Keeping the Hunt Alive!

LAST EDITED ON Jul-05-10 AT 04:41PM (MST) by Founder (admin)[p][p align=right]Thread Views Counter....[/p]

So to start off the story, I just got married 2 1/2 weeks ago, and boy has it been a change. I'm not going to come on here and bash it, cuz it's been great, but I have noticed some pretty large changes...And by changes, I mean her...trying to change me. I lived in this place by myself for a month or so prior to the wedding, and I had it all set up perfect. I had my guitar/hunting room, and that was really all I needed. It gave me room to tinker on my bow, and rock out to a new song I learned. Plus my hunting videos and action videos front and center next to the tv. Well, I should've guessed that my hunting room (which is what I use to call it) would soon be in for an extreme "room" makeover. As you can see from the pictures, it's now become her craft/scrapbook room. We're still in the process of putting things away, but you can see the mess that we (I) am left with. Anyways, so the basis of this post is that I am going to do everything I can to KEEP THE HUNT ALIVE!! Even though she's trying to tame me, it aint going to happen. We even have a little lap dog, that she treats better than she would a son if we had one.

Anyways, enough about that, my one and only goal this year when it comes to hunting is....are you ready????????

REALLY LEARN THE WASATCH MOUNTAINS, AND HARVEST A NICE BUCK AND A BULL!!!

The wasatch mountains are a very large/rugged area, that holds great deer. I spent some time up there last year with a friend, and saw some really nice bucks, but just could never close the deal with the bow. I really don't know the area at all, but I'm going to do as much exploring as I can. This year is going to be different, and I'm going to document every aspect of it and carry you along for the ride. Feel free to ask me any questions through PM's (oh, and maybe give me some helpful info as well) Thanks everyone
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Went out last night to mark out some new trails to start hiking/scouting, and stumbled across this big boy. He'd been hit the night before, and totaled the truck that hit him. Beautiful 6x6, with time to grow still. Sad to see him there, but now I have an idea where I can find elk. Yes, this was on the wasatch, my new obsession!

8-29-2010

I still havn't been on my hunt yet, I spent the opener of the archery hunt on the Henry Mountains with my good buddy Lance Harris. It was a great time, and got to watch him stick a monster buck. Very good memories, and by far the biggest buck I've seen killed. I got some really great video, and can't wait to get it edited and share it with you all. Here's a few pictures from Lance's Buck "Big Pig". Stay tuned for the video.








If you've followed Lance's Hunting Adventure, you've probably seen most of these pics, but I will post the video within a week that I am making for him.
Congrats Lance Boy on a freakin dandy buck of a lifetime! You the man!

About my hunt adventure......I'm planning on taking a couple days off work the week after Labor day and hunting the Wasatch. I've elected to stay away from there for a few weeks because of the crowds it can draw during the opening week or two, plus the weekends seem to be crazy with all the mountain biking and hiking. I have been doing my homework on the area, and feel confident in finding something decent.
I started another semester of school and this is one of the "time sucks" that is going to keep me from hunting as often as I'd like. I have Statics for Engineers Monday-Thursday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and Mondays and Wednesdays I have Differential Equations/Linear Algebra from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Hopefully I can find time to take some thursdays off school and hunt thursday/friday/saturday/sunday.
Anyways, that's what's new with me and my hunting adventure. I promise soon to actually have some hunting stories, as well as finishing that video for Lance and his great hunt.

So I went up hunting the wasatch on saturday, and saw 5 bucks, but no shooters. The thing I was excited about though is I saw 5 bulls! I was always worried about finding elk on the wasatch, but I was able to locate them. I was however unable to close the deal this time. Hopefully next time I go up. Some other hunters up there kind of spoiled it, so I'm hoping to be able to go up on a weekday and not do the weekend thing anymore. In the herd was a good 330 bull, and like 4 other spikes/raghorns. I'm hoping to head up next week and get them in the rut.
I finished the video for Lance that I did. I know that nobody will like the music that I chose, and if that's the case, just turn it down and enjoy the footage. It's the first video I've ever made, so feel free to send me a PM and critique my work and let me know things you like/dislike. Thanks guys, here's the link.

Headed out last night after work, hoping to find the elk that I had seen the last trip out. I began hiking at 3:20 PM and made it to the top at 5:00 PM. My pack was heavy, but I made great time. I even got a little battle wound that I just had to deal with because I didn't have any band-aids. OUCH!



I got to the top and it was very very windy, and it was obvious that nothing was going to be moving. I was a little discouraged, but I decided to wait for a half hour or so and drop off the top and meet back up with the trail. I began to decend from the mountain, and there wasn't a good trail to come down on so I was being very very noisy. I began to cow call a little everytime I would make noise, just hopefully to trick the elk into thinking I was a cow. I was half way down, and all the sudden, I heard a stick break below me. I got behind a bush and began to cowcall again. I could definately tell that something was below me, but it was so thick that I couldn't see anything. I kept cowcalling, and all the sudden a nice bull came charging out of the trees. He got to 61 yards from me and stopped right there and wasn't coming any closer. I didn't have a shot, because of where I had set myself up. I could see his antlers and his head, and that's it. He was a nice 6 point, probably 310-320 or so. It was such a helpless feeling knowing that he wasn't going to come any closer and there was absolutely nothing that I could do. He stared up on the hill for 5 minutes or so, then bailed back into the trees below. What an awesome experience, and it really made me think about my set up. I need to set myself up with a shot in mind. This one just kind of caught me off guard because I didn't expect him to come out when he did. ANyways, I hope to go in next week, or later in the week and take another crack at him. I'll keep you posted.

I went back up to the same location on Thursday morning. I was the only vehicle at the trail head. I hiked in, and got a better set up, so I could see all directions around me. I began to cow call, with two seperate calls, and changed my directions and things. I called for about a half an hour and didn't see anything. I think I know where the elk went, I just didn't have time that morning to try a different location. Going to go back up on Tuesday evening and see if I can't close the deal. Thanks for the input I've been getting on calling elk, it's helped. Special thanks to OneEyeWiley for taking the time to help me as much as he did. I WILL CLOSE THE DEAL, and I truley believe that. It takes time, and hard work, and I'm so willing to put it in and continue to learn new techniques and new things to give me the advantage and be a better bowhunter. I can't wait to report some good news soon. Stay posted, because it is coming...I know it

Well, I know my last post was extremely optimistic, but I'm feeling almost 100% opposite on this post. I went up tonight after work and got into a great location (or so I thought). After a couple hour hike, I set up at about 5:00 PM and began to call......and kept calling.......and kept calling.....I hunted clear until dark and didn't see a single thing. I'm very frustrated, and pretty down on myself. I wish I would've been in a better position the last time I called that bull in. As everyone that archery hunts knows, it's filled with highs and lows. I just hope I can catch a break. I'm putting in the miles/time to be successful, I just need something to walk into range. I'm also going to throw something out there, I've been hunting alone, and my wife really doesn't like it. If anyone is also hunting the wasatch and would like to tag a long, or hook up and do some hunting, PM me and we can figure something out.

Hey guys, I havn't written in a while. School has been totally dominating my life, and it's been so hard to look at the Wasatch Front all day, and not have any time to go hunting. I've had about 2 tests a week now for a month or so. I had a Differential Equations test today, and two Statics test next week, then I see a break. I'm going hunting next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Hopefully I will have some good pictures, and something to report. I'm only writing today incase I have people interested in reading my story, so I'm just keeping them informed on what I've been up to.

I went out tonight, and stalked to 50 yards from a good 4x4. I got to 50, and could see his antlers in the oak brush, but before I could get a shooting lane, he busted. Such is bowhunting. I've got Thursday and Friday off this week, and will hit it again. He wasn't super huge, probably 22" or so with good main beams, and kinda weak backs. Nice dark antlers though. Anyways guys, until next time

November 18th AM HUNT:

So I went out morning time, and found that same buck. He was 500 yards or so away from where I saw him last time. He was chasing a doe, and was moving very quickly UP the canyon. I tried my best to get a head of him, but I couldn't get even close. Last time I ranged him he was 300 yards, and I wasn't closing distance. I am going back up for the evening hunt, and hope to find them coming down and get ahead of them. Plus the wind started to howl, and I really don't like hunting/shooting a bow in the wind. I'm glad I live so dang close to where I'm hunting, so I came home to clean up/do homework, and at about 3:30 PM, I'm heading back up. I will post again to let you know how I do.

November 18th PM hunt:

So I went to a different spot tonight because I was a little concerned that that 4 point was the only breeder buck around, so I tried a new spot tonight. I started hiking at about 3:30 PM, and found some deer at about 4:15. 5 does, and a little 2 point. I left them alone, and kept on going. I hiked until about 5:20 and ended up seeing 2 other groups. All in all I saw 3 two points and a spike. I think this would be a great spot if I could get a little snow. Hopefully this next week the snow could get the big boys in there. Well, until next time (which I hope is soon).