2023 Hunting Season

Headed to Wyoming this morning. Plan on a scenic route through Idaho to Idaho falls today then a seven hour push tomorrow to the Casper area. Actually plan on spending about 10 to 12 hours on that drive just to see some country I haven’t seen in more than 20 years.
The girls are really pissed. Danced around yesterday evening while I loaded some gear. Molly drug her kennel out of the shop so I could load it because I had obviously forgotten to do so. She actually just turned and walked over a lay down when I started scratching her ears. She is really pissed:)
They gonna miss Mom and Dad.
 
Now, Gil, you know that was a figment of your imagination. The MOE insists that grizzlies are practically extinct. That's why they are protected, so city folk can drive up and look at them.:rolleyes::mad:
I hope that you aren't insinuating that I am now "city folk"! :LOL:
 
A little slower game day today...bear-wise for Susan...started off pretty foggy this morning, but cleared up and was a beautiful day in the mountains! Got to see the sunset behind the mountains from a high vantage point while glassing goats at the end of the day...a spot I took Gerry and Sask Boy to a few years back.

We only brought home a dozen grouse (5 ruffies, 6 spruce hens and a blue grouse; Susan used the 28 ga and I had fun with the 10/22 RSI).
Saw lots of whitetail does and fawns, a couple young bucks that as soon as Susan noticed them, they seemed to know she had a tag in her pocket and hit the afterburners for parts unknown! Also saw quite a few mule deer does and fawns, but no bucks. Mule deer not open yet anyways)
Finally saw a black bear, but he was also gone into the thick stuff and she only got a glimpse of him ghosting away in to the dark timber. Only a glimpse of his ears as he left...looked a little big and narrow gapped to be a good bear.
And one nice 4 yr old bull moose...season not open yet for Susan, and he wouldn't have been legal...only two brow points on each side and a total of 7 and 8 points per side. In very nice shape. Did have some fun with him by cow calling to him! Got his tongue going and he started slobbering a little...but didn't want to come any closer...but did let us get to within 60 yards before he slipped away into the alders.
Also got to see 25 mountain goats on a few different mountains..always fun to see!
 
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Today was the first day of a new 3-day antlerless season in Missouri. My Tikka T3x 270 Win using Norma Whitetail 130's convinced these does to get in the Mule and lie really still. The hunt was on my farm and both were shot about 85ish yards.

Very pleased with the Norma ammo on paper and critters and the first time I've used a 270 Win to take game.

Ron
 
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Today was the first day of a new 3-day antlerless season in Missouri. My Tikka T3x 270 Win using Norma Whitetail 130's convinced these does to get in the Mule and lie really still. The hunt was on my farm and both were shot about 85ish yards.

Very pleased with the Norma ammo on paper and critters and the first time I've used a 270 Win to take game.

Ron
Filling the freezer season, gotta like that.
 
Congrats on your success! You are off to a good start filling up the freezer.

JD338
 
Another great day in the mountains!
We saw 3 fat mulie does, 23 ewes and lambs and a couple nice caribou cows.
Unfortunately, no bears today for Susan. Will get out again next week in another area where we heard the berry crop was better (south of the area we saw the grizzlies and black bears in a couple weeks ago).

My mom and her husband went along with us today, and she hunted grouse for the first time in about 30 years, with the Cooey 84 .410 I gave her last year. She managed to get 3 ruffies today...said she had even more fun than fishing and catching her big rainbow last year! Was fun watching her as she stalked those birds in the alders and willows along the road. She was still grinning ear to ear 4 hours later!
 
I had a great Saturday morning(9/16/2023). My wonderful wife asked one of clients where she works if he allowed any elk hunting and he said sure. Turned into a great hunt, he and a couple young guys took me out and we spotted elk from the first area we stopped to glass. There was a big bull with 5 cows. He was a long ways off, so far that I could see by his body in the binoculars that he was bugling but I could just barely hear it. He headed our way when one of the guys bugled so we headed his way. We got to about the half way mark and he answered a bugle, he was close and sounded down in a deep cut. The ranch owner and one of the guys stayed behind and the other guy and I worked up slowly, the guy behind would bugle and the bull would answer, we kept slowly closing in until we were at the edge and knew he had to be below us. I belly crawled the last 10-15 yards and still couldn't see him. He finally stepped partially out from behind a couple trees, it was not the larger one we had initially seen but I am not picky and an elk inside 200 yards that doesn't know you are there is the one you want. My dilemma was the grass was tall and there was just enough of a lip I was having a hard time finding him in my pistol scope, I was shooting a TC Encore in 338-06 for this hunt. Finally after what seemed like forever, but was probably only a couple of minutes, the bull started feeding away from us down the draw but it opened up visibility. The guy with me said tell me when to stop him and I whispered back go ahead now. He bugled the bull stopped and I shot. The shot was about 180 yards the Barnes 160 TTSX did a great job, we recovered it on the far side under the hide and it weighs 159.1 gr. He took about 3 buck jumps back toward us and went out of sight. We watched for a couple minutes to make sure he wouldn't come back out. He was done. I didn't do any autopsy because we did the gutless method to get the meat but when we cut in to get the tenderloin on the first side blood spurted like old faithful so he was full of blood, it doesn't matter if I hit heart or lungs he bled out quickly. I didn't know until after but the guy with me was videoing with his phone and got the shot and the bull going down on video for me.View attachment 20962
Congratulations on making a fine shot with a handgun.
 
Was fortunate to harvest my archery mule buck yesterday. Yesterday was one of those hunts you don't forget. We had a storm come thru that dropped the temp's and brought good amount moisture (1st snow of the season-southern Idaho). I found three different groups of bucks in one canyon (15 bucks total) One was a good 160-165 4x4...only able to get to 70 yards and he moved on. I was able to harvest this 3x3 buck at 50 yards with my bow. Deer is over for the season...now it's time to focus on my rifle bull elk starting next month. Good luck to everyone this year!
Congratulations on taking a fine animal with bow.
 
Took my nephew out for his 1st deer hunt. He harvested on opening day in an open unit of Idaho. He made a great 289 yard shot with 270 win. Just love being a part his hunt! Good luck to everyone out hunting this weekend!
 

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Took my nephew out for his 1st deer hunt. He harvested on opening day in an open unit of Idaho. He made a great 289 yard shot with 270 win. Just love being a part his hunt! Good luck to everyone out hunting this weekend!
Love it!
Congratulations to your nephew. Nice first buck and a great shot. Honorable mention to the guide.
Well done sir

JD338
 
Took my nephew out for his 1st deer hunt. He harvested on opening day in an open unit of Idaho. He made a great 289 yard shot with 270 win. Just love being a part his hunt! Good luck to everyone out hunting this weekend!
Congrats to your nephew on his first deer👍
 
Took my nephew out for his 1st deer hunt. He harvested on opening day in an open unit of Idaho. He made a great 289 yard shot with 270 win. Just love being a part his hunt! Good luck to everyone out hunting this weekend!
Always love seeing young men and women discovering the joy of ethical hunting.
 
Took my nephew out for his 1st deer hunt. He harvested on opening day in an open unit of Idaho. He made a great 289 yard shot with 270 win. Just love being a part his hunt! Good luck to everyone out hunting this weekend!
Congratulations to your nephew and his guide/tutor.
 
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