For the 1 or 2 of you that read my posts you know some of the weird things that happened to me this year. To recap: the elk hunting in CO was the worst my father has seen in 30 years, I got "unguided" from a world class bull elk in MT, I had a P&Y whitetail at 10 yards and got no shot, I had a P&Y at 8 yards on the ground and got no shot, I had a monster double main beam buck bed 65 yards from my tree and then get up and literally sprint through my shooting lanes chasing another buck giving me no shot, I had a really nice 8-point sneak in behind me while I was watching some does and by the time I could turn myself around he was meandering out of my shooting lane, I made what I thought was a perfect shot on a mature (3.5 year old) 6 point with about 18" spread a 12" G2 on his right side and 7" brow tines (I had dozens of pictures of him) and it ended up hitting one lung b/c I didn't account for the angle and he lived, and I took the last day of the season off to watch cartoons with my sick son at his request and later that day my parents bumped 5 bucks out from under the tree I was planning on hunting (literally right under it). Taken individually they really are nothing. Put them all into one season and it is just weird. Not bad, just weird. In actuality, this was one of my best seasons for fun and excitement. So, that catches you up to today. I took my son out on the 4wheeler to feed the deer and then we drove around my old pasture to look for sheds (and he loves to offroad). Well, I found my first set ever on my property! Guess whose they were... the buck I shot. How weird is that? They were just laying in a pile under a cedar. Might as well have been gift wrapped. You could see where he had scraped the ground with them to knock them off. Pretty weird and cool end to a weird and cool year. BTW, it is the buck in my avatar.
Some closure and in a way, maybe they were gift wrapped, or a tease from him letting you know he won.....this year. I'm sure he'll be on your hit list next. Thanks for sharing Jim.
Yep.....you have the official seal of approval, your season was one to remember. Congrats on finding the sheds. Just adding a little fuel to the fire I suppose.
Just remember Jim, things come in threes... By my count, you're up two and due one more. I'd say buy a lottery ticket and fast! Cool story! Good luck with Jeff!
LMAO!! Man he had your number this year Jim!! Great story and post and one hell of a year too. Good luck next year, I'm pulling for ya!!
Jim, that summary of your season is "quite" the read...had me thinking, geesh mine wasnt so weird after all. You really have had... QUITE the season. All things happen for a reason, hopefully next fall will put ole broken lung in your sights. That outfitter still makes me sick..I have told that story to several folks including a few elk guide friends of mine down in the Salmon River country.. and they just shake their heads..
It really was a great cap to a great year to find those sheds. I have just been smiling about it since I found them. Except for the kill part of the hunt, I had quite possibly the best year I will ever have in the field. Within bow range of so many monster animals. What a thrill! Having not killed them won't change my life. Having those experiences has. Thanks for the responses guys. That buck won't be the biggest running around here next year, but he is my #1 target. Shed, on the bright side of that outfitter experience we found some fantastic public land to hunt that borders where we were hunting. I will gladly get screwed once in order to have a great place to go with my father for many years to come! Happy shed hunting.
What a coincidence, I was conceived in a 53 Buick Yeah, not much can surprise me in hunting anymore. It won't matter what we call in, if anything. It will be a good time.
Alteast you got your pride! You'll probably shoot a booner in the first hour next year, im pullin for ya!
I'll take a "weird" season like yours anyday. Plenty of stories to tell for years to come. Hopefully this year has some finishing lines to add.
I'm with Rob. I'd take that shed as closure for the year. The buck lived... that's all I would need to make my season. Congrats, but still waiting for shed pictures...
Great story, we all have wierd seasons sometimes. At least they are full of action. I can't wait to have another wierd season, wish it started tomorrow!
