I started planning a trip to the Cascades this summer with my buddy Ashland from Seal Rock. We are both avid bowhunters with many kills so we both were looking for a challenge.I told him about an area that I had scouted in the previous two seasons but hadn't hunted, it looked very promising with lots of rubs ,doe sightings, and behind a locked gate. The summer kept us both very busy with lots of work and fishing. He works as a golf course manager and I worked for ODFW as a Port Sampler out of Newport.
Finally we get the trip together and we are on the road to the valley. Snow was forecasted but, that did nothing but increase our level of anticipation. We only had two days to hunt before I had to be back in school so time was scarce. We both kept positive attitudes and planned to hunt hard.
We arrived at the gate just as dawn was breaking,it had snowed 10" over the last two days. The cold was biting as we loaded our gear and treestands for a pack up the mountain. The road was covered with snow and fresh deer tracks all over it. The deer were really moving that day, the second rut was peaking. We didn't make it halfway up the road before I spotted a doe. She spooked and trotted up the road. We kept up the road with treestands on our backs. The plan was to find where the deer were crossing and then set up are stands. I wanted Ashland to get a buck so I gave him the trail that had more sign, and I set mine up on a ridge 150 yards away over looking some old growth. With the stands set up we left the area to scout for some elk and planned on coming back after lunch. We went back down the mountain drove around looking for more likely areas to hunt in case this one didn't work. On the drive we spotted a spike in the road but that was it.
Lunch was over and it was time hike back up the mountian to get into our stands. The snow was still coming down hard and now the wind was begining to blow. It was an outright snow storm. The hike back up the hill was fast and I was wishing Ashland good luck as he climbed into his treestand. I headed to mine that was only a few hundred yards away. The rest of the story is amazing and I still wonder about the timing.
I attached my bow to the rope i had hanging already and proceeded to climb the tree. I got into my stand and begin to steady myself, Ilooked up and infront of me into the timber and god bless it a buck was standing 35 yrds away sniffing towards me. My bow was still on the ground, so I waited until the buck stepped behind a tree and pulled up as fast as I could. By this time the buck is at twenty yards and in front of me. So I try to be as calm as I can and get the bow unhooked from its rope and get an arrow knocked. I some how did it, I remeber thinking which way does the flech go down , or up. A little fever, but I really didn't have time for it. So I payed attention to him and his movements and started to wait for a shot. I came to full draw and centered my twenty yard pin in the peep and waited. The buck took one more step and turned broadside and shot. I saw the hit was good and watched the buck run 50 yards and pile up. I couldn't belive how it had all happened. I ran to Ashlands stand and told him whathad happened at first he couldn't belive me because I was only gone 5 min or so.
What a trip, I will be telling this story for the rest of my life. Sorry the picture is so blurry , moisture and digital cameras don't mix to well. This is a Santiam Unit buck.
Snowy Buck
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