Some Big Whities For Ya...

[Ourea]

Things get a little slow on HBC during the off season so I thought I would throw up a few pics to help serve as motivation for the upcoming season.

I decided to focus 100% of my scouting efforts on trying to find a true trophy whitetail this year. Usually I would be pounding it for big bulls, not this year.
Here's some whitetails I've found so far that are pretty good.
I'm not much of a fan for typical anything so I am hopeful to find a cranker nontyp yet but I appear to be running out of time.
Two of these Whities appear to be Booners.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/TooTall_zps5c077647.jpg

This guy will throw up good numbers for a "clean" deer.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/heavyWT_zps7b3989f3.jpg

Passed on this deer several times last year as we knew he was far from his prime and glad I did.
He's added some serious mass this year.
Note the split on his right G2.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck2_zpsf30b0df5.png

This pic is from July 3rd so you know he has filled out on his front end considerably since then.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck1_zpsd8114a41.png


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck3_zpsb0fc8655.jpg

Another angle of the typ.Anyway, enjoy.

[silvertipp]

real funny

[Rackem]

Here, let me help

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/TooTall_zps5c077647.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck2_zpsf30b0df5.png
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck2_zpsf30b0df5.png
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck1_zpsd8114a41.png

[Wrayzer]

Look at the bases on #2. Coke Cans.

[Ourea]

Here, let me help

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/TooTall_zps5c077647.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck2_zpsf30b0df5.png
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck2_zpsf30b0df5.png
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck1_zpsd8114a41.png


I copied and pasted as always but obviously something has changed?

[Rackem]

Your post was all HTML...not sure if that works here or not..

[The Silent Stalker]

OMG nice deer no matter what you're after.

[Ourea]

Ok, edited....pics are fixed now.

[123.brewski]

Are these in your back yard?looks like the photos were taken through glass. I can see what looks like a reflection of a door jam in the picture.

[Ourea]

Brewski, the pics are of the laptop screen using my phone as I reviewed the trail cam vids playing....thus the "glare".
Not too many Booners off the porch last time I checked.

[one-shot-wonder]

Looking forward to seeing a field photo or two when I return later inseptember.......nice bucks no doubt about it!

[Ourea]

Looking forward to seeing a field photo or two when I return later inseptember.......nice bucks no doubt about it!


You've got your hands full with your trip up north.....forget about these dink whitetails until you get back.

[knightcc]

Beauty pics Ourea. Always enjoy your shots. Any elk on your trail cams you can share?

[doubled]

Definitely nice bases on #2. Would be curious to see how he is in the fall.

[hunter1993ap]

mabey mr split g2 will grow into the big non typ you want, any recent pics of him? could have put on quite a few inches from last year.

[Jelvis]

Fine and dandy but without telling us where the photos were taken don't really help us much, what MU at least? Prolly Reg 8 but could be Texas for all we know.
Jel ( Zeroing In ) Welll?

[hunter1993ap]

Fine and dandy but without telling us where the photos were taken don't really help us much, what MU at least? Prolly Reg 8 but could be Texas for all we know.
Jel ( Zeroing In ) Welll?

haha you don't need to know coordinates to appreciate a nice looking animal.. something others should keep in mind, put in your own time and effort and you will get quality pics as well.

[Jelvis]

I don't need pix, I can look at deer photos 24/7. Bigger than these ones, when the velvet comes off the antlers appear way thinner. Prolly Kelowna area no big deal.
Jel Zeroing in on your spot. -- WARNING -- zeroing zeroing -- narrowing down

[Ourea]

Fine and dandy but without telling us where the photos were taken don't really help us much, what MU at least? Prolly Reg 8 but could be Texas for all we know.
Jel ( Zeroing In ) Welll?

Spence's Bridge Jel.
It's the new hot spot for everything.......you should know that.

[Jelvis]

Could be Alberta for all we know so what's yer point? lol
.. Christina Lake Jake or Summerland back road? Don't be so selfish no one's going to steal your camera, lol. Where do you live, what town?
Jel .. ATTENTION: anything you do say will be used for spot recognition..

[Ourea]

Could be Alberta for all we know so what's yer point? lol
.. Christina Lake Jake or Summerland back road? Don't be so selfish no one's going to steal your camera, lol. Where do you live, what town?
Jel .. Zeroing

Jel

You know we live in the Okanagan boss.
Not known for Whitetail due to the dessert like conditions lately.

And yes cams get stolen, stashed camps get cut down and trashed....
It's a busy place these days but everyone that hunts here are all saints, the internet proves that, LOL.

Unlike the trophy Mule deer and elk I obsess about these Whities, Booner Whities, live under our noses literally.
Could care less if the gut pile chasers look this way for big WT.

Reality is there are probably more giant WT in their back yard but they're too lazy to get in the field and scout hard......rather most would sooner cruise the internet looking for the latest scoop.

All these bucks are within a 6 iron ( to quote Coach ) of some of the busiest FSR's of region 8.
It's just how WT roll.

Fill ur boots Jel.

Time to go off on a "name that road" tangent.
Chances are you will be right.

cheers




ALL OF THESE BUCKS

[358mag]

Brewski, the pics are of the laptop screen using my phone as I reviewed the trail cam vids playing....thus the "glare".
Not too many Booners off the porch last time I checked.

Last time I checked there was some very nice "racks" off the deck:wink::wink:

[Jelvis]

Okie dokie smokey. The Hwy 33 bisects MU 8-10, the Pipeline roads and the McCulloch roads awesome whitetail and mules. Logging mains running off Hwy 33 have the big whites and mule hunting.
From Winfield on Hwy 97, the Beaver/Dee Lake roads fsr's in the north end of Mu 8-10, coming out at Lavington on Hwy 6. Good whitetails along here.
OK thanks hunter for the heads up.
.. Kelowna and East of Winfield MU 8-10
--> Also filling boots completely I wood present Mu 8-14, Boundary Creek road,
turn north from Hwy 3, just north from the old CPR overpass east of Greenwood. The Jewel Lake road a short distance in, has good whitetail hunting, then another right turn runs along the same way as Hwy 3 up from the valley, this is good whitetail hunting and drops down to Hwy 3 at E-Holt Station. Also the Brown Creek road has whites.
Finally good mule and whitetail hunting along the height of land between Boundary Creek and the main Kettle River.
Jel Zero Completed

[Ourea]

Okie dokie smokey. The Hwy 33 bisects MU 8-10, the Pipeline roads and the McCulloch roads awesome whitetail and mules. Logging mains running off Hwy 33 have the big whites and mule hunting.
From Winfield on Hwy 97, the Beaver/Dee Lake roads fsr's in the north end of Mu 8-10, coming out at Lavington on Hwy 6. Good whitetails along here.
OK thanks hunter for the heads up.
.. Kelowna and East of Winfield MU 8-10
Jel Zero Completed


Jel

You're just warming up.........
Lots of back roads to digest and comment about so feel free to banter away.
I have no issue with it.

What about Postill Lk, Greyback main, R200 and R201, Arawana, Carmi, Sidley Meadows, Baldy......the list goes on.
All hold GIANT WT....... the ironic part is there are so many better areas to hunt from a genetic and habitat perspective.

Take us on a geographic ride

[Jelvis]

Jel Zero has zeroed in and has located your spot. --> Do not attempt to divert <--
WARNING: .. DO NOT attempt to DIVERT . YOU HAVE BEEN LOCATED

[Ourea]

Jel Zero has zeroed in and has located spot. Do not attempt to divert.
Repeat: .. DO NOT attempt to DIVERT .. WARNING: DO NOT DIVERT


You kill me Jel.

Even when you tell the truth you're still lying.


peace

[Ourea]

http://mob1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Whitey.jpg


None of these left.
And who would shoot a dinky do like this.
Not me!

[Ourea]

http://mob1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Oldies/358taxi.jpg


One of 358mags slaughters in the back of his legendary truck, LOL

Again, no WT in region 8

[Ourea]

And this most definitely did come from region 8 even though Jel probably knows the access rd in all honesty.


http://mob1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Oldies/Oldies3b.jpg

[hunter1947]

Don't matter where these pictures where taken I would take any of them if I saw them in my hunting area ,,thanks for sharing..

[Muliechaser]

The third one looks identical to the one im going to arrow on sep 1st . Out on the field 640pm like clockwork 20 yards from my blind. Im sooo pumped!!!!! That first one has some character thats for sure! Beauty buck!

Mc

[ncurrie]

Gorgeous buck. Thanks for sharing! I hope I can get some nice pics here sask this week. And then I will have to get the lovely rackem to post them lol!:)

[Ourea]

Beauty pics Ourea. Always enjoy your shots. Any elk on your trail cams you can share?

Pretty tight on the elk.

[Ourea]

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/358_zps8ac24993.jpg?t=1377577022

[Ourea]

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/358_zps8ac24993.jpg?t=1377577022



358mag has got a Gooder he's thinkin about as well.
Not sure if it's up to his standards though.....

Fussy *******.

[coach]

Some pretty nice dinky dog rat deer on this thread, Ourea.. :-D

[Ourea]

Some Nice pics Orea !! thanks for sharing.



Sure u've got more than your share of jaw droppers lined up as well.
Hope you close boss.

Good luck.

[Ourea]

Some pretty nice dinky dog rat deer on this thread, Ourea.. :-D


Chances are you will probably kill one of those dinkie do's once you get your rifle bolt back.
Patience.

Still lots of time to find better.

[coach]

Chances are you will probably kill one of those dinkie do's once you get your rifle bolt back.
Patience.

Still lots of time to find better.

I'm sure enjoying the process and looking forward to closing the deal. :-D In the meantime I've got a youth hunter to help this weekend and I've identified a target brown coloured bear to take on video.

[TheProvider]

Man this thread is getting me excited for Nov. After almost 7yrs going chase some monster whitetails again

[Ourea]

Man this thread is getting me excited for Nov. After almost 7yrs going chase some monster whitetails again

Good for you Provider. Hope you find success.

Glad this thread is serving to motivate you for the upcoming season.
Hope others are getting the same charge.

Cheers

[TheProvider]

Its been long over due!

[Ourea]

Its been long over due!


More coming.
Elk next.

Stay tuned.

[BCptown]

Nice! I'm hoping to spot a beaut like those this year :)

[Bc Deer Hunter]

If i can connect on a big mule deer this year, whitetails will be up next :D Thanks for the trail cam pictures Ourea looking forward to your elk ones!!

[lovemywinchester]

Cool pics Ourea. I love that big based split G2 buck. I have been shooting progessively larger whitetails each year and it is an addiction seeing that big bone on top. I will try to hold out for a BIG buck this year. I have three areas around Kamloops where I know there are some biggies so I will do what I can to get close to one. One thing I have learned is that it happens fast with the big WT. If you see them (IF!) there is a very good chance they have spotted you so there is a lot of cursing and bush kicking when you blow your chances at a cranker.
The other hard part of holding out is the fact that the WT are so delicious. Makes it hard to turn down taking the first one you see. Keep the pics coming!!

[Ourea]

Elk-Aholic is on to the the Whities too.

Our group has decided to spend a lot of effort on finding a gagger WT or two.
Usually we are always on elk and mule deer......

Que this buck of interest.....93"

And, living under our noses.

.http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/elkaholic_zpsb900a192.jpg?t=1377661154

[doubled]

Wow, that caught my attention. Like you, I have some info on another nice whitey that hopefully I get to see while out after Sep 10th. Would love to run into that guy as that would be mount number 2 in my garage. Thanks for this thread, it is definitely getting things exciting again.

[Ourea]

This just came in from the Peace.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/PWT_zpsca8b7cff.jpg

[Rackem]

Nice buck, looks alive still..

[Ourea]

Thought I would update this thread as I am sure there are lots of guys chasing whitetail now.

Trail cams have been going off like the fourth of July lately.
I have been getting some lovely bucks but not the "one" I am looking for.

Earlier in the year I had the "one" show up in July.
I only got one sequence of video on him and that's been it.
This is him.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/heavyWT_zps7b3989f3.jpg





I turned down this buck last year as he appeared young and was not in his prime.
Thought with another yr or two he could be something special.
It appears he has really added some inches from last yr.
Note the split G2 on his right side.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/MrG2_zps2f441aa0.jpg



He did not show up last yr until the 22nd of Nov in this area.
To date he has yet to make an appearance.
I remain optimistic that he will eventually show, although time is getting short.

Here's a pretty nice 5x5 that showed up in late June.
Once....that's it.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cbuck2_zpsf30b0df5.png

That is until a few days ago!
Great tine length on this buck.
Sad part is that his G4 on the right is weak and he recently broke a brow tine.
Still on the fence over this buck. If Mr. G2 doesn't show up soon I think I just might......

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/MrTall_zps313d971c.jpg?t=1385405097

[coach]

Come on.. You know Mr Split G2 will show up. He HAS to. :-D Looking forward to being part of this hunt, Ourea.. Your investment of time, gas, camera batteries, effort etc. has been too great for something cool not to happen. The process has been awesome - but it would be nice to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Hopefully, between us, two bucks will hit the snow this week.

[Ourea]

Here's a few more shots of some of the bucks we are looking over.

Nice young 5x5

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/WideYoungster_zps7c6d7679.jpg?t=1385406360


Up and comer. He could be something else in a couple more years as he has it all......length and JUNK!
Definitely on our "no shoot list".
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/FlyerBuck_zps1ba95da1.jpg?t=1385406293

Some good mass on this old timer.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Mass_zpsb32e6b4e.jpg?t=1385406269

Shame about his G4

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/G25x51_zpsc995d475.jpg?t=1385406411

[Ourea]

Again, shame about that G4 otherwise he is a "no brainer buck".
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/G25x53_zps97447b87.jpg?t=1385406231

[GoatGuy]

Remember, when you sit on the fence all you get is a pointy stick up the @ss.

From those of us that didn't have the time to invest, hold out for Mr.Big, but don't hold out on the pictures.

[Husky7mm]

Hmmm, generally they look bigger in velvet than hard horned. That tall buck seems to look bigger hard horned.

[GoatGuy]

Oh yeah, and if you're in service put the phone down hahahaha.

[Ourea]

I've been sitting in various blinds with some company over the last 10 or so days.
First shift was with a CO buddy of mine from the coast.
We were getting lots of night time pics of 4 to 6 different bucks on each of the four spots.
Just the odd daytime pic however.

The first morning we were sitting in a spot I call "The Meat Factory".
About twenty minutes into the deal I gave a quick rattling sequence.
Two minutes later I see some feet moving behind some dense timber.
Buck!

I quietly motion to my partner.
It's a decent 5x5 and a perfect buck for him to get him in the game.
The buck spits out at 20 yards....way too tight for this setup.

My partner barely moved to shoulder his gun that was set and the buck bolted.
Whitetail easily won that one...as usual.

Unfortunately that was the only shooting chance we had before he had to return home.

I managed to get a day off to sleep in and recharge before my next friend showed up.
To say that this you man is a keener is an understatement.
He is also has a career in wildlife so his insight coupled with his enthusiasm was a treat to be around.
Just a great all around person.

The bucks finally started to get a little bolder with their daylight appearances.
We had the one buck we wanted for him show up on three different cameras in one night.
The cams are several km apart.......".rut on" is what that says to us.
This particular buck was frequenting a rub line.
I asked my partner what he would like to do about this buck...where to sit and when and for how long.
Without hesitation he replied " here, daylight to dark and for ever long as it takes".
Right answer!!
I will underscore again at how much of a keener he is.

Long story short he got his "targeted" buck.
A very mature, super heavy and palmated buck.
That is not my story to tell.
I will share the ending of his trip however....
A free sled ride to the truck.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Clay_zps00f8dafe.jpg?t=1385408027

I have encouraged him to share his experience on HBC....with pics....of his hunt.

More to follow.

[coach]

Hmmm, generally they look bigger in velvet than hard horned. That tall buck seems to look bigger hard horned.

Velvet pics were from June. He kept growing.

[Ourea]

I'm off to hunt for myself the rest of the season.
Heading up shortly for the day then back at 'er in the AM for the full day until dark.

I failed to mention that after my friend shot the buck I set a trail cam up on the gut pile.
I have always been curious as to how the "clean up" process goes down.
Guess I will know soon enough.

Coach, I will see you down here on Thursday.
Hopefully between the two of us we can close on at least one cranker over the last three days.

[coach]

I'm off to hunt for myself the rest of the season.
Heading up shortly for the day then back at 'er in the AM for the full day until dark.

I failed to mention that after my friend shot the buck I set a trail cam up on the gut pile.
I have always been curious as to how the "clean up" process goes down.
Guess I will know soon enough.

Coach, I will see you down here on Thursday.
Hopefully between the two of us we can close on at least one cranker over the last three days.

Best of luck out there. You know my camera will be rolling on Thursday. :-D

[Wrayzer]

Great updates Ourea, much appreciated.
Anticipation to see how it will all unfold is growing, Best of Luck to you guys.

[Ourea]

As stated earlier we placed a camera over the gut pile.
The fact that there are fresh deer entrails at the feet of these dink bucks is interesting as they had zero reaction to it.
Absolutely no concern, simply walked almost over it.
Six deer in total passed or stood right beside it.
None reacted with alarm or concern.

You can make out the pile just left of the little 5 point's brisket

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/gutpile_zps3c25d093.jpg?t=1385496735

Death is obviously just another part of their day to day existence.

The cam picked up ravens going to work on the pile and did not show any other scavengers prior to the batteries dying.

When I collected the card yesterday I was amused that there was truck parked 20 meters from the one blind.
They obviously saw it judging from the boot tracks and unzipped door.
Must have figured this was a good place to hunt seeing someone had a couple blinds up and there was a big red stain there.
Interesting approach.
All I can say is...."good luck"
Think there is a name for these guys...............

[Islandeer]

Hmmm, generally they look bigger in velvet than hard horned. That tall buck seems to look bigger hard horned.

Husky just can't belive these fine bucks are from the EK!!!

[Ourea]

Had an afternoon sit today after my all day plans where derailed with a mid morning commitment.
Pretty quiet until 4pm.
A doe cautiously worked her way.....then another.

They carried on with little regard until 4:30...... when their attention was suddenly distracted.
A buck had come in and put the run on them. Light was getting scratchy but I finally got the Zeiss 10x42's on him hoping to see the G2 buck I so desperately crave a chance at.

Not him.
Just a decent 5x5 in full on rut mode.
I enjoyed the show over the last few minutes of light.

I pulled the cam card on my way out and reviewed it once home.
It was a very busy night....several new bucks showed, albeit not "the one".
Here's a neat looking youngster.
Note the minor split on the top of his right G2 ....his G3 shows the same characteristic.
He could be an interesting prospect in a few years based on his great tine length at this early age.
Time will tell.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/youngtall_zps2aabc09c.jpg?t=1385530668


On the way out last night I thought I would try something.
Nothing new here for those that know me.

I covered a couple small stumps, within the field of view of the camera, with some doe estrous ....and an ample amount.
I was very curious to evaluate the effectiveness of these types of commercial scent products.
How would the bucks react to this purported magic cocktail based on the marketing claims!!??
I had lots of bucks coming in regularly so I was anxious to see if this would grab their instant attention.
Results - EPIC FAIL!
Of the five different bucks that were caught on video all had zero reaction to the scented stumps with the exception of a small deuce that briefly sniffed at one stump and then carried on. These bucks were amongst the stumps for minutes yet no reaction.

Caveat emptor.

I will try some other scent products and quantify the results to see if there is a scent product that lives up to their claims.

Back at 'er tomorrow.

[BlacktailStalker]

On standby chief...

[snareman1234]

Had an afternoon sit today after my all day plans where derailed with a mid morning commitment.
Pretty quiet until 4pm.
A doe cautiously worked her way.....then another.

They carried on with little regard until 4:30...... when their attention was suddenly distracted.
A buck had come in and put the run on them. Light was getting scratchy but I finally got the Zeiss 10x42's on him hoping to see the G2 buck I so desperately crave a chance at.

Not him.
Just a decent 5x5 in full on rut mode.
I enjoyed the show over the last few minutes of light.

I pulled the cam card on my way out and reviewed it once home.
It was a very busy night....several new bucks showed, albeit not "the one".
Here's a neat looking youngster.
Note the minor split on the top of his right G2 ....his G3 shows the same characteristic.
He could be an interesting prospect in a few years based on his great tine length at this early age.
Time will tell.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/youngtall_zps2aabc09c.jpg?t=1385530668


On the way out last night I thought I would try something.
Nothing new here for those that know me.

I covered a couple small stumps, within the field of view of the camera, with some doe estrous ....and an ample amount.
I was very curious to evaluate the effectiveness of these types of commercial scent products.
How would the bucks react to this purported magic cocktail based on the marketing claims!!??
I had lots of bucks coming in regularly so I was anxious to see if this would grab their instant attention.
Results - EPIC FAIL!
Of the five different bucks that were caught on video all had zero reaction to the scented stumps with the exception of a small deuce that briefly sniffed at one stump and then carried on. These bucks were amongst the stumps for minutes yet no reaction.

Caveat emptor.

I will try some other scent products and quantify the results to see if there is a scent product that lives up to their claims.

Back at 'er tomorrow.


Very neat. Enjoy the scientific approach. Hypothesis, carry out methods, analyze results.

[doubled]

Very cool Ourea. I picked some scent from a buddy this year and both times out had bucks on my trail coming in within minutes. Wondering if the scents even matter now. Look forward to your results.

[kennyj]

I love this thread. Very interesting.
Keep up the good work.
kenny

[Husky7mm]

Come on.. You know Mr Split G2 will show up. He HAS to. :-D Looking forward to being part of this hunt, Ourea.. Your investment of time, gas, camera batteries, effort etc. has been too great for something cool not to happen. The process has been awesome - but it would be nice to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Hopefully, between us, two bucks will hit the snow this week.
What do the spouses' think of this new bro-mance ?!? Lol

[GoatGuy]

On the way out last night I thought I would try something.
Nothing new here for those that know me.

I covered a couple small stumps, within the field of view of the camera, with some doe estrous ....and an ample amount.
I was very curious to evaluate the effectiveness of these types of commercial scent products.
How would the bucks react to this purported magic cocktail based on the marketing claims!!??
I had lots of bucks coming in regularly so I was anxious to see if this would grab their instant attention.
Results - EPIC FAIL!
Of the five different bucks that were caught on video all had zero reaction to the scented stumps with the exception of a small deuce that briefly sniffed at one stump and then carried on. These bucks were amongst the stumps for minutes yet no reaction.

Caveat emptor.

I will try some other scent products and quantify the results to see if there is a scent product that lives up to their claims.

Back at 'er tomorrow.

Sounds like snake oil - this is a good approach to evaluate the effectiveness of these marketing devices. If it smells 'right' it will work like crazy as it ties right in with wt evolution and reproductive strategy.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Sounds like snake oil - this is a good approach to evaluate the effectiveness of these marketing devices. If it smells 'right' it will work like crazy as it ties right in with wt evolution and reproductive strategy.


Yep, I think we think of it like medicine. Tastes like shit so it must work.

I tried the same thing and left a drag rag covered in doe-in-estrous in front of the camera. Zero reaction.
It aint no Buckley's cough syrop.

SSS

[Ourea]

Today's program consisted of pulling all 5 cams to evaluate the latest inventory.
Two cams required a 70k round trip down south.
I just want to ensure that the last 72 hrs of the rifle season that I am on the best location opportunity wise and not second guessing anything.

After reviewing close to 1000 videos and pics I know now where I should be tomorrow.
Lots going on buck wise in all locations but still no Mr G2 or comparable option.

Here's some of todays program.

Drug in a dry wall heater and 5 pound propane tank for the blind.
Got company coming for the next sit.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/transport_zps0c698f06.jpg

Headed south to pull some cams.
This area is all mature timber mixed with deciduous.
From what I am finding these areas hold good numbers but I do not find the "age" of bucks I look for.
Numerous bucks like this on cam.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/2_zps6f7e6dae.jpg?t=1385620320

The pattern I am finding that seems to consistently hold mature bucks is timber that has tight re-gen buffering old growth.
Unhuntable unless you identify the opportunity that this timber pattern represents and adapt accordingly.



http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/timber_zps208fc264.jpg?t=1385620632

Some of the latest pics from this spot .......the spot that Clayton elected to clean up a bit more to be even tighter into the jungle where the bucks feel safe and are more willing to frequent.
This lovely young nontyp has a growing presence now that Clayton eliminated the "bully" of this neighborhood.
I hope this bucks sees another two to three years. He could be something special.
Definitely on the no shoot list until then.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/nontypflyer_zps8ec1d1ba.jpg?t=1385620588

[Ourea]

Lots of young up and comers on cam.
The elusive Mr G2 has yet to show himself.
Will he!? I certainly hope he does.
The tall 5x5 was absent the last 24 hrs...concerning.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/1_zpscd25417b.jpg?t=1385620292


What is always exciting is a new "flyer" buck showing up that you haven't been aware of after months of cam'ing an area....
case and point.....

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/flyer_zpsc8ef138a.jpg?t=1385620402

Could be another "gooder" in a few years.




As I am always trying new strategies and products. Testing...quantifying.
I thought I would dump an ample amount of a flavored attractant on the cut off snags by the now "primary" cam.
You can see the glaze on the stumps that the this liquid gel left.
How will the numerous deer that pass through here react?
They charge a premium for the product so it should have some impact?
Will pull the card tomorrow at some point and review.




http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/juice_zps6e874d5b.jpg?t=1385620529

Coach is down tomorrow for a shift in our temporary, yet overly built stand.
358mag may be joining the program from a social perspective as he has "quietly" tagged out as usual.

Bring your SPF 30 and your flip flops boys as the heater makes you think of Mai Tais and induces a trance that leads to a certain nap.
Someone needs to stay on point.
A shot of the inside of the blind in use.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/heater_zps0ac8d6b5.jpg?t=1385620449

[Stone Sheep Steve]

How's your tarp shangra-la in the wind?? Does it make much noise??

SSS

[coach]

How's your tarp shangra-la in the wind?? Does it make much noise??

SSS

Its "brushed in" very well - so that shouldn't be an issue.

[Walking Buffalo]

It has been interesting following your evolution as a WT hunter. Just a bit of a change from the 90's. :mrgreen:


Something to consider.

Has the number of pics of "target" deer dropped over time? The old guys show up once or twice and that's it....
While a lot of human activity in one place will not cause a "smart" buck to vacate the area, they sure will stop using that specific "danger zone".

These bucks will also learn to recognize signs of your (and others using the same blind) arrival and routine.
Do you use the same vehicle, park in the same place, walk into the blind from the same direction?
Basically, Are you becoming known and predictable?
It wouldn't surprise me if the "target" bucks are onto your game plan.

Now that you have conditioned the deer to the sounds of your arrival and where you will be, maybe it's time to find a new way to enter the area and set up where they don't expect you. Another technique, Have someone occupy the blind and someone else set up very discretely (ass in the grass) on an adjacent travel route.

[Muliechaser]

http://mob1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Oldies/358taxi.jpg




Again, no WT in region 8


Everytime i hear that i chuckle a little inside lmao
Nice hual!

Mc

[Ourea]

Thursday's sit was pretty quiet with zero deer seen.
I pulled the card to find that during the night it was "extremely" busy with at least six different bucks coming thru.
Frustrating.....but that's just hunting and I am totally good with it.
Few more shots.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/duo_zpsc77c6eba.jpg?t=1385927973

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/1_zpscd25417b.jpg


I was curious to see how the deer reacted to Whitetail Jam that I applied to the stumps the night before.
Dozens of cam videos of deer walking and standing beside the attractant.
Not a single deer sniffed or licked let alone even pipe by it.
Another $23 lessoned learned.

[Ourea]

Saturday found Coach and I sitting in different blinds.
I was going to wait it out until the bitter end for the chance that the G2 buck would show.
If not I was pretty sure I would kill the tall 5 if given the chance, not a bad consolation prize.

I dropped Coach off at 5:30, well before first light.
I was in my blind with the heater cranking by 6:05.
All was pretty quiet until just after seven when I picked up a little movement to my right.
Buck.
It was the tall 4 point with the small crowns on his G2's and 3's.
He quickly walked thru the narrow shooting lane we had cut. I put the cross hairs on him for practise but he was given a pass.
That was it for AM action.
The card showed that the tall 5 had made another appearance.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/evil_zps9e0b4584.jpg


Another buck with age but no genetics.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/age_zps6285f3aa.jpg?t=1385929811

Note the little sticker on his left G2

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/bc1_zps24979637.jpg?t=1385927926

A buck that 358mag has been on for three yrs.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/fatty_zps9310baf4.png

[Ourea]

The final afternoon had two different bucks coming in about an hour apart....a small deuce and the tall four again.
Obviously they were given passes.
As the last vestiges of light faded the season was coming to a close.
It looked like that my year of effort on closing on a big WT was not going to pay off.
A failure!???
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

As I closed the window in my stand I sat by the heater and took ten or fifteen minutes to reflect on "my year of the WT" before packing up and heading back to the truck..

......all the trips up the hill, endless scouting and setting cams.
Evaluating the intel.
Culling spots and investing more resources in others.
Reflecting on the times shared in the blinds with great friends.
The evening "debriefings and cocktails" were always a highlight.
Seeing the excitement and passion in Clayton and sharing in this experience was pretty special to me.
The time in the garage tending to his deer will always stand out.
He was one thrilled young man with his buck.
To me that made my season.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Clay2_zps9a94c547.jpg?t=1385931933

I so enjoyed my time with my CO buddy in the field.
Although we couldn't close for him we had such a good time.
So many great experiences with some awesome people.

Can't wait to do it again next year.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/rug_zpsf5bf149e.jpg

[Ourea]

What am I thinking!!!!
There is part two to the season.
This chess match is far from over.....

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/bow_zps2e664738.jpg


When I left the blind last night I replen'd the cam.
I wanted to try "something" out first hand for myself.
I stuck a Montana decoy in front of the camera and set it to video mode.
I always wanted to get my own footage of how bucks react to them when first introduced.
I will pull the card tomorrow and see how things went down.
Most curious to see footage.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/decoy_zpsd042e582.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/decoy2_zps947970d1.jpg



So, the thoughts of big bulls and giant mule deer will just have to wait for a little while longer.

On that note......
Here is a pic taken through the spotter by Elk-aholic when we were packed in for MD several weeks ago.
Pretty decent looking buck. He certainly got Elk-aholic's attention at first blush.
"Possible shooter" was the initial reaction.
Imagine our chagrin when this buck turned out do be a re-donk-u-lous two point.
For those that want to know what an "honest" 30+" mule deer looks like, this is one.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/heartstopper_zpsc954e49e.jpg


In the mean time there is plenty of whitetail hunting to be done!!!

[pescado]

Good read, thanks. Good luck with the bow.

[snareman1234]

The final afternoon had two different bucks coming in about an hour apart....a small deuce and the tall four again.
Obviously they were given passes.
As the last vestiges of light faded the season was coming to a close.
It looked like that my year of effort on closing on a big WT was not going to pay off.
A failure!???
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

As I closed the window in my stand I sat by the heater and took ten or fifteen minutes to reflect on "my year of the WT" before packing up and heading back to the truck..

......all the trips up the hill, endless scouting and setting cams.
Evaluating the intel.
Culling spots and investing more resources in others.
Reflecting on the times shared in the blinds with great friends.
The evening "debriefings and cocktails" were always a highlight.
Seeing the excitement and passion in Clayton and sharing in this experience was pretty special to me.
The time in the garage tending to his deer will always stand out.
He was one thrilled young man with his buck.
To me that made my season.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Clay2_zps9a94c547.jpg?t=1385931933

I so enjoyed my time with my CO buddy in the field.
Although we couldn't close for him we had such a good time.
So many great experiences with some awesome people.

Can't wait to do it again next year.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/rug_zpsf5bf149e.jpg

No doubt, your journey for monster WT is far from over. The success of your endeavours cannot be measured in heads, as you are searching for the "one" and that requires forgoing opportunities at "heart attack" bucks (pardon the cliche'd term, but I mean REAL heart attack bucks). I really enjoyed my time in "WT camp" with you and the experience will not be soon forgotten. Thanks for opening my eyes up to the potential for WT bucks right in our backyard, and highlighting that WE as hunters are the limiting factor in WT success, not the WT. The bucks are there and they are plentiful, and in addition, there are some HOGS. Cheers, C.

[kennyj]

Very interesting thread. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures. Being stuck on the sidelines this season I sure appreciate threads like this one.
kenny

[Sitkaspruce]

Thanks for bringing us along on your trips. I soaked up the info you have passed out and will try apply it for the next time I chase WT's.

I too tried the a deer attractant that was on sale, some Blue Code stuff, buck scrape soil and doe-in-heat soil, placed it in the ground in front of the camera and watched, not one buck or doer even sniffed it, although it was quickly covered in snow. Just like fishing and hunting gear, 90% of the stuff is designed to catch or attract one thing.....and it is not the prey.

Thanks again

Cheers

SS

[Ourea]

It has been interesting following your evolution as a WT hunter. Just a bit of a change from the 90's. :mrgreen:


Something to consider.

Has the number of pics of "target" deer dropped over time? The old guys show up once or twice and that's it....
While a lot of human activity in one place will not cause a "smart" buck to vacate the area, they sure will stop using that specific "danger zone".

These bucks will also learn to recognize signs of your (and others using the same blind) arrival and routine.
Do you use the same vehicle, park in the same place, walk into the blind from the same direction?
Basically, Are you becoming known and predictable?
It wouldn't surprise me if the "target" bucks are onto your game plan.

Now that you have conditioned the deer to the sounds of your arrival and where you will be, maybe it's time to find a new way to enter the area and set up where they don't expect you. Another technique, Have someone occupy the blind and someone else set up very discretely (ass in the grass) on an adjacent travel route.


Walking Buffalo, all valid points.
If you picked up all the details previously mentioned of where we are hunting the suggestions you called out simply don't apply.
We are set up beside high traffic areas that see endless recreationalist affecting these whitetail.

Example.....
When I sat last night this is what these whitetail were exposed to.....
2:30 pm a couple trucks were heard.
They pulled into the makeshift field target range that is aprox 600-700 meters from my stand.
200 + rounds were fired over an hr period of time.

At three o'clock a woodcutter fired up a chainsaw and was cutting until 3:45 within 500 yards.

This is in addition to the quad and vehicle traffic that is considerable and daily.
There is always something going on and affecting these deer's habits and movement.
Could I hunt another area where these interferences would not be a factor?
An area where the deer would be more predictable and easier to kill as a result?
Absolutely.

I have elected not to as I want to kill a Boone whitey in a high traffic area to prove a point and share with others in the process and experience.
I strongly feel that whitetail opportunities in BC are endless and right under our noses if we, as hunters, just adapt to meet the challenge.

This is not text book whitetail hunting.

Again, valid insight on your behalf but not very applicable in this scenario.

[aggiehunter]

.358 next time your having a rum and coke with Ourea tell him turn his high beams down on those deer pics...

[358mag]

.358 next time your having a rum and coke with Ourea tell him turn his high beams down on those deer pics...
Sorry Aggie we were Deer Hunting, Rum + Coke are for saved for another type of ungulate .:wink:

[Ourea]

We ground it out to the bitter end. I never did find a real "true" trophy whitetail although the 5x5 with the one weak G4 was a decent buck along with a few others in the 155" - 160" class.
It was encouraging to have found numerous 2-4 year old deer that could be very special if given a few more years to reach their potential.
The young buck with the drop tine and several stickers really has got my interest as I love "junk" over clean.
Hopefully Coach and I continue to learn and through aggressive effort we will get better at figuring out the local WT puzzle for big bucks.

Few observations.....

- there are far more quality WT bucks living under our noses than we could have ever imagined. Some cam locations yielded up to 8-10 different bucks frequenting one area.

- WT are easily moved by snow. It is wise not to spend a lot of effort at higher elevations because things can change over night. I personally feel the mid level elevations put you in a better "odds" scenario. It doesnt make sense to me to focus on areas where the deer inventory could decrease but rather key in on areas where the inventory only stands to increase with the onslaught of winter snow.

- it can never be "too thick"

- big WT bucks are proving to be far more interesting and challenging than we first thought.

- they are deserving of far more respect as a trophy animal in BC. With that I hope BC hunters start to focus more on this species and the excellent hunting opprtunity they afford.

Here's just a few more critters. We have a pretty good record of the deer inventory so we will be very curious to see who's around next season and how much they will have changed.

Young buck with good width for a WT.
He might be something special with time.
Only got a couple pics of him.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/mrwide_zpsfad1a200.jpg


This guy was a "one and done". Never saw him again.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/newbuck_zpse9796bf4.jpg

A couple dinky do's

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/day1_zpsf28f9db0.jpg

Thought this was pretty cool.
While walking out from replen'ing a station I noticed that a puddy cat had walked over my tracks.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/tracks_zps9f96ae66.jpg


When I reviewed the card this good looking cat was on it.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/cat_zps9137c5d0.jpg


Hopefully this thread has helped spur more interest in pursuing WT and cast them, as a huntable resource, in a more positive and favorable light .

[Ourea]

Another decent buck.
It's a video so just click on the image

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/th_JC5x50820_zpsefee48ff.jpg (http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/JC5x50820_zpsefee48ff.mp4)

[Sitkaspruce]

Once again, thank you for the great post. You and your crew have hopefully opened up some hunters eyes to hunting WT. I know mine have been opened.

Some great buck Ourea!!. I am already looking forward to next year, if we have any deer left.....tons of snow and getting more every day.

Thanks again

Cheers

SS

[GoatGuy]

Looks good Ourea, lots of up and comers.

We`ve found sometimes winter range and rutting grounds are two close, but separate areas. The hut is loaded with deer during the rut, but if a person was to head in there right now it`s completely devoid of life. A couple other spots like that which forces a person to make a decision IF you`re hunting one buck.

[J_T]

Looks good Ourea, lots of up and comers.

We`ve found sometimes winter range and rutting grounds are two close, but separate areas. The hut is loaded with deer during the rut, but if a person was to head in there right now it`s completely devoid of life. A couple other spots like that which forces a person to make a decision IF you`re hunting one buck.There are a lot of factors that influence the locations we find our animals. Pre rut, rut, post rut, predator/hunter action, cold, snow etc i walk out in our zone all year to learn more about the deer habits. Was out yesterday and added some "micro"-knowledge. I also find you have to have multiple locations as we cant always predict which one is going to be hot. What we found crazy this year was the Grizzlies hadn't bedded down as of Dec 18th. Glad to see this thread adding to the respect we should have for Whitetails.

[IronNoggin]

I stuck a Montana decoy in front of the camera and set it to video mode.
I always wanted to get my own footage of how bucks react to them when first introduced.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/decoy_zpsd042e582.jpg



Very Interesting Thread! Reminds me a LOT of the various methods and strategies we've employed over the years in Alberta & Saskatchewan when concentrating on big whitetails.

Wondering if you ever did have any interaction between the deer and the decoy?
Apologies if I somehow missed that... But been wondering since you first posted in this regard.

Had a few interesting moments the few times we tried deploying a similar decoy in Alberta.
On one occasion, and large mature buck literally tore the decoy off it's stand, tossed it high up into the air, then stood and studied it for quite a spell one the "opposition" was down.
On another, we watched a younger buck actually try to mount a doe decoy. Unfortunately our gales of laughter gave us away before he could culminate his task... :-D

Cheers,
Nog

[hunter1947]

This buck has big bases and big eye guards on top he is going to grow big the picture looks like mid June ??? some nice WT bucks all are shooters in my books I would love to have my cross hairs on this buck come the GOS,,,thanks for sharing..

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/heavyWT_zps7b3989f3.jpg

[Gateholio]

Great pics and lots of good reading! :)

[GoatGuy]

There are a lot of factors that influence the locations we find our animals. Pre rut, rut, post rut, predator/hunter action, cold, snow etc i walk out in our zone all year to learn more about the deer habits. Was out yesterday and added some "micro"-knowledge. I also find you have to have multiple locations as we cant always predict which one is going to be hot. What we found crazy this year was the Grizzlies hadn't bedded down as of Dec 18th. Glad to see this thread adding to the respect we should have for Whitetails.

Interesting, do you find the bucks are traditional in their rutting locations or are they more unpredictable in terms of where they rut?

[J_T]

In some cases we know pockets that simply hold good bucks and the camera proves it. So yes, traditional in their location. What is interesting is how they avoid the camera. In other locations our approach is about patterning the does, knowing bucks will be nearby and predicting where the buck will intersect them when he's "checking in on them.

A sample of two locations I had this year was 3 mature does, 2 fawns, 1 or 2 spikes, a 2 pt, a small 4 pt (probably a 2 yr old) and a mature buck. By spending time in the tree we're able to pattern these animals quite well.

And you always have the roaming bucks, those just passing through. When your taking your animals at 20 yrds or less, you see a lot at 50 yrds.

[GoatGuy]

In some cases we know pockets that simply hold good bucks and the camera proves it. So yes, traditional in their location. What is interesting is how they avoid the camera. In other locations our approach is about patterning the does, knowing bucks will be nearby and predicting where the buck will intersect them when he's "checking in on them.

A sample of two locations I had this year was 3 mature does, 2 fawns, 1 or 2 spikes, a 2 pt, a small 4 pt (probably a 2 yr old) and a mature buck. By spending time in the tree we're able to pattern these animals quite well.

And you always have the roaming bucks, those just passing through. When your taking your animals at 20 yrds or less, you see a lot at 50 yrds.

Interesting approach, we've always tried to pattern the bucks and the trails they take between bunches as opposed to trying to pattern the does.

Must be hunting different habitat, most of our setups are super thick and confined space - we generally shoot all the deer within a few feet of eachother and these areas produce every year (other than one that's gone dry from wolves hahaha). Shooting lanes and choices are extremely limited unless an extra shooting lane has been opened up.

[Ourea]

Obviously chasing a doe.
Video file so just click on the pic.



http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/th_G25x5_zps877f50e4.jpg (http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/G25x5_zps877f50e4.mp4)



From last year, same spot.
He was a no show this year.
Was hoping to see what he looked like now.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/th_G2cam4x4_zpsef18a9d3.jpg (http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/G2cam4x4_zpsef18a9d3.mp4)

[Ourea]

I get some pretty amazing cam videos over the years.
I've got quite a few elk and deer that "disagree" over their perceived pecking order and someone will try and change the order of things.
Have to say that this is one of the better "disagreements" I've recorded.
It's the duration and intensity that makes this one worth sharing.
There is sound on this video so turn it up.
Click the pic to play.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/th_PICT0092_zpsa6b1c7f8.jpg (http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/PICT0092_zpsa6b1c7f8.mp4)

[GoatGuy]

Cool vid.

estrogen: it will make you crazy!!

[coach]

Wow, that "ghetto cam" is getting some pretty good action. :-D

[Ourea]

I thought I would share again in the scouting process and the experiences going forward as we have started our pursuit of big whitetails again just over a month ago. The focus will be on sharing the information and the experience in the spirit of bringing more interest to this under utilized hunting resource. Will update the thread with pic intel and try and offer insight that will hopefully serve to motivate others to "get in the program" and ultimately help in others success.

Pulled cams yesterday and already have a pretty special buck of interest found.
Will post up the pics and info next week.

Hope there are many others getting out scouting this time of year and enjoying the outdoors.

[6pt_elk_wannabe]

Should be a great thread, thanks

[Sitkaspruce]

I thought I would share again in the scouting process and the experiences going forward as we have started our pursuit of big whitetails again just over a month ago. The focus will be on sharing the information and the experience in the spirit of bringing more interest to this under utilized hunting resource. Will update the thread with pic intel and try and offer insight that will hopefully serve to motivate others to "get in the program" and ultimately help in others success.

Pulled cams yesterday and already have a pretty special buck of interest found.
Will post up the pics and info next week.

Hope there are many others getting out scouting this time of year and enjoying the outdoors.

Looking forward to this years thread!!

Have 5 out in the last month and 3 more in the next week, just waiting for the water to go down so I can cross the creeks. Helped a buddy set up 5 for himself in the last week. Lots of deer moving around right now. Will post up what I find in my own thread later.

Cheers

SS

[Ourea]

I set a cam up within 1 km of one of my primary locations. This primary is where the infamous G2 buck and the tall five x five had been cam'd.
The new secondary is by a cut block and aprox 300 yards off a main FSR.
Stem density is moderate to thick with a steep bank near by. There is no thick regen at this location.
I am trying to establish if the bucks I capture at the G2 spot will show up on this new site.
Both these locations are within hundreds of meters of a makeshift shooting range.

My initial set consists of water softening salt, a selenium block, a flavored block and flavored sugar beet mix.
I like to offer up a variety of treats to ensure that I am attracting and holding the deer in any particular area in case there is competition out there. What!? I would be ignorant to think that there is not someone else potentially salting somewhere in this general area.

The location and setup.
I generally dig out a 30' - 40' sq ft patch before laying down the salt.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/k8s2_zps5e514fff.jpg


After letting the cam soak a few weeks at this new secondary location I pulled the card.
This video sums up a WT's ability to survive and thrive in busy areas that other species would have no part of.
Listen to the rapid gunfire coming from less than 400 meters away from the makeshift range.
Not only is this doe unphased, she actually heads in the direction of the gunfire!!!!

http://s1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Gunshots_zps1adf21a0.mp4.html


As I looked through the initial videos I was satisfied with the number of bucks.
Several youngsters and three with a bit of age.
The three slightly older bucks all showed good width.
Interesting when you consider that the primary location next door showed bucks with extremely impressive tine length and only average width.

Here's one of the bucks.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Wide8_zpsce324a6d.jpg

I was pleased to see this re-donk-ulously wide buck on cam.
I doubt he will be on the list for this coming season as he does not show as much development at this early stage as the mature bucks we've captured to date suggesting he's a younger buck.
Regardless, it will be fun to watch him fill in.
He will obviously be insanely wide for a whitetail and especially for such a young deer.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Superwide_zps2774e171.jpg

Another batch of cams arrived yesterday to which I did some initial testing on and feel confident to now hang.
Read a lot of good things on Browning cams.
I am extremely pleased with their detection consistency and uber quick trigger speed at first blush.
Anxious to see their field performance.

More cams to check tomorrow.

[goinghunting]

Do you find the sugar beet mix works well?

[Ourea]

I wouldn't say it works well.
I am noticing that the WT seem to give it a taste once they have hit the salt.

I can comment more on this once I let this cam sit for a bit and review their reaction/preference to it.

[goinghunting]

Thanks Ourea I will be interested to hear the result! How about the softener salt compared to the salt blocks do you notice a preference or is this in experiment stage to? How many trail cams are you mainting? I was up to 5 last year and thought I wanted more but ended up not having enough time to actually hunt and always wondering what other cams had on them, I kinda got caught chasing rainbows.

[Ourea]

Every area has varying degrees of mineral deficiencies from what I have found by speaking to ranchers and stock supply retailers.
My elk hunting partner has a large recreational ranch out by Rock Creek.
What the WT prefer there in regards to blocks and supplements is different here in the areas we are cam'n in the south Okanagan.

Give options, observe, quantify.

How many cams do we run?
My core group consists of three of us.
We collectively run 20+ cams and growing.

[GoatGuy]

Great pics, videos and observations.

Seems to destroy the myth that gunshots make deer disappear. Good stuff!

[.300WSMImpact!]

whitetail buck are fun, but frustrating, good luck I hope you are able to track on of these larger bucks down, I would love to see it on your wall

[Ourea]

Zipped up and checked a new cam set this afternoon.
Nothing exciting other than a couple dinks and this colored bear.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/bear_zps6e9820b1.jpg

This was the best buck.
He's nowhere close to what we are looking for.
Will let this cam soak for while and hopefully catch something worth while.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/AvWT_zpsea253891.jpg

[Ourea]

The big bucks I had found in May and June evaporated come early July.
This result was the same as last year.
I'm not too concerned about their absence long as they show up again come fall like last year.
I am not going to waste valuable scouting time trying to track down their summer locations if they are only going to leave come the fall.

So, as stated, things have been slow but there is one well known customer making the odd appearance.
You will recognise him from last year.
A buck we passed on due to lack of age.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/nontypflyer_zps8ec1d1ba.jpg


Here he is as of mid June this yr.
Looks like he's done a bit of growing.
Pic quality is poor as it's from a six year old cam on video.
The sticker has added inches for sure.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/NTWT_zps78597ccd.jpg

Off to the kootenays today for a week of elk scouting now.
Fun never ends.

[Ourea]

Update.
Freshened up some WT sites a couple weeks back and replen'd the cams.
As expected the bucks of the higher age class we seek are MIA.
No shortage of 2 to 4 year olds however.
The most productive location I can see the main road from yet there are 4 different bucks frequenting it both day and night.
I will keep the sites up and check the cams on occasion going forward.
I expect we will see an influx of better bucks come late Oct as we have the 2 previous years.
Still hoping the G2 buck is alive and will make a long overdo appearance at some point.
He would be in his prime and one hell of a WT by now.
I hope that the brief information I share helps others with less time and resources than they would like results in getting them into better WT opportunities.
Key is to be persistent.
Here's a few of the smaller bucks.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Septwt3_zps839a93a6.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Septwt2_zps193e40a5.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Septwt5_zps1ed66ebc.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Septwt6_zps932cd83b.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Septwt5_zpsd3bb37a4.jpg

[Ourea]

Still no mature bucks as of yesterday.
Rather than post up more pics of the usual suspects I thought I would throw in something I don't see very often.
I regularly get cougars, bobcat and bear, but seldom one of these.
They are one beautiful animal.


http://vid1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/IMG_0165_zps772093e7.mp4

[J_T]

Nice. Love capturing wildlife on film. My son had a bobcat climb the tree he was sitting in a few years ago. It stopped when it bumped into the stand. At 16, my son didn't know what to do. Cool pics. Trail Cam management.

[Pumper]

You should try trophy rock, I put it out this year for the first time and they seem to love it. It has a ton of different trace minerals in it.

[Ourea]

You should try trophy rock, I put it out this year for the first time and they seem to love it. It has a ton of different trace minerals in it.

You mean this....

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/trophyrock_zps8e5f71de.jpg


I have tried dozens of attractants.
I have compared them side by side and continue to do so.
I let the animals dictate their preference as I give them multiple choices at a time.

Trophy Rock is a preferred offering for sure.

Thanks for calling out Trophy Rock as a go to attractant. It is in the top two or three in my books depending on the area.
Great comment Pumper.

[Backwoodninjajunky]

Sweet pics!!!

[Ourea]

Pulled 4 cams last night...wanted to do 7 but I got distracted on the way up the hill with some sheep racing around in a rutted stooper. Stopped and took some photos and video.

A definite increase in the number of bucks on cams the last several days.
Still haven't seen any bucks of age yet however.
I remain confident that it is only a matter of days before we see the first mature deer.
Here's a few of who's been making an appearance

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/WT1_zps417c8672.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/WT3_zps79a67fac.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/WT2_zps8d55ff1c.jpg

[Ourea]

Here some of what I had the pleasure watching on the way up.
These sheep had no concern about my presence at times walking by within ten feet.
Enjoy.....


http://youtu.be/2mtrO_TKlMs

[coach]

Gotta love the encouragement from the ram in the back.. A little boot to the junk to get him to bash heads with the other guy.. Lol

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/CqPCTUz3uaY

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Gotta love the encouragement from the ram in the back.. A little boot to the junk to get him to bash heads with the other guy.. Lol


They sure love to kick each other in the speed bags don't they??!!
Sure glad we humans don't have that ritual. Imagine being out at the night clubs. Last guy standing at the end of the night with functioning sperm wins all the ladies.:-?

SSS

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/9YcKR53Y4GE

[coach]

Great series of videos!

[Ourea]

I want to stay on point with sharing my observations on chasing down quality WT in heavily hunted, high access areas....but.....wish to share a bit more of the sheep encounter.
They are so rutted up.
Pretty entertaining to watch.
This ram strolled by within 20 feet in his hormone induced haze.




http://youtu.be/LedkM-hiNog

[Ourea]

The youngsters trying to get in the game.....


http://youtu.be/oO9m7HfQ6HU

[Ourea]

Update time.

I set up additional sites to compliment the existing ones all within a one and half sq mile area.
The noose tightens and the amount of intel grows with having 8 cams now in a relatively small area.
As per last year things were relatively quiet with the usual cast of younger bucks showing up.
The flip got switched Nov 3rd.
Within a 48 hr window rubs and scrapes started appearing with intensity.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/scrape_zps6717dc5f.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/scrape2_zps60346d16.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/rub_zps5150fda6.jpg

[zippermouth]

I love finding rubs and scrapes!! that one scape looks very large. do you think its made from one buck or multiple?

[Ourea]

Cams started showing that the bucks were beginning to move.
Previously it was primarily nocturnal movement, that was changing.
I dropped a cam into some dense pecker pole.
The area would be impossible to still hunt let alone try and snake a bullet anymore than a dozen feet due to the stem density. (Nothing a shooting lane wouldn't fix though!)

The location proved worth the investigation.
Numerous bucks passing thru during shootable light.
It appears the bucks have a greater comfort level moving around in this timber pattern more than others.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/pp5_zps36e47dab.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/peckerpole4_zps1e8ef10f.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/peckerpole3_zps7ce6e2e6.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/peckerpole2_zps8765f6b7.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/peckerpole1_zpsef0a80d1.jpg

[Ourea]

Some cam video from another spot within 700 meters of the last posting.
Nice little three and a half yr old


http://youtu.be/RQ-t65Avdik

[Ourea]

The bunny buck.
Far from a shooter but worth sharing.


http://youtu.be/4ThLqpNFvck

[Ourea]

This young buck strolling past the spike shows some potential.
Great height, hope to get more pics of him so I can better evaluate.


http://youtu.be/emPnjF-dW3c

[Ourea]

In speaking with a respected friend of mine I suggested he come visit me in "Whitetail Camp".
We had often discussed a hunt together but it never came to fruition.
I sent him some trail cam pics and we booked a quick trip.

HBC member Waistdeep was in!
He committed Thursday afternoon to coming down Friday.
So, after dinner that day I headed up the hill around 8pm to pull most of the cams so we had up to date intel for his hunt.
I made it back a little after 12:30, reviewed the cards and made a plan for the next day.

Still didn't have any of the bigger bucks showing up but the overall cam'd area showed over a dozen bucks total.
We decided on the spot that was showing the most of recent buck activity.
Friday night's sit in the blind was a bust for him.
Saturday morning's sit had no deer sighted either.

I pulled the cards on this site, 4 to 5 bucks had showed up on the spot but just not during shooting light.
We had dropped a blind in an adjacent site the day before as a backup.
I checked the cam there.......it showed some early morning activity.

Waistdeep, not a small man, was tucked into this jr sized blind well before shooting light.
This was his last kick at the can for WT as he was slated to head home mid morning.
His upcoming business commitments would not afford him another opportunity so...... "any buck would do".

Shortly after first light his opportunity presented itself.
A well placed shot dropped this nice young buck in his tracks.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Randy2_zps11eec400.jpg

Trail cam picked up Waistdeep collecting his prize.
Good job!
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Randy_zpsf8482c0f.jpg

[OutWest]

Good stuff Ourea! How are you liking those Browning cams?

[Ourea]

One of the primary objectives of this thread is to draw interest and attention to the under utilized opportunity that is whitetail hunting in BC. I hope that my observations and sharing generates interest and serves to motivate others to get out there and hunt WT.

Side note......when I was pulling cams last week I was just getting back to the truck as a vehicle pulled up and rolled his window down.
He was a well "branded" hunter.....full camo...quad in the back.....all the gear.

I never pack a rifle when checking cams and wear just casual winter garb.
He asks, "you're not hunting"?
"Nope, just out for a hike" I say.

I asked him how the hunting was going.
He shook his head and said, "can't find a WT to save my life lately, its so discouraging".
He went on about how he has hunted here for 20 years.....how he always goy his WT....how it has all gone for a shit...... couldn't even fill his doe tag this year despite logging endless miles on his truck and quad.

He asked me if I ever see any WT on my hikes.
"Nope".
:-)

He went on about the decline of WT in this general area.....felt it was a result of the doe season and that regulation was to blame. "Gotta change it" he says.

You can imagine me biting my lip as I listened to him expressing his disappointment and blaming regulation for his lack of success......meanwhile, less than 150 yards from where we were standing, I had 5 different bucks on cam in 24 hrs.

This just reinforces to me that WT are a highly adaptive species and can not only survive, but thrive in heavily hunted areas.

Some observations........
I have at least 6-8 ....one and half and two and a half yr old bucks on cam in this small area.
This says that recruitment is still strong despite the doe season.
Most of the does I get on cam are sporting twins...again, shows health and recruitment.

A very bright young man that was studying for his wildlife mgt degree whom I shared my "WT camp" with the other year (resulting in a dandy buck taken right beside a major FSR) summed it up best......"the only limiting factor in WT success is us as hunters, not the WT".

No WT...........

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Clay_zps2379dff6.jpg

[Ourea]

Despite having a pretty good showing of overall buck inventory I have been somewhat discourage as I have yet to find the caliber of WT I am looking for.
Lack of snow has held back the usual push of new deer into my area as compared to previous years.
This is when the bigger WT show up and torment me......not this yr...at least not yet.

I must admit I was losing confidence......but never MY COMMITMENT.
Then this showed up last night.......

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/G25x52_zpsef031ff7.jpg

to be continued............

[lovemywinchester]

Thanks for posting all your pics and methods Ourea. Your goal of motivating people for the WT is working with me for sure. LOTS of local Kamloops hunters are chasing WT right now. That's all many of my hunting buddies are talking about. Most guys are seeing whities, not so many putting them on the ground. It shows how cagey they are.

[Rattler]

Wow nice buck! Hope you connect with him....

Thanks for posting this instructional thread.

[Ourea]

Wow nice buck! Hope you connect with him....

Thanks for posting this instructional thread.

Thanks for the note Rattler.
I don't wish this thread to be perceived as "instructional" but rather..... " this is what I do, this is what I observe"...members can go from there.

I wish to underscore that there are WT living minutes from most interior towns in unsuspecting areas that we, as hunters, overlook.
It takes little resources, little fitness, as compared to MD and elk hunting......just commitment to get out.

[kennyj]

Wow! Thats a beauty. I'd love to see some close ups of that guy. Go get him!
Great thread! Keep up the good work.
kenny

[Rattler]

Ourea, I have learned a few things from your thread and have really enjoyed it. There is no doubt large WT bucks are living right under our noses. In fact the largest WT buck I have seen was less than a km from my house.

Keep up the great work and good luck connecting with that buck.

[BCrams]

One of the primary objectives of this thread is to draw interest and attention to the under utilized opportunity that is whitetail hunting in BC. I hope that my observations and sharing generates interest and serves to motivate others to get out there and hunt WT.

He shook his head and said, "can't find a WT to save my life lately, its so discouraging".
He went on about how he has hunted here for 20 years.....how he always goy his WT....how it has all gone for a shit...... couldn't even fill his doe tag this year despite logging endless miles on his truck and quad.

He asked me if I ever see any WT on my hikes.
"Nope".
:-)

He went on about the decline of WT in this general area.....felt it was a result of the doe season and that regulation was to blame. "Gotta change it" he says.

You can imagine me biting my lip as I listened to him expressing his disappointment and blaming regulation for his lack of success......meanwhile, less than 150 yards from where we were standing, I had 5 different bucks on cam in 24

Missed the boat to educate him in person imo. It's guys like that, and we have lots in PG with the same mentality that can influence hunting seasons all for the wrong reasons and beliefs. I constantly tell and try to educate guys I run into in person that think we need to shorten or close seasons to "bring back" deer that it is not the answer.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I think I hunt a similar area than you do, Ourea.
The deer seem to move out in the dry summer when the vegetation has nothing left to offer....but the deer seem to have moved back in at the end of October despite there is no snow to push them down. I believe a cold snap like we've been having is more than enough to push them down.
Lots of buck action on the tcams as of late. In fact, there's waaaaaay more bucks showing up than does and fawns. Many bucks are just passing through and only show up once or twice....but there's always hope...if you have a tag left:oops:.

SSS

[luckofthedraw]

Good thread. Thanks for sharing some real deer with some great mass. Hope you connect soon.

[300H&H]

Lack of snow has held back the usual push of new deer into my area as compared to previous years.
This is when the bigger WT show up and torment me......not this yr...at least not yet.



Just as you have said. The lack of snow has meant that the bigger buck are not being pushed down to the areas we would normally find them this time of year.
Also they are more spread out, so it may seem that there are fewer deer, just like your intrepid full camo road hunter has found !
When I hunt alone (Dad usually accompanies me) I will head farther off the road/trail. The deer are more relaxed and it is interesting watching them and how they react as trucks/quads/people go by. It just proves that we see only a fraction of the deer that are out.

[Ourea]

Good stuff Ourea! How are you liking those Browning cams?


OutWest, I am pretty happy with the Browning cams to date.
Part of my fleet consists of 6 Browning Recon Force.
It is considered a mid tier cam at $160 retail.

Pros......
* exceptional trigger speed, comparable to Reconyx ( which 2.5x more $)
* Unparalleled motion detection in all zones

Cons.....
* no video or picture playback
* a bit thirsty on power consumption
* on video mode the cam defaults to a 10 second record time at night

I was happy to lose a few convenient features to gain on the guts and performance of the camera.
If you are fussy and put trigger speed and detection ahead of everything else, this camera is the one.

Would I recommend.......yes.

[GoatGuy]

Go git em!!!!!!

[waistdeep]

Respect the effort and Intel you gather prior to actually hunting my friend. Hospitality was second to none in your WT Camp, thanks for hosting and making that second round of coffee Sunday morning.
Waistdeep out..

[Ourea]

Respect the effort and Intel you gather prior to actually hunting my friend. Hospitality was second to none in your WT Camp, thanks for hosting and making that second round of coffee Sunday morning.
Waistdeep out..

My pleasure.

[Ourea]

Good stuff Ourea! How are you liking those Browning cams?

Here is an excellent demonstration of just how quick the Browning cam's detection and trigger speed is.
Top of the field for the price.
http://youtu.be/Bw5LtbA2L4I

[Ourea]

I couldn't take another day without checking some cams as we are entering prime time and bucks should be on the go. I zipped up late afternoon and pulled some cards. I am very concerned on the zero snow factor right now. Without it I may not get a huntable quality buck show up.

Have one pretty solid 5x5 but have higher expectations in mind.

One of our primary spots (where Snareman, Clayton, killed his nice mature buck) has got a bear f***ing up the program. Generally this location becomes red hot right about now.......its ice cold however.

This guy needs to den up and exit the picture.


http://youtu.be/UmXHQnKVJCM

[Ourea]

Seriously!!!
Napping on a key spot!
This guy's presence is killin me.

Here he is adding insult.....


http://youtu.be/HMaIcYpoLmk

[.300WSMImpact!]

should be some good snow over the next 4 or 5 days, I hope that make the change needed

[Daybreak]

Question please... one of your videos depicts the quickness of the cameras trigger speed. What are we looking at there? It looks and sounds like someone drop kicked a rabbit through the field of view. Makes me chuckle every time I see it.

[Ourea]

Back to WT........

With zero snow conditions are far from optimal right now.
Despite that there is still the odd "new" guy showing up as the rut approaches.
Cam video shows little interest being shown by the bucks when around the does......that has to change soon.

Snow in the forecast.
I am anticipating a big change in inventory and activity in the days to come.
I dropped a few more cams in and will let them soak for several days after the expected snow.

Here's a couple new bucks.
Those guys that are pretty dialed on the WT front know that when they start to get daylight pics optimism goes up....way up.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Newbuck_zps22c68fc9.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Newbuck2_zpsf127dd32.jpg

[Ourea]

Question please... one of your videos depicts the quickness of the cameras trigger speed. What are we looking at there? It looks and sounds like someone drop kicked a rabbit through the field of view. Makes me chuckle every time I see it.

Yes Daybreak, it's a rabbit streaking thru the field of view 10 feet in front of the cam.
That shows a very fast, exceptionally fast actually, detection and trigger speed.

Blows my other cams away in this department.

Again, it lacks some features but it's core functions that I look for are exceptional for the dollar.

[Daybreak]

Thanks for the prompt answer. Here's hoping the conditions improve for your quest.

[GoatGuy]

Frikken bears..... Seriously

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Frikken bears..... Seriously

Haha. What's worse? Bears or cattle?? Can't shoot either. But a blunt might do wonders.

SSS

[Ourea]

Must admit I was getting a little antsy coming down the home stretch of rifle season.
Despite having quite a few bucks around only one in the class I am looking for showed giving me a glimmer of hope.
That was quickly dashed as he was a one and done. None of the cam network picked him up again.

The unprecedented dump of snow had me excited....hoping for new inventory to be pushed in.
Surely a true gagger WT would show.
I was thinking I might take one of the half assed 4's or 5's if given the opportunity seeing as there was no target buck(s) around despite the changing conditions. I couldn't access half my cams do all secondary rds being impassible. If I did I would half to fence poll in a couple km's to each one. It didn't seem practical to do so as I wanted to be hunting not wasting three hrs to check one cam pushing snow up to my knees.

In desperation I decided to suck it up and fence poll into the G2 site and sit for the last half of the 28th.
Hiking in temps below minus 20 in knee deep snow sucks. Even stripped down I still got all sweated up.
Once in and cooled down I put on the two down jackets and settled in.
It was a cold sit.
Long story short a single doe popped out at 4:45.....that was it.
Hardly worth the pain in the ass hike.
I switched camera batteries out and changed the card.
Wind had picked up and it was an uncomfortable 70 min punch out.
I made a side trip on the way out and switched another cam that was fairly close to the truck.
This was the temp when I got back.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/temp_zps4d682b0b.jpg

To add insult to injury my keyless entry was frozen and I couldn't get in the truck.
Not the first time I have had to walk out the 8 kms in the dark to get into cell range and call 358mag to pick me up.
After 10 mins walking I said F***K this. It's minus 23 and blowing.
There is a perfectly good truck sitting back there with a set of keys inside.
Took the shovel and smashed the window.
Voila.

[Ourea]

I had a friend coming down early Saturday morning for his third sit.
He really was hoping to take a decent little WT and haven seen the almost daily intel he knew they were there.
He was acceptant to the fact that stand hunting for WT is a numbers game.
If they are there you will get your chance if you put in the time.
Problem being is "time" can be "tough" in minus twenties.

I sent HBC member j-rod some videos off the card where he would be sitting.
Low and behold daylight bucks!!
This guy would do!


http://youtu.be/WRxNNrWMoNI
I was so hoping he would get a chance at a decent buck Saturday morning.

[Ourea]

By the looks of the trail cam videos from the site where j-rod was going to sit Saturday morning he would get his chance!
Ironically, he says to me Friday night, "Ourea, why don't you sit in that spot seeing it appears to be the most consistent site, I can go somewhere".
Seriously!??
Wow, what a great and thoughtful gesture on j-rod's behalf......I would have none of it however.
I knew one of those bucks would pass by there at some point tomorrow.
There's no guarantees but confidence was high based on intel.


http://youtu.be/3kbHFSeizA4

[Ourea]

Saturday morning found j-rod in the blind by 6:30 am well before light in minus 20 temps.
He had passed on a spike here a week earlier, I was thinking he wouldn't a second time around with the brutal temps making it difficult to stick things out.
Daylight.....no deer.
Despite anticipation and expectations being high, still no deer sightings an hr after light.
This is when the mental game comes into play...endless mind games and fidgeting to pass the time in the cold.

j-rod and I had talked about the fact that the Browning cam should pick up his kill if a deer indeed actually presented itself. He knew he had 20 seconds of recording time off the initial detection...ample time to hunker in for a shot.
We also talked about the high rear shoulder spine shot as being the preferred anchor location.
This drops 'em where they stand, no tracking recoveries needed when you execute this bullet placement.

Yah, yah, I know......Spoiler Alert!!!!

[300H&H]

Don't keep us waiting !

[Ourea]

10:30 am found j-rod getting restless and feeling the effects of the brutally cold temps.
He grabbed a cigar and fired it up.
As guys who have spent a lot of hrs in the blind, like sitkaspruce, know you cant have enough things to help pass the time.
As the initial smoked cleared from the first puff.......movement !
Buck!
Nice little two and a half year old!
He elected to shoot!
The Browning cam captured the kill perfectly.

The shot.........................


http://youtu.be/S9wb6NUatTU

Perfect bullet placement j-rod!!

I've watched it a dozen times and still giggle as much as the first.
Although not the buck he was hoping for I think both of us were thrilled.

Again, great job j-rod!!!
A lot of perseverance demonstrated on ur behalf.

[fuzzybiscuit]

That was awesome! Made me giggle too.

Congrats j-rod on a great shot. Good job Ourea on helping a buddy out and thanks for posting the video and story.

[coach]

Awesome video! I wish you'd had a browning cam two years ago when Buster took a lead pill..

[Ourea]

Saturday I pulled some cards...sat.....rattled in a two point.
Tempting on the second last day of rifle season but an easy decision.
When I got home I started with the first card ....reviewing the vids.
Same usual band of suspects ........until THIS!


http://youtu.be/qvQsF_skMMA

Lovely tall 4 point.
Sooooo glad I didn't consider the deuce point for a meat buck now!

[300H&H]

Cool kill shot, can you set your trail cam to record longer ?

[300H&H]

Damn those brow tines are long.

[Ourea]

I watched and rewatched the cam video.
Definitely a tall WT for sure.

Observation.........
If I was picture mode vs video odds were I wouldn't have captured evidence of this buck.
Pic mode would have caught the doe...not the dogging approach of the buck shortly thereafter.
This is another shining example why I run video only when looking for elusive trophy critters.
You may only get one cam opportunity to prove a animals existence .....I like to make the most of it.

[Ourea]

I continued to review the cards.
Happy to have a new solid buck on the lot but I was still hoping for something a step above.

Then this guy.
Yowzers!

This is everything I look for in an animal.
Age
Mass
JUNK!

Gorgeous, mature 6x6.
It takes a lot to get my attention.
This guy has my attention.....my full attention.
Definite shooter buck.....finally.
Better late than never.


http://youtu.be/3gCFwf0Zajo

[waistdeep]

Oh buddy, next year we try again ��

[300H&H]

Oh buddy, next year we try again ��

Why wait..bow season is on until the 20th. Go get him.

[boilerroom]

Thanks Ourea - 18 pages of great info!

cheers,
BR

[coach]

Oh buddy, next year we try again ��

Wait a minute.. 15 days left in the season..

Bow dialed: Check

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/bowdialed_zps968c9fbb.jpg

Crossbow dialed: Check

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/crossbowdialed_zps82422756.jpg

[zippermouth]

ourea that last buck is the same one who showed up on page 4 of this thread is it not? solid buck, really would like to get him on the ground. good luck with the stick and string.

[kennyj]

Once again, Great thread Ourea!! Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to the video of your monster hitting the ground. I haven't hunted whitetails yet but I look forward to it more and more every time I check this thread.
kenny

[drakfero]

Do you blame the guy when all deers were on your apples?






One of the primary objectives of this thread is to draw interest and attention to the under utilized opportunity that is whitetail hunting in BC. I hope that my observations and sharing generates interest and serves to motivate others to get out there and hunt WT.

Side note......when I was pulling cams last week I was just getting back to the truck as a vehicle pulled up and rolled his window down.
He was a well "branded" hunter.....full camo...quad in the back.....all the gear.

I never pack a rifle when checking cams and wear just casual winter garb.
He asks, "you're not hunting"?
"Nope, just out for a hike" I say.

I asked him how the hunting was going.
He shook his head and said, "can't find a WT to save my life lately, its so discouraging".
He went on about how he has hunted here for 20 years.....how he always goy his WT....how it has all gone for a shit...... couldn't even fill his doe tag this year despite logging endless miles on his truck and quad.

He asked me if I ever see any WT on my hikes.
"Nope".
:-)

He went on about the decline of WT in this general area.....felt it was a result of the doe season and that regulation was to blame. "Gotta change it" he says.

You can imagine me biting my lip as I listened to him expressing his disappointment and blaming regulation for his lack of success......meanwhile, less than 150 yards from where we were standing, I had 5 different bucks on cam in 24 hrs.

This just reinforces to me that WT are a highly adaptive species and can not only survive, but thrive in heavily hunted areas.

Some observations........
I have at least 6-8 ....one and half and two and a half yr old bucks on cam in this small area.
This says that recruitment is still strong despite the doe season.
Most of the does I get on cam are sporting twins...again, shows health and recruitment.

A very bright young man that was studying for his wildlife mgt degree whom I shared my "WT camp" with the other year (resulting in a dandy buck taken right beside a major FSR) summed it up best......"the only limiting factor in WT success is us as hunters, not the WT".

No WT...........

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Clay_zps2379dff6.jpg

[Ourea]

With yet another guest on his way into "whitetail camp" I was busy checking my sites that are still reasonably accessible.
I moved blinds in tighter to 35 to 40 yards and shrubbed them in. I wanted to make this adjustment well in advance of hunting from them for obvious reasons. I also wanted to ensure that my guest would be sitting in the best location based on the most recent intel.


Observation....... the one consistency I am seeing in this area when it comes to the mature bucks is......there are none.

Convention says WT bucks do this and they do that......can be easily patterned.
I see a fair amount of consistency and patternablity in the average bucks ( decent 4x4 and 5x5's ).
I see very little patternability in the trophy ghost bucks I am targeting which flies in the face of conventional WT wisdom.
With the extensive cam network I am running I think my sampling is solid indicator of inventory and deer movement.
If I had only a cam or two it would be sheer ignorance on me behalf to formulate opinions or develop a perceived effective strategy. Again, I am trying to pass on my observations and give you an understanding of exactly what I am doing. Formulate your own opinions from there.

I am also intrigued how much ebb and flow of inventory there is area to area.
Example......one location was extremely slow....5 or 6 deer videos in a week.
It then spiked to several hundred videos every few days only to see it go absolutely dead the last two weeks.
I never "quit" on a site and will keep it active a minimum of a year.
Having said that this particular site has gone zero to 60 overnight.

Cam intel is showing 6 different bucks coming thru multiple times each daily.
As Sitkaspruce observed this year almost all of his intel showed 95% nocturnal behavior of older bucks.
My observations to date this fall were the same as his.
That is not the case, however, at this particular location. recently.

As I reviewed the card from this site I was snapping pics off the laptop and sending them to the next hunter in camp.....the one and only Coach. After sending him a dozen plus of daytime pics he started to come unglued.
Cam intel doesn't lie........numerous bucks showing all day ........Coach is on his way.
He will be sitting in my blind at this site this afternoon while I fence pole my way into a couple snowed in cams that haven't been pulled in weeks.
A elite bow hunting friend of mine summed up the current snow conditions with the recent temp inversion well....."its like hiking in 2 feet of mashed potatoes" he says.

Here's one of Coach's potential customers for this afternoon....
Note the stem density of the surrounding timber.
THICK!


http://youtu.be/j9fUdxgpY7k

[Ourea]

Some more recent intel from where Coach will be sitting.
Granted, nothing big but either will be just fine for a bow kill by Coach.


http://youtu.be/Xqed9hx5ERY

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/0MjomDTy1Ag

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/IYnYLx286j0

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/heAnxJ7UxmQ

[Ourea]

Oh buddy, next year we try again ��

Can't wait my friend!
Will only have it more dialed for next season.

[hunter1947]

Can't wait my friend!
Will only have it more dialed for next season.


Ourea nice to see thanks for the new Videos..

[Wrayzer]

Absolutely fantastic stuff Ourea.
The time, observations and the willing to share here is much appreciated.

Heres to to hoping Coach lets an arrow fly.

[Sitkaspruce]

Some great vids!!!

Thanks for sharing all your info!!! One of the best posts!!

Will be following this one and Coach's.....

Cheers

SS

[Ourea]

Well, Coach made 'er down.
We headed up, parked and I gave him directions to where the blind that was on a site that was white hot with daytime activity.....less than 250 yards....just follow my tracks.

I headed off on a fence poling excursion to pull a couple snowed in cams that I haven't attempted to get to in a few weeks. It was a bit of push in mid shin deep snow with a nice frozen crust that you broke thru every step. Bit draining but wanted the cams out. I also wanted a good hike and sweat after the wife's Xmas function that didn't see us home until 2 am. Ouch.

I made it back to Coach's truck after dark and headed down to his blind with my headlamp on.
I figured if he wasn't back yet that there may be a reason for that :-).

I made it down to the blind and he wasn't there so I assumed he was trailing a deer that he had shot.
Turns out he never even made it to the blind.....long story.

The area by the blind was ripped up pretty good, scrapes were worked over again...kinda late for that type of activity I thought. I pulled the card, swapped the batteries out and headed back to the truck bumping into Coach walking down the road.
Apparently he followed the wrong set of tracks and ended up in another blind of mine that was about a klick and a half away. Mistake.

[Ourea]

Coach was a bit anxious to see the card from where he was "supposed" to have been sitting.
Sure enough, bucks showed late afternoon but just a couple spikes and a small three.
Nothing he would have shot so no loss.
There was a fair amount of buck activity in the 24 hrs since I checked the cam last.
This guy strolled by an hr prior to when he should have been in the blind.....


http://youtu.be/PrUWYg-3M_A

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/YiI88krc6xE

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/Ntw-5D5cpvA

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/fafFiPtatH4

[Ourea]

http://youtu.be/aSAlZsCkwUc

[coach]

Well, Coach made 'er down.
We headed up, parked and I gave him directions to where the blind that was on a site that was white hot with daytime activity.....less than 250 yards....just follow my tracks.

Turns out he never even made it to the blind.....long story.

The area by the blind was ripped up pretty good, scrapes were worked over again...kinda late for that type of activity I thought. I pulled the card, swapped the batteries out and headed back to the truck bumping into Coach walking down the road.
Apparently he followed the wrong set of tracks and ended up in another blind of mine that was about a klick and a half away. Mistake.

Hmmm.. good thing I can laugh at myself..


http://youtu.be/4suc3j7jSkw

[coach]

Lots of deer videos on this thread, Ourea, but most of us come here to look at pics of tracks and shit.. got any of those?

[Ourea]

This wide fella has been making more and more day time appearances.
Love to see Coach close on him tomorrow.
The intel has got him pretty motivated for tomorrow's hunt.
Six different bucks all making daytime appearances....tough not to be motivated.
If the wind is right chances are he will have an encounter or two.....however, there are never any guarantees.


http://youtu.be/CXl8wb3RObQ

[Ourea]

Lots of deer videos on this thread, Ourea, but most of us come here to look at pics of tracks and shit.. got any of those?

I will leave those riveting and informative posts all up to him.

[GoatGuy]

Lots of deer videos on this thread, Ourea, but most of us come here to look at pics of tracks and shit.. got any of those?

LMAO I've seen a lot of weird pictures on texts, but that is nothing something you usually see.

[Ourea]

Manage to get the odd surprise on cam at times.
This is a first.
A hawk taking a run at something by the cam.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/hawk_zpsa2930d47.jpg

Gorgeous Bobcat.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/bobcat_zps6fc62b62.jpg

[Ourea]

Another Bobcat at a different location.


http://youtu.be/sQCVPl4JRAs

[Ourea]

Wasn't expecting this......


http://youtu.be/H8aEdxzyxY0

[Ourea]

For those of you that don't think some critters are highly sensitive to cameras that use IR illumination.


http://youtu.be/6GfAz38-Rzg

[Ourea]

On the cams that I retrieved last night it was nice to see a buck that we are wanting to keep an eye as he is pretty unique.
Most should remember this young drop tine buck.
I got him once in June in velvet this year and just once during the rut.
Oddly, he did not show on any other cameras.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/HUNT0026_zpsbdf0a638.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/HUNT0025_zpse76ba2d1.jpg

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Those bobcats like fat squirrels. Make sure everyone has their tags, right calvin??!!! Doh!!

SSS

[300H&H]

Great bobcat picture.
I hope the drop tine buck has a chance to pass on his genes before you drop him.

[zippermouth]

Great bobcat picture.
I hope the drop tine buck has a chance to pass on his genes before you drop him.

im sure the droptine buck will get a free pass. very neat young buck that definitely needs a few years to fill out.

[Ourea]

WT camp is now 3 for 3 as of tonight.
He was afforded a chance at one of the better bucks and he made the most of it.
Congratulations Coach!
His story to tell.

Looks like I get to hunt again now.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Coach_zpsa548a6bd.jpg

[coach]

Wow! What a day.. Thanks, Ourea

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy154/coach108/IMG_0185_zps81aa0ef7.jpg

[Sitkaspruce]

WT camp is now 3 for 3 as of tonight.
He was afforded a chance at one of the better bucks and he made the most of it.
Congratulations Coach!
His story to tell.

Looks like I get to hunt again now.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/Coach_zpsa548a6bd.jpg

Was he hunting in his/your garden?? Where is the snow??? How does that toboggan pull on bricks??? :shock::razz:

Good job boys!!!

Congrats and good luck on your hunt Ourea

Cheers

SS

[waistdeep]

Well my friend, for all the effort you have put in ( and fellas I know he has put in effort, I helped just one afternoon ��) I thank you for the one I harvested. You are a learnered master realized from assut observation and time in the field. May your season end In success if not in the actual harvest, but a deeper understanding of the game you observe.

[Ourea]

Well my friend, for all the effort you have put in ( and fellas I know he has put in effort, I helped just one afternoon ��) I thank you for the one I harvested. You are a learnered master realized from assut observation and time in the field. May your season end In success if not in the actual harvest, but a deeper understanding of the game you observe.

Thanks for the kind words waistdeep. Just doing what I love....and that's figuring things out at a different level.
On that note, I'm figuring another "game" out right now, and it involves an app. Hope to have that dialed in pretty soon as well. ;-)

[Ourea]

And so the cycle begins again.
Stay tuned........

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/WT%20Cams_zps2bqltdym.jpg

[GoatGuy]

watch our for the ticks in the area, they are real bloodsuckers

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Here's a one time deal from last season. Just a quick one time migration picture so I'm not worried. Rumour is he may still be alive....and possible bigger next year??????
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tcam_whitey_2014.JPG

[GoatGuy]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5323&stc=1

Should be a huntable deer this fall

[Stone Sheep Steve]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5323&stc=1

Should be a huntable deer this fall

Either that buck is climbing a steep hill or something messed with your tcam???

[GoatGuy]

Either that buck is climbing a steep hill or something messed with your tcam???
range maggots always bump it ...........

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Just like your balls when you cross an icy river....hang them a bit higher.:)

[Sitkaspruce]

Hahaha.....

Spring is here early, so today I am doing the same thing....will be running tests on all the cams to see if they are all working

A few of the boys who I hope survived the winter

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/2014%20game%20camera/dougsdeer_zpsd7f647f9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/2014%20game%20camera/dougsdeer_zpsd7f647f9.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/2014%20game%20camera/bigbuck1_zps293198b6.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/2014%20game%20camera/bigbuck1_zps293198b6.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/2014%20game%20camera/Fatbuck2_zps9bdaadea.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/2014%20game%20camera/Fatbuck2_zps9bdaadea.jpg.html)

Good luck as the "other" season starts.....

Cheers

SS

[Ourea]

Managed to get up the hill last night to pull a couple cams after I dug out some more sites.
Going to step things up a notch this yr....not that last yr wasn't busy enough.

I'm trying to grow my number of cam sites to close to 20 and expand the overall area to be cam'd.
As I will have more sites than cams I plan on rotating cams around every few weeks so all locations get intel'd.

Very pleased with one of the new spots at first blush.
Heavy stem density, close to thick re-gen and a deciduous pocket.
It is also higher up from the primary area.
I'm getting WT every day and at least several different bucks.
Antler growth is only an inch or two so far.


https://youtu.be/S66jOXDHmo0

[Ourea]

This act is getting old.
Getting tough not to have a cam chewed on these days.
Pretty solid bear knowing the height of the cam on the tree.

https://youtu.be/9SypbfxXv5k

[waistdeep]

Darn yogi's

[Ourea]

Did a cam run this weekend,
Brought the grub hoe and tilled out a few more spots that show potential.

I find April/early May to be the best time of yr for finding new areas personally.
The damp soil coupled with no new growth yet really shows sign well.
Game trails are far more distinguishable and last fall's scrapes are still easy to detect.
As things dry up and the new growth starts it gets a little harder to "read" the bush.
(note - I have never seen the bush this dry so early. could be a good summer for habitat enhancement if you follow me)

All cams are showing WT along with the usual band of suspects, .......bobcat, lynx, moose, cougar and the ever frustrating presence of bears. F#@*ng bears. They must see cameras as chew toys.

Island hunters may appreciate this bear.
Lovely color, worth sharing.

He promptly chewed on the cam after this video.


https://youtu.be/IGA62eFc8Bw

I

[Ourea]

Pretty happy with the number of bucks on cam.
New locations appear fruitful.
I have learned to never get excited about any one area regardless of intel as things can change so quickly.
Hot to cold......cold to white hot.
Key is, be invested in the long haul.

Moving on....
Antler development is limited so it is tough to gauge potential other than body size and burl mass.

Have found one standout.
His mass appears to be insane at this early stage.
He is so much above all the other bucks I have on cam.
Check out the coke cans on this potential stud.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/20150521_155605_zps9f3u8hfs.jpg

Wonder if it is this buck?
Or maybe the G2 buck has made a reappearance after a yr of absence.
I will be thrilled if that is the case.
Time will tell.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/G25x52_zpsef031ff7.jpg?1432518317600

By comparison, this is what most bucks are looking like at this early stage of development.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/20150521_160638_resized_zpsfdo5j5ar.jpg?1432518315 993&1432518317556


The next several weeks, as antlers continue to develop, will make it a lot easier to determine who the players are.
I must say, I enjoy the anticipation. It never gets old.

If you have WT in your neck of the woods...get out there...hang some cams.
You will be surprised with what you might find.



Ourea out

[Tīɡ]

Those bases are definitely something to be excited about!! Thanks for sharing and good luck in the pursuit! I got to see some velvet mulies the last 2 weekends and got me pretty pumped! Have yet to see a WT this year though.

[Ourea]

Things are progressing along nicely with the WT program for this preseason.
Numerous new sites have been identified and all are showing good WT activity.
The buck with the coke can bases has not made a reappearance.
Granted, I am having issues with the camera with either the batteries burning up or cards filling up.
(Only getting 72 hrs of cam operation on video mode with a 1 minute delay)
I have adjusted the cam to picture mode and lengthened the delay.
Having a real problem with cattle as well.

Here's a few bucks that will be "average" by the looks of things.


http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/th_2ucks_zpssdb25lld.mp4 (http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/2ucks_zpssdb25lld.mp4)

[Ourea]

Here's my standard approach....
Once a potential area has been identified like this one....a serious rub line from last rut.
Dozens of heavy rubs on larger trees.
Sure has my attention.



http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/rub2_zpswv2r8zyz.jpg

I walked the area and narrowed down my cam location.
Once selected I took the grub hoe a dug out a spot.

The before....

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/before_zps4ld74mx8.jpg

The after.....

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/after_zpszgzomqmr.jpg

I have way more sites dug out than I do cams so I will have to get a cam on this spot next time I rotate cams around. Can't wait!

[Ourea]

In part of my scouting efforts I have made an effort to explore some blow down jungles looking for little pocket habitat spots within.
I have found some pretty big critters over the years in these scenarios.
The one spot I scouted was brutal going.....endless blowdown.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/jungle_zpse9zdgl5f.jpg

I was getting extremely frustrated with climbing under and over the blowdown for a couple hrs when a small pocket opened up.
Then I came across this gem of a find!

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/wallow_zpswz6iwuli.jpg

Although targeting WT I will take an unexpected elk location find any day!!
Couldn't help but notice there was an odd deer track around this spot.
Crawled my way back to the truck and grabbed the necessary odds and ends to get a cam set up on this spot.

[Ourea]

The first couple times I pulled the cam I got the expected bull elk.
I also got some moose and the inevitable bears that simply had to give the cam a chew.

I pulled this cam again on the weekend.
I reviewed the card...very little activity over a two week period.
I was hoping a solid WT was hiding out in this sh*thole and that I would eventually get him on cam.

To say that I was surprised and completely shocked to get this pic is an understatement!!!

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd428/browndog100/MD%20with%20promise_zps2jqk1qsh.jpg

Yowzers!
A, what appears to have the potential to be, monster mulie.
Pic captured June 1st and he is already well past his ears....so far ahead in antler development compared to any other MD on cam to date. He has gotta be knocking on 30" already and he is just to his initial splits.
He may turn out to be a crab claw 4 or even a 3 x 3 and not end up on the hit list.
Who knows, time will tell if this nomadic potential elite MD even shows up again.
Fingers crossed.
He certainly has my attention at this early stage however.

Again, last critter I ever expected to get on cam in this location was a MD, let alone a gooder.

[Fisher-Dude]

the grub hoe


Is that 358's nickname?

[waistdeep]

Incredible is the word that comes to mind. Your effort reveals what 98% of us never see. So many people head out first day of hunting season and begin ( key word )
looking. Knowing your inventory is paramount to successfully harvesting this quality of animal.

[Ourea]

During my cam maintenance over the weekend I had a first.

Our group gets cougars on cam all the time.
I've posted some of those videos before.
Despite a well documented history of cougars on cam I have only ever physically seen one once in all my years in the field.
I have never given a second thought or concern about their presence even when checking cams at night.

That attitude may have just changed....

During one of my weekend hikes I noticed a bit of movement in a bush to my immediate left.
I was by a creek and had just flushed a couple ruffers and assumed it was just another grouse.
I gave a second look ....
Ok, not a grouse.
I thought I could make out an ear thru the vegetation and knee jerked...bobcat?

I took a step to the side to get a cleaner and closer look.
I see two ears now.....not much else.
Take another step closer and to the side.
I am 15 feet away now.
That's when I had a, "oh, oh, think I am f*cked moment".
I am face to face with a cougar in a stare down ....point blank.
Not cool!!

After the initial startle it appeared to me this pussy cat was not threatening at all.
It seemed more curious than anything as it turned it's head a few times in an attempt to get a better view of me (my guess).

I fumbled for my phone and got the video app on.
Managed to get some crude video just as it started to walk off.
Looked like it didn't have a care in the world.... not looking back during it's exit.

It was just a young sub-adult but managed to serve up a pretty big plate of excitement for me.

Pretty cool experience.

Said Cougar....


https://youtu.be/isEsh0zpEhM

[Husky7mm]

I dont see a cougar, but I am only looking on my iphone screen. I am surprised you have not had more sighting with all the hours you spend in the bush. I have had 6 visuals without hounds. I guess there is just more cougars in EK than the OK.

[Wrayzer]

Incredible mulie, Ourea. Nice find on the wallow, will be interesting to follow along and hear what comes by for you in the hell hole. Persistence and getting off the beaten path pays off.

[aggiehunter]

knowing and creating inventory are two different things...we need a rum and coke Ourea....

[GoatGuy]

Good motivation, guess a person should hang a cam or two see if anything survived the doe slaughter.

[Ourea]

knowing and creating inventory are two different things...we need a rum and coke Ourea....

aggie...inventory is inventory.
I don't, "create it".
If they are there I will eventually find them.
Its what I do.

I don't buy into the argument that I draw deer from far away thus giving me a false reading on inventory in the areas I am focused on.
When cams less than a km apart document mostly different inventory.....it says to me.... its different inventory.....and I run a sh*tload of cams.

I cant speak about areas that you have a different assessment/opinion on.
I am respectfully aware that all areas have their nuances.

WT have been studied to death.
I can't argue about their prolific ability to adapt and thrive in hardship.....its proven.

I'm simply trying to find and kill a very solid buck in an area where most say that WT are all but shot out.

And yes, a rum and coke sounds good......haven't seen you in yrs,

[OutWest]

During my cam maintenance over the weekend I had a first.

Our group gets cougars on cam all the time.
I've posted some of those videos before.
Despite a well documented history of cougars on cam I have only ever physically seen one once in all my years in the field.
I have never given a second thought or concern about their presence even when checking cams at night.

That attitude may have just changed....

During one of my weekend hikes I noticed a bit of movement in a bush to my immediate left.
I was by a creek and had just flushed a couple ruffers and assumed it was just another grouse.
I gave a second look ....
Ok, not a grouse.
I thought I could make out an ear thru the vegetation and knee jerked...bobcat?

I took a step to the side to get a cleaner and closer look.
I see two ears now.....not much else.
Take another step closer and to the side.
I am 15 feet away now.
That's when I had a, "oh, oh, think I am f*cked moment".
I am face to face with a cougar in a stare down ....point blank.
Not cool!!

After the initial startle it appeared to me this pussy cat was not threatening at all.
It seemed more curious than anything as it turned it's head a few times in an attempt to get a better view of me (my guess).

I fumbled for my phone and got the video app on.
Managed to get some crude video just as it started to walk off.
Looked like it didn't have a care in the world.... not looking back during it's exit.

It was just a young sub-adult but managed to serve up a pretty big plate of excitement for me.

Pretty cool experience.

Said Cougar....


https://youtu.be/isEsh0zpEhM

Think that one was spotted laying on the grass by the peach last week..

That'll get the heart racing for sure!

[aggiehunter]

Ourea...with your persistence you will definitely get that whitie of a lifetime one day. It really is tough to tell deer apart....living in an ag zone with a pretty safe corridor we see bucks in our food plots one day and then 2 to 3 miles away the next...and not during the rut either....so I can see there is an obvious difference between your zones and ours. The doe slaughter has had an effect on pops regardless of what people think...not so bad where I am but some areas it's devastating.....the IR has been a saviour for our deer....go figure hey! Maybe this will be the float year with .358?

[Fisher-Dude]

The doe slaughter has had an effect on pops regardless of what people think.

Hahahahaha! Yeah, the population surveys that show no effect are all WRONG!

I guess if the areas you hunt are hurtin', we need to shut down that liberal either sex BOW ONLY slaughter and let the numbers recover!

[HarryToolips]

Aggiehunter - yes in couple areas I know, they have had a bit of a decline from my observations, but because the whitetail is such an adaptable species, I'm guessin they've just gone for the most part nocturnal, and aren't hanging in the easy to see places anymore. Just got back from seeing friends in the Koots, people I talk to are still seeing WT everywhere. Furthermore, in many areas that I hunt from my observations I am actually seeing an INCREASE in WT numbers since the doe season..they are smart, skiddish deer, and most people don't know how to hunt them to the way they have adapted..

[Walking Buffalo]

Do Okanagan deer need salting when on the BBQ? :-D

[358mag]

Is that 358's nickname?
Who you calling a "Hoe" there ....boy .....:twisted:

[Ourea]

Do Okanagan deer need salting when on the BBQ? :-D

Some could be a little "briny"..........
;-)