Went down south to WMU 300 to take advantage of the Recreational Access Management Program. Signed in at the Waterton Colony and cruised around the property to familiarize myself and do a bit of spotting. As is usually the case when I have a general whitetail tag, I saw plenty of mule deer. 22 to be exact, with 1 good size buck in the mix.
On the way back out I decided to check out one of the approved parking spots closest to the entrance. I made it halfway down the road, which stops in a field beside the river, and lo and behold, a group of ten or twleve whitetails with a couple of decent bucks sparring. First time I've seen that. Pretty cool. I marked that spot on the property map and vowed to return in the morning.
I realised I was almost out of gas and was forced to drive for a half hour into Cardston to refuel. Kind of a pain, but alright. Parked just off the highway and hit the sack. I awoke with a start, and thought it best to get moving. Got dressed, drove to the further parking spot and hiked back 2.5 km to the spot I saw the WT yesterday. Up to the top of a hill with a good view, but absolutely NO protection from the frigid wind. Got comfortable and waited....and looked at the stars.....and waited....saw 6 or 7 shooting stars....and waited.
Finally a lighter shade of black on the horizon....and waited. What's that? You sneaky buggers, coming in from behind and to the east, in a small valley. 1, 2, 6, 7 does,.....where's the buck? Ah ha, rear guard. Still too dark to shoot, so I got patient and hoped they would find they liked the spot and feed for a bit. I lost the buck in the pre-dawn light and hoped the other one would make an appearance........he did. Starting to get bright now, check the range when he crosses the fence line. 123 yds. Why do I practice out to 400 again? Get the crosshairs on him and lead him a bit. I don't want to shoot while he's moving but he takes a break and looks around.
Light squeeze on the trigger and ( I always wanted to write something like this) the 168 gr. Berger vld exits the muzzle of my 7mm Weatherby at 2900 fps, propelled by 70.5 gr. of H4831sc and hits the buck just below the spine, directly above his right shoulder, shredding his lungs and dropping him like he got hit with an anvil. I grab my gear and start heading towards him. Nice 4X4. Symmetrical. I start to drag him towards the road at the bottom of the hill and as luck would have it, a couple of fellow hunters drove down and offered to take myself and my buck back to my vehicle. Nice guys.
First day out hunting, and filled my tag at first light. I hope I can pull off something similar with my supplemental doe tags.
On the way back out I decided to check out one of the approved parking spots closest to the entrance. I made it halfway down the road, which stops in a field beside the river, and lo and behold, a group of ten or twleve whitetails with a couple of decent bucks sparring. First time I've seen that. Pretty cool. I marked that spot on the property map and vowed to return in the morning.
I realised I was almost out of gas and was forced to drive for a half hour into Cardston to refuel. Kind of a pain, but alright. Parked just off the highway and hit the sack. I awoke with a start, and thought it best to get moving. Got dressed, drove to the further parking spot and hiked back 2.5 km to the spot I saw the WT yesterday. Up to the top of a hill with a good view, but absolutely NO protection from the frigid wind. Got comfortable and waited....and looked at the stars.....and waited....saw 6 or 7 shooting stars....and waited.
Finally a lighter shade of black on the horizon....and waited. What's that? You sneaky buggers, coming in from behind and to the east, in a small valley. 1, 2, 6, 7 does,.....where's the buck? Ah ha, rear guard. Still too dark to shoot, so I got patient and hoped they would find they liked the spot and feed for a bit. I lost the buck in the pre-dawn light and hoped the other one would make an appearance........he did. Starting to get bright now, check the range when he crosses the fence line. 123 yds. Why do I practice out to 400 again? Get the crosshairs on him and lead him a bit. I don't want to shoot while he's moving but he takes a break and looks around.
Light squeeze on the trigger and ( I always wanted to write something like this) the 168 gr. Berger vld exits the muzzle of my 7mm Weatherby at 2900 fps, propelled by 70.5 gr. of H4831sc and hits the buck just below the spine, directly above his right shoulder, shredding his lungs and dropping him like he got hit with an anvil. I grab my gear and start heading towards him. Nice 4X4. Symmetrical. I start to drag him towards the road at the bottom of the hill and as luck would have it, a couple of fellow hunters drove down and offered to take myself and my buck back to my vehicle. Nice guys.
First day out hunting, and filled my tag at first light. I hope I can pull off something similar with my supplemental doe tags.
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cant wait, i saw a nice 4x4 the last time i went to my spot, i hope he's gonna be waiting for me on 31st at first light
