Bike Scout 2011

[wapiti792]

I will start off this little story with full disclosure...I am spoiled to live and hunt where I do. I know this. There, I said it. I moved here because my wife was from here and thought "please don't throw me into the briarpatch" when she suggested we move back to her home county.

I train every summer for the chance to jump start my season with a hunt for mulies or elk out west. I run, bike and swim, train for a couple of sprint triathlons, and use my mountain bike for summer scouting. I cover about 10 miles a week on my fat tires and another 50 or so on my skinny ones. Here's the machines:

 
 

The great thing about traveling roads like these on my fat tires is that deer don't hear you coming. I can park my truck near an area I want to glass, ride my mountain bike in and get pretty ok pics and never really spook the deer.

 

I try to end up near my truck or home as darkness nears and more than once I have ended up with a eye or mouth full of bugs while trying to pedal back home with my headlamp on.
 

Sometimes this is all I get of a good buck. Ears, horns, etc but enough to know that a good one is there in July. What I have found is that if food is around in October (our opener is the 1st) then the bucks I glassed in July will be within a half mile of where they were. If food is not there I look for the nearest late green soybeans or fresh cut alfalfa or clover.

[SheltonCreeker]

I sprinted my last half mile buddy to get to this computer!! I know you got more.

[wapiti792]

This year started out good! I had a little bear hunt planned with Stickflingers in Manitoba and that went ok     I started my training late a bit portly from all the celebrating after my bear hunt. The first of July I started my riding and thinking about big mulies in WY. I also started thinking about training for my triathlon. The one I did with my wife 'bout whooped me last year.

 

Then 2 weeks ago I managed to glass what will become my goal for the year. The first pics are grainy and not good due to my camera fogging up in this 100 degree heat. A long ride, a fat triathlete, and a camera crammed in a camelback are not the best combo for good pics!
 
 

I spent alot more time riding the last 2 weeks and couldn't catch a break for the pics of "the one". Then coming home I nearly hit one of his buddies on the gravel road near my home. This would have been a cool pic if I had not been shaking.
 

[amar911]

I am an avid cyclist too and love riding roads and trails and sometimes seeing animals along the way. It looks like you live in a great place to bike. Thanks for the pictures. You and your wife are a very nice looking couple. Glad you are staying fit.

Allan

[wapiti792]

So tonight, as I am prepping for a triathlon in 3 weeks,a elk/mulie adventure for 5 days with other Tradgangers in camp, and a move from my home near where this buck sleeps to another as good piece of heaven on the other side of the county, I decide to ride. Not a long one, just a couple of miles to clear my head near where I think a good one is. It's hot, I am soaking wet, but I bail into the property I have permission to hunt with a bottle of water, a power bar, and some fruit. Thermacell going and not a care in the world exept all the things mentioned above and the fact I am a spoiled man to live and hunt here.

The does arrive and begin to feed and my eyelids feel heavy. Just as the sandman comes I see a doe looking into the woods and it dawns on me to get my glasses up.

 

[wapiti792]

What you are about to see will startle you. Be afraid. The boogy man lives near me. Honest to God...now I am sworn to secrecy with my own inner self as to where the boogy man lives. But he is near and to keep the women and children safe I will be hunting him with a very sharp broadhead and a bow with much mojo in 64 days.

 

So, as I laid in the blackberry bush and contemplated the universe and yes again thanked the Lord for my station in life, I thought how cool it would be to kill him with a bow that is being passed around in honor of one of our fallen brothers. I get the Chris Surtees pass around bow being offered by Bel007 in October. Here's the link for it.  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=106205;p=1

I will be riding more and shooting more with that buck on my mind, hoping for this look with a mojo-laden bow in my hand.

 

Wish me luck but I don't need it. I got mojo...and that's better  

[steadman]

Mike , Tracy emailed me those pics. WOW!!!!  :eek:      
If you want, push him over to KS early Nov and I'll help you out. I can definitley scare him anyways.
Good Luck!!!

[ckanous]

Great pics and a great mindset in life!!!! Good luck on this big boy, he's a stud for sure! To get this deer with a bow honoring Chris Surtees sure would keep a flame burning in a man's heart right!!! Good luck again.

[Lone Ranger]

Shazaum!    :eek:   that thing is a beast. I'll stick a pig in January with that bow- want to trade venison for pork?    :D  

L.R.

[KentuckyTJ]

Shuweee he's a dandy. Good luck with him.

[LONGSTYKES]

Mike, Now that is an awesome buck ( Of a lifetime ). Sounds like you have a good plan. Hunt hard and shoot straight. The best of luck. Don

[Talondale]

Wow! Hope you get him.

[wapiti792]

Thanks gents! This fall is going to be fun  

[jamesh76]

Looks like you know what you will be after come season. Nice pictures.

[SheltonCreeker]

Awesome! Better pic than the one you sent me. Hes awesome!

[Gatekeeper]

WOW  :eek:  

Mike, this is your year!  

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Woah...that thing has a big enough spread to be a western Muley! Hunt hard and shoot straight on that bad boy.

[Duckbutt]

Greath thread....thanks for this and good luck!

[bohuntr]

Neat thread Mike. That buck is just incredible!!! Hope you get him this fall.

[bolong]

That's a super stud! Good luck with him!