I finally topped The Hide and Seek Buck

[swanny]

Congratulations! I can't wait to hear the rest of the story.

[300rum]

It is fun to come off the mountain and read this!   

[boneaddict]

I set off up the mountain.  It was a couple hour hike gaining a lot of altitude.   I got to about where I needed to be.  I came into contact with two different bucks.  Both 3.5 year old class 3x4, 4x4s.   I could have gotten them both but let them be.  Stupid critters would jump then come back to see what I would do I think.  I wasn't hunting.  I was pushing hard and watching my watch the whole way.   It would be close to get into where that buck was at but I would be short on daylight.   I made the patient choice.   I cut across to the ridge paralleling the one I wanted and looked to exactly where I wanted to climb it.  Marked it in my mind and headed back to camp.   I got up the next morning and made my attack on the mountain.   I knew I would miss the "morning hunt" and was banking on him eating at noon like he was a week ago.   A couple hours of effort put me on the mountain.   I remember remarking to myself this is the thickest stuff (I used another word in my head) I have ever been in and that is saying something.     Just as I made the top of the ridge I kicked a deer.   That would haunt me for the rest of the day.  Was that my deer, or did it scare my deer.   I slipped out into the basin making sure I wasn't sillouetted.   I put my good optics to use and scoured the country.  I tried to place myself where I could see and make a move if I needed to without exposing myself, yet be in a spot to be able to do something.  I picked up movement in the shadows across the basin.   Its got horns.....its a nice buck, is that him......I'll be damned, it was the buck I had shot the week previous.   I guess he did go over the top??   I was relieved that he had made it and that my mistake wasn't a complete waste.     

I heard tinkling, like gravel bouncing.   I looked and looked and nothing.  The wind had just switched to the back of my head.   I wasn't sure what it was doing down in the basin.   It was gusty then dead, then a gust then dead.  I noticed you could hear the gust coming......   I heard it again.   Looking through the binos I picked up a deer right in front of me.....about 40 yards.   I could hear him rubbing now so knew it was a buck.  antler tip, more antler.  OH MY WORD.  Its him.   I had to look away, concentrate and douse the buck fever.   I am not one that gets buck fever, but if you don't have some sort of excitement in a situation like this you shouldn't be there.    I stood up....I didn't have a shot.   I ever so slowly slipped up the ridge about 10 yards.  He was feeding, rubbing antlers, feeding, moving a bit.   I scuttled some gravel.   He froze, intent on me.  I froze.    I knew he knew I was there.   I could only see a pie plate of hair.....it was his neck.   I HATE NECK SHOTS.    He pulled back a little, then settled.   I knew he was going to burst.  I pulled back.  I could hear a gust coming......I let go.......whack right into the neck.  He launched forward and down, then turned back and started up the hill in a slide chute.   The gust hit.   I couldn't hear, then I heard him scrambling....I got a glimpse of him moving in the chute.  I grabbed another arrow.   I got onto the chute.  I told myself the minute I see animal, I am releasing......animal I let it fly.   It was a very long shot.....100 yards maybe.    I would never do it as my first shot.....the arrow arched right into the deer.  Carl fell back and out of site down the chute.   There was a big crash.   Silence.    Now the trembling started.    Man I was excited.  I started to bolt to get over there.  WAIT........ You are going to get over there and it will look different.   Where is that....find some land marks.    Still silent.  He is down.   Go get him.   I swear I flew across the steep gravel hill.   My first site....

[boneaddict]

[nwwanderer]

Velvet still hanging!!!!!  Outstanding

[boneaddict]

I got harassed a bit about my field photos.   It was a fair ribbing.   Sorry all.   6000 feet+, usually dangling by my toenails, the fact I even have a camera is insane.   Personally I am cutting the handles off my toothbrush to cut weight, that's if I take a toothbrush. LOL......   so I hope you enjoy what you get.   I am more concerned about getting the deer off the mountain than what pics I come home with.   I hope you enjoy.   I'll get the measurements up in a bit after I get some chores done.    Thank you everyone for the compliments so far.   I hope you enjoyed the pitfalls and the joy of the hunt. 

[boneaddict]

Velvet still hanging!!!!!  Outstanding

YES.   When I first saw him on the ground I thought DOUBLE DROPPERS.....    Velvet off the bases both sides.

[packmule]

You deserve that buck, congratulations, I'm very happy for you!

[h20hunter]

Bone.....


Bad ass man. Nothing not BA about it. I will be going back and reading it again. Thanks for the play by play, the pics, all of it.

[lamrith]

Simply..  AWESOME! !

[cvandervort]

So juiced right now!
Thanks Bone...that's just what I need for the High hunt in a week.

[Bigshooter]

That is a helluva a buck.  Congrats.

[RaffleMule]

Amazing buck and story.....the reason we come to this site.  Thanks for sharing.

[Woodchuck]

AWESOME  Congrats

[olsy]

Awesome write-up.  Thank you for sharing