Opening day bucks

Teton · 10-01-2007, 08:23 AM

Sometimes you are rewarded for extra effort in surprising ways.

A buddy (Bwild) and I hunted very hard all morning over 10 miles and thousands of feet of elevation change. We saw plenty of deer, and only one buck, which I got a shot at approximately 350 yards away, going away. No dice. We get back to the truck about noon and decide to go back into town, get fueled up, and hatch a plan for the evening hunt.

We drive up into higher country, moving and glassing, trying to put together a stalk, but realize that there were many hunters (and ATVs) in the public areas, and any shots we would be lucky to get would be passing. We decide to head back down to an alfalfa field on some private land for an evening setup.

Well, the bucks had beaten us there.

I down a decent 3 point, and my buddy takes a 2x2.

We hear of a neighbor in town who has a meat locker and pulley system. He let us skin both bucks right there, and they were cooling in a locker by 8:30.

A LONG day's hunt culminated in a rewarding 5 minutes.

We went 2 for 2, and have 2 more tags to fill this weekend. The 5 hour drive home was suprisingly relaxing this time.

Here is what is left of the one I took, it will taste very good:

bwild · 10-01-2007, 08:30 AM

C'mon Teton, don't you want to show them the picture when we stopped at Wally World?

And give me some credit. It was a 2x3 until the back tang snapped off during the bucks tumble down the canyon wall. But hey, getting 2 bucks together like that worked out beautifully. Especially since we only had a couple days to hunt anyways. Not monsters by any stretch, but will eat fantastic!

Teton · 10-01-2007, 08:35 AM

Yeah, you should have seen the Wal-Mart employee's eyes after he said "can I help you with that" once he realized I what I was moving around in the back of the truck!

Yes, what a great hunt! It had been a couple of years since we'd been able to get out there together, and this time, everything turned out beyond expectations. Well, except the couple extra bullet holes in the 2(3)x2, that is. That sucker wouldn't die!! Made some great shots on that one to keep it from going over the top and out of reach.

OR Coast Range · 10-01-2007, 09:12 AM

Nice job guys! You're two by three has a little bit more mass than mine.

That's funny about the Wallmart guy. I stopped to fill up my pickup on the way out of town with what was left of the deer that I took on Saturday. The carcass was all wrapped up in clear plastic, and needless to say was kind of a mess. The kid pumping my gas did a double take, and then asked nonchalantly "What's in the back of your pickup?". I thought about screwing with him, but decided to let him off the hook.

Teton · 10-01-2007, 09:17 AM

Yeah, we had to stop in LaGrande to get a properly sized deer bag. The one I had was an elk bag (quarter), so it wasn't long enough. Needless to say, Wal-Mart was out, so I bought a sheet and duct tape to cover the exposed end.

I could understand someone being surprised to see a dead deer in Portland, but LaGrande?

Don Becker · 10-01-2007, 11:02 AM

Nice work! Don

Ethical hunter · 10-02-2007, 08:35 AM

Congratulations on you and your buddy getting your bucks!

As a side note I am always concerned wnen someone says they "got a shot" at a deer but "no dice". Two years ago two guys that were hunting in my same area said they got a shot at a three pointer but it was a clean miss. We saw a bunch of magpies in the area the "clean miss" occured two days later and there was a dead three pointer.

DId you look for blood trails? Did you spent a couple of hours following up on your potential kill - following trails, circling around and looking for spots of blood?

For me the real work starts when the shot is taken be it; clean kill, clean miss, wounded animal. Shot taken = potential kill and I dont start hunting again until I am sure I just have not filled my tag.

Great hunt, thanks for the story

EH

Frazier · 10-02-2007, 09:11 AM

Nice Buck.....I cant wait to hear more details....stop by and share them.
Kevin

Teton · 10-02-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethical hunter

As a side note I am always concerned wnen someone says they "got a shot" at a deer but "no dice". Two years ago two guys that were hunting in my same area said they got a shot at a three pointer but it was a clean miss. We saw a bunch of magpies in the area the "clean miss" occured two days later and there was a dead three pointer.

DId you look for blood trails? Did you spent a couple of hours following up on your potential kill - following trails, circling around and looking for spots of blood?

Thanks for the request for clarification EH. I did not go into detail about the miss because it is not necessary for nearly all readers on Ifish. For others, further explanation may be necessary.

In fact, if one knows me, my background, my mentor(s), how many animals I have taken, and how many years of experience I have hunting responsibly, one wouldn't need further information either. However, I understand your point, and I appreciate your concern, especially for the less-than-experienced reader of Ifish who may get the impression otherwise. We should take every opportunity which presents itself as a learning experience.

Suffice it to say, that when I wrote "no dice", that constitutes a clean miss. I must admit, I miss once in a while like the rest of us.

Teton · 10-02-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frazier

Nice Buck.....I cant wait to hear more details....stop by and share them.
Kevin

Come downstairs and I'll show you the horns, they are mounted on the hood of my redneck truck.

Just kidding, about the redneck part, and the mounting part, but not the horns part.

Dave