Week off, season is open

[Guy Miner]

Have the week off from work. The "high buck" hunt is open in the wilderness areas. Some small areas are open for antlerless elk hunting as well. Was going to prep a bit over the weekend, but ended up working 15 hour days Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So - no hunt prep. I think I know where my rifle is. :grin:

Today turned from "going hunting" to "getting ready for hunting." That's okay. I can live with that.

Am supposed to take a first time hunter out tomorrow. See if we can find a mule deer buck. Three point minimum for the "high buck" hunt. Am not backpacking in this year, just day hunting. Would have liked to arrange a backpack hunt again. We'll see how it goes. If nothing else I should have at least a few good days in the hills this week with the .25-06 Rem 700 CDL.

Don't want another bear this year. One in the freezer is plenty. Would like a mulie buck though. Always like tagging a mule deer buck... We'll see... Elk? Maybe... Opportunities are a bit limited here, but it's at least possible.

I'll check in time to time through the week since I'm hunting from home, not camping in the mountains this time.

Guy

 

[DrMike]

We're pulling for you, Guy. I wish you every success.

 

[pre6422hornet]

Best of luck Guy! Pulling for success for you guys.

 

[russ808]

Guy, Good luck, go get'um.
Russ

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks guys. Still warm here, but cooled down tremendously after the heavy thunderstorm last night. I plan on being up in the hills most of tomorrow. Highs in the 70's predicted, maybe a few showers. Not much chance of getting on a big mule deer, but am really looking forward to the day.

The .25-06 700 CDL is ready to go. Same as last year: 115 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips @ 3120 fps, sighted in at 300 yards with the 6x Leupold. Really couldn't ask for a better performing mule deer bullet.

Did briefly consider taking the .308 Win Green Machine and 165 gr Ballistic Tips. Brutal on deer and accurate as all get out with that Krieger barrel. But it's got a varmint contour barrel, and that is a pretty doggone steep ridge I intend to walk up tomorrow morning. Keeping the weight down by a couple of pounds, choosing the .25-06 instead. It's a a proven deer-zapper to 400+ yards anyway.

Pack is set up. Knife sharp (optimism here). License and tag and a game bag are in the pack. Water bladder full. Snacks packed. Might toss in an apple and a sandwich though. I get hungry. Son can't go. New hunter can't go. Heading up alone for the day, and am really looking forward to it. I added a new component to the Nimrod pack, a large nylon bag that should be perfect for packing meat. Like a dork, I forgot that I even had it and made-do with the normal pack while hauling out my son's bear meat a couple of weeks ago. Dang. Would have worked a lot better with this new bag attached, it was built to haul meat or other bulky loads. Will also be wearing a brand spanking new Bright Hunter Orange Nosler Hat! :grin: Picked that up at Nosler in Bend. Cool beans. Hopefully it's got some built in Mulie Magic...

The pack is really important because if I drop a buck, I'll be either quartering him up or boning him out and putting him in the pack for the hike back to the Jeep. Figuring I could be several miles from the trailhead, without trails, and up in the Cascades. Dragging the deer just doesn't work. Boning it out, stuffing it in a pack and walking out with it sure works just fine though.

Regards, Guy

 

[SJB358]

Good luck Guy! That sounds like a great day to me.. Ton of luck tomorrow buddy!

 

[DrMike]

Hunting alone may be just the ticket. We're all pulling for you to score a good mulie, Guy.

 

[Hegland]

Best of luck!

 

[Guest]

Luck Guy!

 

[FOTIS]

Good luck brother.

 

[runtohunt]

Good luck Guy! All that hard work that you do year long, bicycling etc, is about to pay off in big dividends!