2026 Hunting Season

[Firebird24]

Hunted with my oldest daughter on Saturday in south east utah. All private land, difficult tag to draw and of Course she drew it on a year when she was pregnant. Her husband was out of state at a funeral so I got to be the guide.
Shot was 275 years off sticks. He was going nowhere but needed a finisher, which she placed at 100 and managed not to ruin any meat. First shot was most likely liver but I did not gut this one so as not to antagonize the girl with the heightened sense of smell/nausea. My rem700 7mm-08 and 150 ablr.
He was the biggest bodied deer in a large group and we saw lots of bucks but he and three or four others over two days were all in the same age/size class-I made a mistake and called him a 4x4 but we would have shot him either way-she was over the moon with him and the whole experience. It’s been a good year for her!


I like the little spur on the left side. She did not know about character points
Made her take off her orange hat and vest for the photos-

 

[Blkram]

Her smile says it all!
Memories to be cherished by both of you for years to come!

 

[DrMike]

Your daughter has every right to be smiling. Excellent work on her part, and excellent work guiding, Dad.

 

[sako2]

Hunted with my oldest daughter on Saturday in south east utah. All private land, difficult tag to draw and of Course she drew it on a year when she was pregnant. Her husband was out of state at a funeral so I got to be the guide.
Shot was 275 years off sticks. He was going nowhere but needed a finisher, which she placed at 100 and managed not to ruin any meat. First shot was most likely liver but I did not gut this one so as not to antagonize the girl with the heightened sense of smell/nausea. My rem700 7mm-08 and 150 ablr.
He was the biggest bodied deer in a large group and we saw lots of bucks but he and three or four others over two days were all in the same age/size class-I made a mistake and called him a 4x4 but we would have shot him either way-she was over the moon with him and the whole experience. It’s been a good year for her!View attachment 30381

View attachment 30382
I like the little spur on the left side. She did not know about character points
Made her take off her orange hat and vest for the photos-View attachment 30383

Congrats to your daughter. Nice buck.

 

[salmonchaser]

Oct 10th early in the morning on Sheep Creek, 130 yards down about a 45 degree slope.
Rifle = Nosler M48 Heritage in 26 Nosler
Cartridge = 142 Gr AccuBond Long Range
Deer = 4x3 Blacktail with decent eyeguards

Bullet hit the front of the neck (picture 3) exited the back of the neck (picture 4), hit the left rear ham and lodged in the joint (picture 5) recovered bullet diameter and weight.

Looks like good black tail ground

 

[salmonchaser]

Hunted with my oldest daughter on Saturday in south east utah. All private land, difficult tag to draw and of Course she drew it on a year when she was pregnant. Her husband was out of state at a funeral so I got to be the guide.
Shot was 275 years off sticks. He was going nowhere but needed a finisher, which she placed at 100 and managed not to ruin any meat. First shot was most likely liver but I did not gut this one so as not to antagonize the girl with the heightened sense of smell/nausea. My rem700 7mm-08 and 150 ablr.
He was the biggest bodied deer in a large group and we saw lots of bucks but he and three or four others over two days were all in the same age/size class-I made a mistake and called him a 4x4 but we would have shot him either way-she was over the moon with him and the whole experience. It’s been a good year for her!View attachment 30381

View attachment 30382
I like the little spur on the left side. She did not know about character points
Made her take off her orange hat and vest for the photos-View attachment 30383

That’s a dandy, I’d have shot him in a heartbeat.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Congratulations on a fine-looking buck. Fine shooting and pat on the back to the guide.

 

[thatguySHM]

530 lbs 33 1/3" spread. Got him on the last day of hunting, I used a 30-06 with 180gr Accubonds and my hunting partner used a 338 Federal with 225 Speer BTSP. We were chasing a paddle but he slipped us on the stalk and we saw this guy in the next field over. We didn't see any other moose all week, happy to tag out at all. Self guided.

 

[DrMike]

He'll provide tender vituals for your family. Congratulations.

 

[NYDAN]

Hunted with my oldest daughter on Saturday in south east utah. All private land, difficult tag to draw and of Course she drew it on a year when she was pregnant. Her husband was out of state at a funeral so I got to be the guide.
Shot was 275 years off sticks. He was going nowhere but needed a finisher, which she placed at 100 and managed not to ruin any meat. First shot was most likely liver but I did not gut this one so as not to antagonize the girl with the heightened sense of smell/nausea. My rem700 7mm-08 and 150 ablr.
He was the biggest bodied deer in a large group and we saw lots of bucks but he and three or four others over two days were all in the same age/size class-I made a mistake and called him a 4x4 but we would have shot him either way-she was over the moon with him and the whole experience. It’s been a good year for her!View attachment 30381

View attachment 30382
I like the little spur on the left side. She did not know about character points
Made her take off her orange hat and vest for the photos-View attachment 30383

Congratulations to your daughter. That looks like a great buck. Nice of you to do the field dressing.

 

[NYDAN]

View attachment 30385

530 lbs 33 1/3" spread. Got him on the last day of hunting, I used a 30-06 with 180gr Accubonds and my hunting partner used a 338 Federal with 225 Speer BTSP. We were chasing a paddle but he slipped us on the stalk and we saw this guy in the next field over. We didn't see any other moose all week, happy to tag out at all. Self guided.

Congratulations on the moose.

 

[RL338]

Hunted with my oldest daughter on Saturday in south east utah. All private land, difficult tag to draw and of Course she drew it on a year when she was pregnant. Her husband was out of state at a funeral so I got to be the guide.
Shot was 275 years off sticks. He was going nowhere but needed a finisher, which she placed at 100 and managed not to ruin any meat. First shot was most likely liver but I did not gut this one so as not to antagonize the girl with the heightened sense of smell/nausea. My rem700 7mm-08 and 150 ablr.
He was the biggest bodied deer in a large group and we saw lots of bucks but he and three or four others over two days were all in the same age/size class-I made a mistake and called him a 4x4 but we would have shot him either way-she was over the moon with him and the whole experience. It’s been a good year for her!View attachment 30381

View attachment 30382
I like the little spur on the left side. She did not know about character points
Made her take off her orange hat and vest for the photos-View attachment 30383

That’s a nice muley your daughter got.

View attachment 30385

530 lbs 33 1/3" spread. Got him on the last day of hunting, I used a 30-06 with 180gr Accubonds and my hunting partner used a 338 Federal with 225 Speer BTSP. We were chasing a paddle but he slipped us on the stalk and we saw this guy in the next field over. We didn't see any other moose all week, happy to tag out at all. Self guided.

Congrats on the moose.

 

[Hunter26]

Great hunts all around. Awesome blacktail & great recovery! Sweet moose & mulie as well!

 

[Firebird24]

My buck-rather small but will accomplish my plans nicely. 28 nosler and 175 ablr, shot was 250 off quad sticks, kind of a no brainer except I had to sneak the bullet through a gap in the aspens. It was a neat experience and I got the trailer out before the expected rain and snow-

Entry hole-saved the bottom jaw for aging and had the fish and game dig out the brain stem for chronic wasting testing

Exit wound. He dropped literally in his tracks but the bullet did hit the “elbow” on the exit side so I’m sure that prevented him taking any steps

 

[Slimfinn]

Hunted with my oldest daughter on Saturday in south east utah. All private land, difficult tag to draw and of Course she drew it on a year when she was pregnant. Her husband was out of state at a funeral so I got to be the guide.
Shot was 275 years off sticks. He was going nowhere but needed a finisher, which she placed at 100 and managed not to ruin any meat. First shot was most likely liver but I did not gut this one so as not to antagonize the girl with the heightened sense of smell/nausea. My rem700 7mm-08 and 150 ablr.
He was the biggest bodied deer in a large group and we saw lots of bucks but he and three or four others over two days were all in the same age/size class-I made a mistake and called him a 4x4 but we would have shot him either way-she was over the moon with him and the whole experience. It’s been a good year for her!View attachment 30381

View attachment 30382
I like the little spur on the left side. She did not know about character points
Made her take off her orange hat and vest for the photos-View attachment 30383

She is have a great season, Congrats!

 

[NYDAN]

My buck-rather small but will accomplish my plans nicely. 28 nosler and 175 ablr, shot was 250 off sticks, kind of a no brainer except I had to sneak the bullet through a gap in the aspens. It was a neat experience and I got the trailer out before the expected rain and snow-View attachment 30388
View attachment 30389
Entry hole-saved the bottom jaw for aging and had the fish and game dig out the brain stem for chronic wasting testing
View attachment 30390
Exit wound. He dropped literally in his tracks but the bullet did hit the “elbow” on the exit side so I’m sure that prevented him taking any steps

Congratulations on making a fine shot.

 

[Slimfinn]

Been a slow start for my youngest and her antelope the last 2 weekend which will be another post once she fills it, but rifle opening for deer/elk was yesterday. So we changed directions and both daughter and I headed to Central Montana to my buddy's ranch for some deer hunting.
This is likey the last year the oldest will be in Montana to hunt, she graduates college in December and then off to grad school (location TBD but no MT options). She got her first deer back in 2018, tried antelope hunting 1 year and other then that she has been happy to be an observer. She decided she wanted a hunt before she leaves. Winter storm came through Friday but Saturday was pretty nice. We showed up a little after sunrise, poor road conditions, glasses the normal spots and they all seemed to be on the alfalfa bench. Devised a plan, started in the creek bottom and climbed up to thebench for a closer look, severalnice bucks one really big, had some opportunities but blew the stock, back down to the truck and check out a couple different spots, few does and nothing interesting. Look back up on the bench and there was a group back up there,. Headed over and back up, youngest joined us to help coach, and try for a 2-for. No bucks , hiked further down to check out another group ahh 3 buck that we could see, and a couple nice ones. So then the game of hide and seek as we work our way down the bench popping up to check on where they were headed, send her up to a fence post to get a clear shot and a bit of cover, younger crawled about half way and I held back just to where i could just see the buck over the grass in the binos. She was able to get to around 120yds, i was watching the buck, hearing the youngest whisper if you have a shot shoot. Finally pulled the trigger i heard hit stepped up so I could keep and eye on it, few more shots ring out before i told them both to settle down, as it stumbled and fell. Get up to it started cleaning, was quartering towards her first shot was behind the shoulder clipped the stomach and out the opposite side. She did pretty good for not shooting at anything but paper for 8 years. She was shooting a LH 700, 243 with 100gr. Sako Gamehead.

Spent the rest of the day trying to find a "bigger" one for other daughter with the same results as her antelope hunting.