Hunting East MT, how big should I hold out for?

[huntnphool]

He probably makes the 150 range fishunt247

[fishunt247]

I added the dimensions quickly after that post, and got exactly 150. We'd all rather be low then high, right. I'd be happy with him for sure. I hope to see him in a week.

[Jackjr]

Heading to E Mt on thursday too.  First time over there.  The clock cant move any slower . 

[bowtech721]

I added the dimensions quickly after that post, and got exactly 150. We'd all rather be low then high, right. I'd be happy with him for sure. I hope to see him in a week.

Id shoot in a heartbeat too but i was just wondering how you guys get the dimensions like that from a pic or in the field... i see that all the time on the site. I can see estimating fairly close but i see people say like that bucks 147 or 158 or this and that and i just want to know if im missing something.

[fishunt247]

It's a guess man. And it was a rough guess. (I was happy to see that I was kinda close to phool's guess, actually a little under). And its from looking over a lot of deer. My figures: 22 inside, 20" mains, 14" G2, 6" G3, 9" G4, 2" eyeguards, first two masses a little over 4", other 2 a little over 3". Those are just really really rough figures, I was just guessing. I'm as annoyed with scores as anybody, its a shame we have to post measurements all the time, but that's how we quantify them so often, so it's accepted.

[bowtech721]

thats what i thought but you guys are just a lot better than me 

[huntnphool]

For those of you that have not hunted it before this is a sample of what you will likely see. Better bring good optics and be prepared to glass one spot for an extended period of time. The deer get in the finger draws and feed slowly. If leave too soon you may be missing your wall hanger. This buck is a good example of what we find a lot of. Decent buck, heavy body, good frame but short g3's. Loads of deer over there but finding one that "has it all" takes a lot of glassing.

[lemondog]

Last year the best bucks I saw (150-170 class) were all 2+ miles from the nearest road. We hunted Block Management. 4 guys hunting away from the road 1 to 3 miles for 6 days hard and we all saw better bucks than we shot after we shot them.....one 160 class buck was seen and one 170 class buck and and really good whitetail. I just had a really nice time hunting,seeing bucks and getting good long range stalks.Food for thought, do you want to hunt or just want a buck? The best one I saw was 2 hours into the first day! A heavy 4X5 around 165.....I ended up with a much smaller buck 5 days later and would not change a thing. You get to choose.....

[huntnphool]

  Holy Crap, Lemondog lives!!!! I was wondering if all this Montana muley hunting would stir you out of hiding


 Those are good points, M-Ray was ready to tag out 5 minutes into the hunt, being so used to hunting over here. You had better ask yourself those questions Lemondog is suggesting, and be ready for it.

Would you shoot that last buck? How about this one?
 

[antlerbolic_bearoids]

Morning of day 3 they both kick in the dirt, and I would be this guy ---->          I'm leaving Tuesday after class, and I've got my standard in mind, but that might go out the window first thing.  I'm 22 years old and I've been very fortunate to shoot some very nice deer, but have never held standards.  Honestly, I was just as happy with the smallest buck I've ever shot as I was when I killed the deer I'm looking at on my wall.  I figure I've got the rest of my life to kill my dream buck, and if I never do then so be it.  I know no matter what, whatever ends up biting the dirt in Big Sky Country, he's going to make me happy, and you guys are going to have pictures and a story to share with me.  That's what it's all about for me.

[jstamp]

phool keep posting pics and asking shoot or don't shoot. i am getting pumped up for MT and can't wait to get there. i would like to come home with a 170 but, being the first year in MT i'm going to hunt hard and spend lots of time behind the glass (not the windshield). I set a goal of 30 inch anything, or 170. as the season goes on i may have to drop my standards. the plan is to try to stay over the whole 10 days, and figure some things out for next year.

[huntnphool]

This guy is different but has a lot of character and long tines, shoot or pass?

[huntnphool]

Shoot or pass?

[Pathfinder101]

Can you be a little more specific as to where you are heading?

Well, my buddy from MT has been directed by a biologist buddy of his to the Northeast corner, just south of Canada.  I have all the maps for the Southeast corner, around Ekalaka, so I guess that will be "Plan B".


I would be thrilled with a 24" - 25" buck.  I just don't want to eat tag soup because I spent the week passing 22"-ers...

[Pathfinder101]

Shoot or pass?

THat's a dead deer for me Phool.  First 5 minutes of the week, or the last 5 minutes...