You know you're spoiled when...

[Gr8bawana]

Congrats on a great deer.

 

[1_pointer]

Congrats! Someday I'm gonna hunt whitetails in country like that. Looks like too much fun. Well done.

 

[Bwana]

Way to go gents!

 

[Shotgun1]

You look at a dozen bucks, 2 are old, crusty, heavy and knarly, but you decide you have another 8 days to hunt and I've yet to lay eyes on a floppy eared deer.

Does it get any better than deer hunting in Montana?

I easily passed on 50+ bucks this year all on public lands or Block management. Some I saw while deer hunting some while hunting other critters. Nothing was huge but it was nice to see that many bucks. I have out of state friends who would not pass on the first legal buck in their states. No I don't think it gets any better than deer hunting Montana.

 

[L. I. Yankee]

Congrats in a nice buck.....

 

[JohnCushman]

That 5 would make me really happy too

 

[Big Fin]

Congrats to your nephew. Probably more fun than any deer hunt you've been on in a while.

 

[What Map]

Fun story and great ending. Congratulations.

 

[worm]

Congrats to you both, Nice buck

 

[Bambistew]

Took my 16yo cousin on a couple elk hunts this last week. He said a few times that this these hunts were like he sees on TV, and he mentioned more than once that this was the coolest thing he'd ever done. I thought, jeez you live here, this can be the coolest thing you can do every weekend. Just needed someone to take him out and show him how easy it can be done. He didn't realize that you can hike 4-5 miles up a mountain and hunt elk. Just didn't have anyone show him how to do it. This kid is hooked for life and already planning a return trip next weekend with his hunting buddy.

Things got a bit snowy yesterday. We were amongst em, but no shots fired. A couple 6pts and raghorns. Hope to have better luck tomorrow. More elk than I've seen since I was a kid. Every place I look, there are elk and no hunters. Pretty sure that MT hunters have gone soft...

 

[Devil Diver Down]

Congrats to your nephew on the fine whitetail. And your other nephew is getting an elk lesson that will pay dividends for years to come. Good job!

 

[Bambistew]

Some things look huge when a 5yo is holding it... although he is still a good buck. Got 2 5yos a 15yo, and a 1yo in on a hunt... oh and some old people too. Montana stinks

 

[The Hedgehog]

Good stuff! MT stinks this time of year doesn't it?

 

[1_pointer]

Living in AK and getting to do these hunts when you come "home" makes it easy to see your life planning was well done!

Also makes you easy to hate... Kudos!

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

Awesome! All around.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Very cool, looks like good times there.

 

[----]

What a stud of a buck! I would do anything to be out chasing whitetail right now, I'm missing out big time this year.

 

[Bambistew]

Missed a giant bull this morning. Snuck up to 20 yards in the trees and got a fleeting shot. There is a reason for all that effort. Knowing that I outsmarted a B&C bull is darn near as good as putting a slug in him. Almost...

 

[Bambistew]

Well, made it back to AK, sans an elk. Wasn't for lack of trying or opportunity. Went out 5 times and could have killed a bull 4 of those times. Hunting conditions where the best I've got to experience in years. Saw a lot of elk, had a great time with friends and family, and can't wait to go back.

We sat on the ridge in the near background and ate lunch, we could see for miles and miles... EVERY clearing we looked at had an elk track running through it. I've never seen anything like it.

Walked 4 miles up a drainage and didn't so much as see a deer track, made a circle at treeline and was ready to head home and cut two fresh elk tracks. Tracked them back to their beds and woke them up... no shot fired for many reasons, mostly because I was a puss.

Have to say the quality of deer I saw was about as good as its ever been. Passing up mature bucks day after day was a dream, and one I couldn't hardly believe. It reminded me of days long past. Only two real big bucks, that gave me the finger a couple times. So close... Lots of mature 4pt whitetails, heavy and bladed eye-guards, trash, cool stuff to see.

Looking at the jaw bones from the two bucks we shot, I would estimate both of them over 6+, I think my buck might be older than that. I've a pile of whitetails, some I'd seen multiple years and had a good idea of their age. I think my buck has the most worn teeth of any I've taken or seen. No dentine left on the 4th molar, and not much left on the rest. Any bios care to speculate with me?

Nephews buck

My buck

My brothers bull.

MT is truly a special place, and one I hope never changes.

 

[HSi-ESi]

Glad that you had a great trip to MT. Beautiful picture with the deer and family. I saw your earlier posts on where you were elk hunting - I had planned to hit that area last Tuesday (11/25). Figured you might be in there and left it alone.

I ended up hunting a few miles to the north. Not much but singles around. I ran into a bull in the timber under 30 yards. I watched him bed down - and spent 20 minutes trying to determine if he was legal or not. I had clear vital shots - but wasn't 100% on legality. By the time I knew he was legal I didn't have a shot...

Last week was great weather for elk hunting.