BiggWimm
New member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2009
- Messages
- 635
This year I hunted for mule deer for the first in many years with a rifle. I now remember why I hunted with a bow for years. After getting shot at twice. Finding a dead buck with one leg blown off, rotting, and then locating three dead does, all shot with a rifle, rotting, even though there are no antlerless seasons, it will put that foul taste back into ones mouth.
Opening morning found me 5.5 miles in and at 10,000 feet in a draw where I had watched a 200 plus inch buck all summer, along with 8 other fellows who saw him. 2 of the fellows camped on a ridge 500 yards from this bucks favorite pines. Needless to say, he wasn't there when the sun came up. My hunting partner and I headed further up the hill, trying to put some distance between us and the other hunters. We were approaching 10,300 feet when two bucks came over the ridge, pushed from the next drainage. One was a decent 24" buck and the other buck was probably 26". The wider buck was a little shorter with weaker back forks. I decided to pass on him, since it was the first day. My partner decided to take the 24" buck as he didn't have much time to hunt do to family medical problems. We were laying down and the bucks kept coming. At 40 yards, my partner was getting ready to shoot when, from over 700 yards away, one ridge line, standing, and shooting freehand, 2 of the other hunters began firing. Mind you, we walked past them and were wearing bright orange. After bullets ricochet dangerously close to us, within 15', I stood up and began screaming profanities at them. My partner was able to get back on the deer and put the buck down on the run at about 300 yards.
After that, we dressed the deer, deboned it, and headed back to our camp. We decided to pack up camp and leave that spot. After that, I was on my own. I hiked many mountains, passed many small bucks, and found the dead deer. On my fifth day of hunting, I was almost shot again by two hunters trying to shoot a small two point. On day six I saw many does, one small two point, and then found a three point. My minimum standard is a three point, however, this buck was much smaller than I had in mind. It was snowing heavily, and I was getting frustrated with most of the rifle hunters :W:, I should say that a few were very courteous and ethical. The buck was at 124 yards. Then fog and snow rolled in and I couldn't see him anymore. I decided that if the weather cleared and he was still there, I would shoot him. After 15 minutes the weather cleared and he was still there.
So I decided to re-glass the valley and make sure there wasn't anything else in there. I only found 5 does. Then the snow and fog rolled back in. I said to myself, "Self, if that buck is still there when this clears, shoot him. It will be good table fare." After 30 minutes the weather cleared and he was still there.
So I shot him. He went 20', because it was downhill. Deboned him and 1.5 miles later I was back to the Jeep. Not a big buck by any means, but it will probably be the best tasting buck I have ever shot. Eh. Back to the bow.
First pic is my partners buck.
Second and third pictures are, well, my monster. (Notice the hat in the background. I put all of my orange as high as I could in the trees so people would see me down in the valley.)
Opening morning found me 5.5 miles in and at 10,000 feet in a draw where I had watched a 200 plus inch buck all summer, along with 8 other fellows who saw him. 2 of the fellows camped on a ridge 500 yards from this bucks favorite pines. Needless to say, he wasn't there when the sun came up. My hunting partner and I headed further up the hill, trying to put some distance between us and the other hunters. We were approaching 10,300 feet when two bucks came over the ridge, pushed from the next drainage. One was a decent 24" buck and the other buck was probably 26". The wider buck was a little shorter with weaker back forks. I decided to pass on him, since it was the first day. My partner decided to take the 24" buck as he didn't have much time to hunt do to family medical problems. We were laying down and the bucks kept coming. At 40 yards, my partner was getting ready to shoot when, from over 700 yards away, one ridge line, standing, and shooting freehand, 2 of the other hunters began firing. Mind you, we walked past them and were wearing bright orange. After bullets ricochet dangerously close to us, within 15', I stood up and began screaming profanities at them. My partner was able to get back on the deer and put the buck down on the run at about 300 yards.
After that, we dressed the deer, deboned it, and headed back to our camp. We decided to pack up camp and leave that spot. After that, I was on my own. I hiked many mountains, passed many small bucks, and found the dead deer. On my fifth day of hunting, I was almost shot again by two hunters trying to shoot a small two point. On day six I saw many does, one small two point, and then found a three point. My minimum standard is a three point, however, this buck was much smaller than I had in mind. It was snowing heavily, and I was getting frustrated with most of the rifle hunters :W:, I should say that a few were very courteous and ethical. The buck was at 124 yards. Then fog and snow rolled in and I couldn't see him anymore. I decided that if the weather cleared and he was still there, I would shoot him. After 15 minutes the weather cleared and he was still there.
So I decided to re-glass the valley and make sure there wasn't anything else in there. I only found 5 does. Then the snow and fog rolled back in. I said to myself, "Self, if that buck is still there when this clears, shoot him. It will be good table fare." After 30 minutes the weather cleared and he was still there.
So I shot him. He went 20', because it was downhill. Deboned him and 1.5 miles later I was back to the Jeep. Not a big buck by any means, but it will probably be the best tasting buck I have ever shot. Eh. Back to the bow.
First pic is my partners buck.
Second and third pictures are, well, my monster. (Notice the hat in the background. I put all of my orange as high as I could in the trees so people would see me down in the valley.)
