Ambush - Nov-05 Mobile live hunt from BC
Mule Deer
7:27 AM LIVE from BC*
Ok, it started about two hours ago because I forgot to change my alarm clock and got to sit an extra hour in the wet pitch black. But it’s in a very comfy blind, so no hardship.
Here’s the terms of engagement. This hunt will be more like a whitetail hunt, being in a blind, on a small, now obliterated food plot. I’m situated along a creek ravine that rises up high and steep to my south and where several trails converge and some of them “cloverleaf” onto each other. If it gets cold or much snow, I start feeding the deer. Bears make it impractical before that.
I will name bucks to make it easier to follow.
I don’t have a “Hit List” but I am focused on at least one buck right now. His name is Jack, after Jack Nicholson who is old and looks a bit crazy.
If any of this offends you, just walk on by. This is for those that get some entertainment from other’s exploits. I do and we’ve read some super great hunting adventures this year!! Thanks to those that took the time!
I’d like to say “..buckle up, it’s going to be wild’. But you’re more than likely going to have to get up to pee before this is done. Think more like a CT Live Hunt that drags on for weeks.
look forward to this one annually. best luck
Bring it on Rod!
Just hope Jack doesn’t bust in the door of your blind, stick his head in and say “Here’s Johnny!”
Or if he does, at least get good pics!
Rod, Hope Jack gets added to your wall along with your other dandies!!! Kurt
Boot pic and hopefully I see a squirrel soon so we can get this show on the road.
I walked past four flat tops on the way in and a doe and fawn sauntered past the blind at 8:00. Hit a super strong rutty buck smell on the walk in too.
The little bucks at sniffing and pestering the does the past week. Jack has cruised through twice, plus an very thick, stubby 4X4. A 150” class, clean 4X4 visits regularly too. And some buddies have seen a giant not far away from me.
Hopefully a Wild Card shows up to save Jack’s life!
Oops forgot the boot pic and for some reason I can’t Edit to add a pic
Probably just blew all the deer out of the area!
Just to get a pic of your boots!!!!!?????
Hell, maybe it’ll bring you some luck;-)
Tavis, I’ve done dumber things!! I used to just pee out the window of my blind, but once while tucking everything back in, I looked and there was a buck about fifteen yards out looking at the proceedings. Problem now is I either have to get a smaller thermos or a bigger pee jug.
Sounds more like John Daily maybe Jack is not fat?
Doe just left and I can see a small 4X4 working my way.
Edit: He did his scent check from eighty yards out and turned back. A big fork skirted around just now too. Typical buck behaviour right now. Just taking inventory.
Oh never mind Jack Nicholson I was thinking Jack Nicklaus the golfer. Jack Nicholson crazy makes more since than Jack Nicklaus crazy.
This is awesome, one of my favorite hunts to follow every year. Good luck Rod!
Good luck Ambush, one of my favourite threads of the year!
Rod - I have a buddy that hunts out of tall blinds. For peeing, he rigged up a funnel with a hose attached that goes all way down to the ground.
Thanks guys!
Cnelk, I’m only about six feet off the ground. Now I’m just like the little boy crossing the street. Look both ways then dump the jug out the window.
scoot, even with real does here the bucks scent check from a distance the wind is nearly always out of the east. They pop out of the bush about fifty yards west of my blind and sniff. No estrous in the air, back they go. The two bucks this morning used the west wind to check from farther down the plot. Even with a live doe standing in front of me they didn’t come by.
Just had a young 4X4 sneak up on me. He spent his time sniffing around where the last doe pee’d then followed her trail out.
Scoot, that probably would work on a dominate buck at the height of the rut. Fortunately for me, if there’s a hot doe, there will be real buck decoys with her. And they’re just not as aggressive as whitetail.
This little guy is trailing.
This little guy is trailing.
Called it quits at noon due to other commitments. Tomorrow is out too, but will be back at it Thursday. This a is a good time to catch a cruiser checking the inventory. Just gotta be there and be ready 'cause they don't hang around.
Count for the morning was seven does, a 4X4, a 3X3, a fork, few squirrels and a pine marten. And just for clarification, we don't count brow tines on mule deer.
any prior trail cam pics of your target bucks?
My most reliable cams are four very cheap Stealthcams. Can't set the date or time, but batteries last for several thousand pics. See if I can find a couple of decent pics.
This guy is still around but is on reserve for a good friend and hunting partner
This guy is still around but is on reserve for a good friend and hunting partner
This is Jack. Never was much of a deer and has regressed with age. My preferred target.
This is Jack. Never was much of a deer and has regressed with age. My preferred target.
Jack sniffing does in front of my blind.
Jack sniffing does in front of my blind.
curious how old you think jack is? very unique deer...
I'm guessing about six or seven, maybe more. Old for this country. He's been mostly a 3X4 or 4X4 with little bits of trash for the previous three years. He's now essentially a four on the drivers side and a three on the other with a split on the G2 and G3, plus an in-line. Big brows to, for a muley here. Twelve scorables.
....but there is a rumoured 190” plus typical wandering around nearby too.... hmmm, shoot or wait??
Hopefully, nurse Ratchet shows up feeling a little frisky, and draws in Jack’s alter ego RP McMurphy to the cuckoo’s nest!
Looking forward to following along, Rod! Got names picked out for the other cast of characters yet?
Usually no names, unless I have to keep them apart in print. You better hurry up and get a name to put on your home buck’s tombstone before the Kodiak Attack!
Ok, back in the saddle, err, actually the rolling swivel office chair. Just below freezing with a high cloud cover. The ground was covered with diamonds on the walk in and it promises to be a great day watching the woods and it’s creatures go about their business. Good luck to all out today. I still have a bit of time before shooting light.
Crazy!! Heard a racket off to my side, looked out and there’s a pretty good buck breeding a doe with a fork prancing around! She squirts out from under him and sprints for the bush with both bucks in tow. Then another young 4X4 blasts past my blind at ten feet!
By the time I grabbed the camera it was all over. Not even sure if the breeder buck was a shooter!? Hopefully she circles back on one of the cloverleaf trails. Her fawn is still here.
Don’t worry about pictures! Grab your bow!
Only Paul@thefort can make a shot and grab his camera :)
Yes, Paul would have the before and after pics and not even break a sweat.
The buck was humping her right in front of a cam, so tonight I’ll check those pics to see if I was a dumb ass!
Hopefully other bucks pick up her trail and cruise by
Jack is very cool! I love the weird ones, have passed up big clean typicals to shoot smaller goofy nontypicals. Unfortunately, seems like all the mature bucks where I'm hunting are big typicals, but new bucks are showing up every day.
Good luck! Enjoying the thread from my prairie muley camp!
Lou, good luck to you too. Tag a good one, even if it has to be one of those beautiful wide prairie typical’s. Keep us posted!
Hopefully, they put their cigarettes out when they finished, Rod. I’d hate to see a forest fire cut your hunt short!
Keep it coming!
Haha, me too Troy. But it was so wet today, there was no danger. And the cheap trail cam didn’t pick up the Fast and Furious Fornicators either, so I’ll never know for sure.
The day ended with no more bucks. And of course the cam pics from yesterday showed Jack there twice during the day when I wasn’t.
Tomorrow is supposed to be crap weather again, but might as well be there!
Git yer ass out there and kill something!
Jack at play. Yesterday. While I was away.
No,no,no Ambush as a fellow BC,er youve got to milk this out. What else will I have to look forward too??
Ken, I milked it out so good last year, that I didn’t cut a tag!! So hopefully a little less milking and a bit more shooting.
It started raining yesterday at about noon and hasn’t quit yet and probably won’t quit today. But there was four flat tops milling around on my walk in and there should still be some activity. Going to be a slow wake up for the day with the cloud, rain and mist, so I probably have a good half hour yet before I can see much.
There is a bigger 3X3 that is obviously Boss of the Little Bucks that are doing the chasing. Tall G2’s, crab clawed and some palmation. He’s of a fairly prevalent gene here and he will eventually turn into a big bodied, main frame three with stickers and splits on top.
But, when the final dance is called the men will walk onto the floor and the boys will tuck tail for the sidelines to watch and wish!
Several deer wandered through about 8:00. No bucks tailing. A lone fawn came through just now looking a bit lost and when I start seeing that it’s usually a sign the mother’s are being harassed or corralled. I think it’s about a week early for estrous, but the mood is definitely in the air.
I can look out and see the spruce tree that I sat in for the first dozen years I hunted this spot. The steady rain makes me happy I built a blind. I tried pop ups, but the bears demolished them every time.
Well that's it, another no-buck day. The weather is brutal for this time of year. It rained again all day, is going to rain all night and possibly turn to snow in the morning. Normally we should have ten inches of snow and be below freezing even during the day. On the walk out there was a hare, all white but his feet, looking wet, miserable and out of place against the soggy brown. I knew how he felt. The ground is covered with water and unfortunately it's going to freeze hard before it dries up, which is bad for any creature that has to eat off the ground, like grouse.
Oh well, back at it in the morning and hope for the one magic minute that makes it all worth it!!
Missed the start of this. One of my favorites to follow! Good luck, Rod. I remember last year was a warm season for you. We are WAY cold for the midwest this time of year but sounds like it's a little warmish up there again?
Yes Nick, the weather has been off since spring. Cold and wet when it should be warm and dry. Now wet and warmer than it should be. Probably the wettest summer/fall combo I can remember in thirty nine years in this area. Mountain hunters got caught in two feet of surprise snow in August. Lots of helicopter extractions. Guys farther north had some of the heaviest hay crops older farmers can remember, but couldn't lay it down for fear of rain, then couldn't pick it up because of rain. Lots of silage made this fall.
We are supposed to get a two day cold snap, then back up again. But the does will come into estrus and the bucks will breed them, same time as every other year.
This is the 3X3 that is doing the fluffing.
This is the 3X3 that is doing the fluffing.
For some reason lately whenever I try to Edit to Add a Photo, on my phone or laptop, I get an error message?
How much does one of those big mulie bucks weigh on average after they’re gutted?
Not a clue Troy. That 3X3 in the pic is probably a 2 1/2 year old maybe even 3 1/2, just poor antler genetics. They’re a little shorter in the body than big whitetail and the thick coats make them look heavier than the are. I shot one a couple years ago that two of us couldn’t get up on the tail gate, gutted. But I don’t think a big northern muley would be any heavier that a big northern whitetail.
"...3x3 that is doing the fluffing."
Lol! I'm using that!
Raise your hand if you know what a “fluffer” is. I see people checking urban dictionary right now. :) Good luck Ambush!!! Love this hunt!
I do, Greg. On a similar note, my buddy has a stand location on his farm called the “Money Shot” stand, that I named for him!
We always have a doe shoot on his farm, the last weekend of the season. $20 in the kitty, and heaviest doe wins. The first year, I was the last guy to get to pick stands, so I picked this spot (before it had a name) I won the pot out of this stand 3 years in a row, before I got banished from it by all the sore losers!
Sorry, Rod, but HE asked! Good luck today!
Thanks guys! I am counting on the Blind Squirrel factor!
It quit raining sometime during the night and though not dry the ground is not actually squirting with each step. Temps will drop throughout the day and be in the high teens by tomorrow morning. Hopefully my hunting partner can sit here tomorrow and finally tag a P&Y muley. He’s a heck of an accomplished bow hunter (as in three each DIY Stone sheep and grizzlies and many others) but a 145” net mule deer keeps evading him. Tomorrow should be the perfect day!
I got in extra early today for no good reason. Nothing to do now but wait n the dark and see what the rest of the bowsiter’s are up to.
One deer came through in the dark, assuming a doe, all I could see was a white butt and leg stripes. Doe and fawn just meandered past.
Today just seems so pleasant after the last two soggy wash outs.
Well crap, I just pulled a “Pat”! Missed a chance at a coyote switching out arrows.
That sucks Scoot. Hopefully you get out again under better circumstances.
Nothing all day after early this morning. With 1 1/2 hours left, five smoothies show up then five minutes later a fork and small 4X4 come for some wishful sniffing. Hoping something serious shows up pretty quick !
Try peeing out the blind!
Or better yet, hang those boot cover scents out for luck;-)
I gotta try something pretty quick!! Maybe pee in my boot and throw it out?!?
The does have moved off and both bucks decided to bed down right here and wait for them to change their fickle female minds.
^^ No , I have until November 30. And I’ll do ten hour days for most of them. Life of a senior :)
Well the day ended up with me having to run the two little twerps off. The does had come from the west and a few minutes later the two little bucks came from the east. It was like they were the nerds from high school that had staked out the mall entrance so they could "accidently" bump into the girl they longed for.
"Like hey Doeris, what are you doing here? Wanna maybe grab some browse together and maybe like do some rut action?"
" Like, hey fawn boy, go hang out in the any buck zone and get shot!"
Look girls, it's those two little losers coming.
Look girls, it's those two little losers coming.
Let's pretend we're fighting, that excites them!
Let's pretend we're fighting, that excites them!
I can have deer fifteen feet from my blind staring right at me it seems, yet they don't see me. Whereas those grouse can be thirty yards away on the bushline and they pick me off just lifting the camera up. So much for "Bird brains"!
Great stuff, Rod! We're pulling for ya! I had a big one bed down 60 yards from me in the grass this morning while I hid in a little log pile. He went to sleep watching two bedded does further out in the grass. But a little goofy forky bedded between me and him, so no stalk and I was pinned until the does finally got up and led him up into the hills...
You'll get'im Lou! Are they getting seriously rutty there yet? Or still just following and hoping? I've seen a few lone fawns and no big bucks moving the last few days, might be the mule deer version of "lock down" going on here.
Following and rooting for ya Rod! Love this hunt....
Lou- I miss the days before Bowhunter Mag pulled you to the dark side.....your plains hunts recaps here were epic! Post!! We won't tell.......
Yup...looking forward to more! Keep it coming. Kevin
"Think, Barney, think. Why doesn't this thing work??
"Think, Barney, think. Why doesn't this thing work??
"Hmmm, the thingmee flogger seems to be broken"
"Hmmm, the thingmee flogger seems to be broken"
“Sorry Rod, but I’ll have to order up these parts”.
“Sorry Rod, but I’ll have to order up these parts”.
Ok. This morning is crystal clear and 9F with a skiff of fresh powder snow. The perfect hunting day. And, you guessed it, I'm not there! Family day today and I'll be doing ten hour days every day this week so nothing else gets done. Go for walk with my wife and spend some time with my three local grandsons. And I believe the big boys have got some does locked down and will be running hard looking for another one soon. Then it can get crazy! You just have to be there for that one minute when they cruise through.
Last night after dark, I packed a bag of feed back up the hill, put some on the ground and dumped the rest in the new feeder I made up this summer. BIG mistake! I carelessly thought the nuisance bears were gone to bed. I hadn't checked cam pics because it doesn't really matter anyway, I'm sitting whatever is or isn't on the cams. Well I pulled the card on the feeder cam, checked when I got home and sh!t, there's that fat little vandal there the night before!! Hopefully the deer will eat the stuff on the ground before he shows up again. The big bear hasn't been around, so that's good anyway.
Back at the Shack. High cloud cover and 19F, almost no breeze. Overcast for the day and light snow starting early afternoon. Daylight will creep in slowly this morning. Hopefully a big buck gets the urge to wander today and follows the tracks and trails past my blind! Saw tracks on the way in I that I couldn’t readily identify. No tail drag, so hoping it’s not a cougar.
Good luck to all the hunters out there today!!
A big fork just cruised through, obviously on the hunt.
At 11:00 a lone foe came in and fifteen minutes later a large lone fawn. The fawn has the misfortune of an early life estrus, peeing on her hocks while rubbing them together. Another doe, fawn pair came in and everybody was beating on the lone fawn. Finally the young 4X4 showed up and ran the whole works off with his amorous attentions.
Nothing to do now but watch the squirrels and magpies fight.
I’m hoping!!
I started my winter feeding program Saturday night and the extra activity and change can put the mature bucks off for a bit. But I have to start so the fawns and soon to be pregnant does can put as much reserves on as possible. No telling what kind of winter or maybe a very late spring we may have. I have the first layer of bedding hay out and a feeder dropping small amounts six times per day. That way everybody gets a little. After I assess the bear situation, I can drop food at night too. The hay bedding is huge, especially for the fawns. Thermo protection saves the deer a ton of energy.
I’ll be gone for three weeks in January, so the new, bigger feeder will keep them going till I get back. Post rut bucks get a good chance to rebound from about the middle of December when they show up, into January. That’s also when I get to see on cam who survived over last winter and into this season.
With the little bit of fresh snow, I can see deer movement better up on the steep hillside to my south. There is a doe peeing on her hocks and a small buck on about a five foot rope behind her.
Soon, soon!! Few more days and it should get crazy!
There’s now two does and two small bucks chasing around on the side hill.
Make that three small bucks! And a buck fight right in front of the blind!
Why the heck can I not add pics to an existing post?!?! Error message every time!
The young ones are certainly thinking about it! Maybe all their playing around will wake up the grown ups...
Yes Tavis, these are the Fluffers. Just had a runt yearling go by pressing a young doe hard. He only grew one antler and that was broke off at three inches.
And done for another day. Hoping tomorrow brings a Wild Card!!
There's an owl in this pic. And they are so quiet in flight.
There's an owl in this pic. And they are so quiet in flight.
Sucks when you only grow one, then you break it off too!
Sucks when you only grow one, then you break it off too!
Plans on being huge some day. Practicing his Droopy Ears.
Plans on being huge some day. Practicing his Droopy Ears.
It’s a new day! Just above freezing and a risk of rain and snow throughout the day. The ground is covered with a semi frozen slush, that hopefully melts before it freezes hard. Hard on little creatures and hard for the deer and moose to feed on the steep side hills that have a lot of the browse.
See what the day brings!
Off to a good start!! I could hear something walking in the frozen leaves but too dark to see anything. Finally I could just make out two bucks circling and trading places. The one I think is a thick stubby 4X4 that was around weeks ago, but he faded into the bush before I could get a positive ID. He is maybe a shooter. The other buck hung around a bit longer and just walked past a snow patch, and he is the tuff guy fork from yesterday. Shoe was on the other foot this morning!
Two bucks before practical shooting light already!!
This is a lot of fun to watch/read everyday. Thanks for sharing...and good luck on your hunt. Kevin
The noon news update. Two lone fawns came from different directions and hung out for awhile. Somebody gave them a dollar and said “go play, your mom and I have to talk”. Later a doe with twins came through. About 12:00 a doe came in with the big fork from this morning tailing close. She made a mad forty yard dash to lose him and he seemed take the hint. But he perked up and went up the hill and is now promising true love to another doe. Three more does came down off the hill and are in the creek bottom somewhere below me. Also had a grouse in full strut trying to drum up some interest in starting up some fun. Love Is in the air!!
Hey Rod. Is the bear that is doing the electronics troubleshooting on your feeder, any relation to “Mr-Fatass-Blindwrecker” from last year’s thread, by chance??
Haha, no Troy, but could easily be a relative. And looks like he's gone to bed, hasn't been around for four days.
Lots of activity today but no big guys. I pulled a cam card and sure enough the bigger buck that was there in the dark this morning was Jack! He should have hung around another fifteen or twenty minutes. There is also a pretty good heavy 4X4 that's been cruising through at night. The does were all acting very bitchy today, so it must be getting close and that means cruising bucks!! Maybe tomorrow is the day!
This is Kink, for his crooked G2
This is Kink, for his crooked G2
Wee4 for obvious reasons
Wee4 for obvious reasons
Crab3. I believe he is 3 1/2 while the other three amigos are 2 1/2.
Crab3. I believe he is 3 1/2 while the other three amigos are 2 1/2.
Big2
Big2
Ok, what a fun first hour!!
So my food plot is about 150 yards long and any where from five to twenty five yards wide. Think of a short thick snake with a big round head that parallels the creek bottom. Several trails come unto it from all directions and it’s a travel corridor. This morning I had A doe with twins and a single doe feeding and of course Kink was harassing them. He’s convinced if they could just look past his rack and see the inner buck, they’d come to love him. He’s following a doe back toward on of the cloverleaf trails, giving her the line, and they disappear. Two minutes later he comes stiff legging back past the blind with a bigger fork pushing him. They’ve had this conversation before because there’s no back talk going on.
Once that’s settled the Big2 goes looking to the nearest doe to be rewarded for his manliness (or buckliness). All of a sudden a big crab clawed 3X3 comes, puffed up and wheezing, from one of the trails and convincingly knocks him off is throne. Still the ladies are unimpressed and avoid the advances. By now Kink has bedded thirty yards to my east at a fork intersection, probably hoping for an interception. Crab3 is enjoying being the big guy on campus. Big2 can’t stand to see Kink so comfy and goes over and pushes him into bush-line. Meanwhile Wee4 shows up, just wanting everybody to get along and share the wealth.
Big2 is done with playing second fiddle and wanders off.
Crab3 hears something up the hill and eagerly takes off.
Kink, who’s been sulking on the edge decides to regain some of his lost dignity and charged out to put Wee4 in his place. Wee4 has had enough of this selfish shit show and stomps off too.
After a few minutes even Kink gets bored with his own company and slowly fades into the scenery.
Now I’m by myself reading “The Lana Embry Adventures” again.
Big2
Big2
This guy walked up the creek ravine while I was sitting in my blind. I can’t see in there, but it’s one of the trails they scent check from. He had been around at night a few times this week. I figure he has enough mass to push him to 160”. Right now I’d still rather shoot the runt Jack. Have to see him in person to be sure.
I have to say, Ambush, you have some of the goofiest looking mule deer I've ever seen.
Your hunt is going about the same as mine. Plenty of small loners with boners roaming around, but no big boys or breeding going on.
Good luck, man. I'm enjoying following along.
Matt
“This is kink, for his crooked G2”
I thought maybe it’s because he’s the top “fluffer” buck!
Sounds like things are picking up!
Haha, yup Troy! His motto is “No doe too small, no butt too tall, Kink the Fluffer will smell them all”.
GG, I hump my seniors butt all over the mountains every fall. This November blind hunt has become a great way for me to relax and enjoy. Close to home and just plain fun.
The afternoon was just reruns. Same characters, playing the same roles in the same script. Hope the Hero shows up soon!
I'm just sitting here having coffee and repeatedly hitting F5 hoping for an update
Lots of chuckles here as you tell the story.....good stuff!
I wish there was something to update about! Strangely and deathly quiet this morning. I ate a lot of very spicy lasagna last night and I’m hoping it’s not the overpowering cover scent I’m emitting.
Maybe try spitting some red man out the window! I hear that really pulls em in!
I might be throwing up out the window if this keeps up. It’s enough to bring the bears out of their dens
Little buck just showed up. It’s Wee4. Yippee!!
I'm rooting for you, Rod. I saw the first chasing of the season this morning, but it shut down quickly after the sun got up. I'm still not seeing any bucks that interest me, though. Hopefully our luck starts changing soon. Historically, the week before Thanksgiving has always been when I've had the best action on my mulies. I'm sure it happens a little sooner up where you are.
Matt
GG, it is fun and interesting to watch for sure. Hopefully you get into them soon.
A doe and her fawn are here and Wee4 being the only buck here is being pretty aggressive. Right now he’s concentrating on the fawn and I can almost here him humming the old British pop song: “ Mrs Brown You’ve got a lovely daught’a”.
I suspect Kink will show up soon and dash his dreams. Both know that there is something magical that’s supposed to happen, but they just don’t know how to pull that rabbit out of the hat.
Yes, first mature buck sighting!! It’s the clean 4X4 with the good mass pictured above.
He just diagonal’d done the hill and into the creek bottom about eighty yards to the SE. No clue if he’s still there, kept going or he might pop out right in front of me. Just have to wait now. But it is encouraging to see a good buck out in the daytime.
Well he dumped me quicker than any girl I ever dated!
He didn’t turn up, so he must have kept on truck’n. About forty five minutes left in the day, so it could still happen about forty five times.
This is the buck I saw today
This is the buck I saw today
The rest of the day was like I fell asleep and woke up on a CT Live hunt. Squirrels, lots of squirrels and no deer. Can only hunt a few hours tomorrow morning then family duties call.
It was a slow day, but a good day because I saw a possible shooter, wandering by himself in the middle of the day. And that bodes well for the near future,
Deerp. for no good reason
Deerp. for no good reason
Woke up well before the alarm this morning and figured I might as well be sitting in the dark as laying in the dark. It was well over an hour before I could see anything on this drizzly grey morning. All precipitation we get after Nov 1st should be snow, but it just rains and rains!
The first doe comes through at a fast paced walk and then a heavy, tall fork is bird dogging her hard. She does a number of ovals staying out of his reach. Finally she sprints off with him stiff legging on her trail.
Another doe squirts the twenty yards across the plot into the dog hair poplar saplings on the north side. Sure enough a yearling buck with a small fork on one side and only a pedicle on the other ( let’s call him Deerp) races to catch up. I think the does use these thick poplars to get away because it slows any buck with horns down. They chase around a bit before she lights out.
Up the big hill I can get glimpses of deer moving in loops and lines. More chasing! At one point I can see two bucks pushing one doe and by the compact, thick, very dark rack, I think one is Jack. There is definitely a sense of urgency in their manner this morning. Not happy I only have the morning to watch. So far I’ve seen at least four different bucks.
Rod hasnt updated in a while.... maybe Jack showed up
^^ No such luck. Dead quiet the last two hours.
But I did pull a couple of cams and threw them in the blind last night. I think I now have the date set correct so yesterday’s pics won’t say July 2013.
Quite a few does but I don’t shoot them. Mule deer does and fawns are a precious commodity to me. After some bad winters then a heavy predator hit the numbers are just now coming up again. I’ll do whatever it takes to help them.
10-4 brother. Yeah Im not familiar with herd conservation in your area, but a healthy doe population means a healthy deer population. If ya see a big one post a pic.
Mule Deer Just don’t rebound like whitetails that pump out twins and triplets if the food is plentiful. Slow process, here anyway.
At 10:38 I heard a snort wheeze from the creek ravine in front of me. Five minutes later a big doe comes out with Kink following and trying out his best pillow talk. She’s not convinced.
I know how he feels :(
One of my favorite threads of the year Rod! Good luck the rest of the day!
'Ol Jack must be court'n around somewhere nearby! Looking forward to the bloody arrow pic...
Those big does are teasers!!!
Not sure what to name this poor geek.
Not sure what to name this poor geek.
I waited until Kink and his intended trailed off. Last thing I heard was poor Kink whining at her butt, saying : "... but I'm not like those other bucks, I'll BE there when our fawn is born..."
I was walking out and around a corner on one of the cloverleaf skid trails stood Kink and two does at fifty yards. I drew my bow on him and tried out several shot scenarios. Full frontal, broadside, hard quartering away, ham blaster, ham blaster walking and back of the head. In all those shots I was a short trail to holding his crooked little rack in my deadly hands :)
I checked pics from last night and Jack was there and another good buck that I can't put a positive ID on. Plus this new goofy guy in the pic above. Double beam on one side. I think I can identify about a dozen different bucks now. I'll sit all day tomorrow, then my hunting partner will take Sunday and hopefully a couple more till he kills a good buck.
Enjoy following this! Good luck!
So this afternoon I get a text from the guy that owns the property that I park on to go hunt. He says there’s a big bodied buck holding a doe right where I park my truck. After a few questions and him looking, it turns out to be Kink. Then half hour later he texts again and I quote:
“..there's a very very very big buck in the same place you park your truck a really big buck!”
It was apparently watching Kink and his floozie from a brushy little draw and spooked out one of his horses.
So tomorrow’ I’m looking for a buck with three “very’s” and a “really” set of antlers!
Good luck! Maybe just use the truck blind!
Well, I thought I’d wait a bit this morning and just post up a hero pic with the “very, very, very, really “ buck. But that ain’t working out so far.
It dried up a bit overnight and it was a glittery walk in with the temp below freezing this morning. Didn’t see a deer until 8:00 when a lone mature doe showed up. She left and twin fawns came in at 8:40. By 9:30 there were two does and four fawns. Soon after I was all alone telling my feet how tough it is to be retired and sitting eleven hours in a blind everyday.
By 10:30 it started to rain again and has steadily increased it’s miserable cold pace. Now it’s just raining hard
At 11:40 I missed a shot at at big coyote. Should have waited for a better opportunity. At 11:50, I saw a deer side hilling about one hundred yards out , but it was gone before I could get the binos on it.
It has all the earmarks of becoming a great day!!
This guy must have his Sitka feathers on. It’s very wet and windy.
This guy must have his Sitka feathers on. It’s very wet and windy.
12:50, first buck of the day! A 3X4 that I’ve not seen before. I think is just 2 1/2 and pretty decent genetics. At least my day will not be buckless.
Ok, well a day late and a buck short. Turned out to be a one buck day at the soggy end. Not sure what was more depressing, missing the coyote or the relentless pounding of the rain on the blind. But only supposed to rain until 4:00 am and be a decent day tomorrow. My hunting partner will spend the day there and hopefully kill something.
Great stuff, love the look of those dark, wet antlers.
Very entertaining! Can't wait to see how this ends. Kevin
What a beautiful morning after the weeks of grey gloom and rain we’ve had!! At just below freezing, the ground crunched instead of squished. And everywhere the headlamp hit glittered like the sequins on a fat lady’s dress at a disco. I can even see a skyline in the east!
The buddy that sat here yesterday saw a ton of does , but the only buck was Kink, who showed up twice, grunting away like the threat he imagines he is. At dark there were eight smoothies feeding in the plot. Where are the bucks?!? There are a couple of grouse taking advantage of the dry morning to pick some clover.
It just has the feel of a great day no matter how it ends!
Good luck! Very fun getting to follow along on your hunts, thank you!!
8:47, first deer of the day award goes to Wee4. Finally the needle on my DPH (deer per hour) meter bumps a bit. He came along the bush line at a rather listless pace, sniffing the ground. Not much vigour in his actions. He looks like a kid at Christmas who has opened the last gift and still didn’t get what he wanted or expected.
Rod, had a lost looking fork-horn wander around the yard with his nose to the ground then leave back up the mountain at about 10:00 AM today. Good luck, the big ones are "holed-up" with does and will return in search mode soon! Kurt
I think you’re right Kurt. There’s a doe and fawn eating in the plot. The Crab3 just walked past them with very little attention and kept right on trucking past me and out the other end. He’s a big bodied buck with a real Roman nose, but the antlers look like a 3 1/2 year old.
Keep after it, Rod! My mature bucks are definitely in the "short term monogamy" stage right now. I don't particularly like hunting during this phase but have killed a couple of my biggest bucks right now, Nov 17-21, when a new one shows up looking for does, sees my dekes, comes over for a sniff of delicious Nose Jammer perfume. Hang in there - it will happen!
I'm seeing the same thing as Lou. My mature bucks took the foreplay stage off. I thought they disappeared. Finally, I've seen 3 quality shooters locked down on does in the last 2 days. I blew stalks on the first 2, the third I waited for better conditions.
Matt
Two extra butt holes
Two extra butt holes
His face shows some age.
His face shows some age.
Nothing good today. In the picture above you can see that The Crab3 has a couple of gore wounds right near his butt hole. He has a big body and seems quite aggressive.
Lou and Matt, maybe we should start a bowsite contest and people can guess. Kinda like fishing, First, Biggest, but I guess we can't do Most.
https://youtu.be/GGsJTrD3Kb8
Great bow hunting song at the address above. Not sure how to share a “Link”
26F and ice fog this morning, with all most no breeze. Hopefully the buck that literally tore Crab3 a new one (actually two) will show up!!
Good luck and happy hunting to all those lucky enough to be out there this morning.
Yikes! That had to hurt! Keep at it...got to be a stud buck nearby somewhere. Kevin
Well, my hunt ended this morning. I killed a respectable 4x4 at 7 am. He dogged a doe right under my stand overlooking a watering hole, then gave me a perfect slightly quartering away 5 yard shot. My Montec G5 tipped arrow sliced thru both lungs and the top of his heart like butter, then stuck 8" into the ground beyond. He died 15 yards from my stand in about 5 seconds. It's deer heart cooked in onion sauce for me and the missis tonight, baby!!
Good luck, Rod. I hope the hunting Gods smile on you soon.
Matt
Congrats Grey Ghost! Hope Ambush has some of the same luck soon.
Congrats,Matt! Pic? I've passed on a couple I'm thinking maybe I should've shot. But I've had two of the big ones inside 20 yards so still believin'.
Good luck Rod, and stay warm. It's 70 here where I am!
Congrats Matt!! Throw a pic on here if you can/want. Give us some incentive to keep at!
Lou, I’m pretty quick going to put my Hawaii’n shirt and shorts away. Socks in the Crocs too. Made it above freezing today, so still good. I’m planning three or four weeks in Arizona in January, so I can thaw out then.
I think I’ve seen seven does and fawns so far today. Seem to be in that week of Buck Vacuum.
Thanks guys. I'm long past the "grip-and-grin" pictures for every one of my kills, but I did take this pic for my cuz in Kansas while skinning my buck out.
I think he was 3.5 years old, but he had a good sized body, and still had plenty of fat on him, so I'm hoping he eats well. I love big antlers as much as anyone, but my freezer was empty, and I had a mighty itchy trigger finger.
Matt
Good buck! With that beefy body, he’s at least 3 1/2 years old. That’s the age the meat to bone ratio goes way up!
Myself anyway, I can see an animal multiple times, but the second I decide I’m going to shoot it, I look at it completely differently, regardless of size or species. Then it’s just exciting!!
Congrats again Matt!
Here's the funny part of the story I left out. I still struggle with a nicotine habit, embarrassingly. The deer usually don't hit this watering hole until mid-morning, so I decided to sneak in a quick smoke before they arrived. I had just lit up when the doe showed up with my buck in tow. I had just enough time to grab my bow and draw before surely getting busted. My cig was still hanging out of my mouth when I released my arrow. My bow string literally ripped the cig from my mouth. Scent control....pffft...LOL!!!
Matt
^^^ Buck probably smelled the smoke and figured some other buck was having a cigarette after dallying with his doe.
Any update from this morning?
I decided to take the day off. Had some errands and grandkids stuff. Haven’t decided yet if I’ll blow off tomorrow too. Activity is at a low point and it happens every year, so no surprise. Usually I just sit through it and whine about deerless days when I get home.
Kyle, I have a buddy hunting a muley draw near Didsbury right now. Non stop action!
That's great to hear, I have the next 6 days off work. I will be targeting Bull Elk, Bull Moose, and White Tail bucks. I am just south of Calgary and west of Okotoks. I don't shoot anything unless it's big. Our freezer is getting pretty full. 2 yearling elk, a mule deer and a non trophy sheep.
Hope you and your buddy get lucky
23F this morning with high cloud and a very light breeze. Looks like a great day to kill something! Saw three sets of eyes bobbing in the dark on the way in. I’m always amazed how less spooky animals are in the dark.
Kyle, that’s beautiful country there near the foothills. I have some relatives near there that hunt a lot. Last name Crowe. My buddy rifled a gorgeous, even 5X5 yesterday. Good luck on your days off. You have a lot of great tags!!
Rod, Lou, or anybody....
Have you noticed that some mature bucks don't seem to participate in the rut? I've seen the buck above thru-out the season. He frequently beds in roughly the same spot within spitting distance of my entry gate. That pic was taken yesterday. I've never seen this buck with any does, always just solo.
I see the same behavior with other mature bucks almost every year. Large bucks that I regularly see in bachelor groups before the rut simply disappear during the rut. Survival instincts, or just gay deer?
Matt
Matt, I believe you’re right, in that same males are just a-sexual. They grow big by living long and not wearing themselves out before winter and not exposing themselves to hunters. Big Stone rams with their lamb tips completely intact are a good example.
I seem to recall reading a study on whitetail breeding behavior. They tracked multiple wild bucks thru-out the season and found that some of the oldest bucks never participated. I guess it's like some of us grumpy old men. At some point we realize that chasing women is more risk than reward.
;-)
Matt
Lip curling the doe scent a couple yards away.
Lip curling the doe scent a couple yards away.
1:00 and this is the only buck of the day so far and he trailed in behind some does. His body and face suggest he’s only a yearling and if he is, this handsome little guy is going to be a stud someday.
He forks good front and back is very symmetrical.
He forks good front and back is very symmetrical.
Really heavy lynx.
Really heavy lynx.
And some days you get a bonus!!
Yep, that's a nice looking up-and-comer.
Matt
oh that's awesome!!! I'd LOVE a lynx!
What do you do with the lynx, Rod?
Matt
Nice! Congrats on the cat Rod!
Lynx with a bow...that's awesome!
I have five grandsons, five and under and they love skins, skulls, teeth and claws. The meat is good, but I find it dry, so it will go to people that find that stuff “exotic”.
Beautiful Lynx Rod! Would love to have one someday!
Good deal. I did a bobcat mount for my cousin once. It turned out so nice, I thought I wanted one. The next deer season in Kansas 2 cats crossed right under my stand. I literally pinned one of them to the ground with my arrow. It made the most blood curdling death howl I could ever imagine. I immediately regretted shooting it, but I stuck it my freezer anyway with intent to mount it. Every time I looked at it, I thought about that horrible noise it made while dying, and I couldn’t get inspired to do the mount. Sadly, it ended up in the garbage. I must be getting soft....
Matt
A little birdy just told me something good happened out on the eastern plains of Colorado.
It’s a good day for you guys.
^^^ Little birdie or old buzzard?
Can’t wait to see what went down!!
Wow, a lynx! How cool is that!
15 yard double lung. Three bucks came by working one doe. He was the biggest.
HOLY!! That’s a beauty! Congrats Lou, you gotta very happy with that!!
I love those wide racks from the open country. Gotta get home and look at that buck on a big screen!
Waiting for you to kill another giant, Rod. How long do you have left to hunt?
Well , that’s not really a surprise! Good job Lou!
Great buck Lou!!! Congrats!!
I’m not gonna shoot a buck like that, Lou!! I have until the 30th.
Awesome buck Lou! Congrats!
I had a real giant at 60 yards day before yesterday but no shot. My season goes until the 30th too. But I committed to go to Oregon to girlfriend's family next week for Thanksgiving so I only had until Sunday. He was big enough! You get the big one and I'll be out of the first/biggest pool. :-)
I think you and Matt have it locked. Not even dreaming about shooting a bigger one than that.
You make me proud, Lou.
Matt
Great critters on the ground guys! That lynx is really cool! Congratulations for the success so far! Keep piling em up!
Congrats to both you guys! So cool!
OK Rod, you're in the batter's box today :)
Yep, expecting another one of those 200 inchers like he killed a couple years ago!
Well, considering the buck I’m hoping for will not even net P&Y, the chances of me killing a Boon’er is slim. But there are some truly big bucks around. I’ll post a few pics of local deer.
I have some pics of a true giant that I’ll post tonight for a “ Guess the Score”
A Buddy is trying for this buck about three miles north of me.
A Buddy is trying for this buck about three miles north of me.
This pic is about three weeks old, but haven’t heard of anyone killing him yet.
This pic is about three weeks old, but haven’t heard of anyone killing him yet.
I wish somebody would fix that annoying “server error” thing that happens regularly.
Congrats, guys!! Some really cool looking buck.
Awesome buck Lou! Congrats!
Lou!! Great buck! Congrats!~ To you as well, Matt!
Rod, that last buck would be an impressive beast, even without antlers!! He is why you are not seeing many other older bucks around. He ate them all when they were fawns!! What an animal...
Nice buck Lou! Congrats! Some great bucks everyone is either killing or holding out for. Looking forward to the rest of your season Ambush. Kevin
Hey Rod,
Do you sit in the same blind every day, or do you mix it up?
Matt
Third season in the same permanent blind. I had tree stands in quite a few different locations, but in the end this particular spot has the most traffic. After being logged about about fifteen years ago, the deer kept the trails open that run into the creek ravine which in turn is a travel corridor. The problem with a treestand here was always scent and visual giveaway. I don’t know how many times I could see a mature buck pick me off by sight or scent. Probably ten times that many that I didn’t see. Now, I just sit and watch, comfortably. I may not kill more deer, but I watch more deer, longer.
Yesterday, after shooting the lynx, I layed it by the corner of my blind, while I arranged some sticks to lay it on behind the blind. A doe came by about twenty feet out and obviously smelt the dead lynx. It took about ten minutes of tentative sniffing, listening and head bobbing to make her way to about five feet from the blind corner, from where she could see the carcass. She then started licking up all the blood where I’d laid it originally.
It’s just fun for me to watch all this stuff. From squirrels fighting with magpies and grouse, a white weasel catching a big mouse two days ago, to the deer interacting. An owl hunts right here regularly. I love back pack hunting and the mountains, being on the move and seeing what’s over the next hill. But I appreciate this time too.
I’ll be driving to Arizona this January where I’ll spot and stalk javelina and maybe tree stand for a Couse. I like diversity!!
Interesting. Do you ever sense that the more mature deer may have you patterned as much as you have them? I guess I can't argue with success, though. You certainly seem to see your share of deer.
Matt
Absolutely they do. This small area is not suitable for spot and stalk. You can see deer, but you’re not going to kill them, but that didn’t stop us from trying for particular deer. We learned after a few seasons that bumping a mature buck once, sent him completely nocturnal and sometimes just sent him packing.
For a lot of the bowhunting here, the saying is “ if you want to see deer, walk. If you want to kill deer sit.”
I might have better “productivity” in other areas around here, but here I have peace.
There's sure something to be said for just getting out there and enjoying what the day brings. I killed a buck this year in October. First time ever. I was slightly disappointed thinking that I no longer had a buck to hunt. However I still have an antlerless tag. Been having just as much fun going out looking for a doe....and whatever else the day will show me. Keep at it Rod, really enjoy your updates!
Keep after it, Rod! Congrats on the Lynx!
Congrats Lou!
Rod, congratulations on lynx with the bow! And without hounds! Way to go! Kurt
Kurt, who needs dogs when “ .. the blind squirrel.. “ method works!
Well, if I'd taken my knitting along today, I would have got a lot of socks and mittens made. Five smoothies between 11:00 and 11:45 and a few straggled through between 3:30 and 5:00. No bucks all day.
I'm taking the weekend off and then six days straight if need be.
Regroup and recharge. That's important!
Awww man! :( Now what we gonna look forward to for 2 days?
He lived and died a few miles north of where I hunt.
He lived and died a few miles north of where I hunt.
Guess the score on this buck. The antlers you're looking at were scored as sheds. He was killed the next year by a bowhunter and his left side had put on a lot of inches and mass. Unfortunately his right side was damaged in early growth.
Lou, Congratulations on a great buck!
Rod, Good luck on taking that awesome NT in your pic.
Marvin
Peace while hunting is good! Observation and ambush is good for our soul.
Good luck in your last week!
That’s a compact 200” buck. Incredible deer. Much more impressive than the wide spindly bucks you often see breaking 200”.
Agreed nick. A heavy, deep fork Mulie like that are what dreams are made of.
I’d guess 205”. What a buck!!!
Man, now that's a true giant, gotta love those heavy, dark antlers.
Lou, congratulations on a great buck!
Yep, I'd take mass and tine length over spread any day. I'm not sure how the whole 30" spread benchmark got established anyway. When I was outfitting and guiding for trophy mulies, that's what the majority of my clients were after. As Nick stated, many of the widest bucks are spindly horned.
That's a beauty, Rod. I'm going with 205"
Matt
Everybody is low so far. My photo file “system” is a mess, but I’ll see if I can find some more pics.
I think the mass will put him over 210. Never get to see those narrow heavy bucks where I am. They tend to spread out. I once passed on a spindly 30"+ forkhorn out here on the plains, and know the guy who later shot him with a rifle. He was thrilled at finally getting a "30 inch buck".
The hooks on that buck make him.. . what a true giant
What an amazingly beautiful buck! I’m gonna go with Jaq on the score. Love the mass and deep forks!
I got distracted just after lunch. Had to help my hunting partner pack out his buck. Just home and family bbq time.
You guys are getting close.
Another beautiful buck! Congrats to your partner.
Rod...Huge congrats to your buddy!!! Looks like he broke that jinx in a big way! Kurt
The “flames” going off the back of the G2 really knock down the net typical.
The “flames” going off the back of the G2 really knock down the net typical.
A pic of the huge buck from early August.
Rod, really enjoying your day to day and the great pictures; looking forward to several more days of action. Would also like to see a picture of your blind if you have one. Thanks, Percy
Bringing this to the top so it’s ready for Monday morning
“The ‘flames’ going off the back of the G2 really knock down the net typical.”
Gee, that’s just tragic. Might as well just shoot him and leave the rack for the porcupines....
LOL.
I couldn’t care less about book scores if you paid me in free Elk hunts. Deductions for asymmetry are one of those things that make no sense at all....
Personally, I have extra regard for the old Warhorses who’ve accumulated some character...
Lets get this thread to pass the dead horse beating of 'Michigan Baiting'!
Really enjoying this thread! : )
Congrats to your buddy, Ambush! That's a beauty!
Think Rod must be sleeping in...
Congratulations to your buddy! Great buck! Definitely got the monkey off!
I’m in the blind almost an hour and a half now. 26F and almost two inches of crusty snow. Temps will drop quickly and predicted to be 6F by Wednesday, so hopefully that translates to more daytime activity.
My Buddy set up and brushed in a blind Wednesday night in the dark. He walked in in the dark Saturday morning and by 12:30 had not had a deer use the trail. He was really starting to second guess his location. But you only have to see one if it’s the one you want. Five minutes after a text about how dead it was, I got the excited phone call!
While skinning we discovered this guy had been beat on a lot. Bruises and yellowing almost everywhere and some gouges. And no fat. Not sure if a low doe to mature buck ratio made them more aggressive, but this does not bode well for their over-winter survival rate.
Fantastic buck for your friend, wow! Keep after it Rod, looking forward to more updates.
Love is (still) in the Air!
Love is (still) in the Air!
Not a lot of shoot opportunities on a bedded buck.
Not a lot of shoot opportunities on a bedded buck.
Thanks guys.
Ok, here’s the Noon Day Report: First flat top showed up at 8:40, unfortunately unaccompanied. Another doe and fawn about 10:00. At 11:00 a doe and fawn came through with the future stud 4X4 tailing them. He ran them both in little sprints for several minutes before bedding thirty yards away on one of their favoured knobs. When the girls got going he followed dutifully along like a henpecked husband forced to carry parcels in the mall.
I’m all caught up on Bowsite and waiting for the Kodiak Crew to get their digits busy on their keyboards.
Lol! Keep it coming! Thoroughly enjoying this while waiting for my hunts to start.
The big guy knows where the does are. He'll be showing up shortly. Hang in there!
Congrats to Lou and Matt on a couple of great bucks! Better hurry up and get it done soon, Rod! Looks like you’re sucking hind tit right now! (Unless DoeFever beat you to it) ;-)
Congrats on the lynx! Such an awesome and unique trophy, especially without the use of dogs!
I could say I had five buck sightings today, just that it was the same buck over and over. Does are wandering around and even the little bucks aren't being very persistent. Hopefully a couple of them ladies comes into a second cycle! Pulled a cam card tonight and FRIG! there's a bloody little bear rooting around again. GO TO BED!!
GO TO BED ALREADY!!
GO TO BED ALREADY!!
I’m in for the Win! 26F and nice dry air for a welcome change. Lots of new tracks in the snow overnight so at least there are still deer around. All I can do is wait and hopefully Ambush a careless old buck.
Some pushing and shoving.
Some pushing and shoving.
Toe warmer tip. Slip on the cut off toes from an old pair of socks. Put your warmer in and it’ll stay there while you pull your boots or more socks on.
Toe warmer tip. Slip on the cut off toes from an old pair of socks. Put your warmer in and it’ll stay there while you pull your boots or more socks on.
It’s been a little livelier here this morning. Lots of flat tops straggling through. First thing this morning Wee4 came trotting down the hill and popped up right in front of me. He looked both ways then decided his future and fortune lay west and paced out quickly with his mouth hanging open like a quarter horse near the end of the race.
A bit later the young stud 4X4 came sauntering from the north. He looked a bit purposeless and downcast. Kinda like a person pacing their room on the last night of a holiday with that “.. it’s all over..” feeling. After he left a good sized fork came with some does, but he didn’t get much time to chat them up, because Stud came back to put him in his place. They rattled each other’s antlers for awhile but with a rack and body size advantage the Stud quickly reigned. I can still see them occasionally going back and forth across the big hill. Stud has some streaks of hair missing on his shoulders, so I’m sure he enjoys being the bully in this case.
Hoping for good things this afternoon!
Hoping for some action Rod!! Good luck man,,,
The afternoon was just a revolving door of does and the three small bucks. Colder again tonight, so maybe more action tomorrow. The big bucks have to start regaining some body fat before real winter hits. Four days left!
How’s your plot looking, Rod? Still some draw there, or are they just transitioning/staging through that area?
The plot gets mowed down to a couple inches as soon as we have a couple hard frosts. The deer literally devour it in about a week. They still pick through and get any stems or stuff that was flattened and a few have learned to eat the turnip and radish bulbs. It’s been so wet and warm up till now that little bits of green keep growing which they pick through. But there is a lot of edge with natural browse that keeps them around.
After dark tonight I spread a few bales of hay on their favourite bedding knobs. Guaranteed, with this cold snap they’ll be snuggled up in it tonight.
Thanks for that toe warmer tip! Never used them in my boots and was thinking of trying them, but wondered how to keep them in place while putting the boots on.
“ It was a dark and stormy night” ____ Huh!? Actually it was a clear and frick’en cold morning! 13F and wind straight out of the north and gusty. It’s actually not that cold, but with older age not only do things run, leak , dribble and creak, but circulation doesn't warm the digits like it used too.
First couple of girls that showed up this morning were jumpy as cats in a car wash. Not sure why. It’s been a slow but steady dribble all morning and no bucks yet. I’m hoping this is the calm before the storm!!
You spread it, they'll bed it.
You spread it, they'll bed it.
That sucks! No bucks! Another luckless, buckless day. Pulled the card from one of the bedding cams and it didn't take long before someone got cozy.
Three days left.
Keep the faith, Rod.
Whether you kill or not, it's been fun following along on your hunt.
Matt
Good luck as it nears the end! Nothing better than a game winner in the bottom of the 9th!
Brrrrrr. It’s so cold this morning, I saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets!
8F and the dark sky is filled with stars. Great day to relieve some old buck of the prospects of another brutal winter. If only they knew I am just trying to help, I’m sure there’d be a line up! I guess the only way to see what the day will bring is to wait and see what the day brings.
I’m starting to feel like that starving buzzard that says to his starving buddy; “Patience my ass, I’m going to go kill something!”
Best of luck to you today and I look forward to your updates
Kudos to you Rod for your persistence and perseverence, regardless of the results! It ain't over yet though...
Hang tuff, brother! We’re pullin for ya!
Haha, I was that starving buzzard a couple of days ago! Good luck, had two really nice mulie bucks show up with the ladies today following the snow. They both look pretty young, so will get a pass this year. Rooting for you!
Well the morning was about as exciting and productive as the “Michigan Baiting” thread.
The young Stud was the only deer to show up by 11:00 and he promptly fell asleep in the hay. No doubt sent into pleasant dreams by the scent of the does that slept there during the night. He finally regained enough energy to go beat up a sapling and wander off. Ten minutes later he was back following a doe. He stood in the hay gesturing seductively but to no avail. So he just flopped down again and that’s where he is now. Both of us have the feeling like there’s more to come but we’re not sure how to make it happen.
Tough night? There’s an’ap for that
Tough night? There’s an’ap for that
There is blood on an arrow!!
Pass through but farther back than it should be. I can see the arrow and it’s completely covered but dark. The buck, a short, thick 4X4 hardly flinched and just walked into the ravine out of sight. I can’t go get my arrow yet because the snow is so crunchy and he may be right close by.
Updates as they come.
Rod!!! Glad it finally is happening!!!
Oh yeah! Anxiously awaiting the pictures!
Let that cold set in! What broadhead are you shooting?
I was just thinking this was a lot like a Ct live hunt. Now for a good recovery. Get some pictures on here but no hurry. Enjoyed following along.
Finger crossed! Good luck, Rod!
Fifty yard blood trail.
Massive body!!
Fifty yard blood trail.
Massive body!!
Shot was better than it looked.
Beautiful! Glad I checked in! Been great following along and now the icing on the cake!
Congrats on a great buck. Thanks for almost a month of entertainment.
He’s thick everywhere!! His head, neck and huge body had me second guessing if I should shoot.
AWESOME!!! Congrats on a terrific buck, Rod!!
Congratulations Rod! Great buck!
Fantastic buck! Congratulations and thanks for taking us along!!
Now what are we supposed to do without this tread to check every hour or so. You could have strung this out a couple of more days you know!!!! :-):-) Congrads Rod, nice buck and a Lynx.
Is that the same buck that you saw on the 14th (with the game cam picture from the 6th)?
Heck ya Rod, way to get it done! Nice big buck right there!
I never had a doubt. Congrats, Rod!!
Matt
What a dandy....those Northern BC bucks are big with really massive antlers! Super congratulations!!!! Bet it was an original Spitfire 3-blade????
Stud! Thanks for taking us along!
Awesome! Way to stick with it and great shot!
Congrats Rod! What a beautiful buck.
CONGRATS!!! I've enjoyed this thread! More pics please!
As others have said --- great buck, congratulations! Truly enjoyed this thread. That looks like a buck that could give another buck a couple extra butt holes. LOL
Great buck! Way to get it done!
Congratulations, don't forget about us on your Arizona hunt.
Awesome! Congratulations! I'm glad you did this before I fly out for my cat hunt tomorrow so I'm not left wondering. Very considerate, you are!
I want to see some more pics of that buck!
Congratulations on a great buck! Such a well deserved trophy. Can’t thank you enough for sharing all your hunts with us. Love it!
Turned out to be a good double lung. Funny, he hardly flinched then just walked off.
Turned out to be a good double lung. Funny, he hardly flinched then just walked off.
Good mass all around and pretty even.
Good mass all around and pretty even.
Arrow looked dark from a distance through binos, but it wasn't really.
Arrow looked dark from a distance through binos, but it wasn't really.
Had to improvise with the camera because my wife forgot to put a tripod in my pack. His shoulders are bloodshot and lots of bruising from fighting, but not on his hind so he wasn't a runner. No fat either. I'm a little worried about the condition of the mature bucks going into winter. Usually not this beat up.
I look forward to your thread every year. Congratulations on an awesome buck! And thank you for the entertainment!
Well done! There is a lot to be said for the power of persistence....
Congratulations on a CT story in BC. Breaking news: After 10 days finally hunter gives up on main target buck and takes a body home. Man you jinxed yourself from the get go mentioning CT live hunts. The boot pic did not help as it probably just added more spice than needed.
Outstanding, Rod!!! Great buck....congrats and thanks for the day by day!
Congrats Rod, looks like a old buck
That’s what I’m talking about. Way to stay with it and endure that cold. Ended up with a good arrow and a fine buck to a deserving hunter. Way to go Rod. Congrats
Rod, in my experience when they do not show much if any sign of being hit it usually means that you completely missed the ribs or barely nicked one. So that there was no real shock from the shot.
This is him early in November. He's in the creek ravine that I can't see into. It runs about 1/2 mile either direction and is a favourite travel route.
This is him early in November. He's in the creek ravine that I can't see into. It runs about 1/2 mile either direction and is a favourite travel route.
And in Velvet.
And in Velvet.
Ron, you're right about that, It was dark and I was not looking but I didn't see any smashed ribs. Its a 1 1/2' Spitfire so it must nicked the sides of ribs, but nothing substantial. It's the same dreaded over-the-top mechanical I've been using for over fifteen years at least, with never a failure. I'm guessing the buck weighs well over 350#. I only had front on views of him as he very cautiously made his way out of the brush a couple steps at a time. His head, neck and body made the antlers look smaller than they are. I thought it was a 150" class buck that had been around in August/September, but I was pleasantly surprised to have him grow on the ground. This buck has not been around since November 6th that I can verify. But I find cams only pick up about half of what's going on.
My hunting partner is also a measurer for B&C and we'll put a tape on him this afternoon. I'm guessing about 175" gross and about six inches of deductions. But looks are everything and I like how he looks!
Congratulation on a great buck & thanks for taking us along! The 2 photos almost look like 2 different bucks? The velvet buck looks like the buck you just killed but the hard horned buck looks like it's front tines have more curve to them & doesn't appear to be as wide. Maybe just the photo angle or maybe you have another great buck to chase next year?
Awesome Rod, way to go! I missed this yesterday in my turkey eating stupor. He's an amazing, mature old buck and a beautiful specimen. I really love those old stocky warriors. Congrats and you definitely earned this one! Thanks again for doing this thread, it is always one of my favorites.
Congratulations! Thanks for taking us along.
Rod's buck looks like the trail cam photo of the buck that went by in the creek bottom that he posted on Nov 13, as well as the velvet trail cam photo.
It does look like there two different bucks that are around the same size....one in Rod's possession and the other one for next year from the Nov 6 trail cam photo. But it could be camera angle?? Anyway, great job Rod on hanging in and getting a dandy again!
Way to go, Rod! Fantastic buck, and I told you you'd win the "biggest" prize in the pool! Congratulations!
Very nice, Rod, great thread...Congrats!
The magic 30” plus.
The magic 30” plus.
Awesome buck!! Thanks for sharing , although I knew better I was wondering if you’d get it done!
Nice freekin buck Rod!!!! Way ta go....congrats
Awesome! How far did you have to drag him? Or can you get an atv to the spot?
No dragging that tank. I broke him down, packed him downhill a little ways to my plastic Pelican sled. Fairly easy slide out to the truck. Three trips total.
I put a cam on the carcass and will check that in a few days. Have to sled hay out to a couple more bedding spots anyway.
Fantastic Rod! Thanks for sharing. You are the definition of persistence! Every year. A must read!! Congrats again on a great buck!
Thanks for taking us along! Great play by play and Awesome finish! Thanks Rod!
Congrats!!! Great story!!!
Awesome buck Ambush! Great play-by-play...appreciate you taking us along...was fun following this thread. Kevin
Great buck, congratulations. This is a thread I look forward to every year.
Rod, Way to hang in there for the long haul and get the job done on a great buck!
That was awesome on a stick. Congrats on a dandy! Huge deer, first pic I thought "that's a nice muley...." the pic with you for reference..... "wow. that's a STUD muley!"
Thanks much for takin' us along, great hunt and great entertainment. These things are more work than they look and you make it look easy. Really look forward to this hunt every year. It's a Classic with a capitol "C".
Lou and Matt.... you guys are pure machines.... congrats again.
Congrats, way to persevere!
What a ride!! Thank you for taking us along. Congrats on a couple of fine trophies !! Hunt
Congrats!!! Great looking buck, and always love following along.
I've still got 20 days of late season WT hunting with the bow this year, always a fun time of year waiting to see what shows up and being there at the right time!
Congrats on a fantastic deer!
Congrats on a great deer Rod!
That was awesome, great buck Rod! Congrats!
Beautiful buck. Been away from your hunt since last week. So glad to come back and see you pulled it off. Congratulations and thanks again for all the daily updates!
Cleaned and ready to grace a homemade skull hooker.
Cleaned and ready to grace a homemade skull hooker.
Thanks everyone for following along, for the encouragement and the generous comments. I enjoy doing it as it passes time and these threads become a daily journal that I can look back on for information and to remember.
Cheers and happy hunting everyone!!
Another great buck that was worth the wait! Love the euro with those dark antlers! And he made the 30” club!!!
Hi Rod - I love this thread and following along. That buck is unreal - love the mass! You motivated me to sign up and I hope to have a live hunt for next season! This is James.
Thanks Rod for taking us along I appreciate your great insights and pictures. That's a beautiful buck for sure! I bet you do well a fishing too with your great patience level! Thanks again!
Rod, those antlers looks bigger in every subsequent photo! What a dandy! Kurt
