Author Topic: 2008 high hunt buck (Read 16007 times)

highhunter · « **on:** January 16, 2009, 02:55:33 AM »

I've never posted anything on here but I do enjoy reading some of the discussions so I figured I would make a contribution. A long story shorter:

After 4 days of hunting with my brother backpacking on the high hunt (which I live for) we had failed to come up with anything worth shooting (saw plenty of legal bucks though) so he headed back to Bellingham and myself to Ellensburg. After a day of recovering I packed up for a 4 day solo trip. The first place I was going to check out left me with low expectations due to the fact that people had obviously just left right before I showed up (there was about 10 piles of human feces where I normally pitch my tent and a fire had put out within the last few hours). My plan was to wake up at 3:30 and hike in to a basin where I routinely see bucks. Up until that night it had been sunny and dry but by dark it was blowing and raining hard. I struggled to get myself up but managed to hike in 5 miles to where I wanted to be at legal shooting time soaked to the core. I dropped in to glass my basin and some movement caught my eye at about 50 feet away. I couldn't believe that I managed to walk up on this guy and I could tell it was a buck by the size of his body and coloration but his head was completely in the bushes. I turned my scope to its lowest setting and realized that he was heavy had four on one side but narrow. I realized he was heavier than any buck I have shot so far (which doesn't mean much) so I shot him. He dropped as if struck by lightening but I never could see his antlers until I walk up to him 40-50 feet away. I quartered him, took the neck meat, backstraps, brisket etc. and loaded up in a packframe that I had hiked in to the top of the ridge before dropping into "my" basin. I only weigh 155 pounds but I managed to pack my day bag and the whole deer out 5-6 miles off trail in one trip (I'm glad we are only allowed one a year.) I'm proud of this one but I feel like I got pretty lucky taking a good buck in the first 3 minutes of a 4 day hunt. I'm not a pro scorer but I'm usually only an inch or two off and I came up with 182 and change green gross nontypical , netting 170 and change with 9 scoreable points on his left side and 6 on his right (really a 4 x 4 with double eyeguards and three cheaters on his left). He's got a lot of mass but he's short tined and really narrow. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining here; he's my biggest buck yet and it feels good to do it on a DIY, solo, over the counter, public land hunt. Hopefully I will top him this next season! Now I'm working on a cougar; my brother missed one last week and saw another that he didn't get a shot at. We r gettn better at hunting them too. He got a real nice tom last year.

JBar · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:08:19 AM »

Welcome to the site! Nice DIY buck.

Lowedog · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:21:28 AM »

Nice job! Great buck! I think someone posted a pic of that buck for you right after your hunt last season.

-Lowedog

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:32:56 AM »

Congrats HIGHHUNTER. Great Buck. I think most Washington hunters would give their eyeteeth for that one.

Wish my personal best was that big. Welcome to the site.

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2009, 05:06:00 AM »

High hunter your deer picture was posted on here earlier. I met your brother while elk hunting over in Teanaway this fall, nice guy.

BLUEBULLS · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2009, 05:49:41 AM »

Congrats, nothing better than a big ole hard earned muley!

agchawk · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2009, 06:17:15 AM »

GREAT WA DIY BUCK!!! Gotta love the mass on that one!

CONGRATS

boneaddict · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2009, 06:24:22 AM »

Nice to meet the man behind the picture. Welcome to the site.

AWESOME DEER!

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:12:56 AM »

Great looking buck! Congrats on the solo success, nothing like being in the mountains alone. Welcome to the site!

whacker1 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:33:39 AM »

Nice Work - Very nice buck!

Bighorse · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:36:17 AM »

I'm more impressed that guy at a buck fifty was able to pack that thing 6 miles.

I'm not joking, good job.

There is a reason I love watching that weight class in the WEC and UFC. The energy and skill of a well conditioned athlete is always impressive. Just think.....this guy will be somewhere at anytime durring the next high hunt. He's the guy that will wake before you and if he spots something, he'll out hike you too.

I know, I know there are a few more tough guys out there but this guy is in the club.

Did you get him mounted?

Dmanmastertracker · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:39:13 AM »

Great hard earned buck.

270Shooter · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:42:13 AM »

Congrats thats an awesome buck.

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:26:27 AM »

heck of a nice buck, good job getting er done.

10Key · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:27:54 AM »

HAWG! Nice work

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Author Topic: 2008 high hunt buck (Read 16007 times)

highhunter

2008 high hunt buck

JBar

Re: 2008 high hunt buck

Lowedog

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Pathfinder101

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Skyvalhunter

Re: 2008 high hunt buck

BLUEBULLS

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agchawk

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boneaddict

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PacificNWhunter

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whacker1

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Bighorse

Re: 2008 high hunt buck

Dmanmastertracker

Re: 2008 high hunt buck

270Shooter

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Ridgerunner

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10Key

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