gledeasy
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2015
- Messages
- 282
My UT general season mule deer hunt finally came to an end. Having a dedicated hunter tag, I was able to spend 17 days out chasing through all the seasons. My initial goal was to harvest anything better than 160". That goal changed on opening day of the archery when I found a few nice bucks.
The biggest buck my friend figured to be in the mid 180's. But he was big for a reason and wasn't about to make things easy for me.
One morning I found one of his buddies in a advantageous spot. After blowing the first stalk, I found him again in the afternoon. That evening I got to 53 yards. I took my time because that morning he was with two other bucks. That evening, I was only seeing one so I was being extra careful. In the end I was a few minutes too late as he fed over the ridge out of sight.
Once they shedded their velvet, I spent many days not even seeing deer. This was becoming a mental grind, but knowing those bucks were there kept me coming back. I at least was finding some smaller bucks that I wanted to keep track on for my boy.
My boy did tag out on a buck that he said was big enough for him.
Another goal I have had is to record the harvest shot from one of my animals. With the hunt coming to an end and not finding any of the big bucks, I decided if I got that opportunity I would take it.
That brings me to yesterday morning. I spotted a buck that the initial impression told me he was a shooter. Upon further review I was starting to think this was actually not the case. Still instincts were kicking in and I got my gun ready. I knew I wasn't going to have long to decide when some coyotes had put the deer on notice. As he turned and looked at me head on my choice was made. One shot from the 7prc at 450 yards and my hunt was over.
It's been a few years, so on the way home I stopped to visit with my taxidermist. He described a buck harvested that sounded a lot like the big buck that was taken in the same area weeks prior. Was it him? Was I chasing a ghost? Guess I'll never know, but I am happy the way this hunt turned out.
The biggest buck my friend figured to be in the mid 180's. But he was big for a reason and wasn't about to make things easy for me.
One morning I found one of his buddies in a advantageous spot. After blowing the first stalk, I found him again in the afternoon. That evening I got to 53 yards. I took my time because that morning he was with two other bucks. That evening, I was only seeing one so I was being extra careful. In the end I was a few minutes too late as he fed over the ridge out of sight.
Once they shedded their velvet, I spent many days not even seeing deer. This was becoming a mental grind, but knowing those bucks were there kept me coming back. I at least was finding some smaller bucks that I wanted to keep track on for my boy.
My boy did tag out on a buck that he said was big enough for him.
Another goal I have had is to record the harvest shot from one of my animals. With the hunt coming to an end and not finding any of the big bucks, I decided if I got that opportunity I would take it.
That brings me to yesterday morning. I spotted a buck that the initial impression told me he was a shooter. Upon further review I was starting to think this was actually not the case. Still instincts were kicking in and I got my gun ready. I knew I wasn't going to have long to decide when some coyotes had put the deer on notice. As he turned and looked at me head on my choice was made. One shot from the 7prc at 450 yards and my hunt was over.
It's been a few years, so on the way home I stopped to visit with my taxidermist. He described a buck harvested that sounded a lot like the big buck that was taken in the same area weeks prior. Was it him? Was I chasing a ghost? Guess I'll never know, but I am happy the way this hunt turned out.
