My Blacktail season comes to an awsome close

[Mallardmasher]

After sitting for many hours and seeing multiple bucks each sit, all the stars finally aligned.
On the 9th, I went into my tree stand before light, and had a very long, cold sit. Determined to wait old papa out. #4 on my hit list, but also my obsession, I passed up 5 legal bucks. Which included #2 and #3 on the list, the old broken ear papa had taken control of me. As the day came to a close, and with 3 min left, I thought a big 2x3 that was chasing a big spike around, was right below me, and in front of camera. Fading light and old eyesight, Cold. I just waited for them to walk off, so I could leave.
The next morning came quick, adding another layer of insulation. I was determined to sit all day again, if needed. Sneaking into the stand, I pulled the SD card out of the cam to see if he passed during the night.
I started looking in reverse, to see what I spooked, if any sneaking in. And found his last appearance was at 2am, working backward, up to right before I climbed down, the eve before. 4:44pm it was not the big 2x3 standing in front of my old tired eyes, but big Papa.
With all these thoughts going through my head, about how to get him, I decided I would climb down, and go get another stand, and put it back 50 yards down the trail. With the hope, of sitting the followings Eve's after work the last week. And seal the deal. Not seeing anything this morning so far was very uncommon, now with knowledge and thoughts of what I spooked last night on way out, frustrated with it all, I stood and turned to gather my belonging, I caught an ear flicker on a trail I was unaware of, that intersected mine 25 yds behind me, thinking now I am going now where, a big doe steps out, standing and watching motionless, thinking, wait till she passes and the you can boogie. She takes two steps out of the huck, and then I see horns with his nose in her butt, my blood pressure hit the roof, when he turns and looks to his left, at his back trail. Ear hanging and all, it's my obsession. Big Papa. I slowly turn and sit when they are behind some bushes approaching, getting ready for the shot. They should pass me on the trail to the left, what seems like forever, no deer, I want to turn and look, but know that is not an option, then I see her, she is on the right in the huck sneaking along, no big papa, she comes out of huck 20 yards in front of me heading to left trail, when she stops and looks back, my heart races, still in the game, I think, I see him in the same huck head down trailing her, it's Dec 10th and he is still acting rutty. She walks up the trail. When he pops out in same 20 yard opening, muzzy up, front pin on it's Mark, I let her roar. The white cloud masks all, I hear them run off, and the thoughts start scrambling in my head. Good hit, bad hit, Miss. Why did he not tip over, 300 grains Barnes tmz, 120 grains triple x magnum, how did he not just drop. I reload and climb down, walk to spot of shot, and lots of hair and blood. My first muzzy shot at an animal, mind is scrambled. I start the trail, blood is real sparse, just little drops, I go about 80yds, and this is what I find. A great season comes to a close, cold tired and eleated, both entry and exit same size as bullet dia.
After caping and looking at teeth, old broken ear looks only to be about 4.5 years old. Those choppers would make a dentist envious.
What Taxidermist would you recommend, going to have him mounted with ear hanging, as he was.

Happy Holidays, And much thanks for answering all my question this past year.

[Skyvalhunter]

Is it a deer you shot?

[Mallardmasher]

Yeppers

[Idighuntin]

I'd say so. Nice buck.

[Skyvalhunter]

That's a very nice buck and a unique set of horns, congrats

[Stalkin Prey]

Nice buck. Congrats.


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[pianoman9701]

Wow, he's a beauty and you really did your homework to get him. 

[TheHunt]

Nice buck.  Congrats.

[Come Get Some]

Its about time. Glad it finally came together. Send me some more picks

[grundy53]

Great buck!

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[REHJWA]

  Congratulations and Thanks for sharing.

[highside74]

Very impressive 

[Ghost Hunter]

Good work, Nice buck!

[luv2hunt]

Great buck!! Not the closest taxidermist to you but I love the work Rick does at Cedar River Taxidermy.

[Brushbuster]

Congrats on a great Buck! I enjoyed reading your adventure & appreciate all the effort you put in to tag this bruiser. Thank you for sharing. 

[elkboy]

Congratulations!  That is a tremendous blacktail.  Thank you for sharing the story! 

[t2shortb]

Nice work!

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[pygmy1985]

Great pay off  for hard work and persistence!

[Watimberghost]

That's a big old buck! Congrats

[Mallardmasher]

It was a blast.

[Ridgerunner]

sweet buck, lets see some more pics too. 

[Mark251]

Awesome!  Congratulations 

[meatwhack]

Nice buck congratulations.

[Dan-o]

That's a terrific buck!

[Wingin it]

That is a great buck! Congrats

[fishnfur]

Glad to see you scored that buck - especially this late in the season.  You've been working that spot hard and putting a lot of thought into which buck was the most desirable.  I think you made a great decision.  Does that mean the other similar buck is only 3.5 y/o?  Great genetics going on there!  One hell of a spot to have to yourself.

I'm surprised that Barnes slug made it out the other side with no enlargement of the exit wound.  Perhaps just because he was so close or just a clean hit that missed a lot of muscle mass? 

Is that Evergreen Huckleberry or Red Huckleberry up in your area?

Congrats on another great kill.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great buck! Congratz!

[Mallardmasher]

FNF the Barnes crushed two ribs, I think maybe my velocity close to 2100fps muzzle was to much to allow the bullet to work properly, maybe I should have been using closer to 80-90 grains powder instead of 120 grains. It's all new to me. A bow hunter with a recent repaired shoulder.
Very good genetics.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Tell us about your stand setup and placement.   Trying to figure out this style.

[Mallardmasher]

Placed on a deer freeway, 17' up in old growth maple

[lokidog]

   Beautiful animal!  Good job!

[JakeLand]

 Nice blacktail!!!

[Turner89]

Great buck!

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[RB]

Awesome Blacktail! 

[salmon]

Mallardmasher, Great buck!!  Sent you a PM

[Whitenuckles]

I'm so jealous. Hopefully I can get it done tomorrow. Nice job bro!

[WapitiTalk1]

Absolute dandy, a huge congrats! 

[Tbob]

Cool write up and beauty stud of a buck there man! Congrats!!

[salmon]

Mallardmasher, Tried another PM

[lemondog]

Great hunt, great story and a wonderful Blacktail! so cool.

[Mallardmasher]

Here is the bullet found laying on the trail when I retrieved my cams today. Not real impressed with the Barnes tmz. Both entry and exit holes same as bullet dia.

[fishnfur]

Seems weird that it didn't mushroom more, especially since it hit bone.  The bullets are favorites of many, many hunters.  It did the job for you, but I agree, there should have been some substantial internal damage and a large(r) exit wound.

[Mallardmasher]

It looks as if most of the petals folded in the bullet instead mushrooming

[Skyvalhunter]

Like to see more pictures of that buck

[Mallardmasher]

Can’t post pic’s friends did not disable gps😎

[Mallardmasher]

Taxidermist found 6 - 00 buck in head and neck, just last two inches of neck, She thinks that is why ear was hanging. All healed up, not from this year. Looking at mohlers, he looks to be a 4-5 year old buck.

[Birdguy]

Great buck! Cool story to follow, congrats! Really cool that you found the slug as well. Hopefully you do not find to many more shot or bullet fragments in the meat as you eat it. I shot a mule deer once that was riddled with old lead, it was like eating release site pheasant I shot head on  . Crunch is not the sound burger or steak should make while eating.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Nice pic!