Summitthunting
Well-known member
After putting in for 5 years I drew a decent buck tag near Montrose, CO. I had a lot of help from hunt talkers planning my hunt and would like to say thanks to all of you. I couldn’t get down to the unit until Sunday of the opener but planned to hunt the rest of the week. The weather forecast was calling for highs in the upper sixties and lows around forty. Not the third season weather I had hoped for. Needless to say camp was a little overkill for the weather.
I hunted the first three days and saw seven does and no bucks on public land. There was a private alfalfa field that was holding twenty does and two or three small bucks. Spent a lot of time behind the glass and couldn’t find any bucks. Talked to a rancher/outfitter that had eight deer hunters in camp and no one had shot a deer yet. He offered for me to hunt the alfalfa field because "there wasn’t a buck worth shooting in the bunch". Thanked him and headed out to another area that he suggested. In that area I found one small 20" 4x4 and a fork horn. Hunted two more days without seeing a buck and decided the following morning the fork horn was on the menu. Looked for the 4x4 for a while before going into the draw that held the forkie. Found him right away at 225 yards. After the first shot he casually started walking down into the draw, I thought I had missed. He stopped broadside and I let him have it once again. With no reaction at the shot he continued down into the draw and out of sight. Now I'm running (for Oak) a .300 weatherby 180gr Accubond at 3250fps, I was expecting a bang/flop. I stood up and wanted to kick myself in the a$$ for missing. I went down into the draw and this is what I found.
Apparently the second shot wasn’t necessary but I shoot until they are on the ground or I’m out of ammo.
I tried the gutless method for the first time and really liked it. I took Bambistews advice of carrying a boning knife and I am sold on that. Took me around an hour and a half to get him ready to pack out. Once I got back to the truck I talked to two other deer hunters that were looking to shoot the fork horn that evening.
The accubond performed exactly as it should have. Overall I had a great solo adventure, I was a little disappointed in the lack of bucks, but the weather is to blame. I did see alot of elk and a ton of turkeys. Also, If you ever have to get a flat tire fixed in Montrose, CO go to the Big O and then walk next door to the pawn shop, its sweet. hope everybody has a great season.
I hunted the first three days and saw seven does and no bucks on public land. There was a private alfalfa field that was holding twenty does and two or three small bucks. Spent a lot of time behind the glass and couldn’t find any bucks. Talked to a rancher/outfitter that had eight deer hunters in camp and no one had shot a deer yet. He offered for me to hunt the alfalfa field because "there wasn’t a buck worth shooting in the bunch". Thanked him and headed out to another area that he suggested. In that area I found one small 20" 4x4 and a fork horn. Hunted two more days without seeing a buck and decided the following morning the fork horn was on the menu. Looked for the 4x4 for a while before going into the draw that held the forkie. Found him right away at 225 yards. After the first shot he casually started walking down into the draw, I thought I had missed. He stopped broadside and I let him have it once again. With no reaction at the shot he continued down into the draw and out of sight. Now I'm running (for Oak) a .300 weatherby 180gr Accubond at 3250fps, I was expecting a bang/flop. I stood up and wanted to kick myself in the a$$ for missing. I went down into the draw and this is what I found.
Apparently the second shot wasn’t necessary but I shoot until they are on the ground or I’m out of ammo.
I tried the gutless method for the first time and really liked it. I took Bambistews advice of carrying a boning knife and I am sold on that. Took me around an hour and a half to get him ready to pack out. Once I got back to the truck I talked to two other deer hunters that were looking to shoot the fork horn that evening.
The accubond performed exactly as it should have. Overall I had a great solo adventure, I was a little disappointed in the lack of bucks, but the weather is to blame. I did see alot of elk and a ton of turkeys. Also, If you ever have to get a flat tire fixed in Montrose, CO go to the Big O and then walk next door to the pawn shop, its sweet. hope everybody has a great season.
