Goodbye Jalapeño

I first found the buck I later named Jalapeño three years ago on an archery hunt for another big deer I’d seen that summer.  I estimated he was four years old and would gross near 180 B&C.  The next year I returned looking for the other big buck.  To my surprise, that 180 gross buck had swelled to near 200″.  I forgot about everything else and for the next two years threw everything I had at taking Jalapeño. 

In 2013, on the 10th day I hunted him, I had him bedded at 18 yards and was just waiting for a clear shot.  The wind did me in.  Watching Jalapeño bound away to safety was worse than a punch in the gut. I hunted him about 16 days that year without another chance.

In 2014, after relentless scouting including trail cameras, I finally laid eyes on him opening morning of archery season.  He was over 210″ and was over 30″ with cheaters.  I estimated he was six years old.  He’d become even smarter and harder to find.  I put in over 13 days (10 of those consecutively) and had one chance at about 45 yards, but I made some noise and spooked him before I could draw.  I hunted him through the end of archery season without seeing him again.

As I said earlier this month in Jalapeño Scouting Update, I started scouting early this year in hopes that he’d be back for a fourth season.  As of August 23rd, I’ve spent over 11 days in the area glassing morning and evening hours.  I also had out four trail cameras on various water sources and one trail, taking nearly 8,000 pictures.  I even flew the area once. 

I hate to say it, boys, but he’s not here this year.  How can I be sure?  Well, few things are ever for sure, but I’m virtually certain I would have seen him by now given the terrain (it’s very open) and the fact that he had returned the last three years.  I’m not one to chase ghosts, so I’m tapping out and continuing my search for other bucks.

I’ve actually seen a fair number of nice bucks this year, but with a week to go before season, I’m still looking for something really special.  If I don’t find that buck, I’ll just continue scouting, but with a bow and a license in tow. 

It’s at this point a guy wonders if he should have done anything differently.  I could say I’d probably be a bit more aggressive on my stalks (but not too much) and I’d carve out even more time to hunt him.  Other than that, I have no regrets.

While it’s hard to say goodbye to such a great buck (I only see a 200″ or better buck every 3-5 years,) I’m actually in great spirits.  I’m thankful to God for having been able to hunt this buck for three years and all I learned in the pursuit.  In the real world of big mule deer hunting, they usually get away. 

For those of you who’ve been here since the beginning- thank you! I hope you learned something that will help you take the best buck of your life. For those of you who are just tuning in, here’s a recap of one of the best Idaho bucks I’ve seen in a decade.

From 2012, estimated four years old (he’s the first and last buck you see in the video)

From 2013, estimated five years old:

From 2014, estimated six years old:

If you really like hunting big mule deer, check out my new book by clicking on the cover sample below.