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Author Topic: Late buck  (Read 10378 times)

Offline jrebel

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Late buck
« on: December 01, 2012, 11:28:23 PM »
Well....I was lucky to connect on a beautiful mule deer this year.  I drew a good but tough tag and knew I had a chance to kill a buck of a lifetime.  I was an emotional wreck as I have never been one to pass a legal buck and I knew to kill a masher I would probably have to pass on many.  I did a ton of preparations and literally scouted the whole summer.  I hiked hundreds of miles and drove hundreds more.

 About 5 weeks before my season started I got an email from a friend.  He owns private property in the GMU I would be hunting and he said he had my deer picked out.  He sent pics and he was right, It was a shooter.  We watched that deer for literally a month and had his habits pinpointed.  Unless something unforeseen happened that buck would be on my wall in approx 12 months. 

Knowing that a lot could happen in a months time I continued my scouting.  I came up with 4 or 5 alternate plans / areas and found a few other decent bucks.  Seemed most of the bucks were migrating and It was hard to keep constant tabs on them.  I was hopefull the buck on the private land would not move. 

Well...opening day came and low and behold the unforeseen happened.  The buck I had scouted was killed by another hunter.  I actually did not find this out till day 2 when another member contacted me to break the bad news.  My heart sank....I was very disappointed, though still happy for the other hunter for killing a great buck. 

On to plan 2, 3 and 4.  over the next 2 1/2 days we (hunting partner and myself), glassed and hiked more miles than I can even start to imagine.  We would spot bucks just to hike literally 4 miles one way and never see them again.  I passed on numerous good bucks that were not what I wanted.  I was getting physically and metally tired

On the morning of day 4 we also noticed my jeep had a water pump leak.  This was the straw that broke the camels back.  I didn't want to get stranded and I didn't want to damage my jeep.  I made sure my fluids were good and I bought three gallons of antifreeze to carry in the jeep (45 dollars at the local gas station).  I knew it had to happen today.  We hunted our butts off and again passed on smaller bucks.  About 4 hours left of light I told my partner, "find me anything bigger than a 2 point and I was going to end it."  I had finally convinced myself it was time to just fill the tag and put meat in the freezer.  I was at an all time low.  I had two more days to hunt and was afraid my jeep would not make it.  I didn't want to eat my tag...I like venison too much.

Our last hike of the night started and about 2 hours into it we spot a 2 point.  It is snowing so fresh tracks are easy to notice. I notice more than just one set of tracks so we start glassing.  Low and behold there is a small 3 point in the group of approx 7 deer.  I tell my buddy I am going to end it.....He is surprised and says it is a really small 3 point.  I tell him to range it and he does.  It is 103 yards.  I take off the safety and level off.  My buddy is looking through the bino's watching the buck.  I am less than 3 seconds away from pulling the trigger when all of a sudden my buddy yells (in a whisper) "DON'T SHOOT, DON'T SHOOT!!!).  I stand down and he says, It is a "MASHER."   I pull up the bino's and see nothing but horns.  He was still coming up the hill.  I knew he was a shooter so I leveled off on him and as soon as he turned broadside dropped the hammer.  All I could see was smoke and deer running everywhere.  My buddy says he acted hit (buckled his front shoulder and mule kicked twice before bolting over the hill). 

With snow on the ground this should be easy.  I hurry and reload, then we walk the 100 yards to point of impact.  I was expecting to see blood everywhere....there was none.  Not a drop, again I am speechless.  We start looking at the tracks and following them for a while and still no blood.  Seriously, my heart is crushed.  I am sick to my stomach, when all of a sudden my buddy whistles at me and points down the hill.  He is acting like he sees the deer.  I quickly take the safety off and sneak to his position...he smiles and says you will not need that and points down the the hill.  There lays the biggest deer I have ever shot.   

My buddy starts the hike back to the jeep so he can get gear.  I make tracks to the deer, all the while I am looking for blood.  This buck never layed a drop of blood on the ground.  As a matter of fact the only blood anywhere on the deer was from his nose.  After seeing where I hit him it all made sense.  He didn't have a pump to pump blood anywhere.  The only reason he made it the 100 yards he did is cause it was straight down hill.  I recovered the bullet and it performed well.  It broke the onside shouder took out the heart and lodged in the offside shoulder.

I sat down next to the deer and literally thanked God and my dad who I am sure is looking down on me.  It is now snowing hard so I get to work and take a few pics, tag and gut the deer.  We were able to use a toboggan and sled the deer out.  We finally made it out and were done at approx. midnight. 

I couldn't be more happy with this deer.  he measures 27" outside spread and the pics really don't do him justice.  I am 6' 265lbs if it helps with perspective. 

Hope you enjoy the story and pics.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2012, 12:06:47 AM by jrebel »

Offline PolarBear

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2012, 11:34:59 PM »
Nice!  Congratulations!

Offline huntnphool

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2012, 11:35:25 PM »
Nice solid buck jreb. :tup:
The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first!

Offline denali

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2012, 11:37:12 PM »
Brut  :tup: nicely done
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Offline BENCHLEG

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2012, 11:50:52 PM »
I love it  :yike:awesome buck... Thanks for sharing..

Offline carpsniperg2

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2012, 11:55:25 PM »
Good looking buck :tup:
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Offline csaaphill

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2012, 11:58:07 PM »
very nice mule deer.
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Offline Houndhunter

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2012, 12:03:38 AM »
Nice buck and good story! Always goes to show you need to follow up on a shot. Congrats on a great buck.

Offline Turner89

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2012, 12:05:49 AM »
Way to go Jrebel :tup: Very nice buck
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Offline skywalker253

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2012, 02:11:35 AM »
Great buck! Great story! I am SUPER HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! Hopefully I can experience that someday. Really cool....congrat's!

Offline bearpaw

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2012, 04:25:27 AM »
congrats...  :tup: :tup: :tup:
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Offline Sawbuck

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2012, 05:49:29 AM »
Congrats on a great buck :tup: Great job on the write up

Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2012, 05:50:04 AM »
Congrats on a nice buck. Looks like everything eventually turned out
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Offline Whitetail freak

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2012, 07:01:37 AM »
Sweet buck, nice

Offline mp.hunter

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Late buck
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2012, 07:07:41 AM »
Way to get it done, great buck!

Offline antlerking

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #15 on: December 02, 2012, 07:18:18 AM »
Nice buck!
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Offline Antlershed

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #16 on: December 02, 2012, 10:33:30 AM »
Awesome buck  :tup:

Offline Huntboy

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #17 on: December 02, 2012, 10:52:37 AM »
Nice buck, congrats.
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Offline Brushbuster

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #18 on: December 02, 2012, 11:00:55 AM »
Great writeup of your hunt! Congrats!  :tup:

Offline RifleRidge

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #19 on: December 02, 2012, 11:02:07 AM »
 :tup: Nice , Very Nice,  :tup:

Offline WAmuleyHunter

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #20 on: December 02, 2012, 11:08:41 AM »
Thanks for sharing, great deer, and looks like you enjoyed your hunt!  :tup:

Offline huntergreg

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #21 on: December 02, 2012, 11:42:06 AM »
Nice buck!

Offline deerslyr

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #22 on: December 02, 2012, 12:15:10 PM »
Way to go!!! Thats an awesome buck, and with a smoke pole  :IBCOOL:

Offline Ridgerunner

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Late buck
« Reply #23 on: December 02, 2012, 12:55:39 PM »
Great looking buck, congrats!

Offline pd

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #24 on: December 02, 2012, 01:09:27 PM »
Wow!  Well placed shot!

Now then, the water pump trouble just disappeared, didn't it!

Enjoy your winter, you have earned it.
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Offline jrebel

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #25 on: December 02, 2012, 02:12:03 PM »
Wow!  Well placed shot!

Now then, the water pump trouble just disappeared, didn't it!

Enjoy your winter, you have earned it.

It dissapeared for that night... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:  Still have to get it fixed.  Will be dealing with that tomorrow morning.

Offline jackelope

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Late buck
« Reply #26 on: December 04, 2012, 04:52:14 PM »
Glad to see you got a great buck. Thanks for sharing.
:fire.:

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Offline moocher97

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #27 on: December 04, 2012, 04:58:51 PM »
Nice!! :tup:
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Offline furiouzgeorge

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #28 on: December 04, 2012, 05:20:14 PM »
Awesome! Good Job!  :tup:
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Re: Late buck
« Reply #29 on: December 04, 2012, 05:20:33 PM »
Congrats! Wow! Great Buck! :tup: :drool:
I felt like a one legged cat trying to bury a terd on a frozen pond!

Offline MuleyJam

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #30 on: December 04, 2012, 05:26:43 PM »
Beautiful cape!  :tup:

Offline 400out

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #31 on: December 04, 2012, 05:36:47 PM »
Way to do the tag justice!  :tup: very nice buck
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Re: Late buck
« Reply #32 on: December 04, 2012, 05:51:53 PM »
Right on! :tup:
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Offline buck man

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #33 on: December 04, 2012, 06:01:32 PM »
AWESOME
If we were supposed to be vegetarian God would have made broccoli more fun to shoot!
"HOYT" why would you even consider shooting something else?

Offline wilsongideon

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #34 on: December 04, 2012, 07:17:21 PM »
great buck!!! Always need a little luck even with the a good tag in your pocket it seems like
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Offline ShaneTyTrey

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #35 on: December 04, 2012, 08:28:58 PM »
Congrats on a great buck
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Offline palousehunter

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #36 on: December 05, 2012, 10:24:23 AM »
Awsome Buck :tup: :tup: :tup:

Offline 250savage

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #37 on: December 05, 2012, 12:15:23 PM »
Awesome buck. Congrats. :tup:

Offline TriggerHappy

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #38 on: December 05, 2012, 03:57:48 PM »
Sorry plan A didn't work out for you, but it looks like you did your homework and came out with a nice looking buck. congrats :tup:
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Offline wazzu99

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #39 on: December 05, 2012, 04:27:48 PM »
Muzzleloader?

Great looking deer

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Offline Pathfinder101

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #40 on: December 06, 2012, 09:42:27 AM »
Love that buck!  Nice job :tup:
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Offline gunnarnewt

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #41 on: December 06, 2012, 10:29:40 AM »
Congrats on a nice buck!
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Offline WenHunter

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #42 on: December 06, 2012, 10:38:23 AM »
Fantastic buck and congrats!!

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Re: Late buck
« Reply #43 on: December 06, 2012, 10:46:20 AM »
nice buck congrtas!!!!!   :tup:

 


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