Pahoundsman
Well-known member
You’re burning tags like a mad man
2024 season, Its gonna be busy
- Thread starter Wyhunter
- Start date
Wyhunter
Well-known member
I have so many to get through! I definitely won't go crazy like this next year. It's makes my only passion stressful.You’re burning tags like a mad man
Wyhunter
Well-known member
Opening morning- I woke up early around 4 am and headed out to a walk in area. I wanted to get back around 2 milea to see if any animals were going to be pressured back there as the morning went on. I found a nice knob to glass from and had a descent pronghorn feeding about 200 yards in front of me at first light... then this clown shows up
There goes the whole valley I was going to watch. I had been chasing 4 mule deer bucks in there most of archery season, so I thought it would be a good place to start. It forced me to push all the way into the back of the area, which was a good thing. I glassed up 3 different buck and picked out the biggest one. I waited for him to feed over a hill so I could close the 790 yard gap. I slowly crawled up the hill and had him broadside around 50-60 yards. Dropped him. Now the work began. I was 4.2 miles from the truck and he's a pretty big bodied deer, so it was going to take 2 trips. 82 degree weather and 6 hours later I was at the truck and toasted.
Opening Afternoon- after chugging 6 mini Gatorade and a bottle of water, I set out on a few short hikes that didn't yield a single pronghorn, so I did what is usually against my core values and drove around. I was still pretty beat from the pack out earlier. I ended up coming upon my small pronghorn buck about 200 yards off the road and I said to myself... good enough! I belly crawled over the terrain and got to about 80 yards were I could make a good shot and dropped him... but, he jumped back up and ran, never had that happen before. I put another one in him around 150 and he didn't take a step. Processed him out and got him on ice.
Opening night- I enjoyed some delicious pizza and water. Found myself waking up with gnarly calf cramps multiple time. Today will be a rest day. I'm going to bring the meat to a processor, then hook up the camper and head to an area that might hold some elk about 2 hours away. We'll see!
There goes the whole valley I was going to watch. I had been chasing 4 mule deer bucks in there most of archery season, so I thought it would be a good place to start. It forced me to push all the way into the back of the area, which was a good thing. I glassed up 3 different buck and picked out the biggest one. I waited for him to feed over a hill so I could close the 790 yard gap. I slowly crawled up the hill and had him broadside around 50-60 yards. Dropped him. Now the work began. I was 4.2 miles from the truck and he's a pretty big bodied deer, so it was going to take 2 trips. 82 degree weather and 6 hours later I was at the truck and toasted.
Opening Afternoon- after chugging 6 mini Gatorade and a bottle of water, I set out on a few short hikes that didn't yield a single pronghorn, so I did what is usually against my core values and drove around. I was still pretty beat from the pack out earlier. I ended up coming upon my small pronghorn buck about 200 yards off the road and I said to myself... good enough! I belly crawled over the terrain and got to about 80 yards were I could make a good shot and dropped him... but, he jumped back up and ran, never had that happen before. I put another one in him around 150 and he didn't take a step. Processed him out and got him on ice.
Opening night- I enjoyed some delicious pizza and water. Found myself waking up with gnarly calf cramps multiple time. Today will be a rest day. I'm going to bring the meat to a processor, then hook up the camper and head to an area that might hold some elk about 2 hours away. We'll see!
duckhunt
Well-known member
That's some great stuff right there.
Wyhunter
Well-known member
3 hour drive then off to hopefully chase some elk!
CPAjeff
Well-known member
Great stuff - congrats on the deer and pronghorn! Best of luck on the elk!
Wyhunter
Well-known member
Well, the new ell spot turned out to be a bust. Absolutely crazy terrain. Theres some does in the first picture. I covered around 11.5 miles round trip and never cut a single elk track. Not to mention, it was 91 out today. Going to another spot tomorrow where I haven't seen an elk yet
Which branch are you under and you must be in for a while to be getting 8 vacation.
I am 38 days in for working for DHS and already have 12 hours vacation, 12 sick and 8 secretary leave waiting to be used. Plus the every other Friday off is great, able to get so much more stuff done around the house.
Also wife and I are thinking if we have another kid then it will be nice to have 12 weeks paternity leave. Way better than when I was a contractor doing the same exact job I am now.
Wyhunter
Well-known member
It's amazing, right? Sounds like you work the same schedule I do. With my military time and federal time, I accrue time off quickly. I work for Air Force Global Strike Command.
Wyhunter
Well-known member
Day 3-4... im going to lovingly call this public land hunting.
I got on a really nice 6 point at first light coming off of a hay field. He was around a half mile out so I had to boogie across 2 large openings between hills to cover the distance. As I crested the last hill from his location, he must have winded me because he was nowhere to be seen. I made a giant circle in direction he could have gone to try and cut him off. At this time it was close to 8 and the wind was calming down so I decided to cow call. Sure enough, he responded and started working towards me. I could hear him 1 hillside over and about 300-400 yards out, so I set up my pack and got into a good shooting position. All of a sudden... boom! Someone else heard him bugling and worked there way into him and tagged out. It just works out that way sometimes.
About 2 hours later, I saw a flash of a bull feeding on a hillside. I started to work my way towards him and ended up pushing him over the hill... boom! Another one down. Damn... twice in the same day. I was pretty discouraged at that point.
Ended up hunting all night and this morning. Never layed eyes on another elk. Thats how public land works sometimes. Someone pushed my bull to me last year, so you can't hate the game. I'm gonna take a much needed week or 2 break from hunting to rest and spend time with the family. I ended up hiking right between 60-70 miles this week.
I got on a really nice 6 point at first light coming off of a hay field. He was around a half mile out so I had to boogie across 2 large openings between hills to cover the distance. As I crested the last hill from his location, he must have winded me because he was nowhere to be seen. I made a giant circle in direction he could have gone to try and cut him off. At this time it was close to 8 and the wind was calming down so I decided to cow call. Sure enough, he responded and started working towards me. I could hear him 1 hillside over and about 300-400 yards out, so I set up my pack and got into a good shooting position. All of a sudden... boom! Someone else heard him bugling and worked there way into him and tagged out. It just works out that way sometimes.
About 2 hours later, I saw a flash of a bull feeding on a hillside. I started to work my way towards him and ended up pushing him over the hill... boom! Another one down. Damn... twice in the same day. I was pretty discouraged at that point.
Ended up hunting all night and this morning. Never layed eyes on another elk. Thats how public land works sometimes. Someone pushed my bull to me last year, so you can't hate the game. I'm gonna take a much needed week or 2 break from hunting to rest and spend time with the family. I ended up hiking right between 60-70 miles this week.
Wyhunter
Well-known member
Caught a nasty flu and have been down for the last 5 days. Did manage to finish up my head from this year, though. 
Planning on heading up Friday for 1 or 2 days to chase elk. Possible snow, so that should help out with finding them.
Planning on heading up Friday for 1 or 2 days to chase elk. Possible snow, so that should help out with finding them.
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Flatlander3
Active member
Reading about all the government work benefits from you all, no wonder why I pay so much in taxes and work items are slow when we deal the government! 
Wyhunter
Well-known member
cgasner1
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- Joined
- Apr 24, 2016
- Messages
- 2,991
Nice shed
Wyhunter
Well-known member
perma
Well-known member
Congrats but you added to my depression.
duckhunt
Well-known member
Oh yeah that's great stuff.
Pahoundsman
Well-known member
We need details,please.
Wyhunter
Well-known member
Friday morning- We had potential snow in the Forcast for my spot. In my opinion, there's nothing like hunting fresh snow. Especially with elk that move around a lot in the mornings. I decided to go for it and make the 3 hour drive. The entire drive up ended up being dry and I was a little deflated until I got about 2 miles from the trailhead. The snow started and looked like it was sticking pretty well. I got to the trailhead around 0430 with an inch or so on the ground and started my hike in. I got to the top of the mountain around 0600 and there was a good 3-4 inches of fresh powder, so I started getting excited.
I cut a few solo bull tracks across the trail, but seeing as I still had an hour before light, I decided to push further in and chase a bull that I had chased all archery season. I was hopeful to cut his tracks and find out where is was holding up post rut.
As light came and went, tracks were hard to come by. I ended up going in a little further than I had expected. All of a sudden, a bugle rang out and it was within 150 yards. Game on. I started seeing some movement about 60 yards ahead in the trees. 3 cows had my movement pinned but weren't quite sure what I was, so they stayed put. I posted up behind a log and waited for the bull to work up hill into a shooting lane.
After about 20 minutes, I heard som noise to my left. I turned and saw a spike and 7 cows feeding 20 yards past me. I thought to myself, I might have to shoot this spike if that bull busted out. Then all of a sudden he bugled again and came out at around 60 yards in front of me. I could see he was a good branch antlered bull, so I didnt hesitate. I told myself, I'll shoot him and figure the pack out later.
I flipped the safety up and pulled the trigger.... CLICK... WTF! Im not sure if my firing pin was frozen or maybe the bolt wasn't seated. The bull starred to run up hill. I threw in another round and sprinted up about 20 yards. He was trying to gather his cows and gave me a shot. .300 win mag hit and he spun around and stood there, so I put another on in him for good measure and he dropped there.
I looked on my OnX and though to myself shit... 5 miles to the truck or 2 miles to a closed off road with an additional 2 miles to where I could park. I pinned my location and headed over to the bull to break him down. When I walked up to him, I was amazed. It was the biggest bodied bull I've ever shot. He looked like a damn horse. It took me around 45 minutes to completely break him down and have him bagged up, it was 1030 am at that point.
I decided downhill was the better option. Although, it was almost 1000 ft elevation gain in 500 yards to get back to the kill site.I packed the 2 rear quarters to the closed off road and then grabbed my gear and headed out to the truck. I ended up getting to the truck a little after 10 pm, grabbed a few Gatorades and passed out for a few hours.
I made the 1 hour drive around to the blocked off road around 4 am and started heading up to grab the 3 remaining loads to bring down. After I had everything staged, I began packing to the truck. I put the final quarter in at 4 pm. It was a total time of 21 hours and 34 miles.
Here's the elevation gain
Now, im home resting my back, calves, and feet. It'll take me a few years to forget that pack out.
I cut a few solo bull tracks across the trail, but seeing as I still had an hour before light, I decided to push further in and chase a bull that I had chased all archery season. I was hopeful to cut his tracks and find out where is was holding up post rut.
As light came and went, tracks were hard to come by. I ended up going in a little further than I had expected. All of a sudden, a bugle rang out and it was within 150 yards. Game on. I started seeing some movement about 60 yards ahead in the trees. 3 cows had my movement pinned but weren't quite sure what I was, so they stayed put. I posted up behind a log and waited for the bull to work up hill into a shooting lane.
After about 20 minutes, I heard som noise to my left. I turned and saw a spike and 7 cows feeding 20 yards past me. I thought to myself, I might have to shoot this spike if that bull busted out. Then all of a sudden he bugled again and came out at around 60 yards in front of me. I could see he was a good branch antlered bull, so I didnt hesitate. I told myself, I'll shoot him and figure the pack out later.
I flipped the safety up and pulled the trigger.... CLICK... WTF! Im not sure if my firing pin was frozen or maybe the bolt wasn't seated. The bull starred to run up hill. I threw in another round and sprinted up about 20 yards. He was trying to gather his cows and gave me a shot. .300 win mag hit and he spun around and stood there, so I put another on in him for good measure and he dropped there.
I looked on my OnX and though to myself shit... 5 miles to the truck or 2 miles to a closed off road with an additional 2 miles to where I could park. I pinned my location and headed over to the bull to break him down. When I walked up to him, I was amazed. It was the biggest bodied bull I've ever shot. He looked like a damn horse. It took me around 45 minutes to completely break him down and have him bagged up, it was 1030 am at that point.
I decided downhill was the better option. Although, it was almost 1000 ft elevation gain in 500 yards to get back to the kill site.I packed the 2 rear quarters to the closed off road and then grabbed my gear and headed out to the truck. I ended up getting to the truck a little after 10 pm, grabbed a few Gatorades and passed out for a few hours.
I made the 1 hour drive around to the blocked off road around 4 am and started heading up to grab the 3 remaining loads to bring down. After I had everything staged, I began packing to the truck. I put the final quarter in at 4 pm. It was a total time of 21 hours and 34 miles.
Here's the elevation gain
Now, im home resting my back, calves, and feet. It'll take me a few years to forget that pack out.
Wyhunter
Well-known member
Starting the sous vide method to euro the skull. Overall, it was a great and exhausting hunt.
