I keep hoping you'll post it up. Masher blacktails are few and far between and even harder to kill.

Parker - I'm sure you've hunted the same properties.

We've done just a "little" bit of grounds work over the past 3 years getting one property dialed in - to put it mildly. Lots of time spent preparing and maintaining lands. I call it my deer golf course, complete with multiple holes and fairways. I just moved cams and installed (4) new ones this past weekend, so we'll learn more about what we are working with in the coming weeks. I do know that it was a bumper fawn crop this spring, so the future continues to look bright.

I really hope the Masher is still around. But if not, we have another 10 - 12 bucks running through all the time. Some real dandies in the mix, like Todd's 5x4 boss hawg from last year. I am really due for something big. Yeah, small bucks and does fill the freezer, but I want a true dandy. I would just die if that happened to be the MASHER!

Of the five or so big mature bucks that we have pics of from this property, the one I shot last year was the third biggest...so there are at least two donkeys there right now!

I'm not greedy...I just want one of us to get one of them.

We'll get the other one next year

Fish on...

Todd

I checked cameras on Monday and we have another stellar herd this year. LOTS of does & fawns, yearlings and bucks running around. Our (2) new stand locations are going to be money and they could have cared less that we've been in there working. I'm counting 10 individual bucks from spikes through mature deer so far, including one management buck that has 3 separate antlers. There's at least 3 big boys in the mix. It's been fun to watch them grow over the past 2 years. The masher big daddy of them all has yet to make an appearance, so we are really hoping he's still around.

Another kinda interesting thing is that some of the mature bucks are totally hard horned and all shined up, while others of the same antler size are still in velvet. I don't know if that's caused by age, time of year they were born, food, minerals or what? Maybe someone else has some knowledge they can share.

Some bucks velvet just gets to itching before others. Unless the ends look balled up still, they are usually done growing by end mid August.

On the board.

Nice one!

Fish on...

Todd

That is an awesome shot! Congrats on the nice bull man.

Splendid bull!

How big of a tussle did you have with the local yellow jackets?

I'd say! Great pic Too....WA permit bull?

Ike

Congrats!! Did ya have him screaming? Idaho archery?

Thanks guys.

Wyoming archery.
In the face screaming.

Never hunted in grizzly country before.
Definitely adds to the hunt.

I wish all the hunters here a safe, successful season.

Have many fond memories of WY elk and trout on the fly.

Looks like you made some too....

+1. If I ever leave WA, WY is where I'm headed next. It's heaven on earth and the way Colorado used to be 30 - 40 years ago.

No kidding...not sure I want or need that type of excitement while elk hunting.

A Wyoming guide was killed by a Grizzly just last Fri while packing out an elk. Client was mauled but survived and called for help. The guide was married with 5 kids...

Ike

Unfortunately this is part of the game, a really dangerous and schitty part.

The story said that they had a big ol' handgun with them when they went in the woods after the elk the next morning, but that it was stowed in a pack and the pack was "over there" on the ground when the bear strolled up on them and the dead elk...this seems like the wrong place to be stowing the gun.

Hindsight is 20/20, but if I were going into the bushes after a wounded/dead elk that had been out all night, I'd have that gun locked and loaded and in my hand the entire time, the chances of a bear being on or near that elk carcass is too high to do otherwise.

Fish on...

Todd

That's a really sad conclusion to a very poor decision.

If I even remotely think I'll run into any trouble of any kind whatsoever, I have my weapon at the ready 24/7. I've previously shared with the board that I've had a scrape with an extremely pushy and agitated black bear while I was unarmed before...and now I just don't play. Especially in Griz country.

This mistake is on the guide. There should have been a minimum of 2 rifles and 2 hand-cannons locked, loaded and at the ready. Preferably a third set of eyes to look out and oversee the guys doing the dirty ground work. Just bad thinking....poor fella.

Edit and PS: I've told Todd this, but at our secret Chanterelle spot I stumbled upon a freshly killed and semi-buried BT yearling that had just been chewed on (blood was still wet). Hair on the back of my neck stood straight up; hand went on my weapon and I noped the heck outta there. When in doubt, back off. No Elk or mushroom is worth it.

I just read were the client / survivor chucked a pistol at the guide as the guide had one of the bears on top of him and then he RAN AWAY!

WOW.

What a coward.

Am I a horrible person for wondering that, too?

Fish on...

Todd