What follows are my recent recollections, observations and images of one of the most incredible and exhilarating hunts I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of. It was far from the most difficult, but it was pure magic and I’d not do much different knowing a little more now than I did going in.
I traveled from Boston to Alaska to hunt what many rightly consider to be the classic and quintessential American big game animal, the American bison. Also known as buffalo, it’s an indigenous North American animal forever entwined in the history and mystique of America, her pioneers and the expansion of same into the North American interior.
The bison played no small part in the history and the cultures of many Native American plains Indians, as everyone knows. The once vast bison herds were at the forefront of some early Americans moving into the heart of the continent, and ultimately led in part to the ‘taming of the west’. Many Indians I suppose will decry this incursion of the white man as the trigger of the death knell for their cultures, but I’m not here to delve into that. I’m just aiming to tell my bison story with a little background. I’ve been enamored with this great beast since childhood. Hell, I’m old enough to remember feeling lucky upon receiving an occasional buffalo/Indian head nickel in change from candy stores in the 1970s. I still have a bunch of them.
The bison is living American history and a symbol of America. I’m quite sure some members here like Shrapnel are much better qualified to speak on bison history and the early American western pioneers, but I’ve been in awe of them and have often dreamt of them over the years. To actually have the opportunity to hunt one, a wild one, was until very recently been but dream fodder.
Perhaps five years ago, member Sitka Deer out of Anchorage suggested I start applying for some non-resident game tags in Alaska. At the time we’d been corresponding for a number of years on 24HCF and got to know each other via PMs, emails, phone calls and ultimately had us meeting in Florida. He told me long before then that if I hit any of the draw tags, he’d help make the hunt happen for me. Our talks were mostly about fishing, guns, hunting, travel, food and the like, and we came to form a friendship, one I’ve been glad for and happy to embrace.
The emperor goose, caribou and moose tags SD he had me applying for had reasonable odds for success and for a number of years I paid my money and took my chances. In five odd years of donations to AKDFG I’d had zero luck. Alaska is one of the states that require a big game license to apply for draw hunts, so coming away with no banana after a few years was a bit disappointing, but I kept at it, ever hopeful.
When I’d originally asked SD exactly which tags he thought I should be putting on in for, he opined that if I was the gambling sort, in addition to the emperor goose, moose and caribou, ones he thought I had decent odds of hitting within a few years, if I was feeling froggy, I’d maybe want to start putting in also for a coveted bison tag. Odds were decidedly poor for that one. I think 2000:1 were the approximate odds I read. Like picking a single marked ace of spades out of 35 decks of playing cards in one try or something. Despite the odds, I agreed with SD that *someone* had to win one of the few bison tags that AK offered every year. Fugg it, I'm in.
The call came sometime around noon. I was napping and when I looked at my phone was a little surprised to see it was SD, as our standard chat time was from about midnight to 4am, EST. Yes, I am a night owl. “Hey man. Weird time for you to call. Is everything OK?”, I asked.
“Sure, everything’s just fine here. What are you doing?”
“Napping, actually, but no worries. What’s up?”
“You haven’t seen it then, obviously” he says, somewhat cryptically.
“Seen what, exactly?” I asked, a bit confused and still dopey from my nap. SD started laughing quietly a bit and then explained that today was the one where the AK game tag lottery results were released online. I sat upright and immediately understood that I‘d won something in the AK hunt draw for 2022.
“Wait a sec… Oh man, wow, I hit a lottery tag, didn’t I?”
A bit more of snickering was followed by, “Why yes, you did, actually”
“Holy sheet! I got my emperor goose tag?”, I asked not a little excitedly.
He paused a bit, then said, “Uh, no. Try again.”
“Wait, oh man, I got a moose tag!”
“Negative”
“Huh. Then caribou! YES! Oh man, I can’t believe…”
“Wrong again.”
It took a couple of seconds being a bit confused, sitting on the edge of my bed and thinking about what I’d applied for it before it hit me. I blurted out, ‘you can’t be serious. I didn’t actually hit… the BISON tag, did I?”
“Why yes, actually you did, you unbelievably lucky SOB. I’ve been trying for that one for only about 40 years ”
Much hollering and carrying on followed. I was five years old on Christmas day once again.
The hunt was many months off, but naturally I started daydreaming and planning immediately. I’d won a coveted any sex tag, which was very nice, since I’d have the option of taking either a cow or bull if I had the chance. Having the option of a crack at a cow, should that be my only opportunity, was still a big deal. I’m not what anyone would consider to be ‘trophy’ hunter. To me, the prize is always the hunt itself. That said, given the choice, I’ll kill a bull any day over a cow.
A plan developed, but slowly. SD advised me that due to amongst other considerations, not the least of which included winter weather concerns and hunts he does every year in September, his call would be for us to wait until the end of the season, likely in March, to hunt. October/November were options but he liked the early spring time frame. Deep winter temps with wind chill can reach -50F in DJ, not to mention the fact that the hours of daylight are slim then. Made sense to me. The bison season was long; about six months long, actually, opening in early September and ending March 31. And so that was the loose plan. Up until I received notice from the AKDFG that major changes had been made to the Delta Junction bison hunt…
Due to a brutal previous winter, one with incredible snowfall and the worst part, a mid-winter thaw and subsequent freeze that saw a thick sheet of ice develop, wreaked havoc on the bison herd --and about all other game populations. More than 200 bison of the Delta Junction herd starved to death last year. As a result, the AKDFG decided that the six-month season would now be comprised of five separate groups of 24 hunters each, with each group’s start date to coincide with the order of selection in the lottery.
The groups would have the collective kill capped at 12 bulls, and the formerly ~6-month long season would now be only 12 days long for each group, with a predetermined start date for every group. The kicker was that with each group, if and when 12 bulls were reported as killed, the AKDFG would inform the rest of the group that the season would close the next day at midnight. Also, all tags were now bull-only.
Not only were we up against the short season and bull only requirements, we were up against the other hunters. Kill one of the 12 bulls allotted, or go home. For non-residents, this is a once in a lifetime tag.
I mentioned to the gal at the DJ AKDFG that I’d have gladly put off hunting this year, as long as my tag would be honored and I’d be able to hunt them in the next year or three. She explained that she and many others had advocated for exactly that, but had been snubbed by the powers that be, citing requirements for public hearings, legislative action, etc. A lousy deal for the bison, but I wasn’t going to sit it out and forego my one chance to do my all to try to hunt up a wild, free-ranging buffalo. And with that, the planning began in earnest.
I’ll not bore folks with the planning and gear lists and arrangements that were developed in the intervening couple of months before the hunt start date of 10/18.
My flight out of Boston’s Logan was at 5:45 am, bound for Seattle, which had me headed out of my place at around 3:30 am. I figured that things would be pretty quiet that early. Not so much, but no big deal.
I checked my bags through to Anchorage.
The flight to Seattle went off fine, and I passed the couple hours I had there until my next leg. Watching some of the locals in and just outside of the AP helped pass the time. All colors of the rainbow were represented in the hair--and sexual preferences-- of many under age 40. Bearded, manbun wearing effeminates in pajamas with backpacks with teddy bears hanging out the back paraded about. Plenty of fishing tackle clipped to faces. And of course, tattoos on just about all of them. I was glad to be only transiting the place, though many years ago I confess enjoying some fun times there.
Closing in on the AP, I glanced out the window. Nope, not on the east coast anymore.
SD picked me up at the AP in Anchorage. We loaded gear quickly and headed for his home base. As has become a tradition for me, I’d hauled some fresh north Atlantic seafood and a couple of bottles of spirits as small tokens of thanks for my host. SD had one of his lady friends over later, and we enjoyed some bugs and New England clam chowdah that evening. And yes, that is how it’s properly spelled.
The first night had us eating well, drinking a fair amount, poring over some maps and sharing contacts and info about the hunt area and whatnot. SD’s house had no shortage of interesting things to play with and gawk at. Dan in Alaska stopped by to say hello and shoot the breeze for a short time. Good dude who really helped me out and shared some wonderful stuff to bring home with me on the back end of the hunt.
We had some concerns over weather and we watched the AK 511 road conditions/weather website closely. With an approximate 350 mile trip from Anchorage to Delta Junction, including running some relatively steep and potentially dangerous mountain passes, it wasn’t something to ignore.
Our fears came to pass the next day. Conditions on our route were alternately marked as ‘difficult’, ‘very difficult’ and ‘hazardous’ in several of the areas we’d need to transit. If we were lucky, what would have been maybe a 7-8 hour drive in decent conditions could turn into a 12+ hour drive, if we could actually make it. We decided to abort for the day, and crossed fingers that the forecast for better weather predicted for the following day would allow us to make the run up to DJ in better conditions and in good time. And so, it was.
We spent the extra day around Anchorage running around making a few pitstops. I secured my required $900 NR locking bison tag and a state duck stamp (we’d hoped to get a chance to shoot harlequin and Barrow’s goldeneye for my bird collection after the bison hunt). We picked up a couple of last-minute odds and sods, and I saw some very impressive mounts and fish in live tanks at Cabela’s. The pho joint we ate at was quite good, and we ran up to a local vista for me to check out. Alaska has no shortage of beautiful views, even inside city limits.
Later that night, I had the pleasure of meeting another ‘Fire member, CWH. His hospitality and dinner offerings were outstanding, and I enjoyed meeting him, his lovely young daughter and their neat, friendly little dog.
I happily devoured a fabulous moose steak CWH cooked and we all drank well and shared tales of past hunts and fishing exploits past.
I particularly enjoyed CWH’s telling of a wild and comical hand to tentacle battle he had on the deck of his boat with a size XL Pacific octopus he’d hooked one time on a fishing trip. Being a long-time saltwater fisherman who loves pulling weird creatures up from the deep, I particularly liked that one.
SD and I hit the road the next day, despite a few still ugly road reports in spots. The ride up to DJ was at times delightful, but also mildly terrifying. I’ve been driving in winter snow and ice for about 40 years here in New England. I know how to do it and understand what the dangers are. I know what not to do. One of the things not to do is run at speeds up to 90 mph on roads that have patches of shiny, sketchy looking black ice on the road in between sheets of obvious ice, slush and crunchy snow-covered highway. There were a few dry spots along the way, I’ll admit.
A few times we fishtailed on the road like an aged, drunken hooker on a slippery dance floor. Many places on those mountain passes have spots with no guard rails. Sliding over the edge in some of these places at speed meant probable death. The imaginary passenger side brakes got a workout on that ride. Not so fun at times but we never left the hardtop. How I’ll never know!
We did see a goodly number of vehicles later that wound up off the road in ditches and worse, including a U.S. Army vehicle in a convoy.
For good measure, on the ride up SD shared a tale of a guy who’d gone over the edge on his motorbike some years back. A friend of the missing chap wound up looking for him, figuring he’d gone over the edge somewhere and thought he could possibly find him where authorities hadn’t been able to. The friend finally did find him. His buddy had obviously survived the horrific ordeal of going over the edge and down into a hole in a rugged mountain twisty section but ended up dying of exposure out there. A comforting tale that one wasn’t, told as we hustled along the same road…
The views of the Alaska range were nothing short of spectacular, and SD was knowledgeable about the region and explained the views I often took in with an open-mouthed gaze and my head shaking. I took in scenes of the Chugach and Talkeetna mountains and asked to stop at a couple to take a few shots. Virtually all I saw was stunning and many supremely rugged mountains, with their many white, ragged peaks cutting a magnificent sight against the skyline had me in absolute awe. America? F8CK YEAH!
We were treated to seeing some moose, one ballsy ruffed grouse we left unmolested and some other small wildlife enroute.
After some eight plus hours on the road with reason and maybe some physics defied, we actually made it in one piece.
I’d made reservations at a local inn in ‘downtown’ DJ. Population in DJ hovers at around 1000. When we finally pulled in, we got checked in and got settled. There were two queen beds, a proper shower and a kitchenette with a two-burner range, ‘fridge/small freezer and coffee maker. All set there. Hot breakfasts were included in the cost, so that was nice. We certainly wouldn’t be roughing it on this hunt.
We touched base with Rost495, another 24HCF member who I’ve been friendly with and corresponded with off and on for years. He’d generously offered to assist in any way he could. A lifelong Texan, the man now makes part of his living guiding in AK for bear, moose and sheep, I believe, and he and his lovely wife have a place in DJ that they live in seasonally.
We spent the night before the hunt comparing notes with Rost495 and having a decidedly crappy dinner at a place called ‘The Cave’. They were generous with the name. ‘The Dump’ would’ve been more appropriate, where they pride themselves in their lousy, expensive food and horrible service. A couple of wildly overcooked burgers (we’d ordered them medium rare) and a few drinks only cost me about a hundred bucks. No matter. I wasn’t there for the fine dining and a night out on the town, after all. I was there to try to kill a bison.
A few words from the AKDFG website including the origins of the Delta Junction herd:
“In 1928, 23 bison from the National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana were transplanted to their historic range along the Delta River. By 1947 the herd of plains bison had increased to 400 animals. Beginning in 1951, hunting was allowed and is currently used to limit the herd to a precalving population of 275–300 bison. The herd is maintained at this level to reduce the potential for damage to agricultural crops and to keep the herd within the carrying capacity of its summer range. 15,000–20,000 people apply each year for 80–120 permits to hunt Delta bison. Delta bison have been used to start three other herds in Alaska.
The Delta herd's summer range is along the Delta River, in the eastern interior of the state, southwest of Delta Junction. In the fall, bison migrate from the Delta River toward Delta Junction. Prior to agricultural development, the winter range included country east of Delta Junction between the Granite Mountains and Tanana Hills. With development of agriculture, bison began using farms extensively during the fall and winter.”
Due to our delay getting heading up to DJ, we had but one full day to scout public and private land and to try to obtain permission to trespass on a number of the privately owned pieces of land that allowed bison hunting. Between public areas legal to hunt and the private land potentially available, the Delta bison range encompasses about 200 square miles, I believe. Not exactly a small parcel of land. Figuring out where we could hunt was kind of tricky, as the map with corresponding units pictured were alternately labeled as ‘no hunting’, ‘hunting allowed with permission required’ and ‘hunting allowed with permission; fee required’. That was pretty straightforward, but many of the units listed had no contact information other than a name.
We made the best of the time we had, and between help from Rost495 and a few of SD’s local friends and connections, we got some good leads. VernAK and Rost495 really shined here in their devoted scouting for the team. All the lads were able to offer helpful info on where bison were being seen. As important as where people were seeing bison was people telling us where the bison *weren’t* being seen. A lot of the combined efforts came together to try to help make this fellow hunter’s dream come true. That generosity, time away from their lives and general good will shall never be forgotten, nor be unrecognized. It meant a great deal to me then, and always will.
The last day before our group’s start date, we put several miles on foot and dozens more behind wheels trying to locate herds with obvious bulls. We located several areas where bison had crossed the highway and led on and off an area called Panoramic Fields and back onto private land on the other side of the road, but other than the couple of places we actually laid eyes on bison, there were lots of question marks.
As an added unexpected bonus, SD and I spotted several birds in our travels between searching for bison, and I was able to kill three spruce grouse with three shells. Boy are they beautiful birds. The last one I killed was a big, mature male who took a single #8 pellet from SD’s 870 that I used. That one is destined to become part of the honored mismatched flock of birds I’ve taken over the last couple of decades.
We also took a few minutes of our day on the far side of the Gerstle river to make sure I was OK shooting SD’s model 700 in .375AI. I set up my newly bought shooting sticks and SD ranged a spot with a backstop 100 yards off, then set up a medium sized coffee cup with a rock in it as a target. I got situated and picked a spot about two thirds up from the base and center punched the cup. All set there. Set up the way SD has it, it shoots like a pussycat. Mild push. No pain, no drama.
We spent more time searching for fresh sign and animals in other places, and finally left the herd of around 25 bison we’d been watching off and on all day--and hoped to take a bull from-- sometime near dark. After SD and I called it a day, Rost495 stomped more miles on bison trails snooping. He was determined to ‘put the herd to bed’ if he could, wanting to know exactly where the herd we were watching earlier bedded down for the evening. He called later to say that never did put eyes on them again, but not for lack of trying. The man out of south Texas takes his hunting very seriously.
There were two obvious bulls we spotted glassing the Wrigley land during the day and assumed that’s where they were when we left them. We’d met with and spoken to the landowner and I happily and gratefully paid a small trespass fee to be able to hunt his family land. Likewise, I’d secured permission to hunt a couple thousand acres of the land across the road owned by the Robinson family. The three of us (SD, Rost495 and I) had agreed to meet at Wrigley’s land at 5:30am; sunrise was at 8:30. VernAK said that he’d be on the move early looking for us too. The plan was for us to get back early enough to try to make sure that we were first to ‘drive a stake’ at that property, so to speak. Hopefully other bison hunters would honor that we were there first. Wishful thinking, but that was the plan.
I think you’re staying at the same place I stay when I’m in Delta. L
The Roadhouse is my second home but it’s been several years since I’ve been there and I don’t know if Bill still owns it but in any case that place has character.
While glassing in the darkness under clouds and little moonlight on opening day for us, the third group of bison hunters for 2022, I spotted a number of them, perhaps 30, a few hundred yards from the trucks. They were lumbering across the Wrigley land at around 6:30 am. It was still far too dark to sex any of them, and we watched their massive shapes wander across our flank and into the property. They were not acting alarmed but were soon out of sight. We were pretty excited, as we knew then that there were indeed bison where we planned hunting them.
About 20 minutes before sunrise, as we formulated a plan of attack, the first of the mechanized army arrived on scene. The first three trucks each pulled trailers, with each truck hauling either a four or six- wheeler; the lead vehicle had *both*. As we idly chatted with the three guys in the lead truck, SD’s phone rang. It was VernAK. He said something like this: “I’m a mile from you and I’m looking at around 50 bison 75 yards away from the nose of my truck around Circle field. Some of them are dancing around, not spooky at all. Killing a bull out of this bunch should be easy. Come kill yours. About couple minutes later, as we wondered if the guys who just passed us would see that bunch, VernAK called again. The same three truckloads who’d passed us at our perceived stake had driven by where VernAk had the herd in front of him and promptly stopped and parked.
Rather than quietly sliding out of their vehicles, hiking off through the wood a bit and picking off at least one bull, they got out of their trucks and proceeded to slam doors and fire up their noisy four and six wheelers, with the herd in plain sight. Needless to say, with all the racket, the herd headed away quickly, frightened. No shots were to be had.
We now had a quandary. Do we sit tight and hope the herd we’d seen cross onto the Wrigley land a couple hours earlier emerged, then try to put a stalk on a bull we’d ID as such and hoped to kill? The Wrigley landowner had explained that the herd we’d watched at length had been coming out to feed on the radishes and turnips that were planted there for several days and the herd was obviously fond of that food source. Alternately, do we make a move and head out on foot to try to track the ones we saw? Or do we give up our claim and see about trying to find another herd?
Following VernAK’s interaction with the mechanized army, he decided to hedge our bets and took off to see if he could locate the herd that we were pretty sure were still on Wrigley land, but nowhere in sight. He suggested we stay put and keep our eyes peeled and said that he’d sneak in on the back road and see if he could figure out where they were on the property. Sounded like a plan.
I was leaning hard towards staying our course and waiting them out. We knew they hadn’t been hunted in a week and that they didn’t want to leave those radish and turnip fields. We saw VernAK soon after, as he pulled up to us. He explained that he’d snuck in the back road, got out on foot and after some stomping about with his binocs, ultimately spotted the tops of a few brown humps in a swale in the distance in the snow. The herd was bedded down near the back side of the Wrigley place. We decided to leave our spot and retrace VernAK’s tracks and try to get on them...
After about an hour perhaps and a mile traveled on foot on crunchy snow into the back of Wrigley land, being as quiet and deliberate as possible, we hadn’t seen the herd. Rost495 split off from SD and I so as to try to get eyes on a larger section of land at the same time. As SD and I were on the binocs methodically scanning ahead and looking for fresh sign, we heard a single shot. No follow ups came. SD and I looked at each other and slowly shook our heads. Someone had come in from where we’d started our morning and left one of the trucks, and had killed their bull. Sometimes you get the bull, other times someone else gets their bull instead. Damn.
A little dejected but not overly so, the three of us reconnected and pulled out of there to grab the other truck. As we did, we saw a pair of successful hunters working on the bull they had down. It was less than a third of a mile from our original position at first light. At least our thinking was correct as far as where they would be. Now to figure out another plan.
We spent the rest of the day searching high and low for other herds. VernAk was still on the case, as was Rost495. We all split up, figuring it best to have at least three teams afield looking in different areas for herds to one mob checking over the same spots over and over.
Good tale, been putting in for bison and donating to F&G for a number of years. Thinking this story has a happy ending....! Personally I think they should have open season on all the plains bufflers.
Wtf KG??? Got us on the edge of our damn seats lol. Great story so far .....PS.....We're Waaaaaaaiting ....... feel like last episode of Yellowstone and now I gotta wait all year to see what happens 😂😂😂
We spent the night before the hunt comparing notes with Rost495 and having a decidedly crappy dinner at a place called ‘The Cave’. They were generous with the name. ‘The Dump’ would’ve been more appropriate, where they pride themselves in their lousy, expensive food and horrible service. A couple of wildly overcooked burgers (we’d ordered them medium rare) and a few drinks only cost me about a hundred bucks.
Is the Cave that pizza/Italian restaurant that’s owned by the giant Russian bitch?
No, it is the bar/burger joint in the complex that also had the grocery store as well as Well’s Fargo, liquor store, etc. They tore the grocery store out last year after the roof caved in.
Delta always has the most interesting workers at the coffee stops. One was a decent looker but snaggletoothed badly when she smiled.
We spent the night before the hunt comparing notes with Rost495 and having a decidedly crappy dinner at a place called ‘The Cave’. They were generous with the name. ‘The Dump’ would’ve been more appropriate, where they pride themselves in their lousy, expensive food and horrible service. A couple of wildly overcooked burgers (we’d ordered them medium rare) and a few drinks only cost me about a hundred bucks.
Good deal but man...I like the Cave.
Then again I am fine with a microwave pizza.
Even better when you been eating mtn house meals for a few days.. well that’s what I been told.. one day I will get to delta jct and visit..
We spent the night before the hunt comparing notes with Rost495 and having a decidedly crappy dinner at a place called ‘The Cave’. They were generous with the name. ‘The Dump’ would’ve been more appropriate, where they pride themselves in their lousy, expensive food and horrible service. A couple of wildly overcooked burgers (we’d ordered them medium rare) and a few drinks only cost me about a hundred bucks.
Even better when you been eating mtn house meals for a few days.. well that’s what I been told.. one day I will get to delta jct and visit..
Aren't you (Nugget) the guy who suggested I not admit that I was out of Boston when I was out there chasing bison? Sheeit. One of the local restaurant owners and town assemblymen or whatever is originally out of Maine and has family in Newburyport, MA, where my folks live. He offered to get me permission to hunt 'closed' private areas if we needed. That dude (Ken Greenleaf, originally out of Maine, 25 year Army vet who now owns the Big Delta Brewing Company) and I have loose plans to fish locally when he gets back home for visits.
Another guy, one who granted permission for us to hunt his land, has a 978 area code listed as a contact. When SD and I met him at his residence to talk about hunting bison on his land, discovered that Bob and I knew some of the same families on the MA south shore. When he explained where he was originally from (Marshfield, MA) I asked him if he knew the Roth family. He responded with, 'I went to HS with Kenny and George'. So much for your creepy prediction. I didn't even have to pretend I was an Eskimo...
The great personal risk endured for a single photo of a Bikini Babes barista...
LOL! How indignant she was.
Her: "I'm just here selling hot drinks (read as my exposed teats and box along with a side of coffee). How DARE you take a picture of me without my permission?"
Me: "Well, let's see. Click, click, click. Just like that, sugar. Come at me"
Her: "here's your change. Have a nice day"
SD: "ha ha ha! He's from Boston, I'm sorry. Keep the change (40 cents or something)"
The great personal risk endured for a single photo of a Bikini Babes barista...
LOL! How indignant she was.
Her: "I'm just here selling hot drinks (read as my exposed teats and box along with a side of coffee). How DARE you take a picture of me without my permission?"
Me: "Well, let's see. Click, click, click. Just like that, sugar. Come at me"
Her: "here's your change. Have a nice day"
SD: "ha ha ha! He's from Boston, I'm sorry. Keep the change (40 cents or something)"
Only you Leighton can tell a story, this Great, glad some of the Alaska members are help ing you out! Sounds like a great adventure so far! Can't wait for the rest of the Story.
Yeah- I quit putting in for bison a couple years back, after 40 years of trying unsuccessfully.
This is OK tho- I ain't freezing my ass off, nor rasslin guts.
Downside is no meat, either.
Same here....40+ years and no tag but I've pointed numerous hunters in the right direction. I still enjoy it but after a few pics, I'm back in my truck and gone. Some of Leighton's bison is going in the crock pot this weekend as Rost was kind enough to drop off a small cooler full. There's not a lot of full freezers in this neighborhood this year.
Yeah- I quit putting in for bison a couple years back, after 40 years of trying unsuccessfully.
This is OK tho- I ain't freezing my ass off, nor rasslin guts.
Downside is no meat, either.
Same here....40+ years and no tag but I've pointed numerous hunters in the right direction. I still enjoy it but after a few pics, I'm back in my truck and gone. Some of Leighton's bison is going in the crock pot this weekend as Rost was kind enough to drop off a small cooler full. There's not a lot of full freezers in this neighborhood this year.
Originally Posted by AcesNeights
Is the Cave that pizza/Italian restaurant that’s owned by the giant Russian bitch?
They're Greek and she has passed away. She was the pleasant one of that bunch.
Yeah- I quit putting in for bison a couple years back, after 40 years of trying unsuccessfully.
This is OK tho- I ain't freezing my ass off, nor rasslin guts.
Downside is no meat, either.
Same here....40+ years and no tag but I've pointed numerous hunters in the right direction. I still enjoy it but after a few pics, I'm back in my truck and gone. Some of Leighton's bison is going in the crock pot this weekend as Rost was kind enough to drop off a small cooler full. There's not a lot of full freezers in this neighborhood this year.
Vern! My man! Please look for an incoming PM, brother. I hope you like seafood. Someone's ready to break you off with more than you can imagine ...
Many Deltoids are enjoying your critique of The Cave, our local fine dining establishment. LMAO!
Delta has the worst restaurants in Alaska but the best LGS in the state. Granite View Sports [wolf hide pics] is incredible and owned/operated by great young folks. When you're a gun store in a town of 900 and the largest Leupold dealer in the state, you're doing something right.
A huge “Thank You” to KG and all of the fire members that helped make this story happen.
I’d rather read a story like this than any article published in a gun magazine.
IZH27; Top of the morning to you sir, I trust you have less snow down in Kentucky than we appear to have received this morning and that all else went reasonably well for you this week.
If I may, I'll echo your statement.
This is a wonderfully told hunting tale, with folks we at least sorta "know" in it and as always fantastically assembled photos by Leighton.
All the best and good hunting.
Dwayne
PS; Waiting patiently in the BC dark - in the snow - for the rest now Leighton.
Dang it, after scrolling through this and looking for buffalo pictures, I still haven't seen any. I am a terrible reader and need pictures to keep me in tune, so here are a couple buffalo pictures for other people like me that are still waiting...
We spent the night before the hunt comparing notes with Rost495 and having a decidedly crappy dinner at a place called ‘The Cave’. They were generous with the name. ‘The Dump’ would’ve been more appropriate, where they pride themselves in their lousy, expensive food and horrible service. A couple of wildly overcooked burgers (we’d ordered them medium rare) and a few drinks only cost me about a hundred bucks.
Even better when you been eating mtn house meals for a few days.. well that’s what I been told.. one day I will get to delta jct and visit..
Aren't you (Nugget) the guy who suggested I not admit that I was out of Boston when I was out there chasing bison? Sheeit. One of the local restaurant owners and town assemblymen or whatever is originally out of Maine and has family in Newburyport, MA, where my folks live. He offered to get me permission to hunt 'closed' private areas if we needed. That dude (Ken Greenleaf, originally out of Maine, 25 year Army vet who now owns the Big Delta Brewing Company) and I have loose plans to fish locally when he gets back home for visits.
Another guy, one who granted permission for us to hunt his land, has a 978 area code listed as a contact. When SD and I met him at his residence to talk about hunting bison on his land, discovered that Bob and I knew some of the same families on the MA south shore. When he explained where he was originally from (Marshfield, MA) I asked him if he knew the Roth family. He responded with, 'I went to HS with Kenny and George'. So much for your creepy prediction. I didn't even have to pretend I was an Eskimo...
Well I’m glad you had a great hunt. A lot of Alaskans residents and NR don’t get the Vern and Rost hookup like you all did..
That barista had lead weights on her ankles as the wind blows so hard in Delta that we seldom see a small woman.
LOL!
Her name is Tia.... She's pretty sweet!
Few years back we had a fella in Anchorage yank a pretty little girl out of her little coffee shop. Couple weeks later they found her body in one of the local lakes here in the valley.. I guess from his statement he raped her over several days killed her and chopped her body up and dumped it in the lake..
Dang it, after scrolling through this and looking for buffalo pictures, I still haven't seen any. I am a terrible reader and need pictures to keep me in tune, so here are a couple buffalo pictures for other people like me that are still waiting...
Posting that .375 pic with a dent in the stock and a bit of rust pitting on the receiver, like that.
Makes my guns look bad...... or at least aspiring to better treatment. Doncha know they are supposed to look like they've never been up the mountain and over the creek?
Posting that .375 pic with a dent in the stock and a bit of rust pitting on the receiver, like that.
Makes my guns look bad...... or at least aspiring to better treatment. Doncha know they are supposed to look like they've never been up the mountain and over the creek?
Hey! I best go look... it didn't have any dings or rust when I loaned it to him!
Posting that .375 pic with a dent in the stock and a bit of rust pitting on the receiver, like that.
Makes my guns look bad...... or at least aspiring to better treatment. Doncha know they are supposed to look like they've never been up the mountain and over the creek?
Hey! I best go look... it didn't have any dings or rust when I loaned it to him!
Dang it, after scrolling through this and looking for buffalo pictures, I still haven't seen any. I am a terrible reader and need pictures to keep me in tune, so here are a couple buffalo pictures for other people like me that are still waiting...
I will confess I never been to delta and I was only repeating what my coworkers at the landfill said about nr and hunting. I have been to Fairbanks when I was 12 to see the ice sculptures. That’s closet I ever been to actually spending Christmas with a family.. unfortunately CPS picked me up couple days after that trip..
Where you get that dried squid? I love that stuff.
And, I see I'm not the only one to get advance notice of publication of the deed. Good, sharing is good.
Hey bud. Wifey brought that particular package of dried squid back from Tokyo, but we can get that kind of stuff locally. I'll send you some if you like.
I appreciate all the kind words from folks. Glad to read that a few of you are enjoying the story. I wasn't going to do a write up after being chastised in the past by Beeg Jeem Conrad for being boring, but I decided that, well, fugg heem and his cows.
I'll get the rest of the tale banged out as soon as I can drag away from wrassling with Mrs. KG again. Apparently, the lass missed daddy some when I was off chasing my bison...
The man, the myth, the legend, VernAK. And Kamikaze driver SD in the flesh.
I'll get the rest of the tale banged out as soon as I can drag away from wrassling with Mrs. KG again. Apparently, the lass missed daddy some when I was off chasing my bison...
I will confess I never been to delta and I was only repeating what my coworkers at the landfill said about nr and hunting. I have been to Fairbanks when I was 12 to see the ice sculptures. That’s closet I ever been to actually spending Christmas with a family.. unfortunately CPS picked me up couple days after that trip..
That barista had lead weights on her ankles as the wind blows so hard in Delta that we seldom see a small woman.
LOL!
Her name is Tia.... She's pretty sweet!
Few years back we had a fella in Anchorage yank a pretty little girl out of her little coffee shop. Couple weeks later they found her body in one of the local lakes here in the valley.. I guess from his statement he raped her over several days killed her and chopped her body up and dumped it in the lake..
I will confess I never been to delta and I was only repeating what my coworkers at the landfill said about nr and hunting. I have been to Fairbanks when I was 12 to see the ice sculptures. That’s closet I ever been to actually spending Christmas with a family.. unfortunately CPS picked me up couple days after that trip..
The trials and tribulations of nugget... 🥴🤣
He damn sure should win one of the 🦫 awards this year. 😂😂 Great write up so far thanks for taking us along.
I started this thread in the middle and can’t make heads or tails out of it😂 Everything from pics of nice rifles, to bison lined up next to fencing, to booze, to chicks in lingerie!
of the remainder, I should go out and get a slammed 63 Impala, metallic green, ride and go pick up numero dos. She looks like a good hood ornament at the car show.
Warry Woooot just got his new sockpuppet smoked by the Bin.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Something to get a chuckle out of while waiting for KG and more of what went down on the Buffalo hunt. 👍👍👍
Serous question would you scrape the dead skin/callouses off my feet? Its gotten to the point my stomach is so big I can't bend over to do it anymore.
Dump Mooches usually have big tummies. It's why they have those grabby sticks to pick up primo stuff. Like a can of Dr Schols foot powder for their mutant chaka land of the lost feet..
We spent the night before the hunt comparing notes with Rost495 and having a decidedly crappy dinner at a place called ‘The Cave’. They were generous with the name. ‘The Dump’ would’ve been more appropriate, where they pride themselves in their lousy, expensive food and horrible service. A couple of wildly overcooked burgers (we’d ordered them medium rare) and a few drinks only cost me about a hundred bucks.
Good deal but man...I like the Cave.
Then again I am fine with a microwave pizza.
Yes, but you're a trophy hunter. Those kind are happy with hard, cold beds and cold Viennas and sardines.
of the remainder, I should go out and get a slammed 63 Impala, metallic green, ride and go pick up numero dos. She looks like a good hood ornament at the car show.
I'll get the rest of the tale banged out as soon as I can drag away from wrassling with Mrs. KG again. Apparently, the lass missed daddy some when I was off chasing my bison...
Anyone of them could scrape the callouses/dead skin off nuggets feet.. Especially my foot on my short leg It builds up the biggest callous ever.
Hahahahahayou got a short leg too, lmfao
Fuggin tiny tim dump boy
Stinky crutch every where ya go.
Just stop. 🤣🤮🤣🤣
Oh no sir, I haven't used a crutch since that foster family I lived with got me baptized because they said the devil was in me. Only the devil would use such a contraption, as our preacher would say. She sure was an ornery preacher that's for sure.. She see my foster parents and tell them the devil was still inside of him. I heard she moved to Iowa
Anyone of them could scrape the callouses/dead skin off nuggets feet.. Especially my foot on my short leg It builds up the biggest callous ever.
Hahahahahayou got a short leg too, lmfao
Fuggin tiny tim dump boy
Stinky crutch every where ya go.
Just stop. 🤣🤮🤣🤣
Oh no sir, I haven't used a crutch since that foster family I lived with got me baptized because they said the devil was in me. Only the devil would use such a contraption, as our preacher would say. She sure was an ornery preacher that's for sure.. She see my foster parents and tell them the devil was still inside of him. I heard she moved to Iowa
Those women preachers. Sheesh. At least you don't have to worry about then trying to diddle your Nugget
Dang it, after scrolling through this and looking for buffalo pictures, I still haven't seen any. I am a terrible reader and need pictures to keep me in tune, so here are a couple buffalo pictures for other people like me that are still waiting...
Got the job done with a single shot, classic!
Nah, he shot it with a Wyoming Arms AR-10, topped with a Greybull Precision 4x14-50 custom scope. That's just his hero shot prop rifle.
We spent the rest of the day searching high and low for other herds. VernAK was still on the case, as was Rost495. We all split up, figuring it best to have at least three teams afield looking in different areas for herds to one mob checking over the same spots. We did see another bison herd but those animals were on a property listed as ‘no hunting’. They were all working on feed that the landowners had out. Unclear if it was intentional or not, but the property and feed wasn’t fenced, so the bison simply waltzed in and ate to their collective hearts content. I could be wrong, but it seemed to me that maybe the owners wanted the bison to remain unmolested by hunters so enticed them into the land with feed to the private property where hunting them is not allowed. We also saw a lone bull on a small parcel inhabited also by a small herd of yaks. That bison was safe.
Some critters we laid eyes on as we patrolled about the area.
The herd on the Wrigley land before Rost495 put them to bed. Talk about a stunning background. That was the early evening before our opener.
Rost495 after a quick scouting stomp.
One of the landowners listed with the status of ‘hunting allowed with permission’ had a contact number with the prefix of 978. This was curious, as I knew that that area code was in Essex County in northeast Massachusetts, where I reside. I called to inquire about the possibility of our trespassing to hunt, and the fellow who answered explained to me that he’s very particular about who he grants permission to hunt his land to. If I wanted, I was welcome to visit him at his residence to talk about it. Ah, an interview! I told him that we’d like to discuss it, and asked if we could stop by after dark. He gave me his address.
When nightfall arrived and we’d had no real sightings or leads as far as what to try to do in the morning, we decided to pay a visit to this fellow I’ll call ’Bob’ and ask him about us maybe bison hunting his land. I’ll not spend much time on our interaction, other than to opine that lonely folks with no family with serious health issues in nursing home facilities can be a shocking and disturbing thing to behold. I did find it fairly amazing that when I asked him about his connection to MA and the North Shore, when we got to talking learned that we knew some of the same people. He was surprised when I told him that one of the guys he knew and went to high school with was still serving a lengthy prison term for bank robbery. His kid brother and I have tuna fished together. Small world sometimes. We left Bob’s place with permission to hunt his, and an adjoining land owners land and a thorough explanation of the lay of the land and where we’d want to look for the shaggy beasts that sometime roamed the property.
By the time we got cleaned up back at the inn and had a quick rest, it was around 8:00 pm. Unbeknownst to us, very few places to eat in DJ remain open beyond 8:00 pm or so. Guess which joint was still open. Yep. We ended the first day having to suffer through another meal back at, you guessed it; The Cave. I was kind of hoping that our first bad dining experience was perhaps a fluke. Nope! At least they’re consistent.
Day two of the hunt. SD and I roused ourselves out of bed predawn and got geared up and grabbed some hot grub at the inn before hitting the road. We touched base with Rost495 and came up with a plan. VernAK said he’d get a hold of us and talk about anything seen as he got out and about. We ran over to the Robinson property and got on a back road quietly, and started poking around looking for fresh sign. VernAK had explained that the bison liked to get into the red fescue back in some bushy places to feed at times. He also opined that after getting pressured, the bison herds often got spooky and went nocturnal and chose to often stay in the bush rather than go about their business in the agricultural areas.
SD parked the rig and started glassing near the Circle fields and I got out of the truck to follow some of the obviously fresh bison tracks that ran across the two track and into the bush. It didn’t take but ten minutes after my getting out of the truck before I heard them headed inbound. The grinding of gears, clanking of the tracks, loud with stereo playing were kind of hard to miss. I strode back to the two track and watched as the three guys in the amphibious rig blow past me, all smiles and waves. Fuggin' donkeys. I'd assumed that most Alaskan hunters were a bit more on point and conscientious about stealth and whatnot when in the field hunting. Surprise!
You know you are getting older when the main thing you are waiting for is the "food porn" shots of buffalo steaks.... It has been a lot of years since I ate some but I do remember thinking "This is the best steak I've ever eaten...".
Good to meet you, KG. Too bad Mother Nature didn't cooperate for a boat ride and duck hunt, while you were here. That's why it's called "Mother Nature" by the way. Father Nature wouldn't screw up hunting and fishing plans like that. He's good people!
I was wondering how long we were going to have to wait for this story! As a side note, if you have anything left up here you need brought back on the cheap, we’re headed to Maine in couple of weeks for Tday and deer hunting. I’m sure we’ll have a couple open spots for free bags going to Logan via AK Air.
The three guys in the tracked Argo blasted by me hammer down and into the area we were hoping to quietly poke around on foot. This, BTW, is after they admitted the day before that they didn’t have permission from the owners to hunt any of the areas they were riding around in. I had half a mind to let the landowners know, especially since their presence was pretty certainly affecting our hunt chances, but that’s not my thing or my way. Shame on them, and if those guys got jammed up with some angry landowners or the F&G folks, so be it.
Since VernAK had warned us of the bison getting rather spooky pretty quickly when pressured, especially by consistent motorized incursions into the areas they’re in, we decided to bail from that area altogether and go have a look see at ‘Bob’s’ land, about a half hour ride away and tucked back in towards the far eastern end of the bison area, towards the Gerstle river. We got a hold of Rost495 and he said he’d meet us over at the place.
The three of us arrived at about the same time and we were just about to start headed into the property when VernAK came quietly creeping out of the access road in his trusty Tacoma. That guy's like a ghost and was all over the place! We learned from him that there was indeed some bison sign in there, but all he saw was old. He did say that there were tons of fresh wolf tracks in there and that someone needed to get in there and start trapping them. Since VernAK had already scoped the place out, we figured we’d not waste precious time with that spot, but try to keep casually scouting from the back roads for any herds or lone animals on land we could hunt. I also wanted to try to get in contact with some other landowners. Maybe we’d get lucky and be able to try to put a stalk on a bull we spotted on a landowner’s property. That was something of a trick, as I wrote earlier, being that there were lots of names on properties that potentially would allow hunting but had no addresses or contact numbers on the sheet.
I made another call to the DJ F&G folks soon after to try to find out how many bison had been taken on the first day of the third group’s hunt. I was told that they knew of four. Thing was, hunters have 48 hours to report following a bison kill. We were told by another hunter we spoke to that those who attended the bison hunt orientation (we did not) all had agreed to wait until the last legal hour to report, as that way, some of the group could continue to legally hunt until the 12th bison was reported as killed. Recall that the season for each group closed at midnight of the day after the 12th bull was down. So, in theory, our group could very well have already been halfway --or more—into the quota after day one of the hunt. Great for them, not so good for us. By the way, group 1’s season was closed after only 5 days. Group 2’s season was closed after 7 days. It was only day two for us but I admit I was getting increasingly concerned about the season getting closed before I was able to hopefully get a crack at one.
VernAK mentioned during our talk that he’d spoken to a couple friends who told him that one of the landowners had as many as three separate small bison herds on both his land and couple other adjacent properties that he managed for the other owners. This landowner was said to be very easy to deal with and a good man, but that he charged the most by far of any of the landowners in the DJ bison range area. Like 40 times more than the trespass fee I’d paid to be able to hunt on the Wrigley land.
It was my hope to kill my animal on public land, or on private land for a reasonable trespass fee. I’d come a very long way and I had a very special once in a lifetime tag, so I wasn’t opposed to at least talking to the landowner and learning about how he ran his operation and to see how much he charged. SD, Rost495 and I decided to head over to their homestead and hoped to have a chance to talk with the man. We found not him but his son soon after, and I introduced myself and explained that I was a bison tag holder and was interested in talking to his dad about hunting there . After a quick call, the landowner, RP, arrived on scene with a pile of dogs in a work van, and the four of us began chatting as the dogs barked their fool heads off in the van.
He was a pleasant fellow with a strong southern accent. He told us that not just a few but that about half of all the bison bulls taken in the season so far had come off of his land and the surrounding parcels he managed. At that time, 12 hunters had killed 11 bulls there. The one who didn’t kill, we were told, was because he was after a trophy bull only, and the ones he’d seen didn’t meet his requirements. To each his own, I guess.
The way that RP ran the hunts on his land was pretty simple. Each tag holder and his group would be allowed to trespass for 24 hours. If you got your animal, great. If you didn’t, you were out of luck. There was to be no bird or predator shooting, no small game shooting, no shooting at all unless it was at a bison. Further, he explained that under no circumstances were any of the hunters or any in that party allowed to drive any vehicle of any sort on his land. No trucks, no ATVs, no nothing. All hunters would go in strictly on foot, or not at all. RP also explained that he only allowed one team of bison hunters on the lands under his control at a time. He did explain that he did allow successful bison hunters to use their own vehicles to remove the animals after they were field processed.
Above all, he demanded that all trespassers respect his land. That needn’t have been stated to our group, but I totally understand it. We were strangers to him and while I’d not dream of conducting myself in any manner other than with respect to both him and myself, I’m guessing some have in the past. I knew the man wouldn’t regret granting us permission to hunt there, if in fact that’s what I chose to do.
RP went on to explain that a not insignificant portion of land is planted for and managed for the bison. He also remarked that his family had put out an incredible amount of hay bales for the bison last winter, as they were losing so many to starvation. As an aside to this, VernAK harbors considerable angst in the way the starving bison were handled last season by the authorities, and rightfully so, based upon my understanding of how things played out. The state should’ve done much more to help the herd, and had the resources to do so. Due to bureaucratic red tape, negligence, legal issues or a combination (I’m admittedly not really sure where any blame lies), many more bison died than should have. I’m not entirely sure on this but I believe VernAK has actually drawn up a detailed proposal to much better deal with any horrific future winters where the bison are concerned. The man is extremely passionate about the herds in any case and l applaud his many efforts on their behalf.
Back to our talk with RP. The man told of an awful sight seen during the spring thaw. One of the bales of hay that had been set out for the bison by his family had been completely covered by drifting snow-- like ten feet of it. The bison knew the hay was there under the snow and were so desperate, literally in the throes of starvation, that several endeavored to dig down into the deep snow covering the bale so as to be able to get some nourishment. Three of the animals managed to actually dig a hole so deep that they reached the hay. Problem was, once in the hole, the animals couldn’t get back out of the hole and piled up on top of one another. I can only imagine the panic they must have felt. Three of them died in there, stacked up on one another in that horrible frozen tomb. A terrible thing. Mother Nature can be a cruel and fickle bitch at times.
I had a decision to make, and it didn’t take me long. I asked RP to put me on his list. There was a pair of guys hunting bison on the land at the time, so he took my phone and name information and said that if and when the current hunters were successful, he’d text me and we’d talk more about details tomorrow. Sounded like a plan.
The bad part of this new development was that Rost495 had to go to Fairbanks that following day to grab his wife at the AP. Unfortunately, that meant he’d likely not be joining us if we ended up hunting RP’s land on day 3. If he was able, it’d only be for a couple hours. I felt badly about that, especially in light of all his efforts on my behalf. We left the RP land and decided to split back up and see about maybe finding a herd on public land, and agreed that we’d touch base later in the day with any new developments. SD and I decided to grab a hot drink somewhere after poking around some other hunting lands, and I thought I should maybe try to get a hold of some of the other landowners who allowed hunting and see what they had to say.
An hour or thereabouts after we left Rost495, I got a text. ‘Previous guys have their bull down. If you want to come in about an hour, you can get started looking for yours. If you want to wait until tomorrow, that’s OK too. Let me know’...
Alaska fish and game could ruin a wet dream.. Also at one time 10-12yrs ago their was an active push by certain landowners/groups to get rid of the bison because of all the damage they were doing to the Ag fields. It’s a love hate relationship up their with them. Little known factoid kodiak has a bison herd and I guess them thangs are spookier than hell. I guess I would too if boo boo the bear was looking to make a meal out of me.
Alaska fish and game could ruin a wet dream.. Also at one time 10-12yrs ago their was an active push by certain landowners/groups to get rid of the bison because of all the damage they were doing to the Ag fields. It’s a love hate relationship up their with them. Little known factoid kodiak has a bison herd and I guess them thangs are spookier than hell. I guess I would too if boo boo the bear was looking to make a meal out of me.
Nugget
Those bison are private property...
They were a response to Belted Galways and Channel Island breeds being eaten by bears. Bison fared far better.
Alaska fish and game could ruin a wet dream.. Also at one time 10-12yrs ago their was an active push by certain landowners/groups to get rid of the bison because of all the damage they were doing to the Ag fields. It’s a love hate relationship up their with them. Little known factoid kodiak has a bison herd and I guess them thangs are spookier than hell. I guess I would too if boo boo the bear was looking to make a meal out of me.
Nugget
Those bison are private property...
They were a response to Belted Galways and Channel Island breeds being eaten by bears. Bison fared far better.
Looks like the burton herd cost quite a bit of money to hunt. The other herd the (economical hunt) owner died, there grazing permit was not renewed. That herd was thinned down quite a bit and what remains bison their, are/ were fair game. Too bad I guess. The ever changing landscape of Alaska.
Alaska fish and game could ruin a wet dream.. Also at one time 10-12yrs ago their was an active push by certain landowners/groups to get rid of the bison because of all the damage they were doing to the Ag fields. It’s a love hate relationship up their with them. Little known factoid kodiak has a bison herd and I guess them thangs are spookier than hell. I guess I would too if boo boo the bear was looking to make a meal out of me.
Nugget
I"ll bet there is a reference similar to this in the rest of the story somewhere...
Alaska fish and game could ruin a wet dream.. Also at one time 10-12yrs ago their was an active push by certain landowners/groups to get rid of the bison because of all the damage they were doing to the Ag fields. It’s a love hate relationship up their with them. Little known factoid kodiak has a bison herd and I guess them thangs are spookier than hell. I guess I would too if boo boo the bear was looking to make a meal out of me.
Nugget
Those bison are private property...
They were a response to Belted Galways and Channel Island breeds being eaten by bears. Bison fared far better.
Looks like the burton herd cost quite a bit of money to hunt. The other herd the (economical hunt) owner died, there grazing permit was not renewed. That herd was thinned down quite a bit and what remains bison their, are/ were fair game. Too bad I guess. The ever changing landscape of Alaska.
That was the plan for awhile (exotic/deleterious, kill at will) but they decided to call them personal property even if they are on public land.
SD and I shared a look, and I looked at him said simply, “let’s go try to kill a bison...”. We got Rost495 on the horn and let him know of the new development. I then called RP and we agreed to meet back at his place at around 12:30pm. I think Rost495 was pretty pleased to be able to be along. I know SD and I were glad for it.
We arrived back at the farm and got the lowdown from RP. There were three herds that he had on and off on the properties, with one that one of his sons had laid eyes on that morning. At the time, they were bedded down on some acreage on one of his back agricultural parcels. He asked me for my map, and he laid it out hood of the truck and pointed out where this particular herd had last been seen.
He went into detail regarding a few other things we needed to be made aware of. “First off”, he said, pointing to a section nearby where the herd we were hoping to find was last seen, said very deliberately, “Y’all see this area? You boys do not want a wounded buffalo getting in there. I promise you that. It'd be absolutely brutal to get him out of there, if you could even find him. It’s a thick and nasty, deep bog. Pure ugly. I repeat, do NOT shoot a bison if he looks like he might make it in there. You’ll regret it.”
We all made sure we understood exactly which area he was warning us about. He then took a pen and made a bunch of horizontal lines across the top parcel of his land, then some vertically. He basically drew about a dozen equal squares on the map. “Each one of those sections is roughly 160 acres”. He marked the Bog of Despair with a big X on it for good measure. “Water here and water there”, he said, marking them on the map as well. “Earlier today, a small herd of around a dozen were against that far tree line. Pretty sure there’s at least one bull in the herd. No idea if they’re still around, but I’d wager they haven’t gone too far. Start your search there.”
He showed us where he wanted us to park on the map. “You boys need to set out on foot from where you park right here. I reckon it’s about two miles to get to them back fields. Remember, they’ve been hunted, so y’all need to mind your wind and hunt low and slow. If they’re still in there and you’re good enough, you should be able to get close enough for a shot at one. Any questions? OK, good deal. If and when you get one down, text me and let me know. Good huntin’, boys.” We all shook hands, and we got started to head on down the road. Just as we were pulling out, RP waved us over and said, “I almost forgot to tell you boys, but a grizzly got a bison down last night out on one of the other areas, so keep your eyes peeled for bears. The excitement level rose as we pulled over and parked where we’d be instructed to set out onto the land on foot. Game time.
The snow was fairly thin thanks to the sun and mild temps, but granulated and crunchy; noisy but easy going for us. We did our best to be as quiet as possible and frequently checked the wind, which was mostly in our favor. We walked on the exposed dirt and stubble in the bare spots without snow crust as best we could. Since we could bump into bison anywhere, we moved slowly but methodically, glassing ahead of us frequently as we made our way to those back fields that we hoped still held those bison. There were rows of spruce with reasonably thick brush amongst the trees running along many of the fields.
We were all traveling light. I had binoculars, a small pack with some things and the .375. The other lads had about the same. Rost495 had his big .458 Win Mag along in case I needed to be backed up. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the spot on the map where RP told us to start to look. Because the land wasn’t exactly flat, with many rises and swales, even looking across a relatively flat looking piece of land had plenty of places animals could be very difficult to see from a distance, even ones as large as bison. When we got to the back field, we scooted across an open area duck walking and got situated in the wood and brush of one of the rows running along the field to glass across it. Again, it was not an easy thing, since it was obvious there were many small rises and small hills and low-lying areas all across the field. The back corner was perhaps a half a mile away. After some hard glassing and Rost495’s trying and failing to get up into a dilapidated tree stand (it was old and rotted and came apart as he tried to get up in it for a better vantage). At some point SD says, “I think I have them”. The man’s about 6’6” in his boots, so almost as good as Rost495 up in a tree…
SD explained to us where to look, and after a few seconds of looking, Rost495 declared that he thought he could see them too. I needed help, but soon after, I had them as well. We never got a look at a whole animal, but we could see the tops of the shaggy heads on a few of them and maybe a rump against the snow at the far tree line near the back right corner. Time for a game plan and hopefully a proper stalk towards them.
We decided it best to keep low and head off far wide to the left corner, staying in the shadows of the tree line opposite to the one where the animals were. We made it to the back left corner in another 20 or 30 minutes, stopping to glass and see if the bison were still stationary. They were. When we hit that corner, we took a breather and decided that we’d be best off getting off the field and into the tree line, then slowly and quietly getting as close as we possibly could, watching the wind and the bison for any reactions that would indicate they’d made us or were getting nervous.
Perhaps 30 minutes later, from the tree line nearest the herd we got hidden down in the snow and brush and began glassing hard. We were about 350 yards from the closest one of them. There were around 11 animals in the herd, and with two exceptions, were all still lying down. The two that were standing were lazily grazing on the remnants of barley in the field.
We needed to be absolutely certain of sex, which is not always an easy thing to do, especially with bedded down animals. Head shape, horn shape, body size are all good clues, but the penis sheath is one that really stands out (ha, ha) as a positive identifier. As long as it’s not confused with muddy, matted hair as on the underside of some cow bison. SD told me that during one prior DJ season something like 4 wrong sex bison were killed. As one might imagine, AKDFG takes a very dim view of such mistakes, and there are consequences that no hunter ever wants to deal with; fairly serious consequences, in fact.
At some point perhaps 15 minutes into our studying them, a big cow, one of those that was standing spun around and faced us and began staring hard into the tree line where we were tucked in and glassing from behind trees and brush. That made me nervous. Over the course of the next ten minutes, most of the other bison who’d been bedded down began slowly rising to their feet, with a few shaking their great heads. It wasn’t cold at perhaps 34F, but enough that we could make out their smoky, wispy exhalations in our binoculars very clearly.
We all strained to positively ID a bull. With some animals loosely bunched up, some behind part of this one and that one, it took some time and a little luck. There was one we all agreed was a bull, and one other possible. The definite bull looked fairly young to me, without the typical distinctive bull horn shape and looked to me to be considerably smaller than a couple of the enormous, mature cows. As the herd began feeding, two at the head of the herd began drifting off away from our location. Not good. At one point I got prone in the snow with the rifle on my pack and asked for a range on that one bull. It was around 375 yards. I held on him, but decided I really didn’t want to shoot that far.
At around that time I quietly asked both SD and Rost495 for their opinions, and I put it like this: “if this was your hunt, would you try for that smallish one we have in front of us here and now, or would you pull out quietly and see about finding a better one? We still have 18 hours or so.” Both men paused, and with them looking equally and tremendously thoughtful, one said “no” and the other said “yes”. Sonofabitch!
No teasing going on here, Aces. Not my thing. I've just been banging away segments as I have time. Lots on my plate. Putting the kind of trip we had together with details into a story I'm happy with, sorting through hundreds of images, uploading them, etc., takes a little time. I guess I could've waited to post until I was done writing it all up, but chose not to.
The lads looked pretty intense as we we hunkered down amongst the brush and tree line waiting for me to make the ultimate call. I looked at them both and grinned widely as I stifled a giggle. So serious! A few things were quickly thought about and tossed out. First, if we pulled out and didn't find another bull, chances were that Rost495, a guy who'd put so much effort in for me and gone through so much trouble, might not get to be a part of the big show. That bothered me. I don't take things like people going far out of the way for me and mine lightly. Second, the weather was calling for up to seven inches of snow for the following day. I didn't know how that might affect the herds. Third, well, there was a chance at a perfectly good bison just a short stalk away, and the old 'bird in hand' gnawed at me for a few moments. Screw it. We're going in.
We spent another couple of minutes glassing the target bull, one that had decided to lay back down. He's the third from the right in the bottom series of pics below. You can also see what we figured was the matriarch of the herd staring intently at where we were holed up.
I left everything but the rifle and the sticks behind. Rost495 would be along with his rifle and his rangefinder/binos. The plan was to get as close to the bull as we could, moving as deftly and unaggressive looking as we could. 'Just a couple of lost farm boys passing through here, ladies and gents. No need to pay us any mind at all, no siree!' We'd get as close as the herd, or the target bull would allow, rather, get set up on the sticks as quickly as possible for the shot and take him if we could. Rost495 would follow behind me in single file and whisper out ranges and suggest angle of approach. SD would stay back, tucked into the bush. I wish I'd have pulled out my real camera and asked SD to film in video mode, but he did manage to get footage of the stalk. Maybe one of these days he'll get it off his damned phone and share it with me...
We wanted of course to get as close to the animal as we could, but we were made right away. I was worried that they would wander off, or worse, bolt, but our bull for whatever reason was about the last to stand. While the herd was obviously getting a little nervous, one by one they just sort of stared at us. As we continued getting closer, some started slowly moving away from us, but our bull was content to just lay for another maybe 30 seconds as we continued to close on him. When he looked directly at us and stirred, looking like he was ready to rise along with the others, I asked Rost495 for a range, and he said "I have 257". Close enough, I figured, happy that the bull had let us get a hundred yards closer to him than we were in the tree line. I put up the sticks and got the 700 nestled in the rest.
"I've got him. When he stands up completely, I'm going to kill him. Watch your ears, bud." And with that, the bull stood. I chose my target spot carefully, in the high shoulder, as I'd been advised, and touched the trigger. I lost the sight picture in recoil but when I got him back in the scope, four legs were literally pointing at the sky. I hadn't expected that reaction. The bull reacted as if he'd been brained by a captive bolt gun in a pen. "Keep on him, and shoot him again if he gets up", Rost495 said. "Yes, thank you sir, though I'm quite certain he's done for". And so it was.
We walked up on him at the ready in case he did rise, but there was no need for another shot from me, or one from Rost495. The only movement I saw after the shot was the tail weakly flicking once or twice. We approached with a little caution, but could see at we got up to him that he was stone dead. I touched an eye with the rifle barrel just in case and got nothing.
You can see him here from about where I originally shot from (yes, the pic was taken zoomed in with my camera after we checked him and made sure he was dead). Not before a little noisy celebration occurred between the three of us. SD had seen the whole thing, got video of the killshot and had come out to us with the gear we'd left behind. Teamwork is a thing...
Inside joke here with the hand, but the lads were pretty damned happy and excited, just as I was. In fact, I was pretty much over the moon.
As he lay when we first came to him from the other side. The tree line in the background is where we glassed from and Rost495 and I began our final stalk. Some might recognize a certain hat in the pic.
After getting the animal set up for a few pics and the processing. Not exactly a small critter.
We wanted of course to get as close to the animal as we could, but we were made right away. I was worried that they would wander off, or wore, bolt, but our bull for whatever reason was about the last to stand and while obviously getting nervous, one by one they just sort of stared at us. As we continued getting closer, some started slowly moving away from us, but our bull was content for another maybe 30 seconds of lying there. When he first stirred and looked as if he was about to rise along with the others, I asked Rost495 for a range, and he said I have 257. Close enough, I figured, happy that the bull had let us get a hundred yards closer to him than we were in the tree line. I put up the sticks and got the 700 nestled in the rest.
"I've got him. When he stands up completely, I'm going to kill him. Watch your ears, bud." And with that, the bull stood. I chose my target spot carefully, in the high shoulder, as I'd been advised, and touched the trigger. I lost the sight picture in recoil but when I got him back in the scope, four legs were pointing at the sky. I hadn't expected that reaction. The bull reacted as if he'd been brained by a captive bolt gun in a pen. "Keep on him, and shoot him again if he gets up", Rost495 said. "Yes, thank you, but I'm quite certain he's done for". And so it was.
We walked up on him at the ready in case he did rise, but there was no need for another shot from me, or one from Rost495. The only movement I saw after the shot was the tail weakly flicking once or twice. We approached with a little caution, but could see at we got up to him that he was stone dead. I touched an eye with the rifle barrel just in case and got nothing.
You can see him here from about where I originally shot from (yes, the pic was taken after we checked him). Not before a little noisy celebration occurred between the three of us. SD had seen the whole thing and had come out to us with the gear we'd left behind.
Inside joke here, but the lads were pretty happy and excited, just as I was. In fact, I was pretty much over the moon.
As he lay when we first came to him from the other side. The tree line in the background is where we glassed from and Rost495 and I began our final stalk. Some might recognize a certain hat in the pic.
After getting the animal set up for a few pics and the processing. Not exactly a small critter.
At some point I saw Rost495 do something that I like to do; he tucked a bit of barley stubble in the bison's mouth, giving the noble beast a ritualistic last bite. Classy dude. I thanked the animal for its life in my own way, deeply grateful for him and to be a part of this hunt. I was humbled and grateful for a wife I adore who's suffered me my outdoors passions for the last couple decades, having the health to be able to get out to do this hunt and for good friends. Some of them new ones without whom I couldn't possibly have come away with this caliber of experience with have my deep gratitude. They all know who they are. My bison hunt was a total and rousing success.
Headed into the property before ducking into the tree line. Both shots immediately below courtesy of Rost495.
Rost495 said that he'd head back the couple miles back for the truck while SD and I got to work.
A shot of the three, er, four of us before the work whistle blew.
Getting ready to start cutting. Wish I had me oilskins along that day.
Thanks Leighton, Great write up! What are you saving? I had a shoulder mount done skull bleached, and a couple of ft. Of the hide tanned hair on was going to make a Trad .back quiver. But just use it for gun shows now.i wish I'd had the hole hide tanned hair on, and pass on the shoulder mount. Iv since moved to a smaller place and sold the mount.
I read a bunch yesterday and the ending today. I have a question, did I miss a picture or sidebar story of "Stubbs" the sawed-off shotgun barrel anywhere in this novel?
This is a hunting forum equivalent of The English Patient.
It must be painful knowing some guys actually have friends willing to take them hunting. Sorry.
Yeah.
It’s a Campfire first. A real trailblazer.
LOL
In America, we're free to do things like read, or not read--or be a dickhead, as we've seen on display here a number of times. Funny, but I can't recall your posting anything here outdoors related in a few years now. I think you need to go shoot yourself an iguana or something and try to get your head right. You can call it therapy.
Thanks to all for following along and the words of congrats. I'm glad some of you enjoyed it. I'm going to follow up with some more pics and a few words (was that a collective groan I just heard? )
“’The best thing about hunting and fishing,’ the Old Man said, ‘is that you don’t have to actually do it to enjoy it. You can go to bed every night thinking about how much fun you had twenty years ago, and it all comes back clear as moonlight.’” — Robert Ruark
I read a bunch yesterday and the ending today. I have a question, did I miss a picture or sidebar story of "Stubbs" the sawed-off shotgun barrel anywhere in this novel?
No. The last guy it was sent to simply never passed it along for whatever reason. I've asked him to do so several times and it never happened, so I'm done asking.
In America, we're free to do things like read, or not read--or be a dickhead, as we've seen on display here a number of times. Funny, but I can't recall your posting anything here outdoors related in a few years now. I think you need to go shoot yourself an iguana or something and try to get your head right. You can call it therapy.
Just remember that anyone can can go outdoors anytime.
But coming across as a thin skinned douche bag is eternal.
In America, we're free to do things like read, or not read--or be a dickhead, as we've seen on display here a number of times. Funny, but I can't recall your posting anything here outdoors related in a few years now. I think you need to go shoot yourself an iguana or something and try to get your head right. You can call it therapy.
Just remember that anyone can can go outdoors anytime.
But coming across as a thin skinned douche bag is eternal.
In America, we're free to do things like read, or not read--or be a dickhead, as we've seen on display here a number of times. Funny, but I can't recall your posting anything here outdoors related in a few years now. I think you need to go shoot yourself an iguana or something and try to get your head right. You can call it therapy.
Just remember that anyone can can go outdoors anytime.
But coming across as a thin skinned douche bag is eternal.
LOL
Can you ever turn off the impulse to be a dick on here?
I don't think this clip will play in this format, but it was kind of bizarre to see the bison's flank muscles quivering and contracting like crazy in this short vid. It was taken at least an hour after the bison died. Only time I've ever seen similar was with a 'gator I killed years ago in FL. After that animal's spine was severed with a chisel and his brain mushed by a .357 mag load, he whacked me across the small of my back with his tail as I was putting in the CITES locking tag in. That was an hour after we got him on the boat.
I read a bunch yesterday and the ending today. I have a question, did I miss a picture or sidebar story of "Stubbs" the sawed-off shotgun barrel anywhere in this novel?
No. The last guy it was sent to simply never passed it along for whatever reason. I've asked him to do so several times and it never happened, so I'm done asking.
I read a bunch yesterday and the ending today. I have a question, did I miss a picture or sidebar story of "Stubbs" the sawed-off shotgun barrel anywhere in this novel?
No. The last guy it was sent to simply never passed it along for whatever reason. I've asked him to do so several times and it never happened, so I'm done asking.
Well, that's that I guess.
Looks like you had a great time and will have memories and meals aplenty. Not much more a person can ask for out of recreational time.
I don't think this clip will play in this format, but it was kind of bizarre to see the bison's flank muscles quivering and contracting like crazy in this short vid. It was taken at least an hour after the bison died. Only time I've ever seen similar was with a 'gator I killed years ago in FL. After that animal's spine was severed with a chisel and his brain mushed by a .357 mag load, he whacked me across the small of my back with his tail as I was putting in the CITES locking tag in. That was an hour after we got him on the boat.
kamo gari; Good afternoon Leighton, I hope the day is behaving out east for you all and you're well.
Thanks so much again for putting together the grand hunt story and photos, I very much enjoyed it.
Congratulations on a very unique and tasty trophy, well done!
I'll send along a tip of the hat to all the Alaska members who helped out and will refrain from attempting to name them lest I get the order wrong or omit one by accident.
Here's hoping that we see some of your wonderful "foody" photos with bison as a main course too!
All the best, thanks again and good luck on your remaining hunts.
Leighton….As per your usual I thoroughly enjoyed the write up of your hunt and your pictures. There’s definitely something special when guys go above and beyond for someone that they barely know. That’s the hallmark of a real sportsman in my opinion, one that derives great satisfaction in the success of others. If anyone deserves success it’s the man that puts in the work ahead of time and organizes all the moving pieces so that the plan eventually comes together….something you obviously did in spades.
Congratulations to all of you on this once in a lifetime opportunity and thanks for sharing it with us.
THIS is what this Forum is all about!! Hell of a Great Story and Hunt, Brotherhood of Fellow Members/Hunters working together and a Wonderful Conclusion! Congrats to you All that worked to achieve this Goal!
By far one of the best threads this season."in a few actually" That had to be quite the skin/take down. Also love the "toast" pic of Dewars and maybe JD? As always sir,,, thank for the fantastic photo essay for us to tag along...
Thanks to all for following along and the words of congrats. I'm glad some of you enjoyed it. I'm going to follow up with some more pics and a few words (was that a collective groan I just heard? )
We wanted of course to get as close to the animal as we could, but we were made right away. I was worried that they would wander off, or worse, bolt, but our bull for whatever reason was about the last to stand. While the herd was obviously getting a little nervous, one by one they just sort of stared at us. As we continued getting closer, some started slowly moving away from us, but our bull was content to just lay for another maybe 30 seconds as we continued to close on him. When he looked directly at us and stirred, looking like he was ready to rise along with the others, I asked Rost495 for a range, and he said "I have 257". Close enough, I figured, happy that the bull had let us get a hundred yards closer to him than we were in the tree line. I put up the sticks and got the 700 nestled in the rest.
"I've got him. When he stands up completely, I'm going to kill him. Watch your ears, bud." And with that, the bull stood. I chose my target spot carefully, in the high shoulder, as I'd been advised, and touched the trigger. I lost the sight picture in recoil but when I got him back in the scope, four legs were literally pointing at the sky. I hadn't expected that reaction. The bull reacted as if he'd been brained by a captive bolt gun in a pen. "Keep on him, and shoot him again if he gets up", Rost495 said. "Yes, thank you sir, though I'm quite certain he's done for". And so it was.
We walked up on him at the ready in case he did rise, but there was no need for another shot from me, or one from Rost495. The only movement I saw after the shot was the tail weakly flicking once or twice. We approached with a little caution, but could see at we got up to him that he was stone dead. I touched an eye with the rifle barrel just in case and got nothing.
You can see him here from about where I originally shot from (yes, the pic was taken zoomed in with my camera after we checked him and made sure he was dead). Not before a little noisy celebration occurred between the three of us. SD had seen the whole thing, got video of the killshot and had come out to us with the gear we'd left behind. Teamwork is a thing...
Inside joke here with the hand, but the lads were pretty damned happy and excited, just as I was. In fact, I was pretty much over the moon.
As he lay when we first came to him from the other side. The tree line in the background is where we glassed from and Rost495 and I began our final stalk. Some might recognize a certain hat in the pic.
After getting the animal set up for a few pics and the processing. Not exactly a small critter.
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
Wonderful write up! 25+ pages and only one whiner speaks volumes about your writing ability! Congratulations on a wonderful adventure and thanks for taking us along!
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
OK, fine. Obviously, I'm being prodded here by someone who's just dying for me to tell the 'rest of the story'. I can do that, and I'll sleep just fine tonight, despite all kinds of BS talkin' about, 'don't worry, your secret is safe with us!' Whatever. After I have a good cry because Deflave hurt my feelers earlier and all, I think I just might survive...
So, no one asked about the apparent lack of a entrance, or exit hole in my bison's thoracic region in the pics. Anyone wonder why? Well, I'll tell you. It's because I hit that bison not less than two FEET left and SIX inches high from where I intended for it to impact. I've no explanation for it and offer no excuse. I was calm, held my breath on a half exhale, had dry-fired that rifle (with a ~20 oz of trigger pull weight) at least 200 times before my one practice shot with it. If anyone is looking for an explanation, ask Heyzoos. I can't explain it, nor excuse it. It happened. And yeah, I understand exactly just how badly things could have gone with a shot so far off from where it was intended to go. I'm no hard-core rifleman, and have flubbed a couple of shots before. I don't know any serious, experienced hunters who haven't missed or blown a shot, but that's neither here nor there. I could not have possibly f*&ucked up that shot any worse that what I obviously did. It happens sometimes, despite the hunter's best intentions. Is it the shortcoming of the shooter? In all likelihood, yes.
I consider myself fortunate that I've yet to lose an animal due to a bad shot. Have I had to shoot a critter more than once due to a poor initial shot? Yep, I have, unfortunately. And while I'm not proud of it, I understand that I'm not perfect and as long as I continue to hunt as much as I do, chances are good not every shot I take will be a good one. I'll own that. I've always done everything in my power and ability to make sure the likelihood of it not happening are good, well, shyt happens sometimes...
At several points in our breaking down the animal with blades, the lads both spent some time asking me where I was aiming, and looking puzzled at not finding at least one hole. Well, that's because the 270 grain TSX bullet I shot at him hit him just behind the skull, where it blew apart his spine just ahead of the atlas bone. I essentially severed his head from his spine, explaining why he dropped like he'd been poleaxed when I blasted him.
When we were examining the shattered vertebra and we all understood that despite my shot being wildly errant beyond any reasonable standards, it still smashed that bull down like the hand of God himself. SD soon after came out with a line I'll take with me to the grave. I may never be sure his intent, but somehow it made me feel a little better. Here's what he said, with a deadpan expression:
"My friend, all I've got is, that was very possibly the very, very best, WORST shot I've ever seen in my life!"
The three of us laughed until we almost vomited. Then I did. But then, I drink.
Gimme' a sec while I don this here vintage asbestos suit, and flame on. I'm a lot of things, but a couple of things I'm not is a liar, or a bullshytter. 'And dat's da name ah dat tune...'
And with that, your honor, I'll have to insist that the prosecution share the evidence with the defense. Come on; it's only fair, SD. Download that f'in video and send it to me. I KNOW I saw that bull turn/spin slightly to the left just as I shot... I want to see that video.
As a possibly interesting aside, this big city born and bred kid killed his first big game animal 20 years ago, almost to the month, in Alaska. A black bear, it was. It started my passion for big game hunting and traveling near and far to chase my passion. With two decades now past, I can only opine that the world would be a far better place if there were more hunters. Thanks, Wiley. Pity you choose not to chime in.
Nah, man. I was calm and was confident. Not nervous, not panicking. But whatever, I'll never know what happened other than my bison died on the quickness. And I'm calling that a win. Bash away. I can take it. I have 200 pounds of bison meat in my freezer...
kamo gari; Good evening once more my friend, thanks for the chuckle with, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story".
I want to say it was the late John Wooters who long ago opined that "if someone tells you everything they shoot drops dead, they've either not shot very many things or it didn't happen that way".
Being front and center when somewhere north of 100 combined deer, black bear, sheep and a moose caught lead, I'd add that if anyone tells you they always hit where they're aiming they've either not shot very many things or it didn't happen that way.
As well, I'd opine that if I had a choice in the matter, I'd rather be lucky than good every time, you know Leighton?
That said then, added to the fact that I've royally buggered a few shots on game in the past half century myself, sometimes turning out much worse than your bison, you shall not be receiving flames from my section of this side of the medicine line tonight.
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
OK, fine. Obviously, I'm being prodded here by someone who's just dying for me to tell the 'rest of the story'. I can do that, and I'll sleep just fine tonight, despite all kinds of BS talkin' about, 'don't worry, your secret is safe with us!' Whatever. After I have a good cry because Deflave hurt my feelers earlier and all, I think I just might survive...
So, no one asked about the apparent lack of a entrance, or exit hole in my bison's thoracic region in the pics. Anyone wonder why? Well, I'll tell you. It's because I hit that bison not less than two FEET left and SIX inches high from where I intended for it to impact. I've no explanation for it and offer no excuse. I was calm, held my breath on a half exhale, had dry-fired that rifle (with a ~20 oz of trigger pull weight) at least 200 times before my one practice shot with it. If anyone is looking for an explanation, ask Heyzoos. I can't explain it, nor excuse it. It happened. And yeah, I understand exactly just how badly things could have gone with a shot so far off from where it was intended to go. I'm no hard-core rifleman, and have flubbed a couple of shots before. I don't know any serious, experienced hunters who haven't missed or blown a shot, but that's neither here nor there. I could not have possibly f*&ucked up that shot any worse that what I obviously did. It happens sometimes, despite the hunter's best intentions. Is it the shortcoming of the shooter? In all likelihood, yes.
I consider myself fortunate that I've yet to lose an animal due to a bad shot. Have I had to shoot a critter more than once due to a poor initial shot? Yep, I have, unfortunately. And while I'm not proud of it, I understand that I'm not perfect and as long as I continue to hunt as much as I do, chances are good not every shot I take will be a good one. I'll own that. I've always done everything in my power and ability to make sure the likelihood of it not happening are good, well, shyt happens sometimes...
At several points in our breaking down the animal with blades, the lads both spent some time asking me where I was aiming, and looking puzzled at not finding at least one hole. Well, that's because the 270 grain TSX bullet I shot at him hit him just behind the skull, where it blew apart his spine just ahead of the atlas bone. I essentially severed his head from his spine, explaining why he dropped like he'd been poleaxed when I blasted him.
When we were examining the shattered vertebra and we all understood that despite my shot being wildly errant beyond any reasonable standards, it still smashed that bull down like the hand of God himself. SD soon after came out with a line I'll take with me to the grave. I may never be sure his intent, but somehow it made me feel a little better. Here's what he said, with a deadpan expression:
"My friend, all I've got is, that was very possibly the very, very best, WORST shot I've ever seen in my life!"
The three of us laughed until we almost vomited. Then I did. But then, I drink.
Gimme' a sec while I don this here vintage asbestos suit, and flame on. I'm a lot of things, but a couple of things I'm not is a liar, or a bullshytter. 'And dat's da name ah dat tune...'
And with that, your honor, I'll have to insist that the prosecution share the evidence with the defense. Come on; it's only fair, SD. Download that f'in video and send it to me. I KNOW I saw that bull turn/spin slightly to the left just as I shot... I want to see that video.
As a possibly interesting aside, this big city born and bred kid killed his first big game animal 20 years ago, almost to the month, in Alaska. A black bear, it was. It started my passion for big game hunting and traveling near and far to chase my passion. With two decades now past, I can only opine that the world would be a far better place if there were more hunters. Thanks, Wiley. Pity you choose not to chime in.
KG
Ha ha... love the honesty.... I have had the same thing happen... Congrats Kamo on your bison
"I shot at him hit him just behind the skull, where it blew apart his spine just ahead of the atlas bone. I essentially severed his head from his spine, explaining why he dropped like he'd been poleaxed when I blasted him."
Maybe looking at the head, be it subconscious or not...?
OK, fine. Obviously, I'm being prodded here by someone who's just dying for me to tell the 'rest of the story'. I can do that, and I'll sleep just fine tonight, despite all kinds of BS talkin' about, 'don't worry, your secret is safe with us!' Whatever. After I have a good cry because Deflave hurt my feelers earlier and all, I think I just might survive...
So, no one asked about the apparent lack of a entrance, or exit hole in my bison's thoracic region in the pics. Anyone wonder why? Well, I'll tell you. It's because I hit that bison not less than two FEET left and SIX inches high from where I intended for it to impact. I've no explanation for it and offer no excuse. I was calm, held my breath on a half exhale, had dry-fired that rifle (with a ~20 oz of trigger pull weight) at least 200 times before my one practice shot with it. If anyone is looking for an explanation, ask Heyzoos. I can't explain it, nor excuse it. It happened. And yeah, I understand exactly just how badly things could have gone with a shot so far off from where it was intended to go. I'm no hard-core rifleman, and have flubbed a couple of shots before. I don't know any serious, experienced hunters who haven't missed or blown a shot, but that's neither here nor there. I could not have possibly f*&ucked up that shot any worse that what I obviously did. It happens sometimes, despite the hunter's best intentions. Is it the shortcoming of the shooter? In all likelihood, yes.
I consider myself fortunate that I've yet to lose an animal due to a bad shot. Have I had to shoot a critter more than once due to a poor initial shot? Yep, I have, unfortunately. And while I'm not proud of it, I understand that I'm not perfect and as long as I continue to hunt as much as I do, chances are good not every shot I take will be a good one. I'll own that. I've always done everything in my power and ability to make sure the likelihood of it not happening are good, well, shyt happens sometimes...
At several points in our breaking down the animal with blades, the lads both spent some time asking me where I was aiming, and looking puzzled at not finding at least one hole. Well, that's because the 270 grain TSX bullet I shot at him hit him just behind the skull, where it blew apart his spine just ahead of the atlas bone. I essentially severed his head from his spine, explaining why he dropped like he'd been poleaxed when I blasted him.
When we were examining the shattered vertebra and we all understood that despite my shot being wildly errant beyond any reasonable standards, it still smashed that bull down like the hand of God himself. SD soon after came out with a line I'll take with me to the grave. I may never be sure his intent, but somehow it made me feel a little better. Here's what he said, with a deadpan expression:
"My friend, all I've got is, that was very possibly the very, very best, WORST shot I've ever seen in my life!"
The three of us laughed until we almost vomited. Then I did. But then, I drink.
Gimme' a sec while I don this here vintage asbestos suit, and flame on. I'm a lot of things, but a couple of things I'm not is a liar, or a bullshytter. 'And dat's da name ah dat tune...'
And with that, your honor, I'll have to insist that the prosecution share the evidence with the defense. Come on; it's only fair, SD. Download that f'in video and send it to me. I KNOW I saw that bull turn/spin slightly to the left just as I shot... I want to see that video.
As a possibly interesting aside, this big city born and bred kid killed his first big game animal 20 years ago, almost to the month, in Alaska. A black bear, it was. It started my passion for big game hunting and traveling near and far to chase my passion. With two decades now past, I can only opine that the world would be a far better place if there were more hunters. Thanks, Wiley. Pity you choose not to chime in.
KG
Kamo,
Thanks for the honesty and congrats on accidentally killing a bison.
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
OK, fine. Obviously, I'm being prodded here by someone who's just dying for me to tell the 'rest of the story'. I can do that, and I'll sleep just fine tonight, despite all kinds of BS talkin' about, 'don't worry, your secret is safe with us!' Whatever. After I have a good cry because Deflave hurt my feelers earlier and all, I think I just might survive...
So, no one asked about the apparent lack of a entrance, or exit hole in my bison's thoracic region in the pics. Anyone wonder why? Well, I'll tell you. It's because I hit that bison not less than two FEET left and SIX inches high from where I intended for it to impact. I've no explanation for it and offer no excuse. I was calm, held my breath on a half exhale, had dry-fired that rifle (with a ~20 oz of trigger pull weight) at least 200 times before my one practice shot with it. If anyone is looking for an explanation, ask Heyzoos. I can't explain it, nor excuse it. It happened. And yeah, I understand exactly just how badly things could have gone with a shot so far off from where it was intended to go. I'm no hard-core rifleman, and have flubbed a couple of shots before. I don't know any serious, experienced hunters who haven't missed or blown a shot, but that's neither here nor there. I could not have possibly f*&ucked up that shot any worse that what I obviously did. It happens sometimes, despite the hunter's best intentions. Is it the shortcoming of the shooter? In all likelihood, yes.
I consider myself fortunate that I've yet to lose an animal due to a bad shot. Have I had to shoot a critter more than once due to a poor initial shot? Yep, I have, unfortunately. And while I'm not proud of it, I understand that I'm not perfect and as long as I continue to hunt as much as I do, chances are good not every shot I take will be a good one. I'll own that. I've always done everything in my power and ability to make sure the likelihood of it not happening are good, well, shyt happens sometimes...
At several points in our breaking down the animal with blades, the lads both spent some time asking me where I was aiming, and looking puzzled at not finding at least one hole. Well, that's because the 270 grain TSX bullet I shot at him hit him just behind the skull, where it blew apart his spine just ahead of the atlas bone. I essentially severed his head from his spine, explaining why he dropped like he'd been poleaxed when I blasted him.
When we were examining the shattered vertebra and we all understood that despite my shot being wildly errant beyond any reasonable standards, it still smashed that bull down like the hand of God himself. SD soon after came out with a line I'll take with me to the grave. I may never be sure his intent, but somehow it made me feel a little better. Here's what he said, with a deadpan expression:
"My friend, all I've got is, that was very possibly the very, very best, WORST shot I've ever seen in my life!"
The three of us laughed until we almost vomited. Then I did. But then, I drink.
Gimme' a sec while I don this here vintage asbestos suit, and flame on. I'm a lot of things, but a couple of things I'm not is a liar, or a bullshytter. 'And dat's da name ah dat tune...'
And with that, your honor, I'll have to insist that the prosecution share the evidence with the defense. Come on; it's only fair, SD. Download that f'in video and send it to me. I KNOW I saw that bull turn/spin slightly to the left just as I shot... I want to see that video.
As a possibly interesting aside, this big city born and bred kid killed his first big game animal 20 years ago, almost to the month, in Alaska. A black bear, it was. It started my passion for big game hunting and traveling near and far to chase my passion. With two decades now past, I can only opine that the world would be a far better place if there were more hunters. Thanks, Wiley. Pity you choose not to chime in.
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
OK, fine. Obviously, I'm being prodded here by someone who's just dying for me to tell the 'rest of the story'. I can do that, and I'll sleep just fine tonight, despite all kinds of BS talkin' about, 'don't worry, your secret is safe with us!' Whatever. After I have a good cry because Deflave hurt my feelers earlier and all, I think I just might survive...
So, no one asked about the apparent lack of a entrance, or exit hole in my bison's thoracic region in the pics. Anyone wonder why? Well, I'll tell you. It's because I hit that bison not less than two FEET left and SIX inches high from where I intended for it to impact. I've no explanation for it and offer no excuse. I was calm, held my breath on a half exhale, had dry-fired that rifle (with a ~20 oz of trigger pull weight) at least 200 times before my one practice shot with it. If anyone is looking for an explanation, ask Heyzoos. I can't explain it, nor excuse it. It happened. And yeah, I understand exactly just how badly things could have gone with a shot so far off from where it was intended to go. I'm no hard-core rifleman, and have flubbed a couple of shots before. I don't know any serious, experienced hunters who haven't missed or blown a shot, but that's neither here nor there. I could not have possibly f*&ucked up that shot any worse that what I obviously did. It happens sometimes, despite the hunter's best intentions. Is it the shortcoming of the shooter? In all likelihood, yes.
I consider myself fortunate that I've yet to lose an animal due to a bad shot. Have I had to shoot a critter more than once due to a poor initial shot? Yep, I have, unfortunately. And while I'm not proud of it, I understand that I'm not perfect and as long as I continue to hunt as much as I do, chances are good not every shot I take will be a good one. I'll own that. I've always done everything in my power and ability to make sure the likelihood of it not happening are good, well, shyt happens sometimes...
At several points in our breaking down the animal with blades, the lads both spent some time asking me where I was aiming, and looking puzzled at not finding at least one hole. Well, that's because the 270 grain TSX bullet I shot at him hit him just behind the skull, where it blew apart his spine just ahead of the atlas bone. I essentially severed his head from his spine, explaining why he dropped like he'd been poleaxed when I blasted him.
When we were examining the shattered vertebra and we all understood that despite my shot being wildly errant beyond any reasonable standards, it still smashed that bull down like the hand of God himself. SD soon after came out with a line I'll take with me to the grave. I may never be sure his intent, but somehow it made me feel a little better. Here's what he said, with a deadpan expression:
"My friend, all I've got is, that was very possibly the very, very best, WORST shot I've ever seen in my life!"
The three of us laughed until we almost vomited. Then I did. But then, I drink.
Gimme' a sec while I don this here vintage asbestos suit, and flame on. I'm a lot of things, but a couple of things I'm not is a liar, or a bullshytter. 'And dat's da name ah dat tune...'
And with that, your honor, I'll have to insist that the prosecution share the evidence with the defense. Come on; it's only fair, SD. Download that f'in video and send it to me. I KNOW I saw that bull turn/spin slightly to the left just as I shot... I want to see that video.
As a possibly interesting aside, this big city born and bred kid killed his first big game animal 20 years ago, almost to the month, in Alaska. A black bear, it was. It started my passion for big game hunting and traveling near and far to chase my passion. With two decades now past, I can only opine that the world would be a far better place if there were more hunters. Thanks, Wiley. Pity you choose not to chime in.
KG, I really enjoyed the thread. I came to appreciate all the effort our resident fire members put into helping your dream come to fruition. That's a good bunch of guys. Congrats and thanks for investing the time in telling your story.
KG, I really enjoyed the thread. I came to appreciate all the effort our resident fire members put into helping your dream come to fruition. That's a good bunch of guys. Congrats and thanks for investing the time in telling your story.
Will you take me hunting? I have a bike like you do?
KG, I really enjoyed the thread. I came to appreciate all the effort our resident fire members put into helping your dream come to fruition. That's a good bunch of guys. Congrats and thanks for investing the time in telling your story.
Paul, thanks for the support, but I'm not homosexual nor a 'bike' rider. Plus, I was a teenaged phagbasher. Sorry, dude.
KG, I really enjoyed the thread. I came to appreciate all the effort our resident fire members put into helping your dream come to fruition. That's a good bunch of guys. Congrats and thanks for investing the time in telling your story.
Paul, thanks for the support, but I'm not homosexual nor a 'bike' rider. Plus, I was a teenaged phagbasher. Sorry, dude.
I've also done that, on a decent buck that I had to haul ass up a mountain to cut off, right at dawn. Out of breath, no rest, not even the ability to drop to a knee, I caught him in the open, pulled up, held on rear lungs as he was quartering away, and watched him drop at the shot. I was feeling pretty badass running back down the mountain to get to the ATV, and then bragged to my brother as we drove up to a good drag spot about how I'd held for ribs and the buck had dropped. Of course, my bullet choice, handloading accumen, and efficient offhand marksmanship came into play as I laid out the kill. Then we got up there, and there was a huge hole through the buck's upper neck. That rifle is just lucky, and I have proven it many times.
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
When will the buffalo food porn photos' going to be up? Serious question... you do food photography well.
Stop encouraging food porn.... hell that Andrew Zimmer show made me hungry.... knock that schit off....
Yeah it would be helpful if it was a separate thread.... late night food porn viewing leads to late night eating which often leads to now I'm to full to sleep....
I really do have a recollection as bison steak being a near religious experience. If a new thread had a warning in the title it probably wouldn't slow me down a bit so whatever just bring on the fine dinning photos
Nah, man. I was calm and was confident. Not nervous, not panicking. But whatever, I'll never know what happened other than my bison died on the quickness. And I'm calling that a win. Bash away. I can take it. I have 200 pounds of bison meat in my freezer...
His problem was the set up. The line between his feet was parallel to the line between the bipod feet. I like no less than 45 degrees between them. It makes one much steadier.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
700 PacNor #5, 20", super match grade ss barrel. Barreled by John Ricks. Paradox walnut stock by me, cast on 5/16 at heel, 1/4 at toe.
Several members here have used it for Kodiak bears, moose, caribou, bison, and other stuff. Remarkable accuracy with almost everything, but especially the 270gr TSX. A number of people have shot their best personal groups with it. The cast makes it gentle in recoil.
Did you make a sample board first?
It was fairly plain and the old epoxy under oil worked fine.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
Your hypothesis is almost as bad as your spelling. Hint: the word 'exonerate' has no 'h' in it. I'm not looking for an excuse, but a possible explanation, and I know that bison moved just before that bullet hit him, as the video will show. That said, pretty obviously, and as I've readily admitted, it was operator error, no more and no less.
Leighton, Thank you for detailing through words and exquisite photos of your adventure. When Art told me you were coming I knew this would be good! There are some great Fire members still left and I may have seen a few of those up there. Enjoy the meat and memories!
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
Your hypothesis is almost as bad as your spelling. Hint: the word 'exonerate' has no 'h' in it. I'm not looking for an excuse, but a possible explanation, and I know that bison moved just before that bullet hit him, as the video will show. That said, pretty obviously, and as I've readily admitted, it was operator error, no more and no less.
Nah, man. I was calm and was confident. Not nervous, not panicking. But whatever, I'll never know what happened other than my bison died on the quickness. And I'm calling that a win. Bash away. I can take it. I have 200 pounds of bison meat in my freezer...
His problem was the set up. The line between his feet was parallel to the line between the bipod feet. I like no less than 45 degrees between them. It makes one much steadier.
I agree. Position gets more critical as recoil goes up. It was probably that or some unseen grass/twig(s).
His problem was the set up. The line between his feet was parallel to the line between the bipod feet. I like no less than 45 degrees between them. It makes one much steadier.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
I was gonna ask if Sitka deer was a know-it-all-ass-hole in real life, but this answered my question.
Damn! If I'd had sufficient warning, I could have invited KG and crew to my house for LUTEFISK. It's about that time of year when it shows up in a few stores.....the poor varieties anyway.
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it. Congratulations to you and the men who helped. An epic adventure for all involved. Your photography was wonderful and made me feel I was there. I too liked the pool table shot. 👍👍
Lots of people are afraid of criticism on here. We all know the types.
The little hit and run post fuggs. The simmering butthurt types. The ones who run their pieholes but yet never post "Pics or it never happened"
I really dont think anyone is being malicious to KG on this thread concerning the shot. More of a ribbing for a reaction to see where it goes type of thing. Then some back and forth stuff.
I give the cat kudo,s for posting about the shot.
Plus I got sent a txt pic of the buff like a day or 2 after he shot it.
Not much of a convo. Asked if it was on a Rez out west somewhere. Just it was shot on the 22nd or 23rd of oct. Was left hanging on details and this thread filled em in nicely.
Glad KG made this thread. I could only imagine the text length if he told me the story then.
Get calls outta the blue from the guy at times. Lengthy calls. Lot of things have been covered. Stuff I have been wrong on and stuff he has been wrong on. Stuff both of us put together and arrived at a different or same exact perceptions on things versus what either of us actually believed prior.
Hunting stuff. Gun stuff. Growing up stuff.(KG is lucky to be alive actually) Dog stuff.
He is a good dude, and wont hold back what he thinks or sugarcoat schit. Lots of guys on here like that. Those are the cats to interact with no matter what dust ups or whatever has gone down over the course of time.
Big diff having spats with like minded individuals than these chameleon sunsabytches on here.
I know eventually I will have to go to Maine for funeral stuff. And I know on the way back I can call KG and probably meet the dude. Probably even have a drink with him and get on down the Rd back to Tennessee time...
And KG if you wanta eat something if we link up. Homie has ate stuff from all over this rock. I can't do the Jules Vern 20,000 leagues under the sea stuff man. Steamer clams or fried clams with bellies are GTG Lobster is GTG Fish chowdaah is GTG along as it is haddock. Mahi Mahi oven baked over a bed of rice is GTG.
Bout it for homie on the seafood side of the house and it all involves being COOKED 👍👍👍😄😄😄
Other than that.... A good pizza place will suffice. 👍👍👍😄😄😄
KG made a great shot on that bull......if that is the bull he was aiming at.
I've watched an excited huntress hit a bison other than the intended bison.......not a good thing to explain to the wildlife trooper. I also have seen an excited hunter jump out of his truck and shoot a bull that the rest of the herd gathered around to protect and the hunter fired again....different bison.......two bison down and only one tag.......it turned nasty from there but again the wildlife trooper made their day.
KG Whether you pulled the shot or the Buff turned into the shot.
Don't matter.. Buff is dead.
And you had the integrity and guts to post specifics about the shot....
Plenty of members on here wouldn't have had the stones to open themselves up to criticism about how the shot went down if it was them.
I appreciate this sentiment a bunch and thanks to you and the others folks who made similar comments in regards to my words here about botching the shot. Before we left the field the day of the kill, both of the guys told me not to worry, as they wouldn't mention it on any 'Fire post on the hunt. I told them both I appreciated their loyalty, but that I'm neither a bullshytter nor a liar, even one by way of omission and that I was going to write it up as it happened. I might take a little time to get there, but that it was going to happen.
A few answers to questions posed:
The bison's weight on the hoof we figure was north of 600 lbs for sure but likely not 700 lbs. A little guy, really, but no complaints here. None at all.
I gifted Rost495 and VernAK with a quarter. I would have left more tasty parts, but we weren't going to butcher the animal until back in Anchorage. It was still in meat bags in the back of SD's rig when we left the following day.
I gifted another quarter to SD, as well as perhaps 20 lbs of cut meat and the heart. I left Dan in Alaska a block of backstrap as a small token of thanks for letting us use his badass vacuum chamber sealer. That thing works like a charm and can handle large portions. He was also super generous in that he gifted me sealed bags of black cod, halibut, moose and caribou to take home in addition to all the bison meat. Very grateful to him for his help and kindness.
Yes, that is a pool table I have the meat laid out on in my basement. Prior to my trip out to AK, I made it a point to completely empty one of the other dedicated freezers in the house to accomodate meat that I'd hopefully be bringing home. Everything I did haul back home --with not a little struggle-- fit in it perfectly, but with zero room to spare.
I'm a Medallion flyer on Delta, so can check two bags totalling 140 pounds at no charge domestically. I paid $150 to check a third bag, plus, I filled my carry on with as much meat as I could stuff in it as well. SD was kind enough to get the gear I brought over into a box (with Rick Bin's name on it ), and it's on its way back to me via snail mail. Shipping frozen stuff across the country on an overnight or even 2 day basis costs a bloody fortune. I know this from experience.
I'll be sure to post up some pics of the meals to come. The meat smells like a sweet beef. Very excited to get working with it. Yesterday out of curiosity I checked what the local market gets for a pound of ground bison meat: $11.50. For ground! So, I guess one could figure the meat I brought back would sell locally for more than $2K, if it was all ground. Lots of it is much higher quality than cuts destined for a date with a grinder.
Thanks again to all for reading and commenting. It was an amazing experience, and I feel so very grateful to all the players in Alaska who helped make a little boys dream become a reality.
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
His problem was the set up. The line between his feet was parallel to the line between the bipod feet. I like no less than 45 degrees between them. It makes one much steadier.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
I was gonna ask if Sitka deer was a know-it-all-ass-hole in real life, but this answered my question.
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
KG made a great shot on that bull......if that is the bull he was aiming at.
I've watched an excited huntress hit a bison other than the intended bison.......not a good thing to explain to the wildlife trooper. I also have seen an excited hunter jump out of his truck and shoot a bull that the rest of the herd gathered around to protect and the hunter fired again....different bison.......two bison down and only one tag.......it turned nasty from there but again the wildlife trooper made their day.
Ha ha, yes my man, that was 100% the bison I was shooting at. He was the only one we were absolutely certain was a bull.
The two scenarios you describe are the stuff nightmares are made of.
As far as the malted barley from Peterson's getting turned into that vodka--which was quite nice indeed-- I'll be damned. Thanks for that, and for everything else. Only a few days after having your surgery you were out there by daybreak looking for bison for me, and I'll not ever forget it.
Just saw I have a PM from you I haven't looked it. Sorry about that. I'll respond soon. I need an address from you as well...
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
Raise your hand.
🙋♂️😔😔😔
over half the members don't hunt on here Rennie so half zero clue
There's a "famous" long range shooter on here that couldn't admit that he killed an elk by shear luck on one of his too-long of shots. He was monkey jumping like he hit the grand slam to win the World Series.
Weird things happen when shots go down range to all of us at some point. Kudos for trying to get closer, Kamo.
If you hunt, you've made a bad shot or two. Some work out some don't. A dead bison, is a dead bison. I'd say the shot was perfect. There was no day long tracking, no hand wringing, good shot.
My own worst/best shot was at a pheasant. My brother and I had a string of consecutive hits that ran over a couple years. That says more for his shooting than mine, as I was behind a good pointer and he set himself up for the more difficult swing shots. With the dog on point and subsequent flush, I stepped forward for an easy shot right into a knee-deep hole. As the shot rang out I was off the bird by at least a couple feet. The bird veered almost straight up as I'm now on my elbows watching helplessly. After rising about 100 feet, the pheasant was apparently touched by God and fell dead. I couldn't find the hint of a pellet strike anywhere on that bird. Chalk him up, and the string continued.
I've had more animals than I want to admit turn at exactly the wrong time and take it in the wrong place. I've had a few duck like crazy and cause arrows to completely miss.
Lots of people are afraid of criticism on here. We all know the types.
The little hit and run post fuggs. The simmering butthurt types. The ones who run their pieholes but yet never post "Pics or it never happened"
I really dont think anyone is being malicious to KG on this thread concerning the shot. More of a ribbing for a reaction to see where it goes type of thing. Then some back and forth stuff.
I give the cat kudo,s for posting about the shot.
Plus I got sent a txt pic of the buff like a day or 2 after he shot it.
Not much of a convo. Asked if it was on a Rez out west somewhere. Just it was shot on the 22nd or 23rd of oct. Was left hanging on details and this thread filled em in nicely.
Glad KG made this thread. I could only imagine the text length if he told me the story then.
Get calls outta the blue from the guy at times. Lengthy calls. Lot of things have been covered. Stuff I have been wrong on and stuff he has been wrong on. Stuff both of us put together and arrived at a different or same exact perceptions on things versus what either of us actually believed prior.
Hunting stuff. Gun stuff. Growing up stuff.(KG is lucky to be alive actually) Dog stuff.
He is a good dude, and wont hold back what he thinks or sugarcoat schit. Lots of guys on here like that. Those are the cats to interact with no matter what dust ups or whatever has gone down over the course of time.
Big diff having spats with like minded individuals than these chameleon sunsabytches on here.
I know eventually I will have to go to Maine for funeral stuff. And I know on the way back I can call KG and probably meet the dude. Probably even have a drink with him and get on down the Rd back to Tennessee time...
And KG if you wanta eat something if we link up. Homie has ate stuff from all over this rock. I can't do the Jules Vern 20,000 leagues under the sea stuff man. Steamer clams or fried clams with bellies are GTG Lobster is GTG Fish chowdaah is GTG along as it is haddock. Mahi Mahi oven baked over a bed of rice is GTG.
Bout it for homie on the seafood side of the house and it all involves being COOKED 👍👍👍😄😄😄
Other than that.... A good pizza place will suffice. 👍👍👍😄😄😄
All I get is dick picks
No phone calls, no cheesy peanut snacks, no free scope rings
Forgot to thank Ptarmigan for his kind offer to haul any stuff I had left in ANC back here. All set friend, but I do appreciate the offer a bunch.
Pic of my pants back at the inn. Now you understand the previous comment about wishing I had my oilskins on for the breakdown. I was positively swimming in blood--and a monstrous amount of guts-- once we got to opening up the torso.
Other than that.... A good pizza place will suffice. 👍👍👍😄😄😄
Absolutely, and look forward to it. Bring Slummy with you! Pizza can work if that's what you'd like, but I promise it won't be from a Cici's or whatever that joint is...
You Made Meat Brother! Hunted with some Great fellows Rost495 has helped with my 50 Beowulf went on a trip if a Lifetime! Can't get much better than that. Thanks for taking us along!
Leighton. What a fantastic opportunity for you to get a bison tag. Thanks for taking us along for a very well told recount of your hunt. As you found about the fire’s Alaska folks, they are always eager to help visitors to enjoy the visit to their great state. Enjoy your bison, and I know you will never forget your hunt and the help from those folks.
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
Raise your hand.
🙋♂️😔😔😔
I have, a cow elk in 2001 (or thereabouts) and an oryx in South Africa in 1995.
Damn! If I'd had sufficient warning, I could have invited KG and crew to my house for LUTEFISK. It's about that time of year when it shows up in a few stores.....the poor varieties anyway.
I had to try it, once................
at some Skandahoovian dinner in Juneau when I was up there.
Now realize, I love fish................lutefisk? Not so much!
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
Raise your hand.
🙋♂️😔😔😔
Hand up here. Javelina and a pheasant.
Both dropped like rocks and were gone when I got to where they fell.
The first deer I killed with a bow was one of those ???? episodes. I was about 30’ up a poplar in a climber and a fork horn came easing by maybe 10 yards from the base of the tree. I let fly and it felt like a good shot.
The buck ran off about 75 yards toward the southwest and with the setting sun behind him, I could see his silhouette. He stopped and after a few seconds he dropped. I climbed down, packed up my stand and gear, then walked over to check him out. There was lots of blood around and at first couldn’t find my hit. Then I found I had hit him in the neck. I was thinking, “there’s no way I pulled a 10 yard shot that badly.”
I was shooting a Zwicky broadhead with IIRC, a span of a little over an inch and “bleeder” blades that span about 5/8”. The main blade struck 90 degrees to his neck and had cut the jugular. Had the arrow spun a quarter turn more or less and it may have missed everything vital. I figured that he jumped the string and the arrow landed just as he squatted and whirled to his right.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
Your hypothesis is almost as bad as your spelling. Hint: the word 'exonerate' has no 'h' in it. I'm not looking for an excuse, but a possible explanation, and I know that bison moved just before that bullet hit him, as the video will show. That said, pretty obviously, and as I've readily admitted, it was operator error, no more and no less.
good job kg...dont know why sd is putting you down pretty low class ...some times shiiit happens...but thats a dead buffalo....bob
Some things are meant to be. Could you speak Bisonese I’ve no doubt you’d have heard the animal say with spiritual emphasis “It’s a good day to die” just as he bared his neck to the bullet. Great show. But I gotta say, as beautiful as the missus is she doesn’t appear to be as thrilled as you must have been. Congrats on the hunt and on keeping her around.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
Your hypothesis is almost as bad as your spelling. Hint: the word 'exonerate' has no 'h' in it. I'm not looking for an excuse, but a possible explanation, and I know that bison moved just before that bullet hit him, as the video will show. That said, pretty obviously, and as I've readily admitted, it was operator error, no more and no less.
good job kg...dont know why sd is putting you down pretty low class ...some times shiiit happens...but thats a dead buffalo....bob
First whitetail I ever killed was a button buck with a flintlock (at 13 I think) with a spinal shot at about 20 feet (was aiming at the chest). One of the greatest moments of my life.
Dead is dead, who cares if luck was involved? No one is perfect (cept for God)
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
Your hypothesis is almost as bad as your spelling. Hint: the word 'exonerate' has no 'h' in it. I'm not looking for an excuse, but a possible explanation, and I know that bison moved just before that bullet hit him, as the video will show. That said, pretty obviously, and as I've readily admitted, it was operator error, no more and no less.
good job kg...dont know why sd is putting you down pretty low class ...some times shiiit happens...but thats a dead buffalo....bob
what are you smoking?!?
if I am wrong sd then I apologize...but saying ...sadly he thinks it will exonerate him...when he says straight up operator error...seems to me you are belittling him...maybe I am reading it wrong...bob
if I am wrong sd then I apologize...but saying ...sadly he thinks it will exonerate him...when he says straight up operator error...seems to me you are belittling him...maybe I am reading it wrong...bob
I don't know what everybody else is reading but from where I'm sitting:
A.) Kamo a fugkin' snob B.) Sitka a fugkin' ass hole C.) Vern salt of da earth D.) Rost silently wished everyone would stop taking pictures and help with the fugkin' bison
if I am wrong sd then I apologize...but saying ...sadly he thinks it will exonerate him...when he says straight up operator error...seems to me you are belittling him...maybe I am reading it wrong...bob
I don't know what everybody else is reading but from where I'm sitting:
A.) Kamo a fugkin' snob B.) Sitka a fugkin' ass hole C.) Vern salt of da earth D.) Rost silently wished everyone would stop taking pictures and help with the fugkin' bison
LOL
You left out vern leaving 5 star ratings at the cave even though they really deserved a 3.5 stars..
Forgot to thank Ptarmigan for his kind offer to haul any stuff I had left in ANC back here. All set friend, but I do appreciate the offer a bunch.
Pic of my pants back at the inn. Now you understand the previous comment about wishing I had my oilskins on for the breakdown. I was positively swimming in blood--and a monstrous amount of guts-- once we got to opening up the torso.
Forgot to thank Ptarmigan for his kind offer to haul any stuff I had left in ANC back here. All set friend, but I do appreciate the offer a bunch.
Pic of my pants back at the inn. Now you understand the previous comment about wishing I had my oilskins on for the breakdown. I was positively swimming in blood--and a monstrous amount of guts-- once we got to opening up the torso.
if I am wrong sd then I apologize...but saying ...sadly he thinks it will exonerate him...when he says straight up operator error...seems to me you are belittling him...maybe I am reading it wrong...bob
I don't know what everybody else is reading but from where I'm sitting:
A.) Kamo a fugkin' snob B.) Sitka a fugkin' ass hole C.) Vern salt of da earth D.) Rost silently wished everyone would stop taking pictures and help with the fugkin' bison
Kamo, thanks for the story and the effort to put it all together. The Alaska team are the kind you want with you on a mission. Congrats and hope you get to do many more.
My own worst/best shot was at a pheasant. My brother and I had a string of consecutive hits that ran over a couple years. That says more for his shooting than mine, as I was behind a good pointer and he set himself up for the more difficult swing shots. With the dog on point and subsequent flush, I stepped forward for an easy shot right into a knee-deep hole. As the shot rang out I was off the bird by at least a couple feet. The bird veered almost straight up as I'm now on my elbows watching helplessly. After rising about 100 feet, the pheasant was apparently touched by God and fell dead. I couldn't find the hint of a pellet strike anywhere on that bird. Chalk him up, and the string continued.
I have seen that same response on several species of upland birds where they suddenly fly straight up until they die and fall straight down. All had at least one pellet in the heart.
Good hunt with a great write up KG. Props to the 'Fire crew who helped you out as well. Looks like the Mrs. is happy with the meat haul. You'll remember this one for the rest of your life.
As far as the shot goes, you can't get any deader than dead. Didn't waste meat either. Some years ago in WY we came across a nice pronghorn after looking for several days. We lazed it from the truck. 398. I got a good rest and touched off the 300WM 180 NP. DRT...and all on tape. Was feeling pretty proud of myself when dad said "Damn fine shot! Right behind the ear!" I played it off for a while, but had to fess up to the boys. I was aiming for the shoulder crease. Damn thing had its head down feeding. Wind and bullet drop caught him on a hail mary. Funny story and I put it on the wall. Dead is dead.
If I could get that frigging video off my phone he would already have it! Sadly, he thinks it will exhonerate him. It will show a bison dead in midair.
Your hypothesis is almost as bad as your spelling. Hint: the word 'exonerate' has no 'h' in it. I'm not looking for an excuse, but a possible explanation, and I know that bison moved just before that bullet hit him, as the video will show. That said, pretty obviously, and as I've readily admitted, it was operator error, no more and no less.
good job kg...dont know why sd is putting you down pretty low class ...some times shiiit happens...but thats a dead buffalo....bob
what are you smoking?!?
if I am wrong sd then I apologize...but saying ...sadly he thinks it will exonerate him...when he says straight up operator error...seems to me you are belittling him...maybe I am reading it wrong...bob
Bob This was Camp Self Esteem! If anyone, myself included, returned with any we had not done our jobs! We laughed, poked fun, insulted, hated on, laughed more and generally had a great time from airport to airport and the intervening 800+ miles we drove.
kamo gari; Good evening once more my friend, thanks for the chuckle with, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story".
I want to say it was the late John Wooters who long ago opined that "if someone tells you everything they shoot drops dead, they've either not shot very many things or it didn't happen that way".
That said then, added to the fact that I've royally buggered a few shots on game in the past half century myself, sometimes turning out much worse than your bison, you shall not be receiving flames from my section of this side of the medicine line tonight.
It was a grand hunting tale, well told sir.
Best to you both Leighton.
Dwayne
Leighton, allow me to echo the good Mr. BC30cal's sentiments. It was a grand hunting tale, and well told. (It was even better reading, having heard the oral version from you over the phone last week!) The photos you've posted are excellent, as usual. Thanks for that. It makes the tale all the more sweet. Having lived and hunted in the snowy northern Alberta areas of Swan Hills and Peace River country, I expected the landscapes and vegetation in the Delta region to look as it did. But it sure makes it more immediate to see it in actual pixels.
I had the privilege of collecting a WY bison heifer about 10 years ago, in the company of Jorge and EvilTwin... until that particular adventure, I had no inkling of the amount of work involved in skinning and cutting up a bison. Big respect to your comrades for all the work they put in to get that critter cut up and packaged! BTW, enjoy that liver! Bison liver is amazingly good eating, so good that I would happily help somebody collect a Big Shaggy if they would let me have the liver...
As for the errant bullet, dinna fash. Given the fact that it was dead on minute-of-coffee-cup 2 days before, you have to wonder if some evil kami possessed the thing... maybe the scope buggered up for no good reason, maybe your bullet struck an unseen twig between you and the bison, or maybe you just twitched wrong. Doesn't matter. The beast died clean, that's all that signifies.Like Dwayne, I've been in on the end of a goodly number of critters in my nearly 70 years, and I will confirm that the only hunters who will condemn another hunter for an errant bullet are 1) azzholes and 2) inexperienced in the vagaries of hunting and killing, and 3) azzholes.
Thanks for sharing the good story and great pics. Enjoy that delicious meat.
This was Camp Self Esteem! If anyone, myself included, returned with any we had not done our jobs! We laughed, poked fun, insulted, hated on, laughed more and generally had a great time from airport to airport and the intervening 800+ miles we drove.
We started and ended friends.
And that's as it should be. I am tickled to hear of and read about y'all's adventure. Well done, lads.
This was Camp Self Esteem! If anyone, myself included, returned with any we had not done our jobs! We laughed, poked fun, insulted, hated on, laughed more and generally had a great time from airport to airport and the intervening 800+ miles we drove.
We started and ended friends.
And that's as it should be. I am tickled to hear of and read about y'all's adventure. Well done, lads.
My own worst/best shot was at a pheasant. My brother and I had a string of consecutive hits that ran over a couple years. That says more for his shooting than mine, as I was behind a good pointer and he set himself up for the more difficult swing shots. With the dog on point and subsequent flush, I stepped forward for an easy shot right into a knee-deep hole. As the shot rang out I was off the bird by at least a couple feet. The bird veered almost straight up as I'm now on my elbows watching helplessly. After rising about 100 feet, the pheasant was apparently touched by God and fell dead. I couldn't find the hint of a pellet strike anywhere on that bird. Chalk him up, and the string continued.
I have seen that same response on several species of upland birds where they suddenly fly straight up until they die and fall straight down. All had at least one pellet in the heart.
Yes, indeed. I recall my father telling me about the towering flight of dead-on-its-wings-heartshot-pheasant when I was a lad, but for some odd reason never actually witnessed it myself til I was near 40 years old, with hundreds of dead waterfowl and upland birds in the bag.
As it happened, I was hunting with my fine old Springer, Brit, near Brooks, AB. The cock pheasant flushed right in front of Brit's nose, a scant 10 yards out, and gave he an easy rising straightaway shot. I hit the bird with a single pellet (I'm not a great wingshot, I must admit) and he towered in an upward spiral to perhaps 50 yards, but carried away from us by a typical howling southern Alberta 40-mph breeze. Brit never lost sight of the rooster, and danced out into the stubble like a center-fielder, positioned perfectly to make the catch when the pheasant inevitably fell straight down. I'd swear my dog nearly caught the pheasant in mid-air, but nobody would believe me and I'm not sure I believe myself 30 years later.
I didn't gut the bird until I had him home later that day, and carefully dissected him... I had hit his heart with a single pellet, and his pericardium was full of blood. Classic cardiac tamponade. Physiologically fascinating, I must say.
Great read, humbling to walk up on a dead buffalo isn't it. And for what its worth I severed the spine in front of the shoulder on mine. Not where I was aiming. Anyway congratulations on a great trip.
My own worst/best shot was at a pheasant. My brother and I had a string of consecutive hits that ran over a couple years. That says more for his shooting than mine, as I was behind a good pointer and he set himself up for the more difficult swing shots. With the dog on point and subsequent flush, I stepped forward for an easy shot right into a knee-deep hole. As the shot rang out I was off the bird by at least a couple feet. The bird veered almost straight up as I'm now on my elbows watching helplessly. After rising about 100 feet, the pheasant was apparently touched by God and fell dead. I couldn't find the hint of a pellet strike anywhere on that bird. Chalk him up, and the string continued.
I have seen that same response on several species of upland birds where they suddenly fly straight up until they die and fall straight down. All had at least one pellet in the heart.
Yes, indeed. I recall my father telling me about the towering flight of dead-on-its-wings-heartshot-pheasant when I was a lad, but for some odd reason never actually witnessed it myself til I was near 40 years old, with hundreds of dead waterfowl and upland birds in the bag.
As it happened, I was hunting with my fine old Springer, Brit, near Brooks, AB. The cock pheasant flushed right in front of Brit's nose, a scant 10 yards out, and gave he an easy rising straightaway shot. I hit the bird with a single pellet (I'm not a great wingshot, I must admit) and he towered in an upward spiral to perhaps 50 yards, but carried away from us by a typical howling southern Alberta 40-mph breeze. Brit never lost sight of the rooster, and danced out into the stubble like a center-fielder, positioned perfectly to make the catch when the pheasant inevitably fell straight down. I'd swear my dog nearly caught the pheasant in mid-air, but nobody would believe me and I'm not sure I believe myself 30 years later.
I didn't gut the bird until I had him home later that day, and carefully dissected him... I had hit his heart with a single pellet, and his pericardium was full of blood. Classic cardiac tamponade. Physiologically fascinating, I must say.
Some years ago my son shot a dusky Canada goose that did the same. It was impressive how it hit the water!
You clearly revel in your idiocy. Most try to forget the real moron moments in their pathetic existence. Not you.
I was just making light of our previous back-n-forths.
But I gotta say it's a good thing you spent your whole life in an Indian Village because if people like me bother you in the virtual world, you'd blow your fugking brains out in the real world.
Nah, man. I was calm and was confident. Not nervous, not panicking. But whatever, I'll never know what happened other than my bison died on the quickness. And I'm calling that a win. Bash away. I can take it. I have 200 pounds of bison meat in my freezer...
As calm a shooter as I've ever seen. I had my hand on his shoulder close a few times to adjust our direction etc.. He was NOT shook up at all.
Sometimes things happen. Is what it is. Turned out perfectly. I never even put a round in my 458 chamber. Was never a need. The bear never showed up either so that was good too. Well yes and no.
I tend to think these things are the result of the influence of St Hubert, that Greek Artemis, Diana, and all the other ones in the ether involved in the hunt.
Sometimes I think there is guidance to avoid those nasty recoveries or losses of a wounded animal.
Dead is dead, and dead on the spot is many times the best kind of dead.
I brained a moose (he of the doubles of tines) at about 50 yards, same deal. The bullet was meant for the spine just behind his ears, but he started to duck and turn just as I shot.. When I skinned his head out, a chunk of bone the size of my palm came off the top of his skull with the skin. The brain just sort of fell out. Lights out!
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
Raise your hand.
🙋♂️😔😔😔
We did just this morning. Not that it was fatal at least. Chip shot really. Except the branch in the way we never saw at 230 appx yards. Poof. Something hit the buck. Tiger found blood. Found the buck bedded twice. I never got a shot. Last bed I had to dig like heck in leaves to find a bit of blood proving it was him. Zero blood after the first bed. We suspect really none the worse for wear.. Will check the pond again Saturday. But I doubt it. Easy rack to identify so we have 1.5 months left..
Regardless it sucks. And we were lamenting a few other weird shots. Some ended lucky like Leighton. Cool. Some not as much. A miss or two in there. Handful of long shots past 500. You just never know somedays. All the long ones have been perfect. Go figure
Decided to cut off the meat between rib bones and make a little kabob meal. I had them at a the top of the freezer and they're big and a bit unwieldy, so wanted to get to those first.Not a whole lot of meat on a quarter rib cage, but I wasn't about to waste it. As a quick aside, SD was of the opinion that the bull I killed was badly emaciated. I wouldn't be able to comment one way or the other but trust his judgment. When we were butchering the bull in SD's kitchen, I saw there was some internal fat, but not much. With emaciation being the case or not, the flavor of the meat is flat out amazing.
I opined earlier that the raw product smells like sweet beef. That's exactly how it tasted. I chose to toss most of the rib meat for this meal in a Korean BBQ marinade, but I made it a point to do a couple of skewers with nothing but salt to judge flavor. I cooked them way on the rare side of medium rare. I'm an extremely happy chappy. The girls got a bunch of rib raw rib bones cut up and in the freezer to enjoy from time to time. 197 pounds left to work with and enjoy.
Thanks again to all for reading, posting on the thread and PMing me, and of course, a very special thanks again to all the AK rogues who made this hunt an incredible reality. A high-caliber adventure where memories were made to last and enjoy for a lifetime.
Yes, I removed most of the gristle/silverskin seen in the marinade before skewering.
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
Raise your hand.
🙋♂️😔😔😔
I have, a cow elk in 2001 (or thereabouts) and an oryx in South Africa in 1995.
Kickapoo Caverns State Park, maybe 15 years back, doe cull hunt. I stood since before dawn next to a large cedar adjacent to a dirt vehicle access track maybe 30 yards upwind of an obvious deer trail, not moving. Watching and listening for birds mostly.
Lo and behold, at dawn a doe stepped out and began stepping and feeding in my direction. I had a Marlin 336 at port arms. Ever so slowly I brought the rifle up and sighted on the chest of the deer. By that time maybe 40 feet away. It saw me just as I pulled the trigger, I know I was looking at brown fur when I shot, no idea where or if I hit it. Spent the whole day walking circles looking for blood, nothing.
I brained a moose (he of the doubles of tines) at about 50 yards, same deal. The bullet was meant for the spine just behind his ears, but he started to duck and turn just as I shot.. When I skinned his head out, a chunk of bone the size of my palm came off the top of his skull with the skin. The brain just sort of fell out. Lights out!
I'll take it.
Actually, no my man, I don't believe the bull 'ducked', but in watching the video on SD's phone several times, I'm convinced it turned his head to his left just before impact. If I didn't make it crystal clear before, I'm not blaming anyone but myself for a poor shot. Exoneration is not what I'm seeking or asking for, and never did. In fact that had nothing to do with bugger all. My shot didn't strike the animal anywhere near where it was found I had hit him. I got lucky, period. I would however, love to be able to view the video on a proper computer screen at least. Maybe I'm wrong about the bull turning his head just before impact. Maybe what I saw was the head turning as a *result* of impact. I dunno'. Maybe SD will acquire a fuggin' cheap USB cable and simply download the video to his computer and send it to me to upload to YT and post, and maybe he won't. Time will tell...
I brained a moose (he of the doubles of tines) at about 50 yards, same deal. The bullet was meant for the spine just behind his ears, but he started to duck and turn just as I shot.. When I skinned his head out, a chunk of bone the size of my palm came off the top of his skull with the skin. The brain just sort of fell out. Lights out!
I'll take it.
Actually, no my man, I don't believe the bull 'ducked', but in watching the video on SD's phone several times, I'm convinced it turned his head to his left just before impact. If I didn't make it crystal clear before, I'm not blaming anyone but myself for a poor shot. Exoneration is not what I'm seeking or asking for, and never did. In fact that had nothing to do with bugger all. My shot didn't strike the animal anywhere near where it was found I had hit him. I got lucky, period. I would however, love to be able to view the video on a proper computer screen at least. Maybe I'm wrong about the bull turning his head just before impact. Maybe what I saw was the head turning as a *result* of impact. I dunno'. Maybe SD will acquire a fuggin' cheap USB cable and simply download the video to his computer and send it to me to upload to YT and post, and maybe he won't. Time will tell...
I spent significant time trying again today... it cannot go by USB cable... WIFI Direct will connect the phone to a tablet but then says the file is too large.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
Yeah! food porn and happy pup bonus photos Hoping for more of both.
"SD was of the opinion that the bull I killed was badly emaciated."
My wife and I are now on our 25 wedding and hunting together anniversary. We are "trophy meat hunters". It's all about the finished product. As a result I'm curious about the "badly emaciated" observation? Sick injured poor food supply?
I spent significant time trying again today... it cannot go by USB cable... WIFI Direct will connect the phone to a tablet but then says the file is too large.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
OK. There are other ways to skin this cat. I'll give you my YT login. Go to YT, log in as me, hit 'upload video', and select it from your files on your phone. After a few clicks it should upload just fine.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
WTF is this, CSI Delta Junction bison edition?
Hey, you and Sara Palin don't kill AK schiett worth a schiett.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
WTF is this, CSI Delta Junction bison edition?
Nah, a real CSI detective would know how to work a cell phone.
Hey Sitka Deer have you thought about getting an USB stick that plugs into your phone? You would be able to download the video to the stick and then easily upload it to the computer or mail it to KG.
as to emaciation... No doubt. I said so when we skinned, outside surface face so to speak, of the backstraps should have been convex and fat covered, They were very concave.
I want all to know that while we all helped as we could, Leighton did the final job. And thats all that mattered. And while I feel I didn't do enough at times, I was privileged to be there. VERY much happy we killed before I had to run and pick up the wife. That said as I noted to them, kill when and where you can. Don't worry about me.
And less folks think I"m more of a prude than I am, a big you are welcome to all that said thank you.
It was very enjoyable among friends for sure.
Regards. Jeff
And the video... hell I"d take a video of the phone playing the video, if I could just see it once. I would like that.
I spent significant time trying again today... it cannot go by USB cable... WIFI Direct will connect the phone to a tablet but then says the file is too large.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
OK. There are other ways to skin this cat. I'll give you my YT login. Go to YT, log in as me, hit 'upload video', and select it from your files on your phone. After a few clicks it should upload just fine.
Aside from that, the bullet traveled between the axis and atlas , only breaking bone slightly toward the exit side. A radical turn would look very different in the wound channel. imo.
WTF is this, CSI Delta Junction bison edition?
Just made a proper Elephant gin martini... Oh My! Incredible drink!
Hey Sitka Deer have you thought about getting an USB stick that plugs into your phone? You would be able to download the video to the stick and then easily upload it to the computer or mail it to KG.
Just a suggestion.
Not finding a way to do that... and tried it. No bueno.
as to emaciation... No doubt. I said so when we skinned, outside surface face so to speak, of the backstraps should have been convex and fat covered, They were very concave.
I want all to know that while we all helped as we could, Leighton did the final job. And thats all that mattered. And while I feel I didn't do enough at times, I was privileged to be there. VERY much happy we killed before I had to run and pick up the wife. That said as I noted to them, kill when and where you can. Don't worry about me.
And less folks think I"m more of a prude than I am, a big you are welcome to all that said thank you.
It was very enjoyable among friends for sure.
Regards. Jeff
And the video... hell I"d take a video of the phone playing the video, if I could just see it once. I would like that.
Thanks for that and everything else brother. Without anything to compare, it didn't occur to me about the fat, but you're right. When SD and I butchered the bull, there was very little fat on any of the meat anywhere. I can only hope that DJ has a mild winter and the herds there can start recovering and getting healthy.
Not having any of that 'I didn't do enough' talk. You were instrumental in making our hunt a tremendous success. For that I'm forever grateful.
You never saw the video you co-starred in? Damn. We need some technical help for SD, stat!
I brained a moose (he of the doubles of tines) at about 50 yards, same deal. The bullet was meant for the spine just behind his ears, but he started to duck and turn just as I shot.. When I skinned his head out, a chunk of bone the size of my palm came off the top of his skull with the skin. The brain just sort of fell out. Lights out!
I'll take it.
Actually, no my man, I don't believe the bull 'ducked', but in watching the video on SD's phone several times, I'm convinced it turned his head to his left just before impact. If I didn't make it crystal clear before, I'm not blaming anyone but myself for a poor shot. Exoneration is not what I'm seeking or asking for, and never did. In fact that had nothing to do with bugger all. My shot didn't strike the animal anywhere near where it was found I had hit him. I got lucky, period. I would however, love to be able to view the video on a proper computer screen at least. Maybe I'm wrong about the bull turning his head just before impact. Maybe what I saw was the head turning as a *result* of impact. I dunno'. Maybe SD will acquire a fuggin' cheap USB cable and simply download the video to his computer and send it to me to upload to YT and post, and maybe he won't. Time will tell...
This is great, when we get the film it will be grainy and there will be much debate, lol.
Back and to the left?
Was it a mob hit or the Cubans?
Was there a grassy knoll nearby?
Face it Leighton, you are just a patsy. We know there were other lots of people that wanted him dead, you were framed.
How many of us on here have lost a game animal to a bad shot. And have had that gut and soul ache for days trying everything you know and could do to find the animal. Even for days after.... or found yourself weeks after still hoping to find or stumble on it at times.
Ya'll done good What a pleasure to read! You surely made the right call whacking that bull. With all the aligned circumstances, that best worst shot had no choice other than killing.
Within hours of first stepping on Alaskan soil, I was on the bow of SD's boat putting out shrimp traps. There's no way to describe the overload of majesty that comes with that country. Art has a deep gift for guiding folks into the Alaska Experience, and many have benefitted. He wasn't ribbing about all the red hands holding that .375.
KG, I'm so glad you all hit a decent stretch of passable-to-good weather! It's unusual to enjoy an AK hunt without some impact from buggered weather conditions. And private land access from a bison-whisperer? Just gonna call that one Divine Intervention
The memories will outlast the steaks bud. Also, beautiful birds. May you enjoy another trip!
as to emaciation... No doubt. I said so when we skinned, outside surface face so to speak, of the backstraps should have been convex and fat covered, They were very concave.
I want all to know that while we all helped as we could, Leighton did the final job. And thats all that mattered. And while I feel I didn't do enough at times, I was privileged to be there. VERY much happy we killed before I had to run and pick up the wife. That said as I noted to them, kill when and where you can. Don't worry about me.
And less folks think I"m more of a prude than I am, a big you are welcome to all that said thank you.
It was very enjoyable among friends for sure.
Regards. Jeff
And the video... hell I"d take a video of the phone playing the video, if I could just see it once. I would like that.
Thanks for that and everything else brother. Without anything to compare, it didn't occur to me about the fat, but you're right. When SD and I butchered the bull, there was very little fat on any of the meat anywhere. I can only hope that DJ has a mild winter and the herds there can start recovering and getting healthy.
Not having any of that 'I didn't do enough' talk. You were instrumental in making our hunt a tremendous success. For that I'm forever grateful.
You never saw the video you co-starred in? Damn. We need some technical help for SD, stat!
Talk soon, my friend.
Nope. Never got a glance at the video. Chit happened very fast between finishing in the dark and my quick trip to FBKs.
trust me.. you could video the video and send it this way Art... I'd be happy at a glimpse. Grins.
As to the not enough, thats just me. Over 6 miles twice on foot, but I could have done more maybe.lol.
Leighton- what's next? One of these? They are better eating than bison. I've had musk ox several times, never killed one. I can live vicariously.
Funny you mention that, Las. I'm planning on booking a muskox hunt in Greenland. Arctic fox and hare as well as ptarmigan and ice fishing on the same trip. Maybe ice fishing too if time permits. PITA thing is I'll have to fly to Denmark first, then to Greenland. Same true opposite way. Things could be worse than an 2X overnight in Copenhagen though.
Toss up between that trip and heading for the Scottish highlands for my red stag and grouse shooting, maybe some salmon fishing. Visit with family on that one too as a bonus, do some pub crawls, maybe get into a fun brawl or three with my nutty cousins from Glasgow. Tough choices!
My own worst/best shot was at a pheasant. My brother and I had a string of consecutive hits that ran over a couple years. That says more for his shooting than mine, as I was behind a good pointer and he set himself up for the more difficult swing shots. With the dog on point and subsequent flush, I stepped forward for an easy shot right into a knee-deep hole. As the shot rang out I was off the bird by at least a couple feet. The bird veered almost straight up as I'm now on my elbows watching helplessly. After rising about 100 feet, the pheasant was apparently touched by God and fell dead. I couldn't find the hint of a pellet strike anywhere on that bird. Chalk him up, and the string continued.
I have seen that same response on several species of upland birds where they suddenly fly straight up until they die and fall straight down. All had at least one pellet in the heart.
Yes, indeed. I recall my father telling me about the towering flight of dead-on-its-wings-heartshot-pheasant when I was a lad, but for some odd reason never actually witnessed it myself til I was near 40 years old, with hundreds of dead waterfowl and upland birds in the bag.
As it happened, I was hunting with my fine old Springer, Brit, near Brooks, AB. The cock pheasant flushed right in front of Brit's nose, a scant 10 yards out, and gave he an easy rising straightaway shot. I hit the bird with a single pellet (I'm not a great wingshot, I must admit) and he towered in an upward spiral to perhaps 50 yards, but carried away from us by a typical howling southern Alberta 40-mph breeze. Brit never lost sight of the rooster, and danced out into the stubble like a center-fielder, positioned perfectly to make the catch when the pheasant inevitably fell straight down. I'd swear my dog nearly caught the pheasant in mid-air, but nobody would believe me and I'm not sure I believe myself 30 years later.
I didn't gut the bird until I had him home later that day, and carefully dissected him... I had hit his heart with a single pellet, and his pericardium was full of blood. Classic cardiac tamponade. Physiologically fascinating, I must say.
I have witnessed that a few times pheasant and sharptail hunting. They will fly straight as if you missed them for a couple hundred yards and then go into a two second vertical climb before shutting down and plummeting back to the ground. The wings keep going for a couple seconds after the navigation system shuts down.
OK kids, here's what you've all been waiting for. Or not. Thanks to SD for taking the crappy video and spending 20 minutes on the phone with me just now getting it uploaded. Video not good enough, I don't think, to make a call on definitive operator error. Bison down, with authority, @ ~ 43 second point.
In any event, I don't think anyone can argue about how quickly that bull died. Hammer down. Best worst shot I've ever made! SD, Rost495 and VernAK, you boys made this kid's dream come true. 'Thank you' doesn't even begin to convey my gratitude to you lads. Hopefully, my actions and words will.
Your right elbow dropped at the shot more than likely it was the cause of the great question. Not like test fire the rifle prior.
Your under stress and anxiety to get the shot in hunting conditions
Cause that video honestly doesn't show much of anything to CSI... You are right handed???
Did you shoot the rifle off a bench where both elbows are supported? And it went well. Did your shoot the rifle off the tripod and at what range and it went well? As distance increase the error increased.
Dude.... It's a dead Buffalo on a once in a lifetime tag. And your using gear relatively unfamiliar to you. I think your right elbow out in the air and dropping a tiny bit is what caused the "errant" shot. Which was a killing shot...
Here in Boston you get a choice. Die happy or die hard. Close your eyes or keep them open and find out. End result is the same damned thing.
Guess I wouldn't mind dying hard.
Her on top doing the tough work.
Me enjoying life.
Eyes would be open.
L, that hunt, story, and video takes the Gran Prix for 2022 here.
well I have a heck of a brown bear video but no permission to show it... hows that for baiting, Lets just say as he gets up to come at us he gets planted hard. That after a number of 300 win mag rounds failed to totally stop forward progression. LOL. But he was only 9 foot 11 inches. Click bait.
OK kids, here's what you've all been waiting for. Or not. Thanks to SD for taking the crappy video and spending 20 minutes on the phone with me just now getting it uploaded. Video not good enough, I don't think, to make a call on definitive operator error. Bison down, with authority, @ ~ 43 second point.
In any event, I don't think anyone can argue about how quickly that bull died. Hammer down. Best worst shot I've ever made! SD, Rost495 and VernAK, you boys made this kid's dream come true. 'Thank you' doesn't even begin to convey my gratitude to you lads. Hopefully, my actions and words will.
Here in Boston you get a choice. Die happy or die hard. Close your eyes or keep them open and find out. End result is the same damned thing.
Guess I wouldn't mind dying hard.
Her on top doing the tough work.
Me enjoying life.
Eyes would be open.
L, that hunt, story, and video takes the Gran Prix for 2022 here.
well I have a heck of a brown bear video but no permission to show it... hows that for baiting, Lets just say as he gets up to come at us he gets planted hard. That after a number of 300 win mag rounds failed to totally stop forward progression. LOL. But he was only 9 foot 11 inches. Click bait.
It's all hearsay until..................................
OK kids, here's what you've all been waiting for. Or not. Thanks to SD for taking the crappy video and spending 20 minutes on the phone with me just now getting it uploaded. Video not good enough, I don't think, to make a call on definitive operator error. Bison down, with authority, @ ~ 43 second point.
In any event, I don't think anyone can argue about how quickly that bull died. Hammer down. Best worst shot I've ever made! SD, Rost495 and VernAK, you boys made this kid's dream come true. 'Thank you' doesn't even begin to convey my gratitude to you lads. Hopefully, my actions and words will.
That bull did start to turn into your shot.
If an animal can move enough to throw a shot off at that short range, imagine what they can do at 500 yards plus.
Drt, the rest is speculation. Glad you got it done pard!
Thanks, bud. Just reread what I wrote in the post with the video, and I don't think what I wrote came across the way I wanted it to. Bottom line for me is I must've pulled the shot due to poor form or whatever and nothing less. I just got lucky. With a shot so badly taken, it very well could've been a gong show of epic proportions out there. I'm so very glad on a lot of different levels there was so no such event. Aces, Rost, IB, R50, Sammo, TI, Geno, thanks for the words.
Think I'll bang out a pot of Japanese style bison curry tonight and ponder it some more.
Yes, he did, 100%. About a tenth of a second before the bullet hit him he turned to his left to face us. Still a bad shot, but thank you for that. Glad someone else saw what I did in the video.
OK kids, here's what you've all been waiting for. Or not. Thanks to SD for taking the crappy video and spending 20 minutes on the phone with me just now getting it uploaded. Video not good enough, I don't think, to make a call on definitive operator error. Bison down, with authority, @ ~ 43 second point.
In any event, I don't think anyone can argue about how quickly that bull died. Hammer down. Best worst shot I've ever made! SD, Rost495 and VernAK, you boys made this kid's dream come true. 'Thank you' doesn't even begin to convey my gratitude to you lads. Hopefully, my actions and words will.
Lman, that buff definitely turned towards you, before the shot broke !
Just got this today from AKDFG. Also, a little bird told me three hunters whacked the wrong sex bison during this season. That must've stung in a few different ways and no doubt can't have been a nice feeling. I feel badly for those who hit a tag but were unable to work within the new parameters. I'd have been livid to have hit a tag as a NR but had something else I needed to deal with for the dates given and not been able to do the hunt. I guess lady luck always has her say in some things in life...
*******************************************
Hello,
We just wanted to update everyone to let you know that the bison hunt for this year is now closed for the season.
All groups met their quotas therefore we will not be offering a spring hunt. Again we sincerely regret having to make so many drastic changes to this years hunt, we understand that it was not ideal for all of you hunters. We are hopeful that the next few winters will be mild and that the bison population will rebound so we can provide additional hunting opportunities going forward. We will be offering a reduced number of permits again next year. And just a reminder that because you have drawn a permit this year, residents are required to wait 10 years before applying for another bison permit, and non-residents may not re-apply. Again, we understand that this may seem unfair due to all the changes.
If you have not yet filed your report please do so. You may file by mail, online, or call us at the Delta office (907-895-4484).
Thank you to all of you who have been so patient and understanding this year.
Sincerely,
Delta Area ADF&G Staff
********************************************
To the AK guy who hit TWO DJ bison permits, you're one lucky SOB!
I understand Kamo's desire for full transparency... the campfire is ruthless in that regard..... BUT I believe at this point he performed excellent and no apology is required. A fine hunt with a fine outcome... congrats Kamo...
Just got this today from AKDFG. Also, a little bird told me three hunters whacked the wrong sex bison during this season. That must've stung in a few different ways and no doubt can't have been a nice feeling. I feel badly for those who hit a tag but were unable to work within the new parameters. I'd have been livid to have hit a tag as a NR but had something else I needed to deal with for the dates given and not been able to do the hunt. I guess lady luck always has her say in some things in life...
*******************************************
Hello,
We just wanted to update everyone to let you know that the bison hunt for this year is now closed for the season.
All groups met their quotas therefore we will not be offering a spring hunt. Again we sincerely regret having to make so many drastic changes to this years hunt, we understand that it was not ideal for all of you hunters. We are hopeful that the next few winters will be mild and that the bison population will rebound so we can provide additional hunting opportunities going forward. We will be offering a reduced number of permits again next year. And just a reminder that because you have drawn a permit this year, residents are required to wait 10 years before applying for another bison permit, and non-residents may not re-apply. Again, we understand that this may seem unfair due to all the changes.
If you have not yet filed your report please do so. You may file by mail, online, or call us at the Delta office (907-895-4484).
Thank you to all of you who have been so patient and understanding this year.
Sincerely,
Delta Area ADF&G Staff
********************************************
To the AK guy who hit TWO DJ bison permits, you're one lucky SOB!
If 3 turned themselves in (or got caught) I bet there were others. With a total quota of 60, and at least 5% making a bad mistake, and 50% not killing a bison... a lot of folks probably regret drawing the tag.
The bullet was supersonic, the shot was tight to the base of the skull, the head turned because the bullet hit right behind the skull. Slowed to frame by frame with sound it is a perfect shot but not planned.
Just got this today from AKDFG. Also, a little bird told me three hunters whacked the wrong sex bison during this season. That must've stung in a few different ways and no doubt can't have been a nice feeling. I feel badly for those who hit a tag but were unable to work within the new parameters. I'd have been livid to have hit a tag as a NR but had something else I needed to deal with for the dates given and not been able to do the hunt. I guess lady luck always has her say in some things in life...
*******************************************
Hello,
We just wanted to update everyone to let you know that the bison hunt for this year is now closed for the season.
All groups met their quotas therefore we will not be offering a spring hunt. Again we sincerely regret having to make so many drastic changes to this years hunt, we understand that it was not ideal for all of you hunters. We are hopeful that the next few winters will be mild and that the bison population will rebound so we can provide additional hunting opportunities going forward. We will be offering a reduced number of permits again next year. And just a reminder that because you have drawn a permit this year, residents are required to wait 10 years before applying for another bison permit, and non-residents may not re-apply. Again, we understand that this may seem unfair due to all the changes.
If you have not yet filed your report please do so. You may file by mail, online, or call us at the Delta office (907-895-4484).
Thank you to all of you who have been so patient and understanding this year.
Sincerely,
Delta Area ADF&G Staff
********************************************
To the AK guy who hit TWO DJ bison permits, you're one lucky SOB!
If 3 turned themselves in (or got caught) I bet there were others. With a total quota of 60, and at least 5% making a bad mistake, and 50% not killing a bison... a lot of folks probably regret drawing the tag.
If the cow shooters turn themselves in, the magistrate is usually lenient but their tag is gone. On the bright side, three local families on the Road Kill List were able to get a complete bison carcass from the Wildlife Trooper. There was also one case of Wanton Waste where the only the head and loins were taken.....a serious charge.
Just got this today from AKDFG. Also, a little bird told me three hunters whacked the wrong sex bison during this season. That must've stung in a few different ways and no doubt can't have been a nice feeling. I feel badly for those who hit a tag but were unable to work within the new parameters. I'd have been livid to have hit a tag as a NR but had something else I needed to deal with for the dates given and not been able to do the hunt. I guess lady luck always has her say in some things in life...
*******************************************
Hello,
We just wanted to update everyone to let you know that the bison hunt for this year is now closed for the season.
All groups met their quotas therefore we will not be offering a spring hunt. Again we sincerely regret having to make so many drastic changes to this years hunt, we understand that it was not ideal for all of you hunters. We are hopeful that the next few winters will be mild and that the bison population will rebound so we can provide additional hunting opportunities going forward. We will be offering a reduced number of permits again next year. And just a reminder that because you have drawn a permit this year, residents are required to wait 10 years before applying for another bison permit, and non-residents may not re-apply. Again, we understand that this may seem unfair due to all the changes.
If you have not yet filed your report please do so. You may file by mail, online, or call us at the Delta office (907-895-4484).
Thank you to all of you who have been so patient and understanding this year.
Sincerely,
Delta Area ADF&G Staff
********************************************
To the AK guy who hit TWO DJ bison permits, you're one lucky SOB!
If 3 turned themselves in (or got caught) I bet there were others. With a total quota of 60, and at least 5% making a bad mistake, and 50% not killing a bison... a lot of folks probably regret drawing the tag.
If the cow shooters turn themselves in, the magistrate is usually lenient but their tag is gone. On the bright side, three local families on the Road Kill List were able to get a complete bison carcass from the Wildlife Trooper. There was also one case of Wanton Waste where the only the head and loins were taken.....a serious charge.
I did not realize they use the Road Kill list to distribute mistakes... very good use.
Today I received a box from Anchorage. In it was my bison robe and cleaned and bleached skull, and horns. Guess what? SD was wrong, and I was right about that bull turning into my shot. How do I know this? Because there's a ~.375" hole in the bull's face just inside his left eye socket. There is also a corresponding hole about an inch in diameter in the back of the skull, right where the skull meets the first vertebra--the one that the buys discovered was shattered by the TSX. The bullet went into the face, through the sinuses, out the skull and directly into the spine. Still a horrible effort on my part, but I'd be lying if I said that seeing that didn't make me feel just a wee bit better. That bison swung hard to the left just before the bullet hit him.
I recall when we were taking the bull apart my asking why blood had spilled out of the bull's mouth and nose, being that I hadn't poked a lung. The answer I got was, well, wrong. The blood was coming out the nose and mouth because that fat bullet went into his face and followed gravity's path.
To those couple of guys on this thread who after seeing the video I posted of the kill shot agreed that the bull turned into the shot a split second before dropping? You were right.
That shot was taken at only around 250 yards. Makes me think that long range shots (for me, that's anything over maybe 400) and the accompanying bullet flight times can make for some bad results, even if the shot itself--when taken--was perfect. Critters move.
Anyway, food for thought, maybe. Sorry this isn't a 'have you ever...' type post.
kamo gari; Good evening to you my cyber friend, I hope that the rest of the day matched the package from Alaska arriving.
If I didn't say it looked to me like it moved, I meant to because when I watched the video on the fairly large screen I've got, that's what I saw.
Regarding things going wrong on shots that aren't even all that far.....
One of the longer shots I took at an unwounded mulie was this one, who I could see was bunched up and ready to move, but I'd hunted hard for a few seasons looking for a buck this age class and felt I "deserved" it so I took the shot.
I was prone resting on a stump so the rest was good for a lung shot, but between the time it took my brain to tell the finger to pull, the lock time of the rifle, the bullet's flight - 165gr BT out of a .308 Norma at 3100fps - it turned into a liver/gut shot Leighton.
We chased that thing into a blowdown shin tangle canyon nightmare where I hit it again about an hour later.
It turned into a further nightmare when buddy who had just got out of surgery fell on the fresh snow, so we got one back leg out, went down the mountain to get some help and returned in the dark with his two teenage sons and my usual hunting partner.
My face sort of tells the story here of how happy I am with myself over it all Leighton.
Anyways I am truly glad you got that bison and that you shared the hunt story with us as well as these latest post mortem results.
Hopefully it's okay I shared my story as another example of "stuff happening" sometimes when we hunt.
Hopefully it's okay I shared my story as another example of "stuff happening" sometimes when we hunt.
Best to you all.
Dwayne
My friend Dwayne, I've looked forward to and read every post you've made here for well more'n a decade now. That includes this last one, where your experiences, sentiment and feelings I welcome, understand and appreciate very much. As always, thanks to you for taking the time to post. Best regards to you and yours from me and mine, sir.
That shot was taken at only around 250 yards. Makes me think that long range shots (for me, that's anything over maybe 400) and the accompanying bullet flight times can make for some bad results, even if the shot itself--when taken--was perfect. Critters move.
Anyway, food for thought, maybe. Sorry this isn't a 'have you ever...' type post.
I don't call Burns "Johnnie MIC'Gutshot" for nothing. Animals move at the shot all the time. The further away, the more they move before impact.
I was going to refrain from commenting as i didn't get to the party in time ( i don't make the ferry schedules), but i did get to enjoy the hunt in my own way. By the time i got to Anchorage all that was left was Elephant gin and meat. I believe i feasted 4 times on the spoils of Leighton's hunt😁 emaciated or not, the meat was excellent. I must have watched "the video" a dozen times. I do agree it was the best, worst shot ever. 🥂 Well done my friend.
I was going to refrain from commenting as i didn't get to the party in time ( i don't make the ferry schedules), but i did get to enjoy the hunt in my own way. By the time i got to Anchorage all that was left was Elephant gin and meat. I believe i feasted 4 times on the spoils of Leighton's hunt😁 emaciated or not, the meat was excellent. I must have watched "the video" a dozen times. I do agree it was the best, worst shot ever. 🥂 Well done my friend.
I'd rather be lucky than good, a wise man once declared.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the gin and meat. Think I'll get busy putting some more bison meals together. Still have about 150 lbs left...
Aces, here ya go.
Top left. I'll get the robe out for a pic shortly.
Hell of a story and postmortem. Congrats on the buff. Only an honest man would have posted all the details on the Fire for all to scrutinize. It all worked out well as deserved and salute to those who helped make it all happen. Enjoy the memories and meat. Nick
Thanks again for the kind words, gents. In some ways I don't think I really deserve to have had such good fortune in this life, but I'll take all I can get.
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