California Black Tail

Don’t let me fool you, I did not get here overnight. Let's rewind about 6 years ago, prior to meeting my husband. If you asked me anything about hunting I would not have had any idea what you were talking about; this is not something I grew up doing or learning about. I acquired this love for the outdoors and hunting through my husbands deep passion for it. After watching him wake-up numerous mornings before the sun to chase animals I started to hate being left behind.

He would make long drives and overnight stays meanwhile I was sitting at home. See, I spent 4 years after high school dedicated to school and getting my degree while working 2 jobs. I didn’t exactly have a lot of time for my hobbies and any sports I used to play got pushed to the sidelines. After graduating and getting a job I longed for a hobby that took me back to my “happy place” like softball did for most of my childhood. I joined a gym and got involved with my work a lot but that just wasn’t doing it for me, wasn’t fulfilling my adventurous heart. Bringing us back to watching my husband (Austin) talk about the outdoors and his hunting as something he truly loved and his time out there was cherished. I almost starting looking at it as a way he replenished his soul and allowed time for himself. Sure, some people think that is accomplished through spa days or big fancy malls, which I can’t always disagree with. However, this sparked an interest in witnessing what he was doing and seeing if it was something for me. This isn’t the first hunt I have gone on with him, you can read others on how I started my hunting journey but this hunt meant something different to me.

Preparation

This was the first hunt where I packed into the trinity alps with all my own supplies on me, and with my own tag. In the past I had gone on black tail hunts with Austin but would need more help in preparing my pack or with no expectation that I would fully execute the given situation. Yes, I have had tags in the past and I believe that he took me in hopes I would have an encounter and opportunity. However, I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and I believe all those trips were preparing me for when everything was supposed to align in mother natures eyes. Despite other hunting trips and harvesting animals I had yet to successfully hunt a deer. I think that it took me more time than others to process the entire hunt in my head. I love animals but being able to start with smaller game allowed me time to understand the animals better and feel more connected to the hunting and eating side of the sport. My husband and I feel very strongly on fair chase and ethical hunting and for me I wanted to make sure that I had thoughtfully and intentionally gone through all the steps it takes to make sure that I was ready to harvest my first deer. Don’t get me wrong, we have gone hunting for black tail deer with intentions of filling my tag but this time I felt 100% ready and confident that I could do what it took all on my own. In the prior years Austin was teaching me everything with a combination of what I had read and learned on my own, but now the pieces had all aligned and I could feel it.

Preparing for the Hunt

Austin had come home from work and I had packed my entire pack. All my supplies, all my food, all by myself. Typically he would be there to help me or sometimes do it for me when I was working late. I have researched and boughten all the gear I need which took a lot of time, and trial and error. Being a women in this sport isn’t impossible there are lots of them out there when you starting looking into it. The problem I came across was finding women who are willing to share their good finds and not just have a blue check next to there name on instagram and never reply to your questions. Hence the reason I started this site, I want to help other women feel empowered to do this as well! Back to the hunt…

Just Keep Walking

Once he got home, we loaded our packs and took off for the trailhead. Earlier in the season Austin had spent a few overnight trips in the Trinity Alps scouting and looking for a spot he wanted to backpack into during the season. He would take our dog Jax and head up there on his own when I was working and unable to tag along. After getting to the trailhead he reports its just a few miles in. I have learned that his distance always needs to be doubled and sometimes tripled. After hours of hiking back a trail we finally make it to where he had scouted out a camp.

At this point we only have one tent, and it happens to be a one man tent which I tend to sleep in and he sleeps on a tarp outside. Funny story, we actually got this tent as a trade with one of his best friends for a vacuum we used to have. I’ll admit getting all the gear can be expensive so we slowly upgrade through the years or work overtime to fund our hobby. At this point we make camp, eat dinner, and plan our tracks for the next day. After eating our mountain houses and getting in our sleeping bags a lot of bugs start emerging all over his tarp. Yes, he ends up in my one man tent don’t ask me how we fit. This was the point in where we decided a bigger tent was our next purchase.

The next morning comes and were up early. If you know me at all you know I have to eat, Austin is the exact opposite. I fight through my hunger pains so we can get to the top of the ridge by first light so we can be glassing during the most optimal time. Lets just say I barely made it to the top…

To my left is where we came from. We were just to the left of this picture down at the bottom of that hillside where a nice creek runs near our camp. Austin is definitely great at finding very remote areas that take a lot of mental strength to get to. That being said, we had the mountain to ourselves. It was beautiful and peaceful just as it should be.

Next we spent the rest of the day on the other side of the mountain. I think I was too excited and eager and possibly hungry to remember to take a lot of pictures. The right side of this mountain held the best and worst part about this trip. After getting to the top and me eating, Austin set up his tripod and started glassing. After shoveling food in my mouth and getting some instant coffee down I was ready to join on the side of a mountain. Tripod and glasses set up sitting in silence as we both eyed over the entire mountain. Looking carefully at every bush, branch, and hillside at least 3-4 times we spotted one!! This was one of those moments as husband and wife you almost have a small marriage counseling session attempting to explain where you see the deer. After both of us have visualization we are trying to decide how many points are on this deer. Not that this is the most important but you can’t help yourself.

This majestical creature in its own natural habitat survives in the depths of the mountains with snow capped tops. It is incredible. Watching him eat and move and lay down and eat some more we range him to find that he is nearly 700 yards. The furthest that I have ever sighted in my rifle was 500 yards which I felt comfortable with but not 700. We both knew that we needed to try to gain some ground on him and close the distance to a safe shot. There is no straight line to the buck out there. You have to traverse over another hillside, hike down, then up again, all while strategically and safely getting closer. About forty five minutes later we sat on the next ridge over that came out closer to his location glassing for him. After spotting him we range him again. Now he was closer but 570 yards. At this point we saw huge rainclouds and fog rolling in behind him coming for us. We both knew that ethically it was not right to shoot this buck at a distance I had not yet practiced and that in order to get closer we would have to go around the next mountain and it could take hours. With the storm rolling in we decided that it was best to head back to camp and wait out the fog since it was already the afternoon and we didn’t want to be up there in the dark.

The Trail Back

About an hour later, downhill did go a lot faster, we made it back to camp. Just in time to refill our waters and warm some food, then the weather turned. Not just a rainstorm but hail, thunder and then snow. The mountain weather can change so quickly. At this point with my gear collection I have a rain jacket but no rain pants. That being said, Austin looked at me and said “you want to head back”. This almost felt like I was giving up, like a storm washed me off the mountain, as if I wasn’t “tough” enough. He knew how bad I wanted to harvest my first blacktail. However, we had one small tent and all our gear was getting soaked.

That’s when I realized how much we had accomplished this trip. From packing my gear and food to hiking 10 miles in the back country to get to the top of a mountain. From glassing my first black tail buck to attempting to close the distance. There was nothing to be embarrassed about, this is hunting. If every time you went in you came out with an animal then it would be too easy. This trip allowed me the experience to put all my knowledge together and let's be honest made me tougher. There is nothing comfortable about side hilling a mountain through tall brush for hours through the light of your headlamp. There is nothing comfortable about not being in the warmth of your bed or having a kitchen to cook in. There is nothing comfortable about hiking out during a hail and thunder storm. But I never signed up for this thinking it would be easy. See, even through competitive sports and long days of work or school I have never been challenged this much. Sure, all of my life experience helped me become a strong a capable individual but learning to get back to our primal state and endure what nature can throw at you. That is what hunting is about. I knew that this was just one of many memorable and unforgettable trips I was going to endure. This was just preparing me to be stronger for the next one. Don’t worry I will harvest a black tail buck and believe me I will tell you all about it.

On the drive home we stopped for a roadside meal with hot coffee. This trip left me with a burning in my gut, I can't wait to continue this hunting journey.