Your 2018 Review In Pics

[fishing4sanity]

I'm more of a picture guy than a reader. If you would share one to six photos that show some of the highlights of your 2018. Hunting, fishing, camping, scouting, anything outdoors that was a highlight to you. A short description if you want, but mainly pics. I understand if you got married or had your first child that probably qualifies as a highlight as well, so those count too. Some of you had a very eventful year I'm sure, so if you need more than one post or more than six pics - have at it. I guess I really just feel like looking at photos and maybe we get to know fellow HuntTalkers a bit better too.

My youngest son's first antelope hunt.



Some non-typical elk terrain and my middle son's best bull.


Seeing any antelope in Washington is rare and exciting, seeing fawns born here makes me optimistic about their future here.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Great Start!dirtclod Az.

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

I'll bite. Looks like you had a great season OP! I wasn't quite as successful but I learned a lot hunting my first season in Oregon.

Early season scouting with my best hiking partner.

Rifle season glassing from one of the overlooks I had found scouting.

Here I was trying to implement Randy's post rut bull locating strategy. Coming out through this blowdown patch in the dark was no fun.

The last day of rifle season I posted up here and tried a little rattling. I got a good buck to come in but wasn't able to capitalize on it.

Luckily for him my friend was on the opposite ridge. When I couldn't connect with the buck he ran straight to him. Great blacktail, and the first buck he had got in 5 years.


I learned a ton and am ready to hit it again next year!

Edit: I forgot #6. While I was out hiking my butt off looking for elk my dad stayed at camp and reeled in a mess of these bad boys:

 

[onpoint]

The office in March...

The office in September....

Right out the doorstep Wilderness Area fishing...

11-1/2 and still hunting blue grouse...

A pro photo, my little girl as a shy cowering pup against the right side of the pickup bed......

Last month - 3 years later, she's a pro bird dog.....

 

[kansasdad]

Spring turkey #1. Needed a little neck massage to finish the job.



I love sunlight on turkey feathers. The camera can't capture the whole of the iridescence.



Birthday turkey. He gobbled every 30 seconds for almost 3/4 of a mile coming down the dry riverbed.



Canada black bear (and wolf/walleye) trip fell into my lap. The best part was spending a week with my brother.



Our oldest was married in the fall. Felt like a miracle happened.......high of 72 degrees for a San Antonio wedding in September.

 

[Mudranger1]

Took 2 birds with 1 shot in Kansas
Took a youngster on his first hunt

Took my cousin in law??? On his first elk hunt

Dad and I packed out my first bull

My wife shot her first antelope buck

Then she shot her biggest deer

 

[Mudranger1]

Finished it off with my first Kansas deer and first muzzleloader deer in 26 years

 

[Nick87]

First and foremost Oct 10th this little guy was born


One of my girls first retrieves


Hunting trip with my stepson


Taking one of my cousins boys on his first waterfowl hunt


No big game pics this year. Shouldn't try to to make a baby in jan/Feb if you put in for a Oct elk tag in Wyoming haha! Best tag I ever ate!

 

[fishing4sanity]

Looks like you guys had some great adventures this past year; not just on the outdoor front, weddings and kids are life-events for sure.
Another thing that kept me busy this past year was shooting and reloading. Yesterday I was reloading and got to wondering, "how many rounds can a RCBS Rock Chucker chuck in a year?" I looked through the load log and last year my sons and I chucked 12,952 rounds through the Rock Chucker. Also, enjoyed a few sunrises and sunsets using those rounds at the range.

 

[Nameless Range]

Fun to look at all these posts.

2017-18 was the longest winter.
.


When spring finally arrived some morels were in order.

.


Summer was spent landscaping. The last summer I will ever spend doing that.

.


Said goodbye to a good dog.

.


New experiences on the Fire Dept.

.

Shot more huns this year than all previous years combined. Will probably quit bowhunting moving forward in favor of bird hunting.

.


Got a new hunting partner.

.

 

[JTHOMP]

My season doesn't end until February 28th and plan on using that time to fill the freezer. But here is a glimpse so far. I've spent less days in the field this season than I ever have, but have shared the experiences with many as a partner and mentor.

Opening morning success.


The ending view from an Arkansas Wilderness hunt. Empty ice chest but awesome hunt.


The next 3 all come from the same pond on my family's property. Two youth's with their proud kills, and a new lady friend who I have enjoyed many evenings with watching hundreds of woodies coming to roost.







With my nephew last night. Teaching him the importance of where food comes from as he caught the fish a couple hours prior.

 

[1_pointer]

Lost my mom in June; both parents gone before my 40th birthday
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Boys spent some time outside last January for Christmas Break.
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Introduced my oldest to hunting upland birds in '18
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Moved "home" and found a couple old jackets of mine the boys have taken a shine too...
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

My youngest was the only one to punch a big game tag in '18
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Lots and lots of sports:
Oldest being award the O-line award for a tournament
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

 

[noharleyyet]

My son in law took a nice New Mexico bull this year...his first. He texted me this 'as it lay' pic moments after.

My highlight this year.
https://flic.kr/p/2b2LvfR https://www.flickr.com/photos/152360342@N02/
Stephen is 6'6"
https://flic.kr/p/2czXdgZ https://www.flickr.com/photos/152360342@N02/

 

[fishing4sanity]

Ken, your SIL's bull is truly a beast. I wish I could've spent more time hunting with my sons this year, but shooting with them in a few matches and range-time was a good consolation prize.

 

[CampRipleyLF]