Good to know! Might just have to put in next year. I've been dying to get back.
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I stayed around units 1, 2, and 6 on this hunt. I saw 3-5 hunters every time I went into unit 1 where I hunted the most and killed the cow. I went into unit 6 1 time and saw 6 hunters but killed a doe that day. I went into unit 2 1 time and stalked a cow 4 miles in but never saw another hunter.Originally posted by GenrlSamBuseton View Post
In the rifle hunt I killed my buck and doe in unit 2 and a buddy killed a buck in unit 2 we saw 3 other hunters. We went to top of laguna too 1 day and saw pumpkins and trucks as far as the eye could see until you get a few miles out, also I can't stand that speed limit and speed bumps to get there while passing non hunters bird watch
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First Day of the rife hunt and I set up on the East edge of 5 this morning on Horse Island but didn’t factor in the duck hunters and people wade fishing the flats. Going to move before too long and likely go to Unit 2 and get away from this. At least the sunrise was pretty.Comment
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I wouldn't worry about it, those animals are used to it. I killed a good buck at Amistad 10 minutes after duck hunters stopped romping at sundown. They were only about 200 yards from me and shooting all evening.Originally posted by bdubb View PostComment
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Yeah those animals are plenty use to the shotgun barrage by now. That's a good unit, stay after them!Comment
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We had a great time last week. My buddy Nic shot this bull at 60 yards, complete passthru, we track him about 400 yards. I had my chances at several bulls and cows at 30 yards, even had one calf at 5 yards but busted me or completely caught me before i could get bow in hand. Hunted Friday thru Tuesday.Comment
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Nice one and cool pic. No problem packing out with 5 guys!Comment
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There is six of us in the pic but there is one’s face in the back, he looks so dark in the pic. This pic was taken at 9 pm but these iphones takes moonlight photos like daylight.
Nic’s dad took a whitetail buck that day also so yes 5 of us packed it out 3 miles and 1 pack his buck. my pack was 80 lbs.Comment
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First blue bull! Shot him yesterday at 9:50 and finally made it to the walk-in cooler at 4:00. Was an *** kicker doing it solo but so worth it and rewarding. Nada as of yet this AM.Comment
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Man that’s cheating with the bike on pack out! Love the milk crate pack!
looks like you hit him high shoulder. What caliber were you using? Did he run very far?
That is a huge bull!
congratulations!Comment
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Awesome bull!Comment
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Nice job Patton. I’m out at the top of Unit 5 for the evening after just moving to a new area. Haven’t had any luck myself. Tons of sign around unit 5 but no animals yet. Only Nilgai I have seen have been on the private property just below unit 5.
What unit did you get the bull in? I’m aware of a bull from 8 and a cow from 2 just talking to other hunters when I come across them.Comment
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He took some rounds, 300 win mag with 200gr ELD-X bullets. First shot was at 280 yards, final shot at maybe 10 feet. I’m on the side of ‘shoot until they are dead’. I blood tracked him for 1hr38 mins over just under 542 yards(per OnX). 30+ minutes of that on my hands and knees for the last 75+ yards.
While tracking crawling and following blood, I heard him stand up and take a few steps, then start barking at me. It was my first time to ever hear that, and he was close. I’d guess 40 yards away. He didn’t run away though, and after a few minutes of me sitting quietly, it sounded like he laid back down. Being that he didn’t run, I knew he was hurt bad (approaching 2 hrs from the shot).
With the wind in my favor, I decided to keep crawling forward until I could get another shot. I was glassing, trying to locate him and couldn’t see a thing. At this point, I am literally covered in ticks and had absolutely 0 depth perception (the dog tick remover key works great on humans too x4). All of the thin stems and grass and little trees were messing with my eyes and I couldn’t tell if I was looking at something 5’ away or 25’ away. I heard him stand up, take a few steps, and get back down twice over this crawl in, and never could see him.
I raised up from my knees, and see him start to stand up. Close, no more than 15 yards. I quickly shoulder led the gun and shot and he fell over, into the grass and out of sight. I waited a few minutes and took a minute to thank God I was able to find him and put him down. I was getting to the point that I wasn’t sure if I’d find him. All had been silent since that shot. I walked up, ready but assuming he is dead— and he tries to get up again. I immediately shoot again through a giant cactus that was between us. I’m probably 15 ft away and he starts making the death moan noise- didn’t know that was a thing until reading that here previously. I changed angles and put another into the sternum/heart to end it.
Got him broken down and had the same type of exit as I did entry- on my hands and knees except this time with a heavy pack. I decided to do one load with both a front and back quarter because crawling sucked so bad I’d rather take the weight to do it less times. Three trips was better than four except I was certain I was going to get snake bit. Once out of the thicket, I was able to hike to where I could stash the meat at a spot I could bike to. Hiked back to my bike that was about a 1/2 mile away at this point, thankfully through brush that had trails and I could walk. Biked out to my truck, relocated to a different gate, and road back in to start shuttling meat.
The refuge has to be one of the coolest places I’ve hunted. Third time out there and it gets cooler every time. You have to work for it but it’s a blast and absolutely beautiful there.Comment
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Final sit of this hunt in a new location and unit. Fingers crossed I can at least glass something here. Previous small clearings in cover, roads, sand flats, water and game trails haven’t turned anything up to this point.
Only sightings all weekend have been nearby on private land.Comment
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