BIG Buck Down

[boneaddict]

Thats cool Passion.  Hopefully you inherit that brush patch.

That illustrates the point exactly what I am saying.  Ever since the Eastmans book of High Country hunting came out, places I used to go are now the same sea of Orange that was down in the Valley.  Everyone has this impression that if you hike 9 miles from the road you will be in deer central, or alone.   Not the case in either one.  You still need to be able to understand the animal, and also the other two legged animals out there.  Humans are pretty patternable in what they do. Bottom line is what kind of hunting do you like I guess.   

[Vek]

At the risk of giving away all of the secrets, just remember, it's not the IN, it's the UP.  Going a step further, if your packout involves packing meat uphill, that helps your cause.  Further still, if it's a struggle to keep your balance and you fear for your life while coming down with the meat, you're about there.  Any yokel can backpack 8 miles in one day and hunt a 15 minute hike from camp, and that is what you see in select portions of the GPW and the sawtooths.  Your predawn hike from camp should keep you warm in a t-shirt, and physically about wear you out before daylight.

[boneaddict]

That explains why I can harly walk and my knees are shot.

[boneaddict]

The form arrived tonight.   I'll post pics when I dive into the project.  Dang I am excited.

[bucklucky]

Which form did you order? I saw that matuska taxidermy supply has a new pedestal mount muley form I may try for a display. Looks pretty nice.

[boneaddict]

I'll check it out. I got a standard wall mount.  I'll post up a picture.

[boneaddict]

I couldn't find it on the net bucklucky.  Did it come out in a flyer or something.  They mostly deal with whitetails I thought.

[jackelope]

http://order.matuskataxidermy.com/detail.aspx?ID=2322

[Dansk]

I really appreciate the help guys- you've been more than generous with the tips.  It will definitely help me get 're'-started in the right direction.

-Dansk.

[boneaddict]

Thanks Jackelope.  I guess I did find it, but for whatever reason, I can't see a picture.  Is there a picture there and AOL is keeping me from it?

[jackelope]

there was no picture that i could see either, i am assuming there is none at all. i would typically not have any picture viewing issues.

[boneaddict]

Thats just fine and dandy.  How do you pick out a form if you can't see the damn thing.  I'll get the regular one that I have mounted up here pretty soon so you guys can see what this guy looked like on the hoof.   I supposedly have a finishing video coming as well, so maybe I can get a couple of these mounts done and have the pics posted.

[boneaddict]

The big horn show is in Yakima this weekend.  Any of you thinking about going.  I was thinking about taking the rack. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Ok Bone humor us. Lets hear the belly crawling story.

[boneaddict]

Basically I was hunting state land.  I had counted a ton of deer and a lot of orange shirts.  Its pretty open country but still mecca for mule deer.  There is a lot of country that is glassed over because it is steep, and people think they can cover it.  Well they glass over a lot which holds deer.  Anyway I spotted a 35 plus inch main frame buck with 5 inch kickers off each side. That’s 40 plus inches.   He was snorting some does.  From where I was at I could see 5 different guys in fluorescent orange on their posts waiting for something to happen. One of them was in a flourescent green hat.  There wasn’t much country between me and that deer, so I started belly crawling in several inches of fresh snow.  Well I crept closer and closer.  I closed the gap to about 500 yards, and was still crawling when one of those *censored*es (the guy in the green hat)came bee-bopping along and ran into my tracks.  He then decided to follow me, and came up behind me and loudly stated “what are you doing?”  I watched the biggest buck in my life hi-tail it into the thickets.  Didn’t see him again until about a month later when I was in the same area, and spotted him.  Idabooner was at home with a 102 temperature.  I came home on the sled, loaded up came and got him, bundled him up and basically said I don’t care if this is going to kill you, but you have to see this buck. Its something you have to see before dieng, and besides that, no one will believe me how big he is.  Hauled his butt back up on the mountain, and we ended up finding him and watching him until dark.  WHAT A DEER!  He puts my biggest buck to shame.  I saw him three times that winter always within 100 yards.   No one else knew of him as he was tucked off the road.  I shed hunted my arse off, even recruited hornseeker and a few to come help me.  Nothing of his antlers.  Last I saw of him.