My Trip to SE Montana

[silasd]

This year we made the trek from Crappyfornia all the way to SE MT . The drive was long and very boring for the first half . Then when we got into Idaho we picked up 11 nails in our tires spread out between 2 trucks and 1 trailer . Les Schwab tire in Idaho Falls made short work of the patch's and refused to take payment since we are Les Schwab customers . We forced them to take a Benjamin to buys the guys lunch with as it only seemed right .
After all that we had lunch and hit the road again stopping in Billings for groceries and a good nights sleep. Once we left Billings we made our way to Broadus MT which is always a good feeling as we love the area and the people I really wish I could live there . We filled up the rigs one last time and headed up to the hunting grounds . We always enjoy the ride from town because the road leading up to the hunting grounds is all private on both sides but seems to be holding a million Deer and Pronghorn which is always an exciting sight to see .
Once we got to Deer Camp we spent the rest of the day setting up for 5 days of hunting and debauchery . The first morning is always an exciting one with all the promise of what the day will bring and knowing we will be covering a lot of beautiful country side . I was hunting with a friend first thing in the am and we spotted a group of doe's with 1 decent buck sniffing around them and my friend took what seemed to be a good 98 yard shot at the buck and it didn't even flinch he was sure he hit him but from what I saw I was sure he didn't hit him . We spent the next 4 hours trying to find this buck as he swore up and down it was hit but we couldn't find a single drop of blood and he moved out like he was perfectly healthy . We followed him for what seemed like 4-5 miles and finally after he went over the last ridge top which was just too dang far for a bleeding buck to be going we gave up . At this point we realized we maybe could stand to loose a few lbs. Reluctantly we started making our way out and began to look for more bucks to hunt . The rest of the day was fun we saw a few 3x3's forkys and a ton of does but both of us had the mornings events hanging heavy on our minds. That night after dark we decided we would go back into the same area and try to find him again as we were certain he wasn't hit but just what if he was we had just had to find him . The next morning we drove down to the area we started hiking from and low and behold the damn thing came all the way to the same area and died over night as he was still a little warm in the early am when we found him . We were both grateful to have him hanging in camp as neither of us liked the idea of possibly leaving a wounded Deer in the field like that .
The next few days was much of the same spotting and stalking deer and passing on some forky's. the day before our last day I spotted and stalked a decent buck and lost daylight before I could get a good shot on him which was very disappointing. That night the pressure was mounting. The following day was our last day and I had not tagged out yet and knew my wife was really looking forward to some meat in the freezer so I was feeling the pressure . We headed out to look for the buck from the day before and 30 minutes into the hunt we spotted some does and almost kept waking when I hear my partner whisper "get your gun get your gun" he whispers there's a buck bedded down in the bushes he was just waking up it seemed as the does were stirring and eating and must have woke him up . I got my rifle up and took some deep breaths and waited for him to step out from behind the bush which he did just like you always hope with a perfect broadside shot . He stepped into my cross-hairs like it was a dream I squeezed and he dropped before he could even get out his morning yawn . I was ecstatic he had big body and a decent rack and just absolutely gorgeous . I am a new hunter and I know he wasn't the biggest buck but he was mine and I was and still am really proud of him . I will be heading back to SE MT again as long as I get drawn as I just love the area.View attachment 90378View attachment 90377

Great write up. Thanks!

 

[Huntmt28]

Nice write up. Sorry to hear about your partner, keep hunting for him!!

 

[oldschool.06]

I GOT DRAWN BABY !!!! I'm so excited!!!!
This year will be in honor of our deer friend and brother we lost to cancer. I know he's going to be guiding me along the way . Especially since I'm always hunting with his brother. I love SE Montana the place has a special meaning to me. Cant wait to be back for a week.

 

[marshman]

I GOT DRAWN BABY !!!! I'm so excited!!!!
This year will be in honor of our deer friend and brother we lost to cancer. I know he's going to be guiding me along the way . Especially since I'm always hunting with his brother. I love SE Montana the place has a special meaning to me. Cant wait to be back for a week.

You are back in the saddle, neat. I get so excited too every year, just like I am a kid again. Enjoy your hunt!