Hello & 2012's Hunting

[HalfAce]

Hi Guys,

My name is Alek, Im 26 years old, I live in California (I probably should have kept that to myself)...and I absolutely love to hunt.

I found this site not long ago and I really like what I see. Ive come from the darkside, MM.com, because very few people post on the Montana forum. And since Montana is my favorite state to hunt, I thought I should get in on here, contribute and get a better picture of all the great hunting in this state. So here it goes.

Have a little time today, so I thought I would share a couple pics of my 2012 hunting season. Living a 1000 miles away means my pre season scouting in Montana is non-existant, so I can only show pictures from the year before, no summertime velvet here.

The Limited Entry draw gave me the same "Unsuccessful's" this year as it has every year. So Ill be relegated to the general units again. Which ain't a bad thing.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36234&stc=1&d=1373156536

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36235&stc=1&d=1135170064

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36236&stc=1&d=1135170064

I dont know why guys return their elk tags after drawing the combo. There is still PLENTY of opportunity to shoot an elk in Montana.

This next guy had a little more age to him, and he knew right where the private property was, and sat down right in the middle of it. 1.5 miles from me. I hunted around him from different sides for a few days, but he didnt make any mistakes.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36237&stc=1&d=1135170315

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36238&stc=1&d=1135170315

Sorry for the crappy pics. I know its difficult, but does anyone want to run a guess at the score of this guy judging by the overall outline of his rack?

I had no success in the first week of the season on a bull, just a few failed stalks. So I headed east and checked out some new, as well as old Mule deer areas. The N.E. part of the state was hit hard multiple times just a few short years ago. But the deer are slowly starting to recover. Mature bucks are in short supply, but if you put your time in, you will cross paths with one or two. But it might just be a big ole 2x3. Here is a young up and comer.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36239&stc=1&d=1135170315

I wandered around looking in some holes and turned up this guy. Shot him at 30 yards.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36240&stc=1&d=1135170315

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36241&stc=1&d=1135170315

I hunted solo for those few weeks, so I had to return home and regroup/recover.
Also had my first ever Colorado tag, for the 3rd season. So I did a solo trip out to there for the last 5 days of the season. I missed mister BIG, but got an opportunity at a smaller buck 2 hours before the season ended, so I took it. Shot him at 120 yards.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36244&stc=1&d=1373157118

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36245&stc=1&d=1373157118

After that I went home and recovered for my last trip up to Montana for the year. (I hate the sound of that)
Once I made it back up it took a day to get back on the elk, but when I did, I got to shop around a bit. Saw a for sure 310+ bull, but never got on him. Later I made a stalk on a decent 6 pt. but I messed the stalk up on that one too. Finally after a few days of walking around, I found a group of cows with some bulls mixed in. With responsibilities and work at home weighting on my mind, I made a stalk, got to 60 yards, and finished my season off with a raghorn 5 pt.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=36246&stc=1&d=1373157118

I know the spread-eagle shot isnt too appetizing, but thats all I could get with the sun already down, a bull in need of being cleaned and a long walk back to the truck.

Anyway, Ive got 4 tags this year (one is a pretty good Idaho CH Mule deer tag ), and plenty of meat still in the freezer. So I am excited for the 2013 season, as I will be more picky, and ready to eat tag soup if need be.

I hope this helps get you through the doldrums of summer as it has helped me.

Goodluck this year.

 

[mtmiller]

Welcome 1/2Ace. Great season. I can't believe you left MM MT and 7thgen.

 

[Big Fin]

Welcome HalfAce. Great first post. Hope you have many more great days afield here in Montana.

 

[ashersdad]

Welcome aboard. Looks like you had a great year last year. Good luck this year and thanks for sharing.

 

[JohnCushman]

Welcome. Great first post!

 

[2pointslayr]

welcome to the site nice animals ya got there

 

[Carrion Carrier]

I am always so impressed with non-residents that come out and outhunt 90% of the locals. Way to go!

 

[Zach]

Welcome! Nice first post.

Don't let them jab ya about being in KA, there are a few current residents and a couple of us escapee's too!

 

[huntbux]

Welcome, and thanks for sharing. Way to introduce yourself.

 

[WyOpitz]

Great story and pics. Welcome to the best hunting forum on the Web. Good luck in 2013!

 

[muledeerjunkie]

Welcome and congrats on your past success! Hopefully many more where they came from...

 

[sweetnectar]

1/2 Ace, please leave California and move to Montana ASAP so that California can continue to break off and fall into the ocean. ....I figure the reason it hasn't happened yet is there are a few good people living in CA still keeping it together.

And thanks for posting

 

[HalfAce]

Thank you for the warm welcome and kind replies everyone!

Didn't post the pictures correctly, but ill get the hang of it soon.

mtmiller: I did. I never got involved in any of 7thgens conversations, but his comments and the replies he received gave me more than a few good laughs!

Zach and sweetnectar: I have thought about escaping from this state, but for the foreseeable future I am stuck here for now. But if it were to suddenly without warning fall into the ocean, the pluses would far outweigh the minuses for the rest of the country, so I would take one for the team.

Thanks again everybody.

 

[jryoung]

This is awesome.

But, don't apologize for living here, after all we get to start hunting 5 days...which is how we start training for our MT hunts.

 

[BlakeA]

Congrats on the great hunts you had last fall in MT! Welcome!

 

[brownbear932008]

Congrats and welcome to OYOA loved the pics MT is prob my favorite state to hunt if the wife would go I would pack up tomarrow!