Real trophies

[Kazekurt]

I'm a big believer that trophies aren't always measured in inches but rather in what you have to do to get them!  I love hearing stories of guys scouting for weeks, or packing in 15 miles, or climbing up a cliff, or hunting on a broken leg etc!  I don't care if its the smallest buck in three states; if you earned it, it's a trophy!  So let's hear some crazy "trophy" stories.  I'll start by sharing one of my own.

In 2010, I was hunting in Montana for mule deer on public land in a high country area between 5000-7000 ft.  This particular area has limited access with the first few miles containing open logging rds but the majority of the area being behind locked gates which I prefer because I'm still young and mobile and it usually thins the crowd. 

This particular day was about 15 degrees with high winds and snow flurries but I decided to go for it anyway.  I hiked in about 5 miles before sunrise to a drainage that has been good to me over the years.  When the sun came up, I immediately starting seeing deer coming up the mountain and it didn't take long to see some decent bucks.  I eventually spotted a buck I deemed a shooter coming up below me and was about to take him when I spotted an even better buck trailing him but about 100 yards behind.  I was hoping to let him come up to my elevation before i shot but something spooked him and it looked like he was gonna bolt downhill so I took the shot and dropped him in his tracks!

Unfortunately, he didn't stay in his tracks as the drainage was so steep the buck immediately starting sliding down hill.  He cleared logs, rocks, brush, and anything else in his path and seemed to be gaining speed!  He eventually slid out of sight and I feared his rack would be broken to pieces when he finally came to a rest.  I slid on my butt down the slope along side the streak of blood and trail he left in the snow and eventually got to him.  According to my gps, he had dropped over 500 vertical feet but somehow his rack was intact other than some scratches. 

This is where my "trophy hunt" began.  I knew there were no roads below me so taking him downhill was not an option and since dragging him uphill was not possible either I starting quartering him out.  It took me 4 trips up the drainage to get him back to where I shot from and the total climb was over 2100 ft.  I would basically swing from tree to tree on the way up then slide back down for more.  Fortunately, I was able to reach my dad on the radio after I shot so he made it to me in time to make my last trip out of the drainage.  Not bad time for a 55 year old man!  We loaded the quarters and head on a game cart he drug in and pulled him back to the gate 5 miles back.  The total time from shot to truck was just over 7.5 hours and that constitutes a "trophy" in my book!  The buck was 27.5 inches wide and scored 174 B&C.

[couesbitten]

Good story, sounds like a trophy to me.

[Kazekurt]

Any chance one of you guys knows how to post pics from an I phone?  I tried to attach a photo to my post but my entire post wouldn't post until I removed the pic.

[deerhunter_98520]

Use photobucket and attach the pic with a direct link

[MuleyJam]

Use photo bucket, Upload your photo to photo bucket, then hold your cursor over the picture an Icon will show up on the top right hand corner hold your cursor on that then click "get media links" and then click the IMG code this will copy the photo now all you have to do is paste it.. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Sounds like a fun trip. As you say it's not always the harvest but the hunt and what takes place after the kill.

[Labs07]

Here is my story!  When I was a Sophomore in college at the University of Montana me and one of my Fraternity brothers went for a Elk hunt in the Bob.  He was a Montana native and knew the area so I was not worried.  So we packed in on horses for many miles and came to an area he knew from previous hunts in the past.  We set up camp and waited for the next morning to hunt.  The next morning there was snow and it was snowing pretty hard.  He went up one drainage and I went up another with a promise to meet at the end of the day at camp.  We were on foot do to the terrain so i started to slowly pick my way through the deadfalls and elevation gain.  When I reached a little opening I saw a few Elk going into the timber on the other side of the meadow so I went after them.  Well I could hear them and see them moving but no clear shot so I continued after them and finally got above them as we approached an opening in the timber.  Then I saw him...a Bull...I about crapped my pants!  First time Elk hunting so it was a huge rush.  I was young and invincible so I shot and knew I hit him but he didn't go down!  So I sat down to catch my breath and heart and went after him.  Started tracking him in the snow which was piling up by now and got another shot at him about and hour later and put him down.  Now is where the trouble began....boy I had lost track of time!  It was now getting dark!  My tracks were now gone and I had no clue where I was so I quickly quartered the bull, hung him in a tree and made a leantwo.  I managed to get a fire started and had some backstrap for dinner and settled in for the night!  The next morning I looked at my maps and compass and took a bearing and strapped on a quarter and started out.
I didn't think I had gone as far as I did but finally arrived at camp in the early afternoon exhausted and happy to be there!
Anyway two days later we had the rest of my bull out of the woods...my buddy told me to never ever shoot an Elk that far back again!
That was one of the best hunts i have ever had and will remember that rag horn bull forever!

[Kazekurt]

Cool story labs07; any animal from way back in the bob is a trophy in my book!  I also once spent an unexpected night in the wild helping my dad pack out a mule deer.

After several hours, I may have just figured out how to post pics.  I think this process was more difficult than the pack out I referenced in the original post:-). I guess that makes this a trophy post!
Here is a pic of my 2010 Montana mule deer.

[Labs07]

Awesome Mule Deer!

[heavy hauler]

cool stories and nice buck 

[lil_red_wagon]

Awesome buck!!! Great story !

[wilsongideon]

great story and buck 

[Maverick]

a guy i know tracked a big buck for 2 days back in  montana somewhere. he had water and a bag of mini candy bars. after 2 days out there he finally killed the buck! that guy is crazy!

my bull being 4 miles in and a tough pack out was definetly a trophy in my book. that and having a nice rack along with an amazing memory with my bro and dad. great thread 

[Kazekurt]

a guy i know tracked a big buck for 2 days back in  montana somewhere. he had water and a bag of mini candy bars. after 2 days out there he finally killed the buck! that guy is crazy!

my bull being 4 miles in and a tough pack out was definetly a trophy in my book. that and having a nice rack along with an amazing memory with my bro and dad. great thread 

Wow!  I've dogged a few tracks but never longer than a couple of hours.  That is persistence!  I'll bet it was a nice buck!  Either way, that's a trophy in my book.  Taking a bull 4 miles in is impressive as well! 

[Maverick]

for awhile i thought the stories was bs, but after getting to know the guy long enough im a believer. hes crazy enough to do it!