We headed out Wednesday the 18 and the weather dry and clear. Got camp set up right b4 dark. Opening morning we wake up to two inches of fresh snow Within 15 mins we see 4 does, no bucks. Hunted till dark with no more sightings of animals. Day 2 clear an brrrrrr cold 20* and the fresh snow is now crunchy an loud. Hunted all day no animals. 3rd day still clear and cold high teens low 20's. Lots of sign of deer an elk just no animals. At around 9:15 I'm on my 3rd stand. Getting settled in between 2 jack firs. The wind was perfect maybe 3-4 mph in my face. After setting about ten mins I opened my pack to get a minnie apple pie. With the first bite, I look up there he is walking nose to the ground right to left up hill. I dropped the Minnie apple to get the Grendel. He hears me stops an looks at me standing broadside. BOOM! Hit him right behind top of front shoulder. He was dead, he just didn't know it. Ran on 3 legs maybe 10 yards. From the shot to where he stopped = 30 yards. He was up close and personal. Biggest deer I've killed and the first with the Grendel. Hand loads 123 amax 2.245 IMR 8208 28.3 FPS average 2475. BTW this will be a European mount. We stayed a couple more days for my buddies tag and went unfilled. Here's some pics. Took the head to Big Racks Taxidermy in La Center for a European mount. Measured green @ 22 1/4 W and 22- T B 3 1/4.
