And still archery hunting deer. I promise.

[H&Hhunter]

Had a great day glassing mule deer and put on several stalks that ended with no deer injured or killed.

Here’s one I tried to put the sneak on. I was defeated!



While glassing I spotted an original OG of the sneaky cat tribe! Bob was showing me how it’s properly done.

Just before quitting time I suggested that we have a look at a high spot I’d been seeing some elk from throughout the season.

Mrs. H&H still had an unpunched cow tag. It didn’t take 30 seconds before I spotted a herd of elk grazing 954 yards away in an opening. Mrs H&H grabbed her Steyr Scout in .308 and we quickly closed to 154 yards. Unfortunately just as we were getting ready to shoot we got busted. The elk bolted and then stopped on hillside the nearest cow was 423 yards away.

Mrs. H&H calmly dialed her CDS to 420 yards, snuggled into the rifle and squeezed off a fatal round. The 165 Gr Accubond took the cow mid chest and exited out the floating ribs in the off side. She went about 50 yards and toppled over dead.



After quartering her up I carried a front and rear quarter the mile or so back to the truck. Mrs. H&H carried her pack, rifle and both back straps and tenderloins. We will return early in the morning to retrieve the two remaining quarters,

A great day was had!!

 

[Armored farmer]

Many congrats to both you and mrs H&H.
Thanks for the great story and pics.
You and Mrs H have certainly sparked my interest in the Steyr Scout.

 

[Hookeye]

I ordered a new Hoyt Torrex yesterday.
Not the XT.
Am just a deer hunter, don't shoot 3D anymore.
55-65#, will leave it around 60#, maybe 62#.

W my Blackwidow and the Hoyt I'm good from now on.
Main rig is the recurve, but injury/other has me needing a backup rig....just in case.
Like release and wheels just fine

 

[H&Hhunter]

We arrived at the carcass just after sunrise this morning and finished packing out Mrs. H&H’s cow. The meat was fine, nice and cold and no critters had gotten into it during the night. We spent the rest of the day glassing and found one gigantic 3x3. He had extremely good mass, was about 30” wide and had very good tine length. He was also an anti social old crank and departed at top speed the second I got out of the truck while he was still well over 1,000 yards away. Apparently he has played this game before.

We found one other marginal 4x4 and put a stalk on him. Once I got within range I decided to pass on him as he needs another year or more to get to his full potential. That finished off the day and we drove three hours home.

I’ll update as the hunt continues.

 

[md7]

Had a great day glassing mule deer and put on several stalks that ended with no deer injured or killed.

Here’s one I tried to put the sneak on. I was defeated!
View attachment 1185039
View attachment 1185040

While glassing I spotted an original OG of the sneaky cat tribe! Bob was showing me how it’s properly done. View attachment 1185041View attachment 1185042

Just before quitting time I suggested that we have a look at a high spot I’d been seeing some elk from throughout the season.

Mrs. H&H still had an unpunched cow tag. It didn’t take 30 seconds before I spotted a herd of elk grazing 954 yards away in an opening. Mrs H&H grabbed her Steyr Scout in .308 and we quickly closed to 154 yards. Unfortunately just as we were getting ready to shoot we got busted. The elk bolted and then stopped on hillside the nearest cow was 423 yards away.

Mrs. H&H calmly dialed her CDS to 420 yards, snuggled into the rifle and squeezed off a fatal round. The 165 Gr Accubond took the cow mid chest and exited out the floating ribs in the off side. She went about 50 yards and toppled over dead.

View attachment 1185043View attachment 1185044

After quartering her up I carried a front and rear quarter the mile or so back to the truck. Mrs. H&H carried her pack, rifle and both back straps and tenderloins. We will return early in the morning to retrieve the two remaining quarters,

A great day was had!!

Appreciate the story! Yall are putting in some solid work with the Steyr Scout, too. Getting it done!

 

[H&Hhunter]

A couple of elk tenderloins in the frying pan tonight.

 

[H&Hhunter]

We saw big Louie today at long range but were unable to do anything about it. He was a nice main frame 4x4 with lots of trash.

The elk are starting to herd up for the winter. Everywhere we looked we saw elk.

 

[nick22]

Nice to see the .308 stretching it's legs and proving it's still a great cartridge. Congrats on staying after it and to mrs. for getting it done.

 

[JmacD]

A couple of elk tenderloins in the frying pan tonight.

Oh I’m HUNGRY now.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I surrender!

it’s been a fantastic season with multiple critters spotted and lots of time outside. I have to admit I’m worn out and am throwing in the towel. I’ve had several opportunities to shoot a mature deer that I’ve turned down. I was looking for the one this year and stayed true to my goal, I never found the “one” I was looking for.

I‘ve also got a hip issue that been slowing me down. I had a cortisone shot three months ago that’s finally starting to wear off making it tough for me to cover much ground on foot.

We will see what next season brings, this one has been fruitful with two elk in the freezer and fantastic memories of critters spotted, miles walked, sunrises and sunsets, blue skies and blizzards.

Farewell 2023 hello 2024.

 

[buck460XVR]

I surrender!

it’s been a fantastic season with multiple critters spotted and lots of time outside. I have to admit I’m worn out and am throwing in the towel. I’ve had several opportunities to shoot a mature deer that I’ve turned down. I was looking for the one this year and stayed true to my goal, I never found the “one” I was looking for.

....BTDT.

I was brought up at a time when one shot the first buck they saw, because it might be the only buck you saw that year. Mainly because everyone was doing the same. Deer numbers were less and folks hunted to eat, not just for recreation. Same as fishing. You took home everything you caught and ate it. Wasn't till the mid 70's early 80's that catch and release came about, at least around here. That was about the same time folks started to let smaller bucks pass, so suddenly it wasn't uncommon to see several bucks over the course of the long archery season. It also had something to do with the deer becoming acclimated to Ag crops and relocating themselves from the big woods because of changing forestry practices. Suddenly, deer were not dying in droves during harsh winters trying to live off Pine boughs and Wintergreen in deep snow.



Once I got to the point of not feeling like a failure going home empty handed, it became much easier to pass on lesser animals. Once I got to the point where I didn't feel I had to prove my hunting prowess to others by always having a deer of some sort in the back of the truck, the pressure to kill something, anything left me. I soon realized that I was hunting for myself and not others and the satisfaction of knowing I could have killed that deer standing there @35 yards, and passed on it, was just as fulfilling as killing it. Seeing the same deer multiple times during and after the season was even more fulfilling. Letting those lesser bucks go also showed me that waiting sometimes was well worth it. My percentage of mature deer rose steadily as did my time in the woods. As with turkeys, it wasn't just the successful hunts that taught me things, but those hunts that failed. Getting my bird/buck right away on opening morning taught me little, other than what I did last year worked. I'm sure the same goes for you.

I‘ve also got a hip issue that been slowing me down.

Yep, same here, that and age. Kain't still hunt the swamps like I used to. Kain't drag out a mature buck a 1/2 mile thru the knee deep snow alone anymore, and the cold gets to my bones worse than I remember from my youth. But it's still a success everytime I get to go out and come back. Patience got me one of the largest bucks I ever shot with my bow this year, and having my grand-daughters take bucks I passed on earlier in the year was even more satisfying. Seeing some of the other bucks I passed on still alive on trail camera after season also makes me just as excited as if I would have killed them.