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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 15, 2019, 01:19 PM:
Well it's been a while since I posted anything. I do drop by occasionally and see what everyone is up to, but haven't posted much. Part of it is that I don't hunt nearly as much as I used to, but I do still whack a few coyotes, and I find far more joy in watching my kids hunt than me filling my tags. These days fishing fills most of my outdoor needs rather than big game hunting. So with that said here are a few pics.
The fishing God's have been good to me this year. Here is a nice brownie out of the Missouri River.
Next up my oldest daughter came home from college and really wanted to hunt deer so I made time, to take time, to spend with her. She made a very good 225 yard shot and got her buck for 2018. I love one shot kills. Not only that she shot it as quick and efficiently as anyone I've ever hunted. No messing around. Even though we hiked about 5 miles round trip to get her buck, the recovery was easy. We were able to hike back to the rig and drive in a long round about way to the buck which. Our rig was parked at the top of some rough river breaks on the far end of the property. She killed the buck at the opposite end of the property at the bottom of the breaks. If you've ever hunted in river break country you can appreciate how physically demanding it can be. I was very grateful we were able to get the 4Runner pretty near to where the buck died.
Stay tuned for Part II up next
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 15, 2019, 01:34 PM:
Part II
My youngest daughter who is normally my main fishing partner told me she wanted to hunt deer last fall. She hasn't hunted since she was 12 when she killed a whitetail buck, which was 6 years ago. However she decided she really wanted a mule deer. So I did my best to find her a buck. I don't think we could have picked a physically tougher day to hunt. It has rained for a couple hours the day before, froze, and then snowed all day and through the night. While the weather was good the day we hunted the conditions were treacherous. Under that snow was about a 1/4" of the slickest ice on the planet. Very little of our hike was on level ground. We fell so many times we quit counting. She killed her buck at a little under 300 yards. The darn thing fell to the bottom of steep brush and burr infested canyon. It took us a full hour to reach it because of how tough going the hiking was.
We had to debone to pack it out. From when we left the 4Runner until we returned was just over 7 miles. A couple things that did make me feel good that my daughter said were these two statements. About 200 yards into the pack out we stopped for a breather and she turns to me and says; "Dad, how in the world did you do this for 40 years?!" I think she learned a little appreciation for how tough hunting can be.
This photo was actually taken about 2 seconds before she said that.
The next thing that made me smile is when we got to where were right above our ride and only had to descend the last 1/4 mile she looks at me with a smile and says: "Dad, I think I'll stick with coyote hunting and fishing." I think I'd have to agree with her, I'm getting too old to hike up and down in steep, icy, snow covered country. I'm just glad neither of us broke anything. I have to give my daughter credit she was a real trooper in very difficult conditions. She also stuck to her guns and passed up 7 smaller bucks before shooting this one.
After all the hunting I needed some R+R and got back to fishing. I managed to catch a couple of the biggest Kokanee salmon I've ever seen in Montana. In hindsight I should have considered getting them mounted as it's not likely I'll ever catch bigger. However I'm in such a habit of turning everything loose that it never entered my mind until later. Anyway hope you guys didn't get too bored. reading all this. There were a lot of other fish caught this last fall, and did manage to shoot a nice 4x4 whitetail buck for my freezer, but maybe I'll post more pics later. This is enough for now.
Big male kokanee
An even bigger female kokanee salmon. She was the partner to the male.
[ January 15, 2019, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: ursus21 ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 15, 2019, 02:23 PM:
Thanks Troy! Excellent post! Don't stay away.
Marvelous, bringing your girls into the sport of hunting. You deserve credit for that.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on January 15, 2019, 03:41 PM:
way to go Troy. Those daughters of yours will enjoy that meat. Hope they share some with ya.
Posted by Lonny (Member # 19) on January 15, 2019, 04:24 PM:
Great stuff Troy! Congrats to both your daughters. Nothing better than watching your own get it done.
And you know what, you remember the tough hunts.
Being on tough hunt with a family member or good friend just makes it that much more sweet when you think back on it.
Posted by NeilA (Member # 6789) on January 16, 2019, 06:38 AM:
Great to see young ladies enjoying hunting!
I’ve spent a little time in the breaks with excellent conditions, I can’t imagine hiking in there on ice! Glad you made it out!
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 16, 2019, 10:14 AM:
Thanks guys. Like I said I enjoy watching my kids enjoy hunting more these days than actually filling my own tags. I did have a fun trip last spring with a couple of the FoxPro boys (Al Morris and John Bair) and Matt Piippo from Predator Quest. Any excuse to hunt with those guys and Al's decoy dogs is a good excuse. We did kill a few coyotes, but the best part was the friendships and the laughs. My stomach hurt for a week afterwards because of all the laughing that went on during that hunt. There some really good guys in the predator hunting world and this group is definitely part of those good guys.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 16, 2019, 10:17 AM:
I don't know much about most salmon, that's for sure. I know the ones that wiggle up the little stream behind my brothers place don't appear to be fit to eat. So, those kokanee salmon, I don't know, to me, they don't look appetizing, but while everybody raves about salmon on your plate; No thank you! I will stick to a sword or halibut steak, myself But, I get the impression that there is a vast difference between table fare, some salmons are much better eating than others. My mom, when they lived up in Everett, she used to do her salmon in the dishwasher, wrapped in heavy foil. But, what was it? I forget? Maybe it's an acquired taste?
You catch some enviable fish, Buddy!
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 16, 2019, 11:48 AM:
Leonard, these salmon were in spawn colors and probably would taste awful. During the rest of the year they are a beautiful silver/chrome color and taste as good as the best trout out there. As salmon go these are a smaller fish than most salmon species. King salmon would each salmon this size for a snack. Average size in Montana is 10"-12" long. However, for inland kokanee these are pretty sizey, at least in Montana they are.
Here is a fish you might be more familiar with. Brook trout are usually pretty small fish as well, but I got lucky and stuck a couple of brutes this fall.
This first brook is just absolutely beautiful and stunning in his fall spawn colors.
This old warrior has been around awhile and looks like something from a prehistoric era. I'm referring to the brook trout, not me. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on January 17, 2019, 02:58 AM:
Just WOW ! what memories ! I have been on some river systems that have land locked kokanee they were there year after year felt bad for them but they kept on the fight ! In a breeding colors you would never eat one ! lol I have caught some big brookies ya know like 10 to 14 inches LOL
[ January 17, 2019, 03:00 AM: Message edited by: Paul Melching ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 17, 2019, 10:16 AM:
There's an impoundment, some sort of lake not far from Mormon Lake. The first time I went fishing there, I caught the most beautiful Rainbows I had ever seen. Turned out, they were kokanee salmon. By the way, Mormon Lake is hardly more than a swamp, you can't navigate it swim in it, noting but reeds and cattails, shore to shore, yet it has northern pike, they say? In the good old days we used to go there on the 4th of July for the Pow Wow and team roping. That Lodge has burned down at least twice, you would think they would learn? But they had some kick ass bands! Fun times, it were.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on January 17, 2019, 06:11 PM:
I wouldn't touch that for noting.
BTW; Awesome fish as always. I hate you. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
[ January 17, 2019, 06:13 PM: Message edited by: Kokopelli ]
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on January 18, 2019, 06:19 AM:
With all the rain we have had Mormon lake probably has enough water to fool those who wish to donate tackle !
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 18, 2019, 08:41 AM:
Possibly? But, I wonder how many have ever seen the other side? I never did? Fuck that! There's some kind of bird dog school down on the south side, that's as far as I ever wish to get.
But, it's a nice area, always treated to turkey, wapiti and occasional javelina, if you're coming in early. Big coyotes!
Why hell, how come it's not on my list? I gotta think about that!
Good hunting. El Bee
edit: you think you've had rain! Well, the sun's out this morning but it poured all friggin' day yesterday! I seriously thought the pool was going to overflow!
[ January 18, 2019, 08:43 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 21, 2019, 05:48 AM:
From deer, to trout, to a pike pond near Flagstaff Arizona. You guys do keep it interesting albeit all over the map subject wise.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 21, 2019, 10:32 AM:
Troy, that's something that a lot of the message boards wet their pants about, going off topic. Some jerk will complain that you are torpedoing his thread and then the moderators will step in and throw Paul in message board prison, if not ban him for life. Over here, we go out of our way to deviate from the original subject matter. It's sometimes amazing how the conversation will bounce around with 99 responses. I never understood the board police?
Does it have a lot to do with coyote hunting? Sometimes, there ain't much left that hasn't been said, so....
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 23, 2019, 08:54 AM:
Leonard, as you can see going all over the place topic wise doesn't get me too wound up. In fact sometimes it leads to some real interesting conversations.
In that train of thought. Nothing like shooting a non-traditional varmit rifle. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on January 23, 2019, 11:23 AM:
That should knock them down !
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 23, 2019, 12:54 PM:
I wish my range had benches like that! The rifle? Not so much. But, I'm not gong shaming!
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on January 24, 2019, 03:49 AM:
Leonard if they make a rifle I want one no exceptions I hold no prejudice ! I love them one and all !
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 24, 2019, 07:05 AM:
Paul I'm of the same cut as you when it comes to rifles. The rifle above is out of my price range, but it was fun to shoot a 50 cal if for no other reason than to say..."I shot one!" One of the few rifles I've ever shot that close definitely counts.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 24, 2019, 09:39 AM:
I'm not sure about this? But, I seem to recall that a few years ago, The people's Republik outlawed anything in 50 caliber? AZ may be next! I'm telling ya, it's creeping, it's smothering and it's crossing the Colorado River any day now!
But, if there was ever an impractical rifle, the 50BMG is it!
Are the dies just short of $300? are bullets over a dollar each? How much is brass? How much are primers? Cleaning rods? Do you need a special press, like my RCBS AmmoMaster? It's worse than getting into 17 caliber for the first time! By reputation, not known for accuracy, bullet selection is about 2, maybe 3?
But, like everything else about guns, not logical, but there is a cachet, kind of give ya a hard on just looking at that miniature ICBM.
Really, slap me down. I'm just jealous, I'd love to own one!
Good hunting. El Bee
edit: also, I notice, there is a cartridge sitting on the bench, on end, near the forestock. Also notice that the rifle is so long the bipod won't fit on the table top, and our boy is firing from an awkward position. Better to be prone behind this beast anyway. I notice, it drew a crowd! Also, that's a hell of a nice bench, looks precast?
[ January 24, 2019, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on January 25, 2019, 03:07 AM:
Leonard Who cares ? I will never own one ,the seconded amendment Allows me to ! When our government fails to protect us we need to protect ourselves from our government ! Bring on the RPG's
LOLOLOLOLLOL
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 25, 2019, 05:30 AM:
If my firearms purchases were all totally based on practicality my life would have been a lot less interesting. I just like to shoot and blow stuff up.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on January 25, 2019, 06:50 AM:
There used to be a .50 cal bunch in Wash. (wet side) that came to the gun shows with a banner "Anything Under A 1000 Yards Is Too Close." They had a neat video of cinder blocks painted blaze orange. Big boom, a bit of a delay and poof, the cinder block was gone like a well hit clay bird. Totally cool !!!
They also hunted elk with the things, glassing clear-cuts from pickups parked on landings. When the bull was spotted, out came the sandbags & such...…
Not exactly my 'thing' but then we all have our own demons whispering in our ears.
Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on January 25, 2019, 07:14 AM:
This 50 cal thankfully had a brake on it. It still kicked pretty good even with the brake. Without it I'm not sure I would have been man enough to give it a try. The two hardest non-braked guns I've ever shot are a 458 Lott and (believe it or not)...a single shot 20 gauge shotgun. The Lott was just stupid brutal to shoot. I'd be okay with never shooting another one. The 20 gauge was so light that when I touched off a heavy load it pretty much re-arranged my bridge work and sent my brain bouncy around inside my skull for what seemed like five minutes. I've never had a 3 1/2" 12 gauge kick me that hard.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 25, 2019, 09:58 AM:
Yeah, on the subject of recoil, in my 835 pump, the worst I have ever experienced is a 3 1/2" Dead Coyote shell. In fact, I have quite a few left that maybe I will save for social situations, but for run of the mill coyotes, #4Buck kills as good as I need.
Good hunting. El Bee
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