of what I'd intended when I started it.

Along the way, I shared some awesome experiences with my family and introduced them to the HBC community. I also met several really good people through this site - people that I now consider good friends. I was very fortunate to be in on several successful hunts throughout the year and was able to photograph a lot of amazing animals. Recently, I've been scouting - on foot and via trail camera - in preparation for the 2013 season. Many pics of that process have been shared and I will continue to share many more throughout the coming year.

Although new pics are being taken every week, I figure it's time to kill last year's thread and start a new one. Here goes..

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Subscribed!!!

[coach]

Ha Ha! Thanks, BCDH! Looking forward to your posts this year! You had a pretty darn good 2012 season.

[coach]

Today I went out for a hike with my gf, Tracy and One-shot-wonder along with 3 canine companions, Chilko, Jaeger and Mickey. We've got a couple t-cams out and wanted to get in and have a look at who's been strolling by to have their pictures taken.

Hiking through knee deep snow with 50 pounds in my pack means I get to enjoy an extra beer tonight. Nothing like getting a little exercise in the middle of January.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/A0072F59-1_zpsc67cd600.jpg

[coach]

Along the way, we spotted 7 mule deer and 5 whitetails. 4 of the MD were fawns and one of the WT's had either triplets or twins plus an orphan (one fawn was quite a bit smaller than the other 2). The animals in this area look to be pretty healthy - but we'll be keeping an eye on them as the winter goes along.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4236_zps27a9a3a1.jpg

I didn't photograph the whitetails - but wish I had. They ran across a hill side a few hundred yards away from us. I always find WT's fun to watch. When they run, they can cover ground pretty quickly. I've often wondered, who would win a race between a WT and an MD. I got my answer today.. the WT's were flying when all of a sudden a MD doe came bouncing up behind them and passed them like they were standing still. It was cool to see! Just wish I'd had the camera rolling.

[coach]

With three dogs accompanying us on the hike, we didn't spot any deer - but I did watch this snow owl land on a cut of tree about 150 yards away. Zoomed in 140x - here's the pics I got:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4240_zps55c7e595.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4238_zps018132af.jpg

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Beautiful owl, other than one person I can think of, you blow everyone else out of he water with your photography skills!!! How did your t-cams do, any whities still packing head gear??

[coach]

Beautiful owl, other than one person I can think of, you blow everyone else out of he water with your photography skills!!! How did your t-cams do, any whities still packing head gear??

We have 450 videos to go through on the one camera. So far, the bucks we've looked at have dropped. Our second camera had 1900 pics of a doe and two fawns..:-? Setting have been changed on that camera! :-D Ourea has a couple of cams out a little further south of us and he has pics of 5 that are still packing headgear. Waiting for him to send them to me and I'll post 'em up.

[hunterdon]

Always a treat to follow you along for the season. Certainly will be tuned in to 2013. Hopefully, with a little luck maybe, you'll find that nice last year 5 point elk again with an extra point, and cut your tag this year. Wouldn't that be nice? Good luck coach!

[coach]

Thanks, Hunterdon! Cutting an elk tag is definitely at the top of my list for 2013. Best of luck to you too. May the LEH gods be good to you.

[coach]

This buck is off one of Oureau's cameras. Still packing. It would be nice to give this one a couple more years to grow:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/6F8290A2-1_zps504abe78.jpg

[coach]

This guy's still packing on one side:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/8E819510-1_zpsa2739a90.jpg

[604redneck]

that last deer packking only one side has one hell of a brow lol

[knightcc]

Great idea to follow up a homerun thread last year with a grandslam for 2013. Lots of tips, tricks and motivational feedback in last years so this one should be even better. Thanks for getting the ball rolling again.

[BCKyle]

Nice. Looking forward to following this one! When the snow starts going hopefully my knee will be good enough for some shed hunting... no winter scouting for me in early 2013.

Keep it up Coach.

[Spy]

Inspired me to sit on my ass in front of the computer for hours ! I blame my tag soup on you, thanks alot ! :wink:
Now you at it again, cant wait !:-D
I heard the MOE have revoked your hunting license for 2013 to many complaints from the deer !:-?

[WKCotts]

Keep it comin coach!!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Come on coach!! You should be running your thread based on the license yr.....Apr 1-Mar31st!:-D LOL! You've still got some hunting to do on your current license!

I'll be checking in regularily. Who knows? You might even see my face on this thread if we can cohorse OSW to take us out with the Foxpro?!

SSS

[coach]

Come on coach!! You should be running your thread based on the license yr.....Apr 1-Mar31st!:-D LOL! You've still got some hunting to do on your current license!

I'll be checking in regularily. Who knows? You might even see my face on this thread if we can cohorse OSW to take us out with the Foxpro?!

SSS

Getting out with you guys and the Foxpro is high on the priority list. Let's make it happen! :-D Would love to get some video of a few preds dropping..

[one-shot-wonder]

If the "flooring fool" and the "golf geek" would make time in their scheds I would have some pred hunting partners.....enough flapping lets go!

[BCKyle]

The word will be getting around now... all the deer celebs bitching about Coach and Ourea, the Deerparazzi spreading their gossip and pics: 'best and worst racks of winter 2013', 'most lopsided buck', 'Anorexic Mulies - the Inside Story!'. I'll subscribe tho!

[Hillbros_96]

Definitely keep them coming.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

If the "flooring fool" and the "golf geek" would make time in their scheds I would have some pred hunting partners.....enough flapping lets go!

Floor fool is right. Gotta rip up the first part of the job this w/e and re-level the floor. Got no hair left to pull out.

SSS

[coach]

I went for a quick hike today - partly to get the dogs for a walk and also to check on game activity near where I placed my T-cam yesterday. There was lots of sign in the area - but I didn't see any new activity in front of my camera so I backed out and left everything alone. Hopefully we'll get some action soon.

While driving back home, I thought I spotted an animal sitting about 50 yards back in the trees off the FSR. Not sure what it was, I backed up and had another look. This time, I caught a glimpse of something slinking away. My immediate impression was bobcat or lynx. Based on the smaller size - I'm leaning toward bobcat. I left the truck running, grabbed my camera and closed the door to keep the dogs from running after the cat. I'm pretty anal about leaving a window open partially just in case the dog bumps my door locks. I almost deviated from my routine but at the last second cracked the window a little.

Chilko is very good at staying quiet when I leave her in the truck - but right now we're looking after another dog for a relative. Mickey ain't so fine.. He yelped incessantly as I tried to get into position to photograph the cat. It didn't take long to realize the gig was up and no pics of a live animal were going to happen. I did manage to photograph the tracks.

A quick google of my finding leaves me thinking it was, in fact a bobcat. I'm all ears if anyone has a different opinion:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4242_zps0a933b70-1_zpsb68de918.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4243_zps89e99890-1_zps88ecfa6f.jpg

I know where I want to be going with the Foxpro in the very near future! :-D

Disappointed that I didn't get pics of the cat - I arrived back at the truck only to realize Mickey had managed to step on the door locks. Truck running - me on the outside! :evil: Fortunately, I was able to use a stick through the partially open window and unlock the vehicle.

[TexasWalker]

I'm pretty anal about leaving a window open partially just in case the dog bumps my door locks. I almost deviated from my routine but at the last second cracked the window a little.


I arrived back at the truck only to realize Mickey had managed to step on the door locks. Truck running - me on the outside! :evil: Fortunately, I was able to use a stick through the partially open window and unlock the vehicle.

Sometimes things have a funny way of working out!!!:mrgreen:

[coach]

Sometimes things have a funny way of working out!!!:mrgreen:

Ha ha! It was either dumb ass luck or preparation. Likely just the former.. :-D

[604redneck]

nice one! i saw 2 more lynx at the spot i go just recently!

[Jelvis]

You guys are still on the Peachland-Kelowna backroad in MU 8-11 up from the 97 hwy, to the Last Mtn Ski hill I see.
Lots of cats along that section. Lambley Lake and Jackpine lake area good mules some whites
Good luck this season just south of Westbank thanks for the look see
Jel

[300H&H]

This buck is off one of Oureau's cameras. Still packing. It would be nice to give this one a couple more years to grow:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/6F8290A2-1_zps504abe78.jpg

Come the end of Nov/2013 I bet you will drop him. Unless I get to him first. hehehehe

[BCKyle]

Must be great having a dog or two that can behave themselves enough to go out with you. Except when they lock you out! Gonna have to wire a key underneath the truck somewhere.
I'm stoked this thread is rolling.

[coach]

If anyone thinks this T-cam thing is easy, I beg to differ. :-D Saw this shed out buck on one cam last week.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/CC92A6AD.jpg

He could easily be the buck who's antler Chilko found a few weeks ago.. Anyway, re-set the cam and left it and another one nearby for a couple days. Went back in today and the only bucks and does we saw looked like this:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/39CA2614.jpg

Cameras have now been pulled from that location. No fresh deer sign in the area - looks like they've moved lower. I've got another one in a location with lots of sign - hope to check that out in the next few days.

[one-shot-wonder]

Thanks for pulling the cams Coach......With nothing but bald bucks now, its time to move focus from checking cams to pounding predators. Now if only I didn't have meetings 6 days a week! :?

[coach]

At least the dogs had fun in the snow: (Click to play video)

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/th_MVI_4244_zps98c65317.jpg (http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/MVI_4244_zps98c65317.mp4)

The lack of crust on the top of the snow combined with the 8-10 inches of depth means predators will still be at a disadvantage which is good news for the deer (so far).

[coach]

OldnGrey just got home from region 7, where a few of the boys had cow elk draws. Sounds like they had a successful hunt. Here's a picture of Young'n'notsogrey with one of the smaller cows they harvested:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/0633F475-1_zps8e1e2b69.jpg

[The Dude]

Cow? Did you check under the hood? :D
That thing is quite ample!

[coach]

Cow? Did you check under the hood? :D
That thing is quite ample!

Ha ha! The bulls are still packin' - and this was definitely a cow. Looks like a rather large one! Over the last 10 or so years, our group have had 16 draws up there. (We put in as groups of 4 each time). This is the biggest one any of us have taken during that time.

Since I missed the trip - I hope the gravy is tough! :-D

[coach]

Fakk me! The good samaritan gig bit Chilko in the ass and Tracy and I in the pocketbook today! One-shot-wonder and I decided we'd had enough of watching the garbage pile build along our local FSR so we took the dogs out for a run while we cleaned up other people's mess. With a little work, we got a decent fire going and burnt some of the clippings, yard waste, garbage and deer carcasses. OSW picked up a Christmas tree that someone had thoughtfully discarded on the side of the road. This pile may not look like much - but garbage attracts garbage. The more we can keep this pile down, the less likely we are to see a repeat of the mess left last spring.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/E1C7B857.jpg

As we cleaned up, Chilko and Jaeger played in the snow. At one point, I noticed a pretty good blood trail following Chilko around. It's pretty common for her to get cuts on her feet this time of year from ice, sticks or whatever. Assuming it was no big deal, we carried on with the cleanup, cut a load of firewood, then headed home for the evening.

When I got home, Chilko ran into the house and the blood followed her.. On closer examination, she'd cut right through the pad of her back foot leaving a flap of tissue exposed. It didn't look like something that was going to heal just by leaving it alone. Off to the emergency vet we went..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/67BD52E2.jpg

When we found out it was going to be $165 just to have the vet examine her, I immediately realized I should have taken my parents advice, stayed in school and become a vet! :icon_frow After a closer exam - it was clear Chilko was going to need stitches. As much as I'd like to think a cut like this could just be left to heal on its own, I didn't relish the thought of her having it infected or losing mobility long term. There really was no choice but to go along with the vet's advice. With a lot of blood from the cut on her back foot, I hadn't noticed this additional gash on her front leg:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/DDF6B963.jpg

Chilko's still with the vet. Her foot will be stitched up. She'll have a bandage for the next ten days. I'll be hiking solo for a while. Tracy and I will be selling off personal items to pay the nearly $600 bill and people will still be dumping their shit on our local forest service road! Fakk!!

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Poor Chilko!! That sucks big time for the both of you :( On the positive note, very nice cow elk, and thanks for cleaning up that mess coach!! Good luck sheding!

[GoatGuy]

The fire needs to be about 10,000x bigger and quite being so cheap with the t cam pictures. You and one shot are turning into a couple tight @sses.

[coach]

The fire needs to be about 10,000x bigger and quite being so cheap with the t cam pictures. You and one shot are turning into a couple tight @sses.

Oh, it's T-cam pics you want.. Here's a recent one from a cam in the south Okanagan - sent to me by a former HBC member. There's still a few bucks packing antlers around:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/841934BE.jpg

And if it's bigger fires we really want - then why'd they put this one out in September? (No offense to anyone living in Peachland)

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/08C4FEF7.jpg

[OutWest]

Interesting pic from the 9th ;)

[coach]

Interesting pic from the 9th ;)

Yeah - I was in a different region when a friend sent me that one! :-D

[coach]

Chilko's back home and looking $460 more marvelous than ever!

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/C6FE349A.jpg

[calvin L]

Well coach the cost of the stich job sucks . It is crazy what we will pay towards our pets . I myself have fallen into that deep dark hole for just south of 10 k . It will not happen again . (not that much ever again )

[BCKyle]

Damn, well at least she's ok and healing up! The vet bills make me think of the times my mom sewed me up with Crazy Glue when I was a kid... Hmmmmmm...
If it makes her feel any better I dropped by my folks' place for the hockey game and their dog is wearing the Cone of Shame as well. Guess it's going around.
Speedy recovery!

[kennyj]

I'm looking forward to this thread Coach. Keep up the good work, and good luck this year.
kenny

[MOUNTAIN MAN - TOYOTA/ATV]

Sorry to hear about your pup getting hurt. Vet bills are lots of money.

[KTownKiller]

Great job on the cleanup! Is that Gillard FSR? Too bad about your dog, must have been the junk that caused it. What jerks that dump up there!! I've reported someone for doing that up on Gillard. It can sure be a disgusting mess up there! Give me a pm if your heading up there and you'd like an extra pair of hands for cleanup. I hope Chilko gets better quick.

[BlacktailStalker]

I coulda fixed that dog with a bit of iodine and a stapler... you need a friendly hound dog self vet clinic :)
We do the same thing every year, clean up some of the roads heading to the dump and certain lakes, it is disgusting at the best of times.
I wish the dumps would encourage some sort of free dumping period for this specific reason, for the losers that want to dump their crap and the guys that would put a bit of time in cleaning up and not have to pay to unload it....

[TexasWalker]

The vet bills make me think of the times my mom sewed me up with Crazy Glue when I was a kid... Hmmmmmm...

A tube of crazy glue and a roll or two of vet wrap can save you some coin for sure.
I glued my buddy's hound's ear back together and it was split in half right up the middle real ugly looking but the crazy glue works wonders,vet wrapped his ear to his head for a week and it was fine.
I've glued together some nasty gashes on myself and a few co-workers as well.

In the sheet metal trade we always say "stitches are for bitches"

[coach]

Great job on the cleanup! Is that Gillard FSR? Too bad about your dog, must have been the junk that caused it. What jerks that dump up there!! I've reported someone for doing that up on Gillard. It can sure be a disgusting mess up there! Give me a pm if your heading up there and you'd like an extra pair of hands for cleanup. I hope Chilko gets better quick.

Thanks, KTownkiller. Yes, it's Gillard FSR. I organized a group of HBC'ers last spring and we cleaned up over 9000 pounds of garbage in 4 hours:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/IMG_2349.jpg

Here's a link to the thread: http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?83448-Stopping-illegal-dumping-A-chance-for-HBC-members-to-make-a-difference. Since the cleanup, and subsequent media coverage, things on lower Gillard have been a little better. By staying on top of the new buildup, I'm hoping we can avoid a repeat of last year.

[coach]

A tube of crazy glue and a roll or two of vet wrap can save you some coin for sure.
I glued my buddy's hound's ear back together and it was split in half right up the middle real ugly looking but the crazy glue works wonders,vet wrapped his ear to his head for a week and it was fine.
I've glued together some nasty gashes on myself and a few co-workers as well.

In the sheet metal trade we always say "stitches are for bitches"


I coulda fixed that dog with a bit of iodine and a stapler... you need a friendly hound dog self vet clinic :)

Thanks, guys! No doubt a "home remedy" might have worked. :-D As much as the vet bill made me want to hurl my cookies, I'm confident the stitches will do their job and Chilko will be back to normal in a week to ten days. She's 2 1/2 years old, a great family pet and my companion on countless adventures in the back country. I'd rather not have a crazy glue situation go sideways and wind up with permanent damage to the pad of her back foot.

[coach]

We do the same thing every year, clean up some of the roads heading to the dump and certain lakes, it is disgusting at the best of times.I wish the dumps would encourage some sort of free dumping period for this specific reason, for the losers that want to dump their crap and the guys that would put a bit of time in cleaning up and not have to pay to unload it....

Agree with you, BlacktailStalker. The crazy thing is - most of what's been dumped this year can be disposed of free of charge at the local landfill. It's easy to look at the yard waste that's piled up and assume it's no big deal. The problem is - garbage attracts garbage, and it doesn't take long for more and more stuff to arrive. When we did the big cleanup last year, the tipping fees were paid for by the Regional District.

[coach]

Enough talk about garbage.. I managed to get out for a couple of short hikes this weekend. One was yesterday morning before Chilko's accident. Here's a few pics:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4245_zpsfb25eac1.jpg

On the morning hike, I involved the whole family as we went in and picked up a trail camera:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4260_zps6eaa2d18.jpg

Despite the presence of old and new sign in the area, there wasn't much interesting on the camera:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4265_zpse8bb5823.jpg

[coach]

OSW and I went out for a short hike this afternoon and scouted an area for Predator sign..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4279_zpse887119e.jpg

It was a nice afternoon once we got up above the layer of fog that's been hanging over Okanagan Lake.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4277_zpsb0fd044e.jpg

[coach]

No predators spotted - although we did see 3 of these funny looking critters:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4268_zpsd3633765.jpg

A clear sky and this bright light shining down means most of the animals will be feeding at night.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4287_zps6d86363d.jpg

[The Dude]

Very nice pics Coach, esp the sun/fog and the moon.
And Kudos again for the clean up. Hope Chilko gets well soon.
Sometimes it seems that "No good deed goes unpunished", hm?

[coach]

Very nice pics Coach, esp the sun/fog and the moon.
And Kudos again for the clean up. Hope Chilko gets well soon.
Sometimes it seems that "No good deed goes unpunished", hm?

Thanks, Dude. No sign of wolves in this spot.. yet.. Will be keeping an eye on it over the next few months as they have been spotted not far from here.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4271_zps7a9340d3.jpg

[KTownKiller]

Nice pics! I heard about that cleanup last spring, I wish I had heard in time, I would have helped.

[Elk-Aholic]

I see OSW is still wearing his grad jacket, if only that thing could talk........

[one-shot-wonder]

It can't talk cause to much foot in mouth....

[coach]

After doing an interview with Kelly Hayes today about OSW and my garbage cleanup and Chilko's injury, I went for a little drive to see what critters were calling the lower elevations home for the winter. Lots of deer - both species - were out and about:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4293_zpse78fa002.jpg

This little group appeared to have 3 in it:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4295_zps638ae3d1.jpg

Until a 4th appeared on the right:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4298_zps73211f67.jpg

[coach]

I spotted two mule bucks who had recently shed their antlers. I tried hard to get a decent picture, but they kept feeding behind cover and it was difficult to get the camera to focus on the deer and not the branches:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4299_zps8ad3abd2.jpg

I gave up on the shed bucks, turned around and spotted this guy - still packing 3 a side:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4304_zps3f6109cb.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4302_zps39843da6.jpg

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4306_zps740c5409.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4305_zps82cfc73e.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4300_zpsc880575c.jpg

[coach]

Here's a video. Interesting to see what the buck was dining on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1BgZebOHQc&hd=1

[coach]

These whitetails were sharing the same dining room as the mulies:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4307_zps0a0c3824.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4308_zps3dce798a.jpg

[one-shot-wonder]

Here is a quick video clip of the 3 bachelors together feeding about a week or so ago when they were all packing head gear.

http://youtu.be/pQ6BxmXf6YQ

Amazing these 3 guys survived the SLAUGHTER of an any buck GOS......:mrgreen:

[coach]

Here is a quick video clip of the 3 bachelors together feeding about a week or so ago when they were all packing head gear.

http://youtu.be/pQ6BxmXf6YQ

Amazing these 3 guys survived the SLAUGHTER of an any buck GOS......:mrgreen:

Looks like the same group. GOS was tough enough.. what about the late bow season? Phew.. lucky there's anything left alive..:-D

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Could not have had a better person to represent the site and hunters in general, great job on the clean up coach! when I get my drivers license this summer I would be down to help out. Have you been finding any sheds in your last couple outings??later.

[coach]

Thanks, BCDH. I haven't found any sheds lately - but I spotted this guy today. Looks like a bull to me - but hard to say. I was 300 yards or so from him when I zoomed in and took the pic. Anybody have any thoughts? Bull or am I just seeing things?

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4315_zpsa7068d06.jpg

[MB_Boy]

Thanks, BCDH. I haven't found any sheds lately - but I spotted this guy today. Looks like a bull to me - but hard to say. I was 300 yards or so from him when I zoomed in and took the pic. Anybody have any thoughts? Bull or am I just seeing things?






Having flown many a winter aerial moose count survey with my Dad over the years....I would say a cow as we used to use that white vulva patch as an indentifier once antlers have dropped.


There are a few other indicators you can use as well such as the shape of the bell but obviously you can't tell in that image.


Although I worked with my Dad in MB....this is a pretty good document out of ON. Sexing starts around page 46 with the vulva patch on around 51 and also some other identifiers afterwards.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@lueps/documents/document/mnr_e001790.pdf (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@lueps/documents/document/mnr_e001790.pdf)

[coach]

Having flown many a winter aerial moose count survey with my Dad over the years....I would say a cow as we used to use that white vulva patch as an indentifier once antlers have dropped.


There are a few other indicators you can use as well such as the shape of the bell but obviously you can't tell in that image.


Although I worked with my Dad in MB....this is a pretty good document out of ON. Sexing starts around page 46 with the vulva patch on around 51 and also some other identifiers afterwards.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@lueps/documents/document/mnr_e001790.pdf (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@lueps/documents/document/mnr_e001790.pdf)

Awesome link, MB_Boy! I just learned a whole bunch. Definitely a cow - based on the white vulva patch. I have a couple of jittery videos that make it very clear. I'll post them up and hope nobody get's seasick watching them.:-D

[coach]

This video makes it pretty clear that I was looking at a cow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm1dIQ_OlC8

And this one gives and idea of the distance I was watching the moose from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daR1NPT-Fyk

[MB_Boy]

Wow....that's a hell of a zoom on that camera!

[coach]

One of my hunting partners (to the south of me) stumbled upon this shed today:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/51D7C4F6.jpg

[coach]

Same deer:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/3E6D36A8.jpg

Another buck - still packing:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/DE8646CE.jpg

[coach]

A lot of times, my partner sends me short clips off the trail cam. Generally, the vids aren't very interesting - so I just clip a pic and post it. This time I'll post the video. Turn up the volume for a laugh..:-D

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/th_VID-20130127-00015_zps1de15653.jpg (http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/VID-20130127-00015_zps1de15653.mp4)

Not sure what my friend was watching on TV while he looked for bone on the t-cam..:-D

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Nice shed! Hopefully some of those younger guys will put on some mass and length or you guys for next season! :-D

[coach]

I went out for a quick hike today and pulled a camera that OSW and I have had in a promising spot for a couple weeks. To say the area was pounded with sign would be putting it lightly:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4317_zps5e486469-1_zpsd754259a.jpg

The camera had several WT's on it including a couple of young bucks who've already shed. Nothing too exciting - but I'll post a couple pics when OSW forwards them to me. :-D

[coach]

Here's an interesting pic off our t-cam. :-D

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/81997E5D-DB40-427B-8C79-226A3EACEB9C-5010-000004E254F2EC3E.jpg

[300H&H]

Hummmm...looks like this falls immy to me. All tho it is very early for antlers to start growing.

[GoatGuy]

That poor sob is gonna be the hardest hunted bull in the region. Better be there opening morning cause you can bet fisher-dude will be on the road hammer program from the 15th-31sf.

[coach]

Hummmm...looks like this falls immy to me. All tho it is very early for antlers to start growing.

Yeah - that pic has got me thinking that maybe I should have left the camera in there instead of bringing it home.

[coach]

That poor sob is gonna be the hardest hunted bull in the region. Better be there opening morning cause you can bet fisher-dude will be on the road hammer program from the 15th-31sf.

Jimmny Crickets! Didn't this site used to have guy who went by that handle? He was a dead wings fan, IIRC. Wonder where he's gone?

[300H&H]

Yeah - that pic has got me thinking that maybe I should have left the camera in there instead of bringing it home.

With what appears to be antlers forming I would think he was a 2012 calf.
I have seen fawns in there first year have tiny antlers...button buck.
Maybe this is a "button bull" ?

With that said his antler growth could go either way, with him becoming a spike bull or if there is enough nutrition he could form some larger antlers.
My money would be on him being a small antlered bull.
Just my opinion.

And you can always put the cam back !

[one-shot-wonder]

Jimmny Crickets! Didn't this site used to have guy who went by that handle? He was a dead wings fan, IIRC. Wonder where he's gone?

I dont need to worry about that bull being gone to FD............

R.I.P. Fisher dude

[coach]

Chilko's foot is finally healed up. Stitches are out - new boots to make sure the cut on her back foot doesn't re-open. Took her for a quick hike today to take in the views..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4344_zpseb290f21.jpg

Not a bad day to be out:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Okanaganview_zpsd5805f07.jpg

No sheds.. just one dead:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4328_zps84901b06.jpg

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/ee7ac482-cc17-4890-b585-b3664d0e95a7_zps6d8ca51a.jpg

Must be sheep country (last time I picked one of these off my pant leg was on the Kamloops trip last September)

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/6501A6C1_zps8401a01a.jpg

I didn't see any sheep of mule deer up high - but there was plenty of sign:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/F904A82E_zps45bdb6aa.jpg

[OutWest]

Good to see the pup is healed up and back out there.

[snareman1234]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4328_zps84901b06.jpg



Lol I found that head two years ago, I have the same picture, from the same spot.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Good to see the new green peaking thru already!!

SSS

[coach]

That's funny, snareman! I was trying to figure out how long that skull had been there. Grass growing through it told me it's been a while. Someone else had been up there recently - I found tracks in the snow. Post up your pics of the skull if you still have them.

The reason I went up in the first place was that I spotted several magpies in the cliffs and figured there must be a recent kill up there. I didn't find anything where the birds had been but Chilko discovered the skull higher up.

[300H&H]

If you want to get out for a shed hunt give me a call. I have been off on WCB since early Jan.

When are you going to start golf lessons ?

I want to become a super "golf ball whacker" guy.

[coach]

If you want to get out for a shed hunt give me a call. I have been off on WCB since early Jan.

When are you going to start golf lessons ?

I want to become a super "golf ball whacker" guy.

Range opened today. Time you stop whackin' and start golfin'!

[358mag]

range opened today. Time you stop whackin' and start golfin'!

fore !!!!!!!!!!!

[300H&H]

Range opened today. Time you stop whackin' and start golfin'!

been talk'n to my wife again have ya ?

Saw a bunch of guys at the range but that yote at the 125 yard pin ran away fast !

[300H&H]

Over 10,000 views and almost 100 replies and not a damn thing killed yet ! ;-)

[604redneck]

I sense that coach is busy these days cause this thread is way too far from the top!

[300H&H]

I think, between golf, SportChek, the wife and kids...he is busy.

I guess I will have to go to the golf range to see him, because he is MIA.

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Oceola%20Fish%20and%20Game/6ceb637c-219d-4295-8179-617cbf4fce43_zps017bb60a.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Oceola%20Fish%20and%20Game/IMG_4508_zpsa68bfddc.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4505_zpsa7d5d958.jpg

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4375_zpsf85262a3.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4374_zps91076687.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4376_zpsbe0d4e13.jpg

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4507_zpscd69f63e.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4378_zpsb8efceb0.jpg

[coach]

The above deer pics were taken yesterday while we on our way out to participate in the first annual Oceola Fish and Game Club Youth Ice Fishing Day. Interesting looking herd..:-D

I was recently elected to the Board of Directors at my club in the role of Youth program director. This was our first event. About 33 people including 17 kids between 4 and 14 years old attended. The community really got behind our efforts and we received some great sponsorship. The kids ate well and every one of them went home with a new fishing rod for their efforts. Here's a few pics:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4474_zpsc5a8791c.jpg

A pretty decent prize table:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4408_zps75511514.jpg

One of only 3 trout caught during the day:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4404_zpsdabf864b.jpg

Fortunately, the bullheads were hitting hard - so the kids at least had a little action. It became clear to every adult there that it's not necessary to have big fish hitting the lines to keep kids happy.

[coach]

A casting contest and a few other games kept the kids occupied while we had a lunch break:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4439_zps7e9b51ed.jpg

Some happy kids.. Looking forward to more events throughout the year.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4483_zps8524383c.jpg

[GoatGuy]

Good job man!

[Weatherby Fan]

Thats awesome coach !
WF

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Nice work Coach!!

Some great weather this weekend sure helped!

I like the idea of casting into the iceholes! Much more challenging!:mrgreen:

SSS

[Wrayzer]

Nice work Coach. Looks like the kids had a blast.

[fester]

lots of great pics

[marcus44]

Awesome spics and great stories so far! Glad to see the pup dog is healed up. Are you planning another clean up this year? I'm interested in helping out if you do.

[coach]

Not much to report lately. I did a short hike last week looking for sheds. No luck - unless you count the fact I avoided ticks on myself and Chilko. Some definite signs of spring this weekend. Bear season isn't far off..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4545_zpsf5a97e9c.jpg

We've been dog sitting for a friend this week. Chilko's having a blast with her new playmate:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4564_zps33e3ddfd.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4578-1_zpsb3e4393f.jpg

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4562_zps737e2938.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4584_zps37a49dba.jpg

[coach]

One of my hunting partners found this today. It belongs to one of the bucks on our t-cam pics from last fall.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/1A53F31A-A69A-42C9-BB45-61FF492166D1-1165-0000012F32AF6326_zps9161f6a1.jpg

[300H&H]

Nice shed and it's good to see that buck survived the winter...now lets see if he survives this fall.

[coach]

I'm hoping to make a trip this week to have a look for Mr Split G2's sheds.

[coach]

Meet Tikka!

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/99df77c8c4bf1f4a911ed0790299ab65_zpsb6295d62.jpg

[604redneck]

come from the coast?

[one-shot-wonder]

Good timing Coach, he'll be a welcomed addition this fall!
Great timing Coach, a puppy shoulkd get you mega brownie points from the wife in time for the upcoming bear season!

[coach]

come from the coast?

Made a road trip to Princeton with the family. Having a second lab in our home for the last two weeks got Tracy wanting another dog. Shelby's owners picked her up today and Tikka moved in. :-D We may well be suckers for punishment.

[604redneck]

haha nice one! i love having 2 dogs. the reason i asked if it was from the coast is cause my brother is picking up a chocolate this week.

[coach]

Good timing Coach, he'll be a welcomed addition this fall!
Great timing Coach, a puppy shoulkd get you mega brownie points from the wife in time for the upcoming bear season!

Ha ha! There's a good chance Tracy won't even know I'm gone when we go bear hunting! By September this little girl will be 7 months old - gonna make a great hunting companion. Gonna need to get her training ASAP. I Better get her interested in sheds right away.

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/1a2508ea950770505a2337fd65a98db6_zpsdb646868.jpg

[6pt_elk_wannabe]

last season was incredible! got a booner blacktail! probably wont get a repeat this season but lets see how it goes :D

[coach]

Chilko and I decided to PVR the golf today and join a good friend if mine (and former HBC member) in scouting an area, checking some cams and looking for sheds.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/DD801544_zpsa6b5a9f5.jpg

[coach]

Too much snow where Mr Split G2's sheds are likely to be. We had a good look around, saw lots of sign, but moved on without finding any sheds:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4595_zps11747e61.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4592_zpsfda85bf7.jpg

[coach]

We moved down in elevation and I found my first shed of the day. Looks like it came of a reasonable buck - but it's been laying there for at least 14 months (maybe longer, and maybe much longer :-D):

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4597_zpsd4e24b95.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_4599_zps915ac5d9.jpg

[coach]

Somebody showed some mild interest in the shed...

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/D3D1EA83_zpsd7812081.jpg

The amount of sign we encountered was very encouraging. My partner has over 1600 pictures to go over tonight from only one of our three cameras.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/A4735442_zpsff61bf20.jpg

[coach]

In the end, I found three old sheds. Not much to get excited about - but for a guy who never finds sheds, I think we did alright.:-D

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/3A510E5F_zps811eeb18.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/200B646A_zpse6a0733e.jpg

[coach]

It's been over a month since I updated this thread. I guess I should add a little more content..

Just got home from my long weekend grizz hunt with a pretty good crew. No bears killed - but I took lots of pics and videos to share here on HBC.

[coach]

We left Kelowna mid-day on Friday and headed east to our draw location. The valley we were hunting has a long road system - but this time of year, it can be blocked by slides. The plan was to get the truck in as far as possible then quad over the slides and set up camp further back. Here's OSW and our quads getting loaded for the journey..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4923_zps2108dedb.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4923_zps2108dedb.jpg.html)

[coach]

The slide that blocked the road was pretty minor and we were able to get the quads over it without using our shovels, picks, etc.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5019_zps352a13b1.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5019_zps352a13b1.jpg.html)

Despite the fact there was a large number of draws in the area this year, we only ran into one other hunting party - a father/son from Chilliwack. They camped at the slide and quaded in each day. I'm not sure they were overly thrilled at the prospect of us hunting the same valley as them - but they warmed up a bit when I asked them if there were areas they were concentration on that we could leave them alone to hunt. I don't think any of us had any intention of racing each other to the prime spots. We had a good discussion with them and they offered up a bit of info. They had seen a couple grizzlies and some black bears including one smaller grizzly that they had in range but decided to pass up. Beyond the first slide, the road was in good shape with no more slides blocking the road - definitely not the norm for this time of year.

[coach]

Here's my first ever "GoPro" video. As mentioned - a relatively easy crossing of the slide.

Click to view
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_GOPR0002_zpse9cef720.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/GOPR0002_zpse9cef720.mp4)

[coach]

A short while later we had camp set up at the confluence of the main river and a medium sized tributary..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4945_zpsed3432b8.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4945_zpsed3432b8.jpg.html)

[coach]

There's no shortage of water in the West Koots this spring - but it appeared we arrived a bit late for prime time grizzly hunting. The area must have been green for at least a couple weeks before we arrived.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4947_zps19b0e7e0.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4947_zps19b0e7e0.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4946_zpsc9be8eb7.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4946_zpsc9be8eb7.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4951_zps25766886.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4951_zps25766886.jpg.html)

[coach]

Our first full day of hunting started with some excitement right at 7am. We heard the other group of hunters quad past us around 6:30 and were in no rush to push in right behind them. OSW let his chessy, Jaeger out of the tent to do his morning business when all of sudden he let out a deep threatening bark that said only one thing - some type of critter was in camp. My partner stuck his head out and immediately announced, "We've got a grizzly right here!" The bear took off running into the thick stuff - not to be seen again. OSW figures it was a decent sized bear, but he had no chance to properly assess anything. We have no idea if the bear was just cruising the road or if it was coming to check us out - but it was clear Jaeger's bark was enough to keep us from having to make hasty decisions.

On alert, we made coffee and breakfast, then headed out for a look around the area.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4952_zpsbef0fc83.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4952_zpsbef0fc83.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4953_zpsf34f4a50.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4953_zpsf34f4a50.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4959_zpsab2183c1.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4959_zpsab2183c1.jpg.html)

[Garret]

I have been hunting grizz in the same slide before....there was a hawg in there that we got a glimpse of but it got away on us while we were trying to cross that crazy river in the bottom. Tell Jared I like his hat ;)

[shadowhunter]

Looks fun Coach! just a heads up, the Go Pro link didn't work for me. But it might be because I'm doing something wrong. All in all im eager to hear the rest of the story!

[coach]

Not sure what's up with the gopro link, Shadowhunter. It works on my computer and on my iPad.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4965_zps2d7302d5.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4965_zps2d7302d5.jpg.html)

Anyway, we worked our way up toward the end of the valley - an area OSW refers to as "the golf course". Along the way we pushed through some overgrown areas on the roads.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4963_zpsb2ccf905.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4963_zpsb2ccf905.jpg.html)

Click to view video:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_quaddingthroughshrubbery_zps39a7adb6.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/quaddingthroughshrubbery_zps39a7adb6.mp4)

[coach]

Not wanting to spook anything out of the area, we parked the quads a little short of the first tee..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4966_zpsce4fb87f.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4966_zpsce4fb87f.jpg.html)

The temps were warm and Jaeger made the best of an opportunity to roll in the snow.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4968_zps7b01ba82.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4968_zps7b01ba82.jpg.html)
We rounded the corner on foot and were greeted with this spectacular view.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4967_zps2ddb09c6.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4967_zps2ddb09c6.jpg.html)

[coach]

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4975_zps2c31f464.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4975_zps2c31f464.jpg.html)

Top left side of this picture is known as "the putting green".. Looks like bentgrass to me.. Likely running very fast on the stimp meter.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5007_zpsa6a1be6a.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5007_zpsa6a1be6a.jpg.html)

[coach]

As we rounded the last corner, we bumped into the only other hunting group in the valley. They had a grizzly hide, backstraps and hinds cooling in the snow. They had the good fortune of spotting it on the road (several miles back) while driving in at about 7am. It must have been a quick decision to pull the trigger as the corner they killed it on only had 60 yards or so of visibility. The bear was a medium sized boar - a great first grizzly for the young guy who shot it. Out of respect for the father/son hunting party, I elected not to photograph their bear. Hopefully they are HBC members and can tell the story for the rest of us to hear.

After a lengthy BS session, we learned that the other party would be hunting this area until the end of the day and then pulling camp in the morning. They let us know that they'd spotted a good sized grizzly the night before - but it was too far away to make a stalk in fading light. We wished them luck - and knew we stood a good chance in this spot over the next couple days.

Shortly after turning around, I glanced up into a slide and noticed this from about 450 yards..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4984_zps77187326.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4984_zps77187326.jpg.html)

OSW had missed spotting the bear on their way by - but shortly after turned around and came back to see what I was up to. Here's my hunting partner looking through my blurtex - a big step down from his Swaro! :-D

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4985_zps6b3b11cc.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4985_zps6b3b11cc.jpg.html)

[coach]

I decided to shoot a little video as we debated making a low odds stalk up hill.

Click to view video:
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_MVI_4986_zps2c73a57b.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MVI_4986_zps2c73a57b.mp4)


As we watched one bear, OSW spotted another one on the opposite side of the valley.

Click to view:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_MVI_4987_zps43d0058b.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MVI_4987_zps43d0058b.mp4)

Both bears disappeared as quickly as they'd come into view. Neither one got us too excited, so we pushed on back to camp.

[coach]

Here we are glassing bears on both sides of the valley:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4989_zpsf589a1c5.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4989_zpsf589a1c5.jpg.html)

[islander7mm]

Great read!

[monasheemountainman]

Cool looks like a fun trip sean!

[boxhitch]

That area looks perfect , good spot

Neither one got us too excited, so we pushed on back to camp. OSW is too cool to get excited , but you too ? :) Someone should have drawn blood.
Good zoom on that camera Sean ?

[coach]

OSW is too cool to get excited , but you too ? :) ?

OSW is definitely the cool one. When that grizzly was 50 yards from our tent in the morning, I was quickly loading my gun - he was going for his toothbrush! :-D

We likely would have taken a crack at the first bear - but it wandered out of the slide and into the thick stuff. Rather than push it out - we decided to wait for a better opportunity. The one across the valley would have required us to cross a pretty strong flowing river. We later discovered a snow bridge - but all agreed that we weren't about to take any big risks or spend an entire day recovering a black bear.

[coach]

We slowly made our way back to camp to make lunch and meet up with the fourth member of our hunting party - who had driven to the slide on the main road and then mountain biked in. :-D

After lunch we decided to check out the drainage that the tributary stream next to camp flowed out of. The road was extremely overgrown, but we bushwhacked our way in.. We hit a muddy area and found the type of sign we were looking for.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4990_zpsf0669a66.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4990_zpsf0669a66.jpg.html)

Click to view:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_grizztrack_zpsc366ed57.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/grizztrack_zpsc366ed57.mp4)

[coach]

The road was thick all the way back to this spot:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4991_zps567efdf3.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4991_zps567efdf3.jpg.html)

Although the area held promise, crossing the flow in the pouring rain didn't seem like our best plan of attack.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4993_zps2a26a868.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4993_zps2a26a868.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4992_zpsd3d7fda5.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4992_zpsd3d7fda5.jpg.html)

[coach]

We did more exploring and glassing throughout the afternoon.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5005_zps65780a14.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5005_zps65780a14.jpg.html)

Eventually, we spotted another bear - but OSW judged it as being too small.

Click to view:
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_MVI_4999_zps7f8cff43.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MVI_4999_zps7f8cff43.mp4)

[coach]

This great looking area was right above our camp. We glassed it regularly, fully expecting to see something roaming around up there.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4939_zps495529cd.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4939_zps495529cd.jpg.html)

Sunday morning, we were brewing some coffee while OSW and our other partner were out gathering a little more firewood. I glassed up the hill when suddenly a good sized grizzly appeared. Excited, I watched the bear for a minute or so, when suddenly a darker, smaller bear appeared below it on the hill. Perhaps it was the bonehead I was feeling from a good night around the campfire - but at first I thought I was watching a black bear and a grizzly. It looked like the smaller bear was surprised to see the bigger one. As I watched, the larger bear stood on it's hind legs, then slammed it's front paws on the ground and charged the other bear! They tumbled a couple times and the bigger bear wound up on top. The smaller bear appeared to lay motionless.

"Holy shit! I just watched a grizzly kill a black bear!! Get my camera!" Not really understanding exactly what I was watching, it took a minute to process everything. Soon after, the second bear got up and started feeding along side the other bear. :-D It turns out I was watching two grizzlies play fighting. Hoping it was a boar and a sow exhibiting some pre-rut behavior, we kept watching. It didn't take long to determine it was actually a sow with her juvenile sized cub. We suspect it's likely she will run it off over the next week or so.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/00bdddbd-c7b3-419a-99ce-25c2c8b4a468_zps1a3890bf.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/00bdddbd-c7b3-419a-99ce-25c2c8b4a468_zps1a3890bf.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5002_zpsf5110a9d.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5002_zpsf5110a9d.jpg.html)

Click to view video: My apologies about the resolution - but as you will see when I zoom out, the bears were a long distance away. Digital zoom is never great - but at least we get to see the bears.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_MVI_5003_zps33f1a1dd.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MVI_5003_zps33f1a1dd.mp4)

[coach]

We spotted more black bears throughout the trip - but didn't see any more grizzlies. On Sunday night, two of us embarked on this epic stalk:

Click to view:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_Epicstalk_zps30d89dbb.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Epicstalk_zps30d89dbb.mp4)

When we first spotted the bear from across the valley, it appeared to be in a fairly open and accessible area. Wind was blowing downhill from our right to left, so we chose the left side and made our way up. Near the the top, it changed direction completely, and blew any chance we had. A few lessons learned - the most important is that the terrain in this neck of the woods is thicker than it looks. Best to have a really clear plan of attack before embarking on an "easy" hike up. If things had worked out, we would have needed to be within 30 yards or so of the bear to even see him. Kinda makes one think about doing this with a grizzly. :confused::-D

All in all, the epic stalk turned into an epic fail - but it was cool to see a healthy looking, young bull moose at the end of the climb. The sun setting on the mountains made it even better.

[coach]

A few more scenery pics:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4996_zpsc3c6a7f6.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4996_zpsc3c6a7f6.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5008_zpsd8f20745.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5008_zpsd8f20745.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4982_zps7eaad828.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4982_zps7eaad828.jpg.html)

[coach]

My partner's spotter.. It's no blurtex - but it had to do..

Lot's of debate here about angled vs straight. After using this one, I'm thinking I like the straight version better.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5011_zpse116c2bf.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5011_zpse116c2bf.jpg.html)

Apparently OSW's spotter is so good, he can sleep on the job and a little alarm goes off if a bear enters the swaro's field of vision:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5009_zps6a80533e.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5009_zps6a80533e.jpg.html)

Our tributary creek blew out in the middle of the last day. It only took a hour or so to clear back up - but it served as warning that slides can let go at any time.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5012_zps4f9f69ca.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5012_zps4f9f69ca.jpg.html)

[358mag]

Great pictures-video's and story Coach sounds like you guys had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

[coach]

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5043_zpsa252eacd.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5043_zpsa252eacd.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5042_zps6e1675a4.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5042_zps6e1675a4.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5045_zps5878a125.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5045_zps5878a125.jpg.html)

[coach]

Great pictures-video's and story Coach sounds like you guys had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks 358Mag. Looking forward to hearing how your weekend went..:-D

[358mag]

[QUOTE=coach;1334016]Thanks 358Mag. Looking forward to hearing how your weekend went..:-D[/QUOTE

well it was a no bear weekend but a great time in the mountains need a few days of R+R:wink::wink::wink:

[coach]

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5049_zps881755f1.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5049_zps881755f1.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5047_zpsfb7a20bb.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5047_zpsfb7a20bb.jpg.html)

[coach]

Meanwhile.. closer to home.. I took the family out a couple weeks ago to check for sign and pull a card from one of our trail cams:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/73dfc615-9984-4675-8fdd-72e0f4871cff_zps0865ef2c.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/73dfc615-9984-4675-8fdd-72e0f4871cff_zps0865ef2c.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/elk_zps92cfdf27.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/elk_zps92cfdf27.png.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/buck_zpsc8e47646.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/buck_zpsc8e47646.png.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/bear_zps05413acc.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/bear_zps05413acc.png.html)

Looks like our prospective area holds some potential..:-D

[coach]

Trailcams make things a little easier than deciphering potential the old fashioned way..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4649_zpsbbb3ac15.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4649_zpsbbb3ac15.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4643_zps04874140.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4643_zps04874140.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4641_zps96c107e7.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4641_zps96c107e7.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4640_zps05c00960.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4640_zps05c00960.jpg.html)

[coach]

Tikka had a blast on her first off leash hike:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4635_zpsa9cdfc07.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4635_zpsa9cdfc07.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_4657_zps2dd24057.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_4657_zps2dd24057.jpg.html)

Chilko - she was busy just being Chilko!

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/7fde8c25-abf2-49aa-9e56-ce01f3ab4e61_zps73ffa2c6.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/7fde8c25-abf2-49aa-9e56-ce01f3ab4e61_zps73ffa2c6.jpg.html)

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Looks like some grand times!

Those slides are always thicker and a heck of a lot noiser than they look.

Had a couple epic stalks fail this past weekend as well.....but at least there's a lot less work with no bears on the ground.

SSS

[coach]

.....but at least there's a lot less work with no bears on the ground.

SSS

That thought definitely runs through a guy's mind! :-D

[coach]

Went for a cruise with the kids and dogs tonight. Saw a few critters along the way:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5069_zps2124718e.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5069_zps2124718e.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/0babf7d6-16d6-46b2-bef6-2d88f4a9a3ac_zps7d3e23fc.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/0babf7d6-16d6-46b2-bef6-2d88f4a9a3ac_zps7d3e23fc.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5056_zps4d566362.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5056_zps4d566362.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5068_zpsef802d9f.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5068_zpsef802d9f.jpg.html)

[coach]

My youngest step son had never seen a moose before. He was pretty pumped to see two tonight.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5070_zps404e51f6.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5070_zps404e51f6.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5065_zps55efd8da.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5065_zps55efd8da.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5063_zpsd868da62.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5063_zpsd868da62.jpg.html)

[coach]

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5066_zps275c72e5.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5066_zps275c72e5.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5059_zps396963b8.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5059_zps396963b8.jpg.html)

[MOUNTAIN MAN - TOYOTA/ATV]

Great stories! Looks like you were way up high when hunting for bears. Nice photos.

[coach]

A couple recent trail cam pics:

Too bad this wasn't in video mode. Kinda looked like the makings of another Gatti vs Ward.. :-D

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/deer_zps594b8fec.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/deer_zps594b8fec.jpg.html)

This is why my partner insists on locking boxes for the trail cameras. This bear went at the camera box pretty hard. Fortunately he didn't destroy everything...

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Penticton-20130528-00951_zps807f7af4.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Penticton-20130528-00951_zps807f7af4.jpg.html)

[rides bike to work]

The pic of the two deer boxing is hilarious looks like a photo shopped face book pic. Perfect for a caption this photo thread.

love the thread

have you had any negative side effects from putting yourself out there on line. I hope not your hunts are top notch and down to earth.

[Wrayzer]

have you had any negative side effects from putting yourself out there on line. I hope not your hunts are top notch and down to earth.

Only negative to Coachs attention whoring is that not only do we have to deal with it in real life, its all over the interwebs as well. :P

[Elk-Aholic]

only negative to coachs attention whoring is that not only do we have to deal with it in real life, its all over the interwebs as well. :p

priceless!

[coach]

Only negative to Coachs attention whoring is that not only do we have to deal with it in real life, its all over the interwebs as well. :P

When I met Wrayzer nearly 3 years ago he told me he really liked the idea of sharing stories about successful hunts and wanted to start doing some of his own. Two full seasons have passed and he hasn't had any success. I guess that's why I have to do all the story tellin'.. :-D

[coach]

Another t-cam pic sent to me by a former contributing member to HBC:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/f9cc8510-c766-4bb1-9ecd-e2303b498e16_zpsc6f6a09b.jpg

A shed picked up today:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/DCF4CFD1_zps08f2cd44.jpg

And a promising new area that we'll be getting a cam in to in the near future:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/D8C4816A_zpsdffc320b.jpg

[Sitkaspruce]

Looking good Coach, love following along on your adventures!!

Nice shed!!!

Cheers

SS

[coach]

Thanks, SS. The feeling is mutual. My hunting partner says that buck would score 140-145. Shed is likely from 2011. Maybe he's still walking around. Cameras are in place so we can find out. Regardless, the area has serious potential.

[coach]

My partner texted me this morning. He scored the shed at 67 1/2". Double that is 135". Add 18" spread and it's a 153. In my quest to kill to take a big buck this year, I'll have to pass ones like that up. Apparently I have to give my partner my bolt at the start of the open season. He'll only give it back when a true giant is in front of us.. Should be a fun season. :-D

Two new uway U150's with locking boxes arrived the other day. Looking forward to getting them out and reporting on what we find.

[coach]

It's a busy time of year in the Coach household. Not much time to get out - but I have a camera that's been collecting intel for a little over a week and I was dying to get out to see what was on it.. On the way up to camera I spotted this little guy - still with his mom, but starting to grow his first set of antlers:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5085_zps41685a1d.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5085_zps41685a1d.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5084_zps284d47bd.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5084_zps284d47bd.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5088_zps308d27c8.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5088_zps308d27c8.jpg.html)

Is this Mr 2018? :-D

[coach]

I got this little Simmons "whitetail" camera for Christmas. It's a pretty reasonably priced unit - but I'm happy with the quality of the pictures. Definitely a good entry level camera. Here's a small doe - I only post the pic to show the quality of the photo:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0035_zps0106b4ec.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0035_zps0106b4ec.jpg.html)

The nighttime pics aren't as good. I may have to adjust the resolution - but they are good enough to let me know there's a couple young md bucks in the area:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0044_zps2d04915e.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0044_zps2d04915e.jpg.html)

I put some cob and a salt block out on a heavily traveled game trail. I'm not keen on the cob this time of year because of the presence of bears, but I wanted to give the deer a reason to stop for a pic. It turns out they seemed more interested in the salt and hardly touched the cob. Of note - I had pics of them feeding on surrounding vegetation as well as on what I'd put out. Now that this spot is established, I'll only be using salt.

This is the same young buck as in the nighttime picture:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0056_zpsc9ce10c4.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0056_zpsc9ce10c4.jpg.html)

[coach]

This is a smaller version of what I was hoping to find: A WT buck in an area where I've only seen MD in the past. As we all know, wt's are a lot more wary than mulies. Odds of seeing a decent buck while still hunting are significantly less than with MD. If I can find a "shooter" in the area, I'll figure out how to set up a blind and will put time into closing the deal in the fall.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0017_zpsf1c3f16a.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0017_zpsf1c3f16a.jpg.html)

From what my camera has told me in week #1 - this is an area that holds juvenile bucks. I'll leave the camera a little longer just to see what else might be out there - but I'm not going to put too much effort in. As my partner tells me - big bucks hang in big buck spots. Juvies hang in juvie spots..

[knightcc]

Thanks for sharing Coach. I always enjoy your posts and this type of thread. Keep it coming. Helps pass the summer months.

[Sitkaspruce]

Looking good Coach!! For the Simmons, maybe clean out the branches off to the left that take away the night flash and refect it back, might help with better night time shots.

Interesting to see all the small bucks in the area.

Cheers

SS

[coach]

Thanks for the advice, SS! I think that makes a lot of sense to remove that branch. I'll definitely do so as soon as I can get back in to check my camera.

OSW and I went for a BRIEF bear hunt tonight. I was a little delayed getting out so I suggested he head in first and I'd catch up with him. When I arrived, he'd already photographed and video'd a couple of bears:

This one (nicknamed The Bandid) had a great looking coat and could be on the hit list a couple years from now:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/BrownBanditBear_zps2bd72155.jpg

As my partner was watching this bear, a second one appeared. OSW had seen it about a week ago and nicknamed it "Rubsy" because it was pretty well rubbed. :-D Rubsy put the run on Bandit and both were gone by the time I arrived. About 45 minutes later, I spotted movement and sure enough, Rubsy was back. I have no real interest in a taxidermy bill to tan another bear hide - but I would like to have a bear skull in my "trophy" collection and could use a little more sausage and pepperoni, so I decided that if Rubsy was decent size, I'd probably shoot him.

The bear was in an out of trees, but we managed to make a successful stalk and were within 70 yards when I had a clear shot opportunity.With OSW running the camera , I raised my gun and immediately decided this was much smaller bear than first thought. Solo - but well under 5' (closer to 4 :-?) - Rubsy will live to see another day.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Rubsythebear_zpsdb1d6f33.jpg

Not sure how many more days I'll get out for spring bear this year - but it was fun just to have an opportunity tonight.

[dave_fras]

nice work on passing them up!... we went out yesterday morning and came across a hog of a brown... but i only had my bow and he took off wayyy too fast! u still have a few days left!!

[OutWest]

Nice to see your "partner" is back posting on HBC ;)

[358mag]

Nice to see your "partner" is back posting on HBC ;)

Yes good to see him back on line too.Wonder when "The Dude" will be back from his play ground time out ?:wink:

[coach]

I took the dogs for a hike tonight and checked a couple of my cameras. First up was my new Uway 150. Here's a close up video of a black bear: (click to view)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_PICT0006_zps3079d989.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/PICT0006_zps3079d989.mp4)

I also picked up this video of a mule deer doe walking down the game trail:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_PICT0011_zps3a6a2b2c.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/PICT0011_zps3a6a2b2c.mp4)

I have confidence that there are good numbers of deer and moose in the area (based on all the sign), but I've got other areas I'd like to explore so the camera got pulled tonight and will be relocated to a new spot tomorrow afternoon.

[coach]

I thought about pulling my Simmons camera as well - but it's in a location where there seems to be good numbers of smaller bucks. It's one of the spots I'd like to take Shootthesheep's daughter next fall to get her first deer. I'll keep the cam in there for a little longer to keep an eye on the up and comers..

This 'yote passed by only once:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0002_zps9270f607.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0002_zps9270f607.jpg.html)

Despite all the doom and gloom I hear from some people about the R8 mule deer buck population, this little spot has a few young ones around:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0345_zpsd00be745.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0345_zpsd00be745.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0382_zpse909fac6.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0382_zpse909fac6.jpg.html)

[coach]

These two are showing up on a regular basis:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0385_zps2384749a.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0385_zps2384749a.jpg.html)

Another "dink" buck:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0444_zps20cac59a.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0444_zps20cac59a.jpg.html)

hmmm...

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0619_zps816596df.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0619_zps816596df.jpg.html)

[coach]

This guy has been around for a few days. It will be interesting to watch him grow:



http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0639_zpse662e5eb.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0639_zpse662e5eb.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0637_zps45057b77.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0637_zps45057b77.jpg.html)

[coach]

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0629_zpsed24b197.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0629_zpsed24b197.jpg.html)

Looks like his first set of antlers is just getting started:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0865_zps719b27e9.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0865_zps719b27e9.jpg.html)

I switched the camera to video mode with a 2 minute delay and trimmed a few more branches so that my nighttime images will be little less washed out. I left a half block of salt (broken up) and will leave the cam another week or so to see if anything interesting shows up. No sign of the whitetail buck from last week..

[604redneck]

nice pics as per usual....keep it up pal

[coach]

The girls had a great time! Hard to believe Tikka s only 4 months old. She's definitely showing me a lot of signs that she's gonna be a great hunting dog and companion. Chilko is a wonderful dog too... Except for her habit of running through every mud puddle in the country right before jumping into my truck. Sure glad I bought one with leather seats..

Did I mention Tikka get's car sick? Nothing like dog hair, mud and puke all over the interior of your Laramie..:-|

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5188_zps5142e6b1.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5188_zps5142e6b1.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5189_zps5d08e12c.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5189_zps5d08e12c.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5190_zps7ee79cfe.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5190_zps7ee79cfe.jpg.html)

This pic was little over exposed in color so I made it a black and white using the photobucket editing function:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/ce45e783-60bf-4eab-9e2c-f1504fdae6b1_zps5a537e06.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/ce45e783-60bf-4eab-9e2c-f1504fdae6b1_zps5a537e06.jpg.html)

[dave_fras]

hahahaha my dog does the same thing with water!!!!!

[.300WSMImpact!]

a bunch of nice meat bucks there, nice spot!!

[Sitkaspruce]

There Labs, what do you expect........:-)

Nice picts Coach, that little Simmons has been working well for you!!!

Cheers

SS

[elktracker1975]

Nice pics coach, I see you are using a Simmons trail cam. Have you had any trouble with it? I bought one in the fall and it didn't seem to trigger often enough.

[Ourea]

Well Coach, it's time we find you a "real" buck this weekend.
See you tonight!

[.300WSMImpact!]

Well Coach, it's time we find you a "real" buck this weekend.
See you tonight!

nice to see you back Ourea

[coach]

Well Coach, it's time we find you a "real" buck this weekend.
See you tonight!

Welcome back, buddy!! Looking forward to it.

[coach]

Nice pics coach, I see you are using a Simmons trail cam. Have you had any trouble with it? I bought one in the fall and it didn't seem to trigger often enough.

I've been very happy with the Simmons. I use a class 10 SD card and lithium batteries. No issues so far. My new Uway is pretty slick - but I can't afford many like that and I'm quickly realizing a guy can't have too many trail cams. :-D

[Wrayzer]

Great pics Coach, lookin forward to the preseason. Ourea, nice to see you back.

[358mag]

So Coach how was your weekend ???? sorry about your company !!....:wink::wink::wink::wink::wink:

[coach]

A pretty good weekend, 358Mag. Company was good. Suffering from a slight case of bonehead today though. :-D

[358mag]

A pretty good weekend, 358Mag. Company was good. Suffering from a slight case of bonehead today though. :-D

Glad to see that Bob Dylan stopped in for a bit and not the "Other " Rock Star that lives a little west of your campsite ....

[coach]

My hunting partner sent me this video today. I figured it would be a good one to share with anyone thinking about hanging a trail camera for scouting purposes. This bear came back several days in a row to attack the camera. He left the salt and grain alone each time - but did his best to destroy the camera. Fortunately, this cam is held securely in a locking box that is lag bolted and locked to the tree. The bear had the python lock in his mouth as he attempted to wreak havoc.

Turn up your volume and Click to view:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_bear006_zps8cdf957a.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/bear006_zps8cdf957a.mp4)

"Unreal!" was my response to seeing the video.

"Not really", my partner responded, "It's simply the reaction of many animals when we mess with their private spots"...

Fact is, we have pics and vids now of deer, elk, moose and bears messing with our cameras. I'm keen to get back to check my Simmons tomorrow. It's locked to a tree - but not boxed. Hopefully the bears haven't found it yet..

[coach]

Speaking of elk and bears: here's an interesting pic from one of our cams..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/ca1dd039-8b54-4560-ab56-f8de66dfad1d_zpsed754a96.jpg

[604redneck]

ive had 3 bears on my cam in the last week and not 1 has touched the cam yet.....some bears dont like getting there pic taken lol some may even pose some use the cams to make there own sex tapes lol

[dave_fras]

hahah that last pic is a good one! i can still remember getting my first bear pic on one of those old film tcams!!! ill be heading out this weekend to set 3 of mine up!

[BuckNaked]

Speaking of elk and bears: here's an interesting pic from one of our cams..

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/ca1dd039-8b54-4560-ab56-f8de66dfad1d_zpsed754a96.jpg

heres wishing the feild of view was just a hair bigger!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Cool stuff!

Hang them high. Use a couple of tresstand screw-in pegs to get them 8' plus or so. Also keeps them out of eyesight for the 2 legged thieving types.
I hung my first tcam and it lasted one week before a bear wrecked it...and that was mid november.

SSS

[coach]

ive had 3 bears on my cam in the last week and not 1 has touched the cam yet.....some bears dont like getting there pic taken lol some may even pose some use the cams to make there own sex tapes lol

Oh.. It's bear porn you're after.. Here you go:-D: (Click to view)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_ourea049_zpsc9e22fad.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/ourea049_zpsc9e22fad.mp4)

[604redneck]

lol awesome! but if i ever bit michelles neck for foreplay she would cut my balls off lol

[coach]

Momma and a new born cub showed up on my Simmons this week: (Pictures are clipped from video)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot114-06-201311-27PM_zpsf418ac5a.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot114-06-201311-27PM_zpsf418ac5a.png.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot314-06-201311-29PM_zps31049803.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot314-06-201311-29PM_zps31049803.png.html)

The sow seemed to know she was being watched and took off fairly quickly. Fortunately she left the camera alone (and, momentarily, her cub)..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot214-06-201311-28PM_zps023b67b9.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot214-06-201311-28PM_zps023b67b9.png.html)

[coach]

I have a couple bucks who are starting to split - one is wider than the other. This is the narrow dude:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot714-06-201311-37PM_zpsfcd1286d.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot714-06-201311-37PM_zpsfcd1286d.png.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot614-06-201311-36PM_zpsabfb898d.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot614-06-201311-36PM_zpsabfb898d.png.html)

The animals seem to be hitting the salt pretty good - but leaving the cob alone.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot414-06-201311-34PM_zpse6bca9bd.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot414-06-201311-34PM_zpse6bca9bd.png.html)

I suspect there's plenty of groceries in the forest that taste better than what I packed in..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Snapshot514-06-201311-35PM_zps575989af.png (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Snapshot514-06-201311-35PM_zps575989af.png.html)

[coach]

This is the wider buck - I posted this picture from the week before:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0637_zps45057b77.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0637_zps45057b77.jpg.html)

He looks like he may be a bit older (grey faced) and saddle backed. I'll call him Saddleback and track his growth through the year. Here's a video from this week. Looks like the splits have added an inch or two. Because I'm so new to trail cams, I have no idea what I expect him to grow into. A decent two, a three, a four?? I'd like to know the opinions of the more experienced guys..

Click to view:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_saddleback_zps8755ad7e.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/saddleback_zps8755ad7e.mp4)

[Wrayzer]

Lack of Brows on ol Saddleboner, maybe be lucky to squeak 3 points off his split. I'll take him with the bow for ya.

[coach]

A few new vids on the card when I pulled it out of the camera today:

Saddleback sharing the lick with a doe. Looks like Mr Narrow is coming in from the background..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_Swayback_zps8a9d3943.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Swayback_zps8a9d3943.mp4)

[coach]

Interesting discovery.. My little mule deer area suddenly has a few whitetails moving in..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_MDandWT2_zps370411bf.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MDandWT2_zps370411bf.mp4)

[coach]

Saw this guy on the camera a couple weeks ago..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0017_zpsf1c3f16a.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0017_zpsf1c3f16a.jpg.html)

He's back again and I've named him One Brow.. Looks like he must have sat funny on his tail..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_OneBrowandbackground_zps30b420de.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/OneBrowandbackground_zps30b420de.mp4)

[coach]

And another WT buck:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_InBrows_zpsd34523ba.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/InBrows_zpsd34523ba.mp4)

[coach]

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/6AF0B66A_zpsa1fa85d3.jpg

Nothing too interesting this week - but the inventory seems to be growing. The brown trace mineral lick seems to be doing it's job of bringing animals in to have their pictures taken. Fortunately no more bear activity in this spot.

[Sitkaspruce]

Nice picts a vids Coach.

Too bad PB degrades the video, I have heard good things about the UWay video. Still nice to see the bucks hanging around.

Looking forward to seeing more.

Cheers

SS

[coach]

Thanks, SS. Those videos are from the Simmons. I switched the mode a couple weeks ago and back to pictures today.

One Uway has gone into a big buck / bull spot on video mode. It's been "soaking" for a few days. I'll give it at least another week. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's on it. :-D

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/8B6E5269_zpsb471ee7a.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/5185021e-d59e-4040-9adc-93f70da879e3_zps5be3dfc7.jpg

[coach]

Crappy weather here in the Okanagan meant a steady river of lesson cancellations today. I decided to drag my sore old tough mudder legs out for a little hike in to check my cams. The Uway is working - but to my disappointment only one animal has been to the station in just over a week. It's a crap shoot as to where to put a camera - but I'm holding out hope that this spot will pay off soon. On a positive note, I'm very happy with the quality of pics from this camera:http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/PICT0016_zps6e94c0a9.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/PICT0016_zps6e94c0a9.jpg.html)

[coach]

Meanwhile, OSW's Tasco picked up animals of three different species, starting on the 22nd - 6 days after we placed the camera. I'm confident we'll see something of better quality sometime in the near future:http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/HUNT0023_zps525d2817.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/HUNT0023_zps525d2817.jpg.html) http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/HUNT0021_zps81c72d38.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/HUNT0021_zps81c72d38.jpg.html) http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/HUNT0010_zps42ff98a2.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/HUNT0010_zps42ff98a2.jpg.html)

[604redneck]

the spot where ur cam is will be a good one for sure just keep it there and once they find the salt that place will be a highway.....My camera was out for a month and a half with salt and minerals before anything came thru now i have probably 12 different bucks plus all the does fawns moose and bears that use the highway lol.
but it is a crap shot i have tried a few spots with no success and a few with instant success

[Sitkaspruce]

Very nice picture from the UWay Coach!!!

Stick with it, sometimes it takes a while for them to find it and at this time of year, with so much food to eat, they do not need to travel far to find food.

Cheers

SS

[coach]

Very nice picture from the UWay Coach!!!

Stick with it, sometimes it takes a while for them to find it and at this time of year, with so much food to eat, they do not need to travel far to find food.

Cheers

SS

The amount of water around here right now is unbelieveable. When things dry out I fully expect this to be a busy area.

[Wrayzer]

The amount of water around here right now is unbelieveable. When things dry out I fully expect this to be a busy area.
With some nice Wallows to keep the elk around

[Ourea]

Keep pluggin away Coach.

You are dialling in the process.

Respect ur efferorts while considering ur never ending commitments with work and family.
You have a way of fitting it all in yet respecting your priorities in life.

Good on ya.

I'm sure some of the "other" cams that are not being shared will only add to ur busy schedule.

See u next weekend.
;-)

[coach]

Tonight was a pretty cool night. I managed to make it home from work by 5:30 and it wasn't raining. Tracy had other plans - so that left me and the two boys with an opportunity to check a camera. Our oldest decided he wasn't into it - but the big "E" man jumped at the opportunity.

"We get to go up the hunting hill? Which hill are we going up? Same on as last time?"

"No, different one"

"Whoa! How many hunting hills are there??" Gotta love conversing with a wide eyed 6 year old..:-D

A short while later, we parked the truck and started heading up to the camera.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/72991B6E_zpsdcb71a66.jpg

The Big "E" is a determined little guy. I offered to help him get over some of the downed trees along the way - but he declined my help and informed me that he was quite capable of going over or under almost any obstacle..:-D

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5249_zpsd02b53fd.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5249_zpsd02b53fd.jpg.html)

[coach]

Part way up, I introduced him to some Indian Paintbrushes (Is it still ok to call them that?) and taught him how to pull the little green parts out of the flower to taste the sweet nectar inside.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/C1DD3AE8_zpse370b9e8.jpg

He was pretty pumped about the whole experience. I wanted to get to the cams - but he'd have been happy to stay and play with the flowers all night. He gave a bunch of them to the the dogs to eat.. :-D



http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/C44AF2B7_zps69ad7377.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/dbe69241-e0ac-42ac-8c02-40564c9c4211_zpsbf1b85eb.jpg

[coach]

Along the way we found lots of "brown chocolates" - both the big ones left by the moose and the smaller ones from the deer. :-D

We found sign that deer had been in the area recently:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5253_zps6a3d69c2.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5253_zps6a3d69c2.jpg.html)

I figure the more animal signs I introduce him to, the more he's going to be aware of his environment and engaged in the process of scouting for animals. He told me this hair had to have been left by a mule deer. I actually saw that deer leave this bed the last time I was up there - he was right on his diagnosis. lol

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5251_zps9115aed2.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5251_zps9115aed2.jpg.html)

[coach]

We pulled the card from the camera - put a new salt block out and headed back home to check the results of the last week:

Looks like Mr Narrow is growing:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Mrnarrow1_zps4b18557b.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Mrnarrow1_zps4b18557b.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MrNarrow2_zps44175cc6.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/MrNarrow2_zps44175cc6.jpg.html)

He may split again and become a small 4. Time will tell. It's fun to see how quickly these bucks put on inches at this time of year.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MrNarrowcloseup_zps2b31a024.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/MrNarrowcloseup_zps2b31a024.jpg.html)

[300H&H]

Sounds like a great adventure with the Big E.

Good to see you go some "work" time in at the Harvest.
I still want to come for some lessons before I go and "hack" up the course at Predator.

[coach]

Mr In-brows is still hanging around. Not sure what he'll become - but I've seen pics from other cams that indicate he's well behind the curve..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Clearpicofinbrows_zpsb9f9d16e.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Clearpicofinbrows_zpsb9f9d16e.jpg.html)

A couple of other bucks have started to split. I think there'll be several two points here in the fall - typical of what I've observed in past seasons.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/MrNarrow_zpsfae8435a.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/MrNarrow_zpsfae8435a.jpg.html)

[coach]

Saddleback grew a fair amount in the last week. He looks like he'll be a four point soon. Not gonna be a giant - but I'm totally loving the process of watching him grow.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/SUNP0743_zpsa9070ea5.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/SUNP0743_zpsa9070ea5.jpg.html)


Here's the difference 15 days can make:


http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Saddlebackfillingout_zps9a2193c5.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/Saddlebackfillingout_zps9a2193c5.jpg.html)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/hmmm_zpsb6782744.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/hmmm_zpsb6782744.jpg.html)

[coach]

Good night for a hike. Station's been refreshed. The Big "E" got to be part of the scouting process and the dog's had a blast trying to figure out where the ground squirrels were going..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_5254_zps16abfde9.jpg (http://s1247.photobucket.com/user/coach1000/media/IMG_5254_zps16abfde9.jpg.html)

I've decided I much prefer video mode to pictures - so I changed the setting on the cam once again. The Simmons has been on the same set of batteries for the last several weeks (Energizer advanced lithium). It's taken over 2000 pictures and almost 500 videos and is still showing a full charge. We'll see how it does over the next couple weeks. Daytime pics are excellent. Nighttime are just "OK" and dusk and dawn pics are quite washed out. Overall I'm still very happy with this $119 camera.

[300H&H]

Saddleback grew a fair amount in the last week. He looks like he'll be a four point soon. Not gonna be a giant - but I'm totally loving the process of watching him grow.



I think you will be surprised at just how much mass & length they can put on from now until the start of Sept.
If you remember 4 years ago we had a every wet spring & summer.
The result was LOTS of lush green vegetation for the forest critters.
That year I saw more BIG bucks as a result of the rain.
It looks like this year could be the same but it can change with a HOT July.
But I'm still hopeing.

[Wrayzer]

Great pics. In his words in regards to trying to keep the animals coming back to the trail cam "if you shoot 'em they wont be coming back" wise words Big E.

[coach]

Great pics. In his words in regards to trying to keep the animals coming back to the trail cam "if you shoot 'em they wont be coming back" wise words Big E.

He also asked, "is your friend Wrayzer really a hunter? He only eats Kirkland beef and farmed Atlantic salmon." Wise kid for sure.. Always thinking..:-D

[coach]

Here's one of the more interesting videos we've got on our trail camera's so far. I posted a video earlier of this bear attacking our trail camera and pulling on the python lock. Here he is showing off his acrobatic skills, before pulling on our camera for the 5th day in a row:

(Click to view)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_Showoff_zps750007be.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Showoff_zps750007be.mp4)

[OutWest]

He also asked, "is your friend Wrayzer really a hunter? He only eats Kirkland beef and farmed Atlantic salmon." Wise kid for sure.. Always thinking..:-D

Maybe Wrayzer's trigger finger isn't as itchy as some of his hunting partners ;).

I'm off to the Yukon to fight some fire for the next 3 weeks, Coach. Keep up the great thread!

[coach]

Maybe Wrayzer's trigger finger isn't as itchy as some of his hunting partners ;).

I'm off to the Yukon to fight some fire for the next 3 weeks, Coach. Keep up the great thread!

Don't put 'em out too quickly, Nick - but be safe while you're up there. Oh and BTW - my partner seems to have removed the bolt from my rifle. Even my itchy trigger finger won't be enough to cause me to take a boner buck this season. :-D

[coach]

While hunting whitetails last fall, Kiana, OldnGrey and I stumbled across a couple of these in an area we'd seen lots of moose sign the year before:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_3929.jpg

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_3932.jpg

I decided to put in for my 2013 LEH in this spot - and today got word that Kiana and I have been successfully drawn along with Shootthesheep and his nephew. WT camp will be a lot more fun with a couple of moose tags! Can't wait until November.

[markt308]

awesome pics coach. nice lookin bull!

[coach]

Speaking of whitetails: my partners and I have cameras placed in many key spots throughout our area. Research for this season started in November and hasn't let up since. The more we explore, the more we learn and the more we learn, the more we realize that there's more to learn.. It's a fun process and we're all embracing it.

It seems the thicker and nastier the area is, the more comfortable big animals are going to be. We are looking hard for rutting areas and areas of safety.

My partners are pretty sensitive about what information gets shared for free on the internet and it took considerable thought to decide whether to share these pics. We've decided that helping people learn about year round scouting and about the quality whitetail opportunities is fair information to pass around. We simply want to inspire others to get out and hunt – year round.

Our belief is that WT's are not as sensitive as elk and MD so the average hunter can experience good success and potentially take a trophy animal. They thrive in areas of human interaction and are far more accessible than other species. It's not so much about having the "spot" as it is about investing a bit of time. I'm learning quickly that it's a much different game when you "know" exactly what your are hunting for and where and why. We are trying to identify targets rather than to just "see something". Gathering an inventory of what bucks inhabit certain spots is an exciting process that will hopefully be rewarding in the fall.

That said, a few WT's have shown up on our cameras that have garnered enough interest to make the "watch list" for this fall.

Looking forward to watching what this guy turns into:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/1e5dbd82-3298-411c-8d41-9f9fe85d161a_zps6accb6e8.jpg

Another interesting one:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/0D9DA584_zps33c7a21d.jpg

This guy showed up in one picture several weeks ago. The area he inhabits is THICK, THICK, THICK. We call him the Jungle Buck. He glared at the camera - as he knew something was invading his private space. For three weeks, he disappeared. Lucky for us, he returned. Hopefully he'll get used to the camera and we can watch him grow. A buck like this won't likely give us more than one chance, so it's going to take some serious planning to figure out how we can hunt him.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/Snapbucket/5C3D0D6F_zpsadc7061d.jpg

[.300WSMImpact!]

I know a guy that may be willing to help ;)

[Wrayzer]

Great Update Coach, Nothing better than knowing your inventory and being able to hold the bolt until the right one walks by. I really enjoy the informitave, helpful and knowledgeable posts, really does help a lot of the new hunters here to learn some new skills.