Got to spend a week in the Sandhills of Nebraska chasing Mule deer for the rifle season.
The trip started off difficult. The truck was packed and ready to roll Thursday night. I wanted to get my cousin and her family some Krispy Kreme donuts, so jumped in the Honda Friday morning. Weather guys were predicting a light dusting of snow...oops, missed it by that much!
Person blew through a stop light and almost t-boned me. Thankfully I was paying close attention. And another person drifted in to my lane on the interstate...that was a "pucker" moment for sure! Made it back to the house safely and contemplated postponing my departure. But the truck was packed and I was eager to get rolling.
Note: wife decided to drive her boys to school, as her 16 year old had just been driving since February, and had no experience in the snow. It was a good thing...the normally 15 minute drive to school took her...wait for it...THREE HOURS! This was the first snow of the season, and since the weather guys missed the prediction, road crews didn't pre-treat...it was a mess out there.
First 2 hours of my drive were near white-out conditions with strong NW winds. Saw some vehicles in the ditch, and got a little sideways once, but overall not bad. Got behind a semi and we safely crawled along at 40-45 MPH. Remainder of the trip was snow-free. Glassing out window of the hotel, and actually spotted a buck and a doe across the highway. Picture through the spotting scope...
Opening morning was cold, and didn't see many deer. Actually saw more hunters than deer the entire day. Public land in Nebraska draws lots of out of state hunters due to good tag process and availability. License plates included Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, and even Utah. I actually stopped and talked to the Utah guys...they come to Nebraska to chase Whitetails...they don't have them in Utah(!) No biggie, as I'm chasing Mule deer : )
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday saw just a few does and one fork whitetail buck. Didn't even have a shot at him...he was humping it over a hill when I spotted him. Again, lots of hunters and few deer, but that's public hunting.
This trip is as much about "getting away / unplugging" as it is chasing deer. The Sandhills hold a special place in my heart...Uncle had a ranch and our family visited every summer. Sunrise in the Sandhills...
Wednesday my luck changed. Spotted two does right at daylight. Decided to walk over the hill and quickly glass a few other ridges...and noticed something...wasn't sure if it was even a deer. Kept glassing and it moved. Okay, it's a deer, but do I see horns? I didn't pack the spotter that morning so sat down and steadied the nocs. Caught what I thought was a glimpse of horns before he stepped down in to a small cut in side of the hill. Marked his spot and went back to checking the two does. Was hoping a buck would stand up next to them.
The does moved up the hill and no buck followed them. I decided to sneak over and see if that really was a buck. Took me 25 minutes to get in position. I wanted to approach from cross wind and it is a good thing I did.
As I snuck over a hill I found him in my nocs about 400 yards away. He was sitting in tall grass on side of a hill. Wind at his back, he was looking down wind. I just barely noticed his antlers when he moved his head. I re-positioned on the side of a hill so I could get a better look at him. There was a small hill between us that would be a good place to shoot from when the time came.
His doe was 30-40 yards in front of him, just sitting in the grass...she was looking up hill, in to the wind. They had front and back covered...but not the side(!)
He re-positioned three of four times, but never in a way that I could get a good angle or shot. I was getting a little nervous, but the weather was sunny and breezy, and I hadn't seen another hunter in the area that could bust them. So I waited.
After about an hour of watching, I finally got the break I was waiting for. He stood up and walked just a little further up the hill, sitting down in a small blowout (sandy area where the grass stopped growing). I crawled down my hill and started up the hill between us.
Nebraska had a very wet year, so the grass in the Sandhills was unusually tall this year. Provided more cover, but also meant I needed to get closer for a good view.
Made it to the hill crest unnoticed. Put the range finder on him...284 yards. Not a problem as I dial my 7MAG to zero at 250 yards. My heart was racing so I paused to get the bi-pod legs adjusted just right.
He was sitting in a way that gave me full view of his body...I put the cross hairs just behind the shoulder and squeezed the trigger...
The crack of the rifle was quickly followed by the "thud" of the bullet impact. As he rolled down the hill I knew there was no need for a follow up shot!
Went four points on one side, but only two on the other. Nice big bodied deer that will fill the freezer well. It was a good hunt and great time in the Sandhills.
I had two tags to fill, so went out Thursday morning...and almost got in a fight with a skunk!
https://forum.eastmans.com/showthread.php/19741-Almost-got-in-a-fight-with-Pepe-Le-Pew!
Thankfully the drive home was uneventful and snow free. Temps had risen in to the mid 50's. Had the weekend to unpack and settle back in to family life. This morning it is back to work...will likely be staring at 700+ e-mails. Now if I could just get my sleep schedule back to normal...I've been awake since 3 AM. HA!
The trip started off difficult. The truck was packed and ready to roll Thursday night. I wanted to get my cousin and her family some Krispy Kreme donuts, so jumped in the Honda Friday morning. Weather guys were predicting a light dusting of snow...oops, missed it by that much!
Person blew through a stop light and almost t-boned me. Thankfully I was paying close attention. And another person drifted in to my lane on the interstate...that was a "pucker" moment for sure! Made it back to the house safely and contemplated postponing my departure. But the truck was packed and I was eager to get rolling.
Note: wife decided to drive her boys to school, as her 16 year old had just been driving since February, and had no experience in the snow. It was a good thing...the normally 15 minute drive to school took her...wait for it...THREE HOURS! This was the first snow of the season, and since the weather guys missed the prediction, road crews didn't pre-treat...it was a mess out there.
First 2 hours of my drive were near white-out conditions with strong NW winds. Saw some vehicles in the ditch, and got a little sideways once, but overall not bad. Got behind a semi and we safely crawled along at 40-45 MPH. Remainder of the trip was snow-free. Glassing out window of the hotel, and actually spotted a buck and a doe across the highway. Picture through the spotting scope...
Opening morning was cold, and didn't see many deer. Actually saw more hunters than deer the entire day. Public land in Nebraska draws lots of out of state hunters due to good tag process and availability. License plates included Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, and even Utah. I actually stopped and talked to the Utah guys...they come to Nebraska to chase Whitetails...they don't have them in Utah(!) No biggie, as I'm chasing Mule deer : )
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday saw just a few does and one fork whitetail buck. Didn't even have a shot at him...he was humping it over a hill when I spotted him. Again, lots of hunters and few deer, but that's public hunting.
This trip is as much about "getting away / unplugging" as it is chasing deer. The Sandhills hold a special place in my heart...Uncle had a ranch and our family visited every summer. Sunrise in the Sandhills...
Wednesday my luck changed. Spotted two does right at daylight. Decided to walk over the hill and quickly glass a few other ridges...and noticed something...wasn't sure if it was even a deer. Kept glassing and it moved. Okay, it's a deer, but do I see horns? I didn't pack the spotter that morning so sat down and steadied the nocs. Caught what I thought was a glimpse of horns before he stepped down in to a small cut in side of the hill. Marked his spot and went back to checking the two does. Was hoping a buck would stand up next to them.
The does moved up the hill and no buck followed them. I decided to sneak over and see if that really was a buck. Took me 25 minutes to get in position. I wanted to approach from cross wind and it is a good thing I did.
As I snuck over a hill I found him in my nocs about 400 yards away. He was sitting in tall grass on side of a hill. Wind at his back, he was looking down wind. I just barely noticed his antlers when he moved his head. I re-positioned on the side of a hill so I could get a better look at him. There was a small hill between us that would be a good place to shoot from when the time came.
His doe was 30-40 yards in front of him, just sitting in the grass...she was looking up hill, in to the wind. They had front and back covered...but not the side(!)
He re-positioned three of four times, but never in a way that I could get a good angle or shot. I was getting a little nervous, but the weather was sunny and breezy, and I hadn't seen another hunter in the area that could bust them. So I waited.
After about an hour of watching, I finally got the break I was waiting for. He stood up and walked just a little further up the hill, sitting down in a small blowout (sandy area where the grass stopped growing). I crawled down my hill and started up the hill between us.
Nebraska had a very wet year, so the grass in the Sandhills was unusually tall this year. Provided more cover, but also meant I needed to get closer for a good view.
Made it to the hill crest unnoticed. Put the range finder on him...284 yards. Not a problem as I dial my 7MAG to zero at 250 yards. My heart was racing so I paused to get the bi-pod legs adjusted just right.
He was sitting in a way that gave me full view of his body...I put the cross hairs just behind the shoulder and squeezed the trigger...
The crack of the rifle was quickly followed by the "thud" of the bullet impact. As he rolled down the hill I knew there was no need for a follow up shot!
Went four points on one side, but only two on the other. Nice big bodied deer that will fill the freezer well. It was a good hunt and great time in the Sandhills.
I had two tags to fill, so went out Thursday morning...and almost got in a fight with a skunk!
https://forum.eastmans.com/showthread.php/19741-Almost-got-in-a-fight-with-Pepe-Le-Pew!
Thankfully the drive home was uneventful and snow free. Temps had risen in to the mid 50's. Had the weekend to unpack and settle back in to family life. This morning it is back to work...will likely be staring at 700+ e-mails. Now if I could just get my sleep schedule back to normal...I've been awake since 3 AM. HA!
