SoloHNTR
Member
- Messages
- 45
Last weekend my buddy and I went to our unit planning on mostly scouting but hopeful we could fill one tag before next week, when we had planned the bulk of our time off.
Luck was on our side. The forecast was heavy rain (100%) for the two days we were to be there. We went anyway knowing it was going to be miserable but hoping there would be enough breaks in the rain that the deer would come out. We pulled into camp around midnight in a full on down pour. We Threw out our tents and hurry and went to bed. The rain never stopped the entire night. we woke up at 4:30 the rain still pouring down. We got suited up the best we could drove to our trail head and started our 4 mile hike in to the first area we had marked to check. We got to our first vantage point at about first light. We were soaked but right about that time the rain stopped. From that point until the next morning we had the best weather you could imagine. I guess that's why you never stay back at camp. You just never know what the weather will do.
The first area we hiked into looked and felt like the perfect deer area. miles of perfect habitat to glass. We just couldn't turn up anything. At 2 PM after much debate we decided to hike the 4 miles and 2500 ft back to the truck to head to our next spot. At 6 we pulled up to the next ridge line we planned to hike and glass from. This was a shorter but very steep hike only 2 miles but about 1500 foot drop to the main vantage points. within 10 minutes of reaching the first vantage point we were on deer. At first just a few small bucks but slowly a few bigger bucks started to show themselves until finally my buck came out. Even at a distance the second I put my binos on him I knew he was a shooter. I put my spotting scope on him to confirm. We planned a stalk to close the distance and at 7:10 with the light starting to fade I took this buck.
Pack outs are my favorite part of every hunt. This one did not disappoint. We shot him at the bottom of a seriously steep and deep canyon. We didn't get him back to the truck until a little after midnight and didn't make it back to camp until 1:15 AM. We were tired but the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming.
My buddy is fairly new to hunting but is the type of guy that never quits or complains. After a quick discussion before bed we decided to get back at it first thing in the morning. I chose a new spot to check out that had a little bit easier of a hike to get to the vantage point but the canyons around it were very steep so if we got one it was going to be another tough on to get out.
Up again at 4:30 with almost no sleep we drove to the new spot. After a short hike and not more than 2 minutes after sitting down. I spotted his buck. This was at very first light and the buck was already bedded sound asleep with his head laying in the dirt. I've never seen this before. I actually thought he must be dead from another hunter that couldn't find him. I watched him for the next 5 minutes before he finally twitched his head to the side. He was alive!!! We snuck down to about 175 yards and set up. I gave my friend some time to make sure this was the buck he wanted to take. He said yes and placed a perfect shot.
This pack out wasn't as intense as the night before but it was still down a fairly deep dranaige (1000-1500 ft or so).
3.5 hours later we had his buck at the truck and were ready to head home. We were tired and hurting in every way but couldn't have been happier and more satisfied.
Here is my friends buck.
Luck was on our side. The forecast was heavy rain (100%) for the two days we were to be there. We went anyway knowing it was going to be miserable but hoping there would be enough breaks in the rain that the deer would come out. We pulled into camp around midnight in a full on down pour. We Threw out our tents and hurry and went to bed. The rain never stopped the entire night. we woke up at 4:30 the rain still pouring down. We got suited up the best we could drove to our trail head and started our 4 mile hike in to the first area we had marked to check. We got to our first vantage point at about first light. We were soaked but right about that time the rain stopped. From that point until the next morning we had the best weather you could imagine. I guess that's why you never stay back at camp. You just never know what the weather will do.
The first area we hiked into looked and felt like the perfect deer area. miles of perfect habitat to glass. We just couldn't turn up anything. At 2 PM after much debate we decided to hike the 4 miles and 2500 ft back to the truck to head to our next spot. At 6 we pulled up to the next ridge line we planned to hike and glass from. This was a shorter but very steep hike only 2 miles but about 1500 foot drop to the main vantage points. within 10 minutes of reaching the first vantage point we were on deer. At first just a few small bucks but slowly a few bigger bucks started to show themselves until finally my buck came out. Even at a distance the second I put my binos on him I knew he was a shooter. I put my spotting scope on him to confirm. We planned a stalk to close the distance and at 7:10 with the light starting to fade I took this buck.
Pack outs are my favorite part of every hunt. This one did not disappoint. We shot him at the bottom of a seriously steep and deep canyon. We didn't get him back to the truck until a little after midnight and didn't make it back to camp until 1:15 AM. We were tired but the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming.
My buddy is fairly new to hunting but is the type of guy that never quits or complains. After a quick discussion before bed we decided to get back at it first thing in the morning. I chose a new spot to check out that had a little bit easier of a hike to get to the vantage point but the canyons around it were very steep so if we got one it was going to be another tough on to get out.
Up again at 4:30 with almost no sleep we drove to the new spot. After a short hike and not more than 2 minutes after sitting down. I spotted his buck. This was at very first light and the buck was already bedded sound asleep with his head laying in the dirt. I've never seen this before. I actually thought he must be dead from another hunter that couldn't find him. I watched him for the next 5 minutes before he finally twitched his head to the side. He was alive!!! We snuck down to about 175 yards and set up. I gave my friend some time to make sure this was the buck he wanted to take. He said yes and placed a perfect shot.
This pack out wasn't as intense as the night before but it was still down a fairly deep dranaige (1000-1500 ft or so).
3.5 hours later we had his buck at the truck and were ready to head home. We were tired and hurting in every way but couldn't have been happier and more satisfied.
Here is my friends buck.
