It's great to have friends

[cle elum bowhunter]

180 grain, thanks for clarifying that.  Nice to know if I get my son out during the 3 day late hunt.  Only problem is it over-runs my late archery plans but I might just have to give him his chance if the weather is right.  Not slamming anyones success btw.

[Ridgerunner]

Great buck, no doubt about it, but based on the pics I see a mule deer that happened to live pretty far west.  Since he is west of the PCT, the state would call him a blacktail and the buck was legal for the unit, but that thing looks like a muley to me.

[Smokepole]

The tail photos clinch it for me.  That nice buck looks like either a mulie that got lost, or a cross that is mostly mule deer.

I had a talk with Ruth Milner, blacktail deer biologist, a while back.  According to her, there is no specification written to describe a bench leg, but she did say they do exist.  "Crosses, do happen," is how she said it.  Looking at the photos, the deer has mulie characteristics: the muzzle, antlers, hide coloration, and the tail is the clincher.  But since it was bagged in a west-side location, it's legal, and I would have shot it in a heartbeat.

Call it what you want... it's one of the nicest looking west-side bucks I've seen.  Congrats again!

[fishunt247]

Probably why B&C only counts blacktails as being west of I5. But who cares what it is. There isn't a person on here that wouldn't shoot it during ANY general hunt for "pure" mule deer anywhere in this state. Blacktail, muley, benchleg, its a freaking great deer.  Congrats again.

[Axle]

Track-er

Thanks for posting the tail picks.  And it does look like a true cross breed. I like those. Wish we had more pictures of those kind.

Regardless of it being cross, as long as it is west of the trail, it is legal.Ya baby! Something the department got right!

His rack sure makes him look like a pure blackie though.

I arrowed a full-blood mulie once in the stampede unit years ago. It was about 200 yards west of the line and only a 1x2 but still legal and good meat in the freezer.

Thanks again for the pictures Track-er. Mount that monster!

[saylean]

thats a big boy. congrats guys!

[deerslyr]

I dont see the mulie resemblence at all? Just looks like a BIG ass high country Blacktail to me.

[singleshot12]

Thankx for the tail pics, 100% mule deer, must have had a good amount of early snow to push that bad boy over or down, hopefully he bred some of the blacktail doe's.

[link]

Awesome buck. Looks like a pure muley to me. The photos of his ass pretty much tell the story. Not even the cross breed stripe down the tail. Wouldn't hesitate an instant to shoot that one though.
Great job.

[chester]

I thought i recognized the area. not exactly where it is but close. i had a thread on here earlier in the year. i saw a bunch of mulies in that area. but  its a great buck either way. congrats

[carpsniperg2]

don't let anyone take away from you trophy they have the idea that roads divide the blood lines. not true we havent killed a true blacktail or muledeer for years they are mud-blooded mixed up we even have some whittail crooses killed every once and awhile he looks alot like are columbia croos bucks but he is great anyways congrats again

[Skyvalhunter]

Don't give in to the doubters they are just trying to get you to tell them where it was shot.

[whitey]

Hot Dog Guys.Great Job! Man what a monster.

[Axle]

I looked again at the tail under a magnifying glass. There does seem to be a small brown stripe running down the tail. This would make this big fella a real treat. If I was a guessing man, I would guess 25 percent BT 75 percent MD. He's got some rather large ears too.

I really hope you save the tail end of that wonderfull and semi rare deer. Would be nice to have as a souvenir and great conversation piece. Get it tanned and hang it with the mounted head.

and again - congrats Track-er!

[Ray]

The general reference to the location where he was shot would technically classify him as blacktail. It might be a mixed blood deer but that doesn't really matter.

Great animal. I'd a shot that thing as well and would be proud.