9-20-2015 Sunday
 Day 5 of the Montana Hunt - Giving thanks for Gods Blessings in his creation ! 

 Started the day as we have done most! Up at 0530, then a quick snack breakfast - Andrew loves peanut butter and his coffee.  We began the day with a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving then headed out.
Andrew and I decided our Bible reading for today should be from John Chapter 14 .
“

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” - John 14:1-7 NIV Andrew enjoyed meditating on these while waiting on the deer to arrive, he saw the " big one" again, unfortunately it was 300 yards away. Other interesting wildlife spotted however including a coyote at 30 yards and a woodpecker much closer.




 Marks morning was filled with lots of walking chasing after antelope. Good exrcise at least. Plus the bonus weas the sights while travling back and forth to hunting area. Big timber MT downtown, cattle grazing, and big sky country looking south of town.

 Breakfast/ brunch was Montana sausage and egg sandwiches with a side of mule deer tenderloin.

 Then a quick trip into Bozeman for an antelope decoy and to gawk at all the stuff at sportsmans warehouse.


 Then it was back to the woods and hills for us both. Yes the new antelope decoy did work as it pulled the buck from his harem of does but only to 96 yards, just a little too far for a bow in 20mph wind

 Andrew has acquired some really serious blind construction skills here in MT working with not much to conceal himself. And the antelope decoy did work..just not close enough for a shot with my bow. Quarter moon signaled end of another super day of hunting.

Sunset again was gorgeous as we finished the day with a late supper of pork chops and good ole mashed taters.. Hearty fare for two hungry hunters.

9-19-2014
 Day 4 of the 2015 Montana  Trip -Sunrise to Sunset a very full day

 Sunrise once again found Andrew in pursuit of a mule deer in the Custer National Forest and Mark attempting to get close to a shooter antelope in the vicinity of Big Timber MT. Andrew had a small buck try to bed down with him in his blind ...almost ..that's what I call good camo.

Following  the morning hunt a breakfast extradonair was had of peppered bacon , eggs , and deer heart with gravy from Marks Mulie. Andrews proclaimed " mmm that's tasty"

Thought a picture of the house where we are staying and of the adjacent river only 15 yards from the front door of house would help explain why we love it on the CWC Ranch.

Then we proceeded on to scout for more possible antelope hunting locations. Found several nice bucks and does. Andrew got some good shots from the binocs of the antelope.

We also discovered an affordable Montana home for a grad student like Andrew while scouting for antelope. Not sure if wheels roll still but the concept was appealing at least to Drew.

Finished up the scouting trip with a visit to the Otter Creek fishing access site on the Yellowstone River and a visit to the Shiloh/ Sharps rifle factory in big timber.

The day ended much as it started with another gorgeous sunset and another successful day of hunting. Although nothing was harvested we still gained memories that can never be erased by time. Seem to be getting antelope a little closer each trip out.

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More to follow so stay tuned for tomorrows update. Oh and Andrew really likes his coffee strong in the morning!!

9-18-2015
 Day 3 of the Montana Adventure

Andrew and I started the morning at 0530. Temperature at sunrise was 38 degrees and winds at 20 mph. Greeted by a beautiful sunrise over the Crazy Mountains.

 Andrew hunted on the Custer national forest just to the east of our accommodations and had numerous deer sightings during his outing. The big one unfortunately got away as he had acswing andcacmiss at a very mature 4x3 mulecdeer at 72 yards. The scenery was again incredible and he will be in the same spot tomorrow and hopefully the big boy will return. Andrew was well camoflaged as a 3x3 mulie came within 10 yards of his location.  Bedded deer were his company all morning. While Andrew was deer hunting I was out scouting for antelope and was able to gain access to a ranch with multiple antelope sighted while glassing. Excited about the antelope hunt tomorrow.

 This evening hunted west of town on the Rock House ranch a new location. Spotted a few whitetails but nothing with shooter potential. Did have a nice sunset with some awesome scenery again.
Sunset over a irrigation canal, view from Andrews blind location, and view of Andrew well hidden in the grass. More to come tomorrow. Hopefully pics of antelope and mule deer ?

9-17-2015 part 2
 After scouting this morn proceeded into town to drop deer at meat processor , grab lunch, and visit the taxidermist. Saw a 6x6 elk harvested in the beartooths yesterday.

 Then it was the typical MT wildlife menagerie as we hunted till sundown on walk in access property at the Engle ranch near McLeod MT. Turkeys, deer, and an eagle all spotted. Andrew passed on a smallish 3x3 mulie buck but can home tired and happy w days results.

Stay tuned more to come!

9-17-2015
 Day 2 of the Howell Montana adventure

 After a late night taking care of my deer harvested just 5 hours after touching down in MT we all decided a little r&r was in order. Started the day with a full breakfast including BACON, eggs, grits, toast and deer tenderloin courtesy of chef Howell.

 Following breakfast it was time for more scouting. Andrew and I drove into the Cluster Gallatin National Forest from the Deer Creek access point and glassd, scouted and hunted our way into the nf land for approximately 5 miles. Beautiful scenery all along the way.
 Andrew on the hunt with Beartooth, Crazy Mountains over the Boulder valley, and panoramic views.

9-16-2015 Montana Trip late night update

 Flights from Charlotte to Bozeman went flawlessly.Landed at 1 then rental cars and a relatively quick trip to Walmart in Bozeman for groceries, supplies and archery liscenses then onto Big Timber. Temperature was 43 degrees when we landed in Belgrade MT so a little chilly for our NC blood and we saw snow showers on and off on the drive to big timber.Got settled into our accommodations at CWC ranch around 4:30pm.

 Pulling into the ranch we were greeted by our host Peggy and by a beautiful snow bow. Amazing sight and very pretty. Looked like you could reach out and touch it. I told Andrew I was gonna go find my pot of gold! ( keep on reading- I did)

 Andrew and I retrieved the bow target from the barn where we left it back in 2013 and set it up to sight in the bows for a check to make sure delta didn't do any harm to point of impact. We shot well out to 80 yards and called it good to go hunt. While shooting mom made a great salad and pizza from the store for a nice first dinner together in MT.  After dinner Andrew and I decided to go scout and glass the farm here until dark. I told Andrew that we needed to take our bows just in case we got lucky and spotted something worth going after so we loaded the quivers, gathered the optics and headed out. Shortly out side of the house area we spotted 2 whitetail fawns.

Then Andrew spotted more deer coming into the field from across the road just beyond the hill you can see in the distance. 3 mule deer bucks 2 -4 pointers and a seven pointer with a huge body. I told Andrew that I was going to pull up the drive and hide the car behind a small orchard and attempt a stalk on the seven pointer as long as he didn't want to try it. Drew said " man that's a nice deer you spotted it so you go for it man". I parked the car and got a fence line between me and the group of bucks and began my stalk. I proceeded down the fence line for cover and was able to close the distance to 60 yards before one of the smaller bucks busted me but he only trotted off about 20 yards and the 7pointer followed. The group began feeding again at 90 yards and when they all had their heads down I gained about 10 or 12 yards on them . I ranged the 7 pointer at 79 yards. I knew I could make the shot from months of practice in the backyard in NC. Long story short is the rage broadheads flew true and on day one of our hunt I was able to take my first ever mule deer wiith my bow.( G5 Shift Bow, Carbon Express KV arrows, Rage broadheads, promos release, leupold range finder, Nikon binocs, sitka and KUIU camo)

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MARK TAGGED OUT
 Now I just gotta find my buddy Andrew one to put a stalk on to. Plus its gonna make chasing antelope with my bow a whole lot more fun for the next 8 days. Very thankful to have this opportunity and to be blessed with the harvest of a great deer on our first day in the he field. Stay tuned ..much more to come ..we hope. 

9-16-2015

 MONTANA BOUND- Looking forward to a great trip with Andrew, Matt and mom. Andrew is begging for an essential food group already- coffee. Told him to relax that Marks 3 B food rule was in force now...Bacon, Bourbon, and Beer is on tap for next 9 days.

11-27-2014 Thanksgiving morning hunt back in the stand in Northern iredell county. Had 3 doe's and one spike come through about 8:30am but decided to wait for a bigger one as had fresh scrapes and rubs surrounding stand site. Rain day before made the woods quiet and had to really pay attention to catch movement. This seven pointer snuck in from directly behind me and almost got away but i heard a faint twig snap and looked slightly back to see him broadside at 22 yards but behind some low growing holly bushes. He finally moved forward to a small opening after about 5 minutes of waiting. Filled my last buck tag for north western deer season. . 270 WSM, federal fusion 150 grain,TThankful fo the opportunity and the time to hunt.