Elkmagnet
Well-known member
Congrats!
2020 WY Deer w/ Packgoats
- Thread starter Duck-Slayer
- Start date
publichunter1
Well-known member
When we woke up opening morning you couldn’t see 150 yards so I didn’t wake @Duck-Slayer up until I was headed to the the lookout spot. It didn’t clear up until after 9 with nothing but a couple small deer spotted.
I finally manage to spot a group of four bucks with two shooters, one a nice 4x4. I tear out on my first true high country stalk. I do everything I’m supposed to on the mile over there and end up getting to 40 yards of where the buck is supposed to be.l and ease over the lip and....nothing. I’m looking everywhere in that direction and nothing until I take another step and see deer going everywhere to my right. They had moved and were 30 yards in a group of trees and tall grass.
I follow them down the ridge and have a 18” 2x2 at 20 yards but I came for something with forks so I let him walk. I made the trek back over to the glassing point in time for @Duck-Slayer to make his first stalk. His story finishes out Day 1 of season.
I finally manage to spot a group of four bucks with two shooters, one a nice 4x4. I tear out on my first true high country stalk. I do everything I’m supposed to on the mile over there and end up getting to 40 yards of where the buck is supposed to be.l and ease over the lip and....nothing. I’m looking everywhere in that direction and nothing until I take another step and see deer going everywhere to my right. They had moved and were 30 yards in a group of trees and tall grass.
I follow them down the ridge and have a 18” 2x2 at 20 yards but I came for something with forks so I let him walk. I made the trek back over to the glassing point in time for @Duck-Slayer to make his first stalk. His story finishes out Day 1 of season.
Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
Day 6 we decided that the best coarse of action was for me to glass from the camp spot and @publichunter1 would go up to the main glassing nob. I would meet him up there mid morning. I almost immediately spotted 13 cow elk and 1 “big 340” bull! That was the highlight, spotted 5 bucks, nothing in a good spot to stalk. I than hiked up to the main glassing nob to join @publichunter1. Spotted a small black bear at 9:25am and we also bedded some nice bucks 10min. later. Which as soon as it bedded @publichunter1 was off after them. He will tell that portion of the story. I proceeded to glass and take pictures and video with the phone scope. After a bit I went back to camp and skinned out my deer head from yesterday. Did a few camp chores, brought up 16liters of water from down the hill. And patiently waited.
Matt
Matt
mdeerjunkie
Well-known member
Congrats on the great buck Matt!
publichunter1
Well-known member
Day 6 (day 2 of hunting), as @Duck-Slayer said I finally bedded a good buck next to some others on the far mountain kind of late morning and tore out. I get over there after climbing straight up for a while. I’m still not use to how much steeper a mountain face can be than it looked a mile away on glass. I get in close thinking the buck is just over the next lip 30 yards in front of me when I hear the rumble of deer running. I look over the lip 20 yards below me to see a trail of dust. I misjudged by about 30 yards the location. He hadn’t moved, I just misjudged.
I had seen anotherbig 4x4 go in some timber on the next mountain over that morning so instead of going back to camp I decided to give it a go. I went the rest of the way to the top ridge of the mountains where I was able to call my wife and talk for a moment. Then I dropped through the saddle, across avalanche shoot and across the next ridge. I used OnX to get me inthe same group of timber and slowly started working through it. After working about half the way down it I spotted antlers 40 yards below me. I slipped to 30 and started to draw on the biggest 4x4 I have ever had in that range. Suddenly a gust a wind came through and knocked down the dead tree next to him and he never looked back. My chance was gone in a flash. So far the luck train just hasn’t been on my side.
I had seen anotherbig 4x4 go in some timber on the next mountain over that morning so instead of going back to camp I decided to give it a go. I went the rest of the way to the top ridge of the mountains where I was able to call my wife and talk for a moment. Then I dropped through the saddle, across avalanche shoot and across the next ridge. I used OnX to get me inthe same group of timber and slowly started working through it. After working about half the way down it I spotted antlers 40 yards below me. I slipped to 30 and started to draw on the biggest 4x4 I have ever had in that range. Suddenly a gust a wind came through and knocked down the dead tree next to him and he never looked back. My chance was gone in a flash. So far the luck train just hasn’t been on my side.
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publichunter1
Well-known member
I’m headed back to the woods so you all get my Day 7 early.
Day 7 (Day 3 of hunting) started out with bucks up on their feet. I was seeing bucks all along the ridge line where I stalked them the day before. Although none of them were as big as the day before there were still several shooters. I bedded a few and just as I was about to go a helicopter flew over and all of the bucks changed bed. This pattern continued with great frustration for the next few hours. I did spot another group closer that had some big bucks but Rob was there that morning and he spotted them first so I conceded to him as he and his wife were going after them later that day.
With it midday and no shooters bedded I went back to camp frustrated as the thought of my freezer needing meat started to mess with me. I had already passed a 2 point and 3 point and started to question myself since the weekend was approaching.
I decided to go to the base of the mountain instead of the knob so that if I spotted one on the mountain I might be able to cut him off. Sure enough I spot an old bull of a mule deer that is wide and tall but definitely going downhill on antlers. He enters one patch of timber and doesn’t leave so I take my chance and tare our up the mountain. I get into position and slowly work the timber patch with nothing to show, he had moved on.
I decide to follow the deer trail over to the next drainage and work back to camp. When I get close to the valley I spot a deer about 250 yards near a water hole. The color of the deer made it look like a doe but I glassed it anyway. Antlers appear in my Binos so i begin the stalk as the light begins to fade. I drop out of sight below the knoll he is on only for the wind to die down and the dryness of the grass to become more apparent. I ease over the lip to see a wide rack staring at me at 25 yards. He looks again then decides to bound away. I give chase quickly and begin to see him slow. I draw waiting for him to turn. I take a large step left to get around a pine tree to see him broadside. I estimate him at around 60 yards, aim and release. The arrow smacks into him high hitting him in the lower part of the spine and dropping him. I see his front end raise so I run and put another arrow in him quickly. The deer of my dreams was laying there in front of me. I was in grizzly country by myself at dark with a deer down so I took a quick couple photos, boned him out with my phone blaring music, then loaded him and headed back to camp. It was all high fives and celebrating from there.
Day 7 (Day 3 of hunting) started out with bucks up on their feet. I was seeing bucks all along the ridge line where I stalked them the day before. Although none of them were as big as the day before there were still several shooters. I bedded a few and just as I was about to go a helicopter flew over and all of the bucks changed bed. This pattern continued with great frustration for the next few hours. I did spot another group closer that had some big bucks but Rob was there that morning and he spotted them first so I conceded to him as he and his wife were going after them later that day.
With it midday and no shooters bedded I went back to camp frustrated as the thought of my freezer needing meat started to mess with me. I had already passed a 2 point and 3 point and started to question myself since the weekend was approaching.
I decided to go to the base of the mountain instead of the knob so that if I spotted one on the mountain I might be able to cut him off. Sure enough I spot an old bull of a mule deer that is wide and tall but definitely going downhill on antlers. He enters one patch of timber and doesn’t leave so I take my chance and tare our up the mountain. I get into position and slowly work the timber patch with nothing to show, he had moved on.
I decide to follow the deer trail over to the next drainage and work back to camp. When I get close to the valley I spot a deer about 250 yards near a water hole. The color of the deer made it look like a doe but I glassed it anyway. Antlers appear in my Binos so i begin the stalk as the light begins to fade. I drop out of sight below the knoll he is on only for the wind to die down and the dryness of the grass to become more apparent. I ease over the lip to see a wide rack staring at me at 25 yards. He looks again then decides to bound away. I give chase quickly and begin to see him slow. I draw waiting for him to turn. I take a large step left to get around a pine tree to see him broadside. I estimate him at around 60 yards, aim and release. The arrow smacks into him high hitting him in the lower part of the spine and dropping him. I see his front end raise so I run and put another arrow in him quickly. The deer of my dreams was laying there in front of me. I was in grizzly country by myself at dark with a deer down so I took a quick couple photos, boned him out with my phone blaring music, then loaded him and headed back to camp. It was all high fives and celebrating from there.
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mdunc8
Well-known member
Way to stick with it. Couple great bucks. Congrats!
Irrelevant
Well-known member
Awesome duo, great job guys.
Bowhuntrben
Well-known member
Wow. That is a great trip! Looks like a blast!
D
Deleted member 38069
Guest
Congratulations! That's a great buck!
Jape
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2017
- Messages
- 1,733
Well done gents!
Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
Day 7, I glasses from camp again. Saw that giant bull and cows again. I caught Rob on his way back down to his camp. He told me about @publichunter1 and his morning. I told him about the bull, but he decided to go after the deer he spotted with his wife. I went up on the ridge above camp, spotted several nice deer, unfortunately @publichunter1 was already gone on a stalk. Right before dark I spotted a TOAD 2 miles away, now wishing I hadn’t filled my tag 🏷 lol 
Never heard from @publichunter1 until he strolls into camp after dark. Talk about both of us hooping and hollering in the dark! Good times!
Matt
Never heard from @publichunter1 until he strolls into camp after dark. Talk about both of us hooping and hollering in the dark! Good times! Matt
Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
Day 8 we got up early, torn down camp. @publichunter1 skinned his deer head out, than we went and retrieved the meat from the meat tree and headed the 10 miles back to the truck. All 4 goats loaded down with close to 56lbs. It was hot that day and all goats did well till the last couple of miles.
We made it back about 3 in the afternoon to find a trailer tire flat and 2 truck batteries dead
Got the tire changed and a jump from some guys who pulled into the trailhead with 3 trucks, 1 horse trailer and 5 horses! Great group of guys! Thank You! We slept at the trailhead that night, a plan to get up at 5:30am and start the trek home!
Matt
We made it back about 3 in the afternoon to find a trailer tire flat and 2 truck batteries dead
Got the tire changed and a jump from some guys who pulled into the trailhead with 3 trucks, 1 horse trailer and 5 horses! Great group of guys! Thank You! We slept at the trailhead that night, a plan to get up at 5:30am and start the trek home!Matt
Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
Day 9 we awoke at 5:30am and on the road by 6:10am. We made it 2 miles down the road and the left side leaf spring on trailer broke 
luckily I had some tools with but not enough, needed a breaker bar and spring... well 2 hours later I was back with most of what we needed.... had 4 bolts that were unloosenable, rusted on... so another 2 hours later I was back with new bolts and a cordless grinder w 2 cutting blades, we made fast work of it till we found that the spring was to long and wide.... well some quick modifications lol we got it back together, measured out so it would track straight down the road, 6 1/2 hrs total and we were headed home. Did I mention it was hott! 100 when we hit Pocatello Idaho, dropped @publichunter1 off and I headed home for a solo 4 1/2hrs, luckily with no other problems! Now I have to wait 3 weeks for new axle/hubs/springs, it’s time for everything to be new.
Matt
luckily I had some tools with but not enough, needed a breaker bar and spring... well 2 hours later I was back with most of what we needed.... had 4 bolts that were unloosenable, rusted on... so another 2 hours later I was back with new bolts and a cordless grinder w 2 cutting blades, we made fast work of it till we found that the spring was to long and wide.... well some quick modifications lol we got it back together, measured out so it would track straight down the road, 6 1/2 hrs total and we were headed home. Did I mention it was hott! 100 when we hit Pocatello Idaho, dropped @publichunter1 off and I headed home for a solo 4 1/2hrs, luckily with no other problems! Now I have to wait 3 weeks for new axle/hubs/springs, it’s time for everything to be new.Matt
blueridge
Well-known member
Congrats, gents! Thanks for sharing the story with all of us. Getting it done!!
Bowhuntrben
Well-known member
Wow...those pack out pics are awesome. The trailer issues only make it a more memorable trip 
