Columbia Whitetail 2008 hunt with a bonus Turkey (pics)

[5 for Fighting]

A good friend of mine in Minnesota has a brother that lives on some acreage near Roseburg and invited my Dad and I done for a few days of Deer hunting. My friend and his son came out to join us but spent most of the time working on a long “to-do” list. And his brother is a local Doctor and could care less about Deer hunting so it was pretty much my Dad and I.

They have good numbers of both Whitetail and Blacktail and after a few days of hunting it was very interesting to watch how they were very predictable in the areas the 2 groups stick to. For me this was my first time seeing a Columbia Whitetail and while pulling up to the ranch house Wednesday afternoon there were about 10 does waiting for us at the pond.

I’ve lived in Portland for 8 years but last fall was the first I had of such a deer. A fishing buddy had a great hunt and scored a nice 130 class buck last season after a few hard days of hunting. So I went into the hunt with high expatiations, thinking Boone & Crockett bucks are everywhere. And I would hunt for a few days and then pick which one I was going to take. You can see where this is going… Yeah right!! And it’s been a number of years since I’ve been a big game hunt with my Dad and the last time was a 9 day Elk hunt in Wyoming. 6 hour ride into a very primitive camp, what a trip, I took a huge 6 point 45 mins into the first hunt day and my Dad got is 5 point 6 days later, needless to say we got a great return on our investment! So here is the story…

We leave Portland about 2pm and headed South, getting to the ranch about 5:30pm. Ben (my Minnesota friend) greeted us and we briefly discussed the deer situation. He flew in the night before and spent some time talking with the ranch hand and others that live near and it wasn’t good news. For some reason the Bucks had been much more spooky and elusive then normal and the clear sky’s/ moon only makes it more difficult. He gave us a quick lay of the land and what little details he had heard. The house sits in the middle of the South end with a big ridge to the West sloping down to a creek to the East. All the Blacktails were in the hill to the West and the Whitetails stuck hard to the Oak groves and creek bottoms to the East. We had about an hour of shooting time left in the day and Ben said to just walk into this thick Oak grove about 300 yards below the house, sit down and watch the show. He said you’ll see tons of does but a long shot at seeing any bucks down there. We changed and headed out quickly finding a nice spot where my old man and I have a seat. We chated a little with a number of does all around us, it was pretty cool. With spending years hunting Whitetails in Minnesota we were joking at these Columbia’s small size and I don’t think it was even 30 mins sitting there and I hear in a low but very excited voice “there is a Buck!!”. I turn my head to the left and sure enough, there he is. My Dad was using my glasses so I pull up my rifle and take a look. A 4 point (we call it an 8 in Minnesota), nice buck but not what I thought I was going to shoot. I drop my gun and say “no way but you can take him if you want”. This was my first day and on that Elk hunt with my Dad I was done quickly so this time I wanted to take my time because in the end it’s not what (or if) you kill but the experience. By now my Dad is on his belly sliding down a little to get a better view. He looks up and says “shoot it!” and we go back and forth a little and he reminds me of how they haven’t been seeing any bucks and this is respectable deer. I again say “nope” and keep in mind this Buck is about 75 yards up the hill walking along behind some Oaks then steps into a clear spot. My Dad then comes back with a “shoot the F’in deer, he’s a good buck”. I shoulder my gun and let him have it, boom, Buck down, dropped him in his tracks. I bought a new deer rifle this spring, Sako 85 in .270WSM and that 140 gr Nosler it pushed out made its mark but with the Buck slightly quartering away from me the bullet’s exit was right on his left shoulder joint and pretty much took his arm off. There was my Buck, we checked it out, walked to the house to grab some gear and dressed him out. He was hanging and skinned by 7:30pm, dinner and cocktails followed and continued for a few hours.

The next few days were slow, I caught a flash of another WT Buck in a creek bed and we watched a small BT for a while. Tons of Doe’s everywhere but we came to the realization that the bucks were holding tight to some thick areas and the only way was to get in there and sit. In true Midwest fashion we even put in some tree stand time. With the right scouting and enough time you can find the bucks but we didn’t have the opportunity this year. I’m already planning on next year but it won’t be a rifle hunt, we’re hunting the rut in the 2nd half of November with a string and sticks.

With a few days on the land we were able to pattern this big group of Turkeys and we both bought Fall Turkey tags so what the heck, let’s give it a try. We found a group of 5 Toms/ Jakes and set up for an ambush. These were both first Turkey’s for my Dad and I, I had thought I would get my first on the call and have him running but in the end it was great for us to take 2 side by side.

I was very impressed with the overall set up. Ben’s brother has lived there for 4 years and has spared no expense with the accommodations and his fence system. Not the one that boarders his property but all around the creek beds and water. He leases most of the lower end to a cattle rancher and there is no chance any Cow can get within 10 yards of flowing water. And the Deer couldn’t be more please, they were everywhere in there and its provides great cover. You have to respect his commitment to the environment.

Here are some pics. I can’t wait to do it again.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Nice work young man. Congrats on the effort and nice shot of you and your dad. Good times.

[Dave Smith]

That's a shooter for sure- love whitetails!! Pretty 8 point- are you going to get him mounted? I would!! Man, I thought the Columbia whitetail tags were super hard to draw?? Nice work and cool to see you and your dad hunting together!!
Dave
PS: Five for Fighting?? You must be a hockey fan??! Go DALLAS!!!!!

[Teton]

Good work Chadwick!!

Thanks for the heads up on this post. I've had my head buried in work and a trespasser thread over yonder, otherwise, I'd have missed it.

Anyway, you will find that Whitetail tasty fare. The little herd on our ranch lost a member every year or so, and was our favorite (besides wapiti). Much better than a muley. Butterballs we called them.

Glad to hear your Sako shoots straight. How are your shotgunning skillz? We'll have to test those soon brutha. C&E might have to come along too.

[5 for Fighting]

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

That's a shooter for sure- love whitetails!! Pretty 8 point- are you going to get him mounted? I would!! Man, I thought the Columbia whitetail tags were super hard to draw?? Nice work and cool to see you and your dad hunting together!!
Dave
PS: Five for Fighting?? You must be a hockey fan??! Go DALLAS!!!!!

As far as him being mounted, no. When I was skinning him the idea did cross my mind but at the time I was still convinced he was small. And this is only the second year anyone had hunted this land so those guys had no idea on what is a big deer for the area. No of course I wish I had a good cape and I would have him done. There is always next year…

I got a chance to talk with a gal that owns 800 acres to the South, she said he is a good Buck there based on some of the sheds she had there are some monsters around there. That’s the main reason for hunting the rut next season, only real shot of getting those big boys out.

The draw is very hard, I think I saw that they only give out 10 tags to the public. I was hunting on a LOP and as long as I don’t do something stupid I will be for years to come.

And you guessed right Dave, I enjoy hockey. I follow NHL players more than teams but I like Modano so I know what the Stars are up to. But with my Minnesota roots I’m still not over Norm Green pulling them out of the heart of hockey land. I watch pretty much every game the Minnesota Gophers play, I really enjoy the NCAA style over NHL and Jrs.

[5 for Fighting]

Originally Posted by Teton

Good work Chadwick!!

Thanks for the heads up on this post. I've had my head buried in work and a trespasser thread over yonder, otherwise, I'd have missed it.

Anyway, you will find that Whitetail tasty fare. The little herd on our ranch lost a member every year or so, and was our favorite (besides wapiti). Much better than a muley. Butterballs we called them.

Glad to hear your Sako shoots straight. How are your shotgunning skillz? We'll have to test those soon brutha. C&E might have to come along too.

Thanks Dave and I’ve heard they are tasty. We’ll know soon enough when I get him back next week!

The Sako was just as I expected, very pleased. Now if I can get some hunts to shoot the others I bought.

And you’ll get to see me deal with some decoying birds very soon I’m sure. Just leave Bernie at home, 1 of you Pepsi drinkers is plenty, not sure Beer Waggin and I can handle 2 at the same time…

[Ni!]

That's a nice buck for a columbia whitetail. Is there a season for them during the rut? I'm not seeing one in the regs.

[5 for Fighting]

Originally Posted by Ni!

That's a nice buck for a columbia whitetail. Is there a season for them during the rut? I'm not seeing one in the regs.

There is a bow season, this year it is Nov 15th to Dec 7th. Keep in mind I found that there are only 10 tags for draw and less than 100 LOP per year.

[Beer Waggin]

Originally Posted by Ni!

That's a nice buck for a columbia whitetail. Is there a season for them during the rut? I'm not seeing one in the regs.

Page 61 of the regs shows the units that have late bow seasons.

Can't wait to start flinging arrows at these things in 09!

[Beer Waggin]

Originally Posted by 5 for Fighting

And you’ll get to see me deal with some decoying birds very soon I’m sure. Just leave Bernie at home, 1 of you Pepsi drinkers is plenty, not sure Beer Waggin and I can handle 2 at the same time…

The Duck Waggin isn't moving from it's comfy summer home until after Thanksgiving...

[fishlipper]

Looks an awful lot like a ranch a grew up hunting just east of Roseburg off of Buckhorn road. I was denied access about 8 years ago when the rancher leased it off to a hunting guide out of Canby. That has been a sore spot for the last 8 years. There was a dandy Whitetail that used the ranch often. It was a non-typical 9X11. The thing was crazy with all the points coming off of it. We would see him in the summers and he almost looked labored at holding his head up. Most of those ranches out that way also had some geat Black tail bucks. I really had to change my tactics when I starte hunting public land. On a daily basis I would have to pick through bucks to get a good one. I miss those days.

[Gun Rod Bow]

Nice buck Chad.

Great trip with you and your dad.

Looking forward to our goose hunt.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Congrats on a great buck.

[5 for Fighting]

Originally Posted by Beer Waggin

Page 61 of the regs shows the units that have late bow seasons.

Can't wait to start flinging arrows at these things in 09!

BW with a bow in his hand sitting up in a portable tree stand is going to be hilarious. The look on his face was priceless when I told him we won’t be hunting with our matching Sako’s next season and that he needed to drop a dozen C-notes or so on a bow set up. It will interesting to say the least.

Originally Posted by Gun Rod Bow

Nice buck Chad.

Great trip with you and your dad.

Looking forward to our goose hunt.

Thanks Bruce. Dave and I are excited to get the old guys out in the field, I can already here the excuses from my Dad…

[Ni!]

Originally Posted by 5 for Fighting

There is a bow season, this year it is Nov 15th to Dec 7th. Keep in mind I found that there are only 10 tags for draw and less than 100 LOP per year.

Originally Posted by Beer Waggin

Page 61 of the regs shows the units that have late bow seasons.

Can't wait to start flinging arrows at these things in 09!

Those are for the general bow season. I don't see anything for the columbia whitetails. I'm not trying to rag on you. I would probably hunt it too if it's available, but I'm not seeing it.

[Teton]

Originally Posted by 5 for Fighting

Thanks Dave and I’ve heard they are tasty. We’ll know soon enough when I get him back next week!

The Sako was just as I expected, very pleased. Now if I can get some hunts to shoot the others I bought.

And you’ll get to see me deal with some decoying birds very soon I’m sure. Just leave Bernie at home, 1 of you Pepsi drinkers is plenty, not sure Beer Waggin and I can handle 2 at the same time…

Somebody has to get you home in one piece!!

Beer Waggin can handle enough for the both of us anyway. We'll have to take my sled if we go before Thanksgiving, which is likely the case. No worries, it floats just fine.

[Bait O' Eggs]

nice buck

[5 Salt]

Good story Brother.

[shinook65]

Congratulations~! PM sent about cape..

[Tvfowlhunter]

Nice hunting trip.

[Crayfin]

Excellent work my brother!!!