Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: wasapt on October 19, 2010, 03:22:00 AM
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(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison%202010/Bison2010084.jpg)
I have just returned from my 2nd attempt at free range bison. Oh the sweet taste of a hunt where the country is still pristine and water pure enough to drink straight from the river...
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I hunted Pink Mountain British Columbia in 2007 in December..... definitely not the time to go hunting but there I was, -35 on snow mobiles looking for bison and then attempting to spot and stalk (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/securedownload3.jpg) ....a feat only 1 of us 7 bowhunters were successful at and he was a compound guy with a long range shot skill. (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/DSC00151.jpg) I would come in at night frozen and stiff and exhausted...These herds are willwy and very wary because of the high wolf population. Here is 90lb wolf...they mature out at about 150lbs... (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison2010093.jpg)
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I hunted with sikanni river outfiters, Mike and Dixie Hammett. we stayed in their home... a beautiful hand crafted log cabin... (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison%202010/Bison2010021.jpg)
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the herds were spotted and then attempts to spot and stalk followed. It is very tough to get close to them because they have a keen sense of smell and they feed along at a fast pace. you have to try and position yourself to either ambush them along the way as they feed or get close enough with cover you can get a shot.... (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison%202010/Bison2010079.jpg)
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Finally on day 8 of the 10 day hunt... the meat pole has alittle bend to it.... (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison%202010/Bison2010018.jpg)
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here is what happened....we spotted this herd from about a mile away, glassing from a lookout where we could see the valley....7 days earlier Tom Miranda and his film crew where at this same spot and ultimately Tom arrowed his nice bull from 37 yds cathcing the whole thing on film for an upcoming episode on ESPN... back to the story...My guide and I headed out on foot to the area where we could approach from the trees, the meadow as the herd fed along. we arrived this time with the wind in our face and prayed no swirling this time would ocur and bust us like had happened all week long thus far... Fortunately my prayers were answered as the herd was at the meadows edge and we had positioned ourselves at the edge just inside the trees...I shed my pack and binocs, had my face camo net in place, my hands gloved, an arrow on the string and set out to the last few feet of cover stalking slowly and leaving my guide behind...the wind continued strong in my face...a nice cow and calf were first to feed in range and I stood motionless at 32 yards hoping the wind would not alert them I was waiting...next came a very nice bull...Praise the Lord i rejoiced! I had seen bulls all week but not where I could confidently draw and comfortably set myself ready for a great shot. The big guys don't travel with the herds typically and when i had seen them, they often were moving about inside the group and not on an outer edge.... I had little time to think this over.. one instant there is a cow/calf and the next I am seeing massive horn bases, a dark head and then a quick glance to check sex and it was now or never...I small spruce sapling group hid me and my shooting lane was between the limbs and branches. I had already bent a few and twisted othe limbs to give me adaquate clearance to thread an arrow thru and now in an instant there he was...feeding along and in my shooting lane...My bow was already vertical, my fingers with tension on the string, this was the moment and then he paused and looked up to view his surroundings... in one motion I drew... my 55lb Palmer at 28" was now stretched to my 30.5" draw length and the 585 gt Easton FMJ 300 was set to do the job I had in mind when I put the 4 fletch 4" feathers on it. The 175 gr single bevel Zwickey head just touched my riser, anchor 1, then I touched my nose to the feather end, my leather glove tip touched my mouth corner and in my sight picture I focused on the spot behind the shoulder, just at the top of the the bottom 1/3 of his enormous body, all 1500lbs of him. Later i learned my guide ranged him at 32 yards from my shooting spot... Earlier in the week, 2 compond hunters had lost their bulls after sticking them and having them bust out and disappear in the brush and never recovered... I was doing my best to not have him tagged and mounted before I even released the arrow... I prayed for calmness and asked God to annoint the path of my arrow and keep it free from deflection....I heard Rick Welch saying "hold, hold, hold..let everything stop moving" I revisted the mental imagery I had rehearsed over and over and over again seeing my sight picture with my bull in clear position, my chosen spot defined to individual hairs and upon release, my arrow flying true to the spot..... then it happened, I released...as in slow motion it all came together but part way to him, i went from releasing to the next moment of what happened? My guide's whisper seemd like a silent shout..what happened? Did you miss him? Where is your arrow? Confused I looked hard at the big bulls vital area and strained to see red and white feathers, nothing.... the big bull just stood there unaware a bow had just lanched an arrow his direction...My heart sunk, my eyes and ears told me I missed...no familiar striking thud.. the kind of sound successful hunters recall as the unmistakeable confirmation that their arrow found the mark...nothing... then the bull turned slightly and I caught the broadhead and shaft exiting his other side! I was able to confirm a great hit, a pass thru penetration and it made sense at that moment why I was not able to see feathers in the fur of his kill zone... they were not there but rather inside his body cavity! Now the heavy praying began..Dear Lord put this bull on the ground... keep me hidden and him not spooked....and just that He did...the bull appeared as if nothing happened...I watched him intently... I studied his every move... Yes, he was beginning to appear weak.. he stopped feeding and just took steps in the general direction away from my position... He got out to 66 yards and then to my satisfaction, laid down...at this point I am convinced there is a very good chance this hunt is almost over...I am thanking Jesus and praisng God and hoping he is down permanently...The rest of the herd continued feeding away and he did not care to join them..then I got nervous...He got back up and walked to the edge of a patch of willows. his steps less than solid, his hind quarters showing some wobble... fearing he may not be as hurt as he appeared...we backed out of our position to try and get close again for a 2nd arrow. The bull was not interested in staying with the rest of the herd. yet he was not approachable either...we were unable to stalk close enough to get a second shot.. He got to his feet again and went back toward the area where first laid down. along the way, he chose to lay down again and this time he would not get back up. Without notice, the herd fed away and were soon into the trees at the meadows far edge...my bull did not rejoin them and we broke out of the cover of trees to begin the process of getting him back to camp. The outfitter was able to get his truck, equiped with a winch, into the meadow. after a few pics we were on our way back to camp and I was thinking about a shoulder mount and backstraps for dinner.... (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison%202010/Bison2010037.jpg) (http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Bison%202010/Bison2011.jpg)
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the hunt was a success..not because of the bull on the ground, that was just an added bonus... Seeing the country, making new friends, testing my skills and enjoying 10 days in this paradise was truly remarkable... I learned soooo much to help me be a better hunter thanks to the other hunters in camp and the outfitter. Mike and Dixie run a first class operation and I would not hesitate to return to hunt with them again. they are outfitters for several species including bison, moose, sheep, goats, and grizzly. I look forward to Columbia blacktail deer next month in California and will keep you posted....
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Bryce, super pics and hunt description. You did well on both counts. Excellent shot preparation and conclusion. Great!!
Shick
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What at dream hunt! Great shot on a magnificent animal :thumbsup:
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holy smokes Bruce you da man this week brother OUTSTANDING job my friend bd
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:thumbsup: Great job Brother- as much fun to read as it was to hear. Only twenty to go. GY
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Amazing feat and stoey too....... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Great job Bryce! No need to fix these photos :)
Congrats! :thumbsup:
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Great hunt,they are tough but you made the right shoot,congrats.
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Great Job........Bryce !!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Dang........quite a story and then a plate of the "finished product". Mmmmmmmmmm......Mmmmmmmmmm.....Mmmmmmmmmmm
Keep us posted on your other hunts, I really enjoy your stories.
Winterhawk1960
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Congrats on the bison
doug77
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Nice Bison, but shouldn't this be in Pow Wow?? This is the Trad Histroy/Collecting forum.
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Congrats on a great hunt. God blessed you man. Thanks for sharing but as Danny said more people will share in your joy if you'll move this post to Pow Wow. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Good point guys! is there an easy way to move this thread or do i need to just cut and paste?
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Great story Bryce, congrats on a fine hunt.
God Bless
Terry
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That is one massive bull. How has the eating been? Have heard that old bulls can often be quite tender, unlike some other species.
I lived in an area of Northern Alberta where free range bison are huntable without a license. I was there for a full school year and never did see one to shoot.
DDave
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We ate the backstraps and tenderloins and the meat was fantastic. My indian guide eats 2 buffalo a year so he took the rest of the meat in place of 1 buffalo he would norally shoot.
I have several questions about booking this hunt so here is what I did. Mark Buehrer with Bowhunting safari consultants 800 833 9777 helped me and has helped me on many hunts. He and Neil Summers have a great service and have put me with outfitters who know bowhunters. This eliminates the guess work and horror stories that can happen by not getting with the right folks when you are hunting unique animals and unfamiliar locations.