Eastern Washington Antlerless Controlled Hunt

Eastern Washington Antlerless Controlled Hunt ... "Target Rich Environment"

		I woke Candace up at 4:45 am; she groaned, so I gave her another 20 min. of sleep. We weren't in a hurry, as we would start hunting from the road; no need to be scaring deer we couldn't see by going in too early. It was windy - `too windy' - according to Candace - but I assured her that wind wasn't bad. (Driving rain, maybe, but not a driving wind.) Left: Candace at Park - about ready to hunt.

		After about 15 minutes of climbing we were up to the bottom of the first decent draw. A lone muley doe had her rump toward us at about 150 yards. We wouldn't have much time - as the wind would take our scent up to her. Before Candace could get set up, she, and three others, caught our scent and exited. We angled over into the first big canyon, and I spotted deer at about 1000 yards. We would work our way toward them - but before we could get there - we came upon about a dozen others spread out on a hillside. We were able to get within about 250 yards. Left: Candace at `halfway fence' ...

Above: Candace slips up behind rock which she uses as a rest. I was behind ID-ing target and communicating by FRS. There are six deer in the rocks ahead - hard to see.		Candace took the shot - missed. Another shot - missed. By this time the deer were collecting into a single herd and were moving up canyon. Too far - I had her hold her fire. We went around to Half-way Fence - where I spotted some more deer. But by the time we got up to where they were - they had left. So, over to Covert Canyon. The big bunch from earlier were headed that way; if they stayed we could get into some shooting. But by the time we got there it was vacant. So we kept climbing.

		Nearly at the top of the Canyon Candace was tired. We could turn around and go back, or we could go a bit west, and hunt our way down Thin Red Line ("TRL" ... as we called it). I gave her more water and encouragement; we prayed for success, and I talked her into Thin Red Line - and said that when we'd get to a vantage point we'd share an MRE. We also put on our camo face paint - which seems to work well. At one point I got ahead of Candace. Two big does jumped out of a draw and gave me a standing broadside shot at 80 yards - but I didn't have the tag. By the time Candace got up to me they were much farther, and moving - I had her hold fire. We saw some more deer at distance - and passed on them also.
Above: Candace takes aim at mule deer laying down in rocks.
Below: Candace with her deer ... typical mule deer terrain.		By this time we were hunting into a strong wind. We didn't get far before we started coming upon various groups of deer. We got to within about 200 yards of one group. I had her hold fire until I could identify the animals (antlerless or otherwise). The prominent target was a nice buck - not legal - so I directed Candace toward his antlerless partner up the hill.. Candace shot - probably just over the animal - as I had overestimated range. They went around the hill.

		Next up was the big basin coming down from TRL toward the Park. I suspected it could have animals in it, so we approached cautiously. There were two groups of mule deer, bedded down. One group about 250 yards out, and another about 350. The deer were unsuspecting - so Candace had time to crawl and find a decent rest. Her first shots missed. The gale force winds and the effect of the horizon evidently took enough of the sound of the blast away - so they got up - but didn't move fast or far. Another shot - miss. They descended down the draw to the other group - and, to my amazement - started playing around and bedding down.

		"All good targets." Candace maneuvered for a good rest, while I readied my video camera. She shot - then shouted - "I GOT IT, Dad!" What a joy to a father to hear such words of excitement from a child. And I `got it' on film. (I thought.) The deer rolled down the hill and eventually died. I suspected a neck shot - and was right.

We got over to it and I proceeded to bone it while Candace ate the MRE and took nap. We have found that by boning and bagging the animal carefully in the field, we end up with a tolerable haul of meat out - and far better quality meat for the table. A normal deer completely boned fits in a large day pack. Skinning and cutting the deer while still warm is much easier, also. We don't even mess with the `guts' - and thus avoid contaminating the rest of the animal. If someone wants the liver or heart, we take it last, along with the tenderloin. After about an hour and a half, we were ready to go.

Above: two of four mule deer bedded in rocks 80 yd in front.		On the way out just about every fold in the terrain yielded more deer. Candace was thrilled we could get so close. In terms of groups of deer - it was probably the most I'd ever seen in that area. Boning the deer made the exit very tolerable - though the terrain was steep and rugged. We celebrated at one of our favorite restaurants upon coming back to civilization. By midnight the animal was in the freezer, cut and wrapped.

Endnote: while coming around on TRL Candace got the hiccups - some of the loudest I've ever heard. The first several brought my strong rebuke. Then I just smiled and shook my head. Thankfully we were hunting into the wind. Endnote: turns out I took a video of the sleeve of my hunting shirt while Candace made the kill shot. At least I have `audio' of the moment.		We had a great time.