Hunting Pictures - 2012 Hunting Season

2012 Best Hunting Day Ever Winner!
Steve Stafford with 2012 Montana Wolf

Rattled him in to 20yds and got him with the glock 10mm. 10yr old buck! Tony Petrik

I not only had the best hunting day ever, but also the best Thanksgiving ever! I got to shoot this 175" awesome whitetail with my two favorite "guides" with me to see it. My fiance, Paul, and my dad, Russ, were both with me and we had him back in the truck by 8:36. So excited about this once in a lifetime buck! Alyssa Hadley

Here is a picture of my 2012 Buck. I got my buck the last day of season. I wasn't going to go out since I had hunted like crazy this year and barely saw anything but I thought I would give it one last try. I walked up to this guy who was bedded down with a doe. I watched him for five minutes and he didn't move. I got him in one shot! :) So glad I went out for one more day!! Thanks, Christine Vrooman

Went out hunting with my dad for cow elk and come across this buck and a few others. Followed them for an hour before getting a shot. Shot him at 363 yards. He ended up grossing 173”. This is my second buck, I am 13. Jacey McDonald

Shot this big female at less than 100 yards while hunting elk. Craig Savage.

Check out this nice buck I scored on the last day of the season at 3:00pm Sunday. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. Chuck Hunt

Been on a bunch of hunts, but this time I wasn't just the mule packing out somebody else's Elk meat (which I love to do!). This year I got mine, my first Elk... then she ran over my husband as she took off in straight line for him. Broke his quiver off his bow and every arrow in it, bent his cams, skinned his hand and kocked him for a breathless loop. It was awesome (his words too... after he found his bearings and nothing sticking in him). "Don't move! You're part of the blood trail." Thank you babe for slowing her down, thank you Will Weseman for the play by play from your view... and both for calling her in 13 yards from me. Best part... and why it was the best hunt ever - she ran down the mountain, not but a half mile from the truck. Beautiful.

Hi my name is Eric Henson I had the best hunting day ever. My children Alizia, and Alex got to go on their first hunting trip, and we got a deer!! Alizia tried to make me look like a deer haha. Alex was giving me thumbs up, but couldn't take his eyes off the deer.

5x7 whitetail buck 25 1/2 inch inside measerment

The day was perfect. A new snow with mild 34 degree weather. I had the spot all picked out where I would set up and wait. 1 1/2 hours after first light I looked off to my left and saw this brute checking his scrapes. I had to make the snap decision to make a right handed shot even though I'm left handed. At 110 yards I made the perfect shot and was blessed with this buck. Terry Savage.

Hi, I AM BARB AND THIS IS MY FIRST BULL ELK. I HAD AN AMAZING DAY HUNTING WITH MY HUSBAND DESTRY. WE DECIDED TO TAKE OUR HORSES AND GO ON A HUNT AND SPEND SOME MUCH NEEDED TIME TOGETHER. WE HAD BEEN RIDING FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS AND HAVING SO MUCH FUN ENJOYING OUR RIDE IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS. WHEN MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO TIE THE HORSES UP AND GLASS THE SURROUNDING OPEN HILLSIDES. THATS WHEN WE SPOTTED MY ELK. IT WAS A HARD, TOUGH AND SCARY RIDE UP THE MOUNTAIN ON THE HORSES BUT I DID IT. THEY CARRIED US UP THE SLICK SNOW COVERED ROCKY HILLS. I SHOT MY ELK A SHORT TIME LATER WITH THE HELP AND GUIDANCE OF MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND. IT WAS A PERFECT DAY! WE MADE SOME GREAT MEMORIES AND HAD A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER.

Chance Ovnicek shot this 5 point on November 17. Its different from the other bucks he shot in the past because it has a broken antler on one side.

This is my step dad Brent Rostad! I am Brittney Herman!

Went up the north fork haven't seen anything in five year then all of a sudden saw this bad boy my first big buck ever, all I could think bout was my hubby in Afghanistan an how proud he will be!! An he was wish he could have been here, if I win this it will go in my hubby's truck for his service ;) thank you bear for this contest. ~*MarineWife*~

Here is one of the pics form this year. Not a bad few hours in the field with Nikki. Many more to come this year. Tim Jacobs

Here is a few pics of some good friends and I filling our cow tags in our "Honey Hole" , what a rush, fun times on a fun day, 300 yard shot, nice big cows, meat in the freezer!! Shot with a 300 short mag, Respectfully, Luke Opp

Nice evening in the Flathead. Brian Ham

Opening weekend I spotted these 3 bucks disappear over a ridge. The hubby and I went one direction to see if we could find them and our friend Jason followed them. About 20 minutes later my hubby saw the big one and shot him. He hiked up the hill to find him. I heard the "woo hoo "and started up the hill. Jason then appeared from the top of the hill. As they were chatting Jason saw the other 2 just hanging out watching. Jason shot the next "biggest " and the 3rd (littlest) one was just confused and ran straight at me. 3 bucks down within minutes! Best hunting day ever!!

Austins 1st year hunting and 1st buck ever. After missing a monster came across this one bedded down in a Cooley over in Chester.

You can see I really need a bedliner. Brad Fabel

Here is to another Great Hunting Season! I was fortunate enough to get this Buck on the last day! -Nate Bain-

Tryg Koch shot this bull in Wyoming in October. It took him 8 years to draw this non-resident elk tag that allowed him to harvest this great bull.

I killed my first elk on The Tom Tash Ranch in Polaris, MT. I would really like to send out a BIG "Thank You" to Tom, his son Tyler and his family for letting me hunt on his ranch. It was so much fun and such a great experience!
Thank you Hank and Bee Broadcasting,
Clark Rianda, 12 years old
Kalispell, MT

Been hunting since September 1st when bow season started, faithfully every weekend, never saw anything worth shooting until this Marlin showed up when I was hunting with my best friend Colter. Leland Fabel

My son Tanner Hoerner shot this 5X5 mule deer buck at 300 yards. Spending every chance he could hunting with his dad, time and many miles paid off and he shot his 2nd and biggest buck the last day of the season.

Erin and Ashley O'Neil are two sisters also known as hunting buddies, got two of the biggest bucks they have ever gotten. They are happy they held out all year until November 23rd. Hunting all season really brought out the best of the two sisters now calling each other best friends. Both getting two huge bucks, they say they fought to get what they were fighting for all season long.

Steve Stafford with 2012 Montana Wolf

My name is bryden and i shot this buck the day after thanksgiving. This is my second buck that i shot with the help of my dad and its a 4x4. My birthday week is this week and i couldnt ask for a better 15th birthday week. Thanks.

My name is Ashley Herbert! This is my 2nd buck ever and my 2nd time hunting!! I just got married so I love hunting because it's quality time I get to spend with my husband! I was one happy girl!!

Jason Livingston 2012 archery elk

Thank you for posting this shot of my daughter in law and entering us in the LineX contest as well. Marcia Ham.

Coltor Roskos

Steve Stafford with 6'+ Montana Black Bear taken with longbow. I really want that Line Ex Bed Liner :-)

My best hunting day ever! My first deer, a four-point buck. My husband and his friend was off hunting their way and I spotted this boy, couldn't pass it up so I aimed and dropped him on the spot. The best part was my five-year old daughter kept saying the whole way home, "That is a sweet deer Momma." ~ Kristin Downing ~

I have already sent you my hunting picture but didn't really tell the whole story so I thought I'd share now. I was a little embarrassed because it was not the ultimate hunting story but it is my very own so here goes.

The day we were hunting was our last day to hunt for the season as we were going out of town to visit family for Thanksgiving, we even brought our kids (5 and 3 1/2). We thought we'd drive around to find a few good spots to take a look. My husband's friend had joined us but it was actually him and my husband that did all of the hiking that day. While I was sitting in the truck with my two kids, thawing out my frozen toes, my hubby and his friend were off hiking looking for deer. About a third way though the movie ET I looked over and saw a buck about 50 yards from the truck and my heart went into overdrive. I reached over to the front seat, grabbed my gun and told the kids to stay put (they were strapped in their car seats so they really weren't going anywhere). I slowly got out of the truck, quietly closed my door, walked a few feet from the truck, listened to the reminders in my head from the hubby on where to shoot it, took aim and pulled the trigger. Luckily it fell right over because not only did I have two kids with me but I WAS BAREFOOT. I ran over, took a look to make sure it was down and then decided that I better get my boots on again. My husband and his friend came running when they heard my shot. My husband was so surprised that I shot this deer by myself, spotted from sitting in the truck, barefoot and it was bigger than any whitetail he's ever shot. Oh yeah!

Thank you for letting me share my full story.

My name is Zackary Pletcher and this is my 1st buck (11/18/12) on my 1st year of hunting. I shot him at 345 yards in his bed. The best thing is that he is still in velvet! My parents and my brother Kodi were with me when I made this awesome shot.

Josh Fields arrowed this Wolf at 15yrds! Calf killer down!

This is my best hunting day ever! My first elk after 3 years of nothing! Jessie Compton

My name is Tyler Sutton my wife and i hiked in a blizzard to get all our tags filled it was 7 degrees and a 30 mph wind but we were successful.

Here is a pic of my husband Keith Meredith with his 6x7 bull!

Charles Stafford with whitetail buck taken while hunting with sons Steve and Charlie Jr. Best part of hunting is sharing memorable moments with friends and family.

Steve Stafford with antelope buck taken with longbow. I'm a contractor so I use my truck bed everyday, my truck is begging for a LINE EX bed liner.

This is my wife’s buck from this year. She is 6 months pregnant and still managed to do some hunting with me this year. We saw this buck chasing a doe and got her up in my tree stand just in time to have him come in 15 yards away. She made a great double lung shot and put some meat in the freezer. Eric Sharpe

Caitlyn’s first hunting season. Opening Day of Youth hunt. First Grouse and First Deer. Dave Franke Kalispell

This is my husband Tom Parks, he got this 6 point the morning of opening day, he scores 340!

This is my husband, Paul Downing. After missing two hunting seasons from two different deployments, he finally shot his first elk. Congratulations!

Not sure you if you all are still running the best hunting day photo contest but if you are we would like to enter this one. This is Garrett Frost he is 12 years old and this was his first hunt. He harvested this Mule deer buck his second day of his hunting trip, with his dad and close family friend, east of the mountains. Not only did he kill a beautiful buck but he got to do it with his dad right at his side. This is a trophy that will be hard to beat and a memory that will never be forgotten. It measures just over 29" wide and has 6 points on one side and 7 on the other. Thanks, Lesli Frost

This is my husband Timothy Jamison. He gets a 900 tag every year. This year he got this guy. He scores 75 Pope & Young. We are sending him in to the record book. Best hunting day!

It wasn't as easy as last year (shot a 3x3 white tail off our back deck in my underwear) but this one was worth the hike this year. Thanks to my wife who hiked up to help me pack it out. Bob Wilson

Tom Larsen, Whitetail.

It has been four years since my last deer and I am so happy that I got to share it with a very special person. I am very blessed to say that I learned how to hunt and shoot from my Paw-Paw. He let me use his 30/30 this year. My buck was a 6x6 with double brow tines and 17 ½ inches wide. Kristen Tackett

John Thorn

Harvested some great elk meat with two of my favorite hunting partners, My fiance' Katie, and my son Kagin. Glen Stoddard.

This is a picture of my wife and I with our first elk. We were lucky enough to both draw bull tags this year and just happened to run into two bulls together the same morning, it was a great day. Kris Schreiner

Terry Burkett

My son Taylor had THE best hunting day ever !! His Dad took him to the exact same spot that he got his first deer, and that spot is also the same spot my son's Grandpa and Great Grandpa also go their first deer. Heidi Morton

This is my son Dillon Ashley (age 13) and this is both our best day hunting in one. We had spotted some mule deer in a draw and did a stock on them. We snuck in on a small mule deer buck and a doe. My son passed on the buck and decided to take the doe because he had a doe permit. When he shot several other deer came out of the draw. One of them was a nice 5X6 whitetail. We grunted at the deer and he stopped. Dillon hit him with a good shot and he ran about 15 yards. The buck stopped broadside and Dillon dropped him about 60 yards from were the doe fell over. Our friends Bob Darrah and Kent Meyer caught it all on video for us. This is what hunting is all about. It was a great day. Proud Dad, Charlie Ashley

After practicing all summer long it paid off when I harvested my first deer with a bow. Sarah

Started bow hunting this year. First deer with a bow Sept 14, 2012. Jeffery Yerkes

This is my first deer with a bow and it was in velvet. One pass through shot and it only went about 70 yards before tipping over. I actually got it on 9/15/2012 and not the date on the picture. My dad's camera went dead and he didn't reset the date. I'd be upset with him, but he took the time to set the tree stand up in his hunting area, told me where the deer should be coming from, gutted the deer, butchered the deer and labelled all the packages so I could take my deer meat back to college. I think I'll let the date thing slide on this one! Niki Kropp

Hello , I want to enter my husband for the bedliner , here is his picture ! He got his moose this year. His name is Evan Danno

Actually....this was the best weekend ever!

On Saturday morning our 3 older kids played football at 10:30, then our 4 year old had basketball at noon. At 2:30 our daughter played basketball, then our two older boys played basketball at 3:40. They all played AWESOME in all their games!

After all the sports we went to a 60th birthday party for my mom and saw a bunch of family we haven't seen in a long time. We left the birthday party around 6:30 to head up to the Majestic Valley Arena to compete in the wife carrying contest....which we WON!

Sunday we got up early and hunted all day together with no luck. :( We picked up the kids from grandma and grandpa and headed to bed prepared to try again Monday. (We had taken the day off work to go hunting).

Monday morning we dropped the kiddos off and school and headed up the Swan. We drove and walked for hours with no luck....not even sight of a doe. At about 2:00 we decided that if we didn't see anything soon we were going to go pick up Andrew (our 4 year old) from pre-school and take him on a little road hunt up Bitterroot because he has been begging and begging to go. Then...just out Mike's window...were 3 does. LIFE!! We actually saw deer! It was kind of a shock at this point. We deciding to cross the highway and head down one more back-road and see if we get lucky. Sure enough, the very next stop brought a buck.

To you it may just look like a little spike, but to us it is not only the end to a perfect weekend, but also the first deer I had shot, cleaned and skinned in over 10 years. My husband Mike and I were just married on St. Paddy's day of this year. He has been hunting virtually every season, but I hadn't went since college. Last year we went out with no luck all season. This was not only the first buck I had ever shot with my husband, but also the first deer meat in our freezer as a couple, and the first dead deer my kids have ever seen that will be used to provide food for the family. When we were skinning it in the garage they couldn't have been more excited. I even included a picture of them holding the front hooves after we cut them off. They thought it was the coolest thing ever. I wish my step-sons would have been there to see it also.

Thanks for giving us a chance to win your contest, Bear. This was definitely my best hunting season ever!

Lacy Austin

This is a picture of my husband and his 330 bull shot this Archery season in the middle fork! They shot it at last light on a Wednesday and didn’t get it out until 2:30 AM Friday morning. Lindsay Wilson

Our daughter, Kelsee. First real hunting season this year and she got her first buck ever on the first day of the youth hunt! She did a great job, if we do say so ourselves!!! LOL Thanks for letting everyone send them in! Makes it all worth it to see that pride! Marti Bering

This is my boy, Zachary Hill, he shot this nice 5 x 5 whitetail on Friday the 19th. Its his first deer he's ever shot at and hit it with the first shot. As you can tell its already at the taxidermist. We have a tradition, the first buck you shoot, gets mounted. I have my first buck still that my brother had mounted for me and thats been over 25 years ago.