My 2024 deer hunt started with drawing a tag in a great unit. I was quite excited about this hunt.
My wife told me that my 1-1/2 year-old son was too young to go with me (which really meant that she didn’t want to go and I was to leave him home) but he was more than happy to help me pack and get ready for the upcoming trip (photo attached).
The week leading up to the 3rd season we got hit with a pretty good snowstorm starting Monday evening. As the snow kept building and building, I was getting worried that I might not be able to get into the areas I scouted. I had planned on leaving towards the mountains Friday morning, but the snow was still coming down enough snow that getting out of the driveway was difficult enough, not to mention the 5-hour drive to get to my selected unit. So, on the 8th of November, I took my son sledding for the first time and man-o-man did he love sledding! Although I didn’t make it out Friday, meaning that I’d miss the opening morning; the smile on his face and the laughs we shared were worth it.
About 15 minutes after sunrise, on the last day of season I saw a lone buck. He wasn’t huge by any means, but he was legal! I ranged this buck at 483 yards, got down on my bi-pod, dialed in the MOA correction. The buck stopped broadside and just staired right at me. I took my time, no wind, dry-fired once, then put a round in the chamber. With one shot the buck dropped right where he stood. I packed up and make our way over to the buck, 600’ elevation drop and 900’ gain to get to the deer. And I was more than happy with him when we finally made it up to him. 5x3 (probably won't score over 100"
).
Last morning Buck…but what a fun hunt it was! Battling the snow which delayed the hunt, having to remount my scope in the field, having a missed opportunity at a very nice 170 buck (due to scope being loose). But also spending time with a good friend in the mountains for a week, introducing a new hunter to the sport, seeing so much wildlife from the many many deer, to the big horn sheep and the many elk. And even though the winter storm at the beginning of the week made me miss the opening day, I was able to capitalize on it by taking my son sledding for the first time ever. And to cap it off, I still got my first Mule Deer Buck with a well placed shot at my longest range shot I’ve taken on a big game animal.
This will for sure be a hunt I’ll always remember.
My wife told me that my 1-1/2 year-old son was too young to go with me (which really meant that she didn’t want to go and I was to leave him home) but he was more than happy to help me pack and get ready for the upcoming trip (photo attached).
The week leading up to the 3rd season we got hit with a pretty good snowstorm starting Monday evening. As the snow kept building and building, I was getting worried that I might not be able to get into the areas I scouted. I had planned on leaving towards the mountains Friday morning, but the snow was still coming down enough snow that getting out of the driveway was difficult enough, not to mention the 5-hour drive to get to my selected unit. So, on the 8th of November, I took my son sledding for the first time and man-o-man did he love sledding! Although I didn’t make it out Friday, meaning that I’d miss the opening morning; the smile on his face and the laughs we shared were worth it.
About 15 minutes after sunrise, on the last day of season I saw a lone buck. He wasn’t huge by any means, but he was legal! I ranged this buck at 483 yards, got down on my bi-pod, dialed in the MOA correction. The buck stopped broadside and just staired right at me. I took my time, no wind, dry-fired once, then put a round in the chamber. With one shot the buck dropped right where he stood. I packed up and make our way over to the buck, 600’ elevation drop and 900’ gain to get to the deer. And I was more than happy with him when we finally made it up to him. 5x3 (probably won't score over 100"
).Last morning Buck…but what a fun hunt it was! Battling the snow which delayed the hunt, having to remount my scope in the field, having a missed opportunity at a very nice 170 buck (due to scope being loose). But also spending time with a good friend in the mountains for a week, introducing a new hunter to the sport, seeing so much wildlife from the many many deer, to the big horn sheep and the many elk. And even though the winter storm at the beginning of the week made me miss the opening day, I was able to capitalize on it by taking my son sledding for the first time ever. And to cap it off, I still got my first Mule Deer Buck with a well placed shot at my longest range shot I’ve taken on a big game animal.
This will for sure be a hunt I’ll always remember.
