Midnight Madness

Midnight

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LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-10 AT 10:30PM (MST) by Founder (admin)[p][p align=right]Thread Views Counter....[/p]

I love the idea of following each hunter and his adventures. I about died in working in the desert of Las Vegas last year as I was suffering through withdrawls of getting to my happy hunting grounds in Utah.

This year I am back.

I won't miss every opportunity to get to the hills. I need to carry better camera equipment, but for now my good ole iphone will have to do.

My 2010 Season began early... Looking for what survived 2009 hunting season. I was pleased to see some good quality deer and elk.

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Here was a lucky very characteristic shed. Great find... actually my first planned shed hunting hike. I had never really gone out solely to look for sheds... But I watched these bucks and when I saw a couple had less head gear, I set out to find one. Cheater shed was first day...I was stoked.

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Second good find was a couple days later. Nice typical
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A Couple of needles in a Haystack.Makes those early summer hunts worth the hike.
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June 5th I went to Antler Quest at Sportsman Warehouse and I saw this guy walking around with a very similar looking shed. WE figured this had to the the same buck a year later.

I am not the shed expert, I was educated that you look at the base. Bases will have the same make up... all the trash on top isn't as closely matched as the bases. So, I learned something new.

Talked with the Hardy Mag guys. They had a good group of sheds. Enjoyed talking to anyone that enjoys the same passion of hunting as I do. My wife is going dizzy rolling her eyes these days. This gives her a break.
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HUNTS THIS YEAR;

Bull Elk (Aug- Dec)
Going to keep looking for some other sheds as I pursue my favorite hunt. THE WASATCH FRONT. Due to being so close and so many hiding holes for such a rather small area, it is a constant challenge to outsmart the bucks and bulls right here in my backyard.
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Always searching for better spot that hold more elk & deer than last year.
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Midnight's (Gary Wilson) 2004... This is tough. Haven't been able to take a buck like this one for 5 years. I have a lot of fun chasing several bucks, but I let several smaller deer go. I have reduced my standards a bit, and will shoot most deer during the last week or so of the hunt.

BUCK DEER Archery ( Aug-Nov.)
Spotted some great deer this year in winter range, hoping to get more serious about getting out scouting this summer. It is definitley my favorite pass-time.


OTHER HUNTS;
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Dion Laney 2007 Bull Elk Archery 409(No so hot of an area!!!)oops, I guess it was!
Gary Wilson 2007 Bull Elk Archery 325
UNIT 10 AZ Bull Archery.(2010)
Keep posted. My brother in law drew out this hunt so I am a going to be helping him with cameras and calling. AZ here we come... Hopefully we have fun in AZ. It has been good to us.

San Juan Limited Bull Elk Archery
C3 drew out his 14 point tag on the San Juan. I may make a pit stop over there to help him in calling and witness history. He has been hunting hard and his luck has been overdue. He will shoot something and I want to swing by to support him on his miracle bull.

Idaho General Tag
Friend of mine spent nearly the entire month of Sept last year hunting in ID wilderness by himself last year for 5 days at a time. Saw lots of elk and invited me to accompany him there. IF I hadn't had two other hunts I would be going there for Sept. But, I don't know if it will pan out. I hope to get away, but I do have a wife counting up hunting days. If all the others hunts go quickly then, perhaps I will head up and get a over the counter elk tag.
 
Did our duty this early spring with come "coyote-hunting". This was Jake first trip out with me. We had a great time. Shot and chased some coyotes, they are lucky I was a poor shot.

I got a nice fawn decoy, I hope to trick a coyote soon. As I go out scouting this year. I plan on packing my bow to help thin out them little dogs. We were hunting in a late cow elk area and DWR officials enforced orange. I wouldn't have know we could use guns, but DWR officer told us it was allowed till this summer.
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Jake and boys have been practicing all winter at Datus.

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Spanish Fork 3D
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These kids were awesome. If you haven't heard of Lindsey Weatherspoon...lets just say, Stay Tuned. You will soon. Scott weatherspoon has his kids shooting year round in the big leagues.

Practiced elk calling at Sportsman Expo with boys. Hopefully this season they will call a live one in. If you have four boys, make sure you do your practice when the wife is gone on girls outing before sounding off with the ole' primos calls.

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Third Place, not bad for a rookie. Enjoyed the outting with the boys. We all had fun.
 
Scouting trip June 17th.

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Flowers with a flash
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Flowers with sun behind it

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I admit, Hunting & Scouting has turned me into a good ole nature lov'n treehugger.
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This color was amazing last night. It's very addictive to get the "natural high"
 
SCOUTING

Not all the Scouting sessions produce something big to look at. This year I am determine to check out unknown areas to me.

Yesterday, I started out at 4:30pm and had a good scouting session. I enjoyed the quick escape from the Valley. I live on the west side of town and start at the Mountains all day. After driving across the valley, I B-lined it for a new place I haven't gone before.

Searched out some new area and ran across some good spots, including this water hole. There was no water below and no water up high. My mission yesterday was to find water and that is what I ended up with. I am hiking into any spot that has the vegetation of water, located off the beaten path.

Part of the fun was hiking up.

Seems like hiking isn't hard for me to keep going. Before ya know it. I am at the top. Last night I decided to go straight off the top. This was one of my better Bush-Wacking sessions coming back down.

Steep
Dark
Slippery
Head lamp in bush that is directly in my face. Can't see past the first tree/bushes in front of ya.
It's interesting how to remain calm and just plow through it. I use to hate bush-wacking and felt like a burden and got really caught up in the fact that I had to do it and what a chore it was.... now, I just calmly walk through, more relaxed.

I go slower not to get bad footing... which really doesn't make and sense, cause it's all bad footing. I just make sure my feet are planted. With my treking or ski poles I find that it sometimes tough to drag that poles through the brush, as they straps are wrapped around my wrist.

Walking out in the dark by our self at dark... getting to the car at nearly 11:00pm (Two hours downhill with Bush Wack) is some how satisfying. Walking in cooler(Colder)nighttime than day and so pleasant,especially in the summer nights. I guess that is partly why I go by Midnight.

I have been keeping track of weight lost on an Iphone app called LOSE IT. It says that my 5 hour ordeal helped me burn 3500 calories. I don't doubt it. I sweat like a pig and am completely beat afterwards.

As soon as I get in the car, I would never guess that I would want to go back up hiking anytime soon... So far my "Sore Memory" only last about 20 hours. Today, I am planning the next get-a-way. Saturday am... I hope to get out and look at another area, before kids activities set in the for the day.
 
Scouting Pack set up
Badlands 4500
Bear spray on belt(You never know when you need it for critters or idiots. Check out the idiot that attacked a hiker in Bells Canyon.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15317697?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Collaspsable poles Black Diamond.
Shovel- Digging out waterhole mud.
Schrub cutters
smallpick
small hand saw
tripod for scope
Scope
Camera... taking the picture, small digital Canon Powershot A510
binoculars
back up light
knife
headlamp
waterproof instant fire matches... burn good for couple minutes
powerbar
granola bar
beef jerky
4 water bottles (one half way... second on top, third & fourth if needed.) spare
rain/wind gear. After hiking you get chilled very fast as you are sweating and stop at the top. Light wind jacket keeps me warm with freezing with a slight breeze.

I have watched too many "I shouldn't Be Alive" shows that I will carry a little bit extra to make sure I can go through a day or two if need be. I purposely carry more water than I need.

My fanny pack from the 4500 have been in the trunk for some of my quick trips out. But during the later part of the year and in colder temp I carry it faithfully.

It hold my most prized possession. My spaceblanket. I used that badboy three times last year. Two of which were overnighters cause I didn't want to come off the moutain and return in the morning. One of which was opening day rain/snow storm that saved me from freezing.

I will take picture of the rest. I have a collapsaable stove, mini gas canister, GPS, old school compass, batteries always die in two days... more later.


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Here is another photo of some bulls. I can't explain why I'd rather look for these than my golf ball in the rough! There is nothing like the sweet smell of Mountain Summer Air. Not quite the same in FALL. Temperatures at about a perfect 78-80 degrees.

You can't even notice a slight breeze on your legs if your wearing shorts. When you hike up somewhere... there is a cool breeze to cool you off. Just about perfect.
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After setting up last weeks trail camera, we were surpised to find this guy in the photo. Funny thing is he showed up on our camera 30 minutes after we set the camera. We were probably in ear shot of this guy the hole time. We did place some Deer Jam or whatever they apple stuff is for deer and it seem like they need to re-name it from evidence of our photos.. BEAR JAM.

Ok, so now you know why I carry bear spray with me anywhere I go just for habit... Really it's to fend of those spear attackers.
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Not sure why these didn't post. Here you go. This should work.

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Made a last minute Father & Son Campout with my Dad, Brother Matt and his son, Cameron and my boys Jake, Seth, Max and Cole. It's always fun to go even if its just to sleep in the tent. We all had a quick fun time. This was a total car camp set up.
Great Salt Lake, UTAH
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WHAT the....kind of pants leg warmers are those! Can anyone guess who had had enough of that stinging needle crap. If you dont know what it is...just wear shorts out on a scouting trip. You'll get educated real fast.

MtGoat setting his camera. This camera is where we found this bull. Hope he keeps growing those 5ths... and they turn into 6ths!

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If they are there... they wont be hard to miss. This is like a freeway. droppings everywhere, fresh dirt kicked up coming into trails, etc.Funny, bear, moose, deer, elk, and bobcat all share this one.
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This was posted last week in the general lobby, but thought I'd add it to my adventure for the year. Been more savy of snakes this year, but luckly I have not mis steped on the one with a rattle. This guy was stuck in the netting on a seeded hill side. played around with him a bit and let him go.
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Met up with Sean Morgan aka Bugleboy on Hunt Adventure Challenge and we took an early morning hike his area to scout for his 2009 buck named TITAN.

We watched a couple of deer and then scouting around for some water. Sean is doing his homework. He has spent many days and nights going back into the same area. He has the area figured out and my guess is we will read about his High Country Monster in an upcoming magazine or MM. (Stay tuned on his adventure post)
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Again, loving an early morning "fat reducing" No... this wasn't Bell Canyon. That is a shovel, not a SPEAR! Country was good pitch. Ski poles are about all I can do to assist myself on the descents. The Accent is my better of the two. I can climb up all day long, with occassional breaks, but I am like a tourtise coming down. Thank you double ACL knee surgery. I just keep telling myself, at least I am still able to walk. So, I better quit complaining.
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So those wondering what the Shovel is for... Well its hard to make a small spring into a big water hole with your hands! The idea is to just find secluded holes way out of the way with great habitat and good water. Cleaning out the mud, making a larger pool is the concept. Don't know if it does much, but does help me explain why I carry a shovel. Good tree for a treestand about 30-35 yards away. Great spot to look across at high country too.
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The high country of Utah is still melting off so just begining to see the growth of summer. Just getting there. Flys were very pesty. NOTE TO SELF...mosquito repellant next trip. The Bites outnumbers the bushwacking scrapes this trip.
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Dirty Laundry. I need to wear more black socks so I don't soil all my socks black. The mountain soil is so black... it's a number on the other whites. Shoes are wearing out fast. Armor didn't plan on their mesh netting exterior to take on some of Utah's finest scrub oak brush. These are ripping apart, soles are getting thinner each trip from all the rocky terrain. One of soles came unglued and fell off. Going to have to talk to Cameron Hanes about upgrading his street runner to backcountry hiker shoe.
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Does anyone else have big Bucks and bulls on the brain?
This posting has gotten me into the mood bad.

I am itching to plant a couple other trail cameras, but trying to find that balance of work and scouting. Hard not to want to go all the time.

Thursday night I was asked to help my brother in-law work into the early hours. After working I thought its about an hour before sunrise, why not run over the elk spot and take a quick look. HERE is what I found... growing and growing.
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Later the next day, I stopped by my neighbors house and he gave me a pleasant surprise. Not one, but three. Check these out.It goes to show you that you might want to walk over and ring a doorbell once in a while. You never know what you may run into.

Mike said he shot this a couple of years ago in Flaming Gorge area with a Muzzleloader. I was impressed. Said he never got it scored. I also introduced him to MM. He didn't know about the forums. Said there would be several people interested to know about his buck.
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SOME PM me a list of the top UT or B&C scores of the non-typical muzzleloader mule deer. This has to be up there.

He also had a wolf mounted in his living room. Bought it from a friend. This guy had several sheds too. One of them I was very interested in. I made him dig it out of his attic because he said he found it in the same area I hunt.

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Take a closer look at the bigger 6x6... we may have a match. I can only wish they were the same... closer photos we will try and pin point if shed is same as bull. Good Size for any Wasatch Front Bull.
 
Not sure but I might have a match... Not my find but a neighbor of mine happened to tell me where he found this and it right by these elk.
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SPIDER BULL EARLY SHED? Anyone wonder what the sheds to the Spider Bull would like? My guess they would look something like this.
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These were picked up 6 years ago...in Utah.
 
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Started out about 10:30 pm after put the kids and wife to bed.


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What... you don't recognize this photo...are you kidding?
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Here is another. Surely, everyone has a couple of their favorite sights while hiking. This is about all I see when going out at night. You got to hike or bushwack through some new area to find... new area! No spotting scope needed. Visual distance equals about 10 inches to 3 ft.
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This hike was a slight let down. When I arrived to my new water hole, there was no water. Evaporated into the ground. Started to dig it out, but even my trusty shovel wasn't enough to dig it back up. Too Rocky. I needed a heavy pry bar. (Note to Self;
where is pry bar, oh yeah, it's up at other location stashed in the bushes, MUST go retrieve it)So, left this area lone... and climbed up to top of ridge.
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As I left the car and hiked it I was sweating heavily. But, from experience I carried my winter jacket, and hat. After I arrived at the top, I remembered why, it does drop in temperature. You don't want to freeze. This hat and coat, was very comfortable. This coat is a lightwieght Marker fill, it stuffs really easy into the Badlands 4500. Fills some of the space around my spotting scope to help protect it. Cameron Hanes... would be proud of my Amour Hat, even though they look stupid. I am a fan,really!
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This was one of those hikes that when I reached the top of the summit, I wasn't picky where I crashed. I was going straight up and bushwacking in these stupid boots. I tried my boots and regretted it. They caused silver dollar blisters on each side of my heel. I felt it half up and just gretted my teeth and kept going. My flexibility was limited. I can't go nearly as quick as I can in tennis shoes. (NOTE TO SELF; TAKE BACK TO CABELA's trade in for new TENNIS SHOES!)
Oh, remember my earlier post... note to self about mosquito spray... Well check it out. There it is. Ya, no bites this trip! Just smelled like good ole DEAT.
The sleeping bag is one that compacts to the size of a canelope. I just rolled over on the ground. No mat this trip... slight regret, as I laid on small catus. Didn't feel it, lucky, just saw it afterwards, all smashed up.

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Woke up a 4:30 and summited to the top. Get better advantage. Just at light,I ran into this SHED going along the ridge. I was stoaked. Love the shed success this year. Not a ton, but one here and there, it makes my day. This was a good find for me. See the shovel for comparison. (AS IT LAY PHOTO)
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(Bit Fuzzy)
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Speaking of sheds... This is one I ran across about a two weeks later. Just off the side of hill on a late afternoon hike. No other bone as I was just side hilling and ran into it.
 
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Hit the trail last Friday night with Jake my 11 year old son. He is getting broken into the hiking. I went to a new scouting spot high up to look around and something that wouldn't discourage him from coming again. We passed every biker in the Valley and we both decided the next trip, we were coming in on BIKES!
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The bow and arrow through off all the TREE HUGGERS, that were confused as to why we carried up Jake's bow. We were going to go after some coyotes, but our batteries were dead, I had a knife, but forgot, I had my toolman, and we really didn't make much of it.
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We were just contempt on hanging out and he was more focused on getting back down to go get Football equipment for tackle football, his first year. Hunting or scouting was no where on his mind. When we got home, he just couldn't resist to wear that equipment all day.(Seriously!)

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There is just something about the MIDNIGHT that just make things enjoyable. I love the temperature, smell, vista, and workout, getting out there in the hills in summer. If you don't hike in summer, your missing out. Its a ball. Take a kid and it will take it up a couple notches!
 
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Starting out on an early hike... opted not to camp over since I had to finish a paint job for mother in law that took me until midnight to finish. So I drove up the canyon and slept in my car seat with the ole wool blanket I keep in the car just for such occassions!
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Sorry, but if you don't "stop and smell the roses" you miss half the adventure. Beauty is what you make it...Slowing down a bit, I recognize that, you can't see this everyday. Only a couple months out of the year and these guys bloom and die, so get out there and take your wives. She'll think your nuts or love ya for it.
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Horrible picture, but someday I will figure out a bette camera for scenery. But the moon was about 95% full. I turned off my headlamp and enjoyed the cool night walk. I packed a smaller set up today, so I felt like I was floating up the hill. Used a small ski backpack with just my scope, binos, tripod, gatorade, water, and extra jacket. quarter of the way up I stripped off my cotton layer and finished off the hike in my breathable jacket. I didn't want to have to chill at the top in the wind on the ridge. Smart move for later, as I was still semi- chilled sitting out on the perch looking over the scouting area.
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Good ole iphone has an ipod built in. I can't tell you how relaxing this hike was today. I just ate it up. I had some of my favorite tunes going. I was a bear crawling out of the "Car Seat" at 3:30am, but once I got going it was tolerable. I hit my first set of eyes glowing at me near the trail head. A doe had was sort of welcoming to the hill. She blew at me and bound off as I neared. When your alone, I guess she was my welcoming committee. This self portrait was taken at the top. I arrived before light so I pulled out my ipod and opened my notes and wrote in my journal about the experience while I watched the sky light up. I was amazed at the color of the sky. The cool breeze was just about perfect. I later had to put on my heavier jacket, wind stopper and then can you say... Perfect, except that sharp rock poking in my butt.

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First light... rainbow of color transforming the darkness into vibrant beauty, (OK,enough of the rainbow colors.)
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Love to share the rest of the morning scenic photos... but I may as well place an X on a topo map of where I am. Some of your die hards out there only need a glimpse of a mountain and you'll figure out where I am. Not that you already know, but I want to think that few go to these areas often.

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Like clock work. They were where I hoped they would be. Year after year... it seems if you find deer they will most likely show up again. This group was impressive, small bucks with a couple of mature bucks. It's always funny to see them scatter after the sun hits 'em.
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The best thing about the Hunt Adventure Challenge is that I don't have to get all the replies from you "tough guy Flower Haters" Anyway. I will try and capture better photos of the scouting of bucks, but I don't want to get in too close and screw things up. Plus, I see more the higher I am and further away or at least a good perch where I can see into many basins. or drainages.
Back home by 9:30am today. Good quick scouting trip.
 
July 29th talked with too many people to not get excited to head up to my tree stand and pull a trail camera. It was raining and thought what they heck I'll go get it. Rain won't scare me off. Well it was dry as I unloaded off the car, and as soon as I started hiking not more than 100 yards... here it came, so I retreated to the car to wait it out. I decided to sleep until 3:20am and head up and see things running around at first light too. As I had dozzed off, I woke to a bright light shining in my face and a knock on the window.

I had just fallen asleep and was in a dead sleep. I was semi drugged up from the looks of it. The sherriff asked me what I was doing and said their is no car-camping in the Canyon. I said... ah, ya, I'm waiting to go hiking in the hills. I,... ahu,,, duh,, what time is it?.. (Reached for my phone... he reached for his hoslter) Oh, I was going to wake up at 3:20 am.
Well boy, you can't sleep in the car and if you are going hiking then that is fine, but if I or the other officers come back here at 6:30 am and your still here well will give you a ticket.

My car looked like I was car camping with all my crap spread over the seat. I had a wool blanket covering me, my food in the front seat etc....



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So after Rosco Peako scared me with a ticket I opted to head up at 12:30 and get the hike overwith.

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This is the scenery...going up to stand... I hope this doesn't give away my spot!
 
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Bull elk off the WASATCH FRONT at tree stand trail camera. Looking good. Very excited to see these. I carry my small camera with view on back and switch out th card so I can run thru the cards. While its pitch dark its great to see these at that moment. I can't wait to go all the way home to see them. I had about 327 photos in the two weeks the camera was up. The batteries died after a about a week is my guess.

Tons of fresh sign.
Even this bear claws... Again, I meet my buddies outside of the zoo.
 
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OK... this isn't my photo many of you may have seen this off the internet. But, It's a classic. Remember, look up before you climb into your stand!

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Same bull as before.. Several good shots of him only in the night.
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Small buck at this honey hole

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Decent buck that will get my 28 inch graphite with a feather!
 
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Seems like all the bears want a piece of me this year... This is the fourth encounter of bear sign I have. There is a group growing up on the FRONT. Anyway, my camera didn't get a photo this time but it did leave his claw marks.See video... it shows it better. Thank goodness the claws were below the camera not above. I would have wet myself...if so.

http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/941/Midnight-Madness
 
http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/943/Midnight-Madness-3

POOR MAN's GPS (Reflective Tacks)
This was a simple field test of my most useful tool in the night time. One way to help you find your way when heading up to your stand or favorite honey hole. Every tree can start to blend together. After a while once I am very comfortable with my directions I will pull them out so I don't lead others right to my stand. I wouldn't suggest in a crowded area you put these everywhere, but just as a marker once in a while is a great reminder of where you are.
 
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Got back down at 3:00am... headed home and my wife didn't even miss me. Actually, I drove up and watched a couple of areas from the car... I was sure to move my vehicle from Rosco Peako... no ticket! Lucky. (Normally, I get those dumb tickets)

Ok fellas, two days later I had the annual church father and sons campout. This is the one we all dread... boring, non activities as far as the Hardcore goes... because these are all car-camps. I never leave my house to the mountain without binos and scope. Luck was on my side... at dinner sitting with my boys on the hills top near the skyline, I spotted 70 head of elk. I was fun to eat a burger and scout out new area with my boys.
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Can't really complain though... I was with all 4 of my boys and we had a ball! From 11yr to 4 yr we just hung out and played without Mom's rules... Dad's you know what I mean. SUGAR DADDY! Only yelled and spanked my kids a couple of time on the 24 hour trip....j/k
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After games and marshmellows, the TRADITIONAL "Snipe Hunt" was on. We were bugged about what is a snipe, what do they look like, when can we go... can we go snipe hunting. What time do they come out...etc. etc.

Finally I agreed to lead the hunt. After all, I am a hunter. Why not impress my boys with a good ol'e fashioned snipe hunt.

Well, I went on to tell them what it looked like. I said, you know they are in all sizes, the ones I like to look for come out mostly at night. SNIPES mostly look like the bird in the movie "UP", you know the old guy with little boy scout who finds the bird in the jungle... sort of like that one.. Do you remember the Dodoo Bird. The cross between a Peacock and flamingo. We took about 20 boys out for a walk around in the dark with flashlights. As usual we came home empty handed.

Didn't think much about it, Said that those that find them get a reward, they helped lead them on for a while.

Next day we are leaving the mountains, not 3 miles from the campground and looking out the window, what did we see....

SNIPES!!!

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I did a 180 and doubled back and got all the boys into the action of what is that!... A SNIPE!

Jake the oldest mounted the scope on the window and shot this photo.

Max the second to youngest (6yr) said he wanted to sneak up so we continued the snipe sneak attack....photo opt.
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Lets just say... I have been hit up for that reward ever since! So, if your kids go to camp with my kids... your going to have a hard time convienceing them that there is no such thing as a Snipe Bird. We have proof! And my kids all shared in the reward at McD's!
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(Never know when your BS might just be real! LOL)
 
Getting serious about a couple of bucks. Got some good info on buck and wanted to replant my trail camera, so I got home with the boys and wife felt sorry for me taking the all the boys for the weekend so she gave me the "hall pass" and I headed to the hill Saturday night.

Loaded up food to carry up to the hills for later in the hunt. I plan on staying up there without having to retreat off the hill for water or food. I had a 5 gallon bucket that I loaded up with Food

I ended up taking photos but put the card in the trial camera, so I don't have them today... I will post later. But I ended up carrying a full bucket inside of my BADLANDS backpack. GO ISSAC! BADLANDS is the only internal pack I know that can fit a full 5 gallon bucket on the inside. I hauled it up to bury it as a food stash. Took the lid up of course.

I loaded up 10 water bottle at the bottom with one large gatorade bottle, top ramon, hot chocolate, apple sauce, tons of granola bars, fruit bars, breakfast bars, toliet paper, couple of paper bowls, oatmeal, etc.

Hauled up salt, camera, tripod, video camera, scope, binoculars, rain gear etc.

Got up there and found a very respectable buck on I got on video. But I have to figure out how to transfer it over. Will post soon. Found stash spot. At 1:00pm had to decide whether to go higher to top and set trail camera. I said why not, climbed up another hour and set it in perfect spot I have watched bucks over the last few years travel past. Big Buck was reported in area, by hunting buddy earlier in the day.

I was soaking wet from walking in the grass and getting rained on but the hike and work with the shovel kept me warm. As I slowly worked my way down from the top... I ran into a set of glowing eyes. They are obviously a doe as she skylined her self with the night sky. I looke below her and thought I saw her fawns.

I walked around a bit closer and then thought I would double back and take a closer look. I probably got to thirty (30-35)yards from them and pulled up my binos. WHOA! Shooter buck! It was one of the coolest memories I have of the grey x-ray siloutee of a Big Buck. I just saw mass every where. The scene was so surreal. The middle of the night allowed me to get closer than normal, I guess. It's not often I get within this red zone of the buck. His eyes were very wide... more than his buddy that wasn't so bad either. I knew this buck was around, but never thought I'd run into him in the middle of the night.I hope I run into him again. Chances are pretty slim is my guess.
Anyway, it made my night. I was tickled pink even though my little trip ran into 4:30am by the time I arrived back home. I had a grin on my face all night.
 
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This is the view from my office. Everyday I work out of my home and I watch the Wasatch and dream of big bucks and bulls. I can't help but marvel of the beauty during each passing moutian storm. The light display is ever changing each day by the minute. Here is one that got me out of my chair. I later made plans with a buddy and headed out for a quick overnighter Thurs to Friday morning.
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Again... plugging the BADLAND 4500. This is the Bucket Pack! It seems to get me what ever I am trying to carry into the hills. This last spring I had a scare about my back. Tried to jog my memory as to what I did to throw it out so bad. Apparently that stiffness I feel everytime I bend over and try and crawl out of bed could be from a violent accident of injury from some activity. I figured it must be from my ski jumping days Or perhaps the last trip up to the slopes.
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My good buddy Steve Lloyd is a professional photographer. But landing in soft snow shouldn't have screwed up my back, right... so if it's not skiing... Perhaps, football in high school. I hurt my back then... maybe that is what is giving me a back sore back after all there years... Yeah, thats it.



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This is the load that fit in the 5 gallon bucket. 10 water jugs etc. I hike back up with Tom Morse and we spend Thursday night up on the hill. We ended up using the term bucket to explain the canyon where we were suppose to meet up but after 1/2 hour of trying to explain were we were going to meet up in the dark on a ridge, and do to lack of understanding where the other guy was talking about, we decided to call the location "bucket canyon" It sounds like something else, if you go through the alphabet you'll figure it out. We were both feed up with trying to make our hook up on the side of the ridge possible. It was 11:30 at night and we had both speed climbed up the hill.

I had returned to a tree stand that I had stashed in 2007 opening morning because I had forgot all the bolts to bolt it together. After nearly three years of bumping this bag through two cars and three moves, I finally took the bolts up the hill and moved my treestand to another trial camera I am working this year for 2010.
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Not every picture turns out good. I was stalking up on five bucks... on they kept moving up the hill each time I steadied the tripod for a shot.

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At first light only saw five does and a small buck. Was discouraged for about ten minutes then looked over behind me and there they were. Five bucks. These two were the better bucks of the bunch.
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Later on the hike out. Ran into this weird Blue bug with long antennas coming out of his head. He was just sitting up in the breeze chilling on one of the saddles.
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Ok.. here my treehugger shot of the trip. (You know this is what I really am, a treehugger.)I am enjoying more and more the the summer sights. It makes the vertical climbs worth every step.
 
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Well, I have done my part of converting my good friends and everyone I know to bowhunting.

1. Myself
2. Wife
3. Son
4. Father in law Laney
5. Brother in law Laney
6. Andy N.
7. Jeff O.
8. Casey S.
9. Brother in law Creamer
10. In-laws dad
11. In-law dad's wife
12. In-law's brother
13. Several Upgrades... buddies looking for bow equipment...
14.Founder... upgrade (He made the move himself... I just pointed the direction to G's Shop)
15. THE NEWEST EDITION to the Conversion was the STUD...

JASON WEST... "PRO TELE & Alpine Skier."

This guy rocks. Spent several days on the slopes with him more in the backcountry than on the slopes. Skiing is very good cross over sport for the mental aspect of hiking. You have to earn your turns. Hike up in the dark, get set up for the first light to hit the top of the peaks. Shooting with the same cameraman (Steve Lloyd)over the last ten years we have had our share of moments in the hills on skis.

Here is one of Jason's greatest shots, that graced the cover of TELESKIER MAGAZINE. Jason bit the Hunting bug last year as I took him into the Wasatch Backcountry and showed him some areas to set up on Elk. He was packing a rifle. After a short run down of the lenght of time you get to hunt on the FRONT with a bow... he was in the shopping mode last week.

So, there will be one more hardcore hitting the hills this year not only on skis but also with the stick and string. If you think he has a slight advantage, your right, he lives between Butler Fork and Mill D Parking lot on the south side of canyon.

TALK ABOUT JEALOUS!!! I ENVY THIS GUY! No more car camping for me.. I am hitting him up for the couch! I could only imagine.

" Honey, I'm gonna take out the garbage and run up to the trail camera and pull it, be back in an hour." If I run for a jog... i might be back in 1/2 hour." LUCKY SUCKER!

ANYWAY... Jason, you are on my official Scouting Team. WELCOME!
 
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AZ Bull 2010 Unit 10 Brother in law bull taken from a Trail Camera. Brother in Law has the tag... I'm going to be the camera guy. Glad to do it. Learn some new county

This one will be added to the "Shooter" List.
 
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Bulls scouted by other party in the same unit.

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getting excited and I am just the camera man for AZ.
Locally very exited about the bulls seen on trail camera and scouting.

Got the first two week planned for Deer, but if the elk steps in front of the bow... he'll have to be drilled.
 
HERE A GOOD KARMA STORY FOR YOU.
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OK... DO you see it? Look closely... you'll see a shape out of place. Spotted it yet?

Well, I didn' know some people carry Pink Camo.

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Let me tell both sides of this story.

Scouting pre-season 2009:
A friend named Jerry S. was scouting this area and after he offered to buy his buddy lunch for driving that day... he realized he didn't have his wallet.

Returned to the area up a two hour hike where he last remembers it, he and other hunting partner spent several days returning throughout the entire season looking for his lost wallet. With no luck, he assumed it was completely lost and gave up the quest looking for the wallet.

Fast Forward to August 2010: I talked to Jerry earlier that day. I called and asked Jerry if he was still willing to offer me his backup bow for the opener, since my bow wasn't available. He didn't hesitate and this is where his KARMA started working its mojo magic.

Later that night I hiked up for the last scouting session prior to the season opener and spent the night on the hill. That nexe next morning, I was hiking along a ridge and I just walking along and then directly under my foot,practically standing on it, my eye was 100% focused on this object I was about standing on the it caught my attention to the black edge of a perfectly square rock. I wasn't not looking for anything but where to place my foot as I was hiking up the side of the hill. I was on no trail either. I then realized after about 5 seconds that it was a wallet. After picking it up, I noticed the other side was green camo. This thing had been up there for a while.

I thought, cool, I get to make someones day. As I opened it up the Driver's License was on the first fold out and it was covered with dirt, so I wiped it away and couldn't quite make out the name cause the plastic wasn't visible very clear. I remember the picture was some dark haired guy, rounded shape head... then as I studied the picture, I saw JERRY! What the crap? (I had no idea that he had lost his wallet the year before.) He later told me his side of the story. I was going to meet him the next day to pick up the bow. I thought what a present to give him when I see him next. (Wallet still had about $15 bucks, credit cards, DL, etc.) I just knew he would be stoaked and shut the wallet as soon as I knew it had been fully functional up to the point he lost it. I just threw it in my pack and didn't fumble threw it any more.( Jerry swore he had $40 bucks.) But unless mother nature borrowed a few bucks that is all I found.

I couldn't wait until the next day. When I got service, I emailed him the first picture and asked him what he saw... He paused for while, then yelled out... "NO WAY!!!!!"

Lesson of the story... KARMA comes back around with acts of kindess.

Thanks Jerry for the use of your bow. I hope to put it to use.

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Finished off my treestand. Set my stand and checked my card on the trail camera and I only had some lame does coming in. A little discouraged, hoping for more, but nothing but nighttime shots. I have settled in with taking bow and video camera in attempts to get a buck shot on video. We will be setting the second stand day before the hunt.

Hope and wish all best of luck on this trip. I had spent nearly once a week in the Middle of the night trying to take advantage of my only get away time to juggle work, wife, son's football, and now assistant coach peewee football.

Well, good thing this season goes long. I will share as I get out.

I have found with group of others 5 bucks that I would easily take. Bucks seem to be everywhere I have been. I don't think many are monsters, but definitely shooters. Many that I would be happy with. 140 and above this year is my goal. I have passed on 3x3... 3x4... this year a solid little 140 4x4 will like get my arrow if I am lucky.

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My McKenzie 3D target was getting really bad sun eroded. The coating was completely wore off and was just foam, I took some primer and applied about three coats. I will show off the final product as I assemble him back together, but I will rename him CASPER. Later, I may give him some additional color, but I am just happy to have given him some more shelf life, with the layers of paint to give hime some sort of coating to help against the sun.
 
FINALLY!

OPENER of UT 2010 ARCHERY DEER

Started off with a couple of bad notes.

First bad Note:

Headed out of the house without the HALL PASS... (Spouse not too happy hunt season had arrived.) None-the-less, She had an open hall pass for the last 11 months. So, had to press on. Make up later. Forgive me honey, but this is the opener! we'll make up later. (Hope she doesn't read this!)
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Second bad Note

Drive down the road about a mile from my house and not one, but two police cars are right beside me. One pulls up right behind me. I am overdue a month in my registration, haven't thought too much about it, until the second car slowly pulls up behind me. I slow down hoping he would go around me... nope. He's going slower and slower as I nearly come to a crawl. I pull over to side hoping he is just passing...nope. He's followed me over to the side. Lights start to flash and I instantly, know that I am screwed. Great. Officer steps up to my window asks why I pulled myself over? Asked me if I knew I was not registered. Said yes... I am overdue, said yup... you sure are. License please... no registration, since it was past due.

10 minutes later and trying to hold my iphone up in the window to take a picture, the officer asks what I am doing. Said going hunting... Do you have a weapon in the car, no... just my bow.

Handed me a ticket and said your license is suspended by the way... you better not be driving anywhere. Said, I drive home when you leave... said, I don't want to know.... So Called hunting partner, asked if he can pick me up.

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Third Bad NOTE:

Prepared my stuff on the cement and got ready for my pick up. BT (Hunting Partner for opener) arrived and loaded stuff. On ride to hill my nose started to just burn. Felt like a strong reaction to something like battery acid. I split some old SCENT OFF on my hands and thought maybe I wiped my nose with some potent chemical and it was eating at my nose. It quickly spread to my internal nostrils and began going down my throat. I could feel a burning sensation around my eyes too. I soon lost all interest in hunting talk and was 100% focused on this problem. I was burning a hole through my nose... my eyes were on fire. I had no idea what was happening. I kept turning on the light looking at my nose in the passenger seat. I had a bottle of water and began using a baby burb rag to squirt water up my nose to rinse it out. That only spread it out further down the back of my nose and throat. I was now serious as to what the heck! Stop at the gas station and went in to wash my hands, face and nose out. Things seem slightly better. I bought some Benadryl to make sure I would get through the opener... not knowing what was the matter.

My arm grew on fire, I had an apple in my lap and thought maybe I should eat something to sort of wash it down too. I put apple to my lips and instantly, the burn was now on my lips! I chucked the apple immediately.

FREAK! I couldn't figure out what was going on.

Got to the parking lot and started to unload. Gaging and felt throat swelling a bit. With lights on I could see that my pants were stained orange on my lap all over my shorts. Started packing my pack and noticed my bear spray was very wet from leaking and could see orange matter all over the canister seam in the front. It started coming together. I had pepper spray all over my lap and on my pants. They looked like I had wet my pants, wrapping all the way around to my inter leg and groin of my pants.

(To be continued)

Fourth BAD NOTE:

About this time (11:30pm at trail head) BT realized that he had forgot his... yup, BOW at his house on the couch.

FIFTH BAD NOTE:

Arrived back at the (trail head) at 1:30pm. BT had been up since 3:30am the day before. No sleep on this 24 hour gig...


Sixth BAD NOTE:
Decided to carry up a 2nd tree stand. Pack was going to be light, but decided may need stand, so only one pack has straps... Mine.
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Seventh BAD NOTE:

REMINDER that the Pepper spray became more active the more I got hotter or sweatier. My lap, leg and family jewels were now screaming at me loud and clear. Let me help paint a picture for you..I had more than Fire... THIS WAS BURNING A HOLE down below... I probably conducted my own birth control method without knowing it... Guess four kids will have to do!

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My only good move of the weekend was packing a wash cloth, small hand towel, soap for a bird bath and a change of underwear. The next day, friday after scouting the early morning, I finally got out of those shorts and burned them as a scrafice back to mother earth to ensure I never experience that again.
 
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This was the guilty culprit!


OK... Sick of stories want to see bucks right?

HERE is a picture of an absolute PIG we found the opener.

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OK come on guys... I live on the front. Do you think I am dumb enough to post photos? I will just say I or we have found a worthy group of bucks to chase after. Many of which will grace my arrow, if I get so lucky!

Here's another TOAD we saw, too!

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We did see some great bucks on the day before the opener in the morning and again at night. We figure we were going to have some fun in the morning of the opener, because we were able to find them the day and night before. (Not so fast...)

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Opener morning... we weren't the only ones around. We had good crowd. We tried to plan that in our favor, but nothing happened as planned.

Had a great camp and enjoyed the company. Laughed and soaked it all in. Was a rugged day on the opener. I don't konw how much I hiked around but at dark we did the "COVER the whole Mountain" Tour. It sucked only as long as I allowed myself to think that way. We got off the mountain rather quickly. Not much activity other than goofy stories. Looking to get back up as soon as I am done with this post (12:22am) Going to try and get in early this am to see if I can see anything. Friday am is my only shot this week.

Catch up soon.
 
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Photo of the Pepper Spray leak on my shorts.

Headed back up Thursday August 26,2010

Started trial head at 1:50am.

Rained on me at about 3:00am. Got to stashed gear on the hill and luckily had cover to hold out in the rain without getting drenched. Wind was strong.

NOTE to self; Start wearing waterproof boots. I have been going up in my tennis shoes. They suprisingly are the most comfortable and give me no trouble, whereas before, I would nearly die coming back down the hill with my boots and the soles that I used. Still looking for the perfect light weight hiking summer shoe/boot.

I have some great winter boots and I could use them if snow starts to fall, but they are insulated and dont want to sweat my feet to death.

Big difference one week makes. Only saw one person on the hill this week.

I carried a pretty light pack today. I slipped up into a treestand I had put up earlier and wanted to see what type of luck I would have.

As light came up, I saw four deer in the right location to have to me come to me, but they bedded down instead of crossing the hill towards me.

I got out of the stand after it was obvious they couldn't get to me. Pulled out spotting scope and looked around. Saw a 140 buck 4point bed, but wasn't what I was after.

Headed over to the four bucks that bedded and tried to sneak up on them and see if I missed anyother bigger bucks that were ahead of them.



Got above them, saw some antlers moving around...slipped off the shoes and was at 95 yards. I had a steep slope straight down to them with two trees as cover, so I scooted down on my butt with bow and binos to 45 yards.I took me about 45 minutes to close the distance. The best buck was only a three point. 120 or 130. I got stood up and drawed back at full draw and said, "DEAD BUCK!"

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Buck was is hard to see, but just at base of stump to the left.

I wanted to pratice sneaking up on a buck, In the past I get too impatient and rush the stalk. I tried to slow myself down and move as quitely as I could. The deer eventually, jumped up as I slipped in the steep grass that was wet in the shade and I made too much noise. They bolted out the only the same four took off. Was happy with getting in close and officially passed on the first shootable buck of the season.

Hopefully, I will be hunting him in a couple of years as he matures to a dominate buck.

Worked my way down the hill, set a trail camera and walked out. Covered some new ground that I normally don't walk thru and saw a very heavily used trail. Figured this is a definite sign of movement out of the area... tracks, poop, beds, does and fawns bumping in front of me... Hopefully, the big boys are around playing it safe.

Headed back... Lower back was on fire. Figured it was my stupid pepper spray again. Somehow I got something on my back shirt. I did carry it in my bag... it must of rubbed of. Felt like a sunburn. Horrible, going to right a letter to the Bear Spray... see what's up with leaky canister.

Headed back down to practice with son. Incredible rain clouds all Friday night.

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Saturday, would have loved to hunt again, but I had another game to play... FOOTBALL with son. This is his first year and we started it off with a bang. 20-0 CopperHills Mighty Mights B Team vs. Murray Spartans. Jake started at Cornerback and Punter. I can see how this is addictive. I have committed to be his asst. coach and I get to work with first year players. It is fun to see them develope and start to play the game.

Next week during the weekdays will be next shot at getting out.
 
Ok, Football is cramping my Hunting. But, that is a good thing since my son is playing this year.

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The football games are awesome. Love watching kids develop into players and gain confidence in the hitting aspect of the game. The development of responsibility for their position rewarding when they accomplish their assignments.

Normally in the hunting world I have been able to do more in the evenings, or early mornings. Nothing this year. I am only able to get out once a week.

Plan was attend Football game in am and head up after. The hall pass was revoked from the wife as she felt the brakes were needing attention. Funny thing is I put new brakes and rotors on about a month ago and they were still making funny sounds. So that was to be done at the last minute before the hunting... so ran home, pulled brakes and then headed to the hill. I was going to plan a quick evening hunt and had a good two hour hike up the hill in the middle of the afternoon. HOT! I am use to midnight or early morning hiking and this was going to be sweaty.
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End of the summer, the potato chips are out... "Dried Leaves" Makes approaching anything difficult. Very noisy.
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Finally arrived on the hill, quietly slipped into the North Facing timber. Hiked up in shorts and today, carried my Primos fanny pack. Left the Pepper Spray soaked Badlands at home. Didn't want to Burn today.

Loaded up with two decoys, extra weight that I would leave home next time. I one, would be better than two. but I had room so I threw them both in. Slipped in with the wind swirling. Noticed that the wind will always swirl as long as the sun is up. Once the sun got behing the mountain, I moved with my face into the wind, Traversing across the dark timber.

I saw tracks every where and knew to be on alert. Cow Called and bugled and no response, so I kept on moving. Got on a really good trail and as I came through an opening of timber I could see the hill across from me. Their was a Bull. It looked like a smaller 6x6. So I ran to get up ahead and set up.

Cow Called and another elk responded with cow call, the another and so on, then the Bull bugled. First Bugle of the season for me. I was ON! Within couple minutes, I could hear something coming, then I say a dark body. Spike came into view about 50 yards away, followed by a cow, followed by a bigger branch antlered elk.Binos confirmed, 5x....little bitty 6. I had stepped off the trail thinking they would come on it. Good Thing. I ranged the spike at 34 yard downhill shot. The bulls was pulling up the end, so I drew back and cow called in my little window. It normally works. They stop on a dime. Today, he just kept on going. I was relieved.... Didn't want to really shoot him. Thinking I could find better with more time.

Elk dissappeared over the hill the way I came from and so I continued on.

Within about 100 yards it was obvious their were more elk. I was hoping for that, thinking the satellite bull was sneaking off with cow and spike was tag a long.

What happened next will be remembered as one of those amazing days. I couldn't have planned the wind any better in my favor. I had elk surrouding me. I was in a 40 yard bubble that they never picked up on that I was there. I made cow sounds as I moved and made noise. That helped settle them down.

I wear 3-D camo to break up my siloutte. I am a firm believer in this. I didn't have anything to disguise my smell, and I was sweaty, no scent off, nothing, just a good steady downward wind in my favor.

The cows were going off. I realized it was a calf crying for its mom. I thought it was a cow in estrus, until the bigger cows made their appearance and realized the calf was a year old and just complaining, with its bawling, the other cows were making noise too, I whined, cow called, mewed, and even through out a small bugle.
A second bull appeared. He was the bull in the photo. He was a small 5x5 that was stuck on a cow. He came over closer to me after I had cow called the estrus whine. I evenually bedded only 40 yards from me with his face directly pointed at me.

I played was a still as a statue for nearly 45 minutes of so. He'd watch the cow, look over his back at some other cows and the whole herd was surrounding me. I just stood still. Sore, as ever, but enjoying every minute! Another bull was bugling and I hoped a bigger bull would appear. Nothing like have real decoy! I have always done very well, when I get in between the elk.

Nothing else ever came, the elk finally decided to move on, I had a good play, I missed one opportunity and passed on several with the 5x5. I drew back for practice, but wasn't ready to pack out yet. I still have nearly three more months of playing the the elk on the Wasatch Front.

Sorry, for phot quality, but after standing their for what seemed like an hour, I finally dug into my pocket and took a photo with my iphone.

Thursday, I head for AZ for my brother in law hunt on Unit 10, should be fun.

Maybe I will slip out one more time before I go... either AM or PM.

The quicker the hike the more brutal it beats my body down. I am getting use to hike up and down the two hours, my feet feel good. Not too sore, have been passing on the Ibprovfen. So, I guess, its getting accustom to the grind.

I can't tell you the importance of a good head lamp. I buy the best money can afford. New batteries are about every three weeks or so.

Check in later.

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First of all I wanted to say, I have enjoyed reading the other HAC posts. Thank you to all that are taking the time to tell your stories. They are all awesome.

So far, no luck on the Wasatch Front. I have been conversing with several of my fellow hunters and do have confidence that I will be able to chase them for the next several weeks and months, so I am excited about that. I am really anxious to shoot a hard horned buck anyway. Last time I shot one was in 2001 down in Fillmore during the regular season. That was before I began bowhunting.

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I will be heading down to AZ for my brother in laws Unit 10 Bull Elk Tag. I will be carry a camera and calling for him.
Look forward to getting out and running around in prime elk habitat. Back in 2007, Dion shot this monster in a no so famous area. Our hopes are on any 350 bull or better, but we will always dream of another this size.
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(YES, we capped the whole thing... wouldn't you if you walked up on this monster!? 409+ gross, 402+ net )My favorite measurement on this bull is the 5th's...23 1/2 with 10 inches double whale tails or cheaters on right side and 6 inches on the left. Certainly doesn't hurt to have 24 inch swords either!

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Dion Laney Bull 2007 Archery 45 yard shot in the heart. Bull's story was featured on MM and Hunting Illustrated. Today the bull sits in our garage under a dust sheet. It's a shame, but you can bet I gock at the antlers everytime I go in an out of the garage. Plan is to someday have a family trophy room or lend it out to a local shop or retailer for others to enjoy until we make our own space inside Dion Home. He just about sent it to Pope & Young's museum but decided to hang on to it.

I will document each day and report as I can. AZ has been very good to us. We hope we didn't use all our luck up last trip.

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Made a quick stop down at CamoFire.com in Draper and hooked up with Kendall on some last minute camo from Sitka. Looking to give it a try and spice up my hunting attire. Hunting for 10 days I needed to have some other clothes to switch into instead of the same gear. I must say I was very pleased with their selection and pricing. It's amazing. Go take a look. You can get notices via text anytime they have new gear that is being offers for incredible deals. Thanks for the hook up Kendall!

I honestly, shouldn't be going on this hunt, financially this is going to be pinching penny's this year. If it was just me I would be staying home, but Dion is going and I am getting support from other sibblings to take him down to enjoy his sons hunt this year. So, I am sort of lucky they want me to take him. I nearly wanted to back out, but obviously I will enjoy myself, but the timing of going couldn't be worst, business wise. I have been running hard for several months, and believe me, I will forget about work as soon as I hit the highway!

Good luck to all out there, and see you soon. Back on the 20th.

Midnight
 
ELK HUNT AZ Unit 10 RECAP:

Wednesday Night-Eve of leaving for trip. Started to pack. Leaving at dawn on Thursday. For what ever reason, I can't seem to sleep before any hunt adventure. Goofed off, packed, posted last MM post, finalized stuff, all ready to head out. Hit the sack for bed at 3:30am.

Thursday- Left at 8:30am. Drove from SLC to Las Vegas. Made a quick detour to Silver State Archery Shop and met Boomer. Primos were shipping overnight service for a part on my bullblind. They pulled through when I thought I was screwed. I was very happy they sent a second package overnight and I was able to pick it up enroute to AZ.

Arrived at camp at 10:30pm. Long trip. Total of 12 hours. I have had several trips each year hauling 600 miles or so to hunt in locations and I will be shopping for a Desiel soon. Pulling the weight in other trucks is fine but slower, and probably going to burn a transmission on one of these trips.

Friday Day of Opener.
Drove to spot where we had seen a 380 bull in summer scouting.
Things were quiet, nearly dead. Didn't see or hear a thing. I set up on a hill to overlook the area. With no luck we re-thought our hunting area.

Friday afternoon we looked at map and decided on some country solely from the terrain and location of several tanks (water).
The road was rough, but seem to favor less people due to the beating on the truck, so we figured this could be good. This area was very flat with Cedars for miles. We proceeded to the eastern hill side where we have seen elk moving first in the afternoon coming back to the west for water and feed. We crusied along hillside for about an hour and heard our first bugle of the season. We both gave a fist pump of excitment and immediately when into hunting mode.

Our set up was Mike the hunter was in front of me at about 50-75 yards. I just paced behind him, with cow calls. Together we cow called across the hillside, when we heard the first bull. Immediately we checked the wind and I angled the bull's path to cross about 20 yards from Mike with the wind always in our favor. I kept the soft mews and estrus calls steady. Mike cow called until we were in 150-200 yards of the bull. It is obvious the bull is coming closer, that is when I fall back and continue zig zagging back and forth to give the bull a location of my call and let him know that I am moving. Too often, I have stood still only to have the bull "hang up" and quit moving in.
This method work perfectly for us as we had the first elk in sight, it turned out to be a cow, followed up by a small 6x6 about 290. He was 20 yards from Mike. Mike let him walk, which was the right thing to do as this was first day... and premium area.

We finally had the bull walk off, unspooked and as the second bull of the evening was coming closer and closer. We were still a safe distant to run in closer, so we immediately moved in to close the distance. Its hard to believe you can walk in towards a bull, it almost goes against your instincts, but we had used this method and it had paid off for us, rather than hoping a bull will come in just with our calling.

The second bull, didn't waste any time. We set up perfect. Mike could see the bull coming in. He had a good look at him, as I was getting the bull to respond with my cow calls as he answered back with thunderous bugles.

more later...
 
Continued from the last post...

Hearing the bull elk in the mountains is about the coolest experience I can think of in the hunting world. He slips throught the forest silently until he roars of his dominance in his domain. Cool Stuff for sure.

This bull was deep, growly, perfect sounding. Responding very well. Closer, closer and closer.

I each time he sounded closer, I would go 15-30 yards back. I just kept luring him to the soft cow mews and estrus calls. He'd jump on them. It seems like the elk get madder as you move off. As if he is saying, " Hey, get the crap over here. I am coming all the way over here to you and now your going away from me... get over here, now!"

Once they go silent... I throw a very soft almost hard to hear, mew in. The Bulls will even give a small soft mew back.

Mike has been quite for a couple of minutes now. The bull was on top of him. Later he said that he could see the bull movement along with hearing his bugles so he was able to see him before the bull knew where he was.

The bull came in closer to Mike. Mike looked over the rack and knew he was a shooter. Front tines were curled up. Big rack in the back. Tines were all long enough, this bull was a shooter.
Guessed him at 340ish. The bull walked right toward Mike while looking downhill towards my calls. The bull walked right pass Mike at 10 yards. Almost too close. Mike let the bull walk by and drew back. The bull heard the movement and luckily Mike had a reed in his mouth and so he used it to stop the bull about 3 yards.

The bull spooked and ran back around the tree. Mike called with his reed and calmed the bull down immediately. He continued walking towards my cow calls and gave Mike a shooting lane of about 35 yards. just a small hole.

Mike had drawn back after the bull ran off and was now ready.

The bull stopped with Mike's cow call. And the arrow was on its way.

I heard the release of his shot and the whack of the arrow hitting a pillow. It a split second in timing. The bull began to run and I could hear him running off and knew Mike had just shot. I could hear the bull run and soon could see the hide and antlers running through the trees. Then it stopped. Seconds later a crash. The bull had gone about 75 yards total and had stopped. I heard a couple of groans or breathing and could pretty well sum up what had happend. All the while, I was cow calling to get him to stop or focus on the cow calls again.

Mike and I used our Rhino GPS to help locate where we were to each other. I could pinpoint him and he was know calling me with updates to radio. A couple of times we used the labeling of our name on the rhino to talk by texting or changing our name to words we wanted to say. 6x6 coming or small bull, or etc.

I headed back to Mike and he updated me on his account of the hunt. We stepped over the place the bull was standing and began following his tracks, blood and arrow were right there. Arrow was soaked in blood. Good blood trail, As Mike was excited about his arrow, I noticed his bull behind him. He didn't know this but I lined him up for a photo of his arrow as I said take a step to the right... just a bit... ok say cheese.

Behind him in the background was his bull down. He had no idea. As soon as he turned around to begin following the blood trail again, he finally further into the trees and then he lit up like a christmas tree. Full smile, called me out for the photo set up. He knew then, I knew it was behind him the whole time. We laughed and proceed to walk over to his bull.

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Wayne Carlton estrus call... smooth surface on the call saved my lips... other with ridges and rooves shred my lips over 5 days.
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The story about this picture is Mike couldn't find his hat, so he borrowed one of the Luckiest Hats around, Dion Laneys hat the one he wore when he shot his Monsterous 409 bull in 2007. The hat was homemade with the 3-d sewn on from Dion.
Mike will have to sign on the inside of the hat and the hat will go on each elk hunt from here on and become a family tradition if the luck keeps flowing.
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I had carried my huge Manfrotto tripod that weight a ton because it had a good fluid swivel head on it, but after the first two encounters with elk... it was obvious that with just two of us. It was better for me to be the cow behind the hunter than a video camera over the shoulder.

So, we sacrificed the filming of the hunt or kill shot for the opportunity to shoot a bull elk. We needed a third guy.

The ideal hunting group would be a team of three guys.

Shooter
Video
Cow Caller

I have hunted solo and it is so much harder to get the bulls to commit and walk past you because they expect to see a cow elk and will call to it enticing them to come in or show themselves before they just rush in.


(Having some trouble pulling my photos off my iphone. I will post some more photos after I figure it out.)

Midnight
 
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On the road to AZ

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Pawn Stars Pit Stop

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Jake with Decoy. New Hunting Partner. Going to be 12 next year. Got him out there for four days. Taught him the ropes. His nickname became "Puppy". Every good dog was an excited, clumsy, careless puppy at first.

We had to start by when to walk, how to walk, not to break every branch as you walk along, when to stop, when to freeze, when to cow call, walk in the wind, etc.

Later we he got the brought up to speed quickly as we lured several bulls right past him. He even practice drawing back on the bull for pretend as the bull came by within 20 yards bugling.

AZ was some good training ground for his endurance level. We didn't hike him into the ground since is was relatively flat.

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WE shot our bows at 3D targets, practiced blind shooting off chairs

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Mule Deer Shed

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I was surprised at the number of broken tines I found in two different battle zones. It was like a litter of trash. One from a year ago and about 400 yards away. Another set of fresh tines from this year.

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The big brown piece is one shed that broke. It was like a puzzle fitting together perfectly. The ground was torn up all around this fight zone.

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We worked this high plateau that was about 15 minutes to hike to the top. It was a nice gradual climb. The elk seemed to work their way up from a couple of tanks and bed on the east and north facing hillsides.(their was a constant wind that came up from the floor, so I assumed they would use that as a steady air flow to smell danger and look off in the downwind directions) Anyway, good spotting area in the morning. We saw and heard several bulls from here each day we went there.

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Grandpa with Grandson, laughing about teasing each other. Grandpa was a knive fanatic. At lunch he was using his big old blade to work open a cheese stick. "Puppy" (Jake) saw his opportunity to teach grandpa a new trick, How to open a cheese stick without a knive as Grandpa was struggling with the wrapper since it was so tight.
Grandpa was all attention as to this better way to open the cheese stick, as jake took the flaps and pulled so quickly the cheese came flipping in the air, free of its wrapper. Grandpa hasn't eaten too many of those apparently. Jake thought that was the funniest thing. Finally, it was his turn to be the expert!

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As the shadows grew longer, the elk were just beginning to get active.

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Right after I began to call while taking this picture, we had a bugle respond that turned out to be Mike's Bull.

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A short 15 minutes later we were following a blood trail. The bull ran off in a horseshoe shape direction. So as we had our heads looking down at the ground we came upon the arrow.

I noticed the bull in the back ground so I had Mike step sideways as he didn't have a clue it was behind him. I was excited to see his arrow soaked in blood on a good blood trail.

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Now Mike sees the bull! Little different expression on his face, don't you think!

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Best use of a Badlands 4500 I can think of!
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Best looking photo of any truck.
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Finally, I can shave. I like the tradition of not having to shave, but it gets annoying at that itchy stage. This was about two weeks I guess.

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Always a craving for McD's after time in the woods.
 
Getting back from AZ i was itching to go hunting on my own again.
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Got back and took basically two weeks off. Had to let the dust settle from one trip before the hall pass is even talked about. But one afternoon I was assigned babysitting duties. So, I pulled out the kid backpack and off we went, walked up to a close water hole and checked it out with the little one, Cole. We had good little hike. He was very into it. Didn't make a peep. Liked going with DAD, as his older brother got four days of solo hunting with Dad. He'll be a big fan later too.

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Another afternoon I took a quick two hour run up to the hill and sat a treestand. After the wind kicked up, I bailed out of the ASPEN-Carnival-Rodeo-Ride and waited the wind out. I didn't want to be the top heavy leverage to snap the root of the shallow quakie and come crashing down.

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This a spot I shot a bull in 2004 and I hoped it would produce. Good sign on the ground but nothing was seen or heard this day.

Been looking for any news about some bucks or bulls pulled from off the Front. Not much activity, I believe I will still have great opportunities from here till end of season, so I hope I have more to post soon.
 
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JW sent me these photo of an area I suggested he go look at and boy did it deliver. I have not been able to hunt it, but he had come very close several times and looking to fill his tags soon.

Good Luck JW.
 
Got a call that a buddy shot a Moose with his family member and asked if I could come up and help pack out a Moose.

"Ah... ya, my sock drawer is looking a little bit messy and I might need to stay home and organize it tonight... Sorry. Busy."


No, I said sure after work and son's football practice. So, I headed up without further instruction. Didn't really know if he had come out. Turns out, he had gotten good friend to come up with horses and pack it out. Not a watershed so everything was ok. So, now that I was at the base of the hill, I decided to stick around and got out at first light and come back quickly.

SO much for quick trip. We were going to chase elk, but first light all we saw were deer. From a good distance, we saw some shooter bucks.

After what seemed like a marathon hike we are on the bedded buck. It was now feeding around. Luck had kept the buck in the same spot for nearly 3-4 hours.

I slipped off my shoes put on some wool socks and started sneaking in. There were two bucks in same area. I slipped in clost to about 150 yards when some hikers talking distracted the deer. They came into FULL alert and were then a bit on guard. I lost sight of them going around a big tree and cover trying to slip into them and so I soon herd animals running off.

I was checking my wind indicator, and it was blowing safe for a bit, then it switched and I assume I was busted. Game over.


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Son's football is over.

Went up last week for two hours and found a bull bedded.

Gave chase. Snuck into 20 yards and all I saw was antlers swiveling around to take off out of the country.

Followed tracks... until crossed cougar tracks.

ABOUT THIS SIZE would be my guess. (Not my photo) Fresh tracks in snow. Led to trees in front of me. I normally don't look up trees for sitting tom's but that evening I thought I'd better keep an eye to the sky. Especially when his tracks go straight to the tree in front of me and I can't see the tracks exiting the tree. The paw track were just about the size of my palm of my hand. A couple of photos have been taken with cougars in the nearby area.

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I pulled out my only defense. A single arrow with a broadhead on it.

NOTE TO SELF, Restock the BEAR MACE.Just buy an anti pepper spray jock strap. No repeats of summer "Balls of fire"

Elk eluded my again. I was happy to close the distant, but it is in the final hours of the season... Not too many more opportunites. It's time to shoot at bulls on the front. Enough passing bulls. I am over that know. I will shoot the next bull that gets within range.

I hope being out looking for either animal will increase the odds.
 
Got out Thursday at dusk to look over a group of elk. Only saw about 5 cows and what looked like a spike. Snuck into 55 yards and I only had maybe 5 minutes before light was dimming. Times up... too dark. Elk were about 55 yards away.

Caught wind of a good bull from BT. Said he was ok with me going after them. So, I decided to head up to the hill and spend the night so I was there and give a quick early morning hunt for elk.

Slept in my Ford Taurus hard shell tent and woke up at 6:00 and headed up the hill. Took about hour and half to summit a ridge and began glassing.

I was suprised. Nothing. Other than deer tracks and moose tracks I didn't hear or see anything. I did run into a old moose that looked like it was hunched over and going to passout.

Another younger bull was with him. Yearly bull I would guess.

Hiked over to the next ridge to look at a south facing slope and when I summited I looked down and there was huge bull moose.
25 yards from me.
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So I pulled out my camera and started snapping some photos. Then he worked up the hillside and I didn't have a very good one so I whipped out the spotting scope to try and get a few more. I wish I hadn't washed my digital camera...lol

After he was working up the Hill I remembered my good friend was hunting this bull all year. We had talked about him and both of us had hunted this area for years. One of his friends had drawn out a tag so I called him to let him know the bull was running around on the hillside.

An hour and half later, he was actually out looking for the bull that morning. So we met exchanged directions and the moose hunt was on.

As they climbed the hill I just continued to glass and surprisingly, I didn't see anything. Elk and deer about 2 miles don't count. So, I just enjoyed the moment. Going to watch a moose hunt unfold. Good to see someone finally get their dream bull.

Things couldn't have gone any better. As I waited at top. I had lost sight of the bull but knew he was in the area. The bull traversed around the hill and as these guys came up the hill the bull turned out to be right next to the trail. 45-55 yard shot.

Bull Down.
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THIS IS NOT MY BULL>>>ONLY PHOTOS OF ME POSSING WITH IT.<<<
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Estimated around 158 score...

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53 3/4 inches wide

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This was a great bull. To the hunter... He will be posting his own photos and tell his own story. This was just my account of being in the hills. Telling my own hunting adventures. I was happy to be a part of his success. I love talking hunting and swapping stories with other hunters.

Congratulations to the hunter.
 
After the moose adventure, it was time for me to focus on my elk hunt. I set out for a quick look in the hill and was joined by BT. We hike up to one spot and didn't see any great sign so we headed back to the car and went up to another spot.

Climbed for hour and half and once again... didn't see anything.

To make something of nothing. We placed a rock on the summit rock pile. We commented and laughed about it.
"Oh ya, that's what I hiked up here for,stacking rockes on the summit, not hunting elk or deer!"

I have combed over this area for three different times and I haven't seen much. Time to move on. Or come back later.

Getting skunked by not seeing much wildlife was an understatement. The weather last week has been almost too perfect.

FINALLY SNOW!
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With a few breaks in the clouds, I scrambled up to the hill to see what I could see. Then the hiking bug got the best of me and I set off for the MARATHON-Hike. Got to do a couple of these each year... With snow no less.


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I had long hike and after getting there was shocked that I wasn't seeing much wildlife. Seems like most of the animals were either hunkered down, or heading down.

After I took pictures I turned around and wouldn't you know it I saw several elk right where I was. I was about 200 yards away from them. I will tell ya. I just let them be. I had to get back and it was going to take me about 3 hours to hike back out. Nothing but satelite bulls small 5 and raghorn 4 point, about 5 spikes and 10 cows.

No pictures sorry.

Looking for closer game next time. It was freezing. My water and gatorade both froze in my backpack. My phone went dead too with the severe cold. For good measure, This trip I packed my small gas stove, pot, and some dyhrated food and hot cider. Luckily, I didn't need it.

I am a skier in winter, so I enjoy hiking in the fresh snow fall. I only wish I could have skied down instead of hike.
 
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Spotted a buck, gave chase... vanished when closed into the 100 yard range.

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No problem, go after the 9 bulls I found. You gotta love the cold winter hunting. More clothes, longer hiking time, freezing temperatures, etc.
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Good Sign of fresh tracks

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Circled up around them. High winds nearly blew me off the hill.


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Just missed the bulls. I rushed the approach. I didn't have all day to wait them out. I was beginning to get cold. I had sweated and stopping too long wasn't an option on this day. I would FREEZE.

Time to break out my heavy Northern Outfitters Jacket.
good to -30 degrees. Problem is getting the clothing to the top without sweating to death. Thank Goodness for the 4500 Badlands. I can just throw it in and wait out the bucks up high because I can last in the weather.
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I have the pants, Coat and boots. I am basically suggesting that if I get another chance to sit on another snowy ridge in the middle of the day for hours... Hopefully, I can last. I have done it a couple of times in the past and if I get lucky, I will try out the set up tomorrow. Carry a little bit of extra weight, and it will be bulky, but, so far I am striking out anyway with rush spot and stalks.


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Got in close enough to see a 280 6x6 he was busting down away from me. Heard the antlers running through the scrub oak.

Followed some of the other tracks and ran into another bull that was the same bull I think and he made little time of a huge hill. Dang, Four legs are better than two!

Continued on the other two set of tracks and traversed over two ridges until I came upon two satelite bulls. One bedded the other still standing. As they looked off I closed into about 100 yards. I was on the opposite side of a drainage and they were on the edge of the scrub oak. I wasn't too interested in shooting either of them, so I decided to educate them on humans. I walk right up to them and closed another 25 yards until they had enough.

Walked out and saw a good heard of elk, mostly cows and spikes. One 5x5 satellite bull loving the solitude of this new herd.

It was amazing to watch them in what seemed like their migration. They covered a lot of ground and the lead cow was all business. Fun to see a train of elk moving through the snow in the craziest terrain.
 
New strategy today.

Hunter with buddies some intended some not so intended but welcomed.

Saturday was the big RIVALRY UTAH vs "team down south" Day. Started it off with a "U" tagging of my die hard BYU neighbor by giving him a U on his front yard at 4:30am.

Then proceeded to the hill. Our goal was to hike in up hill and pick out some bucks. But with all the moving of bucks we opted to drive and spot with the rest of them.... like 25-30 trucks, rest of them. We were three of them so let the game begin.

Instantly, we saw many animals, Elk and deer.

Within a couple of minutes we had a seen a good buck. I headed out the BUGLE BOY and SWBUCKMASTER. BUGLE BOY saw a buck go over the ridge out of sight... about ten minutes later, I saw a good buck, turned out to be the same buck. SO IT WAS ON!.

I saw about 5-7 trucks watching the buck, we loaded up and nearly ran up thinking of escape routes the buck would likely go if bumped with pressure of other hunters.

We saw two guys go up high and another was working his way up on the opposite hill. We though we would split them and wait in the bottom.

Climbed up set up a on what I call a ridge saddle, a place most likely for animals to traverse through and waited. I couldn't see the buck, or the other hunters. I could see my partners. I decided I needed to go up another 50-75 yards higher to get the advantage of a higher shot rather than watch the area from below.

I proceed to the spot. Then there was a water bottle in the snow. The snow was freshly scrapped down to the ground. No one was around. I stood there for about 2-4minutes and then a young hunter walked up.

He and I chated a bit, then his radio went off and it said... here it comes to the west. (Directly towards us) He said get ready, here he comes.

You didn't have to tell me. I thought I was in his spot he was there first, so I left him there and quickly sprinted up 50-75 yards above him to cover the top half of this area and he would get the lower.

Next thing I knew, the kid was running around the hill away from the buck. Watching him for a minute it became obvious what had happened.

Then I saw the 180 inch buck with his doe running across the side hill at a quick pace. He was good looking.

Turns out the buck traversed right across where I was before I walked up to the kid. Should of, could of, would of, been in a good spot, BUT that is how it goes.

The kid was about 20-30 yards from the buck but didn't get a shot.

THATS DEER HUNTING.

It was the group hunting or others pressuring the buck that even got me close.

Later that evening, spotted a couple other bucks but didn't have the time to get in close, so I hiked up just to see how big it was, but darkness beat me to the buck.

NOTE to self; TAKE MORE PHOTOS... but the are last option, trying hard to get a buck right now.

Two more days for me right now.
 
UT DEC late elk hunt

Here is a couple of video BugleBoy took as we hike up after some bulls.

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I am not sure if this will work but here is goes. Click on the copyed links and you should be able to pull up some footage taken by Sean Morgan aka BugleBoy (MM)

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Start out with cold temperatures and city down in the canyon.
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For some people golf, fly fishing, basketball, chess, crossword puzzles are their thing.

Me, picking apart the hillside looking for elk or deer. That is my passion and obession. I would say obession because it sometimes makes no sense as to why i do it. I just enjoy and get a thrill out of doing it. If I got bored, I would easily move on to another outdoor hobby. But finding that secluded bull or monster buck hiding out is the challenge and thrill.

If your reading this you know what I mean.

Here is one of the needles in the haystack. Glassing is getting an eye for the make up of a critter.

Here is the bull after he stood up. Horrible camera, but it was very far away.
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Skyline bulls
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Droptine CLUB Bull
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SCRUB OAK Bulls
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Long tined 6 Point
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Bull Bedded
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Good Bull standing
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I am nearly defeated. I have been going up and down the hills trying to get in close and each time the wind is crazy and swirling. I thought mule deer were hard, once the snow is on the ground and frozen, making it crunchy almost impossible to walk around without spooking the elk.

Several close calls, but nothing has developed so far. I have been grateful to be hunting now, I love the late hunt, I love the snow. A couple of more days and its a rap. I will give it a go for the last couple days.

Did a long hike last Thursday that was two round trips up the hill and back down. That nearly killed me. Alot of vertical. The last time coming down was more snow on the ground so I ski-hiked off the hill. It was funner. My knees have are both reconstructed ACL with alot of trash left over on the inside. I have a hard time coming down. Going up is easier.

Sweating. I don't know how to get around this, so I just carry and extra base layer and long sleeve fleece turtleneck and switch at the top.

Coyotes are out. Everyone carry a call and lets knock some out.
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Dec 15th
Last Day.

Gave a good effort. Went out at the last second. Didn't have much time to plan, but figured we would be able to locate some bulls. Found a couple, watched them go into scrub oak and didn't come out. Brian Tucker found them and so we headed up after them.

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As you can tell the terrain was a small bushwack
Try going through this quitely.

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Got to top only to go down and bird dog the elk into Brian. I had to be home at 12:30 so our intent was to make a play early in the am. I neared the last spot the elk were seen. Brian called and said that he though bulls had moved on.

I said fine, and started by up hill. As soon as I was above the scrub oak, noticed 5 bulls directly across from me. They were 100 yards bedded where I was talking on the phone. I had moved in with a cow call, but regardless, I was watched them helplessly start to climb away from me to Brian.

I ran down the hill yelling to make sure they were focused more on me than Brian at the top of the hill. I was yelling that they were coming and later realized the elk had smelled him. The wind was blowing directly to the elk.

They did a 180 and came back towards me. Brian didn't get a shot, I closed the distance to about 150 yards but couldn't keep up with them.

They moved up and over the rigdge in opposite direction after Brian was set up perfectly for the saddle on the ridge.

Later that night I tried again and stood on the opposite hill waiting for the elk to come out and feed.

I was 100 yards too low. Missed them.

Turns out Tacticalbowhunter (MM) shot a bull that night and so I was summoned to help him pack it out. He shot at last day, last ray. Didn't want to push the bull so I called DWR and Officer Roach said it could be tagged if found dead. So the next day it was arranged to pack it out.

I went up with my Badlands 4500 and carried my kids sled with some ropes to pull the elk out. I loaded all meat I could carry and set off with sled to pull it out.

He has photos so I will get them and post them as soon as I can.

I have one more shot at elk this year. Hoping to take a good hide off a winterbull.

As I caped Tacticbowhunters bull, it was stunning to say the least. I hope I fill my tag still. Fingers are crossed.
 
MIDNIGHT PACKOUTS
I have told many of buddies to call me if they shoot an animal. Some people may not like the call, but i am excited about the chance to head up and help out. You may not hear anything from me, but my wife has about had it with packing out other people's animal. She asks, why do you have to go? Because, what am I going to do when I shoot mine? Besides, it's part of the buddy code. (Don't ever give a lame excuse to your buddies when they call) It's bad karma.


When Tactical Bowhunter called, it started at 5:00pm and we got back to the car at 1:30am. It might seem like a pain, but I'm telling you. It was one of the best nights I have had on the front. FREEZING cold weather, but I enjoyed every minute, except for the double ankle rolls 10 feet from my car. STUPID FROZEN ICE HOLES... nearly broke my ankles with all the weight I was carrying.

Here is a photo of set up that I used to access elk and gear in the winter. This kids sled works the best I could have hoped for. The Treestand harness was perfect for pulling the sled with some weight.

Tactical Bowhunters bull was an hour walk from the car, coming back was doubled at 2 hours. Poor Tactical Bowhunter, he was in too young and full of energy and adrenaline to realize the a flat sled with no grooves or straps makes for a long pack out.

He'll learn. But, I can say he had the best hill rides with sitting on his sled as it went down hill.

Going down hill for me would be to swing the sled backwards and let gravity pull it and I would simple steer it with the rope attached to my vest harness.


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Another MIDNIGHT PACKOUT with Kendall Card from CAMOFIRE.com;

Seems like someguys have all the knives. I use one. And have a simple knive sharpener and have never had a problem. I have had done my share of quartering elk and it seems to get me by. other stuff is extra weight. My wood handled wood saw is perfect for any knee bone or skull cuts.
Kendal and his buddy digging for the tenderloins. You can get them out without ever gutting the entire animal. Learned that a couple years back and have always enjoyed showing the next guy. Tonight was Kendal's turn.
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I also got a call from Kendall Card as he shot a cow with his bow. He had drawn the tag so earlier. This was about mid November, but here are the photos I took. I enjoyed helping him out. Its fun for me to be there when a guy shoots an animal. As we all know more hands on deck make for light work.


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After skinning out the hide for Tactical Bowhunter, I was amazed at the beautiful winter cape this time of year. So, with the elk hunt still going in some extended areas. I might have to journey down into the Sanpete County unit and see if I can get lucky. Why not, one more week right?
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I will see if the cards play out. Otherwise, its game on for coyotes!
 
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This is where it all starts...coming back full circle.

Taking inventory of bucks still roaming the hills on general public land. Dreaming of next year...can't get enough.

For me the Challenge never started or will ever stop.

I love to go out and find a new animal. Every trip to the hills is rewarding. I get a rush out of watching them even at this time of year.
 
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