pink mountain bison

[trapman]

Well waited 18 years for a tag and this years I got one ,the hunt was for jan 15 till the 31.We (hammerhead and myself )left langley 10:00 on the 23 and roads and weather was great ,into Chetwind by midnight . Up at 6:00 and at the Blueberry ranch by 10:30 . Paid your trespassing fee ( 200 for tag holder and 150 for helpers )and went for a look .That first afternoon we didn't see any bison but a few moose and elk . We stayed at the sasquatch in ,rooms were small and very plain . But for 50 dollars a night it was warm ,had a shower ,little tv in the room and the food was great and cheap .16.95 gives you a great steak dinner ,all you can eat salad bar ,all you can eat soup bar and all you can eat desert bar and it was all great. First day we were up, fed, and at the sleds ready to go by daylight (8:15).First mile we say 6 moose and a great sunny day .We were on the main trail heading up the Halfway river valley and at 32 km in we saw our first herd of bison .They were on top of a 4800 foot mountian ,25 animals all on the skyline 3 km in off the trail .Being the first day we moved up the valley looking for something a little closer and 8 km up the trail we found a single bull 1.5 km up the side of a mountain . So off we go ,packs , guns and all the gear to get him off the mountain .Well he was only 1.5 km away and 1000 feet higher than us so why ,1.5 hours later were we only half way to him and I was having a mild heart attack . The snow was 18 inches to 2 feet deep and with a crust just not thick enough to hold your weight made it slow . By the time we were getting close (2.5 Hours),we lost him and could not find any trace of him .So back down to the sleds and time for supper .
Day 2 we were heading out on the sleds by 7:15 on another sunny day . Saw a few bison at 42 km on top of a mountain thought why not . Found a trail that took us in a little, but still had a 2 km hike up you the bison

[trapman]

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/th_P1000828_zps80d356b0.jpg (http://s1109.beta.photobucket.com/user/Hammerhead8/media/P1000828_zps80d356b0.jpg.html) the bison are at the top of the mountain in the sun

[Rackmastr]

This is very cool so far!

[The Dude]

Looking forward to the whole read! I took the liberty of putting these inline for you

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/P1000828_zpse99dcb74.jpg


I see you're uploaded to Photobucket, so when you have that pic loaded, use the FOURTH code line down, the one labelled IMG, and paste that here, and that's it. :D

[Caribou_lou]

Sounds more like Goat hunting! Great story so far.

[WKCotts]

Keep it comin trapman!!

[trapman]

Well 3 hours of hiking up through 2 feet of snow another 1 or 2 hart attacks and we were sitting 258 yards across the basin from them . I counted 5 animals ,from what I could see there were 2 bulls 2 cows and a calf .All were bedded down but one of the cows . We sat and watched them for 1.5 hours hoping the would get up ,give us a look and than a shot . We could see the 2 bulls heads but nothing else ,finally the bigger bull got up but by the time I was looking through my scope he was down again .So another 45 min. with me looking through my scope all hell broke loose .All of the bison were up and running up the hill ,within 20 seconds the big bull was gone .So the scope found number two and I let the lead fly .He took two steps and he was gone over the edge of the hill . While we packed up all our stuff and started over to were we last saw them . 30 min. later we were 20 yards from were we last saw them and here is the bull standing 15 yards from were I had shot him . I raised my rifle and finish the bull from the corner of my eye I see movement 20 yards down the back side of the ridge . Two hunters appeard and came over ,they had seen the bison 3 hours earlier from the other side of the ridge and had being making their way up through some real nasty stuff . Man did I feel bad for them all that way just to see hammerhead and me with our bull .Thats why all the bison got up and ran ,they winded the two hunters and pretty sure they would not have even seen the herd . They had left 30 min. befor the hunters reached the ridge stilll I feel bad and if the two hunters are from this site ,I have a 50 pound box of pepperoni for you .Just PM with a picture of your self I will remember you

[trapman]

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/th_P1000837_zps854749dc.jpg (http://s1109.beta.photobucket.com/user/Hammerhead8/media/P1000837_zps854749dc.jpg.html)

[trapman]

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/th_P1000832_zps7e79077e.jpg (http://s1109.beta.photobucket.com/user/Hammerhead8/media/P1000832_zps7e79077e.jpg.html)http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/th_P1000843_zps03d671b7.jpg (http://s1109.beta.photobucket.com/user/Hammerhead8/media/P1000843_zps03d671b7.jpg.html)

[guywitha270]

Great story and pics! Congratulations!!

[6 K]

Wow !
How much work was it to get that guy out.
sounds like my kind of a hunt.
Congrats

[Caribou_lou]

Good looking bull! Im thinking if the other two Hunters were putting in that amount of effort they would have connected.

[MR.uninformed]

deffinatly something I want to do in my life time

[trapman]

Well this is were the fun stopped and the work started , it was 2 pm and only had 2 hours of light left . We gutted and cut the bison in half , front and back halfs .The hill was steep and dragging the bison down would be easy "NOT" . With 2 feet of snow and a crust that would not hold your weight but is strong enough not to break as you are walking through it sure makes it hard . Just befor dark we had the front half down 200 yards and skinned out and carried on with the back half . At 6 pm we have had enough we were 1/2 way down and time to skin it out and head for dinner . That night on the way out we stopped and talked to Smokey he is the native looking after the ranch . he lent us his chainsaw which should save a lot of time tomorrow . Another great dinner , hot shower and warn sleep and we were up early the next day . I Spent 3 hours cutting a trail up through the willows to a big ridge were we could go no further ,but we were only 300 yards from the back half. While I was doing this Hammerhead took a tarp some rope and headed up the mountain to the front half .After cutting the trail I brought the sleds up as far as we could go ,hiked up to the back half but it in a tarp and started pulling .I wasn't bad the tarp really helps ,the back half was at the sleds and I went back for the head and cape .By this time Hammerhead had made it down to were the cape was and having a hard time with that big front half . I had to go down get the chainsaw and cut a path for him the last 300 yards to the sleds .Well it was over the hard work was done now a little brake and time to thank someone that always seems to be there when I need him . 40 km ride back ,load up the sleds ,stop one last great dinner and pickup our things in the room and off to another night in chetwind.GREAT TRIP ,GREAT WEATHER AND ANOTHER GREAT ADVENTURE WITH MY BEST FRIEND it just doesn't get any better

[jjsachmoe]

Congrats on a great hunt. Perhaps you could stop at LJ and show John and I pictures someday soon. I would love to hear the story firsthand for sure.
John

[moose2]

Congratulations guys nice bison and great story. I knew when you told us you got the tag that it would end this way.
Mike

[3kills]

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/P1000837_zps854749dc.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/P1000832_zps7e79077e.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h439/Hammerhead8/P1000843_zps03d671b7.jpg

[SUAFOYT]

Looks like Mr. Ruger gets another one?

[BiG Boar]

way to make it happen. Any good advice you would pass on to wanna be buff hunters?

[Hammerhead]

Sure was a great trip Glen and I'd do it all over again tomorrow but maybe this time we could find one a little lower than 4600 feet LoL. There sure is a difference between what we consider a hard days work when your at work and a day in the bush hauling out an animal. I think most of us would rather haul out that animal any day of the week without even a second thought especially on a beautiful cold sunny day with a great friend. We sure did feel bad for those two guys that hiked up there to find us getting there just before them with your bull down. Had to be a pretty crappy feeling for them as i know it happened to me and my dad years ago on a moose hunt back east we were about 30 seconds too late. Thanks again buddy for the invite on a great and memorable hunt and you know I'll always be game and ready for the next one. Maybe my buffalo next season...?
Thanks again
HH

[BlacktailStalker]

Hats off to ya boys, nice bull Glen, wouldn't expect anything less. Well executed plans with extraordinary effort usually produce extraordinary results. Good story too :cool:

[trapman]

Big Bore only advice I can give is have the right equipment and have fun with the hunt .With a animal that size and the area and weather conditions it can go from something you have been dreamming of to something real bad in a very short time . So take your time ,have fun its not just about killing a bison .Its the memories that make it special

[bowhunterbruce]

congrats on a well earned animal of a lifetime. its that willingness to go the to the limits that bring about success, you guys deserved every memory, the best part is ,every bite you stick in your mouth will bring back all of those memories over and over again.
well done
bhb

[guest]

Great to hear it all worked out for you Trapman, you earned that one.

CT

[toad]

the best part is ,every bite you stick in your mouth will bring back all of those memories over and over again.
well done
bhb[/QUOTE
it sure does i had bison meatloaf last night for dinner.... I thought about how cold it was,how fun it was, the guys i went with, the scenery, broken down machines, the hard work, all the animals we seen, how cold it was...gonna have left overs for breaky better than bacon! CONGRATS ON YOUR HUNT GREAT STORY!!

[gbear]

Congrats! Worked hard, with a great reward

[Rackmastr]

Congrats!!!! A tag I'd love to draw one day!

[Krico]

Awesome to see and having just returned from there I know all too well the work involved. You guys sure had more sightings than us! Congrats on filling your tag!

[Mugger]

Great job guys , I figure we would here from you any day . Awsome good time it sounds and you had great weather. Living The Dream.

[Rock Doctor]

Well done, congrats

[kennyj]

Way to go guys! Great story and great Bison. That one looks pretty big. The biggest one must have been huge!
kenny

[hunter1947]

Very nice bull the two of you got ,congrats..

[RiverOtter]

Awsome story, pics and adventure, as per usual, thanks for sharing...

Even I could enjoy the kind of chainsaw work you boys had........:-D

[swampthing]

Nice work men. Looks like a great time.

[Skull Hunter]

Good job! I'd love to head on this hunt sometime!