Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
Just returned from my Alberta, Canada hunt. Was up for 8 days and on day 2 at 7:45 am my hunt ended.
On day one, traveled to the hunting area. Went in early before light, traveled by SxS for about 8 miles into the forest, and got situated in my tripod stand with a swivel seat. These are not enclosed blinds so you are exposed all day until after sundown. I was hunting a slough bottom that had a creek running through. Lots of mature poplar, spruce, red dogwood and other shrubs. We were hunting a long scrape line and the bucks were very active checking the scrapes and still establishing territory. Their circuit cycle was about every 3 days they were visiting the scrapes.
At 9 am, I heard a sound to my right. Got my gun up and a huge grey wolf came trotting to within 7 yards of my stand. He was downwind of me and had not winded me, but was focused on the base of the stand where we came in that morning. I hissed at him to chase him off and he looked right at me. Did that two more times before he trotted off. Three more wolves came in and did the same thing. They were traveling single line with about 70 yards between each of them. Pretty surreal experience to be that close to them in the wild. Things were quiet the rest of the day with no deer sightings.
Day two got back into the stand. Was cold, around 20 deg F and very quiet. At 7:45 am I heard a twig snap in front of me but could not see anything because of the spruces in front of me. Got my gun up and ready and the buck came trotting out in front of me at about 80 yards. He was "speed" scent checking for does trotting pretty quick. Was about to grunt to pause him and he just stopped and raised his nose up. I put the cross hairs on him and put one right into the boiler room. He mule kicked twice, went 2 steps, and crumbled about 8 yrds from where i shot him. Shot hit the top of the heart and blew out the lungs.
Thankful and blessed for a good quick clean kill. He was a dark horned 10 point with sticker blades on his right G2 & G3. Measured at 164-3/8", mass measurement was 39.25", and field dressed weight was 246 lbs.
On day one, traveled to the hunting area. Went in early before light, traveled by SxS for about 8 miles into the forest, and got situated in my tripod stand with a swivel seat. These are not enclosed blinds so you are exposed all day until after sundown. I was hunting a slough bottom that had a creek running through. Lots of mature poplar, spruce, red dogwood and other shrubs. We were hunting a long scrape line and the bucks were very active checking the scrapes and still establishing territory. Their circuit cycle was about every 3 days they were visiting the scrapes.
At 9 am, I heard a sound to my right. Got my gun up and a huge grey wolf came trotting to within 7 yards of my stand. He was downwind of me and had not winded me, but was focused on the base of the stand where we came in that morning. I hissed at him to chase him off and he looked right at me. Did that two more times before he trotted off. Three more wolves came in and did the same thing. They were traveling single line with about 70 yards between each of them. Pretty surreal experience to be that close to them in the wild. Things were quiet the rest of the day with no deer sightings.
Day two got back into the stand. Was cold, around 20 deg F and very quiet. At 7:45 am I heard a twig snap in front of me but could not see anything because of the spruces in front of me. Got my gun up and ready and the buck came trotting out in front of me at about 80 yards. He was "speed" scent checking for does trotting pretty quick. Was about to grunt to pause him and he just stopped and raised his nose up. I put the cross hairs on him and put one right into the boiler room. He mule kicked twice, went 2 steps, and crumbled about 8 yrds from where i shot him. Shot hit the top of the heart and blew out the lungs.
Thankful and blessed for a good quick clean kill. He was a dark horned 10 point with sticker blades on his right G2 & G3. Measured at 164-3/8", mass measurement was 39.25", and field dressed weight was 246 lbs.
stud !
