The first hunt of the season was truly an awesome hunt.  We started seeing deer on the road to the trail-head.  During the hunt, of the 8 hunters hitting the brush hard, we counted 39 distinctly different bucks.  We estimated that between the 8 of us we had at least 80 buck sightings; many of them well within bow range.  I love to camp in spectacular places.  Our camp was at the base of this mountain, just out of view beyond the trees and to the left.

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There were 11 of us who came in on this trip.  Not all of us were hunting.  Above my wife is humored by the comical appearance of one our horses carrying a Block on his back.

Jensine didn't spend all of her time hunting.  Here she takes some time to teach Susan how to ride and adjusts her stirrup for her.

Just in case, Jensine starts Blackjack our most experience Mustang and Susan out on a long-line.  It's a fact, we are a long ways from help.

Returning from their ride all's well and all smiles.

 Jensine is a top notch wrangler.  She is my right and left arm out in the woods.  (And at home for that matter.)  Here our two quarter horses enjoy a little ice cold water from the creek behind our camp; Mom and son; Sandra Dee (left)and Micky Dee.

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In the end I never took a shot.  In all, I let seven fine bucks walk this year and eventually went home empty, but I had a great time and a great season!!

Ummm, and some of us missed -- big oops, but they're happy.  They got their shot and a mess of stories to tell.  While others of us let good deer walk in hopes of coming upon an even better deer later in the hunt.    

 Only one hunter didn't get a shot opportunity on this hunt.  And still he was happy; he had spent a lot of time with his son!  Three of the eight went home with trophies.  All of us went home with a pack-load of memories.  

Included in my "great time" is seeing hunters too excited to sleep and eager to get up early and meet the dawn; high on a hillside looking intently for that trophy!

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After they took the 4 point John was determined to get his! Later he came into camp almost apologetic for having shot yet another bear (his third bear with a bow).  He is still looking forward to that first deer.

This up-coming season is the one John; I just feel it!________________________________________________ The only thing I got to shoot with my bow this year was a target!  I know, it's a very, very sad story. ;-(

I personally had a parade of 6 bucks all pass before me within my effective range; two of which would have easily made the record books.  Two of the six were bucks of the caliber of the 4 Point at the top of the page.  The other two were lesser bucks that would have been the pride of many a hunter.  I drew on the two magnificent bucks, but couldn't see my pins when placed on the kill zone.  The colors of the pins were hard to distinguish and they seems to blend in to the fir of the deer when placed on target.  This was due in part to the dimming light and a big part was due to the outdated pins that I had on my Mathews SQ2. I plan on fixing the later problem well before the season starts this year!!!

We didn't have the bears weighed, but my guess would have had them pushing 300 pounds.  Of course, the fact that we were dead tired by the time be got them to a pickup point may have influenced my estimate -- just somewhat.

Look at the claws on that bad boy!!

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I may have ended the bow season smelling somewhat like a skunk, but I didn't finish out the season without filling out a tag.  I was very pleased with this bear.  

These guys worked hard and it was teamwork that brought this fine Typical 4 Point Trinity Alps Black Tail Buck back to camp.

His bow finally acquired and in hand; it becomes painfully clear his moment had slipped his grasp.  He looked up, only to catch a fleeting glimpse of his chance at a studly buck -- turn away and quietly vanish.The successful archer could see the buck was on his way.  As the buck disappeared from view he quickly adjusted his sight-pin to 50 yards anticipating the trail where he would materialize next.  A forked horn buck walks into view and he gets ready.  It's still.  Moments take a long time in passing.

A flit of motion is caught with his left eye.  A gut wrenching feeling seizes him as he realizes, he has settled on the wrong spot. 

The big boy is a mere 17 yards to his immediate left. It's snap decision time!  Buck and hunter both spin. He aims as low as he can on the deer's chest and triggers the arrow fee.  It's too late.  He's already taken flight and the arrow misses its mark, but not the deer.  The extra wide broad-head makes a devastating path through meat, veins, and arteries. 

It's tracking time.  They give him a little while and then the three friends set off. The rest is history -- to be told with many versions you can be sure.   ;-)

Jensine brings home the meat. 

Practice pays off yet again.  Yeah John!