Favorite Hunt?

[mdunc8]

I've only had to the opportunity to hunt out West for three years, but have had some great adventures. By far my most favorite hunt was chasing mule deer in eastern Montana last fall. I had planned to spend four days hunting, but my trip ended up to be quite a bit shorter. I hadn't shot a nice buck before, so my standards weren't, and still aren't, that high. Found quite a few deer the first evening, but nothing I wanted to put my tag on. I woke up the next morning to a few inches of fresh snow and bucks chasing does all over the place. I was about two miles in when I found a few bucks with about a dozen does. After spending about an hour maneuvering through all does I was able to get a shot at the biggest of the bucks. He wasn't a monster, but was better than I had hoped for.

If you had to narrow it down to one, what's been your favorite hunt?

 

[mixedbag]

My muley hunt was real similar to yours and alot of fun.I still think chasing elk with a bow is the best hunt of the year,but muleys in the rut are a real close 2nd.Our 1st bucks look like they could have been brothers.Mine was almost identical to yours
Then again theres chasing antelope with bows and guns.Tough choices but elk are the most fun,but they all get me driving 2000 miles west 2x a year

 

[Bowhuntrben]

It is impossible to pick one!
Certainly one that meant a lot to me was my first buck with a bow. It was my biggest buck at the time, and it was very impressive coming in to less than 10 yards!

Another one that I really liked was my first "big" buck which happened to be with a bow as well. I am only disappointed that I didn't get my dad in the picture with me on this one.

My dad's first "big" buck with a bow was also very very special to me. We followed the thing a long ways then ran out of blood. In a last effort for the night, we decided to circle around where we thought it may have gone. Next to a steep ditch, I found a drop of blood. I shined around with the flashlight, and there he was! I have never felt that good before or since when finding a deer.

Finally, my uncle's first "big" buck was an amazing hunt for me. I wanted so bad for him to get a big buck. It made it even better that he got it with the bow.

We have gotten bigger bucks since these, but none of the hunts compare to our first ones. Any hunt that I get to share with my family is a special hunt. I treasure all of the memories I have spending time in the outdoors with my family. Hopefully we will be successful on one of our trips west one of these times, and I can add that to my list of favorites!

 

[the nikster]

My son's first elk, a spike. we were alone together on a cold October day on the divide between Idaho and Montana. We watched them move into the timber and formulated a plan. 2 hours later a spike came wandering out within range just as we planned. I hope some of my best hunts remain in my future-I'm going to assume that's the case.

 

[cowboy]

For me I would have to say it was watching 2 sons going through their first hunting seasons at age 12. For one son is was 3 shots fired for the season - antelope, deer and elk. The other son needed 4 shots with same results. It just don't get much better than that.

As far as individual hunts it would be finally drawing a Mt. breaks sheep tag after 30 plus years and having them same 2 sons now telling the old man where and when we needed to be - they made me scout/hunt 18 days before they let me pull the trigger.

 

[idnative1948]

Would have been the last time we had dad in camp with us at the young age of 90. He didn't and wouldn't hunt because he was afraid that by the time he *got it together he would shoot one in the A$$ or gut*. At any rate we had enough skinning and scotch for him to keep him going. The thing bro and I still laugh about was the night that dad cooked liver and onions in my wife's travel trailer. I went to turn on the furnace for him and there was bloody flour and chit all over the place. I cleaned it all up before he came in and laughed to myself and had a couple of tears. Every time somebody went to the bar tent to freshen up their drink he would always say, "Well, if you're going over there you just as well pour me a small touch." This went on for several times until he said he had enough and somebody better pour him into the castle (as he called it). Next morning bro and I were trying to figure out who would go in and check on him because he was ALWAYS the first one up 430-500. Had to wake him up which really pizzed him off because he had slept in and had in fact slept the whole night without having to get up to wizz. We already had the coffee on, but he insisted on making cowboy coffee also. Could go on and on about our mentor, but don't want to bore everybody. Miss him every day and will continue to do so.

 

[fishing4sanity]

My most enjoyable hunt was elk hunting last year with my two oldest sons. Unfortunately, I had pretty much stopped hunting for several years and my oldest son was 24 when he bought his first big-game tag. Luckily it all came together on that elk hunt, one evening I got to watch the younger one shoot his first elk and the next morning I watched the older brother shoot his first elk. That time spent hunting together was the best thing we've ever done together in my opinion.

 

[Jon Boy]

I dont know if I could narrow it down to just one animal, I guess you could say I just plain love to hunt!

Mule deer during the rut in eastern MT is awesome your always into to deer, always into good bucks, you never get bored.

Idaho WT rut was a really fun hunt when I went, it was a different style of hunting compared to MD but just as fun lots of deer lots of bucks lots of fun

Elk with a bow in september is great, if your into the elk. If your not you wont see a one for days on end, if you are ull see 10-20 at once with bulls screaming every where. Thats an experience you just cant have deer hunting and makes the boring days worth it.

BUT if I had to chose just one, id have to go back to my roots, hunting in washington during the blacktail rut!! Its what I grew up hunting, my first 5 or 6 deer were BTs. Theres just something about a piss pouring day sittin on a clear cut waiting for the pacific ghost that doesnt compare to much. You dont see alot of deer, you dont see alot bucks, but its the anticipation that at any moment a big ole chocolate horn bruiser will walk out. Most people would probably hate it but thats fine with me. Some of my fondest memorys are sitting on a landing with my pops after getting soaked all morning drinkin a luke warm cup of black coffee.
If you noticed in any of these pics, its piss pouring in every one of them

 

[noharleyyet]

My first bull during a solo hunt 4 years ago. Believe it was 9 days after my late brother had passed. A special memory.

Looking fwd to many more favorites with this guy and his 4 brothers.

 

[Goldtip]

I've had plenty of hunts I loved, but my most memorable would probably be calling in my Dad's Moose for him this year. To be able to do that for him after all he taught me about hunting and the outdoors, just topped every other hunting trip or animal I've ever taken.

 

[mtmiller]

I still have a hard-on for goat hunts. My 2008 hunt is probably my favorite.

Nothing like packing solo into the Wilderness.

View was OK.

Simple camp

He is out there.

Both of us.

Live goat...

...few minutes later.

Man am I spent. When can I do it again?

 

[mdunc8]

Nice pics Miller. I became quite familiar with that basin in the second picture. Saw tons of goats in there. Unfortunately it wasn't in my unit.

 

[idnative1948]

Man, you look like you just passed a kidney stone or something.....
You will have many years of memories as hard as you go for it. Thanks for dragging an old curmudgeon along vicariously. I alway enjoy your photos, although some of them give me a nose bleed.

 

[BrowningBLR]

Not a question...being with my dad as he shot his 50th bull elk!!

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=248548

 

[6speed]

I think my favorite hut will always be the one I'm on. Whatever and whenever it happens to be.

 

[Ben Long]

On my 16 birthday, 28 years ago, my dad bugled in a big six-point bull elk within 50 yards way back in northern Idaho. I crumbled under bull fever, so my dad dropped the bull. We packed him out together three miles. Best damn birthday I ever had or ever will. We stalked that bull six hours, and I can remember every minute like it was yesterday.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

so many good ones...Can't pic will think about it

 

[Oak]

This was my favorite. The photo links in the story posted here on Hunttalk are broken and I can't edit the posts, so I have to post a link to another site where it was posted.

Dall sheep hunt


.

 

[mdunc8]

Amazing country Oak. I'm sure those pictures don't do it justice though.

 

[kansasdad]

Amazing report/photos Oak. When you are up that high for that long, what do you do for water?