Good start to the season.... and then some!
- Thread starter 45ACPKING
- Start date
How much weed did you smoke
not as much as you might think hehehe
solo hunting this area you need to have your senses in full gear. Very easy to trip, slip, slide or fall and the terrain is unforgiving.
There are also predators and other hunters one must be on the look out for as we hike in to the stand. Then there is the treestand and all the safety precautions that entails , not to mention it's the law to be sober when handing or using firearms.
I do try to be responsible but I do use the stuff for medicine so after the days hunt is over I can partake, as other hunters do with their beers and bourbon
Well..... the wife had a day off today and tomorrow so we decided last night to set the alarm for 5:30 and get out there early in the dark so we could walk into a natural clearing that I know of not far from home, and I know it has good amounts of browse at the wetter end.
I woke up at 5:24 and got the kettle going, coffee grounds in the french press for me and a tea bag in the wife's cup and reached over and shut my alarm off on my phone.
5:45 and the wife is still sleeping..... hmmm..... It's her tag so if she isn't getting up early the day isn't lost. She rolled out of bed about 7:30 and we gathered our things and out the door we went.
It has been a near perfect morning with some clouds around but mostly crisp cold and sunny out by the time we hit the road. The long arduous drive to the deactivated foresty road took about 5 minutes from the driveway..... and as we got through the 3rd deactivation about a kilometer up my wife excitedly exclaims " There's my deer stop the jeep!!".
The road skirts a steep slope of grass and fireweed with douglas fir dotting the slope running up into thick replanted pine. The whole area has had a going over by local crews who selectively logged and removed fuels and is part of a firebreak.
As I bring the jeep to a stop I see the wife leaned right over looking out the driverside up the steep hill. I am scanning trying to see it as she is jumping out of the jeep with my rifle. She goes to load it and there are no cartridges on the buttstock holder which is one of those uncle mikes fabric units...... oh crap...... did I leave all my ammo at home on the table? I had stored all my 7mm mag ammo in it's ammo can so this morning had to grab 10 rounds. Forgot to put it in my pack, pockets and the uncle mike's thingy..... Oh Sh!t I thought as I fevershly searched for ammo and at the same time have my eyes fixed on the buck. It was all happening so fast LOL 8 minutes from the driveway I kid you not.
As I am coming up empty on ammo and thinking how stupid I am..... being "that guy" who forgets his ammo on a hunt ..... I remember that I am wearing my gear belt and it has a spare 6 rounds in a ammo wallet..... awesome!! I quietly exclaim I found em and passed 2 rounds to the wife and she disappeared from my view. Seconds later I hear the bark of the other love of my life, my trusty ruger M77 MKII and the deer is hit hard but doesn't go down. It was an uphill shot at about 78 yards on the range finder almost broadside and the deer had just put it's head back down to the ground when she whacked him. The deer bucked at the shot and headed downhill. I heard the wife work the action of my rifle and seconds later the rifle barked again and the deer crashed to the ground.
Gotta say.... I'm awfully proud right now. This is my wife's second deer as a hunter and only the second time she has ever fired my rifle or any other magnum caliber.
Her first shot was bang on and caught both lungs and passed thru the bottom 1/4 of the heart. The second shot might have missed but I won't know till I skin it out. She might have hit it in the same spot twice though as the entry hole looks like it was hit with a 375H&H LOL
and that tags both of us out for deer unless she happens upon a white tail , which are around but not easy to find .
here's a couple pics.
I woke up at 5:24 and got the kettle going, coffee grounds in the french press for me and a tea bag in the wife's cup and reached over and shut my alarm off on my phone.
5:45 and the wife is still sleeping..... hmmm..... It's her tag so if she isn't getting up early the day isn't lost. She rolled out of bed about 7:30 and we gathered our things and out the door we went.
It has been a near perfect morning with some clouds around but mostly crisp cold and sunny out by the time we hit the road. The long arduous drive to the deactivated foresty road took about 5 minutes from the driveway..... and as we got through the 3rd deactivation about a kilometer up my wife excitedly exclaims " There's my deer stop the jeep!!".
The road skirts a steep slope of grass and fireweed with douglas fir dotting the slope running up into thick replanted pine. The whole area has had a going over by local crews who selectively logged and removed fuels and is part of a firebreak.
As I bring the jeep to a stop I see the wife leaned right over looking out the driverside up the steep hill. I am scanning trying to see it as she is jumping out of the jeep with my rifle. She goes to load it and there are no cartridges on the buttstock holder which is one of those uncle mikes fabric units...... oh crap...... did I leave all my ammo at home on the table? I had stored all my 7mm mag ammo in it's ammo can so this morning had to grab 10 rounds. Forgot to put it in my pack, pockets and the uncle mike's thingy..... Oh Sh!t I thought as I fevershly searched for ammo and at the same time have my eyes fixed on the buck. It was all happening so fast LOL 8 minutes from the driveway I kid you not.
As I am coming up empty on ammo and thinking how stupid I am..... being "that guy" who forgets his ammo on a hunt ..... I remember that I am wearing my gear belt and it has a spare 6 rounds in a ammo wallet..... awesome!! I quietly exclaim I found em and passed 2 rounds to the wife and she disappeared from my view. Seconds later I hear the bark of the other love of my life, my trusty ruger M77 MKII and the deer is hit hard but doesn't go down. It was an uphill shot at about 78 yards on the range finder almost broadside and the deer had just put it's head back down to the ground when she whacked him. The deer bucked at the shot and headed downhill. I heard the wife work the action of my rifle and seconds later the rifle barked again and the deer crashed to the ground.
Gotta say.... I'm awfully proud right now. This is my wife's second deer as a hunter and only the second time she has ever fired my rifle or any other magnum caliber.
Her first shot was bang on and caught both lungs and passed thru the bottom 1/4 of the heart. The second shot might have missed but I won't know till I skin it out. She might have hit it in the same spot twice though as the entry hole looks like it was hit with a 375H&H LOL
and that tags both of us out for deer unless she happens upon a white tail , which are around but not easy to find .
here's a couple pics.
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Awesome season so far! You still going for moose and a bear? Do you have 5 freezers?
I met a guy in the peace river country of Alberta who shot 4 deer and the kids came for a weekend and when they left so did most of his deer. He cried that there was only 8 lbs of deer left. At the time he could go and ask for more tags.
I put the atv away for winter and 1 more time fishing and the boat gets winterized. 48 lbs of my deer is in 6lb bags ready for sausage. Bought 2 more pork loins and trimmed all the fat off for sausage making. The inside loin chop is great for a quick brine and smoking.
I enjoy the write ups.
I met a guy in the peace river country of Alberta who shot 4 deer and the kids came for a weekend and when they left so did most of his deer. He cried that there was only 8 lbs of deer left. At the time he could go and ask for more tags.
I put the atv away for winter and 1 more time fishing and the boat gets winterized. 48 lbs of my deer is in 6lb bags ready for sausage. Bought 2 more pork loins and trimmed all the fat off for sausage making. The inside loin chop is great for a quick brine and smoking.
I enjoy the write ups.
yes, its been an excellent season and my upright freezer is getting full that;s for sure.
The two blacktails add up to one decent sized Mule deer as far as meat goes so we will probably be looking at about 200 pounds of deer meat once I get this one butchered,
I'm hoping to team up on a moose next week and will split that in 2 between us.
If all goes well I will be able to do a really good run of sausage this year and have lots of roasts and ground as well
No store bought meat for the next year if I can help it.
very thankful right now
The two blacktails add up to one decent sized Mule deer as far as meat goes so we will probably be looking at about 200 pounds of deer meat once I get this one butchered,
I'm hoping to team up on a moose next week and will split that in 2 between us.
If all goes well I will be able to do a really good run of sausage this year and have lots of roasts and ground as well
No store bought meat for the next year if I can help it.
very thankful right now
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
Had me in suspense with the forgotten ammo part!!! Glad it worked out.
man... I was panicking and confused all at the same time while thinking , oh boy is she gonna be pissed at me if I don't come up with some ammo LOL
This was the first animal I have seen her shoot and her first was 2 years ago with her best friend on a girls hunting day and they both got a buck that day.
It all worked out in the end though.
She is already making plans with the girls to go find some white tail while I'm away moose hunting. I think with this deer, she has caught the hunting bug hard and that makes me smile all day long
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
I'll say a great start! The rut hasn't even started yet and your both tagged out. Good for you both. I enjoyed reading about your hunt, cheers
I was not really planning on a moose hunt this year as the area I prefer, which is an 8+ hour drive north has been shortened to a 3 day open season. That's great if you live up there and have been scouting for bulls in your free time before the opening. We have harvested a bull in the first year of the shortened season but it's hard to convince my hunting friends to make that trip as most live a good 4 or 5 hours south of me. So the plan was to go all in on deer and I think that has paid off so far LOL
Then a few weeks ago I got an email from a friend up in the telkwa/smithers area that he was online on the bc hunting site and realized that he drew the late bull draw. He didn't read the part about them not contacting hunters when the draw results are handed out and that he had to go online to check for himself. It's a dumb system we have but I suppose they are cost saving measures. Anyhow, I'll leave monday, 2 days before the 3 day open season so I have a full day to travel and the next day to plan and get organized before the hunt opens on the 20th.
The plan is to only take one moose to share between us whether it's in the 3 day opener or in the LEH opening. If I see a nice bear I still have a tag for that too but I usually only see bears when I don't have a tag LOL
anyhow..... the wife's deer has been hanging in the cool room for a little over 48hrs and I have to get it cut and wrapped by days end so I best get off my @ss and get crackin
Then a few weeks ago I got an email from a friend up in the telkwa/smithers area that he was online on the bc hunting site and realized that he drew the late bull draw. He didn't read the part about them not contacting hunters when the draw results are handed out and that he had to go online to check for himself. It's a dumb system we have but I suppose they are cost saving measures. Anyhow, I'll leave monday, 2 days before the 3 day open season so I have a full day to travel and the next day to plan and get organized before the hunt opens on the 20th.
The plan is to only take one moose to share between us whether it's in the 3 day opener or in the LEH opening. If I see a nice bear I still have a tag for that too but I usually only see bears when I don't have a tag LOL
anyhow..... the wife's deer has been hanging in the cool room for a little over 48hrs and I have to get it cut and wrapped by days end so I best get off my @ss and get crackin
getting antsy over here as I go over my gear and other necessities for the trip north to bland's place. He doesn't hang out here anymore but I'm sure many here know the username.
Plan is to be on the road by 9 am and it's a 9.5 hour drive to the shores of the north west arm of babine lake. In case anyone is wondering...... I triple checked the ammo is in the gear belt wallet, the day pack and I have packed the ammo can with 2 spare boxes LOL
I'll check back in when I can but i'm not bringing my laptop so probably a week or two before I get back.
I'd like to try some fishing while I'm there too so hopefully will get some time to wet a line off the dock or somethin
cheers all and hope you all find some time to get out in the woods or the wetlands while Im gone
Plan is to be on the road by 9 am and it's a 9.5 hour drive to the shores of the north west arm of babine lake. In case anyone is wondering...... I triple checked the ammo is in the gear belt wallet, the day pack and I have packed the ammo can with 2 spare boxes LOL
I'll check back in when I can but i'm not bringing my laptop so probably a week or two before I get back.
I'd like to try some fishing while I'm there too so hopefully will get some time to wet a line off the dock or somethin
cheers all and hope you all find some time to get out in the woods or the wetlands while Im gone
Well.... I got home a few days ago from the babine lake area and here is a bit a of a run down on how things went.
I arrived a little after sundown on the 18th, driving 704KM to reach my destination. I gotta say, this 32 year old jeep cherokee has sure come thru this season after I got the kinks ironed out.
Anyhow on the 19th, the day before the general open season for bulls, my host and I toured around a little bit on his 570 ranger and we worked his dog for a few hours looking for birds. Lots of big fat ruffed grouse in the area and I could have spent hours just grouse hunting. Not having a 22 of my own along for the trip, my host handed me a combination 22/410 break action that was really nice to shoot and carry. Very accurate with the CB shorts as well. We did see some moose sign but nothing real fresh and we planned to hunt the lake by boat in the mornings most days anyways. We ended the day by hitting a local shooting spot just to double check zero on our rifles and I made a small 6 click elevation adjustment to ensure a 175 yard zero using the 7mm rem mag 160gr nosler partition federal premium factory load.
The hunt was cut short due to my host suddenly falling ill and requiring 2 emergency trips to the hospital while I was there (not covid related LOL)
We did get out in the boat twice but only saw one animal from far away and by the time we worked our way down there it was no where to be seen.
I got out a bit on the ranger and did some calling and on the 3rd and last day of the opening when I went back down the powerline to where I was calling, I bumped a young cow and then an hour later after a couple calls another moose appeared at several hundred yards up the powerline. I could see it was another cow but much bigger than the first. So I did see some action in and around my calling spot but it's too bad one of those cows wasn't a young bull. Nevertheless , I flushed 5 or 6 grouse that day and saw moose so I was on the right track.
My host really tried to get back to hunting as his LEH moose draw started the day after the 3 day open season closed but he needed to stay in town close to the hospital for a few days to rest and make sure there would be no further complications.
If he feels up to it I might head back up as the tag he has is good till november 15th but health comes first so we will see how it goes.
So...... what else can I report...... Over the past few years I have put some time in exploring an area that my wife and I were on our way to the day she got her buck. It has a small acre sized clearing with a spring that keeps one end of it wet and seems to be a water and maybe mineral source for the deer and other critters. Anyhow I have been up there exploring again and discovered a series of game trails that have been used for a long long time it seems. It proves my theory that deer are using that area as a north/south corridor around the end of the lake. I am going to put some game cameras in a few prime locations as I know that where there is deer making worn in game trails..... there is gonna be cougar and wolf. So hopefully I can find a couple locations that will make for good tree stand spots. I still have a bear tag too but have seen very little bear sign anywhere I have gone this season.
anyhow..... the adventure may continue..... or it may not. Either way it's been a good season for filling the freezer so I can not complain.
I arrived a little after sundown on the 18th, driving 704KM to reach my destination. I gotta say, this 32 year old jeep cherokee has sure come thru this season after I got the kinks ironed out.
Anyhow on the 19th, the day before the general open season for bulls, my host and I toured around a little bit on his 570 ranger and we worked his dog for a few hours looking for birds. Lots of big fat ruffed grouse in the area and I could have spent hours just grouse hunting. Not having a 22 of my own along for the trip, my host handed me a combination 22/410 break action that was really nice to shoot and carry. Very accurate with the CB shorts as well. We did see some moose sign but nothing real fresh and we planned to hunt the lake by boat in the mornings most days anyways. We ended the day by hitting a local shooting spot just to double check zero on our rifles and I made a small 6 click elevation adjustment to ensure a 175 yard zero using the 7mm rem mag 160gr nosler partition federal premium factory load.
The hunt was cut short due to my host suddenly falling ill and requiring 2 emergency trips to the hospital while I was there (not covid related LOL)
We did get out in the boat twice but only saw one animal from far away and by the time we worked our way down there it was no where to be seen.
I got out a bit on the ranger and did some calling and on the 3rd and last day of the opening when I went back down the powerline to where I was calling, I bumped a young cow and then an hour later after a couple calls another moose appeared at several hundred yards up the powerline. I could see it was another cow but much bigger than the first. So I did see some action in and around my calling spot but it's too bad one of those cows wasn't a young bull. Nevertheless , I flushed 5 or 6 grouse that day and saw moose so I was on the right track.
My host really tried to get back to hunting as his LEH moose draw started the day after the 3 day open season closed but he needed to stay in town close to the hospital for a few days to rest and make sure there would be no further complications.
If he feels up to it I might head back up as the tag he has is good till november 15th but health comes first so we will see how it goes.
So...... what else can I report...... Over the past few years I have put some time in exploring an area that my wife and I were on our way to the day she got her buck. It has a small acre sized clearing with a spring that keeps one end of it wet and seems to be a water and maybe mineral source for the deer and other critters. Anyhow I have been up there exploring again and discovered a series of game trails that have been used for a long long time it seems. It proves my theory that deer are using that area as a north/south corridor around the end of the lake. I am going to put some game cameras in a few prime locations as I know that where there is deer making worn in game trails..... there is gonna be cougar and wolf. So hopefully I can find a couple locations that will make for good tree stand spots. I still have a bear tag too but have seen very little bear sign anywhere I have gone this season.
anyhow..... the adventure may continue..... or it may not. Either way it's been a good season for filling the freezer so I can not complain.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
Just the way she goes lol. Sometimes you bring home a story, and sometimes you bring home some groceries. Thanks for sharing.
