2 for 2

[mr.smith]

Sorry for the delay in getting the story up.

 

 

After Felicias success last Sunday I took a couple days off to relax and do a little butchering. I had planned to get out on Tuesday but Joshy said he was off Wednesday and would like to go so I postponed my trip.

 

Wednesday was a beautiful day in the field, Joshy and I got to try out his new spotting scope and we saw a great diversity of critters. I believe the final count was ~25 deer, 11 javelina, 8 coati-mundi, 3 Goulds turkey and a number of rabbits and skunks. We spent the whole day down there and found a couple good vantage points, just coulnd't find any bucks. Josh, thanks for hanging out with me, your glassing has improved. Can't wait til the pig hunt.

 

The next time I got out was Friday morning. Christian and I headed down to the same spot that we have been hunting to check out a new vantage point a little higher up the hill. Unfortunately the weather decided to not cooperate and we got hit with wind, rain, sleet, snow, and some pea sized hail. This was the slowest morning yet and we only glassed up about 9 deer. Christian saw the javelina and one small buck but I was still holding out at that point.

 

That evening we moved down to the south end of the unit to try an area Christians buddy had recommended. We drove around a bit and found a couple places to glass from and saw several deer on the way in. We found a good glassing spot and hiked up there right around dusk. As we got to the top I saw a buck bust out from a mesquite tree. It was too dim and he was running so we decided we would find him in the morning. Expecting to have 5 pairs of eyes the next day I was sure that I would get my buck. After dark we drove back out to the freeway(an hour on dirt) to get cell signal to call the friends who were to be joining us the next day. I got bad news from JohnSWA who was stuck at work, and I was unable to get ahold of Brandon(darn work parties). Christian was able to get ahold of CMC who said he would make it.

 

Saturday morning, the alarm was set for 5:15 with the intention of getting up, turning on the tent heater and then sleeping 15 more minutes. That was ruined by some guy in a big diesel truck who pulled into camp at 5:00. Thanks for the wake up Chris. So we got up and got dressed, sat around til 6:00 waiting to see if Brandon got my message. At 6:00 we rolled out to the spot and were sitting in the dark for a little waiting on sunrise. About ten minutes later Chris says "I got a buck". Christian and I get over to where he was glassing and look, Christian finds him in the spotter and it is a nice 3x3 with a real tall rack but not very wide. Super pretty though. Christian and I boogie over to get set up and close the distance some. The closest we could get was around 325yds, right as I get prone to find the buck in the scope he drops off over the edge of the ridge never to be seen again. This really put me in the frame of mind that I WAS going to kill a deer that day.

 

Christian and I rejoined Chris and as the sun comes up the hills just come alive with deer. There we at least three deer on every finger of this ridge we were glassing. A number of small bucks and a ton of does. This goes on for a while and around 10:30 the deer start disappearing as they bed down. Standing there glassing I was reflecting on the hunt and on hunts past, I realized that I was tired and I realized that I really had nothing to prove. I strated to get discouraged that all the deer were disappearing into the thick stuff in the bottoms. Looking at the now empty hill I said outloud, "Darn I really want to shoot my buck today." Christian says "well there always that little fork over on that hill". I told him that if he could refind it I would shoot it. I figured it had descended the hill and bedded down. Two minutes later Christian say, "I got it!" We all went to look and discovered that it wasn't the little forky but a small 3pt. We started over there and at about 300yds the little buck dropped into the bottom and he was gone. Watching the area I spotted some deer on the next finger over and pointed them out to Christian and Chris. We watched and saw that there was a buck with them. We had already climbed off the hill in pursuit so I decided this little guy was good enough for my tag and Christian and I struck off after him. We closed the distance and got upon a hill adjacent to where the buck was last seen but we couldnt find him. We looked back at Chris whom we had forgotten to give a walkie talkie before departing and he was signaling us where to look. He used some creative hand signals to tell us that the buck was bedded on the fourth finger from where we last saw the small 3pt. Christian then scanned the hill and found the buck. All we could see was his face and rack. Christian said that his body was poiting towards us and that if I took the shot I should aim just under his chin and slightly right. The range was 205yds. I got in the prone and found the buck. My rifle was slightly canted to the right as I was on a slope and didn't think to adjust the bipod legs. I aimed for a spot just under his chin and let fly. The next thing I heard was Chris Wooing from across the canyon. Christian told me he was down, then he got up and fell down again. The buck was still laying there with his head up so we moved in to get a better view for a finisher shot. We moved in to 125yds still only able to clearly see his head. Christian again told me where his body was in relation. I couldnt get a good rest for a sitting shot or prone. There was a small barrel cactus there so I rested my rifle on that and it made a darn good rest. This time with a level rifle and a comfortable shot I found the spot I wanted and hit it. This time the buck was down for good. After a couple high fives we all regrouped and went to my buck.

 

Thank You Christian and Chris. I really appreciate your help. Christian I honestly don't believe Felicia and I would have been able to take either of these deer without your help. You are fine hunter and friend. I would also like to thank JLG, John, Dave, Josh, Brandon and anyone else who helped or offered to help. Whether you made it out or not the encouragement and support meant a lot.

[ac guy]

Why does Christian always look like he's stoned?

[DesertBull]

Sweet deer.

 

Christian looks like he got mule kicked in his right eye.

[azryan]

congrats on your first deer man!

 

christian doesn't sleep, he has a severe addiction.......

 

p.s Christian, why do you have my shirt, I want it back!

[KidBowHunter]

Congrats on your first buck!

[willhunt4coues]

Congrats on a dandy first buck.

[azcouesandelk]

Why does Christian always look like he's stoned?

 

Not sure why that is I have never touched the stuff in my life and never plan to. I think its because I got a lazy eye.

 

 

Sweet deer.

 

Christian looks like he got mule kicked in his right eye.

 

 

The lazy eye may have been from the mule kicking me when I was 4 years old

 

 

Josh once again thank you for letting me join you on the hunt and helping out. Also thanks for all the hospitality. Can't wait to do it again.