2020 in Montana

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Swampstalk
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Swampstalk »

Good luck on the bull! BTW, Billings made the Weather Channel this morning, with all that white stuff!
Don
Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Could not find the bull. We finally had to hike back down before we turned into popsicles. The lowest temp that I saw on my truck was 1. The highest was about 13. We may have regretted killing a bull there, but we'd have done it. I may go back looking for one in there soon since I don't think anyone else has gone in there.

Boyd took these two photos. My phone would not come on in the cold.
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I had actually already cleaned some of the ice off of my face.
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Swampstalk
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Swampstalk »

Shane,

I've had some phone trouble in the cold as well out at our place in Oklahoma a few times in November cold spells. Not "1", nor "15", but could enough for a Florida fella. A YouTube camping guy suggested putting a Hot Hands in with the phone on an inside pocket, same for sleeping bags. Keeps your tootsies warmer.

Luck with the bull!
Don
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I use them in the bottom of my sleeping bag. I'll have to do it with my phone next time it's this cold.
spider316
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by spider316 »

Hobbes, I apologize for not commenting sooner on the thread. Actually been trying to ignore it. Montana has a super special place in my heart. Have family and friends in Manhattan/Bozeman. Every year we drove up to Hinsdale/Milk river to hunt with other families and friends. Without a doubt it's not only Big Sky Country but God's blessing. Congrats and enjoy !
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

spider316 wrote: October 26th, 2020, 4:28 pm Hobbes, I apologize for not commenting sooner on the thread. Actually been trying to ignore it. Montana has a super special place in my heart. Have family and friends in Manhattan/Bozeman. Every year we drove up to Hinsdale/Milk river to hunt with other families and friends. Without a doubt it's not only Big Sky Country but God's blessing. Congrats and enjoy !
I've spent some time around Saco and Hinsdale, actually all across the Hi-Line (Malta, Glasgow, Wolf Point, Culbertson, Bainville). I love to visit that country.
Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I took my 17 year old looking for a deer this morning. We drove an hour and a half and signed into block management just before daylight. The plan was to glass from the truck early then hike whether we found deer or not.
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I spotted 3 deer on a ridge a couple miles away but they'd disappeared by the time I got the spotter out. However, a fourth deer came over from a different direction and dropping into the same coulee. I could not tell anything about a rack but was pretty sure that it was a buck by the way it walked and acted. There was nothing to do but start hiking.

I thought I was glassing about a mile but OnX showed that it was over two miles. By the time we'd hiked across a giant wheat field then up the ridge, I was able to spot 4 does and two little fork horns bedding closer to the mouth of the coulee. We circled high to get the wind and look for more deer. We only found 3 more does and another little buck, so we headed back towards the first group hoping there was a better buck bedded close by that I couldn't pick out.

We finally bumped the does but the bucks were still tucked in at the bottom of the coulee and didn't know anything was up. We got to within about 40 yards before they stood up. I was hoping there was a third, but only the two little guys were there.

Boyd has previously killed three whitetail does, one little whitetail buck, one decent mule deer buck, and one cow elk. When we had first found the two little bucks an hour earlier, I thought Boyd would probably shoot one of them, but we'd covered 3.5 miles by the time we got to them and had 2.5 miles back to the truck. I'm glad Boyd had already decided that they weren't worth the trouble it would be take to get one out. These are the first deer that he's passed on.


They were tucked in to the left of the big rock in the bottom, just behind the smaller one up to the left. We couldn't see them until they stood and wouldn't have known they were there if we'd not glassed them earlier. They stood there looking at us in typical young mule deer fashion. I suppose wondering how we got there.
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This is a look back once we started back to the truck.
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I'm on my own tomorrow since Boyd has to work. I'll probably look for an elk, but I've got two bird dogs that haven't been out yet this fall and a third that wants to go again.
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soiltester
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by soiltester »

Yer' still "gittin' it done" :thumbup:
ever wonder where the white goes when the snow melts??
spider316
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by spider316 »

Sir, plain and simple, you're killing me. Bird dogs and bucks in Montana in the month of November, never mind things that quack or honk !
The most experienced novice Turkey hunter the good Lord ever created !
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

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Isaac and I are in Eastern MT hunting deer. Isaac killed a nice mule deer buck this morning and he's heading home tomorrow. I've got until Wednesday if necessary.
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Last edited by Hobbes_mobile on November 17th, 2020, 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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BeardBuster
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by BeardBuster »

Beautiful country you live in Hobbes!

Enjoyed your update!

I hope to get out West chasing gobblers some day !


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Swampstalk
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Swampstalk »

Congrats to your son! That's a really nice buck. Enjoy the "big sky" scenery as well.
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I killed this buck today. I watched him for about an hour while he pushed a doe in circles and turned the safety off and on a couple times trying to decide whether to shoot him or not. I finally decided he was too nice to pass if he gave me another opportunity and shot him at 12:15.

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Hognutz
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hognutz »

Way to go, Shane! He is definitely a worthy buck! Your pictures are the best ever!!
May I assume you're not here to inquire about the alcohol or the tobacco?
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Swampstalk
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Re: 2020 in Montana

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Pure awesomeness! Congrats Shane!
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hoobilly »

Congratulations to you and your son!

Beautiful bucks!
Don't start none, won't be none!

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spider316
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by spider316 »

Hobbes, as always. Well deserved and earned to you and your son. Seriously tugging on my heart. Congrats to you both !
The most experienced novice Turkey hunter the good Lord ever created !
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Thanks guys :thumbup:
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I've been keeping an eye on a buddy's horses while he's been out of town. The two big guys are full blooded Percheron draft horses. They are just incredible horses.
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I got out one morning last week looking for a bull without any luck besides old tracks.
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I cooked a mule deer neck roast last weekend that turned out surprisingly good.

I browned the roast in a Dutch oven then cooked in the over for three hours in beef bone broth and seasoning before adding onions, potatoes and carrots.
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I cooked for another hour after adding veggies.
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Last edited by Hobbes_mobile on November 27th, 2020, 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Horses were good today.
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hoobilly »

My son and daughter have horses. He’s met his future wife and she has 3. He’s training his old horse to hunt coyotes from.


Never had mule deer roast. Sounds and looks delicious
Don't start none, won't be none!

https://foxtrotammo.com/
Hobbes_mobile
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

hoobilly wrote: November 27th, 2020, 7:01 pm My son and daughter have horses. He’s met his future wife and she has 3. He’s training his old horse to hunt coyotes from.


Never had mule deer roast. Sounds and looks delicious
Most of the MD that I've had hasn't been very good. I'm shocked this was as good as it was.
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Re: 2020 in Montana

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

I pheasant hunted a day and a half last weekend. I invited our assistant pastor along. We scratched out 4 roosters and I lost one. It was tough hunting.
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Me with our 3 roosters from an all day hunt:
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Tired bird dog
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