Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Mark Baker on September 10, 2007, 11:08:00 PM
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As always, a week full of memories of another opener here in Montana. We tend to concentrate on elk here during this week, but as you can see, other opportunities arise. Game is plentiful, with antelope, deer, turkeys, and rabbits on the plate of adventure!
My son Kory doing some glassing for lopes...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Koryglassing.jpg)
And some bachelor muleys spotted...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/muleybachelors.jpg)
There is an impressive bunch of muleys around this year, and I've been wathching a group of four real gaggers, any one of which I'd love to take, but our rancher friends like to see them and would rather we not shoot the mule deer, so....
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...we chase elk. But the 95 plus degree temps were keeping them quiet, and nocturnal for the first five days of the season. Kory and I elected to give them a break (the elk) and sit for some of the great whitetails around. Both of us have a pocketful of doe tags, trying to do our part in managing the numbers as much as bowhunters can. Kory had been passing on lesser bucks for the past three years trying to better his take, and he finally got a chance on a fine velvet 5 by 5, making a clean kill.
Here is Kory approaching his downed deer....I made him wait to get his hands on until I got the shot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/buckapproach.jpg)
And the happy 19 year old.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Korysbuck2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Korysbuck1.jpg)
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Awesome, Congrates to your son, What part of Montana is that pic taken in. Beautiful.
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The week finally cooled to the 60's and 70's for daytime temps, with plenty of rain. Kory went home to work as did my son Boone, and Fish and his son Riley. That left me alone with the elk for a few days. Unfortunately, an evil east wind also accompanied the cooler temps, making the hunting much tougher in this area. Also frequent rain storms and snow in high country....much needed.
One morning I sat another whitetail stand, and finally achieved one of my milestones I've been trying for the past couple years. Although I've taken animals with stone in the past, never one made by my own hands.....us musicians value our fingers and breaking rock has always been quite a hurdle for me. I finally got to where my skills got good enough to make a few, and finally connected on a mature doe with one. Shania (the bow) sure can shoot, one of the better osage selfbows I've made. The point is on a hand-planed fir shaft, self-nocked. Can't remember what kind of stone....I made it up at Doug's place one afternoon last year. It worked great though! And the shaft and stone survived in perfect shape, to be sent on it's way once again....Hows that for tough?
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Here's the doe....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/stonedeaddoe6-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/stonedeaddoe5.jpg)
So now I've got to spend the week home, the wife says, but I'll be off to chase the elk again next weekend, and any chance I can after that. Good memories of another opener, as always. Still a lot of season left though!
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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These pics are all taken in central Montana, the beautiful Big Snowies. One of my favorite places to be, of course.
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Oh yeah, I almost forgot...Kory and I saw a great bear that was hanging around his gut-pile, while we were changing out one of our tree-stands. We walked into within 20 yards of this big brute, easily a 300 pounder, big for MT...and he showed little fear of the both of us, just ambled slowly off. Bear season doesn't start here till the 15th, though. Is'nt that the way? He won't be around next week I'll bet.
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Congrats to both of you,great hunt and priceless memories.
Serge
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Looks like a great start to the season, Mark. Keep us all informed. Congrats and give Kory an At-a-boy!!!
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I dont even want to look at these threads anymore....haha. HI to you and the boy. All the best for the season!
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Taking an animal with equiptment you made yourself must have some special meaning. It would for me.
Even more special would be hunting with your son. My boys never took to hunting, even though both of them have killed a deer. Maybe they will try again when they are older. Congratulations.
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SWEET. Congrats to both of you. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Congrats to the both of you :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Reading this just makes me miss MT even more....I hope to be back next year.....
Nice write up bud :clapper:
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awesome stories and pic's, thank you for sharing!!!
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SWEET :wavey: say hi to Hailey for me. Bet she's getting big)
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You are very fortunate to share these times with your son's.
Good shot too on your doe!
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Congrats to the both of you Mark.....great pictures and thanks for sharing.
David
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Keep this one going for the season Mark. Congratulations so far!
:wavey:
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Congrat's Mark,
That is awsome you were able to to use Shania Twang and a stone point of your own making :thumbsup:
Rusty
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:thumbsup: :campfire:
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Mark, a big congrats to you and your son. That velvet whitetail is awesome!! Good luck on the rest of your season.
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Nice job guys!
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Congrats to you and your son on your kills....Keep it coming....I always enjoy your posts...
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Thanks for sharing. Kudos to your son.
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Thanks guys....I am indeed a lucky man to be sharing the woods hunting with my sons. I hope that all of you can experience what I have already.
Rusty, good luck in the crazies! Access can be tough, but there are a lot of good bulls in there. If I can help you out any, let me know.
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Awesome story, great pics, and noteworthy achievements for both of you. Congratulations!
Claudia
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Thanks Claudia...I might add congrats to you as well on that fine antelope!
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:thumbsup:
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congrads to both of you... i hear some new music coming from this season already. like Charlie said, keep this one going. love the stories and photos.
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Congratulations to you and your son...I have a two year old and a one year old and I can not wait to hit the woods with them. Again congratulations, great story and pictures. :thumbsup:
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Wonderful thread -- great stories from good people. :clapper:
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Sorry for the long delay in updating all this, but hunting season is hectic around here.
Anyway....
After having to go home and "work", etc. I did manage to get back up and after some elk. The boys and I discovered a hidden wallow at the north end of the ranch on the Forest Service boundary. The wallow was on a bench that ran along a finger ridge...the same one that we usually hunt much lower down. Right next to the wallow was a huge Ponderosa Pine that had been snapped in half by a freak windstorm....the tree is easily 4 foot in diameter. Alongside it is a smaller fir tree, and we placed a stand in it. Nobody had cared to sit this stand yet, really, except for myself one time....I was really drawn to the quiet, peaceful, remoteness and felt it could be a real producer.
Here is a pic of the "keebler" tree...the fir tree is hidden right behind and close to it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Keeblerstand.jpg)
And here is the evening view from the stand looking towards the northeast...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/eveningstandview.jpg)
And here is my view looking down at the wallow, and any impending shot opportunities...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Elkwallow.jpg)
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I was hunting alone for a few days this trip....the boys had work committments, and Fish had a buddy and was hunting elsewhere. There were some paying clients hunting our usual haunts, which means that I had to seek out new hotspots that they were not able to hunt....the "keebler" tree was the perfect spot, and if I was going to hunt elk, it was my best bet thus far.
My first evening there I had found a 5pt shedhorn, and scared a couple whitey bucks out of the spring on my approach. This was a special place, I just knew it.
I had'nt figured out how to get to this stand for mornings yet, and I still can't quite. The elk feed at nite in the only approach that I can make, and to go in there in the dark would simply scare them off....and you know what they say about a bird in the hand. So evenings it would be.
My second evening sit found the weather warm, but cooling at sunset. Also, sunset brought the thermals, so critical to making this settup work. Consistant wind is hard to find especially on a north/south running ridge, where the easterly or westerly winds swirl so throughout the day. Thermals from the higher mountains at daybreak and sunset are the only times these places can be productive.
As I sat the first two hours, wondering about the swirling wind conditions, I could hear above me on the ridge an occasional clash or horns from friendly sparring between a couple bulls. As sunset neared, the air began to fill with bugles from all directions.
I cow called, more as a confidence call than to entice something in. I followed with a couple small bull sqeals....
Shortly before shooting light gave out, three bulls made their way down the ridge behind me, all three 5x5's. The wind was perfect as they cautiously approached the wallow area...
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The first bull walked a sidehill trail directly behind me and passed my left side at 20 yards. He paused for a couple long minutes in a good shooting lane through a hole slightly bigger than a basketball through the limbs of another fir tree ten yards away. I just knew he was going to continue on, and make the turn towards the wallow giving me a 10 to 15 yard shot in the wide open.....so I waited.
Patience, so often a virtue, was about to burn me again. "If I only knew".....but you can't turn back time.
The bull did indeed continue on, only to hit the opening at 40 yards distant, and quartered away, feeding on the lush grass and IGNORING the wallow .....what was up with that?!!!
Oh well, two more bulls were right behind him, and the second was was a better bull, with some non-typical trash on his right antler. The only thing was, he never stopped in the hole where I could shoot, passing too quickly....as did the third bull right before dark set it. They fed in the clearing merely 70 yards distant, and I had to eventually spook them as I climbed down well after dark.
And so that perhaps might have been my chance for the year, dang it....I'll still keep trying, though.
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The next evening, one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed in the woods happened to me.
As I drive into the area where I park I have to cross the creek. Not really a road, but a trail of sorts. Across the creek, between it and another fork of the same, I usually park my truck and hike the remainder into the stand site.
This time, just as I was driving across the creek, a flash of brown and white streaked in front of my truck, not 15 feet away. A whitetail doe in full flight, not out of the ordinary....and then right on her heels and seemingly in slow motion was a mountain lion in full pursuit of his dinner! It was like I was watching an episode of "Wild America" or something....in the slow motion mode....the deer bounding so fast over the blowdown trees, and the cat floating over the tops, log to log, so smooth and effortless.
Right in front of me, the cat sees me there, and ends his chase, disappearing in the brush to the left, and then reappearing on a log, posing and looking back towards me, 10 yards away! He stood there for untold seconds....just until I reached for my camera, and he disappered again. Wow!
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Sorry for the lack of pics in this part, but it's tough to get pics in these circumstances....
I'm right where I park my truck, so I pull in and get out, and gear up, and then look across the trail, and once more the cat is there staring at me....
Now, I know that one of the neat things about hunting montana is all this stuff, the lions, the bears,....real adventure that often you take for granted. I've probably, as have many of you across the western US, walked just as close to these cats, unkowingly, many times, heedless of the potential for serious adventure. I also know a few guys that have had run-in's with cats while elk hunting....and I have great respect for them as predators, - they creep me out even more than grizzlies, cause they are so sneaky.
Seeing this cat in the chase, so close, made me realize that I was pretty useless in a fight with him should he choose to "get" me. So fast.
All I had with me was my selfbow....I'd be like a little leaguer flailing at a Nolan Ryan fastball, I'm afraid. Now this cat was staring at me again, after I'd just ruined his eveing meal...like he knew I had a half-mile walk in and out of my stand. It makes a guy wonder. That, and I was hunting alone, and nobody else knew where I was. Once again I tried to get my camera out, but then he disappeared again. As the doubting about the evening possibilities for elk was peaking.....a bull bugled on top of the ridge, anwered by a couple others. They were just above the wallow again...I'm going, cat or no cat!
Of course, aside from a bugle filled evening chorus, nothing to tell about that topped the cat encounter for me. I did exit my stand a bit earlier while I could still see in the gray light before dark, as if that would help.
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I had to spend another week and a half home....work and committments. I took some time and put the finishing touches on a couple selfbow for myself. These are both "experiments" of sorts, made from the carcases of long-dead bows and fashioned together.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/newbows1.jpg)
I've named them "Frankenstein" (the snake-skinned flatbow) and "the Bride" (the static-tipped recurve)
This is my trusty bug-eating (and sinew eating) "lab" assistant, Knute. He has his head in every stage of constuction of these bows....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/newbowsandknute.jpg)
Here's a better look at the tips....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/newbowstips.jpg)
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Cool experience with the cat. Oughta be a great song in there somewhere. :thumbsup:
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Both bows are sinew backed, the "bride" is left natural. "Franky" is covered with a pair of prairie rattlers. Both use the same length string, with Franky being 58 inch nock to nock. Both pull in the mid 60's for weight and are great shooters. The Bride is deceptively fast with the smooth draw characteristics of the static tips. I planned to hunt the remainder of the season with "Franky"....
Kory and I went back this past weekend hoping to get into elk again. Once again, paying clients forced us back into the north endof the ranch and on Forest Service.....but we wanted to be there anyway. Sign was everywhere....
Here's a typical rub....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/elkrub.jpg)
Although sign was there, the woods were very noisy and the bulls silent, although we set up and tried to coaxe them in anyway. We only had a couple days this trip.
Midday's are spent chasing lopes again. Here, Kory is using our "cow" to try and gain spitting distance on a good buck with his girls. We are not really the type who like sitting in the blinds, so we do a lot of sneaking, and scaring antelope. We thought the cow might work, so we've givin' it a couple trys so far, with so/so results....but no shots.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Koryandhiscowdecoy.jpg)
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This story is getting long, ain't it? Any rate, the elk did'nt pan out for us this weekend....so the last morning I set up to fill another doe tag, with "Frankenstein"....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/doeapproach2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/selfbowdoe1.jpg)
And so the saga will continue....
My new bow performs flawless, and shoots like a dream.....a hand-planed fir shaft tipped with a wensel woodsman this time did the trick. Shooting selfbows is a truly rewarding thing for this hunter, especially when they prove up to the task that I build them for....fun stuff.
That's all for now, hope you enjoy the story.
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Great Story, Mark. Thanks for sharing.
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Awsome Mark, love the new bows. Congrats on the deer. Great story and pictures, keep 'em comming.
Rusty
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Cool bows Mark and fine shooting on the two does. Placement looks like short blood trails. Thanks for the ride along on the hunt. Don't know if I could have made that evening hunt with the cat watching!
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Hey thanks for reading, Kyle, Rusty and Woody. Hey Shaun, I'm still working on the new song "Death by Natural Causes", and stuff like this sure helps motivate me.
I never know if people are interested in reading this stuff, it's pretty norm around here...except for the cat experience! Thanks again guys, I'm heading up there again on Friday.
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Mark, Thanx so much for taking the time to keep us updated bud...great stuff! Congrats :thumbsup:
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Mark, Congrats to you and your son. Thats a dandy buck he shot and you made a beautiful shot on the doe. Real nice! I'd love to get up that way sometime but I suppose I'm better thermally designed for trout season as deer season gets too damn COLD! :scared:
You guys keep giving em hell! CK
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Awesome!!!
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Congratulations to Korey and Mark. Now it's Boone's turn...
Awesome pics Mark. Can't wait to get back up to the ranch some time with you guys.
Looking forward to seeing you in March, twice.
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Mark, This is Brad from PA. Congrats to you and Kory. I't's cool to see your stone head worked flawlessly. Our archery season started Sat sept 29th. It's been in the mid 80's here. Too warm! I still gotta join that PBS man. I can't keep puttin' that off. Been hunting w/ the Sheepeater and it's shooting great. Now i just gotta see a leagal deer worthy of an arrow. I can't wait till the PBS thing in Pittsburgh. If i get a deer or something with this bow, i'll post the pic on Tradgang. How has the elk hunting been going lately? Keep us updated.
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great area hindsite is 20-20 isnt it have fun hunting the rest of the season
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Thanks for the pics. It's work but it makes the thread so much more fun and helps transform a desk chair into a treestand seat. That camo blends well with your surroundings.
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Mark the stand you have sitting over that elk wallow is awesome. i could sit there every day all day and just look out at the beautiful landscape. now the big cat encounter is something to cherish for sure.
o' and sweet shot on that whitetail, can't get any better than that.
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Great stuff, Mark! The new Sheepeater is awesome!
I'm thinking about taking it out this Saturday when Josiah and I go hunting. Finally a day to go out when he's not working.
I feel now that my bow has a little Montana Mojo in it! Keep the stories coming, please!
Lee
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Thanks everyone for reading...I'll keep the updates coming. Kevin, looking forward to my time in Illinois and PBS fun too!
Curt and Curtis....can't wait for you're stories as well.
Lee, glad the bow arrived okay, and that you're liking it. Mine certainly fills a niche in my aresenal. Great little bows.
I'm off for the weekend again, Friday morning sometime. It's supposed to be cold with perhaps some snow....good hunting in the snow!
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Mark, thanks for the stories and pics. It helps with those of us who are pretty much done for the year. Good luck this weekend. Love the lines on Frank and his Bride.
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Snow? It's gonna be 90 here tomorrow. Real nice bowhunting weather...not!
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Tap,tap,tap....more please!
:goldtooth:
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Mark, really enjoyed this.Thanks for sharing and good shooting. :thumbsup:
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Thanks for sharing your season so far. Great stuff!
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Okay, guys and gals, here is a quick update. We only had a couple days to hunt this past weekend, but we made the most of it. We got up to "camp" Friday eve, and sat adjacent to an old homestead alfafa field, hoping to take another whitetail doe, and possibly locate some elk.
Kory sat a stand about half-mile north of me, and had a good view of the critters that decended a ridge into the hayfield. Plenty of deer, as always, but just before dark, two raghorn bulls came down the ridge and sparred just above the hayfield.
I enjoyed plenty of company in the form of whitetail deer, but no shot opps....although I could clearly hear the bulls above my position sparring, I was'nt treated to a visual, like Kory was.
There was a lot of activity in general that evening with the approaching cold front.
The next morning we awoke to about 3 inches of white stuff, and it still coming down hard! It snowed most of the day. (thought I was kidding about the snow, eh?)
We both sat stands on the creek bottom in the snowstorm, but deer or anything else for that matter, were not moving at all.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/firstsnow.jpg)
That afternoon, things cleared up, as you can see, and we went back up to where we saw the elk the evening before. Kory wanted to try and intercept the elk, hoping they would meander down again. I sat the same stand I did the previous evening.
Here is my view from the stand.....aspens are glowing neon this time of year, and with the new snow, it was really beautiful and peaceful.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/standviewFoley.jpg)
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About ten minutes after I snapped the pic from my stand, a real nice...shooter...buck fed out from the beaver swamp just south of me, and across that very view at about 50 yards. He was a heavy 4 by 4, good mass and fully mature. I would have been tickled to take him. He eventually made his way to within 30 yards, just into range, but a screen of branches halfway between nixed any shot chances. I watched him and for a half hour or more. Later, another 4 by 4 came right under my stand, and did his hock-urination thing right under my nose facing me as if to say ..."I dare you!". He was just a 2 1/2 year old, though, so I justwatched the show. Off in the distance, while he was in spitting range, two other bucks began sparring, and it was fun to watch his reactions to the sound, this early in the season. He showed genuine interest, and it caused him to move off in that direction some ways, before heading into an oat field adjacent to the hay field.
Kory took a ground stand, along a fenceline and waited for the elk.
The bulls did feed down past him, well before dark, but they stayed 20 yards across the fence on some property we couldnt access....and Kory had to just enjoy the show for the rest of the evening. He was within 30 yards for some time in a tricky wind. The area the bulls - 3 of them this time - were feeding is a small pasture that jogs into the ranch. We can hunt three sides of this, and the bulls will eventually come into our area, but not before dark this time. They don't know how lucky they were.
Next morning dawned cold and clear, and we sat once again for deer, as we had to go home right after the morning hunt. Here is a pic of me checking tracks in the crunchy snow....and check out the view of the Crazies...is it any wonder why I love hunting and living in Montana. It never gets old!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/checkingtracks.jpg)
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I'm off tommorrow for the last weekend of bow season, and our last chance for elk in this area. Plenty of bowhunting coming up, though. I'll update again next week. Thanks for reading guys!
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Great stories Mark. I will be heading up into the Crazies Friday after Ryley's football game for one last try before the season ends.
Rusty
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Loved the story and the pics, Mark. What a great place to be this time of year. You've got snow and today is our first day of not setting a record for heat in the last two weeks.
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Most excellent!
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Blessed are those who live and hunt in Montana! Great story and photos.
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Thanks a bunch, guys. That's why we all like this time of year, is'nt it? Magic happens.
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Got back late last nite, and what a way to close out the archery only season here!
I got up to the ranch too late to locate and sit a new elk stand, so I sat a whitetail stand that had'nt been utilized as yet. A great stand, all in all, and I killed a good buck from it the last day of general season last year with my selfbow. It was'nt to be this nite, however, as my chances were interupted by the local coyote trapper on his rounds.
Next morning, an ill-east wind did me in, and only spooked several deer that were potential candidates for fatal perforation. I spent the rest of the day on Friday, taking down, and relocating one ladder stand, then erecting another hang-on.
Evening found me in the new ladder stand location. It really was just an adjustment from the previous stand location from last week where I'd seen the big buck, and Kory had tried ambushing the bull elk. Kory and Boone were unable to make the hunt this weekend, but my partner Fish, and his son Riley were scheduled to arrive just in time for the last hour of the evening hunt. They were gonna meet me here, and so I left the other stand up, a short 50 yards distance from where I now sat, for Fish to sit in, and Riley would go to the north end of the property and sit there.
They both arrived on time to get in the last hour of daylight....sneaking into their stands. I was kindof excited to be able have a chance to watch Fish possibly fill a tag. It wasn't to be however, as things developed quickly after their arrival.
After some silent goofing around at each other, Fish and I were suddenly snapped to reality by the crashing of elk antlers, and then the approach...on the run...of a nice bull. He entered the woods 50 yards north of me. I could'nt see him as he crashed in.
Nothing unusual at this point, elk are noisy animals.
A small whitetail buck that had been approaching my stand was suddenly on alert and watching the elk, which was standing right where he entered the woods. I readied for a shot opportunity.
Then another large crash in the elks locale, followed by several minutes of labored breathing sounds. The whitey buck got the heck out of Dodge. Fish and I motioned to each other with hand signals....I'm not sure he had put two and two together as of yet. I tried to let him know that I thought Riley had perhaps shot this bull and it was on it's dieing last breaths. With only minutes of light left, I climbed down, as did Fish. I told him what I thought...we decided to still hunt towards where we thought the bull was.
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And then?
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Tap tap tap, and then? You have us right on the edge.
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WOw, lots of good stuff. Congrats on the deers.
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Sorry I missed this thread till now Mark...like you say...it's a hectic time of year.
Good Stuff Bud! You really have an awesome place up there and these pictures and stories are really making me jealous!! Cant wait for the rest. :bigsmyl:
Oh yeah...the bows are stellar! Wow.
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Sorry guys, I really did'nt mean to leave you hanging, but the dog needed let out, and then I got sidetracked with some work, dangit!
Anyways, Fish and I snuck forward up the creek and sure enough, I stumbled into a dead 6-pt bull. I whistled the whistle, you know, the same one you all use to alert the wife or kids that you want them, or that the indians in the movies use just before they attack the unsuspecting trappers.....
Fish came over and there was high fives and backslaps. Riley did indeed double lung this bull. We decided to play a trick on the youngster and make him think he had to "track" my deer that I'd just shot before we went looking for his bull. (He told us his story, and we acted like he was pulling our leg, and he did'nt have any idea where his mortally shot bull ran to).
To get to the point, Riley "stumbled" onto his bull as he was doing a nite search for my deer that died somewhere in this area here....right around here!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Rileysbull2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Rileysbull1.jpg)
Riley shot a 55lb Sheepeater Spirit, his own assembled and fletched cedar shaft and grizzly broadhead. He is 14 years old.
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It does'nt get any better for a father than to experience their own kids maturing into great hunters...Fish and I have both raised our kids hunting here, and now we are reaping the rewards, sharing these times together. I am so thrilled I was in on this one, just as Fish was there for my boys "firsts"!
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After that evening hunt, we were "informed" by the ranch owner that he wanted us to leave this particular corner alone, as he'd been seeing 3 big bulls in here, and one the biggest he'd ever seen....and he'd drawn one of the coveted either sex tags for the general season and had his eyes on that bull. And so our elk hunting up here ends like that. We sincerely hope John kills the big one!
Next day after a slow morning hunt, I put up some more stands in anticipation of the whitetail rut. First evening on one of them produced some good fun.
The view NE from the stand.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/skunkbuttstandview.jpg)
Then a visit from this little guy.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/smallbuck.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/smallbuck2.jpg)
I counted coup with the camera. I later passed on a young doe right at last light.
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Now that is AWSOME. Congrats to Riley!!! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Rusty
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The last day of the season, the ranch owner's son, who really runs the place these days, was gonna let us go and hunt THE OTHER RANCH! I know, not one but two great ranches for hunting. In 17 years of hunting here, I'd never been there. It is mostly open country with beaucoup mule deer, and some elk....bordering another large ranch that does'nt allow hunting.
We had a ball!
Multiple stalks....we even got Jason (ranch owner) a successful stalk (he missed) on a pair of good bucks. I myself got in 3 different stalks on good non-typicals but got busted each time with the lack of cover.
Here is some pics to enjoy. First one is Jason waiting on a push that did'nt pan out.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Jasonthestander.jpg)
Here is a group of bucks that let us get pretty darn close before bugging out.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/ridgemulies1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/ridgemulies2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/ridgemulies3.jpg)
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All in all, a great weekend, bluebird weather, lots of game, and good times. And still more to come.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/topposers.jpg)
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Great thread. Congrats to the young hunter.
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Thanks for the pics and stories. Montana is a magical place, you are blessed.
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Hey Mark,
Congradulations on the doe with the flint head, that is way cool!
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Thanks guys...as is the case there is also always more to the stories than can be told on a thread like this. The skunk that had his home under the bush right at the base of my ladder stand....the mouse in the tree, that startled me and almost made me fall out...the stupid mistakes and the dumb luck. It all is part of the journey, is'nt it?
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Great story and pictures, I am really enjoying following along with you. Keep it going Glenn
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Mark, following you all's story is almost as good as being there...ALMOST!
WAY TO GO, RILEY! That boy is sure turning out to be one fine hunter, as are Kory and Boone. We really need to get back out to the ranch. That pic of Jason, Fish and Riley looks like it might belong on a cover of something, MTB maybe?
Hey, if you could, email me a pic of Riley with his elk for the PBS magazine. I can just see the look on you and Fish's face when you walked up to that dead bull, priceless! I can almost hear Fish now, "Oooo Riley, what have you done now?!"
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Hey Kevin....yeah, that was a special moment. Riley had no idea we had found his bull, and there was some emotion. It is funny that after all of us "other guys" had tried so hard for an elk this year, that Riley, who had really put in the least time and effort, elk-wise during the bow season, was the only one to tag one. His lack of effort was not so much because he did'nt care....he clearly did...but more due to the fact that he had drawn one of those coveted either-sex bull tags for the area, and stood a great chance at tagging a much larger bull - for his first - with his rifle. In the end, he recognized the accomplishment he achieved. Of course, we are all fully aware of the accomplishment!
I'll get a pic sent to you....I was kinda waiting for Fish to send them out first. That other pic of those three is a beauty, isn't it?
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Thanks Mark. A huge CONGRATS to Riley!! What an accomplishment. Good to see the youngsters out hunting. Good luck when the huntin resumes in a coulple weeks.
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And on it goes.....you ready?
Well, John, the ranch owner did get his big bull, an old brute with Louisville sluggers for main beams. Opening day with the rifle. Of course, being a rancher, he's partial to beef....a rancher thing! So the bull hung all week until Fish, Riley, Kory and I could make it up there this weekend to bone it out, and take home the meat. It was in great shape and Boone and Kory are grateful for some elk in the freezer. It won't go to waste! I should have taken a picture of the bull even though it was a rifle kill. John was proud of it....I think the first bull he's killed in awhile.
I also took up my father in law for what will probably be his last hunt. He has Alzheimers and my brother in law met us up there to "keep watch" on him. He can't really function too well, but being a lifelong hunter and fisherman, he still likes the "idea" of going to hunting camp and getting to share it with his grandson.
There were some other hunters hunting our area...John lets a few guys in. Of course they are gun hunters. Still, we managed to take a couple of the wary critters. Fish filled his doe tag for the area on Saturday morning with a perfect shot. She only made it about 40 yards.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Fishersdoe.jpg)
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I passed on a half-dozen little guys in a gang while sitting a new stand I had put up the previous trip. It's gonna be a real goodun when the rut heats up....located between some great bedding areas.
Saturday evening, after moving some more deer stands for rut preparations, the hunting was tough for all of us, and rifle shots rang out all around. I suggested a stand to Kory, for Sunday morn that I had seen a dozen deer move near morning Fish shot his doe.
Kory had been using a selfbow, since arrowing his buck. He wanted to challenge himself....and I guess he's up to it. Here is the results of Kory's sunday morning stand with one of my selfbows....and his first deer with a selfbow. That's my boy!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Korysselfbowdoe.jpg)
He's hooked now! Next year he's already making plans to take to the woods with one of his own make.
So ends another fun weekend. Probably won't make it up to the ranch for another week or more, and will try and get out locally for some deer action, and maybe elk too. We'll see. At any rate, the rut will be kicking in big time when we return....I can't wait!
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Awesome thread Mark. You guys are so lucky to be living in the land of hunting dreams, full of beautiful scenery and abundant game.
Gosh I miss Montana. Special place.
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Really good stuff! :thumbsup:
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Another quick update.....
Since we are unable to hunt at the ranch for a couple weeks, I made some connections to hunt an old haunt of mine right near my house. It had been a few years since I've hunted here. Other hunters share the place, but it is relatively undisturbed. Still, rifle hunters abound in the area around this property, and I had my reservations about how good it could still be....
After a quick scout of a portion of the property on Friday nite, I came back with good hopes. This area still sports a great whitey herd, and bountiful wildlife along the spring creek just off the Yellowstone River.
This evening, I wanted to scout another section of the property, trying to find a place to put a treestand so I could take advantage of the pre-rut activities. I knew it would just be a matter of time before a good buck would show.
My son Kory purchased another over-the-counter doe tag, as he had already taken his buck, and decided to tag along.
With a stiff wind blowing all day and a front blowing in tonite, the prospects for still-hunting were optimal. We try and take advantage of these conditions every chance we can, as taking a deer from the ground is the ultimate in our eyes.
I lined Kory out in a great direction to intercept some feeding does, and I elected to cross to an island to check the rut sign.
As I stillhunted along, I spied some deer through the trees. I also saw a decent 4x4 about a hundred yards off...so I set up in a big blowdown that let me get about 6 feet off the ground and up against a juniper tree. I crashed my antlers together and waited. Three bucks all came in to my noise-making, all upwing of me about 50 yards off and circling downwind. I watched the three till dark, one was definetely a shooter in the 140 class. But it was'nt to be for me this nite. Still, what fun!
As I was walking back, I met another guy who was new to bowhunting as was hunting the same general area. He related that he had seen a mountain lion where I had just been a day earlier....just what I need, another big kitty around. Oh well, what can you do? Just hunt!
He also had met my son Kory, and told me that Kory had a deer down.
As I got back to the truck, Kory related his story....ten minutes into the hunt he stalked up on this doe, and made a perfect quartering away and into the heart shot....the deer only went 20 yards! This is deer two with his selfbow and the boy is hoooked for sure!
On the ground with a selfbow, it does'nt get any better guys....Kory's bow is around mid-sixties weight wise, and he used a cedar shaft with a big magnus 4-blade.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Koryssecondselfbowdoe2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Koryssecondselfbowdoe1.jpg)
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Looks like Cory can hunt! Gotta love November in Montana.
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some more story to add....
After watching the aforementioned bucks that I had rattled in, I noticed a scrape they all hit as they came in to the rattling. To make a long story short, I went back a couple days later and hung a stand. I hunted the stand a couple times, rattling in the same few "local" two-and-a-half year olds...but no shooters. I did notice another area to put a stand in, though, and so my son Boone accompanied me a couple days ago (Nov 11th)....he sat the old stand and I put up a new one about 75 yards North east of his. It was a perfect settup and I hoped to have luck rattling a buck in for him.
We jumped a good buck that was in the scrape below Boones stand....he was pumped. He climbed in and I moved over and quietly hung the new stand. That nite I rattled in at least eight different bucks...they were all around us all nite long. Alas, but no shots taken. Fun still. Here is a pic of one little guy.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/gulliblebuck1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/gulliblebuck3.jpg)
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I was fooling with the camera as this guy came into point blank range, something I hardly ever do. Of course, would'nt you know, as this guy was milling around right under me, a good buck was approaching from the distance at a quick walk. I could'nt get the camera put away and the bow in my hand....I eventually got busted before a shot could be taken. Doh!
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Anyway, that was the only shooter I had in range that nite. Yesterday, I passed on hunting as the state got rocketed with high winds....85-90 mph around my home area. To brutal to be out in. As the front passed this morning, we got some good rain and then a couple inches of new white stuff....you know the bucks will be moving and freshining scrapes then! I got to head out this evening.....
I just made it to the stand around 3:30 pm and settled in after spooking a half dozen does out of the area....I always seem to do that. But they come back, usually. Five minutes after I got in, a small spike walked by from the direction I had come in.
Five minutes after he passed, this nice buck materialized and he spent the next half-hour freshing 4 or 5 scrapes in the direction of the other stand I was'nt in!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/checkingscrapes.jpg)
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I decided to put away the camera after this buck walked away...did'nt need to get "caught" unprepared again.
A doe soon showed and she fed her way right up to my stand....looked me over and then fed past. I breathed a sigh when she failed to see me as a threat. She moved off through a screen of juniper and I considered taking up the horns for a session and then I glanced another nice buck heading my direction! He was a shooter...
He cut the does trail and followed her nearly to my stand, grunting occassionaly...then he kindof saw my big lump in this not too brushy tree I was in, so he cut around a juniper. I then made my move to ready for the shot. As he came around I began to draw....like molasses on a cold day I coreographed my motions...but he still picked up some movement and began to panic.
I could see the look in his eyes turning to fullout fear and at ten yards and me at three-quarters draw, I figured it was time. I let Frankenstein free and he sent a blood seeker right behind the shoulder angling up into the chest....the buck ran and I watched him for 150 yards or so before I lost him. It was still early, so I climbed down, organized my stuff, and knowing the shot was good, took up the instant blood trail.
He got to a fence and crossed over onto another property, so I had to retreat back to my truck, and make some phone calls. I decided with darkness fast approaching, I would wait until Kory stopped by after work so that I could take advantage of his "younger" eyesight.
We took up the bloodtrail where I last left it, and promptly found the buck about ten yards further on.....I never spotted him across the fence!
Another fine buck after a great season. Although not a monster, he is a big-bodied brute, and a good mature whitey taken with primitive gear. Frankenstein...a sinew backed osage flatbow, and cane arrows tipped with Wensel Woodsmans.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/paradisebuck2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/paradisebuck3.jpg)
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And so my buck hunting is done this year...but our season goes on still, with more doe tags, then some late season does....and possibly a mountain lion too. We'll see! A nice return to Paradise, for me.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/woodwizard/Paradise1.jpg)
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Congratulations Mark!!
That is a really nice buck for the area you were hunting. Give me a call after the regular season ends and we can hit my stands in the weapons restricted area. Also, you might try to convince Kory and Boone to give it a chance this year.
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Thanks for sharing Mark! Always great to read other people's hunting stories!
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That's just plain awesome Mark....congrats again to both you and Kory. I love everything about MT, the back round of some of those pics brings back some very fond memories of last year.
If all goes as planned,I'll be back this coming fall...I sure hope we can get together.I look forward to meeting all the "fabulous Baker boys"
Congrats again and thanks for taking the time to do this for us.....
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Thanks for sharing you hunt with us. It is great to see you living your dreams.
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Great stuff Mark. Another selfbow bruiser. Ya gots to love it. between you , Doug and Walt, you guys keep those big critters leaking! LOL
Congrats buddy
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
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increadbile picks glad you could share with us.
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Nice buck Mark! You had an awsome year of memories.
Rusty
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Thanks everybody! The rut is incredible this year, despite the warmer than usual weather, I've had a bunch of fun with these local deer. I could'nt pass this guy up, even though I will be making at least one more trip up to the ranch where there is always the chance for a real "bruiser". Oh well, Boone can have his pick of stands now...Kory and I will only have doe tags to fill.
Kory and I have already been talking about late hunts, Walt. He had fun last nite helping out the ol' man! Kinda wishes he would'nt have shot his buck so early....always a gamble waiting though. His buck is a beauty too, and will make a nice mount.
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Fantastic story Mark.
Great to see those youngsters putting down all that game, especially with trad-gear.
Very cool encounter with that lion and whitetail.
Could not imagine a much beter season for you guys.
Also great photo's to go with the stories.
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Good stuff Mark, sure makes me miss that little spot of ground over on Wineglass....
That little diner still open right by the railroad in Livingston ?
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Hey Joel, yes it is still open, although it has changed hands. Probably always will be one there because of it's historical significance.
The lion encounter was indeed a cool thing to see....hope to enact some revenge on those particular deer eaters soon!
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Those are awesome pics! Thanks for sharing.
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Where have I been? Tonight is the first time I have opened this thread and WOW!!! it is awesome. Great stories and beautiful pics. You guys have had one heck of a season, one most could only dream of. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
Mark
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Mark,
Thank you for sharing your season.
That smile on your son's face when he took the elk is a memory that will last a lifetime. For both of you.
My son is 12 this year and his first hunting season is under way. Gun this year, and bow when he's ready.
Thanks,
JD
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JD....that is actually my hunting partner's son, Riley. That was a good day for him and his dad, and yeah for me as well! I did share the same experience with my boys a couple years back, though.
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:thumbsup: :jumper:
Congrats guys!!!!!
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Thanks Terry....
this is a pretty typical season for our group here.....we harvest several deer (not always bucks) and one or two of us gets an elk, and maybe an antelope. The scenery and the perks (lion encounters, etc.) are just what you get from hunting big sky country!
I am heading out in the morning to try and help Boone get his buck. I get to take pics and rattle and call a bit. Really looking forward to it.
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Good luck bud :pray:
Looking forward to reading about it too....
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Thanks Mark! That was great! Congrats on a fine buck! :thumbsup: