A chance at redemption - WY Bison

[Mattff200]

Well back in May when I got on the bus to work I checked to see if draw results were out. I was expecting a cow moose tag but instead I drew a bison tag. The special part was this is the 2nd time I had drawn in 5 years. In 2020 I had the tag and took it for granted and was unsuccessful. Luckily I learned a lot and plan am planning on three individual weeks up there chasing bison, im not counting on them coming down to the refuge since I can no longer apply for this tag again. I leave for my 1st trip on monday and wont come back until labor day. But since I have 3 day weekends im spending every 3 day weekend chasing bison until I get one. I'm very fortunate I get 240 hours and my girlfriend is very understanding of how important this is. I can't wait to give it everything i can.

 

[brushcreek]

good luck!

 

[Mattff200]

good luck!

Thank you

 

[Mattff200]

Bison season has come to an end and it was I'll remeber fondly. This year started off rough with loosing an uncle to cancer and then this summer I lost another uncle who was the person that took me under his wing when I got into hunting. Wyoming has been very good to me since I relocated here. I am fortunate that I get to hunt more than I ever did on the east coast and they've awarded me some pretty sweet tags.

Back in August I headed up for what would be my 1st full week chasing bison. After seeing my girlfriend leave for work I left for jackson. After picking up my biological kit I headed back to the ranger station to get times it would take to get to the trailhead and set up camp. On my way back I ran into another solo hunter and after talking to him we decided we'd work together that week.

The next morning I met him at his side by side and rode with him to the trailhead. We then hiked in and before 1st light. No bison were spotted and after some time we headed up to the park boundary. We headed to a glassing spot and he spotted a big lone bull well into the national park headed our way. That bull wandered stopped ate and then decided he wanted to head away from us.

Later on I spotted another bull and we watched him moving fast angling for the park boundary. We moved to possibly intercept him but he decided to bed under a pine tree. For the next hour plus we watched him get up a couple times and readjust his bed. Eventually we decided he was staying 800 yards inside the park so we headed back to camp. After eating some food we both headed our separate ways to check on the road gling down to jackson. The main herd was there and the cow calf herd the biologist had told us about was down by Mormon Row. Just days before they almost headed onto the Elk Refuge.

The next morning we wome up early but waiting becasue of forecasted rain. We both decided to drive around to Spread Creek to see if there were bison there. The main. Herd was away from the main road but still away from the national forest. After some time I am convinced the rain isnt that bad and we should drive back to the trailhead and hike in to the boundary. We do hike there and the rain only got worse and we were fogged in finally cold and wet we hiked out. We followed the practice of driving amd checking on the her by Mormon row and I managed to get a nap in. Later that evening the guy I met mentioned a glassing spot by the road less then a mile from camp. We ended out evening there glassing.

The next morning we slept in and drove to the glassing spot. It was a great choice since where we would have hiked to was fogged in all morning. There were no bison on the national forest. We then headed back to camp for lunch and then check on the cow/calf herd and check other areas in the lark where you could look into the national forest.

Over the days I wa there I came to the realization that I should hire a guide. Bison are big and the hike back to the trailhead would be rough packing bison out on my back. I had called Dan Martain and inquired about available dates and was deciding if id do a 5 or 3 day hunt. Eventually I decided on a 5 day hunt since I would never have this opportunity again. That evening I locked in dates in November with Dan.

Around that same time the trip got really interesting. With thunderstorms heading in the big herd moved from the park onto the national forest just before last light. It was awesome but since it was a Thursday and there were more people camping on the national forest. We found out we were the only bison hunters there so we made a plan to get to the park boundary by first light and be as light as possible.

The next morning we met tonto to the trailhead. I told the guy I met he had 1st choice since he found thrnglassing spot and he was the 1st one to glass the her moving onto the national forest. I also told him just shoot the one you want, dont get greedy doing a 3-2-1 countdown. We gotnto our first spot and sow no bison, then we moved to a glassing hill just inside the park and quickly I spotted bison to our south moving from the national forest to the park. We double timed it over to the bison and got on the herd. Unfortunately they were just inside the park we ended up moving around and watched the bison for somewhere in a 30 minute to one hour window. They seemed to be moving to atsy in the park. There were some young bulls and cows the were moving to the boundary but stopped and headed back deeper into the park m Eventually the larger herd bulls pushed a hot cow down into the national forest. The guy I was with decided to shoot but his gun went click 3 times and then told me to shoot. I leaned into my 6.5 PRC braced on an Aspen tree and two shots from 200 yards I had a dead bison. I lost I was couldn't believe it happened and I broked down into tears from the event.

We had agreed to both but up the bison regardless of who shot. But before we cut in I noticed my amazing girl friend, im still thankful for her agreeing to me not being around much to hunt bison. I told my parents and then I made the most important call. I called Dan Martain to have him pack out my bison. After that call and some pictures we got to work. When the hind quarter was removed from the carcas it took everything we both had to hpist it up and get it hung in a tree. I said to my self id pay id be willing to pay a lot more to have the bison packed out. It was a weird feeling cutting on an animal in grizzly country, a couple times I was worried the wind was a grzzily. After three hours of work we had the bison cut up and all hanging for airflow. I then told Dan we were waiting for him to find out there were just getting on the horses and had a 45 minute ride in. When him and his helper got there I told them they were my favorite people in the world. Once we got everything to where it was just putting quarters on horses I gave him the tag and we headed back to the trailhead so I could go meet Dan and get the meat.

On our way out we got a tip of a loan bull and headed after it. The guy I met how I felt. I was honest im wore out but im not holding you back. He decided to go get the bull. I followed, slowly, and eventually we got to nowhere the bull was. That bull eventually stood up. He got prone and this time his rifle went bang. He was fortunate to take an impressive old lone bull. He had Dan pack out that bison as well. We got half of it cut up before Dan and his helper came back to get the meat. They also dove in and helped get the bull fully quartered up.

After that we both headed back to the trailhead to get our meat from Dan. We met Dan at a meeting spot at almost 8pm , bought the little resort out of ice and got our meat and capes. I had wondered if id go home that night or stay the night and then go home the next day. On our drive down the mountain we saw our 1st grizzly of the trip so I was convinced im at least getting out of grizzly country that night. On my way back break camp I spotted a black bear in my headlights. We both broke camp and left that night. We 1st had to head back into Jackson to drop off the biological sample at game and fish and then headed out separate ways. I made it to Dubois around 1am and after getting fuel decided to head in and make it to a rest area. I got there went to the bathroom and then fell asleep in the truck for 2 hours. I woke up refreshed and drove back home. I walked in the house at 8am. A friend came over to check it out, got the head to the taxidermist and the finally got a nap.

Over the next couple days myself and my girlfriend processed the bison and filled my brand new freezer I got. I had an awesome experience and wouldn't trade it for anything. If any draws the tag ill be the first person to help them have a successful hunt. For a year that had a rough start is couldn't ask for a better outcome.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Hell of a deal. Well done.