Spontanous hunting trip.

So on Tuesdays I stay at home with Maddy. This Tuesday we were outside feeding the animals and I asked her if she wanted to go hunting. Her response was a simple yes. Her only request was that we bring her water, which was fine with me. So I packed her day bag with some crackers and duck jerky to snack on.

We set off to a spot I know grouse like to winter. I didn't want to be out long so I had a short trip in mind.

As soon as we get to where I think the grouse are one flushes into a tree. As i get out of the jeep another one flushes into a tree. As I load my gun a third flushes. Now I am trying to keep track were each one is. I find the first one that flushed and as I walked towards it it decides to leave and I dump it. I then went for the third one that flushed. As I see it in the tree I aim at it ready for it to flush as I get closer. While aiming at the third on About 10 feet away from me in my peripheral vision I see a the second one looking at me. I dump the third one and turn the the second still looking at me. I can only see his head and I know if it flushes out the back side of the tree I will not get another shot at it so I shoot it in the head  right out of the tree.

Remi jumped out of the jeep and went to work. She found the three big blue grouse right away. As I climbed back into the jeep a fourth grouse flushed about 40 yards up the hillside into the a tree. I load back up and walk up the hill. Just as I see it it flushes and I can not get a shot through the thick fir trees. Just then a fifth on flushes back down by the road. I try to see where it lands and I think I have a good line on it. As I am walking to where I think the grouse is two more flush out of a tree and I get one of them for my fourth and final grouse of my limit.

I walk back to the jeep which is about 30 yards with my four grouse. The smile on Maddy's face when I come back with birds is priceless. Maddy always asked for a tail feather or two to play with on the drive home.

This is my first limit of grouse in November.

We did stop by a lake up in the grouse woods to see if we could get some ducks but they did want to fly over me.

The next day I was up cutting wood. Driving home with my second trailer full of wood a ruffed grouse almost flew into the jeep. I watched it land in a tree I got out of the jeep and shot it and Lily went out a retrieved the bird.  When I got home my wife is has grouse envy with all the birds I have seen the past two days.

HIgh hunt scouting

So this year I am doing the Washington State modern firearm high hunt. This is a one week hunt were you can hike into a wilderness area and hunt for mule deer a month earlier than the general season. You don't need a special draw permit your general tag will do.

 I am going to hike into the Pasayten Wilderness.   The Pasayten Wilderness is 530,000 acres of wild land were no motor vehicle or wheeled vehicle is allowed to access. The only way in is to hike in or by horse back. I will be going in on the Andrews Creek trail head on foot. I have never been to this area before and finding a place to hunt and camp for 3 nights at over 7,000 feet will definitely be an adventure.

I along with a friend who knows the area drove to a high spot on the opposite side of the canyon. I wanted him to point out to me where I would have the best odds.

As we drove to around 5000 feet we found an open area along the road filled with wild raspberries. So of course we stopped and ate a bunch of them. I also used a water canteen to take some home for the wife.

We got to the top and my friend pointed out the drainage I should walk up. the idea was the trail will get me higher than other trails without me having to walk up a face of a mountainside.  I understand at this point regardless of what I do I am going to be gaining some serious elevation. 

After we look from above we drove down to the trail head and where I would be parking my vehicle to hike in. It is a beautiful area with mountain streams and lakes. I will be brings a fishing pole just in case I don't get a deer way up high on my first two days I will hike out the third and fish along the way home just as a back up plan.

I am excited for this hunt. I am planning on hiking into the area where I am going to hunt next week for another day trip scouting expedition.  Although this one will be by myself at this point. I plan to bring some salt licks with me to place in the area I plan on hunting.  Rumor has it the high country deer are very mineral starved. So i figure if i give them some easy place to get their minerals, I will then give my self an easy spot to shoot a deer.

I hope to have an updated post about my day hike in next week.