Shrek's Trek 2014

[WyoBowhunter21]

Wyobowhunter , I'll try but my waterproof phone lost its waterproof today . I'll be driving back through Wyoming if you want to meet and see the whole system .Don't know when yet but for sure driving back through.

Just shoot me a pm when your coming through. Where would you be coming through at? I am headed into the backcountry for deer on Friday so keep me posted. Thanks man!

 

[Jon Boy]

If those guys killed two elk close to the trail there just going to push the elk farther back and it's going to get good. Just zig zag that timber to the right of the trail starting at the first park and ull bump elk. Just ask Brock haha

 

[Shrek]

I hear I'm like Brock in that I hate dark timber. Not my cup of tea. My big bumbling arse sounds like the elk trying to move through. On the other hand , spotting big deer from a far and plotting strategies to get him is super intriguing. Probably going to sit back in the morning and glass to see what the deer do in the morning and then try to get in on him in the afternoon. If I see a better opportunity to morning hunt him I'll back off and go chase an elk dream in the afternoon. Don't want to spook him off his routine.

 

[Shrek]

I'm set up and waiting. I Crawled the last hundred yards or so so I hopefully didn't spook him . 20 minutes later some guy comes hiking up standing straight up ! He turned around when he saw me so I hope any bucks see him leave and think it's clear. Perfect wind so far. I have another 20 minutes before the sun goes behind the mountain and gets out of my eyes.

 

[KHNC]

Good luck!

 

[Shrek]

Sorry for no updates but it got hectic in a hurry ! My setup was great and it was coming together nicely. I had 12 deer making a beeline to me , 9 does and 3 bucks. A yearling 3x3 , 2 1/2 4x4 , and a pretty good 4 1/2 ish 4x4. The big 5x5 didn't show though. Had another 8 does passing to my right at about 300 yards. Except for the big 5x5 not showing it all was great. I decided to take the big 4x4 as this is a public parcel and he was a very respectable buck. I had the 3x3 at 70 yards and the big 4x4 at 156 yards but all I had was a neck shot. Since he was coming along steadily I decided to wait for a better shot. About then a does way behind them probably over a 1000 yards started to blow at something. I really only caught the sound a couple of times when the wind subsided momentarily but they could sure hear her. There was no way she was blowing at me but none the less they all turned to my right and all disappeared into the creek again. A few minutes later they all pop up on my right out about 300 yards where the other does had traveled. I have to pull my rifle down and crawl around some sage bushes to get set up but at least now I have a clear broadside shot . I set up and range him at 280-290 yards with a half dozen pings on the rangefinder. Thats less than 5" drop so I just held a little high and about an inch forward for the wind and send it. It was a solid shot but he didn't drop ! WTF ! He bounds off the way he came with the rest of the deer looking very healthy . He disappeared into the creek. I waited a few and while I waited I was thinking. Then I glanced down and realized I'd missed big. Some time while moving around the bushes I had spun the turent 18 clicks. It also explained why they kept looking the way of my truck and not my way after the shot. I'm pretty sure they heard the impact and thought the danger was that way. So , always check your turent ! This is the first time I have taken a turented scope hunting and I'm not used to it yet. Lesson learned.

 

[Shrek]

So , a pic from my position and some more. I had kicked up 8 to 10 does that had been bedded on the other side of the fence on the way in also I saw about 30 whitetail total tonight. I didn't get a picture of the way I ended up shooting but the picture is where they were coming from. Photo won't upload using my new IPhone so I'll see if I can get it done another way.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Looks pretty flat there.

 

[Shrek]

Not only looks pretty flat it is mostly flat. Even with it being flat the blister on my left foot was killing me. Even the slight uphill grade I had to walk up out of there was chewing my raw heel up . I'll be back there tomorrow evening if the wind holds because there is no way I'm doing much vertical work right now. I know a place I might find some elk that I might be able to handle but it would be cow only. Going to give this place another shot because the big 5x5 didn't show so didn't get shot at there. I'd be happy to take either of the larger 4x4's and damn proud to take the 5x5.

 

[ST52v]

Down load the tap talk app. It makes posting pics easy as pie!!!

 

[Nick Muche]

Not only looks pretty flat it is mostly flat. Even with it being flat the blister on my left foot was killing me. Even the slight uphill grade I had to walk up out of there was chewing my raw heel up . I'll be back there tomorrow evening if the wind holds because there is no way I'm doing much vertical work right now. I know a place I might find some elk that I might be able to handle but it would be cow only. Going to give this place another shot because the big 5x5 didn't show so didn't get shot at there. I'd be happy to take either of the larger 4x4's and damn proud to take the 5x5.

Leuko tape!!!! Cures blisters better than anything!

 

[Buckman]

Hey Shrek go to walmart and get some 3x3 non stick bandages and wrap them with self stick 1 in tape. I did this last year when I had poison oak on my ankles and heels and my boots didn't hurt at all. And this was in the mts. God it looked bad raw but them bandages worked great.

 

[Shrek]

Got to my stand and before I co get set I had 5 does at 70 yards. It looked good and then someone started to shoot birds or something way off behind me and all the deer disappeared. Nothing in the last half hour.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Superglue the blister maybe? I'd offer to come help you hunt that dark timber (I have had lots of practice) on weekends, but I think you are a little further from Billings than I want to travel for a two day hunt. Regardless, try to fix that blister up and go get an elk!

 

[Shrek]

It got better last night but no mature bucks showed and only a couple of old grannies. I still saw 15 does , pencil spikes , and fawns but mature deer were few. I actually saw more than 15 but 15 was what came into range.

Boots are killing me and I don't get it. I've put many miles on them back home and have had no problems but now my right foot gets a blister walking .92 miles each way on flat ground. It's really rough flat ground in places but still not up or down. The big raw spot on my left foot was bloody when I took the pad and tape off last night also. Just sucks !

 

[Justin Crossley]

Stick with the flat land Shrek!

 

[Shrek]

I'm going to go all in starting Sunday and grind up what's left of my heels. I have a pretty good spot to go and I'm just going to let the weekend hunters clear out. Suppose to snow Saturday night me into Sunday. I'll set out as the snow and rain end I'll take four days food and see what I can come up with.

 

[ssliger]

Remember that elk are where the sign is. I know most people will tell you that you have to get in 6 miles. The fact is my friend and I have shot 3 bulls in the last 2 years in a heavily hunted general area. And they where no more than a half mile from our truck.

 

[Shrek]

I sure wish I could hunt the first two miles but it's a ranch. I'm hiking to the back of the ranch and waiting to see what gets run off when they hunt it all week. I KNOW there are plenty of elk there because I can see them. There's a small access point I can follow and then I'm golden. If my feet were good I'd be stoked but I'm dreading the hiking. It's going to flat out hurt. Hopefully the cold and snow will dull the pain and once there I can set up and glass and move as little as possible. Counting on adrenaline for the stalk and a feeling of duty to get an elk out. If I stike out I'm sure the hike out will be miserable. Anyone know if there is a place that sells the leukotape in Helena Mt ?

 

[Shrek]

A picture of the view from my hide. It was a beautiful evening.