Weekend Warrior Success....Again!!!!!

Chromaflage · 10-27-2007, 09:56 PM

I've had the pleasure of hunting with my two best friends again this year - my dad and Boatdog. We hunt a little place in the trask - mostly on the weekends due to work schedules. It's nice that it's only about a 1.5 hour drive from home.

On the way to the hunting grounds this morning, we made our plans. Dad would take a stand at a new clearing at the Tee in the road up the left fork. Boatdog would go to his usual clearing about 1.5 miles up the main road from the truck. I sighed and said I'd probably go up above Boatdog to a clearing .75 miles beyond him. While in the truck, I had somewhat jokingly complained about the distance I would be walking, but it seemed to be a viable option.

We arrived and parked at the locked gate as usual. We headed up the road - all uphill for all three of us - by the light of a high, nearly full moon. No flashlights were required. Dad peeled off first. Boatdog and I continued our trek uphill. We parted company where the road forks to the right toward Boatdog's clearing. I continued up the hill.

When I arrived at my clearing, it was about 20 minutes to shoot time. I snuck in very quietly and slowly, hoping to spot something on the way to food, water or bed. The well appeared to be dry. I continued up the side of the clearing until I reached nice spot to sit and watch. An hour went by and all I saw was a beautiful sunrise through the trees. I was growing impatient and decided to continue up the road along side the clearing. The road eventually heads uphill into some sparse timber. I checked my watch and thought I'd spend the next hour sneaking up the road into the timber.

Once I reached the timber, I pulled my mask up to cover all my face but my eyes. Conditions were perfect. I had the sun at my back and the wind in my face. I slowed my pace, taking three to five very slow steps at a time, stopping periodically to slowly scan both sides of the road. I got in about 200 yards, and while on a stop, I was scanning the timber to my left. Suddenly, I heard a thump and crash and caught a glimpse of motion out of my right eye.

I froze, staring straight ahead at the back half of a deer that had crossed the road ahead of me about 30 yards from right to left. It had stopped with its head behind a tree and all I could see was body. I drew down on the body with my Ruger M77 Mk. II 30.06 and placed the crosshairs of my Nikon Monarch on the body. I took a slow breath, let half of it out and held it, praying that the deer would show its head. Just as my heart started to pound a bit harder, I saw in the upper left quadrant of my scope branched antlers swing from behind the tree. That's all I needed to see....BANG! Then I heard three thumps as the deer disappeared to my left.

I took a knee and tried to control my breathing while I waited a few minutes for the deer to die. After what I felt was ample time, I approached the spot where I had seen the deer when I shot. I looked on the ground and to my delight it looked like a murder scene. I only had to follow the blood trail for about 25 yards up a well used game trail to locate my bounty. A decent 3x3 with nice tines.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to use something my dad gifted me earlier in the year - a deer sled. These work GREAT! Well, they work great on dirt and grass. Although they work great on gravel too, the gravel will quickly wear holes in it.

Although my body aches from the hikes both up and down that hill, it was nice to be rewarded for the efforts. Thanks to my dad and Boatdog for all the help and sharing yet another hunting hunting season with me...the best hunting partners a guy could ask for.

CrF

jnicholson · 10-27-2007, 10:00 PM

Wohooooooo!

Sea Jypzee · 10-28-2007, 04:31 AM

Nice looking Buck. Congratulations!

Don Becker · 10-28-2007, 04:38 AM

Yes, very nice! Don

Reel Knotty · 10-28-2007, 04:49 AM

Nice buck! Good job. Your freezer will be happy.

OR Coast Range · 10-28-2007, 05:57 AM

You did it the right way - hunt up hill and drag back down. His neck is looking pretty swollen. Nice buck!

bait dunker · 10-28-2007, 08:13 AM

very nice Kerry! im am completely jealous! good job!

StickFish · 10-28-2007, 08:47 AM

Nice blacktail Kerry. Its always nice when a plan works out.

How did that sled fare the walk back to the truck? We used on once and ours didn't do to well in the broken sage and tumbled rocks of the Steens

oregonmuley · 10-28-2007, 08:53 AM

Nice buck - thanks - can't beat hunting in nice weather and getting your deer.

Chromaflage · 10-28-2007, 09:11 AM

Ted,

The sled actually worked great. I pulled the deer downhill about a mile with one hand - over a dirt trail with some vegetation. Much easier than just dragging the deer. The problem, however, was gravel. It didn't take long for the gravel to wear a couple holes in it. It's a nice idea for a product, but it not real durable over rough stuff. It's pretty light to carry on my pack and was easy to assemble. It was a little tricky getting the deer centered so it didn't roll to one side and drag an antler. It was also a little tricky securing the legs so they didn't drag. But once everything was balanced and secured it was cake.

CrF

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickFish

Nice blacktail Kerry. Its always nice when a plan works out.

How did that sled fare the walk back to the truck? We used on once and ours didn't do to well in the broken sage and tumbled rocks of the Steens

scubaseth · 10-28-2007, 09:22 AM

Nice Buck!

He looks to have a nice body on him. mmmmm backstrap......

Scuba

Dave Smith · 10-28-2007, 09:31 AM

That's one of the prettiest, most perfect blacktails I have ever seen. Just a perfect example of the species. I would like to see what a really good taxidermist could do with that. I am going to get one of those sleds- that's the second time I have heard that they work well. Congrats on a great buck!
Dave