Finally got drawn for an Either Sex Gun hunt. First in 15 years. Hunt was this past Wednesday to Friday. Went with my son (79F250), my FIL and a buddy. Special hunt with 3 generations together.
We got assigned to compartment 1. I will say after talking to other hunters 1 is the compartment you want if ever there. It had a prescribed burn in the past and is a little more open than the other areas. Staff took us on a quick tour of our area and let us loose. I hunted one of their wire circle blinds and the others all set up pop ups. After brushing in my blind and throwing out corn I moved the truck down the trail a ways and when I walked back to blind there was already a small 8 eating the corn. It paid me no attention even as I setup my chair and unzipped my gun bag. It eventually walked within 15 yds of my blind as it left. Much different than the super spooky deer at Twin Buttes. About an hour after settling in had a real nice 10pt show and started eating my corn. Was always facing towards me and wouldn’t present a shot. It then decided it had enough to eat and quickly trotted off with no good opportunity for a shot. I wasn’t worried. I still had a couple more days for him to return or so I thought. Had a couple more bucks come in but they weren’t as nice as the 10 so gave them a pass. About 5:45 I hear a shot and hit that I knew was my son. I’ll let him tell that part. FIL saw a few small bucks and several doe and buddy saw several small bucks.
Next morning had a few small bucks and then had a doe come in pretty close and a nice 11 point with a split g2 that was following her. Doe busted me while I was trying to get gun on buck and both split. That evening just saw a few small bucks and a doe off in the distance. My FIL connected on an 8 he was thrilled with it. Might not be a giant but at 78 yrs old it is actually his biggest buck. He was smiling like a little kid.
Friday morning and can’t believe hunt is almost over. Buddy has a nice 6.5 yr old 8 that he takes early in morning. Now I’m only one to not connect on one. It’s starting to look like brown it’s down time. Not seeing anything and finally a nice 8 shows up but he just won’t present a shot and then like the first buck just decides he’s had enough corn and quickly trots off. Almost every buck did the same. About 9 my son walks over to me and we do a little walking to see if we can rattle up a buck. We see a nice buck in the distance and try to head him off but he disappears. I set up and my son tries some rattling to see if we can coax him back. We sit there for several minutes and just when we decide to get up and move on I turn around and a buck is coming in from behind. He sees us and trots off. Was still fun as it was the first buck I’ve ever seen rattled in personally. Didn’t see any other deer and called it a day and checked out. Didn’t get my deer but it was still a very enjoyable hunt. Great time spent with a friend and with my son and FIL. Hopefully can get drawn again in less than 15 years.
We got assigned to compartment 1. I will say after talking to other hunters 1 is the compartment you want if ever there. It had a prescribed burn in the past and is a little more open than the other areas. Staff took us on a quick tour of our area and let us loose. I hunted one of their wire circle blinds and the others all set up pop ups. After brushing in my blind and throwing out corn I moved the truck down the trail a ways and when I walked back to blind there was already a small 8 eating the corn. It paid me no attention even as I setup my chair and unzipped my gun bag. It eventually walked within 15 yds of my blind as it left. Much different than the super spooky deer at Twin Buttes. About an hour after settling in had a real nice 10pt show and started eating my corn. Was always facing towards me and wouldn’t present a shot. It then decided it had enough to eat and quickly trotted off with no good opportunity for a shot. I wasn’t worried. I still had a couple more days for him to return or so I thought. Had a couple more bucks come in but they weren’t as nice as the 10 so gave them a pass. About 5:45 I hear a shot and hit that I knew was my son. I’ll let him tell that part. FIL saw a few small bucks and several doe and buddy saw several small bucks.
Next morning had a few small bucks and then had a doe come in pretty close and a nice 11 point with a split g2 that was following her. Doe busted me while I was trying to get gun on buck and both split. That evening just saw a few small bucks and a doe off in the distance. My FIL connected on an 8 he was thrilled with it. Might not be a giant but at 78 yrs old it is actually his biggest buck. He was smiling like a little kid.
Friday morning and can’t believe hunt is almost over. Buddy has a nice 6.5 yr old 8 that he takes early in morning. Now I’m only one to not connect on one. It’s starting to look like brown it’s down time. Not seeing anything and finally a nice 8 shows up but he just won’t present a shot and then like the first buck just decides he’s had enough corn and quickly trots off. Almost every buck did the same. About 9 my son walks over to me and we do a little walking to see if we can rattle up a buck. We see a nice buck in the distance and try to head him off but he disappears. I set up and my son tries some rattling to see if we can coax him back. We sit there for several minutes and just when we decide to get up and move on I turn around and a buck is coming in from behind. He sees us and trots off. Was still fun as it was the first buck I’ve ever seen rattled in personally. Didn’t see any other deer and called it a day and checked out. Didn’t get my deer but it was still a very enjoyable hunt. Great time spent with a friend and with my son and FIL. Hopefully can get drawn again in less than 15 years.
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