07-20-2014, 10:20 PM
Its a long one. Just noticed this hunting forum. Don't know how i missed it. Heres some pics to get you excited for hunting this year. These are hunting trips from last year, some trail cam pics and this years first ever turkey. Utah has been good to me so far. First elk, 5x6, day after opening day, general any bull.
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This was the satellite bull. There was a bigger one out of range with a bunch of cows. We found out the hard way how not to pack an elk out. Took 12 painful hours from time shot til all of it was in the truck. Good thing there was snow. Meat was very good, little tough, better than deer I think. We hunted the bigger elk for days and only saw him on the last day of the season in private property. I had a cow tag and got a few shots off at some another day, but my scope fogged up and was trying to use old peep sites and missed. I took my shotgun one day shot my first rough grouse.. Heres my first successful euro mount with help from a nice hunting girl at the beauty supply store. Wouldn't have guessed to go there for tips.
[inline "P1050780 (338x450).jpg"]
It had 2 points off the back that were 1/4" shy of counting... First pheasant(s).
[inline "P1050796 (450x338).jpg"]
[inline "P1050799 (338x450).jpg"]
I took a buddy with me to kick bushes at a WMA. No dog. They must have just put them out, we did pretty well. It was hard to get them to fly, you should have seen us running around in the field. First time eating pheasant and it was great. Ill be back this year for more. Heres my first ducks. 2 mallards.
[inline "P1050808 (450x338).jpg"]
I called in close to 50 mallards in the first 20 minutes but kept missing on both shots with my side by side. Found out I needed to be closer. Didn't like the taste of them, plucking the feathers and or ringing the necks. Probably wont go back but it was fun calling them in.
Trail cam pics.
[inline "MFDC3840 (450x326).jpg"]
I called this guy in just after I set up the camera while I was out scouting. I think its the same one I shot. I saw cat tracks on this trail and got this pic the day after of a cougar.
[inline "MFDC3848 (450x305).jpg"]
I got 3 more that same day and a lot of pictures of deer in this spot, I would guess its probably where he likes to hunt. I was hoping to see it in person but not this close. I had these 2 moose hang out in front of my camera for days. I think my camera smelled like my salt lick and they came over to check it out.
[inline "MFDC5156 (450x338).jpg"]
[inline "MFDC5448 (450x338).jpg"]
Triplets or baby sitting?
[inline "MFDC4708 (450x338).jpg"]
3 babies, one doe. 2 were button bucks. Good sign.
[inline "MFDC4735 (450x338).jpg"]
This is me opening day getting my gun ready to take on this moose...
[inline "MFDC4689 (450x338).jpg"]
..just before I took down the camera.. He had been following me and snuck up right next to me and started snorting, stomping his hoofs, and breaking branches with his antlers. He didn't like me in his territory that's for sure. I stood my ground, made a bunch of noise and he walked off. Heres the last one. My first turkey, opening day this year.
[inline "P1010249 (3) (300x450).jpg"]
Found an awesome spot half a mile off a major road on public land. Its very steep and a couple cliffs to climb which is probably why I didn't see any sign of humans, 40+ turkey, and every tree had a rub on it from moose, deer and elk. There was maybe 15 jakes and a few nice toms. They wouldn't come to my calls or decoys but the hens did eventually and I managed to shoot this little guy. If I would have waited 2 more minutes I would have had a huge tom with a beard to the ground that was right behind me when I shot. All day adrenaline rush. Im hooked! I injected it with season salt and water and smoked it. It was the best turkey ive ever had. Ill be back for another. I took a friend and his son, on a Saturday, and got both of them one before noon. And there is plenty more out there for next year. Going for archery elk this year. Im looking for that big bull we missed last day of the general season.
[inline "P1050743 (450x338).jpg"]
This was the satellite bull. There was a bigger one out of range with a bunch of cows. We found out the hard way how not to pack an elk out. Took 12 painful hours from time shot til all of it was in the truck. Good thing there was snow. Meat was very good, little tough, better than deer I think. We hunted the bigger elk for days and only saw him on the last day of the season in private property. I had a cow tag and got a few shots off at some another day, but my scope fogged up and was trying to use old peep sites and missed. I took my shotgun one day shot my first rough grouse.. Heres my first successful euro mount with help from a nice hunting girl at the beauty supply store. Wouldn't have guessed to go there for tips.
[inline "P1050780 (338x450).jpg"]
It had 2 points off the back that were 1/4" shy of counting... First pheasant(s).
[inline "P1050796 (450x338).jpg"]
[inline "P1050799 (338x450).jpg"]
I took a buddy with me to kick bushes at a WMA. No dog. They must have just put them out, we did pretty well. It was hard to get them to fly, you should have seen us running around in the field. First time eating pheasant and it was great. Ill be back this year for more. Heres my first ducks. 2 mallards.
[inline "P1050808 (450x338).jpg"]
I called in close to 50 mallards in the first 20 minutes but kept missing on both shots with my side by side. Found out I needed to be closer. Didn't like the taste of them, plucking the feathers and or ringing the necks. Probably wont go back but it was fun calling them in.
Trail cam pics.
[inline "MFDC3840 (450x326).jpg"]
I called this guy in just after I set up the camera while I was out scouting. I think its the same one I shot. I saw cat tracks on this trail and got this pic the day after of a cougar.
[inline "MFDC3848 (450x305).jpg"]
I got 3 more that same day and a lot of pictures of deer in this spot, I would guess its probably where he likes to hunt. I was hoping to see it in person but not this close. I had these 2 moose hang out in front of my camera for days. I think my camera smelled like my salt lick and they came over to check it out.
[inline "MFDC5156 (450x338).jpg"]
[inline "MFDC5448 (450x338).jpg"]
Triplets or baby sitting?
[inline "MFDC4708 (450x338).jpg"]
3 babies, one doe. 2 were button bucks. Good sign.
[inline "MFDC4735 (450x338).jpg"]
This is me opening day getting my gun ready to take on this moose...
[inline "MFDC4689 (450x338).jpg"]
..just before I took down the camera.. He had been following me and snuck up right next to me and started snorting, stomping his hoofs, and breaking branches with his antlers. He didn't like me in his territory that's for sure. I stood my ground, made a bunch of noise and he walked off. Heres the last one. My first turkey, opening day this year.
[inline "P1010249 (3) (300x450).jpg"]
Found an awesome spot half a mile off a major road on public land. Its very steep and a couple cliffs to climb which is probably why I didn't see any sign of humans, 40+ turkey, and every tree had a rub on it from moose, deer and elk. There was maybe 15 jakes and a few nice toms. They wouldn't come to my calls or decoys but the hens did eventually and I managed to shoot this little guy. If I would have waited 2 more minutes I would have had a huge tom with a beard to the ground that was right behind me when I shot. All day adrenaline rush. Im hooked! I injected it with season salt and water and smoked it. It was the best turkey ive ever had. Ill be back for another. I took a friend and his son, on a Saturday, and got both of them one before noon. And there is plenty more out there for next year. Going for archery elk this year. Im looking for that big bull we missed last day of the general season.
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