Opening morning

[centaur]

The weatherman got it right for a change. I woke up to howling wind, but the temp felt a lot cooler as a front pushed through last night. I was out before daylight, and found a few goats at the first place I hunted. One was a pretty nice buck, and was in a place that he could be stalked. The problem was his two girlfriends between me and him. I got to a place where the odds were high that they would bust me, so I waited for a while before peeking over a bump in the earth. Guess what was staring at me; yep, the does had me busted, and of course ran right to the buck, leaving me very lonely. Antelope 1, Me 0.
As the sun rose, the smoke from fires in Idaho made the scene somewhat surreal.


Even the irrigation canal looked like it was ablaze.



Having worn out my welcome at the first location, I went to another spot, and didn't get far before I spied a buck feeding, alone. With no does around, I figured I would give it a shot, and as I snuck to within about 80 yards of him, he bedded down. His bed was on open and flat ground, where approaching any closer was not possible, so I hunkered down and waited for him to make his move. After about an hour, he got up, stretched, and started feeding, but not in my direction. I was pretty helpless at that point, and couldn't do much more than watch as he fed out into a big open area. He never saw me, and I did get one picture of him as he left.


All in all, it was a fun morning, and I didn't have to gut anything.

[Longbowlogan]

At least your seeing some goats! Nice pictures

[Dendy Cromer]

where you hunt is beautiful....... sounds like an awesome morning.

[huntnmuleys]

Been anxious to see a morning report while I'm at work. Sounds like a great morning, and great pics too.

[Ray_G]

Good to see some hunting photos after the long hiatus.  Keep getting on them, Pat - we are looking forward to the hero pics.

I like your photos but we are not enjoying the fires / smoke over here.  Parts of our muley and cottontail spots are burned over and there are closures due to fire where we elk hunt.  We will have to "Lewis and Clark" hunt areas this year.

[Charlie Lamb]

I've lived a bunch of mornings just like yours today. I just wish I'd have been with you. I miss it.

[centaur]

Charlie,
Wish you could have been here. We might have been able to double up on the buck in the picture and get busted X2.

[steadman]

Pat thanks for taking us along. It's good to see some hunting stories and photos again! Good luck  

[awbowman]

Get back out there and don't come back without food for the table!    

[rastaman]

Good luck to you again sir!  Beautiful morning you had there.

[turkey522]

Thanks for the update and pics.

[glass76]

A good first day. Thanks for sharing.

[mountain lion]

thanks for sharing, i was at work!!! that sucks. wish i was with ya. good luck!

[Charlie Lamb]

Busted x2 is a lot better than not being there to get busted at all.

Sometimes you can walk right up on them when you get the rising sun straight behind you. Only good for a short period each morning and evening, but it works.

The smoke may have that screwed up though.

[Archie]

I sure like TG, because this is the only way I get to experience things like this... for now!

Thanks for sharing!

[twitchstick]

Good stuff!  

[Rick Richard]

Love the pictures. It is making me have the 'feel'.  Can't wait for those magic moments of sunrise.

[varmint101]

Sweet!  It's time for antelope!  I hope to get after them one day.  Great pictures!

[Gen273]

Great post! I love the pictures.

[Killdeer]

Thank you! The pictures are terrific. I had to save that one of the canal.

Killdeer