Our fight against poaching is paying off...

[Montanawidower]

I posted a slight gripe last year about having multiple hunts each year ruined by trespassers and poachers on the local whitetail ground we hunt.  We have access to 300 plus acres of prime ground that lies in the valley very near town.  The land is along the river and thus has been heavily poached for decades.    

The land owner is a retired marine that use to shoot a trad bow.  He gave permission to myself and two other trad archers with the agreement we would watch over the place and police the poaching.  It sounded great at first, but truthfully has been a PITA.  


After numerous run ins and a couple of repeat offenders, we finally got the game wardens involved and the local sheriff's department.  We also posted the land  pretty heavily the last several seasons.  

It is paying off....   We have seen more mature bucks in the last several seasons then ever before.  And best of all.... not one trespasser this season to date.  

A veiw from on stand... The beautiful Gallatin Valley
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Brett's buck


Brett and I  spotted this buck and played cat and mouse for a week....



A closer look



Last Fri the weather called for a south wind.   I decided to hunt a stand we call the Blowdown.   I chose correctly.   I shot two does in the coarse of 30 minutes and watched them both drop within 50 yards of each other.   I was more than happy.  

My elk season was a bust and I dearly wanted some meat.  So... I spent the better part of the morning boning and hiking meat a mile back to my truck across the river.  

One big problem.  I left most of my gear at the Blowdown stand.  I needed to lighten my Crew Cab for meat hauling.   After stashing my meat, I decided to shower and head back out to prevent a trespasser from stealing my gear.  

When I got to my gear, as luck would have it, the wind switched and started blowing steadily at 10-15 out of the west.   I had been waiting for this wind for several days.  

I packed up and snuck into a stand we call the Nursery.  It is basically a small opening on the south end of a major bedding area.  It is loaded with baby bucks.  It is also the known haunt of some mature bucks.  

That evening I was lucky enough to shoot the tall five we had been hunting.   He was freshening the scrape below my stand at 8 yards when I drew and released......




My only regret was I broke my camera....  Only my phone to capture the moment.  Three deer in one day.   It has been worth the effort.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Wow, I gues sit has payed off.  Congrats to both of you!

[TJK68]

Very nice, Congrats.
Tom

[kwc]

know thats one great day of hunting

[Bivyhunter]

That's an incredible day in the field! I'd say you're reaping the rewards of all of your hard work.

[suburbanirma]

What a great day. Congrats!

[VictoryHunter]

Congrats! Glad to hear the hard work is paying off. That is an incredible buck!

[huntnmuleys]

nice!!!!!

[Gatekeeper]

Very nice! Congratulations

[Rick Moss]

congrats! on both of your does, and you and your friends buck. I hate poachers and trespassers, I think we should be allowed to shoot them on sight...seriously. I can see if a guys family is starving and he takes an animal out of season or without a license to feed a starving family, but we all know that is rarely the case...if ever.

[LB_hntr]

congrats! those are some fine looking critters!

[Jayrod]

way to go thats the way to fill the freezer...all the PITA problems see like it payed off!!

[Tim]

Awesome photos!  Beautiful deer!   Congrats to both of you.

[KentuckyTJ]

Awesome day and congrats on winning the battle.

[ron w]

 good for you......

[Big Ed]

Very nice, I definitly know your struggles!!

[nineworlds9]

Poachers be damned.  I believe there were a few in the WMA I was hunting last weekend.  It is currently archery season.  Why was I hearing shotgun shots on the WMA???

[huntmaster70]

Seems like poachers & trepassers are everywhere-good for you for staying after the jerks & having it pay off.I've been a pita for the ones around here & got the local game warden involved. I had a better hunt this year than last but I've got to keep on top of the property or they come slithering back.

[Old Chief]

Congratulations! Nice to see that your hard work has paid off.

[Chromebuck]

Great job Jeff!  Glad to see the Lynx making meat...I remember your post last year and the frustrations and potential danger you experienced.  Good on you and way to protect an awesome resource.  

If I used tradtional tackle and played by the rules maybe that landowner...Nevermind!

Congrats!

Keith