Topic: Success or tag soup?

[NoviceHunter]

Post your stories/photos.  No luck yet myself, but I hope to have some pics to post soon!

[fastfire]

I filled my doe tag yesterday afternoon.
I laid down to wait for one to come out of the corn and waited 15 minutes before I had one down(Purdy tough hunting)with a 22-250-w-55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip 140 yds. Within 1 hour I had her in the cooler.
That's my deer hunting story.

[NoviceHunter]

That's my deer hunting story.

Sure sounds easier/more relaxing than busting a bunch of nasty brush, solo, like I tried yesterday.

[fj40mojo]

I filled my doe tag yesterday afternoon.
I laid down to wait for one to come out of the corn and waited 15 minutes before I had one down(Purdy tough hunting)with a 22-250-w-55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip 140 yds. Within 1 hour I had her in the cooler.
That's my deer hunting story.

Love a good ambush, one of my favorite ways to hunt.

[Nomad]

 Cow Elk this morning about 8:00, around noon dropped a whitetail buck.
 The elk loaded her whole and the same for the deer elk was just about 30 feet off the logging road and the deer was about 70 yards from another logging road...
 Count my blessings....

[Grumblecakes]

i wont be hunting this year. but i was at the range here in bozeman about a week and a half ago and 2 antelope ran on to the range. and when leaving work i saw a dear walking down the road. never would happen if i had a tag and a rifle

[MarkinIdaho]

Tag soup, so far.  Did see a doe being hauled out of Shaw Mtn near the top.  Hunters said they saw other does and some bucks.  We saw 4 as we were driving out (too dark to shoot)... not sure if they were does or bucks.  Lots of fresh sign where we were, though... we'll be back.

[carracer]

Haven't even bought my deer tag yet.  Will try this weekend.

[NoviceHunter]

While cow hunting this morning, tripped across a doe.  Only had a neck shot through the trees, which I don't like, but it all turned out well.  30-06, 168gr TSX.  Surprisingly good expansion, given that it's a bullet known primarily for its penetration, but it made a huge exit mess in just the width of a neck (I've had 'em pencil through deer before.)

Still getting getting my ass skunked off for cows.

[carracer]

Reading about does, where is a doe season open?  Is it a draw permit?

[NoviceHunter]

All over the state, but I'm guessing most of us are talking about the unit 39 controlled hunt for doe, which has the same dates as unit 39 general season for bucks (Oct 10-31).  Check the big game regs for more info.

[NoviceHunter]

Some pics, to get the gore party started.  Note the cordless sawzall in the background.  A friend recommended keeping one in the truck, and they're really handy for those pesky bones.

[fastfire]

I wish this was my elk.

When officially measured by SCI in 60 days, this will be the new world
record for a typical elk.
The current score done by an SCI Master Measurer is 525 typical and 546
non-typical. It will number 1 typical and number 4 non-typical. Forget
it's score and look at the mass of each point and you will realize how
unique this bull rely is. I shot him at the Broadmouth Canyon Ranch in
Idaho on August 18. It was a challenging hunt on horse back and foot in
the middle of the Black Foot Mountains of Idaho. Priceless!!

[fastfire]

Glad this wasn't me


This is pretty scary. As you know I was alone when I downed this elk in ND. I was using my camera's timer attached to my shooting stick to give me enough time to get into the picture. I knew there were a lot of cats in the area but had no idea they would come in this close to people. He had to be within 10 feet of me and I didn't even know it. I about crapped my pants when I looked at the pictures the next morning and saw he was there.

[Jeff]

That's an awesome picture!

[Fullautolover]

Could have shot 30 does but no doe tag. Saw a beautiful 4 point muley, laid down on my belly for a 300 yard cross canyon shot with my bipod and the dang thing was crooked as hell and couldn't get it level. By the time I got it level he walked behind some trees then got spooked and ran off, I checked my bipod and the nut fell off the leg and the screw was coming out that cost me my shot at the buck. Never waste your money on a Shooters Ridge bipod they are junk, had it six weeks and it has been a piece of crap. Spend the extra and get a Harris, quality is far and above Shooters Ridge. Going back this weekend to try again.

[luvmy45]

I find bipods fine for range shooting and my long range fun stuff, but for hunting, I've always used my backpack.

Light rifle and a fluffy backpack make a good all day hunting combination, and now you can get those cool rifle rests for your backpacks that make life even better.

[junkie]

12 year old Daughter killed a buck this morning it has about 1/2 inch horns

[Nomad]

 Bet she has a proud Dad......Congratulations...

[NoviceHunter]

12 year old Daughter killed a buck this morning it has about 1/2 inch horns

Congrats!

[NoviceHunter]

I find bipods fine for range shooting and my long range fun stuff, but for hunting, I've always used my backpack.

Light rifle and a fluffy backpack make a good all day hunting combination, and now you can get those cool rifle rests for your backpacks that make life even better.

The backpack as a rest has always been my plan as well.  Though my longest shot in the last three years has been maybe 100 yards, so they've all been offhand, and I have yet to test my theory.

[luckypunk]

headed up last saturday & jumped doe muleys, didn't even waste time looking for the buck.  this is in an area I have seen white tails in years past & that's what I want or I'll save this tag for soup.  TONS of grouse, a few coyotes but never had a shot.  fishing in my pack for something & the cap fell off the gut hook.  found it with the tip of my now "tip-less" thumb.  dropped my can of deer piss somewhere in the middle of 33.

 beats a day of work 

[fj40mojo]

Just got back from 2 days in 39. Waste of time, didn't see a single deer. Closest I got was 2 gut piles on the side of the road. I was hunting in areas that I saw deer and elk in every time I went out last year. Nothing but bleached bones this year. Headed to Salmon tomorrow morning to shoot one outta the hay fields and visit the folks.

[NoviceHunter]

Sorry fj.  Hopefully "hiking with a rifle" is also fun for you.  That's all that gets me through days like that.  I haven't heard anyone yet say that 39 had more sightings than last year.  All the food and nice weather is making it tough.

My daughter had to have her tonsils out somewhat unexpectedly this past Friday, so I've been home since then.  I'd gladly trade all your skunked days for not having the kid have to go through this...

[fj40mojo]

Sorry fj.  Hopefully "hiking with a rifle" is also fun for you.  That's all that gets me through days like that.  I haven't heard anyone yet say that 39 had more sightings than last year.  All the food and nice weather is making it tough.

My daughter had to have her tonsils out somewhat unexpectedly this past Friday, so I've been home since then.  I'd gladly trade all your skunked days for not having the kid have to go through this...

Taking my rifle for a walk in the woods is always preferable to a day of work or taking care of a sick kid. I'm sure there are pockets of water out there that aren't there in a normal year as well as an abundance of feed. Everybody I talked to was in the same boat as me. I don't think I even saw a dead deer hanging in a tree. Oh well, gonna get me a forky, think I'll name him Berger or Burger. Haven't decided yet.

[Nomad]

fj Good luck in Salmon.....

[neby98]

I saw a few. lol. Actually people in our camp got two so far. I had to come back to work. I did have the chance at an elk, and I would have taken it if I had got an elk tag, but me being the dumb*** that I am decided I probably wouldn't see one where we were going.

[mjmcmahon]

Three mornings in 39 above Hidden Springs gave me 2 sightings of a total of 3 mule deer, unfortunately they were all does.  A coworker and I will be headed further north come early Saturday morning.  Hopefully I'll have better luck for my first hunting season.

Mike

[NoviceHunter]

Keep at it.  Weather front coming in Saturday.  It's supposed to turn cold and wet (i.e. snow at higher elevations.)  Should help with getting things moving all around.

[mjmcmahon]

anyone willing to take a newbie under his wing?

[MarkinIdaho]

Keep at it.  Weather front coming in Saturday.  It's supposed to turn cold and wet (i.e. snow at higher elevations.)  Should help with getting things moving all around.

I'm counting on that happening!  Last I heard they were expecting snow at 4000 feet by Tuesday... hope it gets em moving.  So far, the animals have had no motivation to move/migrate.  Still warm and plenty of food up high.

[luckypunk]

anyone willing to take a newbie under his wing?

I've got some spots. day trips, just a matter of going

[mjmcmahon]

That'd be awesome, luckypunk!  Let me know when and I'll take a day off!

[luckypunk]

No prob, I'd go tomorrow, but wifey has "family photos" planned for in the evening....*shudder*

[NoviceHunter]

I'd also be happy to help out, but I'm not sure what my schedule is going to be like w.r.t. to being support staff for my daughter.  If there's a group hunt planned, let me know, and I'll make it if I can.

[NoviceHunter]

Dangit, I had gotten into some elk just before I had to take a break for my kid's surgery (a tad over a week).  Went back there today, and nothing but does and fresh wolf tracks.  I guess the predators found them, too.  Time to figure out where they've moved to.

[fj40mojo]

Success!

Lena (my 6.5x55 Swede that I built last spring) drew first blood on Thursday evening. A decent little 3x3 Mulie. Slipped the bullet in the 4th rib on the left side on a shallow quartering away shot and it exited between the deer's right front leg and neck, a good 24" of penetration after breaking a rib on the way in and destroyed the lungs, range finder read 252 yards. Took about 4 good bounds before it went down.
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[fj40mojo]

And then again on Friday evening Lena took another buck, my wife shot a 1x2 mulie. Spine shot, dead right there, range finder read 148 yards.
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All together we saw 4 bucks the night I shot mine and 9 the night Steph shot hers and more doe than I cared to count. Now for an elk!

[MarkinIdaho]

Awesome hunt fj!

[Nomad]

Awesome hunt fj!>>>>>>>>>
 Good hunting...... is the offer for dinner still on?
 The best thing for stop lights yet.......
 A while back had dinner with fj and family GREAT and left headed home
and hit all the traffic lights Green tell I got on the interstate.......Great Karma..and
dinner......Thanks again....

[fj40mojo]

Awesome hunt fj!>>>>>>>>>
 Good hunting...... is the offer for dinner still on?
 The best thing for stop lights yet.......
 A while back had dinner with fj and family GREAT and left headed home
and hit all the traffic lights Green tell I got on the interstate.......Great Karma..and
dinner......Thanks again....

You are always welcome Nomad.

[mjmcmahon]

anyone planning a mid-week trip?  With the changes in the weather, I'd expect movement will have improved significantly.

[NoviceHunter]

I went clomping around in the snow during and after the storm.  Lots of deer activity.  Not a single elk track in my usual spots.  I'm gonna get skunked on cow elk this year, I think (unit 39, west of 21.)

[NoviceHunter]

anyone planning a mid-week trip?  With the changes in the weather, I'd expect movement will have improved significantly.

The deer have been moving like crazy.  If you still need to find a deer, drive somewhere that there's some white on the ground.  And bring chains.

The higher the better, from my previous three days of getting wet and cold have told me.

[mjmcmahon]

finding isn't as much of a problem as having someone experienced to go with.  Being that this is my first deer season, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cleaning the deer, etc.  Having a more experienced hunter along to give me ideas about where to setup, stalking technique, and help with getting the harvested deer into the back of the truck would be a huge help.

[fj40mojo]

finding isn't as much of a problem as having someone experienced to go with.  Being that this is my first deer season, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cleaning the deer, etc.  Having a more experienced hunter along to give me ideas about where to setup, stalking technique, and help with getting the harvested deer into the back of the truck would be a huge help.

Wish I had the time to take you mj, but I go back to work this evening and the season will be over by the time I'm off again.

Cleaning the deer is not as difficult as you might think, google it and there are plenty of instructions out there. Basically I go around the genitals being careful to leave them attached to on side if I plan on taking the deer out in 2 pieces (proof of sex) and then free the urethra down to the anus and around it freeing up the connective tissues preparing all of this to be pulled back through the pelvis and into the abdominal cavity.  Next split the hide and abdominal muscle from the genitals to the sternum being careful not to cut the guts  by placing 2 fingers between the guts and the abdominal muscle with the tip of the knife in between and sliding the whole works along together until I reach the sternum. Now you need to go around the ribs cutting the diaphragm loose which gets you into the chest cavity. Last you reach as far up into the chest cavity as possible and locate the windpipe and carefully cut it loose. At this point you can yard the entire works out and presto you just made your first gut pile.

As for stalking, if possible put some terrain between you and the animal while you make your approach. Move slow when you are still hunting, it's all about seeing them before they see or smell you. Hunt into the wind whenever possible. When you find a good vantage point stop and glass, use your glasses when moving as well sometimes taking a close look at the terrain ahead will reveal a horn, ear, or tail. Key on movement. Don't run after spooked animals, you can't keep up.

I try to sight my rifles for Maximum Point Blank Range which means the maximum range at which you don't have to consider any hold over, for most modern rifles this is approximately 3" high at 100yds which puts you on zero near 300yds. My reason for doing it this way is that I've found that most of the time you don't have time to use a range finder unless you are in an ambush and range find land marks before the game shows up. Most new hunters misjudge distance to the target, hell I still do it. MPBR zero makes it dummy proof, if the deer is within 350yds or whatever the MPBR is for your rifle you hold center of the vitals and the bullet is going to fall into the boiler room. Maybe above or below your point of aim, but who cares as long as the deer dies and quickly.

Getting the deer into the back of your truck can either be an exercise in brute force or back into a cut bank and slide it down into the bed. Good luck.

[WTF]

finding isn't as much of a problem as having someone experienced to go with.  Being that this is my first deer season, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cleaning the deer, etc.  Having a more experienced hunter along to give me ideas about where to setup, stalking technique, and help with getting the harvested deer into the back of the truck would be a huge help.

there are many vids on you tube showing you how to field dress dear.  pay attention or this can happen to you. Elk Field Dressing Gut Bag Explosion

[NoviceHunter]

I try to sight my rifles for Maximum Point Blank Range which means the maximum range at which you don't have to consider any hold over, for most modern rifles this is approximately 3" high at 100yds which puts you on zero near 300yds. My reason for doing it this way is that I've found that most of the time you don't have time to use a range finder unless you are in an ambush and range find land marks before the game shows up. Most new hunters misjudge distance to the target, hell I still do it. MPBR zero makes it dummy proof, if the deer is within 350yds or whatever the MPBR is for your rifle you hold center of the vitals and the bullet is going to fall into the boiler room. Maybe above or below your point of aim, but who cares as long as the deer dies and quickly.

This is great advice, and I'd only add the old adage, "Always hold on fur."  The idea being that it's easy to put the crosshairs somewhere on the animal, but really really hard to judge holdover past that.  With an MPBR sight-in, if it's "close", hold dead center.  If it's "far", hold high shoulders.  That gets you out past 400 on deer sized game.  Past that is too far for me.

[NoviceHunter]

finding isn't as much of a problem as having someone experienced to go with.  Being that this is my first deer season, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cleaning the deer, etc.  Having a more experienced hunter along to give me ideas about where to setup, stalking technique, and help with getting the harvested deer into the back of the truck would be a huge help.

When/where you planning to go?  I can probably be on tap to help out with support duties Saturday afternoon.  I'm doing one last cow hunt Saturday morning, and then calling it a win for the elk this year.   Gutting is really simple once you've seen/done it once.  All the reading/videos really didn't come together for me until someone showed me how, and then it's like, "Wow, that's easy."  I'd be happy to show you.

As for the heavy lifting...  With deer, it's tougher with one, but doable.  Something <250lbs on the hoof will gut out less than 200, then you just have to get it hanging to skin it and cut the legs off, and it loses even more weight.  Then it's usually a bear hug to walk it into the back of the SUV.  Pickups are even easier.  Back the truck under the skinned animal and cut the rope.  Getting it hanging is the hardest part.  Short of a winch/pulleys, if you've got a pickup, back up under the tree, tie off, drive out.  If it's a lighter animal, just a rope over a thick branch and some muscle will get it there.  I need some kind of pulley or block & tackle next year; this year's doe about killed me.  For moving it around, dragging is easy with deer.  Especially with all the snow we've gotten.  With elk, if you're alone, you have to quarter the animal.  And it's a long long day.

If you're solo, some cord/rope will come in handy in tying a leg uphill; makes access to the gross stuff easier.

Don't be afraid to bear hug the bloody mess, if it comes right down to it.  Then it's no different than carrying your wife around the house.

[mjmcmahon]

When/where you planning to go?  I can probably be on tap to help out with support duties Saturday afternoon.  I'm doing one last cow hunt Saturday morning, and then calling it a win for the elk this year.   Gutting is really simple once you've seen/done it once.  All the reading/videos really didn't come together for me until someone showed me how, and then it's like, "Wow, that's easy."  I'd be happy to show you.

When is fairly open....I'd hoped a friend would be available this afternoon but that's fallen apart.  Honestly, I can make myself available whenever I can get some help.  After spending the money on the tag, gear, etc I'd like to try and get some meat out of it.  Going by myself when I have no idea what I'm doing sounds like a recipe for showing up on the evening news.

[NoviceHunter]

We should be able to work something out.  I'd invite you along on the elk hunts, but to be honest, I'm not sure that's the best place to get deer.  I deer hunt completely different than I elk hunt.  Elk have to be dug out of the nasty places on public land, it seems, and deer just aren't worth that. 

PM me whereabouts you hunt, and if you have cell coverage.  If we're reasonably near each other, with the cool temperatures we have now, it should be entirely reasonable if you want to give me a call as soon as the animal is down.

I'm not sure I'm the best teacher of before the shot stuff.  I get too cold to sit still, so I end up walking from ridge to ridge, looking for fresh tracks or the odd moving animal.  Wiser hunters than me expend far less energy for their deer. 

[luckypunk]

I'm free Saturday morning...finally

[mjmcmahon]

Luckypunk-

Send me a pm if you'd like to get together for a hunt on Saturday.

Thx,

Mike

[MarkinIdaho]

Haven't heard too many success stories from neighbors this year - a couple, but not many.  We are in the midst of moving - great timing, huh?  I'm hoping to get out Saturday afternoon/evening, but definitely Sunday - probably an all day excursion, hitting Bogus area, Boise Ridge Road, etc.

[mjmcmahon]

Mark-

Provided that I strike out on saturday, let mge know if youre open to dragging a "noob"along on sunday.   

[fastfire]

My hunting party had 2 bull and 2 cow tags.
Monday one got a 6x6 bull elk 400 yd shot, Tuesday I got a calf 175 yd shot, Wednesday one got a cow 65 yd shot and today the one left with a bull tag wasn't in the right place at the right time, he was at the bottom of the hill trying to cut off a small herd(all turned out to be cows and calves), I was watching near the top of the hill and above me 275 yds away ran a cow,calf and a 4 point bull.

[MarkinIdaho]

Mark-

Provided that I strike out on saturday, let mge know if youre open to dragging a "noob"along on sunday.   

No problem... PM me your name and number.

[fj40mojo]

Anybody seen any elk in 39? Anywhere???

[MarkinIdaho]

Anybody seen any elk in 39? Anywhere???

Well, my season ended with a very sore back from moving this weekend... so I wasn't able to go out.  My 14 year old went with a friend of mine and his boys... went up to Thorne Creek Butte - about 6 inches of snow on top.  No sign of deer or elk up there... or on the Cottonwood Creek side, either.  I was hoping they'd see some elk sign up there.  Was a good place in the past... before the damn canines showed up!

[NoviceHunter]

Anybody seen any elk in 39? Anywhere???

Tag soup for my cow tag.  I finally got into a bunch of sign on Saturday (got sick Friday).  It was DEEP into the nasty shit,  but less than 12 hours old.  I didn't manage to connect.  I think they're still up there, but the additional predators have changed their habits and movement.

[fj40mojo]

Tag soup for my cow tag.  I finally got into a bunch of sign on Saturday (got sick Friday).  It was DEEP into the nasty shit,  but less than 12 hours old.  I didn't manage to connect.  I think they're still up there, but the additional predators have changed their habits and movement.

PM me where. I'm not afraid to go into the shit!

[fj40mojo]

Elk Tag Soup....It's what's for dinner. A dish best served to the cold and bitter-me.

In the last minutes of the last hour of the last day I finally saw some elk. Far far away, headed down the country from my location and across a canyon. Couldn't grow horns on any of them but it would have had to be a monster at that range to make out head gear.

There is always next year and I'm thankful for the freezer full of deer we have.

[Valhalla]

Went for mule deer twice, no success.  Both trips were different parts of the Arrowrock area.  Saw 3 does, but no bucks. 

Going to hunt for whitetail up north near Kamiah and Kooskia this month.

[Longshot]

Killed a 3X4 Whitetail just out of Kamiah...  not big, but better tasting than the tag.

LS

[fj40mojo]

Went for mule deer twice, no success.  Both trips were different parts of the Arrowrock area.  Saw 3 does, but no bucks.  

Going to hunt for whitetail up north near Kamiah and Kooskia this month.

I think you better check the regs. I do believe you need a Whitetail Deer tag to hunt in the late season hunts in that portion of the state.

Deer hunters may choose either a regular deer tag or a
white-tailed deer tag. The regular deer tag is valid for any
hunt listed under “2010 Regular Deer Tag Seasons” on
pages 9-13.
The white-tailed deer tag is valid for white-tailed deer only,
for any hunt listed under “2010 White-tailed Deer Tag
Seasons” on pages 14-17.

[Valhalla]

I think you better check the regs. I do believe you need a Whitetail Deer tag to hunt in the late season hunts in that portion of the state.

I have.. and you do.

You can trade in your unfilled mule deer tag for a whitetail tag at the Fish and Game office (according to my BIL).

[fj40mojo]

I have.. and you do.

You can trade in your unfilled mule deer tag for a whitetail tag at the Fish and Game office (according to my BIL).

Your BIL(What ever that is?) is wrong. From page 77 of the current regs booklet

Exchange of Deer or Elk Tags: Hunters may exchange
general season elk tags for use in another zone at any Fish
and Game office. Likewise, deer hunters may exchange
a general season deer tag for another deer tag at any Fish
and Game office. A fee of $3.75 will be charged. Only one
exchange is allowed. The exchange must be completed before
the first opening hunt date for the tag being exchanged. For
any area with a quota on tags, exchanges must be made
before the quota for that tag type has been sold

You can exchange the tag you purchased before that season opens but not after.

Back in the mid nineties before the creation of the Whitetail Tag you could hunt in your area with a general deer tag and if unsuccessful head to that portion of the state and hunt whitetail either sex with your general deer tag. The locals in that portion of the state were understandably not happy with the situation as they became inundated with unsuccessful hunters from all over the state right when the hunting started getting good for their local whitetails. The whitetail tags were created to make people commit to choosing where they would hunt, predictably most choose to hunt in their local area rather than travel to a distant part of Idaho thereby eliminating a bunch of hunting pressure in the late running whitetail seasons. Sorry man, tag soup. Unless, there is a hunt still open in Unit 38 for antlerless with short range weapons. This is over in the Parma/Fort Boise WMA. I went with a buddy a couple of years ago and he got a doe swimming in the Snake with buck shot from his 12ga in the Fort Boise WMA. You'll need a boat to take advantage of this hunt.

[Valhalla]

Actually I just talked to fish and game and a regular deer tag is good for mule and whitetail. Most of the units up north closed already. Some close Nov 18 and some Dec 1. Only reason for a whitetail tag is some units allow later hunting specifically for whitetail. And yes you can't exchange.

Good info to know. Next year well just hunt up there, it seems better anyways.

BIL - brother in law

[Valhalla]

We've got family and a cabin up there. We planned on steelhead fishing mostly anyways. Would be nice to get some hunting in but wont be worth it to drive to a later unit we're not familiar with.

[MarkinIdaho]

If you have kids 16 and under, there's an open doe season over by Bruneau.  Closes the 24th.  Should be a good hunt... it's set up for the kids to have a good chance at a deer... and to reduce the numbers heading toward farmer's fields.

[Farlo]

Tag soup on the deer tag.  I saw lots of does, but nothing with antlers.

Scored a small spike bull Unit 39, however.  Good meat.  We saw lots and lots of cows.

[Hawk43]

I didn't drop the hammer my self but I packed out a few deer and got a flatlander buddy on a nice buck.
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