T Bone
Well-known member
Yesterday I went out to a new area up in the northwest corner of the state. I'd never been there, and hadn't taken the time to scout. I had 2 days to hunt. My hopes were for a decent muley or a smoker whitetail. Lots of muleys and a few whitetail.
I hiked in a few miles prepared to stay the night and start seeing deer. Rut is in full swing and they're moving all day. Terrain is ideal. Open rolling hills with pockets of timber. Lots of mule deer and a couple whitetail. A few warrant a look through the spotter. Nothing special, lots of 3 and small 4 points.
While eating lunch I spot a herd 20ish deer about a mile away. I get out the spotter and see 2 nice 4x4's. Both near identical, good mass and deep forks. Better than anything I've seen all day. I finish lunch and plan a stalk. I start circling and I'm at 400 yards when I spook an unseen doe and fawn. They pogo right through the big herd and the herd runs over the hill into some timber. I follow and can't locate them. So...I find a place out of the wind in the sun and take a nap.
I wake up knowing I've slept longer than planned. Sun is low and stand up and immediately see the herd about 400 yards out! I quickly plan a stalk taking into account the wind and terrain. I close to within 250 yards, but the tall grass prevents a stable shot that I feel comfortable with in the gusting cross wind. I crawl forward 50 yards until I'me over the crest of the hill so no grass is the path of the bullet. I lay down using my binos as a rest. I guess a foot of wind drift and settle the cross hairs on the air beside the biggest broadside buck. The trigger breaks and the Rem 700 30-06 sends a 150 grn partition through both shoulders. He drops on the spot.
Nothing like some of the Montana and Wyoming bucks posted here, but given the time constraints, I like him fine.
23" wide with decent forks and mass. I've never put a tape to antlers, but I'd guess 140-150 inches?
I have one more whitetail buck tag that I'm saving for a big guy next week.
I hiked in a few miles prepared to stay the night and start seeing deer. Rut is in full swing and they're moving all day. Terrain is ideal. Open rolling hills with pockets of timber. Lots of mule deer and a couple whitetail. A few warrant a look through the spotter. Nothing special, lots of 3 and small 4 points.
While eating lunch I spot a herd 20ish deer about a mile away. I get out the spotter and see 2 nice 4x4's. Both near identical, good mass and deep forks. Better than anything I've seen all day. I finish lunch and plan a stalk. I start circling and I'm at 400 yards when I spook an unseen doe and fawn. They pogo right through the big herd and the herd runs over the hill into some timber. I follow and can't locate them. So...I find a place out of the wind in the sun and take a nap.
I wake up knowing I've slept longer than planned. Sun is low and stand up and immediately see the herd about 400 yards out! I quickly plan a stalk taking into account the wind and terrain. I close to within 250 yards, but the tall grass prevents a stable shot that I feel comfortable with in the gusting cross wind. I crawl forward 50 yards until I'me over the crest of the hill so no grass is the path of the bullet. I lay down using my binos as a rest. I guess a foot of wind drift and settle the cross hairs on the air beside the biggest broadside buck. The trigger breaks and the Rem 700 30-06 sends a 150 grn partition through both shoulders. He drops on the spot.
Nothing like some of the Montana and Wyoming bucks posted here, but given the time constraints, I like him fine.
23" wide with decent forks and mass. I've never put a tape to antlers, but I'd guess 140-150 inches?
I have one more whitetail buck tag that I'm saving for a big guy next week.
