The boy and I got drawn for the second rifle season at Camp Wainwright this year. Forecast was for low 20's with mid -30's as windchill. The reality was low thirties with -40's as windchill.
First day we were there early for the briefing and as such were the third car parked. When we turned left onto the purple route to go to our area we had about 18 trucks trailing us. I was just getting ready to turn down the road I'd picked on the map when I spotted a bedded mulie doe out of the corner of my eye in the distance. Legal light was still 10 minutes away so instead of stopping or turning and attracting the attention of everyone following me I just kept going and then made another turn further up the road and then looped back just after legal.
The boy stalked in on the mulie doe and when she stood up shot her from about 150 yds. She dropped in her tracks. His first mule deer of any type.
Then I made a rookie mistake. We left the rifles in the truck to go and tag the doe. We are about 75 yds out when a big buck steps out and stares at us. We both turn and boot it back to the truck for the guns. Aidan outran me and got his gun first and we both loaded up and jogged back. The buck was out of sight behind a clump of bush so I sent Aidan one way and I the other. The buck ended up on my side and was quartering away at a trot at about 65 yds. I held and let him jog into the bullet and he simply did a faceplant and didn't twitch.
I would have liked Aidan to get the buck too but he didn't have a shot. Oh well we were both still able to hunt the remaining days. Besides, he already has the biggest whitetail and elk in the family after only 3 years of hunting. I have the bragging rights on moose and now mulies to even things out.
We cut the day short to get gear cleaned. These temps make it hard to clean up knives and toboggans when blood freezes solid in a few seconds. We had a big igloo cooler to keep our water and food above freezing. Early success sure makes it feel warmer though. Good thing too. We didn't see a single deer on the last day.
First day we were there early for the briefing and as such were the third car parked. When we turned left onto the purple route to go to our area we had about 18 trucks trailing us. I was just getting ready to turn down the road I'd picked on the map when I spotted a bedded mulie doe out of the corner of my eye in the distance. Legal light was still 10 minutes away so instead of stopping or turning and attracting the attention of everyone following me I just kept going and then made another turn further up the road and then looped back just after legal.
The boy stalked in on the mulie doe and when she stood up shot her from about 150 yds. She dropped in her tracks. His first mule deer of any type.
Then I made a rookie mistake. We left the rifles in the truck to go and tag the doe. We are about 75 yds out when a big buck steps out and stares at us. We both turn and boot it back to the truck for the guns. Aidan outran me and got his gun first and we both loaded up and jogged back. The buck was out of sight behind a clump of bush so I sent Aidan one way and I the other. The buck ended up on my side and was quartering away at a trot at about 65 yds. I held and let him jog into the bullet and he simply did a faceplant and didn't twitch.
I would have liked Aidan to get the buck too but he didn't have a shot. Oh well we were both still able to hunt the remaining days. Besides, he already has the biggest whitetail and elk in the family after only 3 years of hunting. I have the bragging rights on moose and now mulies to even things out.
We cut the day short to get gear cleaned. These temps make it hard to clean up knives and toboggans when blood freezes solid in a few seconds. We had a big igloo cooler to keep our water and food above freezing. Early success sure makes it feel warmer though. Good thing too. We didn't see a single deer on the last day.
