Big CO buck in my dreams

[Big Fin]

Here I sit, quite brokenhearted,
Prayed for snow that never started.

Packed my gear and the truck is ready,
I hope my wife don't find a "steady."

Miles and miles through rain and snow,
I've huntin' fever and its time to go.

Colorado, home of real big deer,
but do they have any cold draught beer?

Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it,
My biggest buck, I plan to beat it.

Winterkill, they say was extreme,
Please don't wake me, I need to dream.

These ruttin' bucks, they say are dumb,
I guess I better come home with one.

Picky, picky, I pass them all,
Huntin' pals say they're all too small.

Camera, action, and the filming rolls,
appears a monster with a Roman nose.

A shot is heard, not 'round the world,
my bullet sailed while crosswinds swirled.

All I hear is a familar "Thwack,"
Sounds like hitting aspen sap.

I climb the hill to look for blood,
a group of does take off and run.

A horny doe still hangs with Fred,
yells at her girls, "The bastard's dead!"

Fred is big, he's wide with mass,
if he's not a trophy you can kiss my a$$.

So worry not, we'll do just fine,
Just wake me up when its shootin' time.



Story to follow and hopefully photos of "Big Fred."

 

[Oak]

Good luck, Big Fin. Go big or go home.

I've never seen Big Fred, but I passed up Crooked Bob once. As far as I know, he's still kicking.

 

[Ridge Runner]

That's a good one BF Good luck and hope to hear that Fred is Dead when you get back.

 

[ELKCHSR]

That was a different spin on a story...

Can't wait to see 'ol Dead Fred...

 

[TLC]

very nice Big Fin. be looking for Big Fred myself this next week and a half down at the farm. rut should be starting in a few days, I hope. good luck to you.

 

[cornfed]

Who is the better poet?Big Fin or Greenhorn.Both pretty good in my book.I quess when you kill monster critters all the time you turn to poetry.

 

[1_pointer]

Good luck!!! Can't wait to see the pics!!!

 

[Moosie]

Good luck FIN FIN

 

[Big Fin]

Climbed real high to find a buck,
glass a stanger down at my truck.

Landowner said, "Get off my road!"
I say, "It's the county's or so I am told.

I pull out my map of the BLM,
he says not a word and leaves on a whim.

Undettered I keep on looking,
Ain't many deer here for spooking.

One small buck, he sure ain't Fred,
I walk away and shake my head.

Glassed 'til dark and my eyes are strained,
scouted hard and all in vain.

I hope tomorrow is a snowy day,
with a little luck it'll go my way.

Drove too far to not see nothin',
Hope my next post will show you sumthin'.

 

[Roland on the River]

"Big Fred"

Hey, Big Fin, I'm rooting for ya' from Alaska.
I love your poetry. Git 'er done>

 

[Spitz]

Good luck Randy!

 

[Oak]

Landowner said, "Get off my road!"
I say, "It's the county's or so I am told.

I pull out my map of the BLM,
he says not a word and leaves on a whim.

Welcome to Colorado, Big Fin.

Looks like a chance of weather the first two days of the season.

 

[IdahoBugler]

Good luck Fin. I know you'll make it happen.

 

[Big Fin]

Day One

First day of season is down the drain,
Nothing to show for my aches and pain.

A three-mile hike to remote public land,
“No Trespassing” is not what I planned.

Ten thousand four, and five inches of snow,
Wouldn’t have climbed here had I only known.

Landowner tells me that I’m in the wrong place,
I’m about ready to mess up his face.

Maps and coords tell me I’m right,
But seeing no deer, I pass on the fight.

I return to the truck and visit the warden,
He knows of the jerk who is being a burden.

“If he gives you more grief, just flip him the bird!”
Warden would love to have the last word.

Move to a ridge where elk hunters abound,
And to my amazement, many deer to be found.

Twenty-two inches, real tall and some mass,
Five inches wider, I don’t think I could pass.

I walk the ridges and glass the draws,
Many more deer are cause for my pause.

Seven bucks on my afternoon hike,
Up here in the clouds things are feeling just right.

Migrating deer in the transition zone,
Less than two miles from land we all own.

Supposed to get warm, muddy, and wet,
I have no concern, at least not yet.

Four days to hunt and chase rutting bucks,
Having more fun than most other schmucks.

 

[IdahoBugler]

That is talent. Good luck and shoot a big one.

 

[Spitz]

You could give Eminem a run for his money with that rhyming!

Good luck.

 

[Big Fin]

Enough for my poor attempt at poetry.

Day 2 is done. Mixed results.

Worried that a full moon and warming temps would make the day a tough hunt.

View attachment 7003


The morning was still cold enough that the snow was powdery soft and quiet. Supposed to warm in the next few days, making the snow crunchy and noisy.

Some of the CO guys will probably recognize that big mass of mountains. I am waiting for the deer to migrate from those mountains, to the BLM where I am standing. A lot of private between them and me.

View attachment 7004


Glassing is the most effective way to hunt this ground. Tons of aspen and oak, which is very difficult to hunt on these steep slopes. It almost seems weird to be at a motel room and not be looking through my 15X56 binos or my spotting scope, like I have for most every minute of this hunt.

View attachment 7005


Did glass a lot of deer today. One big 3X3 that I couldn't get to, some smaller bucks, one very nice black bear at 280 yards, some raghorn bulls, and at last light, Big Fred made his first appearance.

With a half hour of shooting light remaining, I glassed some deer in the oaks. One seemed very "rutty," but it was hard to get a glimpse of him in the thick brush. Finally, the doe led him into a small opening. It only took a few seconds to realize he was one I would shoot.

I grabbed my gear and asked my buddy, Tony, to stay on the ridge and give me hand signals, knowing that as I dropped way down into this stuff, I would lose all perspective, and the deer could move.

I got to the opening with about ten minutes left in legal shooting light, but on the shaded side of the hill, shooting light was very poor.

I got to within 70 yards and he was standing in the oaks looking at me. I glassed to make sure it was the correct buck. It was Fred. In the time it took to lower my binos and raise my rifle, he took two jumps and was again in the sanctuary of the brush.

Hopefully I will see him tomorrow. He would definitely be the biggest deer I have ever shot. Who knows, I may not see him again.

Lots of elk hunters on the lower reaches of this public ground, but finally climbed to a level where I am not having to deal with landowner issues. Worth the hike to avoid that hassle.

Tired and smelly. Quick shower and bed for me. Hope to have a better update tomorrow.

 

[Oak]

Good luck Fin. Hopefully Big Fred has found an interesting doe in that area and you can find him in the morning. Every herd of does I saw the last two days had at least one rutty buck with them.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Sometimes it is too hard to smith words,
after three days of straining to find deer herds.

Instead of working to find rhymes,
you just need some sleep at times.

After a long day of hiking and the resulting smell,
it is far more important to hit the shower in the motel.

Tomorrow as you look thru your glass,
hopefully it will appear the buck with the mass.

When you find the deer Big Fred and know it,
you will again be inspired to be a poet.

So thanks for the daily Colorado update,
as we all look forward to pictures of a dead ungulate.

 

[IdahoBugler]

Good luck fin. Tomorrow is the day.