Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: just_a_hunter on September 12, 2008, 02:09:00 AM
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For love of the game…..
Hello all,
The following is the accounts of a man and his dog. Join Gauge the (bow hunting) Gun Dog Sr. and Todd (just a hunter) Thayn as we explore the world through hunter eyes.
This year started in my stomping grounds… South-east Utah…..
This place holds special meaning to me. While I physically might not be in these mountains, my heart always is. See, I was raised by a single father of 3 children. Many a weekend was spent from the time I can remember fishing the streams and elk hunting these woods. While my wonderful father showed them how, these mountains raised me..
And oh what a beautiful sight. This is what she looked like as I rolled into camp after a long night shift.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/hellobeatiful.jpg)
Arrival Date 8/21/2008
The first day was spent setting up camp. Dad and my loving other mother, Shelly, stopped by bringing dinner for this wore out shift worker. By the time camp was set up and dinner was ate, I had been awake for well over 30 hours. I was in bed by 7:00pm.
1st day of the 2008 hunting season 8/22/2008
Although I was asleep by 7:00 the night before, the excitement of the hunt didn’t allow for a very restful rest. I was wide eyed and bushy tailed by 2:00 am. I spent the next few hours sipping coffee, eating some Dutch oven prepared biscuits and making sure everything was in my pack including enough water for Gauge and I.
The morning hunt was going to take place in a place called “AJ’s water shed.” It’s pretty high elevation wise and pretty rough country. I had scouted some bucks a few weeks previous, and figured this was my best opportunity to get to the location of these bucks.
There is a trail in the upper terrace of these sheds that 19th century gold miners had carved for pack mules and wagons. The trail carves the slide rock and dark timber in the upper reaches of no mans land.
A couple miles into the hike, I’m paused by the unmistakable sound of antlers trying there best to ruin a poor trees day. I gave Mr. Gauge the proper lay down and stay sign language and closed the distance to what seemed like an arms length from the thrashing.
I very quietly circled directly down wind and gave a few cow calls. The thrashing never stopped but through it all, I could hear another elk making its way to the serenade.
Before it was over, 2 raghorns and a mature bull all showed themselves well within my red zone. Fortunately for them, my tag is only good for a spike bull or a cow. Here are some departing shots of the biggest bull. He would probably score in the 315 range.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/firstbull.jpg)
I maxed the altimeter on my GPS to a shade over 11K this hunt, and was thanking the good Lord above my well worn Danner’s were up to the task of the decent.
I got back to camp around 3:00pm. My restless night coupled with the no rest the 30 hours before and a dash of altitude sickness made a nap sound really good. I fed Gauge, ate a snack, did a few chores to square away camp and took that nap. I didn’t wake up; I didn’t stir until the next morning’s sunlight warmed my face. Best I can figure I slept for 15 hours, but trust me, I needed it.
Gauge rested easy as well and when I went outside to check on him, he was calm as ever.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/heyman.jpg)
8/23/2008
I was a little upset at myself for burning precious morning hunting hours with sleep. I decided I was going to head to a fruitful elk area many generations of Thayn’s had gone to fill there hearts with happy, and fill there freezer with elk.
I got to the area and made a few cow calls and was rewarded with a cow chirp back and the laziest bugle I ever heard. I heard the herd long before I ever seen them. The crashing in my direction was evidence enough that my late morning was fixing to get a pretty exciting.
They disappeared in a low gully giving me time to find my way to a little better cover. Gauge was at heal and we eased into the edge of a clear cut quaky patch. Now anybody that has seen a clear cut quaky patch knows they are anything but clear. The new growth saplings come up thick. When I say thick I mean you would be hard pressed to see an elk 10 feet away in them. I just took one step inside this patch and watched the heard come.
Everything was perfect. The wind was directly in my face; the elk were very calm and didn’t seem pressured at all. 4 cows and 3 calves with a stud for a raghorn all eased there way directly at me. When the lead cow was perfect broadside I chirped quietly with a diaphragm and stopped her at no more then 12 yards.
I gave a quick look at Gauge, and he was just watching the elk with a little curiosity.
I started the wonderful task of bringing the Muzzy Phantom tipped Gold Tip to all 70 pounds the Bear Hunter TD was capable of delivering at my 30” draw. Everything was smooth. I stared at that black spot that would deliver a perfect double lunger. I was calm. The elk were still calm. Gauge was calm. Everything was calm until the arrow had been released. Sometime after my fingers let go of the string but before anything on the bow had moved, arrow included, I noticed the limb that was going to ruin this perfect thing. Stupid me. That’s the kind of thing I need to catch before I release.
Anyhow, the arrow hit this sapling limb not a single foot in front of my bow and sent my arrow way wild high and right. Thank goodness for a clean miss.
The elk didn’t run, just eased out of the area. I gave my thanks for the just the opportunity I had to so much as witness another elk in the wild and gave double thanks for the opportunity for a shot.
The rest of the day was spent chasing the wonderful, awesome, beautiful mule deer to no avail.
8/24/2008
This day as well was spent chasing those beautiful bucks to no avail.
8/25/2008
Again, this day was spent chasing those beautiful, but clever in an annoying way, bucks with the same result as yesterday.
8/26/2008
I wish I had more to add, but those stupid deer won’t quit outsmarting me!!!!!!
8/27/2008
All right!!!! I’ve had it!!!! Those beautiful bucks my tooshy!!!!!! How can a poor defenseless animal keep giving me the slip!!!????!!!! I’m so mad at this point I don’t even want to talk about it anymore!!!! It’s a good thing I have to go Pick up my buddy from the airport tomorrow.
8/28/2008
Today, Gauge and I had to pick up my buddy Matt from the airport. Matt is one of the “others” so I won’t get into his hunt at all. Besides that, we pretty much go our separate way during hunting hours and just help pack each others animals out.
I also needed a mental break. Those bucks prove once more what they are good at, and that’s avoiding the business end of my bow. All kidding and joking aside, I love to hunt those smart bucks.
8/29/2008
Gauge and I set off for the same woods we’ve been getting got in. I’ve seen some awesome bucks in here the few days previous and I can’t bring myself to give up on the area.
We go to the area, park the truck, situate and get going once more.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/offwego.jpg)
I had to circle to get the wind in my face. It was hot. 85 or so I reckon. We ease in and out of the shadows for a few hours and right at about 12:00 high noon, I catch movement up ahead.
About 100 yards out, I see this deer feeding. I just kneel down and watch as this yearling buck stuffs himself on the healthy grass the good spring rains provided. A half hour or so passes and this buck beds down in the shade of some pines.
I think “What a good opportunity to practice. I sign Gauge to lie down and stay, peel my Danner’s, drop my pack and begin the stalk.
I get in the zone. I close the distance to 30 yards perfect. He still doesn’t know I’m here. I think, “Well, I’m not going to take him, let’s just see how close we can get.”
I shave another 10 yards off. Once again, the only thing I can hear is what I’m focused on. And that’s this buck chewing his cud and my slow but steady breathing. My socked feet feel for the pinecones that will give me away.
An hour goes by from when I first start this stalk and I’m now 12 yards from this bedded yearling buck.
Now, I had no intentions of shooting this deer when I first set out to stalk him. By this time in my hunt, I had passed hunting well over 30 small bucks. I got to this 12 yards, and everything was just so perfect.
The words my father spoke years ago echoed in my head. “Ya’ know, Todd, the size of the rack should be the least important part of a hunt. It’s the hunt it’s self that should determine the trophy size of your quarry. Rack size is the desert of the hunt. Not dinner.”
Don’t think I talked myself into shooting this deer. It was the opposite. This deer, or hunt I should say, talked me into it. I didn’t even have to think twice about it. I can’t explain what I felt, other then I felt this deer was the one.
I whistled softly to stand the deer. As he stood, I came to anchor. It was all right and perfect again. I paid a little closer attention to my shooting lane, and when that green light went off in my head, the arrow went on its way.
I’ve never seen a Mule deer jump string so bad in my life. When he jumped, he jumped toward me turning a perfect broadside shot into a quartering to me shot. However, the arrow disappeared right where I was aiming. I knew I got at least one lung and liver. I’m willing to bet my arrow didn’t lose a single FPS going through this deer.
The deer made a death run and he was out of sight through a meadow about 200 yards away. I was confident and knew I would recover him just from how he was running. The afterburners were on the whole time.
This is my arrow probably 30 yards past where the buck was standing..
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/arrowaswas.jpg)
Close up inspection of arrow revealed no guts on arrow conferming that the hit was still really good even though he jumped string.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/closeupofarrow.jpg)
More to come,
Todd
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FANTASTIC!
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I gave the deer the standard 30 minutes before the tracking began. I made my way past the meadow with Gauge on heal. His tracks were pretty easy to spot, but the first 150 yards yielded no blood. I was beginning to worry.
Now a little preface to this, I have worked with Gauge on many things as far as a hunting buddy goes. He is a great bird hunter, and I have done quite a bit of amateur blood trailing with him. He has shown some interest in this, but he has a hard time actually understanding if we are blood tracking or bird hunting. I think he is thinking we are blood tracking birds. This can be a confusing mix, but mentally he is by far the smartest dog I have ever worked with and know that with some age and experience he will be able to do it all. I hope. After finding no blood, I decided I would give him the rains for a little while and see what he could do.
I snapped these pictures as it happened. No acting here.
I let Gauge smell what we were after, and he showed interest in the blood after a moment of sniffing.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/gaugeonblood.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/gaugeonblood2.jpg)
This is where I lost sight of the buck. I thought he ran right through the biggest gap in the trees.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/whereithought.jpg)
“Huntem’ up, big dog!” I gave the order and he was off.
This is where his nose first hit the ground.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/gaugesniffs.jpg)
This is his “Confirming” stance.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/gaugeconferms.jpg)
I walked to the spot and sure enough, a few drops were found. "What a good boy!"
You’ll have to forgive me for not getting pictures of the actual blood trail. I actually got pictures, but the trail was so miniscule as the pics don’t show a dang thing. But, rest assured, Gauge played a crucial factor in finding this deer that wasn’t bleeding.
Gauge would confirm and I would go check. At the time, I was scared of getting off the trail. He would be right on the mark, but I wouldn’t check the ground close enough. He finally got board with this and he went and laid in the shade. Sure enough, every time I would find blood on my hands and knees, there would be Lab prints in the ground by the blood. I sure wish I would have just listened to him. A tracking job that took me close to 3 hours would have taken less then ½ hour with Gauge.
After about 400 yards of tracking, the blood started getting more profuse and I knew we were getting close. The deer never slowed at all. His tracks indicated his afterburners where on the whole time.
After about 450 yards of tracking, I told Gauge, “Gauge, where’s my buck?” He went about 50 yards further and confirmed again. This time I was going to believe him and it took my breath away to see Gauge literally standing on my buck.
What a relief!
Sorry about the photos and the lack there of as meat preservation was top priority by this time. Field care came first.
Gauge, Todd and how proud I am of my bow hunting gun dog.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n32/papsblueribbon1/victory.jpg)
Still more to come. That elk tag is burning a whole in my pocket.....
Todd
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Congrats on a great hunt :thumbsup:
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Great Story, Todd!!! :thumbsup: Congrats on the buck!!! To me memories in the field are the best trophies...Thanks for taking us along!! :archer:
David
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:bigsmyl:
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Well done.
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Great hunt Todd, Keep it comming.
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Excellent!!!
I was glued to the screen the whole time!! Way to keep on the trail and and excellent trophy well earned!!!!
Congrats!!!!!
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:thumbsup: :clapper:
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great job, Todd, keep it comin'.. :thumbsup: :campfire: :coffee:
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Nicely done and nicely told.
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Very cool.Felt like I was there.
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The fact that you can hunt with your dog at heal is the coolest part! Nothing in the world like a well trained, well behaved dog! (wish I still had one, LOL). Congrats on the buck and good luck with the elk.
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Man that was awesome!! Thanks for bringing us along!! :thumbsup:
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That's cool! I've never had dogs, but I would have never imagined that it would be possible to bring your dog along on a deer and elk hunt.
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Great hunt. Thanks for sharing that with us. It makes me wonder if I can train my Boykin to hunt more than birds and waterfowl with me. Hmm. . .
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Great job ! Looks like good eatin right there. Congrats!! :thumbsup:
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Great story, I would love to hunt such beautiful country. Yeah, sometimes our dogs are smarter than we are, as I have been shown more than once.
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Good going, Todd!
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:thumbsup:
Awesome Man!!
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Todd, I was following your updates thru Tracy...good stuff bud...Congrats!!
Looking forward to more...good luck!
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Todd, Your doing a great job here bud. Like I said you need to put this in a magazine article.
You give ol Gauge a treat for me sure miss you guys. Awsome pics, I just wish I could have made it out there this year to watch you two in action. :)
Like Curt, Looking forward to alot more :thumbsup:
Tracy :coffee:
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always like hearing peoples hunting stories
and this was a good one
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Congrats! I have a lab that looks exactly like your dog... I guess I should get him on the blood trails :D
Thanks for sharing.
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Todd,
Awesome man, I sure fell in love with that country. Thanks for taking us on your hunt.
Nathan
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Thanks all for your wonderful comments. I'm deeply humbled by them.
The story will continue one way or another. My work place server decided that now was a perfect time to block photobucket after 3 years of use and me right in the middle of my story...... I grit my teeth as I write....
I've made a complaint to our IT department, and hopefully they will unblock photobucket.
I'm sorry, but the rest will follow. Somehow, someway.
Thanks once again. It is truely my pleasure to share this with you fine folks.
Take care,
Todd
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This is a test photo of one of many passed bucks on a new photo host.
This is a young but tall 4x4 that was running with a certifiable HOSS. I wasn't paying close enough attention to the buster bucks when I was stalking the big guy. When this buck stood I knew the gig was up and shot him with my camera instead of my bow. This pic was taken at about 15 yards. Gauge was about 30 yards back watching with his ever wondering eyes.
(http://img902.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/13/passedbuck-4bugscyho.jpeg)
Can every one else see this Ok?
Todd
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It was back to work for a few days, and a long few days at that.
I got back to camp the evening of 9/3. The work week was long, but the 4.5 hour commute to hunting camp seemed an eternity as the odometer wouldn’t click fast enough. And as Trooper Scott with the Utah Highway Patrol pointed out, they better start clicking a little slower, or my insurance agent will like his paycheck a little better. Thank goodness Trooper Scott was a hunter and a lover of chocolate labs. He let me off with a warning. He understood.
9/4/2008
Well, the mule deer hunt was over. To this point, I had only devoted the two hunts to elk and had seen 4 bulls, 4 cows and three calves, with a more then perfect shot opportunity. The lure of that same honey hole that I missed that first cow was strong this morning while sipping coffee. So much so, that I finally realized how a trout feels when a Jakes, gold with red dots, Spin-a-lure is presented with in striking distance of his nose. I even mentioned this fact to Matt over our by now ritual of left over Dutch oven biscuits.
I made the same round as I had a few mornings back. Gauge and I made our way to the same stand of clear cut quaky’s as before. The “Primos Hyper hot lip single” made the same serenade. The Same lazy bugle echoed from the same location as before. My spine shivered.
I worked them for while, but they didn’t want to move out of the comfort zone of the other side of the gully. This could mean one of two things. The elk were either getting a little more pressure or it was getting closer to the rut and a new bull had moved in on that stud of a raghorn’s cows. I was left with only one option and that was to see if I could get closer to the heard.
With Gauge in tow, we set out.
I couldn’t hear any elk talk, but felt I was close to the heard. I had left the quakys and now I was set up on the outskirts of a pine forest with just enough oak brush to worry a fellow about finding a clear shooting lane. Just the kind of stuff elk love.
I made Gauge stay down wind of where I thought the elk might be, and moved about 50 yards closer. I tooted the only instrument I know how to play, and that lazy bugle was returned with a little more meaning this time.
The popping branches confirmed I had elk once more heading my way.
Before I seen the elk I fished my camera out of my pocket, and snapped this picture when the bull first appeared. It’s hard to tell in the pic, but this bull will score in the upper 340’s.
(http://img701.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/13/bullzoomedout-4bukr0p2o.jpeg)
(http://img801.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/13/bullzoomedin-4bukrarb1.jpeg)
I figured that this was a satellite bull. I was calm for a minute, but as I was waiting for a better opportunity to get some closer pictures, cows started talking back and forth initiating a massive increase in my heart rate.
One by one, cows started filtering out of the woodwork while the bull never moved. Next thing I knew he had about 10 cows and I don’t know how many calves in front of him. All heading my direction.
Sorry once again for not getting more photo’s, but from that first cow chirp, Todd the photographer became Todd the hunter and taking photos took a distant back seat.
This was the first time I have ever seen the whole herd worked up while I was calling. I’ve called in several herds of elk before, but never have every single one of them had something to say about it.
Once again, it was a perfect set up. Everything in me knew it was only a matter of time before I was armpit deep in the chest cavity of dead elk.
The bull ran forward of the herd and separated out a young piece of cow elk meat. The others kind of lingered back no further then 40 yards of my position. One step at a time, the two elk, bull and cow, yarded their way closer. 30, 28, 25, 22, 20….. “Ohhh man! Here in about a second, Todd, you will be taking this creatures life…..”
When she was perfect broadside at somewhere around 17 yards, I drew. I hit anchor, found that magical dark spot that covered her lungs, and everything in me read the green light. Everything except those stupid three stooges I like to call my release fingers…..
When my mind said, “release” my fingers held the string and I done one of those famous double pump attempt at a release. Popping the clutch is what I like to call it. When I finally re-hit anchor, the only thing in me that thought this was a good time to release was those same stooped three stooges I like to call my release fingers……
Once again, when it was all done with, I had to give thanks for a clean miss. As an archer, you don’t get very many of those. A clean miss I mean. This was the lowest point in my hunting career and to say I’m disappointed in myself is an understatement.
The walk back to the truck was spent in reflection, cursing my self with every stride. I’ve told this story before here, but back in 2006, I missed a giant Colorado bull. I did the same stupid double pump clutch pop. I really re-evaluated my place in archery.
Ol’ Gauge sensed my disappointment and frustration and when I stopped to get a drink of water and continue with my evaluation under the shade of an ancient pine, he stuck his cold nose on my face, and gave me a lick that started at the shirt line of my neck and ended at my hairline of my fore-head making sure to distribute a good sized portion of dog slobber to my inner ear. “Yuck!” I couldn’t help but to pat him on his head as my other hand tried to wipe the slobber. I also couldn’t help but turn that frown upside down for a moment.
Once I reached the truck, it was back to camp to take my frustration out on the target I had. Whack, whack, whack… One, two, three, the arrows went where they belonged. A hundred times over.
It wasn’t my shooting. It was my mentality. Had I forgotten about the hunter and tried to become a killer? The questions wouldn’t stop, nor would the gut wrenching butterflies. Butterflies my bottom, what I have every time I think of that is not gut wrenching butterflies. This is far more severe. I would say I have the gut wrenching taradactles.
Enough of my sob story. I’m sorry to bore you with what I was thinking. I stayed in camp the rest of the day, and turned to something that makes every fat boy happy, and that’s FOOD!!!
It was to be Dutch oven taters, Dutch oven beer battered biscuits, along with a main course of BBQ’d wild bared boar pork chops complemented with a touch of Devil’s Spit sauce.
(http://img109.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/13/dinner-4bukri171.jpeg)
(http://img109.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/13/biscuts-4bukrncxq.jpeg)
And to make sure and reflect and calm down by the hypnosis of a comforting fire,
(http://img901.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/13/glowingfire-4bukrxqgm.jpeg)
Todd
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Fantastic story! I can almost smell the biscuits...
Thanks for sharing!
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The pics on the new host are lookin great to me!!!
Great story indeed. Love the fire pic(my hands at the screen in a feeling the fire, warming them up rubbing motion)
Thanks for sharing!!
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This is my second time posting on your thread...Thanks so much for sharing!! I am stuck at work and won't get to hunt till the fourth so this Is about the best thing I've read in a long time! :clapper: Can't say thanks enough! I found myself wiping my own face and neck after Gage gave you the "once over"
Nathan
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Yep looks like the picks are working fine bud. :thumbsup: Great pics !!
Marla and I were :goldtooth:
Tracy
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Todd, that sob story isn't boring...brings every one of us right there with you.. ;) :bigsmyl:
keep it comin'... :thumbsup:
It's raining like crazy today in Kansas, nothing better than a good story :campfire:
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Todd,
This has been great so far. I had to cancel my elk hunt this year due to our business moving locations and some other stuff.....this has made me want to be out there, but has relieved a little of the "pressure" as well, thanks for taking me along. My Lab looks just like yours and you got me thinking about his potential in the field. Boy Gauge is a great dog I love how he seems to know when to shut up and wait.......we should all be so lucky to have partners like that
:biglaugh:
Good work,
Allan
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9/5/2007
It was a brand new day, and luckily the blues didn’t last too long. I awoke with a fresh new outlook on my season, and had a little extra giddy up in my attitude. So much so, that I thought I would go to a honey hole I call “Brave to get there hollow.”
Now Brave to get there hollow is a wonderful place. Teaming with elk and deer both. I love to hunt here. The only downfall is you have to be one brave hombre to get there.
In order to get there one has to cross two canyons, neither of which is all that bad to cross physically speaking. I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the mountains of South-eastern Utah, but the bear numbers are very generous in a kind of spooky way. These two canyons and I have a history.
This story is not suited for tale here or anywhere else other then around a camp fire, so I won’t get into it. I’m just going to say a bear and I had a huge disagreement on whose life was more important.
Now I fully expect to run into bears while crossing these canyons. It’s a given. Here’s why. Here is what you have to paw your way through in order to get to the other side of both of these places.
(http://img110.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/bearberries-4butqwdnk.jpeg)
And at no time are you more then a few yards from a tree that looks like this.
(http://img702.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/beartrackss-4butr81bv.jpeg)
We made it through the first one alright only seeing the fleeing butt of a young boar.
Gauge and I topped the rim of the first and started to descend into the next when that feeling came over me that I might just ought to turn around right now and save myself, Gauge, and some poor bear time because we inconvenienced each other.
I didn’t listen to that feeling because if you do on this mountain, you won’t get much hunting done.
We made it to the bottom uneventful. I was going out of my way to be a little noisy and make sure any bears out front of us would know I was coming.
I was about 1/3 away from the top of the 2nd canyon when all of the sudden Gauge hackled up and started growling and smelling to our left. I instantly froze and clutched for the can of bear spray.
I didn’t see anything, and said, “We only have a little further to go, ol boy. C’mon!”
I took one more step and at no more then 10 FEET, two cubs, both no bigger then gauge started pawing there way up the closest quaky.
I instantly did a 180 and made it back to the bottom of the canyon in just a few leaps. Gauge was right there with me. I stopped in the bottom and looked back up, bear spray ready, to make sure momma bear wasn’t on our heals. It was no surprise to me to find out that she was.
She was about 50 yards directly up hill from me, and when I made eye contact she showed her unpleasant side with a nasty pop of her teeth. I sprayed the spray hoping the fog would deter her. I was unpleasantly surprised once again to find out my bear spray was foam.
Now I’m a fat guy, but I would bet the fastest runner in the world wouldn’t have beaten me running out of the bottom of that canyon. I feel I must warn you here. Running is not the thing to do most of the time, but I could tell that she didn’t want to eat me, she just wanted me the hell out of there and she was going to do everything in her power to make sure my threat to her young ones was neutralized.
When I did top out, I looked back once more to make sure she still wasn’t on our heals and I still wasn’t surprised to find out she still was.
Now I was all business. I yelled “HEY YOU STUPID (insert cussword)!!!!! I’M NOT GOING TO FIGHT YOU TIRED!!!! YOU WANT SOME, COME GET IT.!!!!!!!!”
I picked up a rock and chucked it at her. At my yelling the protector in Gauge came out and he voiced his opinion on the matter as well. Hackled up and all.
With hesitance, she listened to her fear and common sense, and angrily retreated to her cubs.
I think me and Gauge could of whipped her, but we both would have had hundreds of stitches before it was over.
I got back to the truck, looked over my shoulder at the Brave to get there country, tipped my hat to it and drove off.
It was back to camp to re think my strategy. I thought I would think it over subconsciously and took a good nap.
(http://img802.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/thevewfrombed-4butrhv9y.jpeg)
Todd
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Foam!! :scared: :scared: :scared: :knothead:
See, All that treadmill work paid off :biglaugh:
Tracy
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Thanks bro, haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Brings back so many childhood memories of Northern California bears. Had to cancel elk hunting this year so thanks..got to go along with you. God bless
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After my nap, I thought I would go check out some low country wallows. Not so much for me, but buddies of mine that might join me next year.
Do you see a wallow here?
(http://img802.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/willcoxwallow3-4butrpeym.jpeg)
How about now?
(http://img702.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/willcoxwallow2-4butrz8r0.jpeg)
Here she is. Tucked in a low depression in the middle of a huge sage flat.
(http://img108.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/willcoxwallow4-4buts7rjf.jpeg)
This spot is hopefully Dan’s (you know who you are, Dan. I hope you are still thinking about next year.) blind for next year. There was plenty of sign around.
Gauge in his never ending quest to destroy the local hornet population. He also couldn't help but wallow his own self.
(http://img701.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/thosedangedbees-4butsshnb.jpeg)
A view of camp from Dan’s wallow.
(http://img801.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/14/willcoxwallowmountain-4butsiep3.jpeg)
I know the general area where this group of elk usually bed from many years of following them. The prevailing winds here however blow from this wallow directly toward their bed. I thought I could circle the on the quad, get the wind in my face, still hunt closer and maybe call in some elk. Well, the elk decided they would bed right directly on the quad trail this day. When I drove through I booed them into the thick cedars. This is something they are plenty used to, I just didn’t figure they would be to call receptive after my intrusion. There were quite a few elk here this year. More sign then ever for this time of year.
It was back to camp after some long overdue nephew and niece gooching.
Todd
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Awesome thread buddy!!! Enjoying every word :notworthy:
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Great story telling! You are a talented writer. I am thoroughly enjoying this! Matt
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Great Stories Todd. Being from south Louisiana I have always wanted to hunt the west. Reading your stories and seeing the pictures are almost like being there. May be some day I can venture out west with my trusty Bob Lee in hand. Thanks for the adventure.
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Great story, loving it!
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Great post!
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Nice story Todd. Again congrats on the buck. When hunting in bear country, I always find it better to be faster than the person you are hunting with LOL :biglaugh:
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9/6/2008
Today was my last real shot at getting an elk. I decided that since this was the bottom of the ninth, and I was down by two, I better swing for the fence and hunt an area that has never let me down.
In fact, the last 4 Utah elk that I have taken with my bow have come from this spot. The travel time to get there is about 1 and ½ hours from camp, so I was awake and off extra early.
Upon arrival, I found the wind was blowing erratic at best. I try to make the best of my current situations, and hunt the best I can. I studied the wind for a good 15 minutes before I started my hike and determined that in order to hunt this local in the most efficient manner, I would need to make a big circle and hunt this area from the opposite direction of normal.
It took me a few hours to get the wind in my favor. As I was hunting back down, I was once again interrupted by the sound of a bull thrashing a tree. I lowly and slowly made my way to where I thought I could get a look. About the time I got close, the darned wind hit me in the back, thundering the bull. I did get a small glimpse of the bull and two cows making a hasty retreat.
I walked over to where the bull was thrashing and found this tree. It’s a hard life for a small pine in these mountains. Imagine how big this bull had to be if his fronts where down at the lower part of the rub and his 5th and 6th point where up top.
(http://img109.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/15/tenfootrub-4bv7y4vve.jpeg)
I found this ancient wallow about 20 yards from the tree. Every wallow I found was hit, but not real hard. I never heard a bugle I didn’t instigate. The rut is off to a slow start this year.
(http://img901.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/15/bcwallow-4bv7xf85n.jpeg)
By now it was mid day, and the wind was swirling really bad. I decided that I had better watch this wallow and see if any more elk would make their way to it. Matt was with me as well and he snapped this pic of Gauge and I. This is a prime example of the diligence one needs in order to watch wallows.
(http://img701.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/15/mountainnap-4bv7xmion.jpeg)
The nap didn’t last to long however, and we were off to the next stand of quakys. We worked real slow. It took us another couple of hours to get to the intended destination. I could smell elk real heavy and the wind finally stabilized. It was a good setup.
I gave a few chirps. Nothing. I gave a few more. After about a half hour of no response, I decided it would be best to move on a little further. When I stood, movement to my right caught my attention.
I gave a few more chirps, and finally the response I was looking for echoed through the canyon causing a tremor to shake my body. What a great feeling. This was the first full hearted bugle of the entire hunt. I could tell it was a young bull, and a few minutes later a 4 point raghorn stumbled from a small clump of oak. A few seconds later, a spike emerged with him.
This is it. This was the last chance I was going to get.
I worked them with my diaphragm, but couldn’t get a clear shot. The raghorn started raking a tree, but that was put in the back of my mind as the spike started circling down wind.
When he was about 25 yards and broadside, I barked to stop him. I eased the bow back, found that my mark, and instead of having thoughts of being armpit deep in his chest cavity, I started having visions of the last two cows I missed. I eased the bow back down, closed my eyes, told myself to make a clean release, pick a spot and follow through.
I opened my eyes drew again, picked a spot, and once again the thoughts of those two clean misses clouded my mind, and the horrible vision of this awesome animal being wounded and un-recovered by my hands was more then I could bare. I eased my bow back down and set it on the ground. I’m not the spray and pray type, and my mind was not right.
I continued to work the spike for Matt. In order for him to take the shot he would have had to shoot directly over me in an unsafe manner. It just wasn’t meant to be but what a wonderful experience none the less.
It’s a weird feeling walking out of the woods on the last hunt of your hunt. Not in a bad way, and other then the P.H.S.D. (Post Hunt Stress Disorder) I can’t help but give thanks for just another breath of that mountain air.
(http://img107.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/15/seeyounextyear-fl4e6rsn.jpeg)
This concludes Utah archery season. Thanks for coming along with Gauge and I.
Chapter two of “For love of the Game”……. Kansas….. HERE WE COME, BABY!!!!!!
Take care and best wishes to you all,
Todd
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great job, Todd :thumbsup: :clapper:
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Great job of story telling my friend :wavey: November can't get here soon enough and I should be able to shoot a bow by then :pray:
Tracy
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Great story! I really enjoyed this one. Gauge looks a lot like the lab I have at home. Great dogs.
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Thank you for the story Todd :wavey:
F-Manny
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Man Todd that is the best showing of self control I have seen in a long time, good on ya!!!
I have really enjoyed this from the beginning!
Thanks for sharing!!!!
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Excellent story telling and great pics!
Makes me wish I were there.
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Yep, that is cool, miss my Lab but never deer hunted with him at heel. This next year I will have to do this with my next pup.
J
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Thanks for taking me along on that hunt. I enjoyed it.
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Excellent story! Thanks.
:clapper:
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Damn! This site is breaking out with Hemmingways! Some of the finest hunt story I've ever read. Thank you so much and keep it rolling in Kansas. Good Hunting!
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Good luck in Kansas Todd. Hope to see pics of you with one of those bucks Tracy is keepin tabs on.
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Well,
I can't believe how fast September faded into October, October turned into November, and now we are just days away from Christmas.
I have a Kansas tag in burning a hole in my pocket and unfortunately thats all the action it will get this year.
Some events that happened at work will prevent a Kansas hunting trip this year, but I can't thank Tracy enough for the envite. Sorry I can't make it this year, bud. I sure hope you are elk ready come September!!!
I just thought I would update you all.
I just got word that I have a wonderfull present coming in the mail soon.........
Hopefully I will be eating Snowshoe and wild rice for a Christmas dinner, and maybe end this thread with at least a small game hunt anyhow......
Take care all, Happy Holidays!!!!!!
Todd
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:campfire: :coffee: great story so far, will be waiting on the out come of the small game hunting.
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Nice job writing this up. I was in the moment with you. Hunting at 85 degrees must be something.
I love the country. Would be a great plac eto have my horse with me.
Jer BEar
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Enjoyed it dude. Thanks.
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excellent! :thumbsup: thanks for taking the time to post this thread...
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Hey Todd,
Nice story and great hunt. I was able to spend the week prior to yours up on the Fishlake. Had a great time but didn't get a chance to loose an arrow. Maybe one of these days we'll cross paths in the mountains. Until then.....
Regards
homebru
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Todd,
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure.
I've yet to set my eye's on the beauty of the Rocky mountains, though through your description and picture's feel as if I have.
Great piece of writing.
Daren Lewis
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What a great read!!!!! You have a excellent hunting buddy in Gauge, I wish I could see him in action!!!!!! Good luck!
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There's been some talk about elk hunting here lately and this was one of my favorite story's last year.
Todd did a great job of telling this one :thumbsup: Maybe some of the new guys will injoy it.
Tracy
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THANK YOU!! you make me and a hole lot of others wish dream its nice great pic :cool: :thumbsup: :)