I have always tried to explore a new ridge each year for the past 26 hunting seasons. I don’t always make it but I try. There was one ridge I really wanted to give a shot. Sam and I discussed giving it a go the next break in the weather. I knew of a long but doable way up the back side. August 11th and 12th looked favorable. We decided to give it a try. The plan was for Sam to take a huge buck he had scouted. We met midday and drove to where we would begin our ascent. The weather was mostly overcast and cool. We found some old flagging where someone else had defined a route. For the most part we followed the same route. We decided to camp near some lakes and scout the way up for the morning. We found the way, had dinner, and planned our next day’s climb. We were up early, left our camp and continued up the ridge. As we topped the rise overlooking the alpine meadows, we were both taken back at the size of the place. The alpine meadows covered a much large area than we had anticipated. We could see deer moving about, both bucks and doe. We spotted several deer already feeding towards the timber to bed. We hurried closer. Sam pointed out a nice three point at about 250 yards. He disappeared behind the small ridge we were working towards.

The summers rain made the vegetation lush. Deer sign was everywhere. We crept along slowly cresting the ridge. Several smaller bucks, some with does fed below. I eased forward to see if the three point was below us. Nothing. There were several nice bucks feeding in the salmonberry some 250-300 yards distant. A doe walked to within just a few yards of Sam and I, turned and went back down the ridge. A nice smaller fork horn fed some 80 yards distant. I thought of filling my tag on him. As I considered this, velvet antlers crossed through the field of view in my binoculars. 30 yards below me was the fine three point. He moved right with 2 other bucks and the doe. I inched forward. At 30 yards he appeared in a hole between the Krummholz mountain hemlock. I grunted him to a stop. At the shot he crumpled. The roundball had did its job. We celebrated the wonderful Sitka blacktail and Sam went off to find his target buck while I boned mine. Sam passed on several great bucks that day. He returned and we split the load. It was a three-mile climb and return. Rest up and go again. I love this place and these deer. Thank you Sam. Sam filmed this hunt, it can be viewed here.