Bitterroot Mule Deer 261/270

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Guide Bags Montana Mega-Muley

I’ve seen a small handful of true blue mule deer toads in my time – and such occasions have almost always occurred when I didn’t have a mule deer tag in my pocket – but this…
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rogerthat said:
My apologies. It appears you are correct. 30” of deductions. Crazy. This why the net scoring system means absolutely nothing to me.
Click to expand...
1715692826702.png
There are some extra points on both sides that would get deducted. The drivers side forks (front and back) are shorter with less mass.

This is why im puzzled people expect to shoot a 180" muley buck in Montana very often.
 
Forkyfinder said:
View attachment 326213
There are some extra points on both sides that would get deducted. The drivers side forks (front and back) are shorter with less mass.

This is why im puzzled people expect to shoot a 180" muley buck in Montana very often.
Click to expand...
Yeah that’s not a 180 lmao. I can show you a 180 net that is not even a glimmer of that buck. Just perfectly symmetrical
 
Forkyfinder said:
View attachment 326213
There are some extra points on both sides that would get deducted. The drivers side forks (front and back) are shorter with less mass.

This is why im puzzled people expect to shoot a 180" muley buck in Montana very often.
Click to expand...
When you see/kill a buck that big you learn to appreciate every inch of antler and never refer to them in ‘net’ terms.
 
SwaggyD said:
When you see/kill a buck that big you learn to appreciate every inch of antler and never refer to them in ‘net’ terms.
Click to expand...
Im not a fan of "net" scores either. Just how they get recorded in the books.

Its a great deer - regardless.
 
I started applying for this tag 8 years ago after reading this article (gotta love the internet). Didn't really start hunting MD till 2012 and they've quickly become my favorite animal to pursue. Feel fortunate to be holding this tag this year, but fully understand it isn't what it used to be.

https://mtstandard.com/hunt-of-a-li...cle_abead885-39fc-5b85-a4d7-c159defc4a9d.html

I've made some questionable decisions on general tags...Shot deer I would of passed if I took a better look and passed deer I kind of regret passing. I need to get better at judging deer before I make another bad decision.

Passed this one up in 2023 when I was dead set on finding a special caliber deer. I'm guessing he would of broke 160, saw him two seasons in a row and thought i'd try and give him another year. Hunted it hard this year and never turned him up.
1715699076838.png1715699293159.png
Here's a 159 (gross) I was happy to shoot back in 2021. Didn't have a ton of weather that year and the hunting was tough. He was really narrow, like 19" inside spread, good front forks crabby backs and decent mass. I cut his track way back in a hell hole, tracked him for an hour, finally caught him on his feet in the dark timber.
1715699174609.png
In 2020 I found this guy tending some does...We got in on him and I opted to pass, my buddy thought I was a fool and I kind of agree with him now. I took my eyes off the spotter for a second and look over and he's got the gun on him with one in the chamber and says, "so you're sure you don't want him...BOOM!" A respectable mid 160's deer with a couple unique features.

1715700977960.png1715701100051.png1715701240911.png
I don't feel like I need to fill this tag but also would be happy with a respectable buck. I think the shift in baseline for what is "big" is a very real thing. I've seen enough big deer on guys walls that I know I haven't seen but maybe one truly nice deer on the hoof. Kind of just want to get a few days into the hunt before I make my mind up on the deer I'd be looking for. I'd be willing to give up rut hunting in a heartbeat for better quality hunting in Montana, that being said I'm going to enjoy seeing numbers and rut activity on this hunt. I'm not the slightest bit interested in blasting a 200" yard deer.
 
FREAK said:
I started applying for this tag 8 years ago after reading this article (gotta love the internet). Didn't really start hunting MD till 2012 and they've quickly become my favorite animal to pursue. Feel fortunate to be holding this tag this year, but fully understand it isn't what it used to be.

https://mtstandard.com/hunt-of-a-li...cle_abead885-39fc-5b85-a4d7-c159defc4a9d.html

I've made some questionable decisions on general tags...Shot deer I would of passed if I took a better look and passed deer I kind of regret passing. I need to get better at judging deer before I make another bad decision.

Passed this one up in 2023 when I was dead set on finding a special caliber deer. I'm guessing he would of broke 160, saw him two seasons in a row and thought i'd try and give him another year. Hunted it hard this year and never turned him up.
View attachment 326220View attachment 326222
Here's a 159 (gross) I was happy to shoot back in 2021. Didn't have a ton of weather that year and the hunting was tough. He was really narrow, like 19" inside spread, good front forks crabby backs and decent mass. I cut his track way back in a hell hole, tracked him for an hour, finally caught him on his feet in the dark timber.
View attachment 326221
In 2020 I found this guy tending some does...We got in on him and I opted to pass, my buddy thought I was a fool and I kind of agree with him now. I took my eyes off the spotter for a second and look over and he's got the gun on him with one in the chamber and says, "so you're sure you don't want him...BOOM!" A respectable mid 160's deer with a couple unique features.

View attachment 326224View attachment 326225View attachment 326226
I don't feel like I need to fill this tag but also would be happy with a respectable buck. I think the shift in baseline for what is "big" is a very real thing. I've seen enough big deer on guys walls that I know I haven't seen but maybe one truly nice deer on the hoof. Kind of just want to get a few days into the hunt before I make my mind up on the deer I'd be looking for. I'd be willing to give up rut hunting in a heartbeat for better quality hunting in Montana, that being said I'm going to enjoy seeing numbers and rut activity on this hunt. I'm not the slightest bit interested in blasting a 200" yard deer.
Click to expand...
Those are all big beautiful mature bucks. I think this thread illustrates how insignificant score is. Big is big
 
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