RE: CO Unit 43 HCB
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SDBugler
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RE: CO Unit 43 HCB
Gator
I'm driving home right now with my tag in my pocket. Where I was hunting I knew it would take me two days to get a deer and my camp out plus a day to drive home. Had to be back to work first thing Monday so Thursday was my deadline to get it done.
Anyway I had planned to hunt a draw that doesn't have a name on any map but we call "knife and fork". About 25 years ago when my dad and I first archery elk hunted that area another hunter told us he doesn't go in that draw because the only way to get an elk out is with a knife and fork!
While hiking in Thursday afternoon before the season I found a pretty good buck in a different draw so I just dropped my pack and camped on him. Right away at first light opening morning a rifle hunter shot at him before the buck could feed to a spot I could put a stalk on him. I don't how far tawau the hunter was but he shot 6 or 7 times without hitting him! Of course the buck hightailed it out of the basin.
At first I was upset but then spotted the hunter and I saw he had a couple little kids with him and realized his challenges of getting closer. Those kids were probably pretty excited watching the events unfold. Hindsight, I wish dad would have harvested that deer with his two kids along.
I continued on to knife and fork and Monday night spotted a 170 and a 180 buck and they both still had perfect velvet. I've never shot a velvet buck and that was my goal for this hunt. Over the next couple days I tried a couple stalks but had to back out as the winds changed and they made into the thick trees before I could reposition. Anyway, on Wednesday morning the 180 buck showed up with his velvet gone but Wednesday night the 170 buck was still unblemished. Thursday morning I spotted them right away and the 170 buck was still in velvet! (Although I would take either buck that gave me the first good shot) Knowing it was my last day, I was going to be agressive as I had nothing to lose. I decided to try to seal the deal quick and go at them from below before the thermals started going up. When I got within 300 yards, I stopped to plan my final stalk. At that same time the 170 buck sticks his head in a pine tree and shreds that perfect velvet right in front of me!!!! Nooooo!!!
So I close another 100 yards and I'm dropping my pack to sneak the last 50 - 75 yards when I feel the rising sun coming over the mountain and hit me. and that little bit of warmth was enough to change the thermals and the bucks above me caught my scent and my season was over.
Had I been 10-15 minutes sooner and I might be packing out a 180 buck or a velvet buck. But that's hunting!!
I had a blast and a velvet buck is still on my bucket list.
Gator
I'm driving home right now with my tag in my pocket. Where I was hunting I knew it would take me two days to get a deer and my camp out plus a day to drive home. Had to be back to work first thing Monday so Thursday was my deadline to get it done.
Anyway I had planned to hunt a draw that doesn't have a name on any map but we call "knife and fork". About 25 years ago when my dad and I first archery elk hunted that area another hunter told us he doesn't go in that draw because the only way to get an elk out is with a knife and fork!
While hiking in Thursday afternoon before the season I found a pretty good buck in a different draw so I just dropped my pack and camped on him. Right away at first light opening morning a rifle hunter shot at him before the buck could feed to a spot I could put a stalk on him. I don't how far tawau the hunter was but he shot 6 or 7 times without hitting him! Of course the buck hightailed it out of the basin.
At first I was upset but then spotted the hunter and I saw he had a couple little kids with him and realized his challenges of getting closer. Those kids were probably pretty excited watching the events unfold. Hindsight, I wish dad would have harvested that deer with his two kids along.
I continued on to knife and fork and Monday night spotted a 170 and a 180 buck and they both still had perfect velvet. I've never shot a velvet buck and that was my goal for this hunt. Over the next couple days I tried a couple stalks but had to back out as the winds changed and they made into the thick trees before I could reposition. Anyway, on Wednesday morning the 180 buck showed up with his velvet gone but Wednesday night the 170 buck was still unblemished. Thursday morning I spotted them right away and the 170 buck was still in velvet! (Although I would take either buck that gave me the first good shot) Knowing it was my last day, I was going to be agressive as I had nothing to lose. I decided to try to seal the deal quick and go at them from below before the thermals started going up. When I got within 300 yards, I stopped to plan my final stalk. At that same time the 170 buck sticks his head in a pine tree and shreds that perfect velvet right in front of me!!!! Nooooo!!!
So I close another 100 yards and I'm dropping my pack to sneak the last 50 - 75 yards when I feel the rising sun coming over the mountain and hit me. and that little bit of warmth was enough to change the thermals and the bucks above me caught my scent and my season was over.
Had I been 10-15 minutes sooner and I might be packing out a 180 buck or a velvet buck. But that's hunting!!
I had a blast and a velvet buck is still on my bucket list.
Gator
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RE: CO Unit 43 HCB
That does sound like it was a great hunt with tag soup at the end, But a lot of times those are the best ones due to the type of bucks you was hunting, I never mind losing out to those tough old bucks, they have to win now and then.
Great write up. Next time it your turn to win the duel.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
That does sound like it was a great hunt with tag soup at the end, But a lot of times those are the best ones due to the type of bucks you was hunting, I never mind losing out to those tough old bucks, they have to win now and then.
Great write up. Next time it your turn to win the duel.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
