First Successful Solo Backpack Hunt

[cohntr6]

Last year I did my first solo hunt a few miles into a remote canyon.

I froze my rear end off trying to go with a light sleeping bag and decided

one night was enough despite seeing a decent number of bucks I never

saw one that I wanted to pack out.

This year my two daughters and I were drawn for the 3rd whitetail hunt so

the goal was to get them tagged out opening weekend then I could hunt

during the week and backpack into the same canyon as last year. Unfortunately

my 13 year old came down with a bad case of asthma and spent 5 days in the

hospital right before the hunt. The doctor said she had to take it easy for a week

before she could resume full activity.

Friday evening my brother in law glassed a group of bucks before dark so we had a good

plan for Saturday morning. Saturday morning we were close to where the bucks were but we

couldn't even find a doe. After several hours we split up and I went to glass a spot I knew

deer liked to bed and after less than five minutes found a little forkhorn. It took a little bit

for her to get set up but one shot from the .250 Savage at 202 yards and the buck tipped

over after running down the hill a short distance. Wow! I was a happy dad! Finally, after

5 years she got her first deer!

 

 

I was able to take my 13 year old out a couple evenings and glass from the road. One of

those evenings some friends glassed a little buck that we went after but it got too dark.

I finally headed to my backpacking spot and set up camp early Wednesday. I was impressed

to see a little rutting activity from small and medium size bucks. Nothing hardcore but I realized

I better pay attention to the does when I glassed them up. Friday morning I headed to where I saw

a buck of interest the evening before and didn't make it too far from camp when I came upon 3 point

staring at me from 130 yards. I thought I better take him so I put a round in the .257 Weatherby and

squeezed the trigger. I had to shoot through a branch but he went right down and I all I could see

was a couple bushes shaking. I was happy. I boned him out after pictures and went back to camp.

 

Turns out it wasn't my biggest buck but I was happy.

The pack out was absolutely the roughest and heaviest

I have ever done. Next year the goal is to be in better shape!

My middle daughter was only able to get out one more time

and we didn't find anything but does, a shed and a good nap. LOL

 

Great time nonetheless!

Jeff

 

 

[Red Sparky]

Awesome Job! I also have a 13 year old daughter with asthma and it can be scary as all get out. Five days it must have been a pretty bad attack. Hope it gets better.

[AzDiamondHeat]

Fan freaking tastic.

[firstcoueswas80]

Very cool. That's a nice buck too! I can definitely see the challenge of solo hunt pictures!

[cohofishing]

Awesome story. Awesome deer.

 

Glad you did it with your daughter. Memories. They sure grow up fast.

 

Brent

[PelaPapas]

That is awesome! Congrats on the bucks!

[AZ RANGER]

Way to go Jeff! I've been wondering how your season went. Lools like it went awesome. Congrats to Kaitlyn on getting it done that's is so cool.

[cohntr6]

Thanks Scott!

I need to get Bronson's hunt up here.

How did you guys do?

Jeff

[AZ RANGER]

We had another good fall. I've been meaning to post up the story. Hopefully soon.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Good deal man way to work hard

[GRONG]

That is just to awesome!!!

[STOMP442]

Nice Job Jeff! Congrats to the girls as well.

[cohntr6]

Thanks!

How did you do Clint?

[STOMP442]

The wife wanted to hunt Mule deer this year down in 30B. We had fun, seen a lot of deer and passed on a bunch of smaller bucks every day but just couldn't close the deal on one we wanted to hang on the wall.