Mooretitan
Active Member
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- 249
I don't post on here very much but have gathered information and appreciate everyone who does post. Anyways we made our 2nd trip to southeastern Idaho the last week and had a great trip. My 11 year old son and dad both where successful and I had opportunities but decided to pass on the bucks I saw. So here is a run down on the trip
Day 1 - After work we loaded the rest of the gear in the truck and started the 14 hour trip from California to Idaho. The excitement was high for all of us. There is not much that can describe that pre-hunt feeling one gets on a trip like this. Add in an 11 year old boy and it pushes it over the top. Most of the talk revolved around all the big bucks we were going to take and which locations we would find them in. The drive was great and in no time we were in Idaho with enough time to take a quick nap before setting up camp.
Day 2 - Camp day. The spot we hunt gives us a great tent camp set up. After a few hours of work everything was unloaded and both tents where up and running. As we unloaded the last of the gear we were greeted by a nice 3 point a few hundred yards from camp. We drove to a few glassing points that evening and saw hundreds of deer but not any bucks really worth getting excited about. Off to dinner and cards for the night.
Day 3 - Scout Day. We spent most of the day scouting and relaxing around camp. We did not spot and bucks worth going after but the trip was great. Just enjoying time with my son and dad was worth the trip. We planned on going up on the mountain in the morning and hopefully find some bucks for opening day.
Day 4 - Spent the day on the mountain. After a long 3 hour hike in we found some great bucks on the ridges. I was excited about the opportunity to hunt some high country bucks. I am guessing the biggest deer we saw was close to the 175-180 mark which would be the biggest deer any of us had killed to this point. The opener looked like it was going to bring snow. Everything was pointing in the right direction.
Day 5 - Big Buck spotted down low. So this was going to change things up for the opener. The plan was to spend the 1st day day low looking for the big 4 point for my son and then hunt another area close to camp which we knew held a nice 3 point. The rest of the hunt would be mine to hunt high on the mountain. As we sat at camp that evening I tried to get my young son to understand that in the morning things could change quickly and that if I were him I would take any nice buck. Well after some discussion he pointed out that it was his tag and he was going to hold out for a 4 point or bigger and that I could not make him shoot a smaller deer. I was somewhat frustrated knowing that it was not going to be easy and I really wanted him to get a deer but at the same time proud that he set a standard and was not going to talked into anything.
Day 6 Opening day. We got up nice and early and headed out in the dark and rain.We made our way to the area that held the 4 point from yesterday. We had about 30 mins before it got light enough to shoot. We sat there in the dark trying to make out deer hoping luck would be on our side. As the light finally made its way into the sky we spotted 4 does. We slow made our way closer and I spotted two more deer but could not make them out yet. Another few minutes and we had enough light to make out one of the deer as the big 4 point from yesterday. The problem was that I had to stand up just to see them and was not sure my son would have the height to see them. For those who hunt with kids it crazy what a couple feet can do to shooting lanes. My son is very small 11 year old to begin with but was luck would have it he had just enough height with the shooting sticks to make out the buck. He shouldered the 6.5 creed and waited for me to give him the green light. As the doe cleared I said take him when you are ready and he pulled the trigger hitting the buck hard. The buck made it about 20 yards and pilled up. The look and excitement in his eyes was well worth the effort it took to get him. My son was very proud of himself. A few minutes later my dad was able to join us and we worked on pictures and getting the buck back into camp.
After a quick breakfast we headed back out with my dad to see with we could turn up the 3 point. After pushing a few does here and there we worked back to camp. I made it back to camp 1st and sat there glassing up my dad and son on the ridge. A couple minutes later I was able to watch my son and dad shoot the 3 point right from camp. A shot hike back up the ridge and I got to enjoy their kill with them. Not bad for opening day. Two nice bucks down and a few more days to focus on me
Day 7 - Up the mountain we went. With fresh snow and about 3-4 hours later we were on the ridge I wanted to be on. Only problem was that once we made it up there we were greeted with 8 atvs that i could see. We were in a unit that was closed to all ATVS but I guess no one follows the rules anymore. I watch guys riding on all the ridge tops and even one on the very top of the mountain. I was disappointed but hoped I could find away from the pressure. Every ridge I went on was another group of hunters or ATVs. I spent the whole day in other peoples tracks. I knew the unit had heavy hunting pressure but thought I could escape it by putting some boot leather in. The day turned up some small bucks and does. Nothing worth getting excited about. The next couple days was more of the same. My son wanted to turn them all in for riding up the mountain but in the end the trip was worth it.
I never found the buck I was looking for but could have filled the tag on smaller bucks but was not interested in that. My son and dad both took there bucks in the lower land which I hunted a little but was really wanting more of a high country hunt experience. Not sure why there were so many people up high on ATVS. They did not get and bucks and really ruined the area. Oh well. Decided that next year we will look for another unit with less pressure.
I will try to post pics from my cell when I get a chance
Day 1 - After work we loaded the rest of the gear in the truck and started the 14 hour trip from California to Idaho. The excitement was high for all of us. There is not much that can describe that pre-hunt feeling one gets on a trip like this. Add in an 11 year old boy and it pushes it over the top. Most of the talk revolved around all the big bucks we were going to take and which locations we would find them in. The drive was great and in no time we were in Idaho with enough time to take a quick nap before setting up camp.
Day 2 - Camp day. The spot we hunt gives us a great tent camp set up. After a few hours of work everything was unloaded and both tents where up and running. As we unloaded the last of the gear we were greeted by a nice 3 point a few hundred yards from camp. We drove to a few glassing points that evening and saw hundreds of deer but not any bucks really worth getting excited about. Off to dinner and cards for the night.
Day 3 - Scout Day. We spent most of the day scouting and relaxing around camp. We did not spot and bucks worth going after but the trip was great. Just enjoying time with my son and dad was worth the trip. We planned on going up on the mountain in the morning and hopefully find some bucks for opening day.
Day 4 - Spent the day on the mountain. After a long 3 hour hike in we found some great bucks on the ridges. I was excited about the opportunity to hunt some high country bucks. I am guessing the biggest deer we saw was close to the 175-180 mark which would be the biggest deer any of us had killed to this point. The opener looked like it was going to bring snow. Everything was pointing in the right direction.
Day 5 - Big Buck spotted down low. So this was going to change things up for the opener. The plan was to spend the 1st day day low looking for the big 4 point for my son and then hunt another area close to camp which we knew held a nice 3 point. The rest of the hunt would be mine to hunt high on the mountain. As we sat at camp that evening I tried to get my young son to understand that in the morning things could change quickly and that if I were him I would take any nice buck. Well after some discussion he pointed out that it was his tag and he was going to hold out for a 4 point or bigger and that I could not make him shoot a smaller deer. I was somewhat frustrated knowing that it was not going to be easy and I really wanted him to get a deer but at the same time proud that he set a standard and was not going to talked into anything.
Day 6 Opening day. We got up nice and early and headed out in the dark and rain.We made our way to the area that held the 4 point from yesterday. We had about 30 mins before it got light enough to shoot. We sat there in the dark trying to make out deer hoping luck would be on our side. As the light finally made its way into the sky we spotted 4 does. We slow made our way closer and I spotted two more deer but could not make them out yet. Another few minutes and we had enough light to make out one of the deer as the big 4 point from yesterday. The problem was that I had to stand up just to see them and was not sure my son would have the height to see them. For those who hunt with kids it crazy what a couple feet can do to shooting lanes. My son is very small 11 year old to begin with but was luck would have it he had just enough height with the shooting sticks to make out the buck. He shouldered the 6.5 creed and waited for me to give him the green light. As the doe cleared I said take him when you are ready and he pulled the trigger hitting the buck hard. The buck made it about 20 yards and pilled up. The look and excitement in his eyes was well worth the effort it took to get him. My son was very proud of himself. A few minutes later my dad was able to join us and we worked on pictures and getting the buck back into camp.
After a quick breakfast we headed back out with my dad to see with we could turn up the 3 point. After pushing a few does here and there we worked back to camp. I made it back to camp 1st and sat there glassing up my dad and son on the ridge. A couple minutes later I was able to watch my son and dad shoot the 3 point right from camp. A shot hike back up the ridge and I got to enjoy their kill with them. Not bad for opening day. Two nice bucks down and a few more days to focus on me
Day 7 - Up the mountain we went. With fresh snow and about 3-4 hours later we were on the ridge I wanted to be on. Only problem was that once we made it up there we were greeted with 8 atvs that i could see. We were in a unit that was closed to all ATVS but I guess no one follows the rules anymore. I watch guys riding on all the ridge tops and even one on the very top of the mountain. I was disappointed but hoped I could find away from the pressure. Every ridge I went on was another group of hunters or ATVs. I spent the whole day in other peoples tracks. I knew the unit had heavy hunting pressure but thought I could escape it by putting some boot leather in. The day turned up some small bucks and does. Nothing worth getting excited about. The next couple days was more of the same. My son wanted to turn them all in for riding up the mountain but in the end the trip was worth it.
I never found the buck I was looking for but could have filled the tag on smaller bucks but was not interested in that. My son and dad both took there bucks in the lower land which I hunted a little but was really wanting more of a high country hunt experience. Not sure why there were so many people up high on ATVS. They did not get and bucks and really ruined the area. Oh well. Decided that next year we will look for another unit with less pressure.
I will try to post pics from my cell when I get a chance
