I have been going through hunting withdrawals the last week and a half so I thought I'd reminisce on the past year by writing a season recap. This might be a little long but I hunted a ton this year right down to the last day of 2014.
2014 was a wild ride that unfortunately left me eating double tag soup but I learned a ton a long the way and had some amazing experiences as well. The season started off great as I helped my good friend, Jaron Dansie, tag out on a near 350" class bull on his Utah LE tag. I was able to call the bull into less than 12 yards and set Jaron up for a great shot opportunity. Once returning from that hunt, I was a bit behind on the rut for my own hunt as I found the bulls were heavy into the rut on the general unit by the time I got back. I hunted harder than I ever have in my entire life to kill a big bull on a general tag during the rut and despite having a few very close calls and a couple dead branches I was not able to fill my tag during the rut.
Once November came I focused on the mule deer rut and again had a couple great opportunities at a couple huge bucks that I had scouted all summer long. In fact, the last day I was able to hunt mule deer I got on a 28 inch wide four point with two kickers on his left side. That day was a white out blizzard and despite the conditions I got two shots off on this special buck. The first, I hit a branch at 66 yards and the second shot came just before dark. I had bumped this buck and his does four times that day and the last time I got on them I had him quartered away at 54 yards. I ranged, set my pin, and released... THe buck was very jumpy at this point and he reacted as I released and was ducking and lunging forward as the arrow got to him. Fortunately, it was a clean miss.
For the first two weeks of December I chased big bulls on their wintering grounds on the wasatch extended area. Unfortunately, the conditions were brutal as it was record breakingly warm and dry. The conditions were tough and the bulls didnt really drop to their wintering grounds. Despite the difficulty, I was able to locate and stalk several good bulls over the last two weeks. One Saturday, while hunting with my wife, we located a good 6 point bull about 1.5 miles out and were able to sneak into range using the surrounding landscape and timber as cover. I got in under 50 yards as he was feeding toward the shade. I ranged a few clearings he would likely cross and set my range finder down and got ready as he was moving quickly. When I sat my range finder down it unfortunately slide 15 ft down the steep hill. The bull came across further back than anticipated and I did not have my range finder to range. He was slightly quartering to me... I put my 40 yard pin right on the pocket and released my arrow. I heard the impact and was immediately elated. Unfortunately, as we got on the blood trail, it went from a few splats of good blood to very little blood quickly. We followed the trail for a few hours and where mostly tracking prints in the snow and mud and broken oak brush. I finally got to a good vantage and glassed the surrounding landscape.. Fortunately, I was able to locate my bull with two others and I was able to see where I had hit him. The shot was very low in his chest/ brisket area and was clear of any vitals. The bleeding had stopped and he was actually leading the two other bulls as they went up and over the ridge into the next drainage. It was very calming to see that the wound would not be fatal as I watched him disappear. I went back to the site of the shot and found that the true distance was 48 yards not 40... which completely explains where I hit... Unfortunately, I hunted the same area several more days and was never able to turn that bull up again or his buddies.
Once December 15 past I thought my season was done but decided to give the San Pete extended one last try on none other than the last day of the year. It was a beautiful but cold day with a good layer of fresh powder. I hit up several areas that day but was always one step behind the elk. I saw a lot of fresh sign on the ground I could hunt but the only elk I turned up were unfortunately on private I couldn't access. I am pretty sad this hunt will no longer exist next year cuz it was pretty fun. But nevertheless it was an excellent way to spend the last day of 2014!
It was a great season filled with close calls and good friends. I ended up hunting probably between 50 and 60 days this year and had an absolute blast despite not harvesting. A shout out to my friends Scott, Bryce, jaron, James, and Landon, it was a blast hunting with you and becoming even better friends. Thanks for everything!!!!
I am already excited for rutting bulls and velvet mulies next year! 2015 is already starting off great with me drawing an le turkey tag!!!
I will post various pics from my season in some reply messages below.. Hope you all enjoyed your 2014 as much as I enjoyed mine.
2014 was a wild ride that unfortunately left me eating double tag soup but I learned a ton a long the way and had some amazing experiences as well. The season started off great as I helped my good friend, Jaron Dansie, tag out on a near 350" class bull on his Utah LE tag. I was able to call the bull into less than 12 yards and set Jaron up for a great shot opportunity. Once returning from that hunt, I was a bit behind on the rut for my own hunt as I found the bulls were heavy into the rut on the general unit by the time I got back. I hunted harder than I ever have in my entire life to kill a big bull on a general tag during the rut and despite having a few very close calls and a couple dead branches I was not able to fill my tag during the rut.
Once November came I focused on the mule deer rut and again had a couple great opportunities at a couple huge bucks that I had scouted all summer long. In fact, the last day I was able to hunt mule deer I got on a 28 inch wide four point with two kickers on his left side. That day was a white out blizzard and despite the conditions I got two shots off on this special buck. The first, I hit a branch at 66 yards and the second shot came just before dark. I had bumped this buck and his does four times that day and the last time I got on them I had him quartered away at 54 yards. I ranged, set my pin, and released... THe buck was very jumpy at this point and he reacted as I released and was ducking and lunging forward as the arrow got to him. Fortunately, it was a clean miss.
For the first two weeks of December I chased big bulls on their wintering grounds on the wasatch extended area. Unfortunately, the conditions were brutal as it was record breakingly warm and dry. The conditions were tough and the bulls didnt really drop to their wintering grounds. Despite the difficulty, I was able to locate and stalk several good bulls over the last two weeks. One Saturday, while hunting with my wife, we located a good 6 point bull about 1.5 miles out and were able to sneak into range using the surrounding landscape and timber as cover. I got in under 50 yards as he was feeding toward the shade. I ranged a few clearings he would likely cross and set my range finder down and got ready as he was moving quickly. When I sat my range finder down it unfortunately slide 15 ft down the steep hill. The bull came across further back than anticipated and I did not have my range finder to range. He was slightly quartering to me... I put my 40 yard pin right on the pocket and released my arrow. I heard the impact and was immediately elated. Unfortunately, as we got on the blood trail, it went from a few splats of good blood to very little blood quickly. We followed the trail for a few hours and where mostly tracking prints in the snow and mud and broken oak brush. I finally got to a good vantage and glassed the surrounding landscape.. Fortunately, I was able to locate my bull with two others and I was able to see where I had hit him. The shot was very low in his chest/ brisket area and was clear of any vitals. The bleeding had stopped and he was actually leading the two other bulls as they went up and over the ridge into the next drainage. It was very calming to see that the wound would not be fatal as I watched him disappear. I went back to the site of the shot and found that the true distance was 48 yards not 40... which completely explains where I hit... Unfortunately, I hunted the same area several more days and was never able to turn that bull up again or his buddies.
Once December 15 past I thought my season was done but decided to give the San Pete extended one last try on none other than the last day of the year. It was a beautiful but cold day with a good layer of fresh powder. I hit up several areas that day but was always one step behind the elk. I saw a lot of fresh sign on the ground I could hunt but the only elk I turned up were unfortunately on private I couldn't access. I am pretty sad this hunt will no longer exist next year cuz it was pretty fun. But nevertheless it was an excellent way to spend the last day of 2014!
It was a great season filled with close calls and good friends. I ended up hunting probably between 50 and 60 days this year and had an absolute blast despite not harvesting. A shout out to my friends Scott, Bryce, jaron, James, and Landon, it was a blast hunting with you and becoming even better friends. Thanks for everything!!!!
I am already excited for rutting bulls and velvet mulies next year! 2015 is already starting off great with me drawing an le turkey tag!!!
I will post various pics from my season in some reply messages below.. Hope you all enjoyed your 2014 as much as I enjoyed mine.
