OK what's your Worst hunt

[Abalone]

Lets hear it. We know you are the great white hunter, but what is the saddest moment in your hunting career ? Tell us about the one that got away.

The most pathetic Stories wins. I got one but I can't share it with you
It's way too embarrising.

[SImudBogger]

I win. Stuck in the mud out at SI. Fire department pulled me out, my waders stayed in the mud.

[trouttroller]

I would have to say a few years ago when our party got hair tags in the heppner unit. Now we hunted spike only hunts a few times before and had some success and always saw cows and big branched bulls. We were all pumped. Brought extra trailers to haul all the meat back. We had 7 tags and filled one. A 5x5 bull that my partner didn't even know it was a Bull. It's head was in a brush pile but had a clear shot at 100 yards. Figured it was a cow because it was in a open area and we hadn't seen nothing. He shot it and it reared it's head back and then he got more excited. But that was the only elk that we saw out of all of us that had a good shot. We heard elk crashing other than that. We were real bummed about the end results though. We don't count our steaks before the are shot now.

[jokester]

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

I win. Stuck in the mud out at SI. Fire department pulled me out, my waders stayed in the mud.

That was YOU????? We were on Mudhen 4 that day and heard all the commotion!! Glad you got out ok!

-jokester

[StickFish]

last year Steens Mountains Buck Season - lets just say I don't hunt with one of those guys anymore

[GDuck]

I bet I can beat most of them for "worst hunt" in terms of embarassment, loss of money, and damages: (Disclaimer: more than enough blame to go around, not ducking responsibility, too long to print here). Not long ago:

How about deer hunting in a unit that borders Nevada and accidentally (with intentional help from NDOW) ending up in Nevada, much to the delight of the NDOW. Attornies, civil fine(s), loss of the biggest deer I've ever killed or will kill, damage to equipment by NDOW, travel, loss of tags/license, incidental damage to equipment (unrelated to incident by happened on the trip), tossed out groceries, etc. = $ 5000.00 to $5500


Add in the stress, the on-going issue of "their version" vs. "our version" that comes up to this day at various gatherings, and having to defend yourself all over again (or just give up and walk off) etc. = priceless.

Among the top lessons learned (and there were many) was ALWAYS have a GPS with a mapping program, even if your "buddies" have one and claim to have done their scouting.

Gotta go, my wallet is still screaming.

G

[SImudBogger]

Originally Posted by jokester

That was YOU????? We were on Mudhen 4 that day and heard all the commotion!! Glad you got out ok!

-jokester

not my proudest moment. good excuse for new waders though. SI yolunteer firefighters a nice guys:grin:

[Coastalfisherman]

My personal worst is the time that I missed 3 bulls in one day. It was my first time bowhunting elk in Eastern Oregon. I was awakened by at least three bulls bugling during the night close to camp. When it finally got light enough to see, we bailed into the canyon after the closest bull a big 5x5.....He came running in and I shot under him at 20 yards....miss number 1. The other two bulls were still bugling, so we went towards the next one. Got his whole herd to come in. We spooked some cows and my pops started to bulgle. The HUGE 6x6 came in to find out who was messing with his herd. Miss number 2Over his back at 35 yards. The herd spooked and a small raghorn bull came in to see what all the commotion was. You guessed it......Miss #3 Hit a 1" branch between me and him. Did I tell you that this was my first day of elk hunting. I have been hooked ever since. How many days to the opener?

[ORsouthpaw]

Last year... I Made a 18yd (ranged) shot on a cow, she turned a bit at the sound of my bow, my arrow hit about 3 inches further forward then I had aimed and must have made contact with the shoulder blade. Still, I had about 10 inches of penetration (I know because I found my arrow later) Anyway after waiting for a while I went looking, didn't find anything, not even a drop, I went back to camp and grabed the other 4 guys in our party. We looked for about 2 hours and then a thunderstorm rolled through soaking the entire area. The only proof that I had made a shot was the blood and hair still on my arrow. Anyway I looked the last day and still couldn't find her and the end result was a lost animal. It make you sick to your stomach and also makes you question why you hunt!

To top it off my truck broke down in Hermiston and after spending 6 hours in the 90 degree heat I ended up having it towed home to Portland which was not cheap. The good news is I'm ready to do it again! Although I'm not sure why after that. I guess hunting makes you a glutton for punishment. There's just nothing like it.

[Hunt'nFish]

Two hunts jump right to mind....

1st, was my 1st deer hunt packing a rifle. We were hunting north out of Enterprise and dad & I had just left Gramps on stand above when we jump a monster 5x5 at 50yds. Dad said take'em and for the life of me I could NOT hold the rifle still offhand. yes I fired, no I didn't get it. Dad never let me shoot 1st again. That buck still haunts me.

2nd, we were hunting big bull trophy unit. Had bedded a nice 350 class guy the night before. Went in in the dark, had the herd moving in on me in the dark and spook back. Pretty awesome to have cows clipping grass literally feet from you and it be so dark you can't see anything. Man I've never had my heart pound louder. Daylight comes elk are gone of course. Picke them back up in the bottom and w/ dad & bro on other side of canyon we flank them on their route to the top and a break over saddle. I'm almost to the top when grumble..ah....nature calls. Needless to say The elk crossed and I wasn't there. Dad shot the #3 bull in the herd from cross canyon and it was a 6x6. They still make me deal with that one every year.

Hunt'nFish

[micah]

Last year at Saddle Mt. It had rained pretty good the night before and a couple guys from work and I went for a day hunt. It was our first set up of the day and I was calling and my buddy who was going back to Iraq was the shooter. The other two guys were just there. As i started calling we immediately had elk coming in to us( i didn't see this unfold) first 2 cows then 3 more then 2 small bulls and a big 5x5. When the 5x5 was about 60 yds and closing one of the other guys got excited (he never elk hunted before) and belted out "there are 8 elk in that herd". It was loud enough to where I could here it. Needless to say the elk heard it too and they turned around a boogied on out of there.
Talk about the disappointment. That guy got cussed up one side and down the other, just about lynched and a permanent seat in the bed of the truck in the rain. I still cant believe how it went down and still give him crap on a daily basis about it.
That was my worst hunt.

[jnicholson]

I don't want to win anything but I'll share ...

Last year, first day in the Washington mountains helping two Midwesterners find elk and on the return to camp I found out my father in law had a massive stroke and to come home immediately, he died a couple days later.

A couple weeks later after that settled down, I get to Wyoming for an antelope hunt with friends and a couple days into the hunt I have to fly home immediately because my daughter passed out and later died that day because of a saddle embolism. Totally unexpected and unexplainable for both of them.

Worst time of our lives last fall.

No one should ever go through that.

I would have traded being stuck in the mud in a heartbeat .... it's all a matter of perspective. Stuck in the mud sounds like a good day to me ... other things considered.

[baltz526]

you win

[ORsouthpaw]

Sorry to hear about your father-in-law and daughter. When a family a crisis arises it makes everything else that happens seem pretty insignificant.

[in 'em]

wow, many praying for you im sure jnicholson.

[lor]

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

I win. Stuck in the mud out at SI. Fire department pulled me out, my waders stayed in the mud.

Dude, was that last year in the Aaron unit.
Buddy you never mentioned that detail when we shared a duck blind.
I had no ideal I was hunting with a SI celebrity. :shocked:


Sorry jnicholson, I didn't see your post before I replied, my condoloscences for your lose.

[GDuck]

Originally Posted by baltz526

you win

I agree. I cannot imagine losing my daughter. Sir you have my deepest sympathies....

Regards,

G

[Shutup N Fish]

Last year we rented a tent trailer. Went to pick it up and the top was cranked up and they showed us all the features. Then cranked it down, we loaded it and headed for 20 miles past Heppner from Portland. Got to our camp site and tried to crank up the top. Wouldn't budge. Had to drive back to Portland and trade for a different trailer. Luckly we didn't miss any hunting because we were a few days early for scouting.

[Tightlip]

Originally Posted by StickFish

last year Steens Mountains Buck Season - lets just say I don't hunt with one of those guys anymore

i was in the steens last year what happened

[ogrejager]

Originally Posted by jnicholson

I don't want to win anything but I'll share ...

Ouch. My fall wasn't nearly as bad, but I did have this:

I was enjoying the third day in a row of duck hunting with my Dad last year--the first time we'd hunted together in 15 years. The first two days were pretty good, but day 3 was the one I was really looking forward to.

See, we had a Johnson reservation on Sauvie's and a guy to get in line the night before for us. We got Johnson 2. We were only shooting mallards and had 5 ducks by 10 or so. A 4 wheeler driven by the check station guy (Jim?) drove up, "Is there a Robert Griffin here?"

"Yeah, two of us--him and me."

"You need to call home."

Turned out none of us had a cell phone, so Jim (I wish I could remember his name, darnit!) let us borrow his.

My Dad's dad (another Robert) had passed away.

Jim even carried our dekes out on his quad. . . .

[Old Guys Rule]

New guy at work moved in from out of state and begged me to take him deer hunting. I had a great spot, long narrow island with a high bank trail above the puckerbrush. Sent him on the trail 75 yds ahead of me and I pushed through the brush. We had taken 6 deer off that island that way that year. According to plan a big doe jumped out right in front of him at the end of the island. Instead of shooting it, he watched it until it doubled back past him, then he shot. As the bullet whizzed over my head I hit the ground and started screaming - at least he stopped shooting. After I finished chewing him out he confessed to shooting at the rear of the deer as it was leaving and missed. I tracked it and came up with blood so after a lecture about lines of fire and the threat that I shoot back the next time I put him back on the high bank and followed the blood trail. He shot that poor deer five or six more times, none fatal, the last one breaking it's back. I come up on the deer and the poor doe is screaming like a baby with the great white hunter standging over it "what do I do?" I put the poor critter out of her misery with a shot to the head and tried to instruct him on gutting it out. He wanted to learn how to do it, right? Nope. I gutted it myself. Help me drag it to the river bank and I'll get the boat? Nope, could not set his gun down and hold the deer at the same time. Afraid of leaving the gun there and retrieving it while I hoof it to the boat. Some one might steal it. So I drag it there myself. Back at the house it is time to skin and clean and hang it. Nope. Gotta go late for my wife. Later that week it was time to butcher. Think he could help? Seemed he was busy every day for the next 2 weeks. When I gave him his share of the meat he complained that it was his deer, how come I'm keeping half the meat?

For some reason I never was able to hook up with him for another hunt although he asked time and time again for me to take him out. I have gotten a lot more selective in my hunting partner selection in my old age.....

[jnicholson]

Thanks for the kind thoughts guys, totally unexpected and really appreciated. Sharing helps

We're doing just fine as a family, time helps.

OK now, I want to hear more about guys stuck in the mud!

Here's another story, you may have heard about this one ... We were all almost killed.

I'm goose hunting on the mainstream off of Bachelor Island. 150 decoys between me and my friend who brought his little boat too. I was in my drift boat with the clamshell cage. Well you river hunters know when the big ships come in the water gets sucked out then you get a good size wave along the beach and sometimes you scramble with your gear.

I am standing on the beach with my drift boat pulled up out of the water and one of those big super tankers that they are dredging to let through comes barreling up stream at the most unbelievable speed. Water is sucked so far out that my floaters which are on 15 foot leads are dry and being pulled out. I'm holding the drift boat standing up with my young dog tied inside the boat blind when the tsunami wall at least 5 feet over my head hits us. I'm up on shore, the drift boat is high and dry and there should be no problem with him being leashed. Stupid stupid stupid. I had no time to get in and free him. I was tossed and turned and everything was washed up and over all the willows and way up past the highest water mark. I saw the boat coming down on me onetime in the turning and one time I saw the prop right in front of my face but I miraculously wasn't hurt. I held on like heck when I finally stopped being pushed up on shore, expecting a huge wash back out into the river but it never came. My drift boat was upside down and the cage was crushed flat and I couldn't budge it. My year old dog Bucky was tied up in there. I thought he would have a broken neck or drown when I finally got to him. I wedged the boat up just enough and his head and nose came out and I untied him. As soon as he was free he ran like heck another 50 yards up the shore and was just staring at me in shock. I ran my hands over all of his body looking for internal damage while I looked at where all the decoys and my buddies boat had been and there was absolutely nothing in site. I thought he was dead and I started to get fuzzy about then and kind of sat down to count my blessings.

A few minutes later my friend walked up the beach and right up to me before I even noticed him. My first words were I thought you were dead and he said the same to me. There was nothing left in the boat but Bucky.
All the gear was hanging and held up in the willows and trash on shore. I literally had to reach over my head to pull my binoculars out of some branches.
I reported to the coast guard and the Columbian printed a story about it but nothing ever happened to the pilot.

It happened real fast and moments earlier we were talking about leaving because everything was so flat and quiet. A blue bird day.

I am not a supporter of those super tankers and barges coming all the way up here. That pilot was obviously reckless but they displace so much water ... it's going to happen again. Maybe my story will help somebody out. You can't do anything about a wave that is over your head other than run away before it gets to you.

John

[Katie Ann II]

this happend day before 05 elk season on are way back to camp in a storm when a alder limb fell from above and wacked us luckely nobody was hurt and my dad was in the passenger seat i was in the middle and my uncle was driving my dad he pulled some neck muscles but he was able to shoot a nice 4 pt bull

box of shells= $35.00
truck= $20,000
opening day of elk season= priceless

[bigjake_888]

Had some bad things happen, never had a bad hunt.

[bajadan2000]

WOW, some of you have been through a lot, my heart goes out to all of you.

I have been very lucky, all great hunts except one. One of the hunters in our group was lost for 2 nights. Not going into the whole story other to say it should not of happened. He was found ok, but was in a confused state from lack of food and losing his coat in the cold weather. I never hunted with that group again...

[duckboy]

This is from a last season,

Not my worst ever day hunting, but one I felt more like a fool than I usually do.





The dumbest guy in town.
I got up at about 0330 hrs this morning.

Had a quick bite to eat, slammed a couple of cups of coffee and grabbed my gear.

Fed the hounds and hooked up the duckbomber.

Had Alex hop in the truck and made the 2 and a half hour drive to my secret spot for a solo hunt this morning. Tall firs swaying, a full moon shining on the chosen bay.


The tide was to be perfect, the wind at about 15 miles per hour from the east, no fog.. no rain, and good photoshooting light.

Got to the launch (no one else was there), undid the straps on the bomber, put my waders on, suited up Alex in his vest and loaded all of my gear into the boat.
Went to put the key in the ignition.
It was back at home on my kitchen counter.
Took off my waders, Alex's Vest, and my special Duckbomber hat.

Replaced with my regular baseball cap. and felt like the dumbest guy in town.

[beardbuster]

My turn:

First off, sorry to hear about the family loss - I wouldnt wish that on anyone.

This would have to be my worst hunt ever!!!
I was younger, just out of college, much better looking and just learning how to bowhunt - or hike with a weapon, whatever you called it back then. :grin:

Out of the blue I run into a "friend" that I had not seen in literally years as I am walking downtown one summer. After exchanging some stories we decide that we should hunt together like old times. With a smile on my face, I shake his hand and agree.

Soon its time to head off for an elk hunt and we load all of our stuff in his 4-wheel drive "car" and take off. 10 miles into the trip, he's drinking. 100 miles into the trip, he's smoking dope and playing with a handgun. I am sitting in the passenger seat wondering what I got myself into...

"This is not the guy that I once knew" I am thinking to myself as we are literally racing down the road. We get to the camp spot and set up. My "friend" has decided to bring very little gear and supplies including food.

The hunting is a little uneasy, as my mind was racing about this guy every step of the way and he was now doing more than just what the Jamacians sing about.

On one hunt we decided to split up, he got anxious and wanted to leave to find a new spot since animals were not running to his calls. To get my attention he began firing a gun - that worked... and I returned wondering "What the #### is he shooting at??!"

We went to another spot and as I worked my way through some smaller trees I walked around the corner and he was at FULL DRAW pointing right at me! "I could have easily killed you there" he says with a grin. This guy was about to become an unsolved mystery if he kept it up.

More of the same for the next couple days. Luckily for me, a good friend of mine was camping close to us - this guy was normal, thank goodness. I loaned him my mountain bike to ride in on some roads which would turn out to be my saving grace later. It was day 5. I had a new wife and baby at home and it was my first time away from both of them for an extended period of time, so I knew it was time for a call home. My bad "friend" drops me off at the phone and says that he is going to refill the water container and he'll be right back. Two hours go by and I notice someone else who is camped near us and ask for a ride back to camp.

I get back and my bad "friend" is no where to be found. My good friend using my mountain bike starts telling me how my hunting buddy was acting funny and pulled a gun on them. Started acting crazy, loaded up camp and took off. My good friend has a really good sense of humor so I didnt believe a word he said - until I walk over to the camp...

About the only thing left was my tent and sleeping bag. The guy cleaned me out! Food, clothes, gear you name it - gone! Luckily my good friend still had my mountain bike ( the guy was trying to take this too, I later found out) I used the bike and rode 7 miles back to the phone and called my wife. It was three days before she could come get me.

Thank goodness for good people. I basically bummed off my friends since I had nothing, not even a wallet anymore. I remember meeting some other people who camped in the same campground and they invited me into their camp like I was one of their relatives. It was very odd and uncomfortable. Its a very strage feeling being at the mercy of others. I will never forget how these people opened up their camp for me until my wife could head over.

In the middle of the night my wife showed up and packed up what little belongings I had and we made the 8+ hour drive home. I have NEVER seen this guy again, for his sake he better hope I don't.

Its all been uphill from here. Lots of good friends, great elk hunts and good memories. I guess it takes something bad to happen before you how to make something good out of any situation.

[thehunt]

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

I win. Stuck in the mud out at SI. Fire department pulled me out, my waders stayed in the mud.

That was you?????????? I heard the story but never knew it was a fisher!! Glad you made it out safe. Thank God for cell phones!!

[ehunter]

Wow guys I feel for you losing family I can't imagine that. Having afriend turn out that way. Most of my hunts have been with good friends so I guess I am lucky.

[Norski]

1968, Deer hunting, opening morning, I was shot in both legs, 2 weeks later and on sticks and was back at it.

[bajadan2000]

Originally Posted by Abalone

Tell us about the one that got away.

The one that got away story.

Up until the time of this story I was always a bull hunter. I went home to an empty freezer many years when I could have legally taken a cow, but was holding out for a bull. The WDFW switched regs one year and turned the unit I archery hunt into a spike/antlerless only area.

Sure enough, I had a nice 5X5 step out at 15 yards broadside and just stand there in the middle of my shooting lane, I was at full draw, I knew a nice elk was coming by the noise it was making however, because of the thicket I was in, did not know whether it was a cow, bull or the spike I was hoping for. It was very hard not releasing that arrow. The nice bull never knew I was there since I was in a tree stand.

I was a little more than upset with the new WA. regs and went out the next day and whacked a nice cow. Best eating elk ever. Even though the WDFW realized their mistake with the spike hunt and have gone back to 3pt min. or antlerless, I have not looked back and will take a cow any day now.

Thanks WDFW for turning me into a meat hunter.

[Hunt'nFish]

Holy Smokes guys...John....I've had it easy. Those are some real humbling stories.
Hunt'nFish

[DukAddict]

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

I win. Stuck in the mud out at SI. Fire department pulled me out, my waders stayed in the mud.

HAHAHAHAH yeah man you win. How did the fire department come out and get you? :grin: That really sucks.

Brett Neffendorf

[in 'em]

Went duck huntin' once with my pops and brother...them motoring the drift boat...me paddling behind in a kayak (i was the "dog"). After an hour of paddling in the dark, setting up dekes, and getting the boat and kayak hidden and in the perfect spot, we were set when I realized I HAD FORGOTTEN MY SHOTGUN in the car! No I didn't go get it...we traded guns for the day!

I've blown opportunities at many dandy blacktails, but if I could have one shot back it would be last years archery elk season. Shot a hair over the back of a 300+ bull on the west side! One shot I want back, but that hour in the woods is definately one of the best memories I'll ever have!

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by Tightlip

i was in the steens last year what happened

Winter die off a couple years earlier had only small bucks in the area we'd hunted in the past - but that is hunting. Dealing with personality problems between a member of our party and myself was the main issue

[Jedcraft]

Was bowhunting with some "supposed" great white hunters. We bailed into a canyon and met up in the bottom. Elk had been there but not now. I said whats on the other side? They said They didn't know they'd never been there-nobody ever goes there-no road.
I check my map and there is a road up at the head if canyon(appx.5mi) and show them on the map. I tell them I'll cross over and hunt the canyon up to the head and they can drive around and pick me up that evening.
I give them my map and take off. After chasing the elk out of my way I reach the road and start walking. Twelve road miles later I get to camp to find them lounging around drinking beer!! They said why are you so ****** off we took your truck to the edge of the canyon. I packed up and left. We don't hunt together anymore.

[Don Becker]

My deepest condolences to those of you who lost family members! 'Got a feeling Abalone probably didn't envision some of these stories when he started the thread. Fortunately, we've not had anything serious happen to the hunt party but three times we've been awakened to flashing lights (aka gum-ball-machines - - for those of us old-enough to recall when they actually resembled gum-ball-machines) in camp, in the middle of the night. Once for a seriously ill wife, once for a father that had passed away (natural causes) and once for another father who was, essentially, deceased (also, natural causes) but being kept alive so his son could return and say goodbye. And, of course, every time I went elk hunting, for years ('have had a bit of a reprieve of late) something less serious-but-serious-enough would happen at my home - - wife relatively unhurt but seriously sideswiped (>$5K damage to the car - driver-side) by a hit-n-run, appliance and car breakdowns, you name it.

Gee, now that I've further depressed you all, I'm going on to a more cheery thread. :grin::grin:

[beardbuster]

I could probably start a website about the "ones" that got away. I look at it differently now - Catch & Release Elk Hunting!

[Tightlip]

Originally Posted by StickFish

Winter die off a couple years earlier had only small bucks in the area we'd hunted in the past - but that is hunting. Dealing with personality problems between a member of our party and myself was the main issue

i mean't we did pretty well i guess it pays to have a good hunting party
better luck next time

[CombinationLicense]

Wow, those are some stories! My condolences as well

This may not really be a worst hunting trip ever story but it was pretty embarrassing for a guy that prides himself on being "informed". Late last bird season. I had heard about a great quail hunting spot from one of my friends - let me rephrase that, he gave away his zipperlip honey hole spot and said "go ahead & hunt it"! Well, I was pumped but with other commitments it took a while to get around to it. The day finally came when my upland hunting partner got to my place in the middle of the night and we loaded up all the gear - shotguns, vests, 3 dogs and a big cooler for our lunch and to haul back the bounty of birds. 3 hours later we pull into the honey hole just at daylight. We had time for a last cup of joe while we prepped the gear and dogs but something was wrong.....

There was nobody else there, I mean nobody and this was a big area. Fortunately, I had a copy of the regs with me and decided to have a look before we put the dogs on the ground. The news was not good - CLOSED SEASON. We (I) had ventured into the two county area that closes for quail the same time that pheasant closes and we were a bit late!

Needless to say my hunting partner was mad at me for being an idiot, which I was. Worse than that though, my dogs were mad at me after rousting them up at 3am, packing them in the rig with bird gear for 3 hours and then not being able to shoot a single bird for them. The only salvation was that it was an NFL playoff weekend and the Full Sail Brewery was located between where we were and home. It cost me dearly for burgers and beer that day....



"CL"

[ehunter]

Me too if I had taken half the elk I should have I would not be able to live in my house with all the horns. I seem to have this problem called buck fever maybe that should be a new topic..:grin:

Originally Posted by beardbuster

I could probably start a website about the "ones" that got away. I look at it differently now - Catch & Release Elk Hunting!

[Deeman]

I have two that are pretty close. First one was in the Alsea unit above lobster creek a number of years ago. I left my fater at the bottom of a large unit and drove to the middle while the others went to the top. Every one would push down and we would get picked up at the bottom. As I get out of the truck I notice a tall thin stump in the middle of the truck turn at the end of the road. It is foggy and I could not get a clear picture in the binos. So I walk closer and look again. This goes on in the morning mist until I am about 25 yds away and in the binos stands a blacktail that looks like the Hartford insurance deer. Big white blaze on its chest, whiskers and its just standing there with its chest thrown out looking at me. I raised the rifle took a good sight at the base of the neck where it meets the chest and squeezed off. CLICK. Short actioned the bolt and did not put a shell in the chamber. The deer had not moved right up until i cracked the bolt and he was gone in one jump. Ive never seen a larger blacktail rack anywhere at anytime. Second North siuslaw unit. Hunting in a strip logged area. I was walking a dirt skidder and at the edge of one of the strips at about 30 yds stands a 4x4 not counting huge eye guards. I shoot and miss. He angles up the hill a little to the other side of the strip and turns broadside and stops. I shoot and miss. He diagonals back across the strip and turns broadside and stops again. I shoot and miss. This goes on like some twisted sick carnival shooting gallery game until I have literally shot myself out of every shell I had with me. The last shot was at about 170 yds. Two of many trips that I will never forget.

[Accumark Man]

About ten years ago my hunting partner & I were deer hunting in the heppner unit. My partner shot a nice buck and we packed it out that evening. At camp while skinning the deer I heard him say "ouch". I naturally said are you ok without looking up from what I was doing. I still remember his response "NO". As I turn to look, he is holding is hand over his knee area. When he lifts his hand blood spurts out. He had stuck his knife in his leg right at the inside of the knee. We had his wife along with us and she immediately started crying. He was very calm and tried to calm her down. At this point we just left everthing in camp and headed for the town of Heppner. This is where it got interesting after arriving at the hospital. They did x-rays and found he had chipped the bone and cut a tendon besides other damage. So they fixed him, (so we thought) and we headed for camp. By this time it is 2:00 AM. I still had to finish skinning the deer. Before I can finish my partner is in so much pain he can't stand it. SO we load up and head for home and a bigger hospital. To make long story short, the Heppner hospital had stuffed the wound full of gauze, BUT they had failed to get out all the bacteria. So partner spent another 7 days in the hospital getting the infection treated.
To top it all off. I returned the following weekend to have a firearm failure and cause to not get a shot at a buck.

SO BE CAREFUL WHEN FIELD DRESSING & ALWAYS HAVE SOME PEROXIDE HANDY.

[alaskan]

Back in 77 My whole family was hunting in Central Ak. At the time we had an old Winnebago. One night the heater had a problem and almost killed all of us. Luckily Dad had to get up and use the facilities and noticed that Grandpa wasn't snoring. When he checked on him he was cold and ashen colored. After more checking, Grandma and I were also. He loaded us up in the old jeep and rushed us 40 miles down the old gravel highway to a resort that had a telephone. The 3 of us were airlifted to Fairbanks and luckily all recovered.

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by Tightlip

i mean't we did pretty well i guess it pays to have a good hunting party
better luck next time

Not going back there - too many ghosts

[wannacatchem]

Been lurkin on this board for quite a while as I been thinking of getting back into bowhuntin after a 30 year break.

After readin all these stories, I think I'll stick to just sittin in my boat.......

[SImudBogger]

Originally Posted by DukAddict

HAHAHAHAH yeah man you win. How did the fire department come out and get you? :grin: That really sucks.

Brett Neffendorf

Originally Posted by thehunt

That was you?????????? I heard the story but never knew it was a fisher!! Glad you made it out safe. Thank God for cell phones!!

They threw me a rope that was tied to a rubber raft. I pulled the raft out to me, tossed my 11-87 and decoys in it. When it came time for me to hop in my waders were stuck, would not budge. i unsnapped and climbed right out. They drove me back to my truck and i literally ran to the check station and got the heck out of there.

My good buddy (buckhuntraj) posted about it on here. when i read it i saw all the other cool stuff on here and joined the site.

still better than going to work!

[SlyHawk]

Originally Posted by StickFish

Not going back there - too many ghosts

I'll bet we could compare stories.