Deer Hunt
2007
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.
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.
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!
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!
never ending line 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.
the right 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!
Just a few more
points!
points!
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!
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!
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!
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!
