WashCycle
FNG
Overall decent. I was able to get out on 3 half day hunts on a leftover tag that allowed me to sleep in my own bed. Chances on all 3 outings. Did see lots of hunters(a LOT of road hunters), 4 Moose, 5 bucks, 1 Mountain lion, 0 Elk or sign.
Had a small 3X3 give me the slip and got onto private during a mini-whiteout on opening morning. Moved to within 250 yards and he bedded down. 15 minute white out rolled in and when it lifted, he was gone. Almost! A larger 3x3 walking 10 yards over a private land boundary with a squad of does(as I was parking). A fork and Horn and a double spike on the second day that I watched for about an hour in a wide open field mid-day.
I got out to hunt the closing afternoon of the season. Within an hour I was on a group of does and a nicer 3x3 bounded out. Moved in from 700 yards to 397 and decided I had to make a play. He was about 10-12 yards from a private boundary with 4 of the 6 does already over the boundary. Kinda windy and based on the wind where I was and their position, I figured they were walking into the wind. Did my measurement and calc...welp I shot in front of the buck. He bolted. Went over to do my checks, did a wind test and found they were walking with the wind. Found my hit in the dirt, their exit trail and was able to confirm a clean miss.
I've never missed a shot on a wild animal or even in training once my scope is dialed...so extremely humbling and it's going to have me back to doing more practice and shot/wind dialing this off-season.
Enjoyed everyone's posts and successes
Had a small 3X3 give me the slip and got onto private during a mini-whiteout on opening morning. Moved to within 250 yards and he bedded down. 15 minute white out rolled in and when it lifted, he was gone. Almost! A larger 3x3 walking 10 yards over a private land boundary with a squad of does(as I was parking). A fork and Horn and a double spike on the second day that I watched for about an hour in a wide open field mid-day.
I got out to hunt the closing afternoon of the season. Within an hour I was on a group of does and a nicer 3x3 bounded out. Moved in from 700 yards to 397 and decided I had to make a play. He was about 10-12 yards from a private boundary with 4 of the 6 does already over the boundary. Kinda windy and based on the wind where I was and their position, I figured they were walking into the wind. Did my measurement and calc...welp I shot in front of the buck. He bolted. Went over to do my checks, did a wind test and found they were walking with the wind. Found my hit in the dirt, their exit trail and was able to confirm a clean miss.
I've never missed a shot on a wild animal or even in training once my scope is dialed...so extremely humbling and it's going to have me back to doing more practice and shot/wind dialing this off-season.
Enjoyed everyone's posts and successes
