Johann with his first 4x4 Mule Buck and Brody with the 4x3 Whitetail buck I shot
Friday morning we had a good early start. We headed out to area # 108 to try and fill the White tail buck and doe tags as they are the most difficult to fill because white tailed deer are so skittish. The Mule does were for area 108 as well but I didn't want to waste my time on them initially because we know of many sites where you can drive right up to them.
Levi and Dad were at school while we were shooting up the country side. We pushed bush in the morning at a few locations I hadn't been to before and manged to scare out two little bucks, After an un-succesful chase with two other bucks we headed to another location. Upon arriving two does and an enormous 6x6 whitetail buck came up out of the old irrigation canal and started running west towards the St. Mary's river located approximately 6 miles away. We were in hot pursuit until we ran out of area to drive on. We observed that the deer joined up with approximately 30 white tailed does and three other big bucks.
We all sat on a hill and watched them at well over 1200 yards. Brody and Johann were now fired up more than ever ("Buck fever"). We packed up and headed in that direction. One mile from the coulee edge we spotted the herd 2 miles north making making they're way to the river. One of the bucks was off by himself about 800 yards from us. I aimed and shot! Missed and sent the dear in a frantic run straight for the river. We carefully walked to the coulee edge, looked over and could see all the deer just at the base of the hill. Between the base of the hill and the river was a stuble field on the flood plain about 600m wide. We tried to walk/crawl without being seen, but it didn't work. We were spotted by the deer and they all bolted to the river except one doe. We waited as the doe made her way right toward us, then I lost sight of her looking. Brody started mumbling and poking me to turn around, as I did there was the doe not more than 30m from us standing broadside looking right at us. I shot the doe straight through the heart.
Here I'm explaining to Johann how to remove the membrane separating the heart and lungs from the intestins and the trachia of the whitetailed doe we shot.
Shortly after field dressing the doe, I noticed this whitailed buck that Brody is holding making his way south through the willows along the bank of the river. The only clear shot I had was a neck shot. Following the shot the buck headed for some thick brush, while in pursuit the 6x6 and a 4x4 whitetail buck ran 15 feet in front of me. Fear of loosing the one I shot in the bush and not having another tag I cut my losses and focussed on finding the one I shot. Following sometime we finally found him in some thick willows. No snow on the ground makes it quite difficult to track any injured game. Broken twigs and impressioned grass is virtually all you have to go on.
Not the best buck, but he will do, considering we only have one day left and two more tags to fill, not to mention skinnig, butchering and bagging. 
Following an exilerating day of hunting comes the fun part of skinning and buchering. Brody and Johann did an excellent job with the buck, while I worked on the doe.
Almost complete.
The shooting never stops. Leland has a bullet trap on his dresser filled with army men. Brody and Johann made mince meat of those army men.
Saturday morning we headed out to fill the mule doe tags. We managed to get one of the two. Johann really wanted to have an opportunity to hunt a buck and so I took him to a spot where you are gauranteed a 4x4 Mule buck at less than 400 yards. Here is Johann the proud hunter of his first 4x4 mule buck with one shot using a 308 Semi-automatic Winchester rifle.
Levi was with us this day and had an oportunity at the 6x6 whitetail we saw on friday, but it got away. Too bad it is an awfully nice animal. Next year we will get them!
The end of a long day............ It is going to be a long night, so I was happy to see them get some sleep. These two day hunting trips are not worth it. There is no time to relax and visit, it is all go... go.... go!! Next year in November 2009 I will ensure I have a minimum of 1 week off so as to have an opportunity to get both Levi and I a Big buck.
Oh Brody........ He cracks me up!
