Browsing my latest edition of Fair Chase the Boone & Crockett Club quarterly magazine I checked to see if my bucks from last year were finally listed in the back. Not only were they both finally listed but they included a picture of my November 5×4 buck. What a great surprise!
I received my confirmation from Safari Club International on the score for my big non-typical Blacktail from August of last year. He’s officially their new number 18! The non-typicals score much better SCI as they don’t make the deductions for asymmetry like B&C. What an incredible buck!
More Pictures here on Flickr
Received confirmations from the Boone & Crockett Club that my big typical and non-typical Blacktail bucks from last year have been officially accepted. The Typical making the all time record book at 137 2/8 and the non-typical qualifying for the awards book 2010-2012 with his 127 2/8 net typical score.
They will both be listed in the Boone & Crockett Club’s 28th Big Game Awards book and my big 5×4 will be added to Records of North American Big Game, 14th edition and all subsequent editions.
Thanks to Dylan & Holly Carr and for my incredible 2010 season at the Diamond C.
Friday, March 18, I’m headed back up to Redding to trying for wild pig again at the JS McArthur Ranch. The forecast for the weekend was heavy rain and it poured all the way to my first stop, The Free Dive Shop in Sacramento where I was looking to get a new wetsuit for the upcoming abalone season. ‘Sean’ helped me try on a few and ultimately I settled on the Cressi Sub Tecnica.
Then up to Redding and met with my guide Dave Johnson. We drive up to the ranch and as we come to the gate there seems to be a break in the rain. We pack my gear into the Rino and are off to our first spot to glass for pigs. It’s windy and cold but I’m ready with warm gear and gloves. We’re glad it’s not raining as maybe the pigs will emerge and feed. None seem to be out yet so we move to another ridge. We sight some pigs at this point far in the distance. We make our way close and then walk over a hill and to a raging stream. The pigs are just across 200 yards but turn out to all be wet sows. We were barely able to ford this stream in the Rino last time I was here and I know there is no chance today. On our way back up the ridge we spot five bull elk bedded down in a little valley out of the wind. These are the same bulls we saw last time although now they shed their antlers.
We make a complete circle now and move on back to a high ridge to glass again. This time we see five pigs in an open field on our side of the stream. One is brown, dark in the front and light in the back. From this distance looks like a little buffalo. We think he’s a boar and we decide to try for him. The wind is perfect and Dave is pretty sure we’ll get close. We drive to a spot just below them and park the Rino. At this point we need to cross a creek just deep enough to be over our boots soaking our feet in the icy water. We head up the grassy hill and emerge just behind some bushes. We try to get a good look at them. The black pigs are on the right and are sows. The brown pig is right in front of me but facing away and I can’t tell. Finally he turns right and I see he’s a boar. I try to set my rifle on the pack but it’s too low so I just sit back and get on him from a sitting position. A sow is behind him so I wait. When she clears I hold on his shoulder and touch off the shot. He’s down but then right back up again and I’ve reloaded and am about to shoot again as he’s moving broadside to the left but then goes down for good. I’m shooting my Sauer 202 in .300 Weatherby with my hand loads, 180gr Nosler Accubonds going 3100 fps. The shot was about 90 yards. He’s a good size boar, Dave thinks 160 pounds. We take some pics and then head back just as the rain starts to come down. We skin him out in an open hangar. At one point the clouds clear and the supermoon is shining full over snow capped mount Lassen.
The next morning I’m headed to Willows. My friend Jeff Ashlock has invited me to a pheasant hunt at the Thunder Hill Pheasant Club. We meet at 8am and he introduces me to some of his friends. We are going to hunt with Jim and Justin. Jim has a great Springer Spaniel we’ll be using named ‘Shawnee’ Soon we are at our field and thanking our luck for the dry weather. The four of us spread out and start to walk the field behind the circling dog. I’m on the outside left with Jeff to my right. It’s not long before a bird flushes in front of Jeff and flies left in front of me. We both hit it and our first bird is in the bag. Everyone is shooting well and soon we’ve all shot a few birds. We’ve seen a few jackrabbits flushed and I hope to try for one if a shot presents itself. Towards the end of our hunt I’m on the outside right and Shawnee flushes a big rabbit that runs right. I’m on him and shoot and roll him at about thirty yards. Shawnee deposits him near me, he’s really big, much bigger than I expected. We finish the hunt getting one extra bird, a holdover from an adjacent field. I had a fantastic time. Always enjoy hunting with Jeff and it was great meeting some of the friends he’s told me about and hear their hunting stories from Africa. I forgot how much fun it is to shoot a shotgun and hunt upland game.
I was finally able to get my November 5×4 officially scored for Boone & Crockett and he makes the all time record book with a net score of 137 2/8″
So happy to hear that he makes the all time record book even with his fifth point that is deducted from the net score!
I brought both last years racks to Steve and we scored them in his garage which is an incredible display of world class trophies. My large non-typical falls short of the record book threshold netting 149″ but he still even makes awards on his typical frame alone even after deductions at 127″.
One interesting highlight was a corner of the garage with a mound of abalone shells and some incredible large ones hanging above. He has a framed picture commemorating a day he took three 10″ and one 9.5 back when you could pull four in a day. He also has a great recreation of abalone in their environment.
I bought a new bow over the holidays. I had originally planned on getting the Mathews Z7 after shooting it over at Archery Only and being impressed with how easy it was to shoot. Also it shot my same arrow 15 fps faster at 60 pounds than my PSE Enforcer was shooting at 70. When I finally came back in to buy, Wayne had me also try the Hoyt Carbon Element. I didn’t expect to like it and thought it’s design was a little strange, kind of organic, like twisting tree limbs. I was really surprised. I liked it much better than the Z7. It’s lighter and just felt right. I also shot the one he had set up much better than the Z7.
I finally was able to take it to Kings Mountain this afternoon. It was a little wet and foggy but I shot better than I ever have with the new bow. At times I could barely make out the 60 yard target but tried to just hold in the same place and did a pretty good group. I have the bow set to 60 pounds so it’s a pleasure to shoot and I don’t end up rushing my shots.
I’m really looking forward to practicing with the new bow and taking it hunting this summer.
Friday November 12 – Arrived at the ranch around lunchtime and after getting unpacked Dylan and I head out. The first buck we see just within the tree line is a pretty good buck with a broken main beam. He’s also missing an eye on the other side. Looks like he’s gotten the worst of it. He’s watching a spike with three does in the open field and we wonder when he’ll come drive the spike off. We drive on and come to a right hand turn that has hills to our right and a lower slope down on the left. we see a coyote sitting in the distance on the hill side. Dylan has those Leica geovids and ranges him at 281 yards. I dial my new CDS turret on my .270 Cooper to 280 and step out for a shot. I try to center the shaking reticle on it’s chest and squeeze. It falls at the shot and Dylan says I got it. We move up to check it out. I hit it low but still killed it. It’s a bitch with a nice coat. I’m so pleased with the CDS turret and ready for any shot on a big buck. Eventually we see Club again, he’s a nice 5×4 this year. A big fork horn in an opening with a doe. Later in the hunt we see a big 4×4 far out in a field with some does. Dylan calls him ‘The Teacher’ as he’s probably out of another buck they called ‘The Principal’ and he’s been pretty elusive. He looks interesting but we move on. Back near the cabin we get out and glass from the mound above the food plot. There is a buck with a short deformed rack in the near clearing. Farther down we find a rack in the grass that looks like a whitetail. Kenny arrives while we’re glassing. A cow died on the upper ranch and he’s going to sit over it this evening to try for coyotes. Holly arrives shortly after and we have a nice dinner of fried whitetail steaks from their Wisconsin trip.
Saturday November 13 – Up early and eventually back down to the lower ranch again. Right off we see a big 4×4 on a hill above us to our left. It’s the Teacher again and this time I get a closer look. He’s huge! I’m out and loading a round as he is moving below and to our right. We move to a grassy knob and I go prone but it’s too late for a shot. He does seem like a smart buck. Moving on we come to a narrow opening that has a nice looking 3×3 with a doe. We watch him for a while and Dylan take some video. Back to the cabin for lunch with Clayton and Ashley. Kenny is setting up again on the dead cow but nothing’s touched it so far. We’re back out after lunch. We see a spike with a doe and then a big fork horn with a doe. A little further on we see an odd looking buck. He’s a 4×3 and his left main beam hooks up. Dylan calls him ‘Captain Hook’ He’s also with a doe. We start thinking he might be a good bow buck. We drive on and enter a narrow wooded area and stop near a 4×4 just inside the tree line watching us. I take some pictures. He’s not a bad 4×4 although his backs are a little shallow. At the turn around we can see another ranch across the river and count 20 bucks in a clearing. Back to the Cabin for dinner with Holly, Clayton and Ashley, rib eyes off the bbq.
Sunday November 14 – On our way out there is a 4×3 above the decrepit ranch house with 3 does. We move on and see spikes and some forkies. We pass by Hook with a doe and a spike. Further on we have a view of a distant hill side where a lone coyote is sunning himself in an open field. He’s 800 yards so we leave him be. We pass a nice 3×3 with does.
Coming back now Hook is on the knob just above the rock pit. We drive to the barbwire fence line and he’s probably 100 yards from us. He’s with a doe and staring right at us. At this point we decide to see if I can get him with my bow. I slip out and Dylan hands me my bow, I crouch with the bill of my hat covering my face and slowly start moving in a low crouch up the fence line. I have a post in mind to range from. I take my time hoping that he doesn’t spook. I get to the post and take my rangefinder out and he’s still standing there. He’s at 55 yards. I estimate three posts to forty yards and start moving again. I get to my post and look up to range again. Still there. 39 yards. I start to clip my release on and as I do he turns endwise and puts his head down feeding! Now I’m thinking I can get to 30. I move up two posts stand and as I draw he takes three steps forward putting him just over the horizon of the hill side. I move even closer and now he’s broadside to me at 20 but I only see his back line. I contemplate shooting but decide against as I wouldn’t be able to see the impact. It would make too much noise to cross the fence so I back out. Back to the truck Dylan asks why I didn’t just shoot at 40. He says he’s still there and to approach from the other side of the fence line and keep a tree in between me and the doe. I’m off again, now my heart is pounding and I’m shaking a little. Try to calm down as I creep to the tree. I’m moving faster than before up to the tree but didn’t see the buck or the doe as I got closer. I get to the tree and then step out. There he is broadside at 10 yards, the doe as well, neither spook. I clip on and draw, I have my twenty pin buried in his chest and just as I put my finger in front of the trigger he simply walks down the hillside and the doe follows. I move to the other side of the knob but don’t have a shot. I should have drawn my bow before stepping out, should have believed that they were still there. Still, this was such an exciting stalk, one that I will be thinking about for the rest of the year.
We do some more glassing and watch one incredible buck fight. Two big bucks really going at it in the distance, the victor ends up with a rack full of grass. You can see how they can get hurt badly during the rut.
Lunch back at the cabin and then we take the Rhino up to Crandall’s to swap a trail cam card and put in batteries. We glass bucks from Deadman’s for a while. There are two 3x3s with a doe below us and a 3×3 in the distance bedded with a doe. After a while we head back to the cabin and into the truck. We see a pretty nice 4×4 right near the road who doesn’t seem bothered by us. We take some video of him and he eventually moves off. We head up to the willows and there are about 14 turkeys there. We look down into the valley and see a big 3×3 gets up with another big buck with a broken main beam. We decide to head back to the cabin and then eventually come back again to try for the Teacher. We’re seeing a couple spikes and lots of does out near the cabin from the knob above it. Soon Dylan spots a big buck and we get the spotting scope out. He looks awesome, deep forks. He’s a big 5×4. I see him leave the tree line and think he’s gone but he comes back out again with a doe. I grab my Cooper and rack a round, drop the bi-pod and we crawl forward on the knob. Dylan had grabbed the video camera. He says he’s at 234 yards and shoot when ready. I set the turret to 230 I’m holding on him and squeezing just as he turns his head back. He kicks at the shot and I try to find him in my scope as he runs in a large circle now moving away, I shoot again holding on his shoulder and he drops. I hit the base of his neck. Actually the first shot was perfect and he was probably about to drop. I’m so happy with him. He is a fantastic buck with deep forks and a small fifth. He looks like a potential B&C buck! We celebrate with a great dinner of Caribou steaks from their recent hunt.
Monday November 15 -Up early monday to try for pigs with our bows over at Dylan’s. Halfway there we can see it’s completely socked in so decide to abort and head back to the ranch to take care of my buck. We tour the ranch first but not much is out. A coyote manages to elude us. Back to the cabin for lunch and then we skin and quarter my buck. Dylan capes him and then we put the tape on him. He’s 139 3/8 gross with about 4” in deductions. He just might make the book when I can score him in January. Regardless it was the end of an amazing 2010 season taking the two best bucks of my life and so many great experiences hunting with Dylan again on the Diamond C.
November 14th I was back up in Humboldt county and took a huge typical blacktail buck. He green scores 138 3/8″ and he just might make the all time record book. Following up on my huge non-typical back in August this has been an incredible season for me. I hope to combine the two stories and try and get it into either Safari Club or Boone & Crocket’s monthly magazine. I’m planning a custom mount that includes them both and perhaps some landscape features and want to display it in the story. Until then here are a couple pictures of the 4×5. I get both of them scored officially next month.
Was very pleased to see my Blacktail buck featured on the Boone & Crockett web site Trophy Watch section. The oldest conservation organization in America founded in 1887 by one of my heroes Theodore Roosevelt.
Taking an animal that they would even consider featuring here is an incredible privilege and honor. The buck I took green scored at 157 6/8″ and will most likely fall just short of the 155 threshold when scored officially. There are only seventeen entries for Non-Typical Blacktail in the record book that features hundreds for most categories. Scoring close is incredible and he’ll certainly make the Awards book that is issued every three years.
Each year before hunting season Dylan starts sending me trail cam or spotting scope photos of great bucks he’s been seeing as I anxiously await my annual trip to his ranch, the Diamond C, in Humboldt County. Often there are some specific deer we hope to find but we aren’t usually just looking for one buck. My excitement level builds as the possibilities unfold.
This year I had planned to arrive late August however Dylan was seeing so many great deer he asked if I could come earlier. I was able to change my schedule and arrived Tuesday 8/2. We had a few exceptional bucks in mind to chase. A monster 3×4 that seemed like a good candidate for my bow. A 5×4 down near the cabin, and then one huge buck that had only been seen a couple times. Not sure what he was, only that he was very very BIG. This ended up being the buck we hunted for. The one.
Tuesday night Dylan and his wife Holly and I left the cabin around 6pm. Immediately we saw a 4×4 near the cabin. He looked great, deep forks, probably the biggest I’ve ever seen, but a young buck. Too young to shoot. He’ll no doubt be huge next year. One great thing about hunting every year with Dylan is that I’ve been able to see how improved the deer are on his ranch. Also you can see traits from previous great bucks that are now propagated in his herd like the huge typical ‘Cabin Buck’ or the non-typical ‘Fever’. He’s done a great job managing the ranch. He’s now part of the PLM or Private Lands Management program which has the benefit of longer seasons and also allows me to either use my bow or rifle.
We find a great vantage point on a large rock that overlooks golden hills on either side We glass for Mr. Big until sundown. A spike is milling around nearby unconcerned. Dusk is such a magical time hunting. The landscape you’ve been glassing for hours slowly transforms color as bucks and does materialize. Excitement builds as we hope to catch a glimpse of the big buck. As the sun sets behind us, the sweetly scented hills and distant trees turn a reddish gold and then slowly through shades of gray into night.
It’s a little warmer than we’d wish and we have seen some hard horned bucks. We’re thinking that they may have changed their pattern and are rubbing their velvet off somewhere in the thicker brush. We do see some great deer the next day along with all the usual pigs, turkeys, quail. Some we recognize like ‘club’ that had a big knob for an antler on one side is now a respectable 4×4. A very tall 3×3 with silver gray velvet. Too many to recall now but we don’t see one of the big ones or THE big one. Lots of does and fawns are seen all around the ranch.
Thursday I make the mistake of checking my phone, which rarely works up there, only to find it has. An urgent issue at work requires my attention by Friday. I end up leaving Thursday night. I had originally planned to be up on the 21st so decide to just come back then. Time spent this week was really a bonus.
Sunday 8/8 is Kari and my birthday. Dylan calls me and asks if I’ve seen the picture. With no cell coverage in La Honda I don’t get my texts until I’m back in the valley. Kari and I are shopping when I finally see the picture. He’s spotted the BIG buck and has taken some pics with his phone through the spotting scope and sent me the one below. The picture is impressive, his antlers stand clear above the tall grass, deep forks and extra points. Staring at my iPhone I can’t help but think I’m sharing the same feelings with my primitive ancestors as they gazed at the flickering images on the cave wall; hope, desire, hunger. This is a special buck!
When I finally call to say I’ve seen the picture. He asks wouldn’t I rather hold him in my hands. I need to get back up there as soon as possible. I don’t require any further encouragement. What a great birthday present! Yes I want to hunt this buck. I manage to communicate the urgency to Kari and have no problem securing some additional days off from work and an understanding boss. I’m headed back up Tuesday morning 8/10. I arrive mid day and take it easy at the cabin with Dylan until it gets late enough to try for him. We have the rest of the week to look for him until Friday when another hunter is coming in.
Kenny Sanders regularly hunts coyotes on the ranch for Dylan. I’m thrilled to finally meet him. He’s come to help us out. Dylan has a plan. He and Holly will both take separate locations to glass for the buck while Dylan and I will head up top near where Dylan had seen him last. Finally we all head out to our respective spots. We aren’t really seeing many deer out.
Dylan decides we should go up a little higher than where he saw the buck last. It’s not long before Dylan spots him with another buck getting up from their beds and walking away from us into a thick strand of oak trees. I only see a big rack and his rear as he disappears into the trees. Dylan says to make sure I shoot the right deer, the big one is the wide one. It’s pretty obvious which as they disappear into the woods.
Dylan takes us much further up where we grab our gear and are quickly climbing a grassy hillside, through a wooded area, and emerge onto a high rocky knob that overlooks the trees the bucks entered. I take a prone position with Dylan behind me and try to get settled in for any possible shot. I have my Sako 85 in 30.06 with a short harris bi-pod. I have a steady rest.
We have a great view if they keep coming with some clearings that offer good shot opportunities. My legs are higher than my head and I’m lying on jagged rocks. After 20 minutes my left arm is falling asleep and I’m beginning to wonder if they will show. I’m wanting to sit up for a while but I tell myself to just stay put as they could emerge at any moment.
Soon Dylan whispers behind me that he sees them. He calmly explains where to look and I see the big buck immediately. I acquire him in my scope and then turn it up to 12 power. He’s facing me with his head down at about 200 yards. I’m afraid he will walk right out of this window back into the trees. I’m looking down on him and I hold in between his shoulders. I’m squeezing and boom, he is gone at the shot. I’m not sure if it was a hit or not. I reload and watch and he emerges into the closer clearing. I’m not sure if he’s hit. I’m holding on him again, squeezing, and boom, at the shot he’s gone again. I know he’s hit and think he’s just rolled right there.
Now the buck he’s with walks right into the same clearing facing left and looking down. Hes a big 5×4 himself. He just stands there for minutes looking, we think at the other buck. He’s a great buck. After a long time we are starting to ponder the idea of shooting him too on my second tag. He just stands there offering a perfect broadside shot. Suddenly we hear crashing in the trees below and the other buck bolts off. We are pretty sure it was the first buck rolling down the steep hill. After a few more minutes we see the 5×4 in the far distance.
We finally decide to go check it out. We gather our gear and walk back down the steep hillside and then make our way to a large fir tree that they were under when we shot. We side step down the hill and eventually I see an antler rising above a log that stopped his fall. As we approach Dylan sees he has six points on that side and as we arrive and pick up his head by his beautiful antlers, he’s actually a 5×7 with great palmation on both sides. Dylan and I exchange congratulations at least a few times. I’m in shock. I still can’t believe we pulled this off. I take a moment holding his rack in my hands, what a majestic buck. He’ll provide many meals and memories and be immortalized as the biggest buck yet taken on the ranch and most likely the biggest of my life.
Kenny and Holly soon arrive along with her kids Clayton and Ashley. I’m so glad Kenny is there helping us drag him up the steep hill. We finally get him to the top where we take a couple pictures just as the sun sets.
I’m so grateful for my luck and for Dylan’s skill and knowledge to put us in the right position to have a chance and take such an incredible buck. My dad used to say there are no atheists in fox holes. I think hunting also puts you back in touch with God or whatever your notion of him may be. From urgent supplication to unbounded thanks, hunting often has me checking in with the big guy. I’ll be thankful for this day the rest of my life.
I look forward to many more hunts at the Diamond C. As I take better and better bucks I’m truly looking forward more to ‘the hunt’ the anticipation, the experience, and the memories of time spent with great friends like Dylan and Holly Carr.
More Pictures here on Flickr
