1st Washington deer, 1st 4x4!

[gtrplr]

This was taken in Ritzville unit 284. I was moving to the next ridge to set up to watch it when this buck was coming into it about 500 yards out. When I 1st saw his head I dropped to my stomach and crawled about 50 yards to the edge of the ridge where I could see him. Once I identified he was legal I waited until he was about 120 yards out and let one rip from the pre 64 model 70 30-06 and the 165 grain nosler ballistic tip went right through his ear! He did not seem to appreciate that so he took off on a dead run so I jacked another round in and nailed him through both lungs. This was a very special deer to me as my father that got me into hunting died 11 years ago and when he died I had 9 rounds left of ammo he hand loaded for this gun and really wanted to kill an animal with it and I had missed a 2x3 the day before 5 times (long story) and only had 4 rounds left so this was going to be my last trip with his hand loads. We hiked in about 4 miles from the truck to where this deer died and the trip out sucked. This deer was HUGE and the pics do not do it justice. We had to quarter it so we could get it on the deer cart (thanks again to the cool guys camped in the area that loaned us their deer cart). I had a great time and have found my own honey hole as there are other bucks there that I saw  It suprises me how lazy hunters are and how if you hike in a bit you have excellent hunting all to yourself! I will definitely have my mountain bike with me next year! The last pic was taken from where the deer was looking at where I shot it from. I had to go back to get my glove 

[Dustin07]

Nice deer, that 4pt looks about twice as tall as one I saw taken yesterday.

[MuleySniper]

Nice job! Way to get after it.
MS

[Michelle_Nelson]

Good looking buck! Congrats!

[elkslare]

Congrats on your first WA buck. Its a dandy

[bowhunterforever]

Congrats, Nice buck

[elkhuntindad]

congrats, still waiting to fill my tag   

[ser300wsm]

  Great looking muley, thanks for sharing  Just goes to show you what a little work will do for you..

[gtrplr]

Thanks everyone! and good luck to those with tags yet to fill. This will taste much better than the tag soup I had last year.

[engelwood]

Nice work and nice buck. Congrats!

[C-Money]

Congrats, nice muley!