Last day blacktail

[Shaqdiesel]

Arriving at the trailhead in the dark there were about 7 cars and trucks already there and I prepared myself for potentially there being other hunters in the limited area where I was planning to hunt. I hiked in the dark under a full moon and realized why there were so many people there, it was an amazing full moon and amazing sunrise. No other hunters were there. I made my way off trail to the first meadow/avalanche chute to glass and there were no deer to be found, I moved over to a cliff above a larger bowl and could not see any deer but I could hear a deer blowing somewhere down in the bottom. My plan all along was to believe that if I could find does I was going to sit on them, believing that on the last day of modern a buck would be somewhere nearby. I saw movement at the top of the bowl and located 3 does feeding and as I glassed the nearby area I saw a big bodied deer that I couldn’t see it’s head behind some trees but it’s overall stance just made me think it’s a buck. When he finally moved all I saw was a heavy rack with at least 3 on one side. He moved to the top of the meadows across the basin and I got prone on the cliff top and ranged him at 312 yards, he was slightly quartered away and I sent the .270 wsm. He immediately Mule kicked and went down hill, about 50 yards down hill he fell and rolled another 50 until stopping against a large rock. I couldn’t believe it, I shot what I consider to be my dream blacktail. I called my wife and exclaimed I had smoked a giant and then called my brother and best friend. I then spent the rest of the day processing and then packing the deer out, I had to navigate quite a few scree fields and crawl up a skinny chute through the rock bands. It was a brutal day but it was an amazing experience and was the deer I have dreamed of shooting on the Olympic peninsula.

[JFowl36]

Nice deer!

[Shaqdiesel]

More pics

[Born2late]

Great job on a awesome buck.

[SpicyTacos]

That’s awesome! Good job. That’s a great BT.

Edit

I went to work and could not stop thinking about your hunt. This hunt struck me as a really good story and lesson. Set your course and stick to it. Even if there are a bunch of trucks whether they be hunters, hikers or whatever. You just went and do your thing on the last day to boot!  I like that. Well done and thanks for the story

[pianoman9701]

Boy, what a beautiful animal!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Awesome Buck!!

[lewy]

Good work Luke!

[hunter399]

Great look in buck
Looks like he was plowing rocks instead of dirt
Nice deer.
CONGRATS.

[fishnfur]

Congratulations - awesome buck.  Love his mass.  He'd look good hanging on a wall someplace in your house.

[trophyhunt]

Really good blacktail, congrats!!! 

[Axle]

Awesome buck and story too! 

[ballpark]

That's ridge running there.

[OutHouse]

Great job, great buck!

[DirkDiggler]

That's a dream buck for sure man. You earned that one!