Author Topic: My 4x5 Desert Muley (Read 8379 times)

Napalm68 · « **on:** November 06, 2009, 02:17:20 PM »

So I drew the tag....lucky lucky me I know.

Going into this hunt my biggest fear was not knowing what a nice sized buck would look like and that I would make a poor decision early in the hunt. I have only been hunting about 9 years (im 41) and all of my hunting has been for Okanogan Mules and Nile elk. Okanogan, were I hunt anyway, does not really spit out monster deer. So...I did the right thing and decided to scout at least 4-5 solid days prior to my opener. I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of hunters in the area and found the good access points.

Well...after all of the running around and talking I decided to put all of my effort in one area and started my scouting. 2-3 dozen doe and one ONE! 2x2 later after 4 days I was starting to freak out a little. I was seeing tons of good sign and always seemed to be about a minute late when it came to running into a buck.

Opener came around and I decided to really put some miles on and aroung 2.5 miles from my entry I ran into a nice little 4x4. He was just sitting waiting for does to run by so I watched him for about a half hour or so. Later I pushed past his area and flushed a very nervous buck that I saw for a total of about 2 seconds. This dude was huge and never looked back at me. His horns were past his ears about 6+ inches and so i decided to give hime a chase. His tracks showed him bounding full out for the first half mile or so then he decided to slow down. Needless to say I never put eyes on him again but was happy that he was heading in the right area and there would be a chance that I could run into him again the nex day.

The second day I headed out to the same area and about a mile into it I was able to sneak right up onto the same buck that I had passed on the day before. I dropped some gear and brought my scope up to get a better look and right then another buck jumped up about 20 yards to my right. One look told me he had nice mass and very tall horns on him so i decided to drop him. I am not sure if he knew i was there or not but he was on his way out of the thicket and was moving on at a quick pace. I am terrible at moving targets and my first shot missed because i led him a bit much. My next was better as he turned away and gave me the old "Texas heart shot" look (which i am not a fan of) which i passed on but he decided to stop and take a look back. I put one in his head and he went two steps, bedded down and took a nap.

Now...I know there are a lot bigger out in the desert but I must say I am pretty happy with this guy. His beam is a bit narrow but he has some very nice mass and I actually like how tall his set is.

Hopefully before I die I will draw this tag again and try and hunt down the true monster that I know this gmu holds. Hope you all had a good season. Mine kicked ass.

BLKBEARKLR · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:18:17 PM »

Very nice mule deer, congrats on that one. Hopefully I will draw that unit one of these years also

agchawk · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:22:20 PM »

CONGRATS on a great lookin' buck! Certainly nothing to be ashamed of there!

I love the mass on him. Very handsome buck!

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:23:05 PM »

sweet looking buck, thanks for the report on a unit most of us just dream of drawing.

WAPITIHUNTER · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:25:18 PM »

Congrat's dandy buck!!!

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:32:33 PM »

Quote from: agchawk on November 06, 2009, 02:22:20 PM

CONGRATS on a great lookin' buck! Certainly nothing to be ashamed of there!

I love the mass on him. Very handsome buck!

wastickslinger · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:35:23 PM »

Dandy for sure!!!

NWBREW · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:35:58 PM »

Thats a great Buck....Congrats

509er · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:37:07 PM »

Good work!

wamuledeer · « **Reply #9 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:37:27 PM »

Great buck, he looks pretty old. Nice mass and good forks.

Buckmark · « **Reply #10 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:46:47 PM »

Nice buck, i like how he is tall also..

wastickslinger · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:48:48 PM »

maybe him or a brother. This was last year.

Track-er · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:49:11 PM »

Nothing wrong with that buck.Nice job and will make a good mount.

Mike

bankwalker · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2009, 02:52:09 PM »

well i think you held out for the right deer. good job

fishunt247 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2009, 03:34:07 PM »

Great buck. And that may be one of the grossest looking deer faces I've ever seen, haha. Out of curiosity, how many points did you have when you drew that tag?

huntnphool · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2009, 03:50:34 PM »

Very nice Napalm

bucklucky · « **Reply #16 on:** November 06, 2009, 03:54:06 PM »

Nice Buck!

KillerMiller · « **Reply #17 on:** November 06, 2009, 04:21:16 PM »

Nice looking buck!

scoyoc5 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 06, 2009, 04:23:02 PM »

great deer! congrats

MtnMuley · « **Reply #19 on:** November 06, 2009, 04:25:07 PM »

Congrats! Sounds like you had a great time and that's what counts. A dandy buck to top it off is the icing on the cake!

Birdguy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:15:32 PM »

Truly a great buck. Most importantly a great hunt. I would guess you could draw that tag again, you ought to live a few more years

.

bowman · « **Reply #21 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:17:25 PM »

Nice buck!

My dad and I are leaving tomorrow morning for his late Gardner tag.

Napalm68 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:23:19 PM »

Just talked to the taxidermist and his son scored it out at 167 and 6/8.

Oh...and I had 5 points when I drew that tag. Right after I drew the tag I went out and bought a lottery ticket .........nothing.

jstamp · « **Reply #23 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:23:33 PM »

my buddy has the desert tag this year too. he has been over there for over a week, and says he can't find any good bucks. he has seen a lot of 140 to 150 bucks, but nothing bigger. he did say before season he saw one that was mid 160's, but nothing since the season started. he has been hunting hard all day and by the sounds of things, he is getting a little frustrated. he told me last night, he would trade the tag back in just to have his points back

antlerbolic_bearoids · « **Reply #24 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:26:48 PM »

Very nice buck sir. I love those tall, heavy, and narrow bucks. Congrats!!!!

jamng · « **Reply #25 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:38:55 PM »

Nice buck!!! My buddy shot one there that had a wider spead but I would take yours over his any day. Congraduations and keep up the good work.. JAMNG

nw_bowhunter · « **Reply #26 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:40:52 PM »

Nice buck! Congrats

boneaddict · « **Reply #27 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:44:37 PM »

You got it done Napalm. I hope you're happy with what you got. Nice job!

WAmuleyHunter · « **Reply #28 on:** November 06, 2009, 06:08:56 PM »

congrats on the deer!!! I was curious what his spread is? Been looking at a few deer like that and am wondering if i am under estimating them......

fishunt247 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 06, 2009, 06:10:19 PM »

I would have bought a lottery ticket too...I can't draw the damn thing with eleven points with a muzzleloader.

Red Dawg · « **Reply #30 on:** November 06, 2009, 06:16:44 PM »

great buck, congrats.

MtnMuley · « **Reply #31 on:** November 06, 2009, 08:13:10 PM »

Quote from: duckfvr on November 06, 2009, 06:05:41 PM

I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.

I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.

eastside boy · « **Reply #32 on:** November 07, 2009, 12:04:36 AM »

Nice buck......I really like the look of him. Nice compact heavy rack

eastside boy · « **Reply #33 on:** November 07, 2009, 12:05:23 AM »

Very Nice!!!

andrew_12gauge · « **Reply #34 on:** November 07, 2009, 12:44:36 AM »

Quote from: MtnMuley on November 06, 2009, 08:13:10 PM

Quote from: duckfvr on November 06, 2009, 06:05:41 PM
I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.
I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.

nice buck napalm i agree i think stickslingers pic is him live, and mtnmuley take another look the 5th is in the same spot on both the field photos and the live photo

MtnMuley · « **Reply #35 on:** November 07, 2009, 05:39:28 AM »

Quote from: andrew_12gauge on November 07, 2009, 12:44:36 AM

Quote from: MtnMuley on November 06, 2009, 08:13:10 PM
Quote from: duckfvr on November 06, 2009, 06:05:41 PM
I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.
I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.

nice buck napalm i agree i think stickslingers pic is him live, and mtnmuley take another look the 5th is in the same spot on both the field photos and the live photo

I'm pretty sure I'm right about being forked on opposite sides. Re-check.

wastickslinger · « **Reply #36 on:** November 07, 2009, 06:08:13 AM »

Quote from: MtnMuley on November 07, 2009, 05:39:28 AM

Quote from: andrew_12gauge on November 07, 2009, 12:44:36 AM
Quote from: MtnMuley on November 06, 2009, 08:13:10 PM
Quote from: duckfvr on November 06, 2009, 06:05:41 PM
I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.
I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.

Weird camera angle. The buck is looking twords the camera. Fork on left.

nice buck napalm i agree i think stickslingers pic is him live, and mtnmuley take another look the 5th is in the same spot on both the field photos and the live photo
I'm pretty sure I'm right about being forked on opposite sides. Re-check.

trout-n-salmon · « **Reply #37 on:** November 08, 2009, 06:17:22 PM »

You guys are killing me with all the pics of the big muleys. I have to get out of the world of blacktail and over the mountain... Great buck, thanks for sharing.

blackveltbowhunter · « **Reply #38 on:** November 08, 2009, 06:49:26 PM »

Nice Buck Man!!! Given a choice i'll take mass over width anyday!!!

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Author Topic: My 4x5 Desert Muley (Read 8379 times)

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