2021 Season Recap

[elkhunterUT]

2021 will go down as a very memorable season for a lot of reasons, but chief among them being time spent and memories made with those who truly matter most. My Dad, at 74 years old, is to the age now where his hunting days are largely over, and with a full knee replacement surgery in early September, it was looking doubtful that we would be able to get him out at all during the season even just to camp and enjoy the outdoors. Luckily, not only did we get him out, but he got to share in an experience that I will cherish forever with my youngest son and I on my boy's first ever big game hunt (more to come there...). With the year winding down, I thought I would do a full recap here in the Hunt Adventures thread.

Things started to heat up for us in August when my niece’s boyfriend (Mason) received a call from the DWR a week before the August 21st opener informing him that someone had turned in their Book Cliffs archery bison tag and he was next on the alternate list to receive the tag if he wanted it. Being brand new to hunting, he quickly reached out to my brother Chad @Silentstalker and I to see what he should do. With only a weeks notice and no scouting time for a once in a lifetime shot, we felt it was a pretty tall task to kill a bull with archery equipment and were leaning towards not taking the tag. After talking it over with our good friend Jerry @Broadside_Shot who knows the Book Cliffs better than anyone, and knew where several herds were at and had them on trail camera, Mason decided to take the tag. We scrambled to get things ready and to prepare our schedules to help him.

I could not join them on opening weekend, but they were able to locate a good sized herd with some good bulls and stalked in to 80 yards, but Mason was not comfortable at that distance with the shot, so he passed. The good news was they had found a herd and felt like it would be doable for Mason to kill one with a bow.

On the 2nd weekend of the hunt, I made the trip out with Mason, Chad, and Jerry. Saturday afternoon/evening we located the herd again and they were in a good place to make a play Sunday morning. We quickly located them again Sunday morning and Jerry had a hunch that they may be headed to a large fill pond for water. We moved quickly to get Mason and Chad in position at the fill pond out of sight before the buffalo got there, while Jerry and I would watch from a distance. Jerry's hunch was spot on and the buffalo herd of about 30 animals made their way in for a drink. After some back and forth, the herd finally committed to drinking and Mason was able to shoot the biggest bull in the herd at 38 yards right through the heart. He only made it about 125 yards after the shot and piled up.

What an amazing experience with such a cool animal-can’t believe how spooky and stealthy such a large animal can be!! Jerry’s help and knowledge of the area and animals was invaluable and made all the difference in taking a chance on a tough tag with short notice.

Book Cliffs Bison-Bull Down!!

• elkhunterUT
• Aug 30, 2021

AAC33BF9-1171-4014-A291-AD1F37E036A7.jpeg

• elkhunterUT
• Aug 30, 2021

Book Cliffs Bison-Bull Down!!

• elkhunterUT
• Aug 30, 2021

Cool trophy!

The best part of the whole deal was that the bull took mercy on us and died right next to a small 2 track road, so we were able to drive the truck and wheelers right to it. No pain with this pack out - What a great way to start the season!!

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• elkhunterUT
• Aug 30, 2021

 

[elkhunterUT]

With Mason killing his bison early on in the hunt, my brother and I turned our attention to Wyoming antelope. We had drawn a unit with a fairly early opening date (September 10th), so we were excited to be able to hit it on the opener.

We pulled into camp the day before opener and immediately started searching for a couple target bucks. Finding antelope was not difficult, but finding bigger bucks was. Just before dark we found what we had hoped for – a big and heavy older buck.

We quickly devised a plan for the next morning and went back to camp for dinner and a restless night’s sleep.

An hour before light we were up preparing for what we hoped would be an eventful day. We got into position above the buck and awaited first light. As dawn broke across the prairie we glassed and glassed. We could not turn up the buck. This area had a lot of cuts and ravines in it, so we knew he could pop up out of one of them at any time. Trouble was, as the morning progressed, more and more hunters were driving through the area. Eventually, we decided the big buck had moved off during the night and we needed a different vantage point to turn him up.

We arrived at our next glassing point just in time to spot the big buck moving his way across a very large sage covered flat at about 600 yards. He was with a smaller buck and they were both headed away from our position. They did not seem overly spooked, but were definitely on the move. We quickly dropped into a very long wash that allowed us to cut the distance substantially. We moved into position and I was setting up for a shot when a vehicle came into the valley which put the buck on high alert. The bucks immediately started trotting across the valley away from us and dropped into another ravine. We sat in position for quite a while trying to see where they would pop out next, but they never did. We had lost him. So close to pulling off the perfect stalk and we were right back at square one.

We moved to a new vantage point, and found another small group that had a very nice buck in it. Since I had found the big buck the night before the hunt, Chad and I agreed that I should hold out and try to kill him if we could find him the next day. With that in mind, this was Chad’s opportunity. We slowly crept as close as we dared and lined up for a shot. With me spotting and Chad on the shooting sticks, we ranged the unsuspecting buck and then had to estimate the bullets reaction to the wind. After a very quick discussion, Chad steadied behind the rifle and put the buck down with one shot. He was a beautiful buck with a very large jet-black cheek patch and a huge body! We took pictures of him and made short work of getting him skinned out and on ice.

With some light remaining in the day, we went back to look for the big buck from earlier that morning. We were unable to locate him but did find a large herd of antelope with another good buck. The herd was in a very promising location for a stalk and we figured they would not be far in the morning. We watched the large herd until the sun set and enjoyed the beautiful landscape and art in the sky as darkness settled in.

That next morning our hunch was correct – we found the herd just a few hundred yards south of where they were the night before. The herd buck was very active checking does and seemed to never stop moving. Our plan was to use the terrain to put us as close as possible to the main herd of does, with the hope that the buck would eventually show up if he was not there when we first arrived. We moved nearly a mile from our glassing spot through a deep wash until we got within range of where we last saw the does. Carefully peeking over the wash, it appeared the herd had broken up and were scattered. Moments later, we spotted 5 does headed toward our location. We watched them for a bit and after a few minutes, Chad whispered to me that the buck was to our right and headed toward that group of 5 does. I quickly turned my attention to the buck and decided to take him as he worked his way closer. One well-placed shot behind the shoulder at 260 yards and the buck was down.

Love hunting Wyoming!!!

 

[elkhunterUT]

The one hunt I was really looking forward to this year was the Utah general season muzzleloader hunt at the end of September. I didn't personally have a tag, but my youngest son, who turned 12 this year, drew a tag and this would be his first ever big game hunt. I think I love the hunts with my kids when they have tags more than I do my own hunts. There is something really special about passing on the heritage and seeing their excitement with all of the little details of the hunt.

My Dad had a full knee replacement surgery in Mid-September and I was hoping he would be recovered enough to at least be able to go camp with us for this hunt. By the time the hunt rolled around, he really wanted to get out of the house. Even though he was in some pain still and didn't have full mobility, we all felt it would be good for him to make the trip. We had a great camp and it was a blessing to have him there with us.

For opening morning, I took my son to a place where his older sister killed her first buck. We sat for a bit overlooking some water and an area we usually see bucks travel through with some initial pressure. We only saw a few does so we got up and hiked a bit to cover some ground and see what else we could turn up. Again just does. Around 10:30am, my boy says to me "let's go back to camp and have some breakfast". I wasn't quite ready to end the morning hunt just yet, so I told him "you know, you can't kill a buck sitting in camp!"

He just laughed, so I told him let's check one more spot and then we will head back and have breakfast with Grandpa. We get back to camp that morning, have a great breakfast and after cleaning up, started playing a card game of Uno in the trailer. A few minutes into the game of Uno, my son says "Dad, there's a deer". I look out the trailer window and see a big doe to the west of our trailer about 100 yards. I told him to keep an eye on her, as there will likely be other deer with her. Sure enough, a couple minutes later two more deer pop out. I look through my binos at them and one of them is a nice 2 point buck. Cards go flying and we scramble to grab the gun and get out of the trailer as quietly as possible and move into a position where he can shoot from.

I helped to get him set up with the muzzleloader and get him steady on the buck, who is now at about 75 yards. Watching through my binos, I watch my boy hit the buck perfectly behind the shoulder. We turn around and there is Grandpa watching the whole thing!! The buck only ran about 40 yards after the shot and piled up. My Dad made the painful hike to the buck and we all enjoyed the moment together. My one major regret is that I didn't get a picture with my Dad and son together with his buck - a mistake I wished I had back.

I guess you can kill a buck sitting in camp

Definitely a unique way to kill your first buck, but under the circumstances with my Dad's surgery, it was the only way he could have been part of it, so I think there was a higher power at play through all of this. Pretty special if you ask me!!

 

[elkhunterUT]

Our final hunt of the year was Colorado 3rd season deer. My brother and I have decided to do Colorado deer about every 3-4 years, so we are not hunting popular units. With 3 points heading into this year and with the later dates, we felt we better be in the game come November. Little did we know how tough it would be, but that is hunting and makes the success that much sweeter.

My Brother Chad and I had deer tags, our buddy also had a deer tag, and his son had an OTC elk tag. We arrived a day early to scout and get a lay of the land. We saw very few deer, but were mostly focused on learning the roads and checking on a couple areas we had marked. Our buddy and his son found some elk and also spotted a very tall 4x4 buck and got some video of him. Despite not seeing much, we went to bed with the anticipation for opening morning that only hunters can understand.

We spent opening morning in some higher elevation but only saw a handful of does. Our buddy’s son killed a 5x5 bull at first light which was fun to see and a great way to “break the ice”! My bro and I tried a new area opening evening and again only saw a small handful of deer with no big bucks seen. That evening we talked about the tall buck our buddy spotted the evening before the opener. He did not want to shoot it, so my brother said “put me in coach”?

We headed to that area the 2nd morning and spotted the tall 4x4 immediately at first light rutting 5 does.

The buck was close and Chad decided he was a shooter. Things got a little “western”, but Chad was able to put a great shot on the buck and he was down before the sun was up fully. Such a pretty and unique buck and with the lack of deer seen, we were glad to have someone on the board.

 

[elkhunterUT]

With my brother's buck down, it was now my turn to get it done. The morning of day 3 found us at a glassing spot overlooking several northeast facing slopes that looked good on the map. As soon as first light hit, I picked up the white of a deer’s hind end in the extremely thick oak brush through my binos. I could see a bit of its body as well, but nothing else. I locked my tripod in on the deer and eventually it lifted its head. At that distance, I knew it had to be a pretty good buck because I could see antlers. Chad quickly looked him over through the spotting scope and excitedly said “Shooter-grab your gun and let’s go!”

I quickly looked at the buck through the spotting scope and confirmed he was a no-brainer shooter. We moved out of his sight and around to get a better angle on him and to cut the distance. As we got around to where I was hoping to shoot from, we lost him. We were worried he may have moved over the ridge out of our line of sight. As we debated moving closer to look over the ridge we thought he may have crested, a 2 point buck popped up where we initially saw the big buck. Chad then picked up a doe bedded facing us, so we knew the big buck had to be close. As the 2 point worked his way closer to the bedded doe, we caught movement and the big buck jumped out of his hidden bed in the thick oak and chased the small buck off. He was at 275 yards, but was facing me and I didn’t have a shot. I kept the scope on him, but he never presented a shot and suddenly bedded again to watch his doe.

I figured we could be patient and wait for him to stand again and present a shot, but we were in an area with a lot of hunting and hiking pressure, so I was worried someone might jump him and I may never get a shot if he exploded out.

With a solid dead rest at 275 yards, I decided to shoot him in his bed. The report of the shot was accompanied by a solid "thwap" of a hit. My bullet went the entire length of his body and out his back ham, but he jumped up and took off to the bottom of the canyon. I was stunned he didn’t die in his bed, but figured he probably just crashed a ways down lower. Chad and I decided to head down toward him and quickly spotted him standing and still alive. I had a good line to get closer out of his sight and finished him off at about 75 yards. I was pretty excited to walk up on this buck. He was a big, perfect typical 4x4 with gnarly bases/eye guards.

This buck exceeded my expectations for a "3 preference point" unit and was more than I hoped for given how challenging the hunt was overall with warm temps, tons of hunting pressure, and very few deer in general seen on public land. Our buddy who also had a deer tag ended up killing a stud 4x4 buck pushing 180” 2 days later. We were very fortunate to have killed the 3 biggest bucks we saw on public land and in a unit where we saw very few deer in general. Just goes to show that it is always good to have a Colorado tag in your pocket, whether it is a 25 preference point unit or a 3 preference point unit.

Now I look forward to 2022 - I should draw a Utah Rocky Mtn bighorn sheep tag, my brother is really close on drawing Utah moose, and his son should draw an Arizona archery elk tag, along with possible general tags for my kids and Wyoming antelope hopefully as well. If all of that happens, we will have plenty to plan and prepare for - which is a lot of the fun for me.

Happy New Year to Everyone - hope 2022 has some good stuff in store for all of us!!