Not the mighty A Zone, but X9-A....After Josh got drawn with "Only" 4 points, we headed up last Monday and camped at McGee Creek....The 1st evening we went north and started scouting high...In short order, we started seeing deer...Nothing big, but at least 3 bucks amongst does and fawns...We then made a major move across the valley...After a brutal, steep, rocky, long drive, we were at a peak glassing...Nothin'...Headed back to camp and fired up the Jet Boil...Chili mac bean was ready in short order...Delish!
Tuesday, we started the next morning closer to home and started putting boots on the ground...Roads can get you closer, but the deer we were spotting were high...Speaking of glassing...This old dog found out quickly, my Swarvo's are easy on the eyes, the Vortex spotter is strong, but the Josh's Kaibab 15's on a tripod were the ticket...We had a great morning and found a lot of deer...By 10:00 am, it was getting warm...Mammoth and June Lake areas were a zoo...Tried fishing Rush Creek, but apparently, they're (DFW) not planting...Headed back to camp...It was here where Josh had a special moment...He walked down to Magee Creek to see if he could see any trout, while cooked up lunch...All of a sudden, he comes hot footing back up, totally freaked out...He had just stepped in the middle of a 4 foot rattler...He's now checking his legs, boots, to see if he got hit...Nothin'...We both go down to the area and never find him...Lucky!
The evening scouting was special...We went into areas I had never been before on both sides of the valley...The maze of roads is incredible...If you ever get drawn for this zone...Your truck and tires better be solid (we had a new Dodge Ram with new tires)...We spotted up at least 14 bucks along with numerous does and fawns...The biggest buck we saw was in the the mid 20's (3x3)...Back to camp and Chinese Jet Boil...lol
The last morning we headed south and off the plateau above Sherman Grade...Big country and a spot I liked when I lived in Bishop...I was determined at 73, I was going to make it up that mountain to where I had a shot a buck 40 years ago (1981)...Took a bit, but I made it...There had been a fired near by, but basically looked exactly the same...We only saw one buck, but while I was glassing down hill, Josh comes down to me and says...Hey, there's one right below you...Hold it, it's not a deer, it's a bear!...Big old bruin and chocolate at that...Bitchin'
We stopped at Schat's Bakery, JB's, and headed home...Great little trip...Pic heavy
ps...So when I got back to the truck on our last scout and taking a piss...I look down, and there's a coin...A 1981 nickel...What are the odds?...lol
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Tuesday, we started the next morning closer to home and started putting boots on the ground...Roads can get you closer, but the deer we were spotting were high...Speaking of glassing...This old dog found out quickly, my Swarvo's are easy on the eyes, the Vortex spotter is strong, but the Josh's Kaibab 15's on a tripod were the ticket...We had a great morning and found a lot of deer...By 10:00 am, it was getting warm...Mammoth and June Lake areas were a zoo...Tried fishing Rush Creek, but apparently, they're (DFW) not planting...Headed back to camp...It was here where Josh had a special moment...He walked down to Magee Creek to see if he could see any trout, while cooked up lunch...All of a sudden, he comes hot footing back up, totally freaked out...He had just stepped in the middle of a 4 foot rattler...He's now checking his legs, boots, to see if he got hit...Nothin'...We both go down to the area and never find him...Lucky!
The evening scouting was special...We went into areas I had never been before on both sides of the valley...The maze of roads is incredible...If you ever get drawn for this zone...Your truck and tires better be solid (we had a new Dodge Ram with new tires)...We spotted up at least 14 bucks along with numerous does and fawns...The biggest buck we saw was in the the mid 20's (3x3)...Back to camp and Chinese Jet Boil...lol
The last morning we headed south and off the plateau above Sherman Grade...Big country and a spot I liked when I lived in Bishop...I was determined at 73, I was going to make it up that mountain to where I had a shot a buck 40 years ago (1981)...Took a bit, but I made it...There had been a fired near by, but basically looked exactly the same...We only saw one buck, but while I was glassing down hill, Josh comes down to me and says...Hey, there's one right below you...Hold it, it's not a deer, it's a bear!...Big old bruin and chocolate at that...Bitchin'
We stopped at Schat's Bakery, JB's, and headed home...Great little trip...Pic heavy
ps...So when I got back to the truck on our last scout and taking a piss...I look down, and there's a coin...A 1981 nickel...What are the odds?...lol
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