First off, let me start by saying thanks to all posters who share knowledge. We needed it this year and I thought back to MANY things I have read here. See below:
Day before the hunt we met up with the land owner who in years past has hunted with us and taken us into areas where he had seen deer all summer and got us back off the main roads via truck. This year when we met up he turned us loose on the property with no “help” and closed all the roads. I had a moment of panic honestly…
Day 1:
On the antelope but didn’t get onto any that we deemed shooters… Hundreds of antelope but none that were worthy of a bullet. We called it quits a little early to try to rebound from the 22 hour drive the day before.
Day 2: Opening day of deer season
On the deer right out of the gate. Ended up seeing 10 buck and numerous doe. Was holding out for a good one but dad put one on the ground in the morning.
Day 3:
Back on the deer. Not sure how many deer we saw that day but spent the afternoon on a stalk on a HUGE mule deer. He was significantly bigger in rack and body than the other mature deer he was with. He was so fat that he barely cleared the fence when they crossed on to the property we had access to hunt. Game on.
We worked around and got within 50 yards but could only see heads and horns. After a 75 yard crawl we found them 300 yards up the side of the mountain… I missed……………….. we had a long walk out in the dark after trying to find blood.
Day 4:
Decided to take a day off from the deer and get back on the antelope and give the deer a break from the pressure.
We spotted 3 nice buck antelope at about 9:30, put together a stalk and had 2 on the ground by 1pm. 3 hours of dragging later meet up with dad to find out that he put a good one on the ground also.
Epic day…. 3 nice antelope in 1 day!
Day 5:
Back on the deer… I spotted a buck laying in a ditch and a stalk ensued… I ended up missing at 25 feet but put the hammer down at 295 yards and dropped him.
Day 6:
Back on the deer trying to fill the last tag with no luck sadly. Smaller bucks could have been shot but, they were left to grow up for next year.
What did I learn:
I can do it on my own. We had a successful hunt!!
Dragging animals through sage brush for miles SUCKS…. I WILL carry meat bags next time for sure.
The hunt was so much more rewarding doing it on our own.
Again, thanks to all who share knowledge on here. I used it and needed it and have been converted to a on your own hunter from now on!
THANKS GUYS AND GALS!
I'll leave you with this..... I wish I had an elk tag…….
Day before the hunt we met up with the land owner who in years past has hunted with us and taken us into areas where he had seen deer all summer and got us back off the main roads via truck. This year when we met up he turned us loose on the property with no “help” and closed all the roads. I had a moment of panic honestly…
Day 1:
On the antelope but didn’t get onto any that we deemed shooters… Hundreds of antelope but none that were worthy of a bullet. We called it quits a little early to try to rebound from the 22 hour drive the day before.
Day 2: Opening day of deer season
On the deer right out of the gate. Ended up seeing 10 buck and numerous doe. Was holding out for a good one but dad put one on the ground in the morning.
Day 3:
Back on the deer. Not sure how many deer we saw that day but spent the afternoon on a stalk on a HUGE mule deer. He was significantly bigger in rack and body than the other mature deer he was with. He was so fat that he barely cleared the fence when they crossed on to the property we had access to hunt. Game on.
We worked around and got within 50 yards but could only see heads and horns. After a 75 yard crawl we found them 300 yards up the side of the mountain… I missed……………….. we had a long walk out in the dark after trying to find blood.
Day 4:
Decided to take a day off from the deer and get back on the antelope and give the deer a break from the pressure.
We spotted 3 nice buck antelope at about 9:30, put together a stalk and had 2 on the ground by 1pm. 3 hours of dragging later meet up with dad to find out that he put a good one on the ground also.
Epic day…. 3 nice antelope in 1 day!
Day 5:
Back on the deer… I spotted a buck laying in a ditch and a stalk ensued… I ended up missing at 25 feet but put the hammer down at 295 yards and dropped him.
Day 6:
Back on the deer trying to fill the last tag with no luck sadly. Smaller bucks could have been shot but, they were left to grow up for next year.
What did I learn:
I can do it on my own. We had a successful hunt!!
Dragging animals through sage brush for miles SUCKS…. I WILL carry meat bags next time for sure.
The hunt was so much more rewarding doing it on our own.
Again, thanks to all who share knowledge on here. I used it and needed it and have been converted to a on your own hunter from now on!
THANKS GUYS AND GALS!
I'll leave you with this..... I wish I had an elk tag…….
