The 8 Year Wait...

[FREAK]

Looks like a nice storm in the forecast. I'm getting excited about this next week. Hoping for the magical rut/weather combo on a late deer hunt. Doesn't get better than that. A friend of mine shot a good one last weekend in the unit.

 

[FREAK]

@mtmuley, will my truck with chains be sufficient on those roads or should I start trying to beg, borrow, or steal a 4 wheeler?

 

[mtmuley]

@mtmuley, will my truck with chains be sufficient on those roads or should I start trying to beg, borrow, or steal a 4 wheeler?

Truck with chains is fine. I have rarely chained and get around fine. Be careful if it rains and freezes. mtmuley

 

[FREAK]

Someone just sent me this one. I won’t sleep for the next two nights now. I was hoping for another angle. Not always a great idea to shoot them walking away but he looks very promising.

 

[MT_elk]

Congrats on the elk! Looking forward to the rest of the deer story!

 

[mtmuley]

Someone just sent me this one. I won’t sleep for the next two nights now. I was hoping for another angle. Not always a great idea to shoot them walking away but he looks very promising. View attachment 348175

This is the start of the best time. You should get here today. mtmuley

 

[MTTW]

Someone just sent me this one. I won’t sleep for the next two nights now. I was hoping for another angle. Not always a great idea to shoot them walking away but he looks very promising. View attachment 348175

Wow!

 

[FREAK]

Left the house early Sat morning. Got into the area the buck was last seen pretty late. It was around 8:30 am by the time I pulled in and as soon as I started glassing I picked up a couple of does. I thought, “it can’t be this easy.” I combed it pretty good for 5 minutes and didn’t see him. Decided to look at some other areas for 15 minutes, went back and checked the does and he’s standing out in the open. I’m 20 minutes into the first day of my hunt and he’s standing there at 300 yards. I pumped the breaks and really looked him over. The more I looked the more I thought I should hold out. I may never see him again but it was a gamble I was alright taking.

 

[trb]

Helluva buck

 

[FREAK]

Helluva buck

Yeah, after looking over about 20 basket rack 4 pts like this the last day and a half of hunting I may have to go see if I can turn him up again. Having a heck of a good time regardless of what happens.

 

[Irrelevant]

Left the house early Sat morning. Got into the area the buck was last seen pretty late. It was around 8:30 am by the time I pulled in and as soon as I started glassing I picked up a couple of does. I thought, “it can’t be this easy.” I combed it pretty good for 5 minutes and didn’t see him. Decided to look at some other areas for 15 minutes, went back and checked the does and he’s standing out in the open. I’m 20 minutes into the first day of my hunt and he’s standing there at 300 yards. I pumped the breaks and really looked him over. The more I looked the more I thought I should hold out. I may never see him again but it was a gamble I was alright taking.


View attachment 348607View attachment 348608View attachment 348609View attachment 348610

You're batshit crazy homie. That buck should be hanging in your garage

 

[EKYHunter]

Left the house early Sat morning. Got into the area the buck was last seen pretty late. It was around 8:30 am by the time I pulled in and as soon as I started glassing I picked up a couple of does. I thought, “it can’t be this easy.” I combed it pretty good for 5 minutes and didn’t see him. Decided to look at some other areas for 15 minutes, went back and checked the does and he’s standing out in the open. I’m 20 minutes into the first day of my hunt and he’s standing there at 300 yards. I pumped the breaks and really looked him over. The more I looked the more I thought I should hold out. I may never see him again but it was a gamble I was alright taking.


View attachment 348607View attachment 348608View attachment 348609View attachment 348610

How did he get out of my dreams and in front of you?

 

[Dsnow9]

Left the house early Sat morning. Got into the area the buck was last seen pretty late. It was around 8:30 am by the time I pulled in and as soon as I started glassing I picked up a couple of does. I thought, “it can’t be this easy.” I combed it pretty good for 5 minutes and didn’t see him. Decided to look at some other areas for 15 minutes, went back and checked the does and he’s standing out in the open. I’m 20 minutes into the first day of my hunt and he’s standing there at 300 yards. I pumped the breaks and really looked him over. The more I looked the more I thought I should hold out. I may never see him again but it was a gamble I was alright taking.


View attachment 348607View attachment 348608View attachment 348609View attachment 348610

You and I are very different! lol not sure how you could walk away from that guy!

 

[FREAK]

You and I are very different! lol not sure how you could walk away from that guy!

You're batshit crazy homie. That buck should be hanging in your garage

I know. I may regret it and if I see him again I’m going to shoot him. I’ve been looking forward to this hunt since I drew the tag. Wasn’t ready to be done.

Been trying to beat my dad’s buck from the mid 80’s. It hangs in my entry way as a coat rack. Chasing the man he was and the animals he shot.

 

[Dsnow9]

I know. I may regret it and if I see him again I’m going to shoot him. I’ve been looking forward to this hunt since I drew the tag. Wasn’t ready to be done.

Been trying to beat my dad’s buck from the mid 80’s. It hangs in my entry way as a coat rack. Chasing the man he was and the animals he shot. View attachment 348613

Fair enough!

 

[Irrelevant]

I know. I may regret it and if I see him again I’m going to shoot him. I’ve been looking forward to this hunt since I drew the tag. Wasn’t ready to be done.

Been trying to beat my dad’s buck from the mid 80’s. It hangs in my entry way as a coat rack. Chasing the man he was and the animals he shot. View attachment 348613

Jeez... Helluva rebuttal

 

[Hem]

I think that big buck of yours TODAY is equivalent to your Dads buck of yesterday.
All things considered.

Hope you find him.

 

[cgasner1]

I know. I may regret it and if I see him again I’m going to shoot him. I’ve been looking forward to this hunt since I drew the tag. Wasn’t ready to be done.

Been trying to beat my dad’s buck from the mid 80’s. It hangs in my entry way as a coat rack. Chasing the man he was and the animals he shot. View attachment 348613

kid finds dad's ghost in game - Google Search

Enjoy the tag

 

[FREAK]

Spent the rest of Saturday checking pockets of does I found late archery. Still seeing lots of 130-150 inch 4 pts.

Talked with a couple buddies over that deer I passed and decided I needed to re-calibrate my expectations a bit.

The plan was, check the area he was in every morning hoping he returns and spend the afternoons looking elsewhere.

 

[FREAK]

Sunday morning I get to the spot first light. Again the does are there. I get set up and start glassing every square inch of the small 300x500 yard sage south slope I can.

I see antler and get excited. I pull the spotter out and it’s a small 3 pt.
I’m thinking where the heck is he? A bunch of thoughts are going through my mind like; is he out of the country? Did he breed them and move on? STAY COMMITTED, he’s gotta be around here.

I also feel like I’m missing out on the areas with lots of does. The decks probably getting shuffled each night with the rut and I’m looking at a 300x500 yard open face with nothing else to glass during the best two hours of the day.

I give it till 9:30 and start cruising areas checking does. It’s slow but still seeing enough deer thinking to myself it’s only a matter of time. Nothing too crazy the rest of the day, just more 150 class bucks which are still a lot of fun to watch.