2 States, 3 Tags, 23 Days - Live Hunt

[Brady R]

I’m going to use this thread to document some upcoming hunts I have in Idaho and Montana. 2 Mule Deer tags and an Elk tag. Starting in Idaho and then moving on over to Montana.

I’ll be heading up early on the 24th and will give updates whenever I can get some service.

I’ll post a gear list below in the next couple days and then update what I’m liking and what I could go without as the hunt progresses. I’ll be living out of my truck / backpack and bringing as little as I can get by with. Hoping to gain some great memories and a couple freezers full of meat.

 

[jzeblaz]

Good luck. Go get 'em!

 

[Brady R]

GEAR LIST

Rifle: 300WM - Zermatt Action, Proof CF Barrel, Nightforce NX8 4-32 Optic, TriggerTech Diamond Trigger, APA Fat Bastard 4-Port Break, some Atlas bipods. Forget who makes the stock but it sure is pretty.


Pack: Stone Glacier Evo 6900
Bino Harness: Stone Glacier Sentinel
Binos: Vortex Razor 10x42
Spotter: Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide 15x45
Tripod: Two Vets No Name Jr
Range Finder: Leupold Rx2800


Tent: Old North Face 4 season mountaineering tent. Mountain 25 I think it’s called.
Sleeping Bag: SG Chilcoot 0 degree.
Sleeping Pad: Thermarest X-Therm
Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
Meals: A bunch of MRE’s from work.


Boots: Lathrop and Sons Mountain Extreme and a pair of Schnees Pac Boots.
Pants: SG DeHavilland
Base Layer: Sitka Core LW Hoodie
Mid Layer: Sitka Ambient Hoodie
Puffy: Outdoor Research Helium and a First Lite Chamberlain if it gets real cold.
Rain Gear: Sitka Dew Point
Gaiters: Some Outdoor Research ones we are issued at work.

 

[Brady R]

Day 1 Recap. I hiked into my area this morning and right at first light I saw some deer feeding on an open hillside around 2,000 yards away. I got on the spotter and saw a 18-20inch wide 3x3 chasing the does. I watched them for about 10 minutes when I started glassing a band of cliffs a few hundred yards above them. There were about 10 does and then boom, a large framed 3x3 feeding away. I got some video of him and planned my stalk over to him. I was glassing him across a deep draw so I decided to take the 5 mile loop up and around him, eventually coming in behind him. I got over there and spent 2 hours glassing, finding another 5 bucks throughout the process, but none as big as the one I was after. I had a good idea where he would be and decided to get right in his bedroom and as soon as I made my way down into his last known clump of brush, he busted out and at 260 yards turned back to get a good look at what scared him. I was already in the prone and sent a round right behind his shoulder. He immediately dropped, slid down the hill about 50 feet, and died in a small ravine. He’s my best buck to date and I couldn’t be happier with the surprise extras he’s got. I’ll spend tomorrow boiling the head and taking care of meat and then on to Montana for another mule deer hunt and an elk tag! I was solo on this hunt so the pictures not great. Leaned up against my spotter doesn’t yield the best results.

 

[eddielasvegas]

Good story and buck, and really appreciate you doing this as it's a nice diversion for those of us who did not draw a tag (or 3) this year,


Eddie

 

[breinhart18]

Great way to start the trip! Sounds like you'll have extra time to find game in Montana now.

I did a northern New Mexico mule deer hunt followed directly by an eastern Montana deer/elk tag in 2023. Hit 9 western states in the 17 day trip. Glad to see I am not the only crazy one who does this kinda stuff.

Looking forward to seeing the updates from Montana

 

[silasbowhunter]

Awesome buck! Looking forwards to more on this trip!


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[Brady R]

Took care of all the meat and the euro mount, heading out tomorrow with a buddy to help him with his limited entry muley tag. Giving that 3 days and then I’ll be heading out to try to turn up a bull. I’ll report back in a few days. Hope everyone’s seasons are going well!

 

[AndrewMT34]

Great buck, looking forward to hearing how Montana goes!

 

[Brady R]

Been an awesome couple of weeks. I’ve spent a lot of time helping a buddy who drew a great deer tag in MT, turning up some great deer but nothing he’s wanted to end the season on. On the days he’s been working I’ve been trying to turn up elk and have a hard time finding bulls in some spots that I’ve had success in before. Yesterday I decided to head to a tried and true spot and right after first light I was able to find a raghorn bull walking right at me about 300 yards away. There was no way I was going to pass up such a great opportunity in my favorite basin on earth and the best meat there is. I let him walk right into 200 yards and as he turned broadside I put him down. Couldn’t be happier with how the hunt turned out. After 3 trips back and forth to the truck I got him out and am spending today regrouping and will head back out tomorrow to try to turn up a good deer before meeting up with my buddy on Tuesday. I have until Friday before I have to head back to base, so hoping to connect with another good buck and end the season strong. How’s everyone else’s November's going? Hope you’re enjoying the rutting bucks whether you’re hunting or not. Great time of year. I’ll write again once something else big happens.

 

[Brady R]

Trying to upload pictures but it’s saying files too large. I’ll put em up when I figure it out.

 

[Jsmalls273]

Awesome hunts! Awesome buck! In for pictures of your bull

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[Brady R]

Here is the bull.

 

[TimberRunner]

Great recap of a great season

 

[ibefshn]

Great log of your hunt. Greatly appreciated.