2021 HAC

Well, last year I really enjoyed doing the hunt adventure challenge so I figured I would give it another go this year. Still quite a bit of time before I have all of my hunts planned out but so far on the list I have Utah archery deer, Utah archery elk, and Utah buffalo. My Step Dad also got lucky and pulled a Utah LE rifle elk tag, so that should be a lot of fun. Also I’m planning on doing spring bear here in Utah, don’t expect to see much but it’ll be good to get out and hike around.

I just got a new rifle scope put on the 6.5 prc and have been doing some load development. Hopefully I’ll have a load ready to go in the next couple of weeks in time for the start of the bear hunt.

Just got my 2020 Buffalo skull back from the taxidermist, I think it turned out great! Cant wait for the shoulder mount to be done.

Well I just hit a bump in the road for spring season. Was playing a pickup basketball game earlier this week and ended up fracturing my left foot. I’ll be in a boot for the next 4-8 weeks and possibly longer. So much for Utah bear hunting, I just hope I’m good to go for summer scouting and the fall hunts

Today I was able to get my 2020 antelope back from my taxidermist and I think he did a great job!

I am finally out of the walking boot! On Tuesday my doctor cleared me and said I could start walking again. So, I took a quick trip up to Mirror Lake and did a little fishing and hiking, the weather was great!



Didn’t catch any big ones but did catch a few.



Also decided to hike up Bald Mountain, I’d never done it before but the view was well worth it.



Also saw a couple of Mtn. Goats, their footwork always amazes me.



Now that I’m all healed up it’s time to start scouting. Today I picked up my General Elk tag and OTC buffalo tag, super excited for both of those hunts this year.

Was able to go to the BWB pig shoot yesterday up parleys canyon. It’s been quite a few years since I was last up there shooting but I had a great time, and didn’t even lose any arrows.







Then this morning I got up early and hiked into a new area I’ve never been to before looking for bucks. The hike look longer than expected, I saw about a dozen does, one small four point, and a small herd of elk. Hoping I can make in back in there for an overnighted to check it out a little better. It sure felt good to be back in the high country.

Well I went out and shot at the total archery challenge yesterday with my Dad and Uncle Patrick. There sure were a lot of flat brimmers but it was still a good time. Here’s a few pictures that I took. Less than 3 weeks to go I’m getting pretty excited!

I just got back from a scouting trip, I don’t know about you guys but for me so far it’s been a tough year for turning up big bucks. On this trip I did find a couple of cool bucks, one that I would be happy to put my tag on. I also pulled a trail cam that I haven’t checked in over a year and got some cool photos.

This photo is from last September, my first time ever getting a Bighorn on trail camera.



This is the only picture I have us this bck, I’d like to see how he finished out. Hopefully next week I can get up there and locate him.



This is a cool buck, and I was able to glass him yesterday. I think he finished really well and I’d be happy to take him I was given the chance.



Here’s a video of that same buck.


Here’s another cool buck. Narrow 3x4 but he’s pretty tall. Not quite sure if he’ll make the cut though.



Just a few more weeks to go I’m getting excited, hopefully next week I can find that nice 4 point and if not I’ll focus on the flared out 3x4.

I guess tomorrow’s the day, good luck to everybody who’s headed out on the Utah opener. I feel like this is the least prepared I’ve been headed into a hunt in a long time, I’m not too worried about it am just excited to get out and have some fun. I’m headed out tonight and I’ll be back next Thursday. Here’s a picture of my camp all loaded up last weekend and packing in.

I’ve been procrastinating posting about my archery deer hunt, so here it goes. I hiked in with my cousin Brayden the night before the opener and we made it too camp at about 11:00.



Opening morning we woke up early and got to our glassing point, no shooters were spotted and it soon started raining, the rest of the day was spent at camp avoiding the rain.



Day 2 found Brayden and I on the same glassing point looking for the 4x3 with the double eye guards. We weren’t able to find him but did find 2 other nice bucks, and I decided to put a stalk on them. Here’s a couple of trail cam photos of the bucks.







The bucks fed into a patch of pines so I moved into position above them. We made the decision to have my other cousin Hayden try to push the bucks to me because we weren’t sure exactly where they bedded. Hayden moved across the basin making noise trying to spook the bucks to me but the bucks never came, Hayden was able to walk right up to the bucks and got a 25 yard shot, he misranged and shot right over the back of the 4 point. They trotted out to 80 yards and he shot two more times but couldn’t connect. The rest of the day was pretty slow. Here’s a cool picture I got of Brayden from the glassing point.



On day 3 Hayden and I went to a new glassing point to look for a big 3 point he had been watching during the summer. We were glassing one basin when I decided to peek off the other side and see if there was anything below us. Sure enough there was a 24 inch 4x3 about 150 yards away feeding towards us. I got set up in the cliffs and waited for the buck, he fed below me but was quite alert. I got a range of 90 yards, but with the angle compensation I held for 55 yards. I drew back my bow, settled my pin and let it fly. Unfortunately the buck jumped the string and my arrow flew harmlessly over his back.

Here’s my view looking down where the buck was standing. The yellow dot is where the buck was standing when I shot.



I went down and found my arrow, my broadhead was trashed but the arrow was fine. Here’s a view from where the buck was standing back up towards where I was set up.



We weren’t able to find Hayden’s buck and the rest of the day was pretty was slow.

On day 4 we were able to locate Hayden’s buck but were not able to put a stalk on as Hayden hurt his foot. Day 5 was much of the same with no big buck sightings and not a lot of movement. It was a good 5 days and a lot of fun but I don’t think I’ll head back up with a bow and instead focus on archery elk for the next couple of weeks! I’m super excited for our annual backcountry elk hunt!