My FAVORITE animal! My biggest mule deer! I have since missed x2 a lot bigger than this one. Some people say, "you can't kill big ones if you are shooting little ones". I say, "you can't kill big ones if you are missing the big ones".
Man, there are some remarkable hunters on this thread and some amazing animals. I'll throw mine in the mix. I started hunting when I was 12, but didn't start getting into the killing game until much later! I plan on making up for lost time
First big game animal, and best and only elk. 2008. Flattops, Colorado at 180 yards with a .300 WSM. This was my first big game hunt outside of my birth state of Pennsylvania. Dreamed about hunting elk for years (decades actually) and finally got to on a drop camp hunt. And after years of striking out on whitetails, I was able to connect on this elk opening morning, 15 minutes after legal shooting light in the morning. I thought that stuff only happened on TV!
First animal with a bow (Mathews Z7Xtreme). 2011 Illinois whitetail at 8 yards. This is my best scoring whitetail I'm sure, but not what I consider my best whitetail.
Best (and only) black bear. 2012. Idaho, with a bow (Mathews Z7Xtreme). 13 yards. I've always dreamed of shooting a color phase black bear, and I always thought the lighter color the better. That's why this guy is probably my favorite trophy. Skull only measured something like 14", but the hide is what makes him great. Not only was the color fantastic, but the fur was in tremendous shape. Was also the first hunting trip for a good friend of mine and now he's hooked.
My best mule deer (and only mule deer buck). New Mexico, 2012. 225 yards with a .308. Happened upon this guy and his buddy second morning of the hunt. The .308 dropped him in his tracks. Some of the most gorgeous country I've ever hunted (rimrock).
"Best" whitetail. Kansas, 2012 with a bow (Mathews Heli-m). 36 yards. After an extremely slow week, this guy came in with a doe. I saw he wasn't going to score well, but from the single spike and the white muzzle/neck I knew this guy was an old warrior that I couldn't pass up.
Best trophy. 2012, Colorado mule deer doe. Mathews Heli-M. 20 yards at 12,000'. This one means more to me than any of the above. I'd dreamed of doing a backcountry bowhunt on my own for quite some time. This was my first hunt that felt truly on my own, and I will cherish it forever for that reason. To go into an unknown unit, thousands of miles from home, "survive" for five days in the high country, and take an animal with a bow is a feeling of accomplishment that is...well, it's frankly hard to put into words.
I knew this thread was out there but did not take the time to look at it from start to finish until this afternoon. You guys and gals are amazing!
Here is my wife's WY mule deer from 2011. She put in for a few years before she drew the tag. DIY on public land. .260 Remington. Handloads.
Awesome pics everyone! This website is great. I will try and share some of my best, and or favorites. we will see if it works.
favorite BobKitty. 31lb Tom in a snare.
One of my better, bigger days picking up elk bone.
45 inch gator through the ice. 23lbs 14 oz
My wife and I with her first paddlefish, shes hooked!
Montana Billy. 9 1/2. Kinda bitter sweet. Waited 6 years to draw the tag, packed in 8 miles and shot it first evening. too quick but hey Ill take it!
Spring bear 2008. 14 year old bear. I went every day in may and got this bruiser on the 22nd.
142lb Montana tom.
My first AK Moose. 54 inches wide
Heavy Montana Muley
Not my bear, but the biggest Brown bear I have ever guided
Solo 10-day drop hunt by a friend with his Super Cub. Sent the incisors in to Matson's Lab in Missoula and it was aged at 9.5 yrs. "Whispered" the bull into 15 yds.
Only Mule Deer and Prong Horn to date - not sure what they scored - but I am plenty happy with these guys. Put down my best whitetail and first coyote with the bow this year - don't have pics on this computer but if I remember I'll post them.
Watched this guy chase some does around and then he confronted another buck that was his equal. Not knowing much about antelope size they both seemed big and I was happy. Shot with a 25-06 115 yds. Grossed 81 15 3/4" length
Drew a limited tag in Alaska. I think my mind was more on sheep and when I saw this guy on the opener I said good enough. Not a monster by any means but my only one. I didn't get a chance for a sheep that week either. Oh well. What a great hunt and animal. 270 WSM