Ding ding ding...we have a winner.
You know, I really should have added a Daily Coyote Count to this thread to go along with the Deer Seen and Miles Hiked numbers.
ANOTHER. FRIGGIN. COYOTE…Are you kidding me?!
I should have shot it on site but didn’t, holding out (futile) hope that deer were possibly still bedded nearby. The coyote took off shortly thereafter and I dropped down in to the bottom. I checked the adjacent coulees and there were no deer...
Day 4:
I was feeling excitement and a sense of pressure as we got ready by the light of our headlamps. We hadn’t seen any bucks since our first morning so I really didn’t want to screw this opportunity up. We set out earlier than normal to get to the spot where we had put the bucks to bed the...
Day 3 continued:
We headed to the nearest town (a.k.a. dot on the map) and hoped to get a cup of coffee at the local café. Hours of operation said they should be open but they weren’t. Perks of owning a small town café I guess…Open when you want to be, Closed when you don’t.
We sat and...
Day 3:
We truck camped on BLM that night. Alarms go off, we rolled out of our sleeping bags, and started the 1.5 miles in to the same spot we were on Day 1. We got set up right as shooting light began and it wasn’t long before T-Beau tells me he has deer straight out in front of us. Sure...
Day 2:
The next morning found us overlooking an expansive creek drainage. Shame on me for not e-scouting better cause there were apparently numerous routes in there and as the sun came up, we realized just how much of a zoo it was. We probably spotted 6 deer (all does) and at least 4 times as...
The buck jumped, kicked, and ran out to our left, his right. I assured T-Beau it looked like a good hit based on the deer’s reaction. We gathered up all our stuff and headed down there. Once we got to where the buck was standing, we didn’t find anything. No blood, no hair, nothing. T-Beau is...
Day 1: We were both up and ready to go before our alarms. Hopped in the truck and made the 30 minute drive to our Plan A area. Parked, checked the map, and began the 1.5 mile hike in to our glassing spot. We got settled in with a couple minutes to spare before shooting light. As it started...
Before I get started, I want to thank a few HT Members (one in particular) for their help and advice…they know who they are and their help was greatly appreciated.
Now on to the story.
2023 took me and my hunting partner (we'll call him T-Beau) to a Unit and State we had never stepped foot in...
Some notable additions for me this year:
Ditched the sling and switched to a Kifaru Gunbearer. To each their own, but I much preferred this setup, especially on longer hiking days
Wiser Precision Quick Stix. Buddy used my poles and his to make a very solid rest to shoot his buck with. Quick...