Let's see some Mule Bucks

It might be timely to show some more bucks taken by my family. When lack of mature bucks became a reality, we agreed to to maintain a standing tradition to harvest only fully mature or "management" type bucks.
My middle daughters first deer:
418651_388087231205879_459338125_n.jpg
Oldest daughter:
10399572_104150652932873_6876794_n.jpg
10509744_955509344463662_8060730086519421998_n.jpg
Youngest daughter:
1919448_106111436070128_2375786_n.jpg
 
When I first met my wife she called rabbits bunnies! I never pushed her, but she eventually joined in the hunting tradition. These 4 bucks were between 2006-2016, she's has good luck drawing tags.
1916398_104770056204266_338036_n.jpg
56912_182508195097118_3149785_o.jpg
24879634_1921650461182874_5312207734404788572_o.jpg15110963_1489878487693409_6972805823389428294_o.jpg
I absolutely love the last picture and also how that hunt unfolded!
 
Along the way I drew a great LQ deer tag, but was unable to find a giant. Second to last day I passed a mid 170s because he was no more than 3 1/2. Last day I spotted a very mature, dark horned buck working his way into some craggy draws. I tracked him down and took him in his bed. Very old buck, memorable hunt!
1916398_104769672870971_5723984_n.jpg
Started to benefit from some good fawn crops.
10469373_955507871130476_3066556877010396344_n.jpg
10425481_955510047796925_5092640021293201967_n.jpg

This old guy's lower front teeth were at gumline.310284_308207492527187_1660091145_n.jpg
 
Quite an interesting mule deer. Opening day another hunter shot at the buck and I watched where he went. That afternoon he walks out, whitetail looking antlers and all. There was no doubt he was an older deer, so I shot him. Smallest body big buck I have ever taken. Aged at 6 1/2 by tooth rings.539306_536731319674802_486530913_n.jpg
22497_536731426341458_1704397472_n.jpg
In the spring of 2017 I found a smoker set of sheds near a high use public area. Knowing it took a big hike to get there, I decided it was worth a try to find the buck, even with the long odds. About a 1 1/2 miles in I jump this buck out of a draw and promptly miss a totally easy shot! He turned broadside and #2 smokes him. I didn't get a great look, but something told me to shoot. Walked up to him and wow, not the shed buck, but even bigger!24799529_1921650857849501_127613698782295511_o.jpgDSC02347.jpg
 
I don't know about the "good old days" but you certainly seem to have found a way to slow down time. Thanks for posting these and taking such good pictures, sure fun to see. Love to see all the family photos as well, they are a lot more relatable than an (admittedly great) hunter sleeping in a spike tent at 11,000 feet and eating cold freeze-dry for 10 days. I admire them as well, but I will probably never be that guy.
 
I would never have imagined another back to back like my 1995/96 bucks but it happened in 2017/18. The late summer is the best time to find muley bucks and they were making a comeback. My profile picture buck was actually getting accustomed to me constantly showing up to find him and his pals. About the time he cleans off his velvet he disappears.
A week later, with my grandsons in tow, he showed back up.43321056_2321011397913443_2232802593514455040_n.jpg43174345_2321011704580079_8511870567802994688_n.jpg
DSC02559.jpg
 
@JM77 pretty incredible success for you and your family. I think you have more mule deer knowledge in your pinky toe than I have overall, and I don't consider myself a slouch. Thanks for sharing. I can't imagine what your garage wall or den must look like with all of these great bucks.
There was a comment in another thread that was something like, 99% of giant mule deer are money or luck. I think jm77 is clearly showing that's not true.
 
My sons 1st MD (2020) and a trophy stalk for us. Spotted him with 5 other bucks at about 480y. Stalked to 47y where he made the shot. South central WY public land, general youth tag/ general zone and dozens of other hunters all around us. Say what you want but I was a proud dad that day.
 

Attachments

  • AA8F976D-D69D-4EA1-981E-B0F50A9BEB5E.jpeg
    AA8F976D-D69D-4EA1-981E-B0F50A9BEB5E.jpeg
    3.1 MB · Views: 14
  • 242C194D-0D9E-4E51-8EF5-3D22CC73CB0E.jpeg
    242C194D-0D9E-4E51-8EF5-3D22CC73CB0E.jpeg
    5.9 MB · Views: 15
Snagged a return tag in SD for a unit that takes 11 years for a resident to draw and found this guy first morning about an hour in. I’m a big elk guy but these mule deer I’m absolutely obsessed with the last few years.
 

Attachments

  • 29BF6C5F-E84B-489D-889E-FAB37893DCBA.jpeg
    29BF6C5F-E84B-489D-889E-FAB37893DCBA.jpeg
    4.7 MB · Views: 19
  • 4E14D661-9AF1-4581-86FC-927BF1B25A8E.jpeg
    4E14D661-9AF1-4581-86FC-927BF1B25A8E.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 19
Snagged a return tag in SD for a unit that takes 11 years for a resident to draw and found this guy first morning about an hour in. I’m a big elk guy but these mule deer I’m absolutely obsessed with the last few years.
Kinda looks like a whitetail frame,a great buck nonetheless.
 
Back
Top