1200 yards down to 100. 23rd Deer!

[tgomez]

On October 16th after lunch my father and I set out to hunt the afternoon/evening on some DNR land.  This spot has a  huge canyon that breaks into draws that meet up to wheat fields. We walked the 3/4 mile across the wheat field to the tip of the large canyon and the first of the draws where the timberline meets.  We stayed out of view just in the shadows of the pine trees and brush not skylining ourselves.  Two draws over and another 1/2 mile, I saw two mulie bucks bedded across the canyon on the other side 1260 yards from us. .  They were bedded about 100 yards into the wheat field. I pointed them out to my father and he told me, "Hunt them like you would archery hunting and when you get over their they could take hours to stand up." The wind was in my face and perfect so I set off down the shale rock and sage brush draw to the bottom of the canyon out of the two bucks sight. I made it to the bottom and started up sidehilling towards the bucks.  About 1/2 way up I jumped a doe out of her bed.  I was thinking GREAT SHE'S GOING TO SPOOK UPHILL AND ALERT THE BUCKS.  She didn't see me and ran downhill/downwind, and up the other side towards my father.  YES I'M STILL IN THE GAME I thought! I slowly worked my way up the other side of the canyon a few steps here and there quietly. I peeked over the top behind a huge rock pile and saw the bucks were still their bedded down.  It took me 63 minutes to get to where I was at now.  I unbuckled my pack and started to crawl and inch my pack and rifle forward to the edge of where the tall grass and wheat field meet together. I stood my pack up slowly just behind the edge of the tall grass and sat behind it for a solid rest.  I thought now all I have to do is be patient and wait for them to stand up.  They were at 103 yards now! I pulled up my Nikon Prostaff 10x42 binoculars and saw one buck was a 2x2 with a 2" kicker' about 21" tall, and 18" wide. The other was a 3x3 with a 2" eye guard about 14.5" tall, and 13" wide.  I waited for these deer to stand for 1 hour and 35 minutes picking out which one I wanted. I decided to go with the smaller, 100% sure legal 3x3 with the eye guard.  My legs began to cramp and back was starting to hurt so I said a prayer to the good lord.  "PLEASE LORD, CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE THESE BUCKS STAND SOON?" 4 minutes later they smelled another hunter walking towards them in the wheat field that had no idea they were their. They spooked and headed for the canyon and I let out loud doe bleat.  They both stopped and looked my way.  They were now about 125 yards away from me and I was still sitting with the rifle on my pack.  I centered my crosshairs on the 3x3 and slowly squeezed the trigger on my Smith Corona 1903a3 30-06, and the 180 grain Remington Core-Lokt found it's Mark taking out both lungs. I jumped up and let out a celebrated YES with a Jordan fist pump and thanked the lord above.  As I walked over to my deer the other hunter came over the hill and congratulated me on my buck then headed the opposite way.  I looked across the canyon to my father and saw he was walking around the point of the canyon with two other rifle hunters coming to me.  Turns out they came up to him when I was belly crawling to the bucks and they all watched me wait patiently to kill the buck together.  They all said, "GREAT STALK and GOOD PATIENCE." These were two men my dad knows from Evergreen Archery Club and my father helped them sight in their bows, so to repay my father they drug my buck back to the truck for us over 2 miles away.  I told them, "THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS." I gave them a 12 pack of Squirt soda for their kindness and offered them a hind quarter.  They said, "YOU KEEP YOUR OWN MEAT BUT WE WILL TAKE THE SODA." That was by far the best and most successful rifle stalk I have made on a deer. It truly was an absolute blast and exhilarating indeed. This is 23 years straight I have put my tag on a deer! I am very proud to say I have never eaten a deer tag. THANK YOU to the Lord Jesus for years and years of continued success. Thank you for reading my story and GOOD LUCK to all who still have a tag.  ALL GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!

[Timberstalker]

Nice story, nice sneak and great buck!

[SemperFidelis97]

Great write up thank you for sharing.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[SeaRun1]

Congratulations and you tell a good story.

SR1

[Blacktail Sniper]

 

[Brushbuster]

Great track record getting your deer each year! Thank you for sharing your hunt!! 

[pianoman9701]

You're certainly a great deer hunter! Congrats on another nice one. 

[full choke]

Right on!

[Widgeondeke]

That's a heckuva streak.  Great job 

[724wd]

Good stuff!  Your dad's helped so many people at EAC it's not surprising to run into some! 

[Okanagan]

Superb stalk, well told.  I am tickled for you!

[archerykraze]

Great Story and Awesome Job making the stalk!

[elkboy]

Awesome story- sounds like an amazing stalk.  Way to practice patience under pressure!  That's the essence of hunting right there. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

 

[SpurInSpokane]

Nice work!

[pashok23]

Nice👍

[tgomez]

Thanks everyone for the congrats.  I just oiled and cleaned up everything on the old war horse 1903a3 and even rubbed some funuture polish on the wood stock.  My first year with that rifle and filled my bear and deer tag in 3 days of hunting! Time to smoke some grouse the rest of the season.  GOOD LUCK TO ALL WITH A DEER TAG STILL!💂😁

[Dan-o]

Very cool.

Great write up   

[Smokepole]

Dandy buck.  I sure enjoyed your story.  Way to keep the string alive!   

[wt]

Great job tgomez! The stock is the most satisfying forms of hunting there is, pure skill (tiny bit of luck). I have resorted to it the last couple of years when the early season roosies aren't talking much. I'm surprised at how close I have gotten to groups as well as individual animals. Looks like your streak continues.

[Seahawk12]

Congrats on your success!
 

[bman940]

Great recap of a great hunt. I love reading about guy's out with old rifles who make the shot, being it something from WW II like your rilfe or something dad or Grand Pa passed down. Congrats!