It appears as though we have some catching up to do!

[POk3s]

Every year at this time my mind starts to transfer from hunting to fishing. I have one more big game hunt for the first week of December in Nebraska and after that it'll be time to fish! Also, every year I start up some sort of "share your year" post. An introduction of what all our internet buddies have been up to during the months without ice!

Here's mine!

Just after ice off I had a run on big lake trout like I'd been dreaming about since I first started chasing these things 7 or 8 years ago. I always wanted to do it by myself, like most other things outdoors, but that didn't keep me from bugging people with constant questions. It tested my will and humbled me for a long time. The last few ice seasons I'd had some success, but nothing like others in my area had. FINALLY, late last ice season and into early spring it all started coming together.

Biggest of the ice season. 22 lbs but over 40" long


Early spring. 26, 28, and 39 lbs.




I had some guys out on the boat with me that day and luckily they wanted to video the 39 lber. It actually turned into a pretty good video but there is some vulgarity so be prepared You can find it here.

https://www.facebook.com/TrentWilliamsOutdoors/videos/1231658210273931/

After spring turkey and summer fishing (i'll save those pics so I don't go too overboard hahaha) it was time for hunting season.

Public land Archery antelope in a unit with leftover tags




After antelope I pulled off another true childhood dream. A giant bull in a general unit. The fact that I did it with my bow, on public land, and by myself just adds to it. I actually missed this bull in 2014. I then screwed up an opportunity 3 days before I killed him....then had an epic encounter that ended with me taking him home.




I tried to talk myself out of killing this muley, with full intentions of passing deer up of this size. BUT, it was the last day of the season and not far from my house. I had always wanted to kill a deer close to town and there this guy stood, so I shot him. That was good enough reason for a simple guy like me.



And now I just got back from Montana where I killed a cool buck on public land.



Like I said, one more big game hunt left and then it will be time to fish!

[olefish]

Wow great fish and heads way to go

[muskyon46]

That's one heck of a year Trent. Great job  thanks for sharing with us.

[Baetis62]

A lifetime for most..it will be hard to raise the bar in 2018.  Did you score your bull?

[POk3s]

Thanks guys!

Baetis, I had a buddy do it so I wasn't biased hahahaha. 361 6/8. Unofficially of course. I have another archery bull at 363 6/8. That one was officially scored. But it was in a limited quota unit.

[Baetis62]

I guessed it would be north of 350...well done!

[wyoutdoors]

Nicely done POk3s! 

[SLAYERFISH]

Man them some nice animals!  Good eating for sure. How you gonna beat that?

[stinkyfingers]

Dang ! I mean DANG !

[POk3s]

Hahaha thanks guys! Post up some pics!

[massNtrash]

OK I'll play along although I can't live up to Trent's amazing year he had. I had a good year so far and it isn't over yet!

Ok first off I got screwed out of most of my summer because of work and a remodel on my house but I did manage to get into some nice lakers (not on the gorge).


My Wife also got into some nice ones including this chunky 18 pounder which is her personal best.

And this beautiful 16 pounder

Then on to hunting season. My wife and I were just meat hunting this year so we didn't pass on much (grand total of maybe 5 hours of hunting for both our elk).


But just because I was tagged out early didn't mean that I quit hunting. I have since been a part of killing 7 more elk this season including calling in my dads biggest bull he has ever gotten. It was a very special moment for my dad especially since my brother from Texas was here for it as well. I don't think he will stop talking about it for a few years.

I have many many more pictures from this hunting season but I will leave it at that for now. I have lots of really good video and pictures that I took through the spotter this year since I wasn't hunting myself.

Once everyone's tags were filled I took to the river bottoms this fall to do some duck hunting and have done extremely well this year compared to other years.


Well I will leave it at that for now as far as pictures go. I have also been fishing quite a bit this fall but have yet to find a laker that is really picture worthy mostly because I can't keep the pups off the line long enough. I also fished Soda a lot in the last remaining weeks that it was open and did very well out there (go see the "ICE" thread for more of those pictures). All in all it was been a good year and now all I can think about is ice fishing! I have my first trip planned for the first weekend of December and I can't wait.

[POk3s]

It was fun keeping up with your year on Facebook Ryan!

[muskyon46]

Very nice ryan, those are some great pics. I've got some pics uploaded just haven't got to them yet but I will. They are nothing in comparison to yours and Trent's. As I've said a couple times my almost 2yo and new grandson have been keeping me busy. Ryan I have put up some new info on the Henry's thread you may want to look at. Better get the wheeler ready not the sled. I'll get a new email out soon

[Cargo]

Wow Trent,  all I can say is Wow, I knew you would be a force to be reckon with, those are some beautiful trophies. Congratulations

[wyoutdoors]

Wow Trent,  all I can say is Wow, I knew you would be a force to be reckon with, those are some beautiful trophies. Congratulations

A rare appearance! How ya been Cargo! 

[Cargo]

Hey wyoutdoors I've been well thanks

[POk3s]

Wow Trent,  all I can say is Wow, I knew you would be a force to be reckon with, those are some beautiful trophies. Congratulations

Thanks buddy. Good to see you around!!

[wyoutdoors]

Hey wyoutdoors I've been well thanks

 

[Jason Stafford]

Well, there is nothing else to do while anxiously waiting for ice to form.  Here's my fall hunting photos.

[WYIfish]

Very very nice.  Does the musk ox taste like chicken?

[Jason Stafford]

It is pretty tasty......

[muskyon46]

Ok as promised heres been my time off the ice. Most my time has been devoted to these lunkers. Keeps me plenty busy. Grandson born in july and my daughter will turn 2 this january. Nothing like starting over. Guess it will keep me young forever. LOL





Did get out on the boat a few times Bassin, cattin, troutin and shooting some carp. Even worked a day in on a private pond catching sturgeon in Idaho. That was cool. Caught so many my arm was sore for a week. we didnt get any of the 4-5ft'ers but it was fun















Even got on the ice Nov. 10th, by far the ealiest I've been. had to go up to 10,300ft to get on it

[POk3s]

Sweet critters Jason!!! Are you an archery only guy??

At least you're getting some fishing in Musky hahahaha!

[Jason Stafford]

.

Sweet critters Jason!!! Are you an archery only guy??

I do only archery hunt.

[muskyon46]

At least you're getting some fishing in Musky hahahaha!

Yes sir, my trips have been few and far between this year, hence why I'm now heading to Henry's lake tomorrow morning a day earlier than planned for some good trout action. Prospector's been killing it up there this morning

[olefish]

    Some of my summer and fall fun

we caught  sauger 2 weeks ago



my little bull



10foot 4 inch ID sturgen





Granddaughter  first nice walleye she does not like the slime so rubber gloves