It was a brutal 4 days to sit in a blind on a water hole. No one can control the weather so what can you do but make the best of it. Thursday I sat there all day just to keep the blind from turning into a tumbleweed. Never saw a lope from the blind. Friday was a little better, and actually had one brave doe ignore the flapping and shaking blind and come and drink. I had a buck and doe come close but decided they did not like the flapping blind and went around the dike. It was very warm that day and I was stripped down to the minimum required clothes when they came by and when they went behind the dike I ran out there hoping to shoot one on the other side. I get out there on the dike and they were 40 yards out going down the canyon. I knew I had a chance if i hauled ass around and got in front of them while they fed on the green grass in the bottom of the canyon. I took off on a half circle to get in front of them to be reminded that there is little cactus out there and bare feet in not a good thing...
anyway, It all worked out until they got 40 yard broadside and i stood up for the shot and they blew out of there as they saw me
Later that day the big buck looked like he was coming in, but into a spot neither me or Miller thought anything would come and the blind had no window to shoot in that area of the water. My only chance was to shoot as they crossed the fence and made the 40 yards to the water. he was really Leary of the blind so i tried to draw just as he got to the fence and he busted out and ran out to about 60 yards. I was full draw, put the 40 yard pin above his back a little and let one go to a loud WHAP!!.... see the picture of my trophy, it is the biggest thing I ever shot in Montana....
The next few days was windy, or rainy, or cold windy and rainy, or anything but good water hole weather. Only had one little 6 inch buck come and water but I was not going to shoot that.
Sunday I had some good entertainment. A ground squirrel near my blind was hunting and doing well. With the wind and cold the locust were hiding in the grass clumps and he rooted around until one hopped out and like a lightning bolt charged on them and ate them. Funny to watch and kept me entertained for a good while. Here is a few pictures including my squirrel buddy, and my big kill All in all It was a good hunt as any time spent away from work is a good hunt and I did have a couple close calls. I will try again in a couple weeks between elk hunts.
anyway, It all worked out until they got 40 yard broadside and i stood up for the shot and they blew out of there as they saw meLater that day the big buck looked like he was coming in, but into a spot neither me or Miller thought anything would come and the blind had no window to shoot in that area of the water. My only chance was to shoot as they crossed the fence and made the 40 yards to the water. he was really Leary of the blind so i tried to draw just as he got to the fence and he busted out and ran out to about 60 yards. I was full draw, put the 40 yard pin above his back a little and let one go to a loud WHAP!!.... see the picture of my trophy, it is the biggest thing I ever shot in Montana....
The next few days was windy, or rainy, or cold windy and rainy, or anything but good water hole weather. Only had one little 6 inch buck come and water but I was not going to shoot that.
Sunday I had some good entertainment. A ground squirrel near my blind was hunting and doing well. With the wind and cold the locust were hiding in the grass clumps and he rooted around until one hopped out and like a lightning bolt charged on them and ate them. Funny to watch and kept me entertained for a good while. Here is a few pictures including my squirrel buddy, and my big kill
All in all It was a good hunt as any time spent away from work is a good hunt and I did have a couple close calls. I will try again in a couple weeks between elk hunts.
