Mule Deer Buck of a Lifetime

[PoleX]

My largest from last year (beer measured by greenhorn) right at 176 gross. Next to a clean 150 and narrow but tall 159. I’m enjoying the photos, hope they keep coming. I’m still searching for my OIL deer.

 

[antlerradar]

The dream for me is 28-30” wide over 190” within 2” from gross to net and dark horns. I may be better off hunting Sasquatch

I saw one of those once, getting close to 40 years ago.

 

[Lota lota]

I don't remember the exact score anymore, but this is my best mule deer. I know it was in the mid-180's. Wanting to say 184 and change.

This is second best, mid-170's.

The place I liked to hunt went all LQ a long time ago and I can't draw the tag to save my hide. So, I pretty well gave up on hunting mule deer, just didn't want to relearn another area and also because the numbers were/are tanking.

My wife and I found this buck and couldn't get him killed the first couple days of the season. Went back with a friend and we ended up finding him and my friend killed it, was lower 190's.

Wish things were different for mule deer, but I just don't see it getting better anytime soon.

I don't remember the exact score anymore, but this is my best mule deer. I know it was in the mid-180's. Wanting to say 184 and change.

This is second best, mid-170's.

The place I liked to hunt went all LQ a long time ago and I can't draw the tag to save my hide. So, I pretty well gave up on hunting mule deer, just didn't want to relearn another area and also because the numbers were/are tanking.

My wife and I found this buck and couldn't get him killed the first couple days of the season. Went back with a friend and we ended up finding him and my friend killed it, was lower 190's.

Wish things were different for mule deer, but I just don't see it getting better anytime soon.

I think you need a tape measure for Christmas!

 

[D_Walt]

This one was a hair over 200 gross

 

[Bambistew]

If I wasn’t lucky I’d never kill anything…209 (left) and 204 (right) gross. I believe both would net book, but I’ve never had them officially scored.

 

[Forkyfinder]

180” is a big mule deer. I’d probably call BS if 50% are over. Have to think about that.

I agree.

180" is a very big deer. "Huge" even.

Yeah, even assuming HTers are above average hunters no way 50% have a B&C award.

180 is freakin huge

I agree. Wish HT agree'd with itself. A year ago i was dogpiled for saying something to that effect.

 

[cgasner1]

My largest from last year (beer measured by greenhorn) right at 176 gross. Next to a clean 150 and narrow but tall 159. I’m enjoying the photos, hope they keep coming. I’m still searching for my OIL deer.
View attachment 382010

You may be surprised that could be your buck of a lifetime. The best bull I’ve killed in my opinion is 4” smaller than the one that hangs outside . The difference being 20 days and a couple hundred miles. The one hanging outside I even killed with my bow.

 

[BuzzH]

I think you need a tape measure for Christmas!

You can give Bill Hepworth a call in Laramie, he's an official B&C scorer and argue with him about tapes.

I think you need a clue and a trip to the eye doctor for Christmas.

 

[hank4elk]

That is a bona fide Facebook Marketplace offer on a 285" mule deer.

I asked Brandon about it last week when he was here. Said it was up in the Apache creek store with a field pic and the guy that asked to buy it had just paid $30k for a bull hunt.
Grandpa was worried about thieves and he has it at home now and she is still debating selling.
They walked right past Brandon woodcutting and he heard the commotion. He has been cutting in there a year and had no clue it was there.
I'll stop by the store to look. Maybe.

My 1st trip here was with my bud Johns Gpa & ma. 1963. Guy was a mule deer hunter and had 12 30"+ bucks on the wall at Sedona ranch.
Guide and him came back on 3rd day with a 42" monster in the pick up.
1st time I heard of BC. But 30" was the ruler still.

I looked up rez buck hunts last year. $25k. Naah, I had my road rocked and both trucks worked on instead.

 

[Greybeard]

Texas desert mule deer, little over 172

 

[cgasner1]

Pretty neat thread. I think a how many over 170” would also be kinda cool. Would show how many guys consistently kill bucks on the higher end of the scale

 

[EastTNHunter]

My biggest from 2009. Scored him at 181" gross. He doesn't net very well at all.

View attachment 381929
View attachment 381928
View attachment 381930

Nice deer. Nets are for fish. I guess I’m not much of a score guy, either

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Pretty neat thread. I think a how many over 170” would also be kinda cool. Would show how many guys consistently kill bucks on the higher end of the scale

I agree. I'd be on the far low end of that scale with only one, however.

 

[EastTNHunter]

My biggest was 179" and the wife's 198" (if I remember correctly)...

It's also her first and only mule deer...

His and her's!

View attachment 381911
View attachment 381912

That one that your wife shot has a little bit of moose in it

 

[BOHNTR]

Some really neat bucks posted up. I’ve been very fortunate over the years chasing them with a bow and arrow. My best is 203” gross/ 197” net as a nontypical. My best typical is 198” gross 191 2/8” net. Both officially measured and entered. Still my favorite animal to pursue.

 

[MTTW]

My buck of a lifetime is in here somewhere, but it would take a sober tape to figure out which one it is. There is only one that would probably break 170 gross. If you told me 50 years ago that I would never kill a 175 buck I would have laughed. I have probably only seen a handful in my life.

 

[Nick87]

My buck of a lifetime is in here somewhere, but it would take a sober tape to figure out which one it is. There is only one that would probably break 170 gross. If you told me 50 years ago that I would never kill a 175 buck I would have laughed. I have probably only seen a handful in my life.

View attachment 382041

Pretty cool display.

 

[It’s Bucky]

I’ve only ever hunted one state. I’ve killed 10 mule deer bucks, and if you round up the fractional 8ths, they average right at 170” green gross. All but 2 were killed on public land including my top 3 biggest. It has been fun getting them lab aged in more recent years and tracking tooth wear.

My best was 196 6/8ths inches. He lab aged 6.5 years old. It was one of the most special hunts I’ve ever been on, and like many of the bucks, there was a lot of luck and chance involved. He was only 19 4/8ths on the inside, but 29 6/8ths on the outside. At 5 he would have been around 183” and probably netted better, and was around 168”-170” the year before that at 4, from his sheds.

I could have killed him the year before in a split second opportunity at 250 yards, and I’m really glad I didn’t take the shot. I often wonder what he would have been at 7 years old. I won’t ever see a typical frame like that again on the hoof in my lifetime.

 

[noharleyyet]

...cool euro

 

[noharleyyet]

My only Muley...168 rough

https://flic.kr/p/2o1QCq4