PaulBunyan
FNG
This may not be the most epic story you will hear this year, but I figured some of you may enjoy the perspective of some first time success. I also wanted to thank this forum for so much information, help, and even some great 2nd hand gear I was able to pick up from the classifieds.
This is my 4th year hunting in Washington, mostly deer but also some elk. This year i have been inspired by this forum, as well as a few podcasts like the Gritty Bowmen, to get out not only chase some elk, but also get further out into the wilderness. This year I really fell in love with backpacking and climbing my way into some places I'm almost glad I didn't find animals
This year has been the best year of hunting I've had even before taking my first animal. After a few long weekends of elk hunting and one close encounter with a bull, I was really excited for mule deer season to start.
Opening day the weather was supposed to roll in, with snow above 6000ft. I gathered that a good strategy would be to hunt just above the snow line, and scouted a decent looking area from google earth. I get up to the trailhead right around sunrise, with one other hunter already there, but he was set up just a few hundred feet off from the road glassing an opening in the brush. I had the rest of the ridge to myself. I hike up the ridge a few miles to "my spot" but unfortunately the clearings seen on google earth are actually burnt out areas that were full of hip-high logs that made the trek up there a nightmare. I was able to find a decent spot to watch just as a snow storm blew in.
When I couldn't stand the cold any longer, I decided to head back to the truck as I wasn't seeing much. After getting turned around in the woods, I made it back to the truck cold and wet. I had made plans to stay with a friends father and uncle in the trailer for a night, then spend my 2nd night up on the mountain, hoping to get away from any people up in the hills away from the roads. After a mid-day nap, I headed back out and ended up at a familiar spot glassing the hill below me for the evening hunt. I heard a gun go off fairly close by, either this hunter wasn't a great shot, or he was laying down cover fire, because I heard him crack off about 8-10 rounds over the course of 60 seconds or so. I figure every living thing around me (including me) had been scared off of the mountain. I barely had enough time to find another spot to check before the sun went down. Not a great first day but theres always tomorrow.
The next morning, I planned to hunt relatively close to our camp, then pack up for an overnighter afterwards. I head out to a spot near where I saw the forks the day before, on some cliffs above a farmers field. The weather was great, it had been raining most of the night and had cleared up a few hours before sunrise.
I make slowly make my way across the steep hill, working my way up and across multiple cliffs and shelves. About halfway across the area, I spot 3 doe down a little ver 100 yards below me feeding on a shelf. I couldn't see the whole shelf, so after some glassing, I continue still hunting across the face, peaking down below every time i get a new angle. As I reach the end of the face, I finally get a good angle on the shelf below. By now, Ive counted 5 doe, and low an behold, a buck feeding behind a bush, about 165 yds away. My heart jumps a little after I count 3 large points on his left side. I could hardly believe it after I counted what looked like maybe 4 more on the right. The buck had no idea I was there, and I had all the time in the world to make the shot. I am able to get into a decent prone position, edging out over a ledge and notice my crosshairs dancing wildly around the buck.I lean back from the scope and have to remind myself to take a few deep breaths, and that I can take my time with the shot. there will be plenty of time for excitement later. I was impressed how well I was able to calm my nerves, and am able to squeeze off what felt like a solid shot. I was so excited, I went into full autopilot and slammed the bolt back, loaded another round and got back into the scope in case i needed to make a follow up shot. I found him in my scope limping away, only 20 yards or so before bedding down. I could tell he was down for the count.
After about a minute he toppled over, and I couldn't believe it. Sheer joy, followed by terror as I realized the weight of responsibility now upon me to care for the meat. I drop the gear I didn't need, and head down to the buck, finding him right where i last saw him. He ended up being a nice little 5x3, not much compared to some of the monsters i see on this site coming out of the rockies, but certainly not bad for Washington, especially my first deer. I obviously had to take the obligatory selfie before one of the guys in our group arrived to help me through the gutting process.
There ended up being a road a few hundred yards below, so we were able to drag him right down to the truck. After skinning him at camp, a friend of mine back at home convinced me to attempt to butcher him ourselves. Im still not sure of that was a great idea, I felt like I wasn't able to save as meat as I hoped. Although it certainly was a learning experience, and I know so many things I would do differently next time to maximize the meat. (bonus points for whoever can figure out what the wrench is for, lol)
The amount of excitement, relief and thankfulness i have right now is crazy. I put in countless miles on my boots (even though I ended up harvesting my deer within dragging distance to the truck), committed ridiculous amounts of time learning/planning/strategizing, and spent more money than i really want to add up. I feel like it has all culminated to this moment.
Thank you for reading my story, hopefully you enjoyed it. I truly am thankful for the information and help that is posted on this site. I have gained so much knowledge from you all!
This is my 4th year hunting in Washington, mostly deer but also some elk. This year i have been inspired by this forum, as well as a few podcasts like the Gritty Bowmen, to get out not only chase some elk, but also get further out into the wilderness. This year I really fell in love with backpacking and climbing my way into some places I'm almost glad I didn't find animals
This year has been the best year of hunting I've had even before taking my first animal. After a few long weekends of elk hunting and one close encounter with a bull, I was really excited for mule deer season to start.Opening day the weather was supposed to roll in, with snow above 6000ft. I gathered that a good strategy would be to hunt just above the snow line, and scouted a decent looking area from google earth. I get up to the trailhead right around sunrise, with one other hunter already there, but he was set up just a few hundred feet off from the road glassing an opening in the brush. I had the rest of the ridge to myself. I hike up the ridge a few miles to "my spot" but unfortunately the clearings seen on google earth are actually burnt out areas that were full of hip-high logs that made the trek up there a nightmare. I was able to find a decent spot to watch just as a snow storm blew in.
When I couldn't stand the cold any longer, I decided to head back to the truck as I wasn't seeing much. After getting turned around in the woods, I made it back to the truck cold and wet. I had made plans to stay with a friends father and uncle in the trailer for a night, then spend my 2nd night up on the mountain, hoping to get away from any people up in the hills away from the roads. After a mid-day nap, I headed back out and ended up at a familiar spot glassing the hill below me for the evening hunt. I heard a gun go off fairly close by, either this hunter wasn't a great shot, or he was laying down cover fire, because I heard him crack off about 8-10 rounds over the course of 60 seconds or so. I figure every living thing around me (including me) had been scared off of the mountain. I barely had enough time to find another spot to check before the sun went down. Not a great first day but theres always tomorrow.
The next morning, I planned to hunt relatively close to our camp, then pack up for an overnighter afterwards. I head out to a spot near where I saw the forks the day before, on some cliffs above a farmers field. The weather was great, it had been raining most of the night and had cleared up a few hours before sunrise.
I make slowly make my way across the steep hill, working my way up and across multiple cliffs and shelves. About halfway across the area, I spot 3 doe down a little ver 100 yards below me feeding on a shelf. I couldn't see the whole shelf, so after some glassing, I continue still hunting across the face, peaking down below every time i get a new angle. As I reach the end of the face, I finally get a good angle on the shelf below. By now, Ive counted 5 doe, and low an behold, a buck feeding behind a bush, about 165 yds away. My heart jumps a little after I count 3 large points on his left side. I could hardly believe it after I counted what looked like maybe 4 more on the right. The buck had no idea I was there, and I had all the time in the world to make the shot. I am able to get into a decent prone position, edging out over a ledge and notice my crosshairs dancing wildly around the buck.I lean back from the scope and have to remind myself to take a few deep breaths, and that I can take my time with the shot. there will be plenty of time for excitement later. I was impressed how well I was able to calm my nerves, and am able to squeeze off what felt like a solid shot. I was so excited, I went into full autopilot and slammed the bolt back, loaded another round and got back into the scope in case i needed to make a follow up shot. I found him in my scope limping away, only 20 yards or so before bedding down. I could tell he was down for the count.
After about a minute he toppled over, and I couldn't believe it. Sheer joy, followed by terror as I realized the weight of responsibility now upon me to care for the meat. I drop the gear I didn't need, and head down to the buck, finding him right where i last saw him. He ended up being a nice little 5x3, not much compared to some of the monsters i see on this site coming out of the rockies, but certainly not bad for Washington, especially my first deer. I obviously had to take the obligatory selfie before one of the guys in our group arrived to help me through the gutting process.
There ended up being a road a few hundred yards below, so we were able to drag him right down to the truck. After skinning him at camp, a friend of mine back at home convinced me to attempt to butcher him ourselves. Im still not sure of that was a great idea, I felt like I wasn't able to save as meat as I hoped. Although it certainly was a learning experience, and I know so many things I would do differently next time to maximize the meat. (bonus points for whoever can figure out what the wrench is for, lol)
The amount of excitement, relief and thankfulness i have right now is crazy. I put in countless miles on my boots (even though I ended up harvesting my deer within dragging distance to the truck), committed ridiculous amounts of time learning/planning/strategizing, and spent more money than i really want to add up. I feel like it has all culminated to this moment.
Thank you for reading my story, hopefully you enjoyed it. I truly am thankful for the information and help that is posted on this site. I have gained so much knowledge from you all!
