The Northern Bush Aye!!
Contributors to this thread:Mule Deer
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Here is a story of two buddies that met on Bowsite.
I first met Matt in 2016 when he was asking about bear baiting Idaho . We hit it off fast and shared many hunts over the years since . Mostly with our kids.
This is the story of our trip to the Bush of Alberta with one of the best outfitters in the business. Hunt
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
One of our first hunts together . May 2017.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Before long the boys start growing up fast. Great memories
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Deer and turkeys are not safe around this crew of young men!!
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
For years on the Bowsite I had seen the photos and stories from Mikes outfitting in northern Alberta .
One day Matt calls me and says let’s go!! Ok sign me up. Soon a contract from Mike was at my mail box. We would have to wait 2 years to get a spot . Would it be worth the wait??
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Summer of 2024 was clicking by fast. Work, fishing, family vacations and scouting had the summer flying by fast .
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
The Hunt was from 8/30- 9-6.
I got a quick trip in for Antelope in mid August as a warm up.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Soon it was time to head North. We would be driving. 16 hours for us. I left my house to drive 3 hours east to meet Matt. . We made it through the border no problem. And soon we’re in wild Rose country, a.k.a. Alberta.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We drove about 12 hours that day to the small town of Whitecourt Alberta. We had a nice meal and turned in early for the final drive to meet Mike in Grand Prairie Alberta beautiful sunrise the next morning.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Once in Grand Prairie, we stopped and got all the supplies we needed for the week. Glad to find some bush lattes and some Clamato for red beers. We meet Mike around 11 grab our tags and head north to his camp. There would be two other bowsite guys in camp with us. Shiloh and molson archer. Josh and Matt. 5 hunters in our group . We have a late lunch of moose roasts and get the low down from Mike and shoot our bows.
Then we had it out for an evening hunt. Me and Matt didn’t see a lot of deer that evening but Matt had a great stock and passed a nice buck on first day
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
3 bucks just not a first day shooter here. Matt was looking for his first mule deer. I was looking for a special one. Our guide Gavin had a few in mind.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
After another great meal and Stories from the other hunters and camp we hit the bed early with anticipation for the next day.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
This is not a super physical Hunt. Most of the time you’re glassing from the truck looking for bucks, trying to put them to bed to make a stalk. After checking a few spots, Gavin has a place in mind. He saw a nice buck in the summer. It wasn’t long we found him and it only took me two seconds to know this was the buck I came to Alberta For.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Early mornings and late nights, catch up to us fast. On that first day, Matt made a stalk on the nice buck, but as he was trying to draw his buddy saw him and they busted out..
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
That evening we had back to where we saw the nice buck in the morning. We find him and make a move. He is up on his feet with three other bucks and the wind will not get steady so we back out. Buck 1 Hunt 0
From: Chief 419
01-Oct-24
Tuned in. This is going to be a good one.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
The next morning we are back looking for him again. We turn him up but he goes in the trees early with no chance for a stalk.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We spend the rest of the day looking for a buck for Matt to stalk. While driving a bear crosses the road and runs into this culvert. I had to stick my head in there and take a peek. He was not happy.
From: APauls
01-Oct-24
Love it. Keep er coming! Us Canades aren't pirates it's Eh not Aye ;)
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
First full day was in the books. We had another great meal in camp and listen to the stories of the other hunters Jim from Detroit, who won a raffle from Alaska bowhunters Association, kill himself and nice buck.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
The next morning we find the buck again. We are calling him 97. Because he is a 9/7 we believe and that’s the year I graduated high school. We watch him in the wheat in the morning. Once again, he heads to the trees.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Matt is making any stalk we can find on a buck that will make pope and Young. Close call after close call but no shots fired
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We were checking new spots, looking for sign, doing pushes during the middle of the day and everything we could to make the most of our opportunities
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
The first few days we had to work the kinks out, but now we are well oiled machine. We had lots of laughs, and shared some great playlist.
At this point in the hunt, it wasn’t like a guided hunt anymore. It was like three buddies out doing what we do.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Midday naps are a must at this point
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Matt also had a moose tag. My good buddy Nick from Alaska was supposed to go with us but his luck would have it him and his wife Drew, great Alaska moose tags and he had to back out Josh a.k.a. Shiloh flipped a coin for who would get the moose tag and Matt won .We would look for moose early in the mornings and check sign during the middle of the day
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Back to the mule deer. 9/7 was not giving us a play. But he did break off by himself . And we could turn him up most mornings.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
On day three he beds in this tall canola field by himself. We know he’s out there. We can’t tell where he is. I climb a tree to get a better look.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
After about two hours he stands up and is 225 yards away. He slowly starts, headed to the trees, and I literally jump out and grab my bow.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
The wind is blowing from the buck to us, and he is coming to our tree line. I head down the tree line to intercept him as he moves into the trees. He’s about 50 yards out in the canola when I come to a down tree in the tree line that I can’t get around I have to back up and go around the tree and I loop back out to the field. The buck is gone. I catch movement to my right and there is feeding in the trees. A quick check with my rangefinder says he’s 28 yards and I smile as I know I got this . I start sidestepping into my right to get a clear lane. the wind is good and I need like three steps to have a great shot but his big bucks. Do he throws his head up and bounds away. At this moment I am in disbelief and tears as I watched the biggest buck in my life runoff I just knew I would never see him again.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
The next morning we can’t turn him up anywhere and I knew he was gone for good. We had off to look for a buck for Matt and while driving down the road at 40 miles an hour. Gavin slams on the brakes and says antler tips in the wheat.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
A plan is made and Matt heads in. I head over and set a tree row for an escape route. About an hour later the bucks stands up the reposition and Matt makes a great shot. We all meet up and discuss what went down soon we find the track and follow it up.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Not 100 yards after the shot and we are walking up on Matt’s first Mule Deer and Gavin’s first kill as a guide. To say we are excited as an understatement.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Hammertime Aye
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Proud moment for both of these guys. I am smiling ear to ear.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Mike doesn’t like to cause any more crop damage than possible so we carried the buck out on a stretcher. Well the boys did I drank a beer and watched.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We get the buck to trees. Have a celebration Busch light and Gavin goes to work gutting the buck it’s not very often that I sit around and watch the situation but I am enjoying it.
From: Smtn10PT
01-Oct-24
Subscribed!
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We get the buck gutted and loaded in the truck and head back to Mike’s to get him in the walk-in cooler. Gavin takes care of the buck. While I bullshit with Mike and me and Mike shoot bows and talk Bowhunting. It’s a very comforting feeling when your outfit is a world-class, bowhunter. Soon we are off to see if we can find 97 with 2 1/2 days left to Hunt
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We can’t turn up our target buck, but we find another great deer and watch him until it gets dark but there’s never a play.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Thursday morning September 5 two full days left to Hunt. We go to the field at 97 has been frequenting and can’t turn him up anywhere. It’s just me and Gavin. Matt is off moose hunting with another guide.
We head out and hit the road and as we’re driving past the field I tell Gavin to stop. There is bed already at 7:15 in the morning in the wheat we know that he is in his morning bed. We watch him waiting for him to make a move at 9:15 he gets up . We are excited to watch in bed again, but like most every other day, he walks 1000 yards straight into the trees and out of my life.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
At this point I’m starting to panic just a little bit. I’ve had my chance at the giant buck but couldn’t make it happen and now with a day and a half left we didn’t have a play. We pick up Matt from the other guide and have breakfast and make a plan for the afternoon
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We go over our options and make plans we’re going to push a couple tree rows that I’ve had nice bucks in them. The first one almost works but the bucks bust out at the last second with no shot. The next one is a complete bust but the boys are working hard to give me an opportunity. It’s around 4 o’clock now and the plan is to head over to where 97 has been living, I will sit in a brush top and see if he feeds out the boys will stay on the road and watch for him from the other side where I can’t see . That of course is after Gavin takes a nap.:)
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
I throw on my Gilly suit and head to the brush top 5 PM. It’s sunset at 8:25.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
5 o’clock turns to 6 o’clock and six turns to seven and by 730. The sun is slowly starting to sink in the sky. A few Whitetail do come out to my right but no sign of 97.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Then as big bucks do in the last minute alight, 97 steps out of the trees into the wheat field with the boys, watching from the road I take off my boots, and slowly start making my way towards him
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
He is about 350 yards away. I get an at tractor tire track in the wheatfield and slowly start crawling towards him soon 300 is 250 is 200 and about 175 yards. He sees something he doesn’t like and stares my way . I lay my head on the ground and wait . About five minutes later, a truck comes down the gravel road and takes his attention off of me.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Soon he sees three bucks. They’re off to my right about 250 yards and starts heading towards them when he gets to the tractor track I am in he turned and starts walking right down it at me. And I think to myself this is not gonna end good. At about 125 yards. He turns and heads to the other bucks once he gets in the tractor track, he starts parallel me and getting closer and closer and I get ready and set my sight.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
I come up out of the wheat and settle in. Let the shot just break I keep telling myself . Soon it does and I can tell it’s a good one
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Touchdown !!!
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
I’ve been bowhunting since I was eight years old. I am 45 now I’ve had many adventures and some incredible hunts, but to kill a deer like this on my first outfitted hunt ever was truly a special feeling. I was overwhelmed with emotion.
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Matt and Gavin had watched the whole thing go down from the pick up truck and Gavin was able to video the shot and the kill. I head over to my buck and got my first look. As those guys brought the stretcher and came out to join
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Me and Matt soaking it all in
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Hammertime!!
From: TREESTANDWOLF
01-Oct-24
Oh man, hanging here.
Great story this far and great times!
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
We load the buck up on the stretcher and take him to the truck. It’s close to midnight when we get back but the boys are happy to see us. This wasn’t the only buck killed that day Josh a.k.a. Shiloh killed a dandy himself. I want to get some daylight photos the next day so I put the buck in the walk-in cooler. And the next morning we take a few more photos
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
That afternoon we sit around, have a few beers .Tell hunting stories and score the three bucks. It is what you think a hunting camp should be!
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
I can’t thank Mike and his crew enough. The food was amazing. The hunting was incredible and the memories will last forever. I encourage anybody sitting on the fence about taking one of these kind of hunts to do it and do it now you won’t regret it.
The next day, me and Matt head back for the long drive to Montana for chapter 2 of the story and our elk season. Stay tuned .
The stories already been written we’re just living it.Hunt
From: HUNT MAN
01-Oct-24
Till next time Alberta!!!
From: hdaman
01-Oct-24
What a story! Congratulations!
From: SteveB
01-Oct-24
So awesome...congratulations Hunt!!
From: TREESTANDWOLF
01-Oct-24
Oh man, hanging here.
Great story this far and great times!
From: TREESTANDWOLF
01-Oct-24
Very nice guys! Just wow.
Congrats
From: iceman
01-Oct-24
Awesome stuff, man! Congrats again!
From: YZF-88
01-Oct-24
Fantastic! Thanks for the write-up!
From: sitO
01-Oct-24
Happy for you man, and the others, real hunting...real HUNTer's!
From: W8N4RUT
01-Oct-24
Awesome write-up! Man, I miss the political threads that took the place of these! hahaha Congrats!
Scott
From: drycreek
01-Oct-24
Helluva muley Hunt ! You DA MAN ! It’s a shame Nick couldn’t have been there, but maybe he will score on a moose !
From: Chief 419
01-Oct-24
That’s a unique rack. Way to stick to the plan and get it done. Great story telling and pics. Thanks for sharing.
From: Chief 419
01-Oct-24
From: Charlie Rehor
01-Oct-24
Mike does a great job. The king of Alberta Mule Deer. Glad you did this hunt.
From: JohnMC
01-Oct-24
Stone cold killer
From: TREESTANDWOLF
01-Oct-24
Very nice guys! Just wow.
Congrats
From: Scoot
01-Oct-24
Love it! WTG Hunt! Very happy for you.
From: Corax_latrans
01-Oct-24
That’s “Eh”, eh?
From: Willieboat
01-Oct-24
Awesome adventure!
From: pav
01-Oct-24
Awesome adventure! Great muley buck!! Congrats Hunt...you did very well!!!
From: Paul@thefort
01-Oct-24
Hunt, this hunting story is want makes bowsite.com number one. You just nailed it for sure. Nicely done by all. What, more to come!!!!!!!!!! My best, Paul
From: Beav
01-Oct-24
Congrats buddy!! Happy as hell for you!
From: Nick Muche
01-Oct-24
Love everything about it! Congrats to you both!
From: ki-ke
01-Oct-24
Always love following your adventures Hunt! This was was truly epic! I hunted that country a bunch in the early 2000's. I was right there with ya....Congrats on a Canadian Jumbo!
From: Andy B
01-Oct-24
Love it! Why I come on Bowsite! Thanks for taking us along!!
From: nchunter
01-Oct-24
Congratulations on a great hunt...Just curious-start to finish how much do you think you spent on the trip. I would love to do a hunt like this just once in my life.
From: Supernaut
01-Oct-24
Outstanding all the way around!
Congrats and thanks for taking us along!
From: Insheart
01-Oct-24
Yup, agree with others, great "HUNT" outstanding writeup!
From: Scott/IL
01-Oct-24
Fantastic recap and hunt. Congrats!
From: t-roy
01-Oct-24
Something extra special about a big velvet muley. Congrats on a beautiful buck and an even better adventure!
From: Buffalo1
01-Oct-24
Thanks for sharing a super hunting experience. Congrats on a great buck !
From: Marty
01-Oct-24
Well done and well told!!
From: Zackman
01-Oct-24
Badass being a badass! Congrats Hunt on a great buck!
What's up with the 4% beer?!?!?!?
From: Rgiesey
01-Oct-24
Great story!
From: Stoneman
01-Oct-24
Great follow up! Well done
From: Bowfinatic
01-Oct-24
So cool! Congrats on fine trophies gents. Ghillie stalk was awesome
From: zabwelch
01-Oct-24
Good stuff as always Hunt!! Congrats again!!
From: Dino
02-Oct-24
Great hunt and recap! Well deserved! Thanks for sharing and I am glad you were able to enjoy our amazing province! Congratulations Hunt!
From: Bowboy
02-Oct-24
Awesome story and great bucks. Congrats!
From: Treeline
02-Oct-24
Awesomeness! What an amazing hunt for an exceptional buck! Thanks for the recap! Hunt of a Lifetime for sure! Congratulations across the board!
From: SBH
02-Oct-24
Damn son. Thanks for the post, fun to re live it.
Like Hunt said, we met on the Bowsite about ten years ago when he offered to help me with bears. The rest is history and all part of the story being written. Hunter is a family man first and a great friend. He cares about making a difference in others lives and having a positive impact on people. Those are people I want to be around.
I'll add a few pics as I have time. Home for a few days before I head back out to finish the next chapter.......
From: APauls
02-Oct-24
Heck of a hunt gentlemen!!!!! Congrats and thanks for sharing it with us.
From: Kurt
02-Oct-24
Great fun, great buck, great story! Congratulations!!1
From: TMac
02-Oct-24
What a blast you all had and some great bucks. Congrats to all!
From: sticksender
02-Oct-24
Beauty of a buck Hunt Man....gotta love a massive old velvet muley. Congrats to both of you. Side note...is there more to the story re: the gash on his snout?
From: Wirehair
02-Oct-24
Hell of a hunt and story. Thanks for sharing Hunt.
From: ND_Bowhunter
02-Oct-24
Man that looks like a fun hunt! Way to go fellas!
From: huntinelk
02-Oct-24
Congratulations, great animals
From: Al Dente Laptop
02-Oct-24
Congratulations to everyone. sounded like a great time for all.
From: midwest
02-Oct-24
THIS is Bowsite!! Congrats HUNT, thanks for the great write up and pics! Congrats to the rest of the crew....awesome!
From: Grunt-N-Gobble
02-Oct-24
Congrats!
From: W
03-Oct-24
Awesome
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
03-Oct-24
Hunt, you definitely know how kill em and share a great story! Thank you for all you contribute to Bowsite. One of the best.
From: bowhunter24
03-Oct-24
Awesome! Hunts story's never disappoint! Thank you for taking us along on an awesome adventure!
From: Lee
03-Oct-24
Fun read!! Great job,
Lee
From: hobbes
03-Oct-24
Great story and great buck. Congrats!
From: njbuck
03-Oct-24
Congrats on a great buck and a great hunt!
From: Mule Power
03-Oct-24
Hunt! Do you ever strike out! I remember when you were forced to take a break from mountain goat hunting and killed that nice bull elk out of your deer stand. lol Congratulations brother.
From: Mike Ukrainetz
05-Oct-24
Hunt, thanks for taking the time to do the fantastic write up and all the great pictures! I’m glad you enjoyed the hunt and worked so hard to make it happen when the hunting wasn’t so easy. It was tough out there. Can’t wait to have you back!!
From: Franzen
06-Oct-24
Really enjoyed the blurry photos of the rise up and... SCORE! Congrats.
From: carcus
06-Oct-24
Congrats Hunt, thanks for sharing
From: swp
06-Oct-24
Congrats Hunt!
From: TEmbry
06-Oct-24
Love the write up even after scrolling through it multiple times. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Well probably could have, but congrats anyway buddy! :) Im going to have to try this famous gillie suit on in a few weeks!
From: Jason Stafford
07-Oct-24
Great write up as usual Hunt! Congratulations on a great buck.
From: KY EyeBow
07-Oct-24
Mission accomplished! Way to get er dun
