Where Does The Time Go

I can't believe the last time I blogged was back in December, and it was to follow up on my deer season. I didn't get a chance to blog about my awesome elk season!!!! So I guess now is better than not at all.

This was my second year hunting elk and bar far my favorite hunting season yet! The 2011 season I just did a general hunt which was only 4 days long and didn't have much luck, only spotted a herd opening morning but was never able to catch up to them. For the 2012 season I put in for a controlled hunt along with my grandfather, uncle, and cousin. We all successfully drew our tags for the same unit and season! The upside to this hunt was it was a 9 day long season which meant I had a better chance at bagging one this year than I did in the 4 days last year, the downside we were entering storm season with it being mid November.

I spent 8 of the 9 days including Thanksgiving* out in the woods from well before sun up until it was completely dark most nights! The very first morning of the season we bagged my cousins bull, my uncle had bedded him down the night before and hadn't wondered very far when the sun came up over the horizon. We weren't out for more than 30 minutes before it was bull down! The guys went over the hillside to get him and i stayed up on top of the landing so that i could drive down and around the other side of the unit to pick them up. Opening morning was our shortest trip of the season, we were back in town and had him hanging by 1:00. The next 2 days of the season, we spotted lots of elk but were all either spikes or cows and our tags were for 3 point or better. Then came the 4th day, we had been glassing over a unit for about a half and hour and decided to move on down the road a bit to check out another unit, it wasn't but 5 minutes after we left that some of the guys we were with radioed to us to get back up there, there was GIANT bull that had just come out of the reprod unit. We booked it back up to the spot, they had the range finder on him, it would be a 638 yard shot, long but our guns were all capable of making the shot, just as we get ourselves positioned and line the cross hairs on him, he disappeared back into the timber. We sure as heck weren't going to give up and head on down the road, so my uncle bailed of down one side of the unit into the thick reprod and I and one of his buddies, (i was the only female hunter of the group) took of down the road to get on the other side of the unit and we bailed of down the other side, the plan was for my uncle to spook him out of the timber and out in front of me, our plan didn't calculate for the fact this bull was a smart one, hence why he was so big and had survived season after season, he ran circles around my uncle in the timber and refused to come out... After a few hours we called it quits and moved on down the road. We continued to glass the unit over time after time for the next few days but we never did catch sight of him again. I will be after him again next year!

We spent the next couple of days hiking in and out of units with no luck. The 8th day of the season we checked out our normal units we had been watching and hiking and then half way through the day decided to go somewhere new, we headed for an area on the other side of the mountain, we got to the access road for the unit we wanted and it was apparent no one had hunted it that season because there were trees down all across the road, the guys (who I learned are prepared for everything) pulled out the chainsaws and cut our way in. We stopped about a mile from where we wanted to be and walked the rest of the way in. Success! There were about 5 elk on the ride, all we could see were their ass ends as they were feeding up hill. We sat in the brush on the opposite ridge and watched them for about an hour, they all turned out to be cows. As we were turning around to come out of the brush we glanced over on another ridge and there he was! A 4x5! At this particular time it was just my uncle and I, my grandfather had stayed behind at the rigs. He was feeding in and out of the timber, so we sat an waited. It wasn't but 10 minutes before he came out enough to give us a clear shot at him. We fired! We hit him but only wounded him, it was getting close to dark so the hunt for him was really on. We took off up hill so we could get over to the ridge we had seen him on and then bailed down after him! By the time we located him and the kill shot was made was only about 45 minutes from the time we had first hit him but it was now almost dark. We decided the best option was to gut him, leave him over night and hope for the best! My uncle sent me back up out of the unit so i could let my grandfather know what was going on. This is where it got really interesting.

Keep in mind, this is the Oregon coast, we have some pretty good mountain ranges, it was November, raining, storming off and on all week and pitch black. Normally we all have our own radios but after 8 days of rain and abuse from hiking in and out of units or getting sat or stepped on we were down to 2 radios, and guess who didn't have one, ME! I had a headlamp so I was good, or so I thought. Oh did I mention that this was the worst unit yet, it was at times almost completely vertical and slick as snot from all the mud. The first 10 minutes of my climb back up out of this thing was fine, I could see where I was going, I could see the make shift trail we made on our way down and then it happened. The light in my headlamp quit working. I froze, I was about to completely loose my shit and have a panic attack, and then i remembered my cell phone was in my pocket. I pulled it out and turned on my flashlight app, thank god for technology! Oh i might add I was packing the winch, gas can and rope bag back out with me, but once I lost my head lamp there was no way i could hold my phone and all of that other crap so I made an executive decision, ditch it all and hope to god we could find it tomorrow when we came back. I start my journey back up the hill side and not five minutes later it starts down pouring so my phone is getting soaked, I'm soaked (time for new rain gear) and the flashlight app starts to malfunction because water is getting into my phone. I proceed to try and find my way out with my brief moments of light and soon loose the trail we had created, so i just keep heading up. I knew at some point it was going to crest and then i needed to head left on the top of the ridge, and then there was total blackness. My phone was toast. So hear I am, soaked, no flashlight, no phone, no radio and completely lost and seriously loosing it at this point. I have no idea exactly where I am. I can't just sit here because A. I'm not about to spend the night alone on the hill side, unarmed and B. I'm terrified of the dark and C. its cold and raining. So i started yelling to see if my uncle or grandpa could hear me, no such luck. This is the moment I cam completely unglued and lost it. After a few minutes of a full blown panic attack I pulled myself together and kept climbing out of the unit praying to god he help me find my way out. Soon I came to the top of the ridge, or so I thought and started heading left, a few minutes later I stopped, the moon had come out of the clouds so I could see the general shapes of the things around me and then it hit me, holy hell how did I end up on the other side of the ridge and down into the timber again. Another freak out ensues but this time i pull my shit together much quicker and realize I'm only getting out of here one way and that's if i keep it together and just keep going, so i turned around and headed back up hoping to find the top of the ridge again, no luck. Finally I could hear something, my grandfather had started the truck up, so i start heading in the direction I can hear it coming from, as I got closer I could faintly see headlights, at this point I am beyond relieved! I start fighting my way through the brush and the timber and the closer the lights got the happier I got, then bam it happens. I dropped about 4 feet and on to the road! My grandfather could clearly see I was no where near as happy as I was three hours before when we took off after the bull, i told him about my whole ordeal and he was happy i was safe and found my way back, we talked about next year and how EVERYONE needs a radio whether were in a group or not. I'm glad to say I wasn't the only one who got lost that night, so did my uncle, it was another hour before he found his way out and he wasn't a happy camper either. I look back now and even right after it all happened and laugh, it's scary but kind of funny too!

We headed back to town and at this point it was well after 9 p.m and we all knew my grandmother was probably about to loose it because we had never been out this late. Sure enough she was pacing back in forth in front of the window when we pulled up. I told her all about it and that's when she about cried (I'm her baby), she had a feeling I was lost and was worried sick. I assured her i was fine and that I learned alot from that whole experience for next year. We went back out Sunday morning to retrieve him and thankfully found the winch and everything I dumped the night before. It took quit awhile to get him out because of how steep the unit was but we had lots of great help from my uncles friend and his wife! Once we got him out, we did the whole picture thing, loaded him up and headed home to hang and skin him.

I am so thankful I had a great group of guys (up to 6 of them on some of the days) to hunt with, I learned alot I didn't know since I'm still pretty new to all of this, and I made some awesome memories and that's what really matters to me. I can't wait til next year!

Till next time! 

*side not* I did make an apperance to Thanksgiving table, where I proceeded to fall asleep, at the table. My daughter hasn't let me live that one down yet!

A Buckless Deer Season

My 2012 deer season ended with out a filled tag. :( I logged 34 miles on foot, down train tracks, along old logging roads, and up and down hillsides. I'm still kicking myself in the butt for not taking a shot at the one and only shooter I came across all season, I guess ya win some ya loose some right? On the final night of deer season I decided it was time to take little miss out hunting with me, I picked her up from the bus stop and as she got in the truck threw her camo clothing in the back seat next to her. She had a less than thrilled look on her face at first because it was cold and raining be she sucked it up and got dressed as I headed for the hills. Once we got out there though and on top of a unit her attitude changed completely, she was beating me out of the truck to glass it all over. Didn't take long before we spotted some movement but it ended up being a doe, she didn't care though, she was totally excited to see the doe, we hit a few more units before sun down and saw 3 more doe that night. I was really hoping we would find a buck but no such luck. I will say that, that final night out there in the woods was by far my favorite, it was mother daughter bonding at it's finest! I loved watching her get excited when we would spot something and listening to her talk about how she can't wait until next year when she can hunt for deer with me! It's the little things in life that mean the most!

Till next time

Blacktail Season 2012 Contiunes

Since the season started I have logged 23 miles on foot, rain or shine, climbing up and down mountain sides, in and out of the brush in search of a blacktail buck and have yet to find one I can take or should I say have time to take. I went out hunting the other morning before work and that was a bad idea, it was the one and only time that I had been graced with the presence of a shooter, he was a nice sized 3x3 and he just so happened to make an appearance when I was on my way out so I could make it to work on time. The thought crossed my mind that I could shoot him, hopefully get him dressed, hide him and make it to work on time and then come back out after work and get him but I chose against it, mainly because there is a nice sized cougar that roams around out there and because I was working an 11 hr day and it'd be well past dark when i could get back out to him, I'm kicking myself now for not doing it since I have yet to come across him again. This weekend I did come across 2 doe and a spike but nothing legal to shoot. The rut is right around the corner and I'm hoping it will be my saving grace. It is the only time that mature bucks act like idiots in pursuit of tail, but then again just like I said in a tweet conversation, what male of any species doesn't act like an idiot in pursuit of tail! Even though I haven't gotten my buck yet I have loved every second I spend out in the hills! Nothing better than being surrounded by beautiful scenery and listening to the sounds of nature all around me! Here's to hoping that within the next 11 days I can get my buck! 

Since I haven't had much excitement happen while I have been out hunting I thought I would post a pretty comical post my buddy Kevin put up about his experience in Elk camp this last week. I died laughing because it is so spot on to every experience Ive had at a hunting camp surrounded by a bunch of men! I totally want in on next years excursion!

Since I am quoting this all exactly from him I dont feel I should spell check him or edit his grammar LOL

In his own words, 2012 Cascade Elk Camp Experience went something like this:

After 24 years of bow hunting this year I was invited to an elk rifle camp for the cascade hunt. These are the observations and things I learned.

When Kenny says go left he is going right. Go Right and don’t listen to Kenny.

When you borrow Kennys gun. Shoot the SOB first to make sure its sighted in. (5 shots at a bull at 50 yards later) 

Don’t invite a girl you have barely known to elk camp only to watch her make an ass of herself and get kicked out of camp.

When inviting the girl you don’t know make sure you have other sleeping arrangements, because at 6ft 2 and 200 pounds the front seat of a dodge truck isn’t that comfortable for 7 days. 

Don’t set up a tent in a dry creek bed when a storm is coming.

Everyone in camp has medicinal cards.

14 men can go through 5 pounds of chili in less than 5 minutes.

Don’t serve 14 men 5 pounds of chili the night before the season.

8 men can pack out a 900 pound bull whole.

8 men can pack out the same bull whole while drinking a bottle of bourbon and bottle of jagr.

Don’t be the only sober one in camp its boring.

To Ed there is not such thing as enough beer.

When you and the only girl are sitting around the fire while she is refilling her medicinal card make sure you have a rifle next to you when the dumbest bull in the planet walks into camp stares at you and the potentially asks for some breakfast.

7 men will haul an outhouse 12 miles rather than build another one.

Don’t bring just two pairs of socks to elk camp.

If you bring two pairs of socks make sure when you have to do your thing in the woods you have mountain money because then your down to one pair of socks. 

When your doing your business in the woods keep the rifle handy for the bull that ends up staring at you wondering why your pooping in his spot. (not easy to get a shot off while dropping trousers) 

Don’t give the girl in camp that has more energy than a spider monkey red bull.

While sitting on a ridge top looking at the world stop and thank the man dad that taught you to do this and shed a tear for the things he taught you.

5 miles later cuss dad for teaching you to do these things.

Smile and look back at the loved ones you lost on that ridge and its ok to break down and cry. (love and miss you CC) 

Man named them Elk because all the other 4 letter words were taken

8 men will find the ducks game on the radio when desperate.

A beer can and a used arrow make a great antenna to listen to the game.

Shooting a chipmunk skinning it putting a mini game bag on it and tying sticks to his head then hanging it next to the elk will get you many strange looks from other hunters.

Don’t eat chipmunk its not as tasty as you think.

When your hunting with 4 retired guys and your radio goes off that 3 elk are down break your radio and say you didn’t get the call to avoid packing all night in a storm. 

Its well worth the 5 dollars to pay for a shower at the resort 20 miles down the highway. 

The guys and girls that don’t want to spend the 5 dollars for the shower just give them the money and offer to drive them.

After 2 days of camp people smell. After 4 days people stink. On the 8th and final day nobody wants to get in the same care with the rest of the people. 

After 9 days walking over 100 miles, shooting an unsighted gun, packing out other peoples animals. Smelling like a dead hog. Swearing you will never do it again because of the blood sweat and tears you went through. 

Thank the people you spend the best 9 days of your life. Kenny, Ed, Tonya, John, Richard, Leroy, Nate, Brian, Ron, Leena, and the rest of the bunch. Then start planning for next year.

Opening Weekend Deer Season 2012

Well this past weekend was the opener of my deer season this year! I have been looking forward to this since I took my buck opening morning last year but seriously counting down the days 3 months prior to the start of the season.  I was hoping the closer opening day got the colder the weather would get, but that didn't happen. It has been unseasonably warm around here. Usually by now we have gotten some rain and the temps are about 10 degrees cooler then they have been. Someone mentioned today were on day 80 something of no rain. Come on this is the Pacific NW we are known for our rain! With the way the weather conditions were I knew that the hunt was going to be challenging but that wasn't stopping me! I did as I do every year, rolled out of bed at 3 a.m. and got ready to go!!! I picked up one of my girl friends who despite not having a tag wanted to tag along any ways and we headed for the hills! I might also throw out there that because of the way the weather has been it has closed down a TON of the land around here to hunt on. The only thing open for hunting at this point is US Forest land and BLM land. When we arrived to the area I wanted to hunt it was about 4:45 in the morning and we still had 2 hours till sun up, around here if you aren't staking out your spot hours before the sun comes up someone else will beat you to it. The land I really wanted to hunt was already staked out (by a friend of mine none the less) so I headed for my 2nd choice. When the sun started to make an apperance I started my trek in and thats when the coyotes started howling. We covered 8 miles on foot and never even saw signs of deer. I found elk droppings, tracks and even a carcass from bow season a few weeks ago, and tracks and droppings from the coyotes I'd heard at sun up but not one single sign of a deer having been any where in the area. Despite not finding a deer it was still a great morning, I was in one of my favorite places, the middle of no where, listening to the crickets, birds, frogs and coyotes and even stumbled across some old barns!!! 

I really hope that the weather changes soon but looking at the next 10 days in the forecast I see zero sign of rain :( If the rain keeps holding off guess I will just have to wait for the rut when they start acting like retards and my chances get better!!!! Luckily I have until November 2nd to fill my tag and I will be hiking miles in and out of units, up and down the steep terrain every weekend between now and then! 

Happy hunting!!! 

Week Long Birthday Celebration

Sunday wrapped up Little Miss Keelies' week long birthday celebration. Boy am I exhausted! She kicked it off at her dad's house weekend before last and it just kept going. Wednesday was her actual birthday so naturally we celebrated then, with neon colored pancakes for breakfast before school, homemade chimichangas (her request) for dinner followed by her gifts from me. Saturday her and I headed to Eugene for our 2nd annual Birthday weekend Mother Daughter football game where we watched our Ducks cream Arizona 49-0. First conference game shut out since 2003!!! We Love Our Ducks! We finished the weekend off with her Duck themed party at the bowling alley Sunday! I loaded those kids up on sugar!!! From cupcakes, to the candy bar, and topped off with cake and ice cream, we will see which parents allow their kids to come next year! I spent so much time prepping for the 2 hour long party I am exhausted. This is the first time ever I made EVERYTHING from scratch, from the chocolate cake with cream cheese filling and frosting, the green and yellow vanilla cupcakes, the marshmallow fondant to make the Oregon O's and green and yellow beads around the base of the cake to the green & yellow rice krispie treat! For the candy bar decor I purchased 3 glass candle holders and painted them green and yellow and attached them to small fish bowls, picked up a few vases and glass dishes from the dollar store. I then purchased 2" Oregon circle images from Etsy and green & yellow ribbon from the craft store and put them on the glass pieces and filled with candy!!! After everything I was wore out, but when she told me it was the best party she has ever had in that moment it was all worth it! 

                                                       

Now that the birthday celebration is done and over it is time to prep for hunting season!!!! Deer season 2012 starts Saturday!!! I've been counting down the days since I took my buck opening morning last year lol but seriously counting them down since 94 days! The closer it gets the more anxious I get!!!! Expect a post about opening weekend next week!!!

Till next time! 

I Fell Off The Blogging Bandagon, But Now Im Back!

It's been 8 months since my last real post and I have missed blogging dearly whether or not any one is actually reading them lol. I am going to try like heck to make a habit out of blogging at least once a week since hunting season is 3 weeks away and I've got big plans in the way of hunting this year! My hunting season is usually done and over within 2 months and then I spend the next 10 months going through some major withdrawals, but not any more. Besides my usual deer and elk hunting I'm adding in Fall turkey this year and if that goes well I'll hunt Spring turkey too. I am also going to try  my hand at spring bear and cougar!!!!

On my 8 month hiatus lots of things happened, got a puppy (hoping to turn her into a bird dog), took some time off and enjoyed time with little miss, had a crazy fun summer full of camping trips, one of which I am actually going to blog about because it was pretty darn cool and just enjoyed life!

Ive got big ideas and plans on the horizon so stay tuned!!!!

Back In The Saddle

I have been M.I.A for quiet some time but I'm back in the saddle, new changes to the blog and hopeully some new and big things on the horizon. Stay Tuned!