Deer Hunt 2007
My son and I made our annual trip to the Snake River, here in Washington. We
have been going there for somewhere around 10 years. It is steep country. We
have not always taken deer home but have always had a good time and seen lots
of deer. We get up real early so as to be able to be up in the cliffs at daylight.
have been going there for somewhere around 10 years. It is steep country. We
have not always taken deer home but have always had a good time and seen lots
of deer. We get up real early so as to be able to be up in the cliffs at daylight.
It is not easy to find the trail up through the rock outcroppings in the dark and
often we end up in the wrong place. This year we found ourselves working our
way along a drop off. Its not easy trying to carry a rifle and backpack while holding
on to the rocks, so as not to fall back in to the river! But once you get up there
you are met with views like this!
often we end up in the wrong place. This year we found ourselves working our
way along a drop off. Its not easy trying to carry a rifle and backpack while holding
on to the rocks, so as not to fall back in to the river! But once you get up there
you are met with views like this!
I had picked my spot carefully, so throughout the morning there was a never ending line
of visitors. Often they never knew I was there!
of visitors. Often they never knew I was there!
Our camping spot way
below.
below.
My spot where I hope the right
one will come by.
one will come by.
Hunters heading for
their spots. We are
already in ours
their spots. We are
already in ours
Heading back to camp.
We will be staying a
while longer.
We will be staying a
while longer.
I never get tired of
seeing this rock
formation.
seeing this rock
formation.
Oops! I am
busted!
busted!
A regular stop for this visitor in it's never ending
hunt for food!
hunt for food!
All morning I had been watching a small group of deer that had 4 bucks in it. They were a
long ways away. It would take dropping down through a deep canyon to get to them. I am
an old guy and it looked like a "Canyon too far" to me. But when the morning had gone and
nothing shoot able had come by, I decided that long distance had to be tackled. So I got on
the radio and suggested that my son go take a look see and figure out if one of those bucks
had three or more points! He mentioned that maybe I should go take a look, but when I said
it might be me he would be carrying off this mountain if I did that, he relented and head over
there. It took nearly an hour for him to get there. Whew! Boy was I glad I had not gone! I
was watching him sneak along when all of a sudden, he stood up and shot. There were deer
running all over the place. And to my luck, a group was coming my way. But I had time to
get ready. As I said it was a long way! Down the far hill they came. Then they were gone
behind the bushes and gullies in the bottom. But soon here they came up towards me. Sure
enough there was a nice legal buck among them. I should have waited for a closer shot, but
started shooting at about three hundred yards! They were so tired and seemed to not know
where I was. They kept coming closer. At about 200 yards I dropped the buck!
long ways away. It would take dropping down through a deep canyon to get to them. I am
an old guy and it looked like a "Canyon too far" to me. But when the morning had gone and
nothing shoot able had come by, I decided that long distance had to be tackled. So I got on
the radio and suggested that my son go take a look see and figure out if one of those bucks
had three or more points! He mentioned that maybe I should go take a look, but when I said
it might be me he would be carrying off this mountain if I did that, he relented and head over
there. It took nearly an hour for him to get there. Whew! Boy was I glad I had not gone! I
was watching him sneak along when all of a sudden, he stood up and shot. There were deer
running all over the place. And to my luck, a group was coming my way. But I had time to
get ready. As I said it was a long way! Down the far hill they came. Then they were gone
behind the bushes and gullies in the bottom. But soon here they came up towards me. Sure
enough there was a nice legal buck among them. I should have waited for a closer shot, but
started shooting at about three hundred yards! They were so tired and seemed to not know
where I was. They kept coming closer. At about 200 yards I dropped the buck!
I even let the kid get a picture with my buck. Seems he missed his. Not only that I needed some
help to get this buck back to the boat, and there was lots of tough physical labor ahead before that
happened. You can see that it was not easy by the look on my sons face when we at last got to
the boat. It was a great trip. Thanks to my son for not letting go of the rope, when maybe he
should have. Well thats a whole other story! One last thing! I noticed a decided lack of hunters
out there this year. A look at this parking lot, that is normally full just tells that story. Not sure
where they all were! Good Hunting!
help to get this buck back to the boat, and there was lots of tough physical labor ahead before that
happened. You can see that it was not easy by the look on my sons face when we at last got to
the boat. It was a great trip. Thanks to my son for not letting go of the rope, when maybe he
should have. Well thats a whole other story! One last thing! I noticed a decided lack of hunters
out there this year. A look at this parking lot, that is normally full just tells that story. Not sure
where they all were! Good Hunting!
