TeenageHunters 2014-2015 Journal

[DannyBoy]

Dude!

If this isn't a joke... just some friendly advice. I also passed up some darn good deer when I first started hunting thinking I could score bigger, and it never worked out. I absolutely regret it. It's hard enough putting yourself on ONE mature buck, let alone several, and even harder to have shots of several even in the class of the picture you showed. You're young. Fill every square inch of your wall with deer like that and THEN get picky!

Kudos to you for the patience but you're killin me smalls. I'd sure like to see what the one you're after looks like!!

 

[Daver]

... just some friendly advice. I also passed up some darn good deer when I first started hunting thinking I could score bigger, and it never worked out. I absolutely regret it. ...

I have no idea whether TeenageHunter is on a better buck or not, but I sure wouldn't be surprised to hear that he was. I wish him well either way, but I sure know what you mean by passing up nice deer waiting for a REAL BIG one.

Back in my younger days...once I knew there was such a thing as a "Booner", I quit shooting any buck unless it was a Booner...only the area that I hunted at that time virtually NEVER had a Booner anywhere near it! A 2 year old buck was a giant in that neighborhood and once one of the locals saw that, well he only was alive for a few more days usually.

So this fool went 4 or 5 years never shooting anything while I was waiting for something that effectively did not exist. Ah youth!

 

[Rich77]

I did the same thing when i was 2-3 good deer into my career. I would let some truly GOOD mature deer walk waiting for something that maybe didnt even exist...
I dont really regret it at all and i ate a tag or two but i know what those deer turned into by letting them walk.
The more good deer you let walk the better your chances are of shooting a giant.
I always tell people to shoot what makes them happy. To some folks its the biggest deer in the county and others may not care as long as its a mature deer. To each his own, im not passing the buck th past unless i have a trick up my sleeve on whatever kind of monster he is after. I hope he kills it!

 

[BDAHMS]

That's a great buck to pass up. I completely understand though- if you have a deer you are set on- there would be a bitter sweet feeling tagging out on any other deer in the first few days of Oct on a long season. Stick with it and I'm sure you will seal the deer on a deer that you want

 

[chipterp]

I can understand everything but calling that a "decent sized buck"

 

[TheMadCatter]

24 Hours and I'll be on my way to Colorado! Haven't had time to hunt here around home, hopefully the buck I'm after is still alive by then.

 

[TheMadCatter]

Down the mountain today, my Uncle has to go on a business trip in California. Heading out to a different spot tomorrow! Hopefully I actually see elk! Not moose, antelope, mule deer, and get this! First thing I see after setting up camp? 5 Whitetail!

 

[TheMadCatter]

Friday 10/10/14

After driving through most of the night we setup camp and got settled in.

My Uncle had already got my trail camera down from the mountain and had a few 1,000 pictures mostly false triggers/hunters but there were about 800 pictures of Elk/Mule Deer.

After we got done looking through all the pictures and having to use the camera to see them after my laptop died (No power) I headed up the mountain to fish...

Caught a few rainbow trout, nothing big enough to keep.

10/11/2014

Opening day AM was un-eventful. No shots, No Elk, Nada. All I saw was a few Antelope and a Bobcat.

Opening Day PM Saw way too many Moose...it's apparently rut. Saw about 20 Moose in total but my camera battery died!

10/12/14

Seriously, by this point in time I was sick of the Moose...they won't move. You have to wait about forever for them to move or they'll charge at you.

Anyway, this morning was crazy. Shots everywhere, my Uncle and Aunt saw 12 elk with 3 shooter bulls but couldn't connect. After the firestorm calmed down there were a few bugles and then I heard one shot and we talked with one group and they were heading over to pick up a bull their buddy had shot.

Still have yet to see an Elk...I have three more days yet!

 

[goatman]

Good luck to you.

 

[KnuckleDragr]

Good luck also! Keep the pics coming!

 

[gundog870]

Keep em coming!

 

[Skully]

What a great trip! Hope to see some harvest pics soon!

 

[BDAHMS]

awesome trip so far! Keep the pics coming- Views and scenery look amazing

 

[4 Buck]

Cool pics biebs. Did you take the cat along for good luck???

 

[TheMadCatter]

After all the hard work and dedication I finally got it!!!!

...LTE on my phone in the middle of the mountains. Hit that sweet spot. On a serious note, I dub elk extinct in GMU 7 & 8 in Colorado.

 

[TheMadCatter]

I shouldn't have a problem getting a mule deer though. More abundant than whitetail!

 

[CurtisWalker]

I shouldn't have a problem getting a mule deer though. More abundant than whitetail!

If you can't get a mule deer then I think there is a problem.. They were everywhere when I went

 

[TheMadCatter]

Saw 0 Elk Hunting, besides 3 Cows in the morning before shooting light on private property.

 

[TheMadCatter]

Watching people plow down does. I'm sitting here thinking I'm the only one with a buck tag. I've seen a ton of does and no bucks. Then again, I'm only an hour and 30 into it.

 

[TheMadCatter]

Like hold on there's 5 more coming my way.