2023 hunting season so far

[baboltin]

The forum has been kinda quiet and slow so I thought I would try and contribute something to bring something more to the table. This is my 2023 season so far and I will add to it as it goes.

This hunting season consisted mostly of me helping others which I enjoy a lot and trying to squeeze in a hunt for myself here and there.

 

[baboltin]

I started off in august as a packer for the outfitter I hunted with for my personal dall sheep last year (2022). I was gone 17 days total and we killed on day ten of a ten day hunt, lots of rain and weather which was more difficult for me then to get after it and hike, but we were able to kill an amazing ram, 12 years old, full curl and double broomed, legal on all accounts. If anyone is ever interested in hunting Alaska with an amazing outfitter let me know I can get you in contact.

 

[baboltin]

From there I came home and was hoping to get some local d zone archery hunting in but being gone in Alaska so long didn’t allow it. I had been scouting before I left and knew of a big buck I wanted to kill.
Being I didn’t get to hunt the archery season due to being gone and having to come back and catch up at work, home and family I was hoping to be able to find the buck that I had been scouting during the rifle season although I wasn’t able to hunt more then a couple days between work and working overtime and spending time with the family. I had heard that the buck I was after got shot at possibly missed or crippled which really bummed me out but I didn’t have time to continue to hunt that buck before leaving to scout and help on a tule elk hunt.

 

[baboltin]

I left work the Thursday before the elk hunt opener, got to camp that evening, the next morning located a small herd with a small bull, and then that evening hiked into a more remote area where I was able to find a bull and put it to bed for the next morning opening morning. We figured out a game plan the next morning and we’re able to relocate the bull and kill him by 10:30.

 

[ilovesprig]

Great hunts.....Thanks for sharing.....................

 

[baboltin]

After the elk hunt, I had a couple days that I had to go back to work and then catch a flight to head to a antelope hunt which I knew by doing this hunt I would miss out on the tail end of the local season but with the buck I was after possibly shot and it not being that great of a local season it only made sense to go hunt out of state.

I flew out Friday and was hunting on Saturday, where we were able to kill a great buck for my buddies buddy, and we were actually putting a stock on an antelope when we found this mule deer buck and passed on the antelope to kill this buck for him. He made a great shot and we killed a great buck on the first day of being out there.

 

[baboltin]

The following afternoon we were able to find a respectable antelope buck and I was able to put a stock on him and killed him that afternoon.

 

[baboltin]

I will have more updates but I still have some deer hunts to guide on as well as a desert bighorn sheep hunt coming up and I am also hopeful to get out and do a bear hunt for myself this season and maybe even locate a pig or two for myself.

 

[180ls1]

Carrizo bull?

Sounds like you're having a great season!

 

[baboltin]

Carrizo bull?

Sounds like you're having a great season!

Yes sir.

 

[WrstDuckHntr]

Thank you for sharing. Looks like a great season so far!

 

[Bill S.]

Is your work hiring? Jesus all I can afford is D-16.

 

[baboltin]

Is your work hiring? Jesus all I can afford is D-16.

I helped on most of these hunts, actually only really had one hunt for myself but I was away from work clearly for all of them.

 

[baboltin]

Is your work hiring? Jesus all I can afford is D-16.

Work hard play hard haha

 

[BOWUNTR]

That's awesome that you get to do that. My boss hardly ever lets me hunt. Ed F

 

[GUNDOGLOVER49]

That's awesome that you get to do that. My boss hardly ever lets me hunt. Ed F

Yes we know, you poor thing.

 

[baboltin]

I guided in Southern California, got a great buck 4x4 with a small dropper, tons of fun chasing rutting bucks. I don’t have a picture of the buck but will try and get one.

 

[baboltin]

Then I ended my hunting season on a desert sheep hunt that all of our research and running cameras paid off to be successful in a couple days. We had seen this ram for a number of years and with the unit struggling and us knowing this was an old ram we knew this was the best one to take out of the herd. Aged at 14 years old. Tons of character and just plain a cool ram !!

 

[baboltin]

Pics of the ram the night before when I relocated him and put him to bed and then the next day.

 

[bubblehide]

Simply awesome! Thanks for sharing.