2014 Nevada Semi Live Hunt with Bowuntr, Rosinbag and Bret Scott

[CaseyU]

A pause this long only means one thing..... Tenderloin for dinner?!?!

 

[bowuntr]

They are back at base camp. No cell service. Plenty of time to get it done... Ed F

 

[fire arrow]

Was just wondering if you guys got the 1-2 inch size hail today like we did?

 

[RosinBag]

So days have been running together....

So Tuesday night, gut check. We were camped at 10,400' on a moon scraped ridge. That night was the wildest night on a mountain ever. Storm cells rolled through one after another from about 9pm to 8am the next morning. The winds were easily 50+ and could have been more, the rain was pounding and the lightning unbearable. It hit all around us and the thunder literally shook the ground. All there was to do was hold on and hope it didn't hit us. Well I am typing so I made it. My astronaut panties got a workout.

The next morning we headed to base camp, we needed food and clouds blanketed the area.

I was hoping base camp would relive some of my misery. 1400' down didn't seem to help anything but reduce the headaches a little.

Bret decided he would pull the plug on my behalf and have the packer come get us early. I wasn't going to ask as I didn't want to cut his hunt short, but he didn't want anything happening to me that could have long lasting affects.

So Bret returned to our ridge camp and said he would return tomorrow after gathering his gear and making a phone call.

At about3 or 4 on Wednesday another stormed rolled through. The lightning, thunder, wind and epic hail pounded the area for about an hour. The hail was 1/2" to 1" in our area but it came down as if there was an unlimited supply. After the storm, the area was again all clouded in with zero visibility. I was thinking if I were Bret I would be getting off that ridge before round 19 hit us.

About an hour later. I saw Bret making his way back to base camp with a lucky look on his face.

Bret said he got to the ridge as the wind and hail were strongest. He said he was in his tent, he reached up and grabbed his tent poles thru the liner and his tent was blowing up off the ground with him in it.

I really wish I had a wind meter up there, but strongest I have ever been in or experienced.

Since we had glassed several bucks right around our base camp, we thought still hunting the area may turn up something.

Bret went for about an hour walk. He jumped a 2x2 and a pretty good 4x4, but with no shot. As he continued, he peered over a ledge and saw antler tips. Bret got a range of 24 yards. Bret said the shot hit some brush he hadn't accounted for and if hit far back, a gut shot.

Bret was certainly upset, he confirmed the thought with his arrow covered in green. Bret watched the buck go into heavy brush and with daylight fading decided to give the buck the night to expire.

The packer was coming in Friday at noon, but I was barely breathing. I don't know if my body was trying to fight several different things, but I couldn't catch my breathe. Constant gasping for air. I told Bret I was going to walk out Thursday morning.

It didn't seem like I slept that night as I constantly was fighting my breathing.

Once morning came, Bret was already gone looking for his buck.

I packed up my things for the horses and then packed my pack the dreaded hike out

Just before I was ready to leave, Bret arrived, he hadn't found the buck. The wether had washed away the blood trail, but he said he could smell it in the thick brush. Bret came back for his rain gear as he was soaked to the bone already.

So I will report back with the results of that tomorrow afternoon when I see him.

I took off down the trail, dropping elevation quickly didn't seem to change my breathing, still labored. I arrived at our drop off spot and certainly thought I would be better, wrong.

I called the outfitter for a ride back and no answer, so I started walking to his house. About an hour later, I tried again and got an answer. A few minutes later I was on my way back to their ranch house.

 

[RosinBag]

Once at the ranch house, I got out of my wet clothes and just sat there for about a half hour.

I called my doc and explained everything to him. He was confident my kidney stones were getting the attention of my body fighting them. His best guess was altitude sickness which my body couldn't fight and possibly to many meds causing an ulcer. His advice rest a little call him back related to my breathing.

I gather I are about 3-500 calories a day while I was out there, but had no appetite. I drive into town and are some regular food. I didn't like it, but I over are and watched tv at the buffet.

As time passed by , my breathing started returning to normal. I called my doc and reported in. He said go rest, no meds unless absolutely needed for the stones and see how the night goes.

So for now I have been in town several hours and am getting hungry. Breathing much better, but stones still acting up. Tomorrow I will wrap this up.

 

[RosinBag]

As for the deer, I saw about 25% of the amount of deer I saw from last year. I did see two bucks 160" or better and a total of about 8-10 shooters for me. Most of them were being hunted by others when we were watching them.

The weather is historical for this area in August, or so the locals tell me.

 

[JNDEER]

wow Doug...sorry to hear that. Good to hear your starting to feel better.

My fingers are crossed for Bret.

 

[RosinBag]

Thanks, but everyone one of us has had a bad hunt experience because of one reason or another.

Mine are also crossed for Bret.

 

[DWarcher]

Wow Doug, sucks on the hunt but glad you're okay.

 

[bighouse31]

Glad to hear you made it out of there and hope you get to feeling better. How did the Kuiu tent hold up.

 

[bowuntr]

Holy shit Doug... hope you're ok. Wow, that's a helluva hike... not to mention you are ill. Phone call inbound... Ed F

 

[Pueblo]

Wow what an ordeal. We just got out there today two arrows lighter and no bucks. Weather was epic. We stayed at 9500 ft and avoided very worst. When I first picked up on the story I thought maybe it as you they sent life flight in for. On Sunday life flight cane in and landed in either rattlesnake or segundo. Made me appreciate my SPOT.

 

[RosinBag]

Bighouse31, that Kuiu tent held up like a champ. It was rock solid in the wind. The pole design is the best and biggest factor. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for lightweight weather tight tent.

Ed I will call you shortly...

 

[RosinBag]

Pueblo, the better be damn good pilots, Segundo is pretty narrow. I know some fellas hunting that area, so I better check in on them.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

Sounds like typical Ruby thunder bumpers, they can be really nasty at that 10k mark, I am glad everyone is ok.

 

[Scoot]

Dang, that sux! Sorry it was a busted trip, Rosin. Like you said before, most us have had 'em. Still stinks when they happen. Thanks for taking us along on your ordeal and better luck next time.
Scott

 

[Tuffy]

Hey my friend, I'm sorry the trip took a shat on you, but (I'm sorry) I'm glad you're off the mountain in one piece. Take care.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

What a trip doug, I hope you get better

 

[Roy68]

Geez man that clipboard of fun sux. Glad all are safe. I'd like to know more about that Kuiu tent at some point. I'm in the research stage for a better backcountry 2p or 3p tent.

 

[RosinBag]

Driving home now...

Bret continued looking for his buck and sort of got some landmarks confused. Once you got his bearings squared away, walked right to his buck.

Congrats Bret and good work...