Another deer hunting season has come and gone and not like planned that is for sure.

It was hopefully going to be a combo deer and elk hunt but I didn’t get the elk tag I had planned on so I was stuck being the only guy in camp with a deer tag and not hunting elk. I told myself I’d only shoot a big deer as I didn’t really need the meat, until it got to the end of third season which was 10 days long and covered two weekends.

It was really hot on Friday last week before opening day and I got up to the camping site early to set up my GP small tent. Was able to get it up by myself which I had never tried before but wasn’t too hard and got seven cots put together by the time Snellstrom showed up to help me. Snell was elk hunting along with his son and brother, Graybird was along as well and his Father was coming up on Thursday both had elk tags as well. Trick was supposed to join us as well but his wife had to have her appendix out right before season so he didn’t get to come out to fill his elk tag.

I didn’t get to hunt opening day either as my wife was flying in from AZ. So as soon as camp was set up it was back down the hill pick up the kid from daycare and wait on a plane to arrive around 2 p.m. opening day. If the daughter’s leg wasn’t in a cast I would have drug her along for the first morning of hunting and went back down to pick up the wife.

I got back to camp Saturday night and settled in so I could hunt Sunday morning. Where we were hunting is some really rugged and steep country in the old Hayman burn area. I tried to get some pictures of the country to show it but they just don’t do the place any justice. These pictures were all taken on the walk out from my first morning hunt.





There were a lot of deer around and a few big bucks but they were out of camera range, as well as stalking range. Or my skills just weren’t there to close the gap on them before they slipped away. I did get a few pictures of a doe that wanted to follow me and try to figure out what I was on my first evening hunt.






Anyway I had to skip the next day of hunting as I had to come back down the hill to wait on a repair man to show up to do some work on the house. I wasn’t the only one however as Graybird, Snellstrom, and Snell’s son all had to come back down as well for work and school. I figured no big deal as I’d only missed two days of a ten day season.

The next morning I was up and at it again. Found several does and a few non-shooter bucks, and again I couldn’t put the sneak on some big boys that were way off. I was hoping the weather would change and bring the bigger bucks to me as we were expecting snow that night.

Even though I wasn’t hunting on a landowner tag like some of the party, I was the only one available on Tuesday to hook up with the landowner and get the lay of the land. On my way over to his place I took the pictures of what would be the highlight of my hunting trip. A nice Bighorn Ram and his harem of ewes were crossing the road. Times like these makes me wish I’d steal the wife’s Nikon D40, as my pack camera just can’t cut it.






Anyway I’d got to the landowner's place a little late to hook up with him but I did do a little scouting of the property and he has some nice river bottom land where I’d imagine deer and elk like to feed. Plus his property backs up to the National Forrest and there were a couple of pretty good bowls up there that I’d imagine hide deer and elk quite nicely. I even tried to get a pic of the first snow flurry of the day as it came in from the West.




I did an evening hunt in a different area hoping to find some good deer. Found a ton of ATV tracks, no fresh deer or elk sign. Wasn’t a total wash as I had a nice hike, and found a three point shed to bring home to the daughter.

So we got snow last night as promised, sort of. It never amounted to much except a lot of wind and flurry or two. The snow was really dry so it didn’t even stop the leaves and grass from crunching as you walked. Worst thing of all my old Super Duty wouldn’t start! Couldn’t figure out for the life of me why it wouldn’t start, it has new batteries but it was acting like they were dead. Well that put a nix on my idea for where I wanted to hunt as without the truck it just wasn’t possible to get there and set up in time for a pre dawn sneak into the hunting area. Plus with my truck busted and everyone else hunting elk I’d just be a burden to them. So I decided I’d shoot the first legal buck I saw and end my hunt early.

Well after walking about a half mile out of camp I came across a few does so I sat down and watched them. One doe kept looking back as she was working down the adjacent spur from where I was sitting. I was hoping she was looking back at a big buck. About that time there were four real close gunshots and the does took off.

I stayed and watched the area still hoping more deer would move through. Well it didn’t take long and a little fork horn moved into the clearing. I was able to put one shot from my .25-06 into the rib cage which dropped him where he stood. I was a little high but still below the spine. Upon the autopsy the 120 grain Sierra GK had entered fragmented took out the lungs and the spine, and didn’t exit.




My little fork horn wound up being a three point, and I got to thinking he was my first public land buck ever. I’ve been kind of spoiled as I’ve always hunted deer on dad’s property on the plains. But with needing a minimum of 4 preference points to draw now for either land owner or general draw I have to hunt elsewhere if I want to deer hunt.

Snell’s brother and I were able to get my truck started shortly before noon so I came down the hill again and my truck now sits in the repair shop. This might turn out to be an expensive deer season. I’ll head back up as soon as my trucks out of the shop to help the boys look for elk if I can.

You know we'll be calling on you in a couple of days to help pull some elk out of the hell whole I'm likely to go into. I'll even come down and the hill and get ya!

Nice shot on the buck. I'm surprised you didn't go after th unicorn buck.

One more night in a warm bed, as we're headed back up the hill bright and early in the morning.

Hope you get the ole Ford up and running again without too much money.

Later we'll keep you posted!

Enjoyed your detailed account!

Thank you.

Good to see you remain in good spirits with all those things working against you. Beautiful country, but I'm glad you all have the snow and not me.

Best of luck on the Dragging.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
Good to see you remain in good spirits with all those things working against you. Beautiful country, but I'm glad you all have the snow and not me.

Best of luck on the Dragging.

I love to hunt in the snow it just makes things so much easier in open country. If you got any send it my way, my buddies could use it!

Congrats on your hunt. Beautiful looking countryside.

I remember seeing some huge bighorn sheep the last time I was up deer/elk hunting in Montana. It's amazing how easy they are to find when you don't have a tag in your pocket.

Every time I'm up in that area or see pictures, still tugs at the heart a bit. Lousy good for nothing b*tch ranger! My beloved Cheesman was closed this year because of Hayman repairs.

But, great report! I have always wanted to hunt deer in that area. Were you guys in 501/511? My cousins cousin-in-law shot a 199 3/4" mulie 2 years ago in that area 30" spread on the dot dried. Some big bucks!

Is part of that area an old wildfire area or pine bark beetles?