JoseCuervo
New member
For those with short memories.... Last year Ovis and I went hunting on Halloween, with a bit of pressure to be back in time for him to take his daughter Trick or Treating.... Here is the story for those who want to read....
Last Year's Halloween Buck......
Well, this year, Ovis' daughter is a bit farther away, as in Arkansas, so it made it a bit more of a challenge.... He ended up driving out on Friday, and I think he was thinking pretty hard about hunting with my daughter (GirlGunner) and I. It was her 12th Birthday on Friday, so we had to go hunting. We took a "Trophy" buck, story later...
So, with Ovis on the road to Arkansas, I was left to my own to keep the Halloween tradition alive. I rolled out of bed at 4am (really 3am) and hit the road. A couple of hours later, I was at the end of the road, also known as the base of the Mountain.
I was a bit slow getting out of the rig, as the heater was comfy, until some headlights started coming. That was my cue to beat it, and head up the Mountain. For the next two hours, it was straight up, with glassing during breaks for breath. I heard some shots behind me, so I am guessing the late risers got something close to the pick-up.
I was able to glass a couple of groups of does, and watch them for a bit, but for the most part, I kept climbing. Eventually I hit the boulder field at the top of the Mountain, and had to do about a 1/4 mile of scrambling on the rocks. The snow for the last few days had melted and re-froze, so at one point, I had a 4 foot long Ice Chute I had to slide down. There is a nice bowl on the back side of the summit, which at times, can be worth the risk to life and limb of bouldering through the top.
I finally got to where I could see the bowl, and nothing was there. All that work... The snow started coming down, and I kind of got to white-out conditions in the fog/wind/snow. I decided to move, and about 75 yards I jumped a little Forked Horn. He was spared, as it was too much work to mess with a "freezer filler" that far up the hill.
I kept going, the snow kind of let up, and I decided to make a big circle, and descend down a ridge to the West of the one I ascended. I came over the top and sat down to glass and eat a PBJ sandwich.
After a few minutes, I spotted a deer, but the angle was bad, I had to lay sideways to look under trees and around trees. I saw tall horns, and then he dissappeared. I then moved down to a rock, trying to get a view, but he would not come out.
I then moved up, and could see his body, but not able to get a good shot. Finally, about 1/2 way between the two spots, I was able to find a place to rest my gun on a big ol' burnt Ponderosa, and with one hand, I was able to steady the gun and the crosshairs.
Last year, Ovis and I had a smaller buck to pack out, and a less steep (but brushier) pack. This year, without Ovis, it was a bit longer pack, way heavier deer, much steeper and one less person. I miss ol' Ovis, and he has only been gone 2 days....
A long day, and I am ready for November (as that is Elk month!!!!!)
Happy Halloween!!!
Last Year's Halloween Buck......
Well, this year, Ovis' daughter is a bit farther away, as in Arkansas, so it made it a bit more of a challenge.... He ended up driving out on Friday, and I think he was thinking pretty hard about hunting with my daughter (GirlGunner) and I. It was her 12th Birthday on Friday, so we had to go hunting. We took a "Trophy" buck, story later...
So, with Ovis on the road to Arkansas, I was left to my own to keep the Halloween tradition alive. I rolled out of bed at 4am (really 3am) and hit the road. A couple of hours later, I was at the end of the road, also known as the base of the Mountain.
I was a bit slow getting out of the rig, as the heater was comfy, until some headlights started coming. That was my cue to beat it, and head up the Mountain. For the next two hours, it was straight up, with glassing during breaks for breath. I heard some shots behind me, so I am guessing the late risers got something close to the pick-up.
I was able to glass a couple of groups of does, and watch them for a bit, but for the most part, I kept climbing. Eventually I hit the boulder field at the top of the Mountain, and had to do about a 1/4 mile of scrambling on the rocks. The snow for the last few days had melted and re-froze, so at one point, I had a 4 foot long Ice Chute I had to slide down. There is a nice bowl on the back side of the summit, which at times, can be worth the risk to life and limb of bouldering through the top.
I finally got to where I could see the bowl, and nothing was there. All that work...
The snow started coming down, and I kind of got to white-out conditions in the fog/wind/snow. I decided to move, and about 75 yards I jumped a little Forked Horn. He was spared, as it was too much work to mess with a "freezer filler" that far up the hill.I kept going, the snow kind of let up, and I decided to make a big circle, and descend down a ridge to the West of the one I ascended. I came over the top and sat down to glass and eat a PBJ sandwich.
After a few minutes, I spotted a deer, but the angle was bad, I had to lay sideways to look under trees and around trees. I saw tall horns, and then he dissappeared. I then moved down to a rock, trying to get a view, but he would not come out.
I then moved up, and could see his body, but not able to get a good shot. Finally, about 1/2 way between the two spots, I was able to find a place to rest my gun on a big ol' burnt Ponderosa, and with one hand, I was able to steady the gun and the crosshairs.
Last year, Ovis and I had a smaller buck to pack out, and a less steep (but brushier) pack. This year, without Ovis, it was a bit longer pack, way heavier deer, much steeper and one less person. I miss ol' Ovis, and he has only been gone 2 days....
A long day, and I am ready for November (as that is Elk month!!!!!)
Happy Halloween!!!
