Bucks that haunt us

[boneaddict]

Since this is in the deer section, I'd love for this to stay fairly specific to deer.   Please feel free to share your stories.   If you have a bear or elk story of the similiar nature, get a thread going.


This story comes to mind from the "What makes a big buck" thread.

I wish I could put my mind to pencil and paper as to draw some of these bucks.  Its sad that I am such a "haunted" person as I seem to have a whole bunch of these stories or encounters.

I was up visiting Idabooner in Carlton with my EX wife.   Our intention was to go snowshoeing.  Part of the EX might be beacuse I was more interested in turning the snowshoeing into a chance to look for bucks on the winter range instead of spending quality time with her.  I will give her that.   So we were snowshoeing on the back side of Leecher Mountain.  Look it up on a map, there are big bucks there.   We worked our way up to the rim of a nice basin/canyon and set up the spotter.   We were right on the fog line which often fills the Okanogan/Methow Valley in the winter.   There was a small 4 point bedded below us in about 3.5 feet of snow, a couple other small bucks up feeding in the sage.   I spotted this one deer bedded under a pine tree right at the fog line.   We were eating and glassing, so the spotter sat on the deer as it disappeared into the fog.   Some time passed and we were getting cold, as we both had a pretty good Sweat getting up there.  The fog lifted a little and I was able to see the deer again.  Something didnt look right so I kept watching it.  I was using an ole 200 dollar spotter from cabelas.     Anyhow I was watching this deer and it turned its head, and the very large "pine limb" that I thought was from the tree turned with it.   It was just laying there chewing its cud.   He turned his head back and I couldnt believe my eyes.   I tried to get her to look, but of course she didnt really care, and if I recall, knocked the scope off of the buck.   When I went back to looking, the fog had rolled in and I never saw that buck again.   I spent all spring looking for sheds for that deer.   Nothing but a memory.   To this day I have never seen anything as massive as that buck.  Also, the spread had to be incredible.   I will never know exactly what I had in front of me.      I chose not to pursue him as it was mid January and close to shedding season.  I figured with the deep snow, hed probably shed right there.   This was a time when shed hunting was fun and not competetive, and I'm sure I had little pressure.   I have no idea where his antlers went.

[bearpaw]

Great topic! There have been a few of those in my lifetime as well. One that stands out in my mind was a giant buck I jumped in northeast Washington when I was about 17-19, I can't remember specifically which year, but I remember that rack, its probably why I missed him, he was moving pretty fast but that was when I did a lot of shooting myself, I used to get quite a few coyotes on the run, so no real excuse for missing the giant buck except for buck fever and probably eyeing the rack while trying to shoot quickly, bullet probably went between the horns? 

The buck was right on top of a mountain I had hunted often, that's the only time I ever saw that buck, caught him in the open on opening morning of season, hunted that area religuosly but never saw that buck again. I think he was a typical 6x6 appoximatley 24 to 25 wide with equally impressive height. I never heard of anyone else getting the buck, I suspect he died of old age and the squirrels feasted on his giant rack.

I've got a pretty good 7x9 22" outside spread non-typical buck that I killed in the same area a different year, I think this buck would fit inside the rack of that giant I missed.

[boneaddict]

aye yai yai I think whitetails are the source of many hauntings.   I think before the age of trailcams, there were many big ole Whitetails that were never seen, and those that were seen, may have been like your encounter, only once. 

[jrebel]

I only have one that really "HAUNTS" me..... :'( :'( :'( I still shed a tear thinking about it. 

Me and my wife lived in Gold Bar at the time and didn't have kids.  We were in our mid to late 20's and we loved to just go for drives in the woods.  It was Sept 3rd and we decided to take a drive and look for grouse.  As I loaded the truck with the shotgun, I thought to my self...bear and archery deer are open too, so might as well throw a rifle and the bow in the truck.  You know, a guy never knows what he is going to come across while out goofing off in the woods.      Needless to say I rushed my loading and didn't really grab all my gear.  I didn't plan on shooting a deer as we had a hunt planned a week or so out....so for me to get the bow out it would have to be huge. 

As we drove out of town, we stopped at Zekes drive in and grabbed lunch (that also makes for a memorable story but not in this thread....what a greasy spoon that place was).  We hit the dirt roads and easy find our initial quarry, killing a few grouse.  We continue up the road when all of a sudden a doe comes off a steep bank landing in the roadway.  She is about 100 yards in front of us and has absolutely no worries in the world.  She is browsing on bushes along the road without a worry in the world.  She keeps looking over her shoulder up the steep hill and then going back to browsing.  At this point, I had idled up to about 70 yards, not trying to push her as we enjoyed just watching her eat.  She kept looking up the hill though....and my spidey sense told me to get my bow out of it's hard case.....just to be ready. 

I put the truck in park and kneeled on the front seat, but to the windshield and head in the back seat.  As I unlocked the bow case...my wife says (and she never cusses), "It's f$%^ HUGE"!!!!!!  I turn to see the biggest blacktail buck I have ever seen on the hoof.  It had to have a 24-25" outside spread with an equally tall rack.  The mass was just incredible.... .....!!  It's antlers were dark brownish red as if it had been rubbing on cedar bows and it glistened from being wet down from the brush.  it was a main from 4x4 with eye guards.....It was truly majestic. 

Now....back to the part of loading the truck in hast and forgetting gear.  Because I didn't plan on shooting a deer, I had forgot my rangefinder.      This buck didn't care that we were there.  It browsed with the doe along the side of the road.  We were 70 is yards out and I knew I didn't want that shot.  I decided to see how close I could idle up to them before they started caring.  As I closed the distance in the trusty ford f150, I remember saying if I can get to that tree, I would be in range and have cover to exit my mobile deer blind.  Well, the plan worked...I idled to within 40-45 yard with them not caring to much.  I exited the mobile deer blind and used the small fir tree as cover.  I looked and decided that 40 yards it was.....I drew back and let the arrow fly....In slow motion, I watched that arrow cut hair off the bottom of the deer as I missed about 6 inches low.  The arrow stuck in the dirt bank on the other side of that buck with a clean miss.  The buck jumped and ran over the hill and my stomach sank.  I ran up the road to see the buck exiting the country.  To this day, I can replay that entire sequence of events as if it were yesterday.    :'( :'( :'(  The most majestic blacktail I have laid eyes on and to this day, I have never killed a blacktail deer. 

[jrebel]

aye yai yai I think whitetails are the source of many hauntings.   I think before the age of trailcams, there were many big ole Whitetails that were never seen, and those that were seen, may have been like your encounter, only once.

I have a whitetail we have been hunting for a couple years now.  Only time I have seen him on the hoof was during our August bear hunt.  Keep hoping this year is the year...I imagine he doesn't have many left in him.  The nice think about knowing these bucks exist...is they are spreading their genes every year we don't kill them.  At least that's how I sleep at night justifying not successfully hunting them.   

[hunter399]

Try to keep this short...

I was hiking a ridge durring deer season.
Found a dead buck ,complete skeleton.
Like Jurassic Park,I assume died of old age,hard winter,or lion kill.
Don't flame me here ,I was younger and didn't know about the dead head law.
Just a giant mountain whitetail. I hiked back down to the access road out.
And put it up in some brush ,next to the road.
Hiked back up to the top of the mountain and shot a average/decent 4pt whitetail.
Which I assume was one of his sons,just not as BIG.
I ended up packing that deer strait down the mountain and skipped the access road.
Went back a week later bear hunting,dead head was gone.
Another hunter must of grabbed it up.
I had my hands on it,But never will be able to show anybody.
Didn't take a photo,cell phones with camera had just came out.
I had one ,just didn't think about it.

[pianoman9701]

I met a guy at our NH Inn who invited me to join his family hunting trip in Colebrook, NH, an event I attended each year from then on until I moved out West. We were hunting down a hillside one morning and I came to a maple with about a 6" diameter that had been absolutely destroyed by a rub. In a hollow below the tree rested a massive whitetail buck, which I didn't see. I don't know how many points he had but when he got up and bolted down the hill I nearly had a heart attack. I feel sure he would've dressed out at least 300. I did shoot another buck the next day before pulling out, but not nearly as big. On another hunt closer to home in Walpole, NH, there was a small strip of land between the highway and a farm field, which led into some dark timber. In that strip was a bowl about 50 yards across that had a raised berm on the side I approached. I had been on a dinner date to Bellows Falls, VT one winter evening. On the way home a huge buck ran across the road. I mentally marked the spot and returned during bow season the following Fall. Going into the strip of woods, I saw a giant trail with fresh tracks leading to the bowl. I moved silently up to the berm and crawled up the side and studied the bowl for about 5 or 10 minutes. Confident that the buck wasn't there, I stood on the top of the berm about to go into the bowl when the huge buck got up right below me, maybe 5 yards away, and bolted into the timber. I froze but the buck never came back. After a while, I followed the tracks which eventually went onto the farmer's posted land. I went back several times but never saw that buck again. Two massive NH whitetails waving their flags at me as they disappeared forever from my sight.

[jjhunter]

I lost a dream buck in 2018 on a late muzzleloader hunt.   I was in a new area and scouting the day before season.  In the morning, I had spotted a giant old mountain buck rutting does that would probably still go in the low 180s with crab claw fronts.   I ran back into town to grab a burger and some snowmobiling gloves as the 4wheeler rides were brutal at 5-10 below zero.    A couple of the gents asked what I was hunting.  When I said mule deer, one pointed to the other and said “that’s the guy you need to talk to”.   We talked for a bit and he kind of ran down where I had looked and where I hadn’t.  He said I was in the right areas, but then added “if it was me, I be in “x” place looking up in those rocks.”   I thanked the gentleman, jumped in my pickup and raced the 1.5 hour drive to that location before it got dark.   It was bitterly cold when I unloaded my 4wheeler and headed up the canyon so I left my phoneskope in the truck (bad move).   I headed up a big, snow covered canyon full of rock and mahogany, just kind of looking at the hillsides with my eyes.   About half way up the canyon, I stop to glass a spot way up on the hill that looked “Bucky”.   What filled my binocular view is what dreams are made of.  A giant old mountain buck, 32-34” frame.  Giant forks, long main beams, 20” g2 s and one big in-line coming off the G3.   I guess his frame at north of 200” so somewhere between 210-215” gross.

The buck feeds over the ridge and I head back to town and try to get some sleep for the opener.   Opening day, I putt up the canyon in the graylight and glass for the buck for 3 hours or so, but can’t locate him.   I decide to climb the mountain and have a look around.   It was steep and slick, but I finally make it to the spot I saw the buck feeding the night before.   I tiptoe through the mahogany and come out in a little sage and scattered pine side draw.   I am a little careless and exposed as I top out and instantly spot the buck bedded with a doe under a big pine, 204 yards away, bedded broadside straight across the canyon.   We lock eyes and I line up the bead and wait for him to stand.   After a couple of minutes, the doe takes off up the mountain into the heavy timber.  The bucks takes off out of his bed at full speed chasing her.  Damn it.

I head off the mountain extremely frustrated thinking “I should have taken the shot.”   This is not the first time I have done this with a muzzy so I am REALLY frustrated as that is a very easy shot for me.

The next morning goes as the previous morning.   I glass and glass but can’t spot the buck.   Again, I pack my stuff and head up the hill.  This time, I am very careful as I crest the ridge.   I glass and glass and finally see a deer bedded under a pine with his head in low hanging branches.  He is 195 yards away straight uphill (steep).   I pull out my spotter and instantly spot the big in-line - I’ve got him!   He’s bedded broadside, so I spin the spotter sideways and lay my muzzy over it, line up the front bead and squeeze.  A cloud of smoke and a solid “whap”.   The buck stumbles forward about 10 steps, takes five steps back and stands with his head down.   I am furiously reloading, get the cap on, line up again and apply pressure to the trigger and the buck lays down in the tall sage.  I start to lose my stuff as this buck is done!   I can just see his antler tips in the tall sage so I sit and wait about 45 minutes.  It’s cold and the sun is going down so I decide to circle the buck and put one more in him.   The hill is steeep and as I circle the buck, I lose sight of him.  I finally get to a spot where I should be able to see him, but he isn’t there?  I drop down to his bed and when I am looking at the blood soaked snow, deer erupt in all directions.   I see does, small bucks but no big buck.   For 3 days I look, track and grid the hillside, bottom of the canyon, etc.  I also came back in April and spend another 2 days looking after the snow had melted.   I never laid eyes on that buck again.   

I’ve done a lot of mule deer hunting and got to hunt some of the best units in the West.  I’ve seen 230” deer on the hoof, but I’ve only seen on “good old days” buck and that was it.   Front, back and side GIANT.

I still don’t think I’ve recovered…

[boneaddict]

At least this one I had a witness.....

 Its too bad Fathers day isnt in November.  I'm pretty sure I spent more one on one time with my dad in the later years in November than I did in June.   Anyhow, I somehow managed to drag the old man out into the woods with me on one of my photo trips.   This was one of those raining, sloppy, muddy days.  I was trying to go to a particular spot up in NE washington but failed to make it.  My truck slid backwards off the mountain down this "road".  When we got to the bottom, thankfully still in the ruts of the road,  both of our eyes were the size of saucer plates.  Now that my grey hairs are becoming more abundant, I know why it sometimes took coaching to get him to go out into the woods with me. LOL.   Anyhow we decided to try a different spot, not really any less wet or muddy, but maybe less steep.   We rounded a corner and walking down the road was the widest whitetail I had ever seen.   Granted we were behind him, but taking that into account we figured a good thirty inches.   Much to my amazement he was  on the trail of a doe and didnt give a hoot we were behind him as he marched down the road.  Every time we stopped, he picked up the pace, so I just kept following and Idabooner kept saying WOW.    At this phase in the game, hunting season was in full swing, but we had both tagged out, so we were doing camera work.   This was pre digital days, I think I had the Canon A2e and a 200mm lens if I recall.   The buck finally trotted off the road and disappeared into the NE washington thick above the road.   I went down the road just a bit, pulled off, grabbed my rattling antlers and grunt call and we dove in ourselves.   It was in the bottom of a little wooded draw.  There was a rub there that was as fresh as it could be without the deer standing there.  I gave a light rattling and a grunt and proceeded.    There had been some reprod work done there in the early summer, so there was alot of down stuff.   I whispered to Dad to just follow me and to imitate what I was doing.   Of course this was in a lighter whisper than those hunting shows you watch. LOL    I made my way up the draw sounding like a bull elk charging up the mountain.  Limbs were cracking and thumping, even with the wet weather, there was plenty of noise.   I stopped and when Idabooner made it to my side, I gave a light tinkle on the tips and gave a grunt.   Out of nowhere a beautiful 5x5 showed right above us, he sat staring down at us.  It was framed perfectly, but lighting was awful.    I snapped some frames.  He had the most beautiful symettrical mature 5x5 rack, and his knobby eye guards were loaded with fresh wood.  Gosh he was pretty, and at less than 20 yards.   I have no idea where those photos ended up, I'll have to see if I can find them. They are likely on here someplace because I obviously shared a bunch, though I've also been doing this a long time.    Anyways, never got the big wide buck on film AND typical of every other whitetail haunting, never saw him again either.  But we did see that other beauty

[boneaddict]

I lost a dream buck in 2018 on a late muzzleloader hunt.   I was in a new area and scouting the day before season.  In the morning, I had spotted a giant old mountain buck rutting does that would probably still go in the low 180s with crab claw fronts.   I ran back into town to grab a burger and some snowmobiling gloves as the 4wheeler rides were brutal at 5-10 below zero.    A couple of the gents asked what I was hunting.  When I said mule deer, one pointed to the other and said “that’s the guy you need to talk to”.   We talked for a bit and he kind of ran down where I had looked and where I hadn’t.  He said I was in the right areas, but then added “if it was me, I be in “x” place looking up in those rocks.”   I thanked the gentleman, jumped in my pickup and raced the 1.5 hour drive to that location before it got dark.   It was bitterly cold when I unloaded my 4wheeler and headed up the canyon so I left my phoneskope in the truck (bad move).   I headed up a big, snow covered canyon full of rock and mahogany, just kind of looking at the hillsides with my eyes.   About half way up the canyon, I stop to glass a spot way up on the hill that looked “Bucky”.   What filled my binocular view is what dreams are made of.  A giant old mountain buck, 32-34” frame.  Giant forks, long main beams, 20” g2 s and one big in-line coming off the G3.   I guess his frame at north of 200” so somewhere between 210-215” gross.

The buck feeds over the ridge and I head back to town and try to get some sleep for the opener.   Opening day, I putt up the canyon in the graylight and glass for the buck for 3 hours or so, but can’t locate him.   I decide to climb the mountain and have a look around.   It was steep and slick, but I finally make it to the spot I saw the buck feeding the night before.   I tiptoe through the mahogany and come out in a little sage and scattered pine side draw.   I am a little careless and exposed as I top out and instantly spot the buck bedded with a doe under a big pine, 204 yards away, bedded broadside straight across the canyon.   We lock eyes and I line up the bead and wait for him to stand.   After a couple of minutes, the doe takes off up the mountain into the heavy timber.  The bucks takes off out of his bed at full speed chasing her.  Damn it.

I head off the mountain extremely frustrated thinking “I should have taken the shot.”   This is not the first time I have done this with a muzzy so I am REALLY frustrated as that is a very easy shot for me.

The next morning goes as the previous morning.   I glass and glass but can’t spot the buck.   Again, I pack my stuff and head up the hill.  This time, I am very careful as I crest the ridge.   I glass and glass and finally see a deer bedded under a pine with his head in low hanging branches.  He is 195 yards away straight uphill (steep).   I pull out my spotter and instantly spot the big in-line - I’ve got him!   He’s bedded broadside, so I spin the spotter sideways and lay my muzzy over it, line up the front bead and squeeze.  A cloud of smoke and a solid “whap”.   The buck stumbles forward about 10 steps, takes five steps back and stands with his head down.   I am furiously reloading, get the cap on, line up again and apply pressure to the trigger and the buck lays down in the tall sage.  I start to lose my stuff as this buck is done!   I can just see his antler tips in the tall sage so I sit and wait about 45 minutes.  It’s cold and the sun is going down so I decide to circle the buck and put one more in him.   The hill is steeep and as I circle the buck, I lose sight of him.  I finally get to a spot where I should be able to see him, but he isn’t there?  I drop down to his bed and when I am looking at the blood soaked snow, deer erupt in all directions.   I see does, small bucks but no big buck.   For 3 days I look, track and grid the hillside, bottom of the canyon, etc.  I also came back in April and spend another 2 days looking after the snow had melted.   I never laid eyes on that buck again.   

I’ve done a lot of mule deer hunting and got to hunt some of the best units in the West.  I’ve seen 230” deer on the hoof, but I’ve only seen on “good old days” buck and that was it.   Front, back and side GIANT.

I still don’t think I’ve recovered…

You know a story is good when you feel an emotional wave while reading it.   Wow, that is more than a haunting, thats a heartbreaker.   Thanks for sharing

[elkrack]

I lost a dream buck in 2018 on a late muzzleloader hunt.   I was in a new area and scouting the day before season.  In the morning, I had spotted a giant old mountain buck rutting does that would probably still go in the low 180s with crab claw fronts.   I ran back into town to grab a burger and some snowmobiling gloves as the 4wheeler rides were brutal at 5-10 below zero.    A couple of the gents asked what I was hunting.  When I said mule deer, one pointed to the other and said “that’s the guy you need to talk to”.   We talked for a bit and he kind of ran down where I had looked and where I hadn’t.  He said I was in the right areas, but then added “if it was me, I be in “x” place looking up in those rocks.”   I thanked the gentleman, jumped in my pickup and raced the 1.5 hour drive to that location before it got dark.   It was bitterly cold when I unloaded my 4wheeler and headed up the canyon so I left my phoneskope in the truck (bad move).   I headed up a big, snow covered canyon full of rock and mahogany, just kind of looking at the hillsides with my eyes.   About half way up the canyon, I stop to glass a spot way up on the hill that looked “Bucky”.   What filled my binocular view is what dreams are made of.  A giant old mountain buck, 32-34” frame.  Giant forks, long main beams, 20” g2 s and one big in-line coming off the G3.   I guess his frame at north of 200” so somewhere between 210-215” gross.

The buck feeds over the ridge and I head back to town and try to get some sleep for the opener.   Opening day, I putt up the canyon in the graylight and glass for the buck for 3 hours or so, but can’t locate him.   I decide to climb the mountain and have a look around.   It was steep and slick, but I finally make it to the spot I saw the buck feeding the night before.   I tiptoe through the mahogany and come out in a little sage and scattered pine side draw.   I am a little careless and exposed as I top out and instantly spot the buck bedded with a doe under a big pine, 204 yards away, bedded broadside straight across the canyon.   We lock eyes and I line up the bead and wait for him to stand.   After a couple of minutes, the doe takes off up the mountain into the heavy timber.  The bucks takes off out of his bed at full speed chasing her.  Damn it.

I head off the mountain extremely frustrated thinking “I should have taken the shot.”   This is not the first time I have done this with a muzzy so I am REALLY frustrated as that is a very easy shot for me.

The next morning goes as the previous morning.   I glass and glass but can’t spot the buck.   Again, I pack my stuff and head up the hill.  This time, I am very careful as I crest the ridge.   I glass and glass and finally see a deer bedded under a pine with his head in low hanging branches.  He is 195 yards away straight uphill (steep).   I pull out my spotter and instantly spot the big in-line - I’ve got him!   He’s bedded broadside, so I spin the spotter sideways and lay my muzzy over it, line up the front bead and squeeze.  A cloud of smoke and a solid “whap”.   The buck stumbles forward about 10 steps, takes five steps back and stands with his head down.   I am furiously reloading, get the cap on, line up again and apply pressure to the trigger and the buck lays down in the tall sage.  I start to lose my stuff as this buck is done!   I can just see his antler tips in the tall sage so I sit and wait about 45 minutes.  It’s cold and the sun is going down so I decide to circle the buck and put one more in him.   The hill is steeep and as I circle the buck, I lose sight of him.  I finally get to a spot where I should be able to see him, but he isn’t there?  I drop down to his bed and when I am looking at the blood soaked snow, deer erupt in all directions.   I see does, small bucks but no big buck.   For 3 days I look, track and grid the hillside, bottom of the canyon, etc.  I also came back in April and spend another 2 days looking after the snow had melted.   I never laid eyes on that buck again.   

I’ve done a lot of mule deer hunting and got to hunt some of the best units in the West.  I’ve seen 230” deer on the hoof, but I’ve only seen on “good old days” buck and that was it.   Front, back and side GIANT.

I still don’t think I’ve recovered…

You know a story is good when you feel an emotional wave while reading it.   Wow, that is more than a haunting, thats a heartbreaker.   Thanks for sharing

 
Great write up!

[bigmacc]

Hey bone, I don’t know if you remember this one, I pm’d you about this story and buck, told you of the area. I won’t share that info but will tell the story. I have a few “special” bucks I see in my dreams from time to time but this one I absolutely think about when I’m asleep, awake or whenever I’m in this area.

I’m thinking it was back in the late 60,s or early 70,s. Dad and I were in a particular “finishing route” where deer would finally arrive and start spreading out into their winter range. I’m thinking it was about 2 weeks or so after the season had closed, so back then I think it would have been the middle to the end of November. We were taking pictures and notes and having a good time as always seeing literally thousands of deer over about a 10 day span. I remember about a foot or so of snow on the ground, cold temps and it being pretty windy. Dad and I went into this area and immediately spotted deer, just one thought which was weird I remember dad saying. Usually you’d see hundreds funneling through this spot over a days time but this day we seen one. Dad had an old 8mm Kodak that we got about 10 or so minutes of film of this buck with(which is now gone😢). He was moving up a draw and into a big bowl that my great grandma actually named and is known by some of the old game guys as this “name” today. He was a huge buck you could tell but that was probably years ago, he had a tall stature and broad bones and a base that in his prime would probably have made you drool. When we seen him this day, he was past all that, he trudged up the hill, head down, swaying side to side. He stopped once at about 100 yards or so away when my dad whistled, he turned looked at us for a few seconds, turned back and went in his way like he could care less, never showing any nerves. bone, like t told you, he was at least 35 wide(way out past the ears), tall, wide but body wise, past his prime and breaking down. I remember dad saying “remember him, you’re never gonna see another buck like him”, then my dad said something to the effect of, “he’s not going to make it through the winter, this will be his last, he’s gonna find a comfortable spot and “go to sleep”. We looked for his remains in that area for a few years, I know he died that winter somewhere in “that country” bone. R.I.P “old fella”.

[hunter399]

The buck in my avatar still haunts me everyday.
It's a trail cam pic. It's also my home screen on my phone for years now.
It reminds me to keep hunting.
I was there checking it ,and watch him run off.
In September.
Spent my whole rifle season,well the 10 days.
Looking for him,yet most likely hangs on somebody's wall.
Just not mine.
That place was and is the pumpkin patch from h$!! In October.

And I know ,to some of you more skilled mule deer hunters ,he is just a baby.
My wife says I always shoot baby's,but it gives me an excuse to hunt more when she says that.
I have to look for a bigger one right.

[boneaddict]

Hey bone, I don’t know if you remember this one, I pm’d you about this story and buck, told you of the area. I won’t share that info but will tell the story. I have a few “special” bucks I see in my dreams from time to time but this one I absolutely think about when I’m asleep, awake or whenever I’m in this area.

I’m thinking it was back in the late 60,s or early 70,s. Dad and I were in a particular “finishing route” where deer would finally arrive and start spreading out into their winter range. I’m thinking it was about 2 weeks or so after the season had closed, so back then I think it would have been the middle to the end of November. We were taking pictures and notes and having a good time as always seeing literally thousands of deer over about a 10 day span. I remember about a foot or so of snow on the ground, cold temps and it being pretty windy. Dad and I went into this area and immediately spotted deer, just one thought which was weird I remember dad saying. Usually you’d see hundreds funneling through this spot over a days time but this day we seen one. Dad had an old 8mm Kodak that we got about 10 or so minutes of film of this buck with(which is now gone😢). He was moving up a draw and into a big bowl that my great grandma actually named and is known by some of the old game guys as this “name” today. He was a huge buck you could tell but that was probably years ago, he had a tall stature and broad bones and a base that in his prime would probably have made you drool. When we seen him this day, he was past all that, he trudged up the hill, head down, swaying side to side. He stopped once at about 100 yards or so away when my dad whistled, he turned looked at us for a few seconds, turned back and went in his way like he could care less, never showing any nerves. bone, like t told you, he was at least 35 wide(way out past the ears), tall, wide but body wise, past his prime and breaking down. I remember dad saying “remember him, you’re never gonna see another buck like him”, then my dad said something to the effect of, “he’s not going to make it through the winter, this will be his last, he’s gonna find a comfortable spot and “go to sleep”. We looked for his remains in that area for a few years, I know he died that winter somewhere in “that country” bone. R.I.P “old fella”.

I do remember and was thinking that would be a good story for here.  Thanks for adding it.

[bigmacc]

Hey bone, I don’t know if you remember this one, I pm’d you about this story and buck, told you of the area. I won’t share that info but will tell the story. I have a few “special” bucks I see in my dreams from time to time but this one I absolutely think about when I’m asleep, awake or whenever I’m in this area.

I’m thinking it was back in the late 60,s or early 70,s. Dad and I were in a particular “finishing route” where deer would finally arrive and start spreading out into their winter range. I’m thinking it was about 2 weeks or so after the season had closed, so back then I think it would have been the middle to the end of November. We were taking pictures and notes and having a good time as always seeing literally thousands of deer over about a 10 day span. I remember about a foot or so of snow on the ground, cold temps and it being pretty windy. Dad and I went into this area and immediately spotted deer, just one thought which was weird I remember dad saying. Usually you’d see hundreds funneling through this spot over a days time but this day we seen one. Dad had an old 8mm Kodak that we got about 10 or so minutes of film of this buck with(which is now gone😢). He was moving up a draw and into a big bowl that my great grandma actually named and is known by some of the old game guys as this “name” today. He was a huge buck you could tell but that was probably years ago, he had a tall stature and broad bones and a base that in his prime would probably have made you drool. When we seen him this day, he was past all that, he trudged up the hill, head down, swaying side to side. He stopped once at about 100 yards or so away when my dad whistled, he turned looked at us for a few seconds, turned back and went in his way like he could care less, never showing any nerves. bone, like t told you, he was at least 35 wide(way out past the ears), tall, wide but body wise, past his prime and breaking down. I remember dad saying “remember him, you’re never gonna see another buck like him”, then my dad said something to the effect of, “he’s not going to make it through the winter, this will be his last, he’s gonna find a comfortable spot and “go to sleep”. We looked for his remains in that area for a few years, I know he died that winter somewhere in “that country” bone. R.I.P “old fella”.

I do remember and was thinking that would be a good story for here.  Thanks for adding it.

👍yes sir, I’ll bet I see him tonight.

[22shtur]

A rancher allowed me hunting on his land in the far NW corner of Oklahoma. The first day of the hunt I shot a very nice mule deer, then we saw the biggest whitetail I have ever seen just standing on a berm. The rancher told me to shoot it for him, but I didn't want to break a law and didn't shoot. When I returned to WA, I read the OK hunting rules, and read the part where party hunting is legal in OK - I was sick for a few weeks.

[muleyslayer#1]

2013 for a graduation present my parents bought me a ID archery deer tag. Was out there for a week hunting velvet bucks in late august early September. Shot a big slick 2 and jumped the string and caught him in the neck. Looked all day for him with no sign of him anywhere. Ended up seeing him the next morning on private property. Hunted hard for the next 2 days. Last morning my dad and I went out. Drove along the road where one side was private and one side was national forest public land. Came around the corner and saw 2 real dandy bucks in a small gulley on the private side. Got out to look at them and one was just unreal. The bucks took off and we’re headed for public ground. I grabbed my bow and started running as fast as my little legs could run. They jumped the fence and got into some thick sage and I couldn’t find them. So I got back to the truck and we turned around and headed back just to see if we could spot them. Driving down next thing I know I see the smaller one broadside at maybe 70-80 yards. Got out and nocked an arrow and started creeping forward. Spotted the buck and he was feeding broadside at like 62-65 yards. Drew back and as soon as I hit full draw he turned and saw me and immediately bolted. The photo I have of him was the year after. My cousin lived down in the area and when he saw him again he took a picture and sent it to me saying he was still alive.

[7mmfan]

I have a couple that pop into my memory from time to time, but only one that I could have legitimately killed.

I was blacktail hunting on Halloween morning several years back in the best blacktail hunting weather of all time, just an absolute S! storm of wind and sideways rain. On my way into the cut right at first light I ran into a handful of does in the road, then just a little while later a spike and doe on the edge of the clear cut. Deer were moving for sure. I hunkered down to let a really nasty squall pass that must have knocked down a dozen trees within ear shot of me. Once it past, I worked down the treeline towards a small bowl I knew of at the bottom of the clearcut that likely was protected from the wind some. It seemed likely there would be deer down there that morning.

I dropped onto a spur road and started towards the landing. I noted  A LOT of rubs, and big ones at that. 5-6' fir saplings ripped completely out of the ground, etc.. I was getting pumped. As I eased out to the edge of the landing, I immediately spotted deer across from me. A quick look through the binos confirmed a nice 2x3 and a doe. I've never been one to pass on a buck so I immediately got settled in for the shot without taking much time to look around. My scope was super fogged up, and I missed my first shot. I scrambled to wipe the lense clear, and luckily he stood there completely unbothered by the shot. I lined up and dropped him on the next shot. The doe he was with stood there confused as could be. Walked up and sniffed him, and went back to feeding.

I was jacked as could be, grabbed my gear and started around the bowl to my buck. Along the way I couldn't help but notice the crazy amount of sign and rubs in there. It didn't seem to fit the deer that I had just shot. Just as I was covering the last 20 yards or so to my buck, two deer jumped up out of the reprod and bounded down and across the bottom of the bowl and stopped on the other side looking back at me. A buck and doe. The buck, absolutely dwarfed the doe he was with. Realistically his body size was at least double hers. Built like a Clydesdale. He had the classic white blacktail face with the black brow that made him look eternally pissed off. His antlers were square and mahogany red. They seemed to come up a couple inches then go straight out past his ears, and then turn 90 degrees and go straight up almost equally far, curling in at the top. Mass like i've never seen on a blacktail and 3"+ eye guards. He was majestic and massive.

They stood there for probably a good 30 seconds before the doe sauntered off into the timber with him hot on her heals. I stood there in disbelief. They had been within 20-30 yards of the buck that I had killed, bedded in the reprod. If I had just taken the time to survey the situation before I shot I very well could have ended up with that buck. That was a very hard lesson to learn.

This photo of a buck killed in Oregon reminds me a lot of that deer.

[hunter399]

I have a couple that pop into my memory from time to time, but only one that I could have legitimately killed.

I was blacktail hunting on Halloween morning several years back in the best blacktail hunting weather of all time, just an absolute S! storm of wind and sideways rain. On my way into the cut right at first light I ran into a handful of does in the road, then just a little while later a spike and doe on the edge of the clear cut. Deer were moving for sure. I hunkered down to let a really nasty squall pass that must have knocked down a dozen trees within ear shot of me. Once it past, I worked down the treeline towards a small bowl I knew of at the bottom of the clearcut that likely was protected from the wind some. It seemed likely there would be deer down there that morning.

I dropped onto a spur road and started towards the landing. I noted  A LOT of rubs, and big ones at that. 5-6' fir saplings ripped completely out of the ground, etc.. I was getting pumped. As I eased out to the edge of the landing, I immediately spotted deer across from me. A quick look through the binos confirmed a nice 2x3 and a doe. I've never been one to pass on a buck so I immediately got settled in for the shot without taking much time to look around. My scope was super fogged up, and I missed my first shot. I scrambled to wipe the lense clear, and luckily he stood there completely unbothered by the shot. I lined up and dropped him on the next shot. The doe he was with stood there confused as could be. Walked up and sniffed him, and went back to feeding.

I was jacked as could be, grabbed my gear and started around the bowl to my buck. Along the way I couldn't help but notice the crazy amount of sign and rubs in there. It didn't seem to fit the deer that I had just shot. Just as I was covering the last 20 yards or so to my buck, two deer jumped up out of the reprod and bounded down and across the bottom of the bowl and stopped on the other side looking back at me. A buck and doe. The buck, absolutely dwarfed the doe he was with. Realistically his body size was at least double hers. Built like a Clydesdale. He had the classic white blacktail face with the black brow that made him look eternally pissed off. His antlers were square and mahogany red. They seemed to come up a couple inches then go straight out past his ears, and then turn 90 degrees and go straight up almost equally far, curling in at the top. Mass like i've never seen on a blacktail and 3"+ eye guards. He was majestic and massive.

They stood there for probably a good 30 seconds before the doe sauntered off into the timber with him hot on her heals. I stood there in disbelief. They had been within 20-30 yards of the buck that I had killed, bedded in the reprod. If I had just taken the time to survey the situation before I shot I very well could have ended up with that buck. That was a very hard lesson to learn.

This photo of a buck killed in Oregon reminds me a lot of that deer.

I guess I do have a similar story.
Short and sweet here.
Watching a 250 yard strait road at dusk.
First a doe cross ,so I just kinda kneel down as low as I could and sat still.
Then a spike,the a small three walks out in the middle and stops.
I fire away and hit him.
That's when I see this rack ,nice 5x6 white tail.
Jumps out and runs strait down the road.
He doesn't haunt me though,there was a county road about 1/4. Mile away.
I was grouse hunting in December,and he got hit by a car.
Found him with one side broke off,laying in the ditch.
But he was a nice one. If I would of waited another minute I might of got him.
I did harvest the three point,perfect lung shot,laying about 15 yards from where I shot him.