2005 Wilderness buck
- Thread starter bowguy
- Start date
B
bigcountry3000
Guest
That is one hell of a blacktail congrats and nice picture
P
PAL
Guest
Great Blackie.... welcome to Pope & Young...
Still looking for one that nice with bow or rifle...
Still looking for one that nice with bow or rifle...
BOWUNTR
Active Member
- Messages
- 399
Nice buck Bowguy!!! Congrats. That bucks needs to go in all three books, CBH, P&Y & B&C. I'll hook you up with a scorer in your area. Congrats again. Ed F
http://community.webshots.com/user/bowuntr
http://community.webshots.com/user/bowuntr
buckmster28
Moderator
- Messages
- 399
Awesome Buck in all my hunting I havent seen but a couple of that caliber.What a dream buck!How wide is he looks to be around 24" or so, Id say your 140 guess is pretty good.Congrats!
S
Sheepshooter
Guest
GREAT , great buck . Congrats BIG time .
eelgrass,
Here's the story
Ok we have been going to this same spot for a long time. 10 plus years for me and 20 years for my hunting buddy it's his spot. I am pretty sure over the years we might have taken 1 or 2 bucks that did not go Pope and Young. Anyways it's a good spot and the most we have had in camp is four people. Always the same people, special invitation only.
Well this year was no different than the rest the place had some great bucks. We went in on the opener three of us this year. First mourning we were at our glassing spot at daylight. We all watched bucks heading for their bedding until about 9:20 or so. We had 5 different stocks planned. My buddies were going north and around on bucks that were bedded there. I headed to the south were I watched a couple nice bucks disappear in the timber. We would meet on top at 2:00 and complete the last two stocks which would be below us now. No luck so far, there were bears all over the hill and the deer were jumpy although I did sneak to 68 yards on a heavy antlered buck that walked off before I could get a good look.
After we sat down and had a bite to eat we went down the hill toward the last two bucks we had bedded. What a great sneak we made down the hill, but both bucks had disappeared on us. Probably the other bucks that got bumped earlier cleaned the entire hill. I am sure we have all had this same scenario.
Sunday mourning we were doing the same. The hill held new bucks we had not seen the day before. Put them to bed and of coarse they couldn't be low they were high on the hill (more conditioning). The day turned out the same bumped bucks on the way to the ones we wanted. We all had to get home so we packed up and headed out.
Boy the week took forever to go by. We discussed when we would head back in to try the bucks again. I had some wife duty Saturday so we decided we had time for a day hunt Sunday the 28th. I went to a party with my wife until 9:30 headed home showered scent free of coarse then left my house in Redding at 10:15 P.M. I got to the trailhead at 12:15 A.M. my hunting buddies were showing up at 4:00 A.M. so I grabbed 3 ? hours of sleep. At a couple minutes after 4 they showed up. We packed our day packs and left the trailhead at 4:30 A.M. I tied my sleeping bag on just in case I wanted to stay overnight.
At 6:45 we were still hunting up the timber. Just after 7:00 A.M. we were up on a ridge glassing a nice basin. We saw 4 or 5 bucks up high and watched them go over the top. Then right in the middle of the basin half way up we spotted a 3 x 3 with antlers that laid out to about 26?. I had planned on checking some bedding area I cased the weekend before so my buddies went after the wide 3 point. As happens they bumped another buck that was below the wide one and emptied the hill.
It was getting close to 8:00 A.M. so I had some more time before the wind would start blowing up and give me a chance to get over the hill without spreading my scent. I snuck over the ridge and started down in to find a good vantage point to sit and wait. I crossed a nice trail that looked used. I found a rock ledge that overlooked this trail and a cross trail that headed into some promising bedding. The bucks in this area feed out in the open then side hill to the timber pockets and move to their bedding.
I had settle in on my rock had some water and a power bar. After half an hour I heard something coming up the hill below me. It was making quite a bit of racket so I instantly thought it had to be a bear. We had seen 9 bears opening weekend so I did not think anything of it. For 15 minutes or so I listened to this animal coming up my trail. This country is steep. I had already ranged a number of objects surrounding me so I had yardage down. Just then I see below me at 45 yards a deer behind some pine trees, I bring up my steiners for a look and all I see is one side of a rack 4 points. We all know any descent 4x4 will usually go 120 so I knew he was a shooter. I picked up my bow and quietly knocked an arrow, yes I was a bit to relaxed. As soon as I pull up my bow the buck disappears in a group of pines 35 yards in front of me. He had two lanes to go through one at 42 yards and one at 35. I knew he had to come out. I waited shaking like a leaf as always (when I don't get excited anymore that's when I will think about giving it up). For 30 minutes the buck was behind these trees I couldn't see him at all. It was silent for awhile so I am thinking dang it this buck bedded 35 yards in front of me and I can't see him. Every so often I could hear him munching some brush. The wind had started acting weird then I heard him weez I thought he had smelled me and expected to see him blast by any moment.
It is difficult to walk around on these rocks and not be detected so I waited. Finally the buck appeared in a widow through the trees in front of me. This window was perfect about three feet tall two feet wide. The buck was broadside chest only in the window perfect. As I drew back still sitting on the rock the buck turned quartering away. He started to move straight away I knew if he kept in that direction he would disappear. I put my thirty yard pin on his rib cage and let one fly. As I released the buck turned to face straight away. Whack what a great sound to hear when shooting an arrow into an animal. I watched the arrow sail center body. The Montec G5 zipped right through. He jumped gave that kick they give and blasted out. Crash, crash for about a 100 yards then nothing, I thought awesome he's down. I waited about 15 minutes then climbed down off the rock to look for my arrow. As I eased down the hill I saw the buck about 120 yards away in a brush patch heading downhill. I grabbed my arrow and all I could find is paunch on it. Rather than spook the buck I backed out and went up the hill to meet my hunting buddies.
After we all examined the arrow we decided to hunt up the hill and give him 4 or 5 hours to be sure. We got back down the hill at 3:00 or so and started tracking. At first we were dubious we had found only paunch and zero blood. After tracking him by his prints for about sixty or so yards I found blood what a relief. Blood on granite shows up really good so we could track right to him. He traveled about 300 yards. The shot went through the inside of the left ham through the paunch and out the second rib in on the brisket. The guts had plugged the hole so he did not start bleeding until he went downhill.
That is when I could finally see how good of buck he was. After a few high fives and some pictures we went to work. Boned him out loaded the packs and headed the 3 miles or so to the trailhead. Thank goodness for hunting buddies or I would be carrying an extra 70 pounds instead of 30. What a great hunt I would rather be lucky than good any day. The thing is I have been lucky quite a few times so persistence must pay off.
Here's the story
Ok we have been going to this same spot for a long time. 10 plus years for me and 20 years for my hunting buddy it's his spot. I am pretty sure over the years we might have taken 1 or 2 bucks that did not go Pope and Young. Anyways it's a good spot and the most we have had in camp is four people. Always the same people, special invitation only.
Well this year was no different than the rest the place had some great bucks. We went in on the opener three of us this year. First mourning we were at our glassing spot at daylight. We all watched bucks heading for their bedding until about 9:20 or so. We had 5 different stocks planned. My buddies were going north and around on bucks that were bedded there. I headed to the south were I watched a couple nice bucks disappear in the timber. We would meet on top at 2:00 and complete the last two stocks which would be below us now. No luck so far, there were bears all over the hill and the deer were jumpy although I did sneak to 68 yards on a heavy antlered buck that walked off before I could get a good look.
After we sat down and had a bite to eat we went down the hill toward the last two bucks we had bedded. What a great sneak we made down the hill, but both bucks had disappeared on us. Probably the other bucks that got bumped earlier cleaned the entire hill. I am sure we have all had this same scenario.
Sunday mourning we were doing the same. The hill held new bucks we had not seen the day before. Put them to bed and of coarse they couldn't be low they were high on the hill (more conditioning). The day turned out the same bumped bucks on the way to the ones we wanted. We all had to get home so we packed up and headed out.
Boy the week took forever to go by. We discussed when we would head back in to try the bucks again. I had some wife duty Saturday so we decided we had time for a day hunt Sunday the 28th. I went to a party with my wife until 9:30 headed home showered scent free of coarse then left my house in Redding at 10:15 P.M. I got to the trailhead at 12:15 A.M. my hunting buddies were showing up at 4:00 A.M. so I grabbed 3 ? hours of sleep. At a couple minutes after 4 they showed up. We packed our day packs and left the trailhead at 4:30 A.M. I tied my sleeping bag on just in case I wanted to stay overnight.
At 6:45 we were still hunting up the timber. Just after 7:00 A.M. we were up on a ridge glassing a nice basin. We saw 4 or 5 bucks up high and watched them go over the top. Then right in the middle of the basin half way up we spotted a 3 x 3 with antlers that laid out to about 26?. I had planned on checking some bedding area I cased the weekend before so my buddies went after the wide 3 point. As happens they bumped another buck that was below the wide one and emptied the hill.
It was getting close to 8:00 A.M. so I had some more time before the wind would start blowing up and give me a chance to get over the hill without spreading my scent. I snuck over the ridge and started down in to find a good vantage point to sit and wait. I crossed a nice trail that looked used. I found a rock ledge that overlooked this trail and a cross trail that headed into some promising bedding. The bucks in this area feed out in the open then side hill to the timber pockets and move to their bedding.
I had settle in on my rock had some water and a power bar. After half an hour I heard something coming up the hill below me. It was making quite a bit of racket so I instantly thought it had to be a bear. We had seen 9 bears opening weekend so I did not think anything of it. For 15 minutes or so I listened to this animal coming up my trail. This country is steep. I had already ranged a number of objects surrounding me so I had yardage down. Just then I see below me at 45 yards a deer behind some pine trees, I bring up my steiners for a look and all I see is one side of a rack 4 points. We all know any descent 4x4 will usually go 120 so I knew he was a shooter. I picked up my bow and quietly knocked an arrow, yes I was a bit to relaxed. As soon as I pull up my bow the buck disappears in a group of pines 35 yards in front of me. He had two lanes to go through one at 42 yards and one at 35. I knew he had to come out. I waited shaking like a leaf as always (when I don't get excited anymore that's when I will think about giving it up). For 30 minutes the buck was behind these trees I couldn't see him at all. It was silent for awhile so I am thinking dang it this buck bedded 35 yards in front of me and I can't see him. Every so often I could hear him munching some brush. The wind had started acting weird then I heard him weez I thought he had smelled me and expected to see him blast by any moment.
It is difficult to walk around on these rocks and not be detected so I waited. Finally the buck appeared in a widow through the trees in front of me. This window was perfect about three feet tall two feet wide. The buck was broadside chest only in the window perfect. As I drew back still sitting on the rock the buck turned quartering away. He started to move straight away I knew if he kept in that direction he would disappear. I put my thirty yard pin on his rib cage and let one fly. As I released the buck turned to face straight away. Whack what a great sound to hear when shooting an arrow into an animal. I watched the arrow sail center body. The Montec G5 zipped right through. He jumped gave that kick they give and blasted out. Crash, crash for about a 100 yards then nothing, I thought awesome he's down. I waited about 15 minutes then climbed down off the rock to look for my arrow. As I eased down the hill I saw the buck about 120 yards away in a brush patch heading downhill. I grabbed my arrow and all I could find is paunch on it. Rather than spook the buck I backed out and went up the hill to meet my hunting buddies.
After we all examined the arrow we decided to hunt up the hill and give him 4 or 5 hours to be sure. We got back down the hill at 3:00 or so and started tracking. At first we were dubious we had found only paunch and zero blood. After tracking him by his prints for about sixty or so yards I found blood what a relief. Blood on granite shows up really good so we could track right to him. He traveled about 300 yards. The shot went through the inside of the left ham through the paunch and out the second rib in on the brisket. The guts had plugged the hole so he did not start bleeding until he went downhill.
That is when I could finally see how good of buck he was. After a few high fives and some pictures we went to work. Boned him out loaded the packs and headed the 3 miles or so to the trailhead. Thank goodness for hunting buddies or I would be carrying an extra 70 pounds instead of 30. What a great hunt I would rather be lucky than good any day. The thing is I have been lucky quite a few times so persistence must pay off.
N
NMHUNTNUTT1
Guest
Congrats on a great hunt and BEAUTIFUL BUCK !!! His cape looks real good , he'll make and absolutely mount....Thanks for sharing and congrats....NMHUNTNUTT
M
MHIC2
Guest
Nice buck! Thats the kind of buck that keeps us up at night.
ridgerunner
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,958
Sweet blacktail, wow.
Blacktailslayer
Active Member
- Messages
- 163
Congrats on a hell of a nice buck! I've only seen that caliber scouting, then they disappear on my opening day. I ended up with a little 2X3 on the 22nd near Platina.
Anyhow, you did great, keep it up and keep the photos coming.
Blacktailslayer
Anyhow, you did great, keep it up and keep the photos coming.
Blacktailslayer
