08 Raffle Buck?

[Slider]

I heard the 08 Raffle hunter took a small 2x3? And he was from Wenatchee?

[huntnphool]

 

[Wea300mag]

I'm not saying anything bad, at least he got something.

[hunt4]

this pretty much sums that  up

[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="

hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="

hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]

[shanevg]

Let me just say that without knowing the story, I can't blame him.  I would defnitely shoot a 2x3 10 minutes before dark on December 31.  Heck, what am I saying?  The biggest buck I've ever shot is a spike and I would've shot the 2x3 the morning of December 31.  But not a minute before that. 

[turkey slayer]

I herd he past on some nice buck looking for a 180+ but it never happened. . I'v just herd parts of the story, I don't no if it is true or not , but he was from around this area

[huntnphool]

I herd he past on some nice buck looking for a 180+ but it never happened.

I saw several this last season in several different areas, he must not have hunted that hard IMHO. 180 with that tag should have been a cake walk

[ing]

Maybe he's just a deer hunter and not a trophy hunter.  Theres nothing wrong with that is there?

[andrew_12gauge]

i heard he shot it on the first day

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Having drawn three raffle tags, in two different states, I can assure you it's not as easy as one would think.  I spent over a month on both deer raffle tags, in WA and NV, and things still didn't work out as I expected (i.e. I'm going to drive right out in the "best" unit in the state and plow a 200" muley).

Anybody that thinks it actually works that way, hasn't got a clue (I can vouche for that first hand, as I was way off base myself with the first tag I drew).  And the year you draw a tag like that, you can't seem to get a break to save your life!  All you can find are 24" 3X4s and every guy you run into says they just saw three 210" bucks, just 15 minutes ago.  It'll drive you nuts if you let it!  Pretty soon you don't even want to stop to talk to anybody.

Anyway, you can't appreciate the stress of the situation until you've had one of those tags.  Don't get me wrong, stress me out all you like that way, but a 200" buck is no slam dunk deal on any tag!  And if you're going to hold out til the end for a big buck, sometimes it just doesn't work out?

[jackelope]

180 with that tag should have been a cake walk 

ask wea300mag if he'd say the same.

[Slider]

Let me just say that without knowing the story, I can't blame him.  I would defnitely shoot a 2x3 10 minutes before dark on December 31.  Heck, what am I saying?  The biggest buck I've ever shot is a spike and I would've shot the 2x3 the morning of December 31.  But not a minute before that. 

It was NOT the last minute of the last hour of the last day!!! I believe it was taken during the general rifle season?

[WDFW-SUX]

Good for him.

[Gutpile]

Here we go. This will be fun to watch.

[Slider]

Here we go. This will be fun to watch.

See what I started!!!...................

[Slider]

I posted a Raffle Deer Poll so go vote!!!..............

[huntnphool]

Maybe he's just a deer hunter and not a trophy hunter.  Theres nothing wrong with that is there?

Absolutely not!!!

a 200" buck is no slam dunk deal on any tag!

Agreed, but there is a big difference between a 180" buck and a 200" and with a tag that allows you the opportunity this one gives, 180" in this state is quite doable

Having drawn three raffle tags, in two different states

 Did you post the stories and pics, would love to see them.

[fc2038]

 

[WAmuleyHunter]

i am pretty sure Sam posted his wa raffle deer tag, not sure about the other two.  Who is the guy from this area that had the raffle tag???  it was a hard year but there was definitly a 170 plus class deer out there.

[MuleDeerCrazy]

I didn't post the NV buck anywhere, but the WA buck was posted on Monster Muleys.  Could probably find it under a query of WA Raffle Buck?

Not that I'd disagree a 180" buck is quite doable, but you still need a little luck.  I killed my NV buck the last half of the last day (165") and the WA buck (190") the last day I had to hunt.  Passed up some better scoring bucks, but when you wait til the last few days it's kind of a roll of the dice.  You can't kill a 180" buck on the last day if you can't find one that day for some reason?

The way both hunts were going, I fully expected to eat both those tags on the last day (and shooting a 2x3 on a tag like that is fine, but I'd still consider that eating the tag...).  In NV we were just glassing fewer and fewer deer each day and running out of options.  We saw some hogs, but couldn't ever put them to bed for a stalk.  In WA the fog was so bad the last week of the season, visibility was less than 50 yards most of the time.  It's tough to find a big buck when you can't even see past the hood.

But in the end, it never hurts to be lucky!

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Garret, glad to see you still around!  Shoot me an e-mail and I'l make sure I have you in my current book.  Good luck in the draws this year, I think I'm headed to the Books!

[huntnphool]

but the WA buck was posted on Monster Muleys.

Your killing me, I refuse to go back to that site for anything. How about copying the story and pasting it on here for us Washington folks I'm going to go out on a limb and say I doubt I'm the only one that wants to read it.

but when you wait til the last few days it's kind of a roll of the dice.

Your preaching to the choir, I do have a little experience at this

[Wea300mag]

I herd he past on some nice buck looking for a 180+ but it never happened.

I saw several this last season in several different areas, he must not have hunted that hard IMHO. 180 with that tag should have been a cake walk

Huntnphool, DUDE!!! Where do I start? What exactly is the definition of a “cake walk” 180 buck? I know what a gimme putt is. When I read ‘180 cake walk buck” I immediately think of driving to my favorite hunting area, taking a couple steps off the road, dispatching the monster buck, loading him up whole, and getting back camp/home in time for breakfast. I find it very interesting that the people who have “actually had the tag” see things different than you. I personally field judge animals conservatively so it could be I’m passing on 180 bucks, but I don’t really think this is the case. I think that many see a 140 buck and by the time they get back to tell the story it has grown to the magical 180 mark, and of course, they didn’t have their camera. If we use Bone’s buck from a couple years back as example (Big Buck Down). That was great buck, one that many would call a 200+ if it was standing on the hillside at 100 yards. By the time the measuring was complete it was 168ish net. I think the only real way to resolve this disagreement is for you to get one of the two muley raffle tags this year. The only problem is you would go shoot it on Sept 1 (since it’s a “cake walk”).

As a parting note, I personally think that 170+ moose are the real gimmie, especially in the 49 Deg N unit. If fact, I have heard that there are several 200+” moose there.

[boneaddict]

first of all it was 178 ish, LOL   but point well taken!

only problem I have with Sam and his hunt and I think I have harassed him relentlessly for it......

It's tough to find a big buck when you can't even see past the hood.

 

[boneaddict]

and by the way.....I have A TON of respect for Dan not punching his tag.  I know no one is contending that, put I just wanted to express my view on that. 

[shanevg]

As a parting note, I personally think that 170+ moose are the real gimmie, especially in the 49 Deg N unit. If fact, I have heard that there are several 200+” moose there.

Sorry Phool, but you've gotta love that line!

[Slider]

I think Sam had the Gov. Tag? Not the Raffle Tag. There is a Diffrence. The Gov. Tag is Auctioned off to the highest bidder and the Raffle Tag is won on a Raffle Ticket.

[Slider]

I was in the Swakane Unit for 19 Days strait in the 08 Late Archery Hunt Nov 20-Dec 8. I usally see a couple of Bucks over 180. This past year the biggest Buck I saw was about 175.

[boneaddict]

I think they were a bit lean this year all around it seemed. 

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Slider, I'm white trash dude... there ain't no governor's tags in my future, not at this point anyways!  It was one of the raffle tags.

Bone, at 650 pounds I can't get out of the truck and actually hunt big bucks like the rest of you guys!  I spray doe in heat urine on my truck and just drive the roads and hope a big, lovesick buck charges my rig.  Then I speed up and bump him just enough to daze him for a minute so I can roll myself out of the rig and finish him off.  Hit that raffle buck just a little too hard, as I broke the tips off two tines.  What can I say, just got a little buck fever!

Besides, road hunting ain't for sissies, I almost got stuck once...!

[Slider]

WOW!!! I just had to check my browser I thought I was on M.M. for a second!!!..........

[boneaddict]

 

[alecvg]

Good for him.

 

[alecvg]

WOW!!! I just had to check my browser I thought I was on M.M. for a second!!!..........

 

[huntnphool]

As a parting note, I personally think that 170+ moose are the real gimmie, especially in the 49 Deg N unit. If fact, I have heard that there are several 200+” moose there.

LOL No chit, they are everywhere. Never did see one in that 200 range though

The only problem is you would go shoot it on Sept 1 (since it’s a “cake walk”).

Actually if I had that tag I wouldnt even start hunting till November.

I personally field judge animals conservatively so it could be I’m passing on 180 bucks, but I don’t really think this is the case.

I tend to be on the conservative side as well but am generally pretty close. I seem to be getting the impression that you think since you didn't see any that you would put in the 180 class, I wouldn't either, am I getting this right?

This is all a matter of opinion, I'm entitled to mine just like everyone else. Personally I obviously dont think a 180 buck is that difficult to find, being able to hunt pretty much anywhere until the end of the year. Maybe its my confidence in knowing the areas and my work ethic, who knows, but just because you didn't fill your tag doesn't mean there were no bucks that caliber out there.

[tmike]

People talk about 180 bucks like it a common occurrence. Kinda like 350 bulls. I'd like to know how many 180 bucks you guys actually see in a year, in Washington. As far as the raffle tag, it was his. Maybe his wife was pregnant with quadruples or he had cancer. Who knows 

[Pathfinder101]

People talk about 180 bucks like it a common occurrence. Kinda like 350 bulls. I'd like to know how many 180 bucks you guys actually see in a year, in Washington. As far as the raffle tag, it was his. Maybe his wife was pregnant with quadruples or he had cancer. Who knows 

Tmike,  a year ago I would have said the exact same thing... but go check out some of the threads in photography.  There are some guys on this site that know where big deer are.  And many of them in WA.  Changed my whole perspective...

[stewy]

He drew the tag and took the buck he wanted, thats cool, its too bad he wasn't able to thin that huge heard of 180"-200" bucks. They are just getting out of hand. 

[boneaddict]

I think my goal would be a 170-180 inch two point.   
Seriously though, I'd love to bust a HUGE two and kind of kick myself for not doing it up in Alta this year.