Sounds like y'all are gettin geared for Elk hunting. From my lack of experience with that game animal, Ive had a few closecalling experiences, and I can say having an elk RUN towards you and stop and glare you down at 5 yards is a pretty amazing feeling.


Deer season opened for rifle yesterday in BC (most regions) and me and a friend were lucky to have both tagged 4x4's before noon yesterday. I say lucky because it was 35 celcius which is not prime hunting weather IMO.


Ill post pics tonight - his 4x4 was basically in its first year of growth, probably would score approx. 100 b&c - mine is GIANT either, but a very pretty, and tall rack, probably going 145 b&c. A trophy in my book.

Talk to you guys this evening, and will post pics.

Sask, nice bruin! I take it the Tacoma likes the bloodAnyhow, I went out this weekend only to find a hundred whitetails and 4 mulies in my mule deer spot. I thought last year was bad but this is reduiculous. All mulies were doe/fawn combo's so no stalk was even tried. I did see a 4X3 respectable w.t. but no where near a wall hanger.
Skeeter, I'm taking your advice and laying off the prarie mulies for a while as well. I'm off to try a new spot this Friday, hopefully it'll have some donkeys running around. A couple of pics for ya attached.

the w.t. buck...11X zoom on my camera as clear as I can get it.

Hia, kind of feel misplaced normally I'd be in elk camp right now. I have heard many rumours why; to let the animals settle from the growing archery elk hunters, promote the draw,make sure the majority of the east zones where through peak rut, farming, etc. Short of it who the hell really knows. Tagged out is a nice feeling but may I ask what was the net loss or gain from your animal and the big boy you pissed off. Heck any elk is a damn fine elk in my books, good stuff dan O'.

Theyain't talking as of last night where we hunt, but they are in Hudson Bay,etc. She could be real good for us, especially if the weather does what they say and tanks next weekend. Hey, it don't matter cuz "gone huntin'" will bedisplayed inmy window....

Ag, good work man your filling that freezer up. I love elk, if I didn't pull the pin this year big deal as long as I get the wiff of elk &/or hear them talking I am a happy hunter. Last year I had a screamin his head off as I got between him and his cows. I only caught a glimpse of the animal due to the hazels and underbrush so no chance for a shot but I can say I was vibrating for the entire week from my experience of being only metres away from the king. I am pretty easy to please when it comes to elk hunting but also have been really fortunate as well in terms of harvesting the tasty beasts.

JD....ROTFLMFAO....should I say..no. Best of luck in a change of scenery and as always great pics. I really need to tie a string on my finger when i go hunting and get the camera out. Wait a minute last time I did that was about a year ago whereI, the quad, gearand new digital ended up in loon sheet...[&:]. Log bridge broke when you guessedit, crossed and you know the rest of the story...plop!

Keep it up boys.

JD, sneaking up on that that bear was a lot of fun. Especially since it's looking like it will be a few weeks before I can get out for deer [:'(]

The Tacomatook a few toonies at the carwash on Saturday and I gota dirty look from the guy who runs the place

Hia, how did the 160AB's work for yeah?

Congrats on the deer ag can't wait to see some pics up. I am all horned up for deer now but won't get away deer hunting for close to a month yet however i am goin full out then. I am taking education right now in university so i structured my student teaching time to take place in a school close to my hometown so i can hunt my ol stompin grounds during my internship from oct 15-nov15. Method to my madness.
Great lookin ground jd looks like plenty of area to cover and watch there. gotta be some big boys lurkin down in that thick stuff.
Skeet, archery moose this year seems to be right on schedule but again the rifle season the put back further a week. I never really noticed this till last night. Only good i can see come from a later elk season is that more of the crops will be harvested by having it a week later bringiong out more people to hunt and less trampled crop. Only good elk is a dead one so hopefully some farmers can get out and get even this year.Bout4 years ago i went out the first or second morning of october just taking pics and got some good footage of 3 bulls screaming at each other on the farmnland. The bulls would not go a minute without bugling, no cows with them but was pretty amazing to watch. I guess it is possible for them to bugle later but possible more locator calls than a full out love rage.

as for dem der accubonds well pretty good i reckon. Cracked a few deer and the odd (shudders) yote with them. Seemed to perform well for me but wouldn't mind to test them on some larger game. Gotta quit shootin them with the sharp stick first and then treat myself to a rifle hunt. I will post up some pics of deer from last year i took with the acu's.Usin the univerisities computers right now mine will be rockin on friday so will scan and postem then.

Hiawatha, good to hear. With your setup and home close byI guess the pointy sticks are a great option. Elk just like whitetails have 3 cycles, so October screaming is not uncommon, though not as intense as the main or peak rut that we have early. I guess a lot depends on ratios and such. I know are area is chalked full of ladies, so I am almost positive we don't get a hard rut.We still call elk in but they don't always talk when they come, if they do talkmore chuckles then bugles as of late. I have been throwing in a spike squeals and that seems to make them come for a closer look. Last year mine chuckled at me a number of timeswhen cow talking, I then threw in somenasily cow calls and a few spikes squeals which he couldn't take and camehoofingfor looky look. I plan to do the same this year cow and calf talk, nothing to aggressive for bulls. Unless they are screaming then I light up the bugle a little more.

Yeah archery moose should be good, especially if we get some frost near the end of the month. Last year the peak of the rut apparently was during archery from what i have heardand they were toning down the first week of october. We managed to call in a couple moose the first week of october but they were very quiet when coming and hung up. Both bulls I used bull grunts to close them. Year before when we were drawn they came in hard and grunting the entire way, same damn week as last year and nothing but cow calling.

Really is a crap shoot with the call, but they can be had if you have good spots and prepared to throw the entire bag of tricks at them. At worst you can say you gave it your all!!

Nice job on hand picking your assignment Dan! See and you thought the time spent at the UofS was all for not..lol

Here are a few pics of that mulie I took on opening day (Sunday th 10th), Enjoy!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/agaucher/DSC00442.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/agaucher/DSC00444.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/agaucher/DSC00451.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/agaucher/DSC00448.jpg

I have yet to rough score him, before I do - any guesses? My guess is 145ish as hes not very heavy.

Story goes as follows: me and a friend were hunting one of our mulie honey holes, where we knew some big boys existed, but none of our usual crew had tagged one in the past 3 seasons. Opening day came, and we were setup to start walking some cut lines at first light. Within about 5 minutes we had spoted three young bucks together, one of which looked to be a four point. These three has spotted us, and I knew the one which may have been a four point was a little bit too small for me. I set my friend up on the nice buck and walked to his left, getting the bucks attention just long enough for my friend to identify him as a legal four point. Fortunatly my friend has an excellent shot, and put on through his heart and both lungs, dropping him on the spot.

It was still early, so we tagged the deer and continued to hunt. We glassed a few more cuts, but with nothing in sight (but a number of blue grouse) we moved to another close valley, where we have both taken several deer. Upon entering this new area, another hunter was road hunting infront of us, and we wanted to glass but there was no getting by this jerk. So we slowed down, and stopped at a very large cut where we knew deer travel through. I began glassing, and after about 5 minutes has spotted a buck feeding and then bedding down. I planned a rough stalk, gave my friend one of two - two way radios, and went at em. As i was about 10 minutes into the 2 km stalk, I had to walk through a very deep cooley. Right as I was about to delve into its depths, I caught some movement ahead - on the far side of the ravine I saw mule deer legs, and some horn! I was excited and moved up hill quickly to try and get a vantage point. I was quickly awarded a small sight of the deer I jumped - a four point with three does! I put my scope on him, aimed at his shoulder and pulled - my .300 Mag kicked and as I looked after I saw three deer running, Crap, I thought I missed. I jogged through the cooley and upon getting to the otherside saw that infact the buck I shot at had been hit and dropped in his tracks. I thought at the time of the shot I may have pulled a bit high, as I was between 250-300 yards, but in fact the bullet hit its place, breaking his shoulder and left lung. I got to the buck, and had the opposite of normal,ground growth! I was happy with my opening day buck, especially since me and my friend pulled off our first double header!

Hope you guys enjoy the story and the pics - good luck to you guys this week!

BTW

I used accubonds on that mule deer, and on my moose. They work excellent on larger big game - ive shot one 'yote with them and lets just say shock damage? [:@]

Anyway they do the trick, just dont hit any of the front/rear quarters unless you like hamburger.

Ive got two deer tags left, and unless I planon lookin for another moose or sheep/mtn goat Ive got to restrain my trigger finger - season just started and although I could tag in about a week now, Ima hold for a big'un.

Bought my first compound bow tonight - Hoyt Trykon - so ive gotta practice with that, im sure being new at the archery sport ill miss a few before I connect, so that should be a good use for one of my deer tags left!