RE: Mirror Mountains and Mirror Forest... West of 100 Mile House, BC, Canada
Several years ago I was just south of Creston , BC which is right on the Idaho border. I was deer hunting with a buddy. We got permission to hunt on the property of a ranch that was literally "on the border". It was the first time my friend had every bagged a deer. It was in the early evening and right as he got it, the rain started coming down fiercely. We didn't want to gut the deer on the rancher's property so we dragged it out to the road and then ferried it with my truck to the end of the road (there was about a 20 yard field and then the border).
We started processing the deer and I guess that another neighboring ranch thought we were smugglers doing something weird at the border. So, they called the police. Just as it was getting dark we see some headlights coming up the road, and there we are skinning this deer as the cop rolled up. I don't know what he thought about the whole situation, but after checking out my friend's prize he decided to head back into town. Unfortunately, due to the rain the road had turned into a muddy gumbo and he got stuck while trying to turn around. So, my friend and I had to help push him out of the mud. As you can imagine, once he got rolling mud sprayed everywhere, including on the newly skinned deer.
My buddy got a very interesting introduction to deer hunting that night!
Great hunting story. I am lucky i get to hike up in the hills behind my place for deer hunting. It is our primary source of meat most years.
Here in BC the main hunting season begins on September 10th. This year I'm working every day, so I won't be going out. However, I'm glad to hear you have good hunting out your way. I assume that you mostly have whitetail deer, elk and mule deer? I prefer whitetail deer and grouse hunting. I don't trophy hunt. I just go for the outdoor adventure and for the meat.
There may be parts of the state that has an earlier season but the unit i live in season starts October 10th and lasts until December 1st. Everyone in our family gets a liscence and whitetail tag. Where i hunt i have not seen another hunter in the 14 years.... I do not go for elk because in the area where they hang out too many hunters show up.
I always find the time to get out during the season. This year i will have plenty of time and looking forward to it...
No hunter in 14 years? Wow. That sounds like a great spot! What kind of rifle and caliber are you using, or do you like to mix it up between several favorites?
I some times use my Dad's 30:30 Winchester which was made in early 1950's ( he paid $20 for it). It is great for close up or in heavy brush or heavily treed areas.
Then I like my Remington 700/ .270 Win. I just bought it last year and the day I sighted in I brought home a nice buck before dusk. I filled everyone's (in family) tags last year. It is pretty sweet and more power for a larger whitetails at a distance. We are still eating venison.
The Model 94 Winchester is a classic rifle. Prior to 1964 (when they started manufacturing them in a cheaper way) they were extremely well built. So, the one you have from the 1950s should be a good one.
The Remington 700 is the most popular American made bolt action of all time. Also, with .270 you have a nice flat shooting cartridge that can really reach out there. A buddy got a nice buck at over 400 yards with a .270.
My main hunting rifle is a Tikka in .308 Winchester. It is super accurate and has a good range. For tight bush I have a Ruger Deerfield Carbine in 44 Magnum. It has similar power to a 30-30 at close range with a big 240 grain bullet. It is also a semi-auto for a quick follow-up shot, if needed.