Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 08:30:34 PM

Title: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 08:30:34 PM: Coming out of a very successful 2016 season, I found myself questioning my approach to finding and killing a truly giant mule deer. I knew that I had enough points in both Wyoming and Colorado to get into an area where the kind of deer I was looking for lived; Wyoming was easy but Colorado had me stumped. I had hunted Colorado 4 times in the past, and each time, hunting conditions where less than ideal. Although I was able to lay eyes on a few giant deer, lack of daylight had failed me time and again.

As April and the Colorado deadline approached, I reached a state of panic, reaching out to every resource that I knew, looking for any bit of advice that would lead me in the right direction. I had 8 preference points and ultimately wanted a tag that I would never buy (cost/availability) and in an area that had (traditionally) the genetics that produced giant deer. While there was no obvious choice, it was my brother who pushed me to an area that was “down in quality” according to the experts, but ultimately still held a few giants.

I applied for an early high country rifle hunt, knowing that I would most likely be holding the permit come June. When the draw results came out, I had drawn. The preparation began including gear upgrades and an intense workout routine. Before I knew it, the summer was gone and I was packing my gear and heading to Colorado.

Although I threw out several invites to friends and family to accompany me on my quest, I had no takers on a backpack hunt that would take us up and over 13,000 feet. It seemed daunting to me, even though I had grown up in the steep Snake river breaks and had strong legs – what I didn’t have was that kind of elevation!

During the 21 hour road trip, the realization of the task at hand began to sink in. Alone in the high country for up to 9 days…I thought “wow, this is happening!”
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: stew pidasso on September 14, 2017, 08:34:51 PM: Continue
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 14, 2017, 08:40:26 PM: Sweet, time to get the popcorn.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 08:41:32 PM: I reached the Gunnison on Thursday night and ate an entire large Hawaiian pizza, knowing it was the last good meal I would enjoy for a while. I also took an extra-long shower at the hotel that night, knowing that in a few days, I wouldn’t be able to stand my own “mountain” odor.

Before light, I was checked out hotel and headed up the mountain. I made it to the trail head at about 0730, checked my pack one last time, and headed up the trail. I felt good at first, climbing strongly and steadily up the trail. After 30 minutes, I looked at my GPS and realized that I was only .58 miles from the truck and had only gained 700 feet in elevation. I thought to myself “Why is it so hard to breathe?” As I continued to hike, a beautiful basin opened up before me. As usual, I lost interest in the trail and decided to go straight up the mountain to the West.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: cougforester on September 14, 2017, 08:49:44 PM: Tag! :camp:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Timberstalker on September 14, 2017, 08:54:32 PM: Here we go!! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 08:58:24 PM: I climbed and climbed, until I was slightly over 12,000 feet. I found a perfect little patch of pines with a clearing in the center (that was flat!) that would protect and conceal my tent. I could also glass 360 degrees right from camp (I would later spot my buck at 1.5 miles while eating my mtn house dinner no more than 10 feet from my tent).
I set up camp, drank some water and let my legs rest. It was 11:30 and in a few hours, I would head over the top behind camp and glass for the evening; hopefully, finding a likely candidate for the opener in the next morning.

At around 2:30, I packed up and headed over the ridge behind camp, overlooking a giant basin that looked promising. I set up the 15x56 Swarovski’s and glassed and glassed and glassed, only turning up 2 small bucks. I wasn’t concerned, but a little disappointed given the amount of country that I was looking over. I headed back to camp at around 7:00 p.m. to get something to eat and a good night’s rest before the opener.

Back at camp, I quickly got the jet boil running and picked a delicious entrée of Italian Pepper Steak. Since I was alone and bored, I set up my 15x’s looking into far basins to the East. I wasn’t really expecting to see anything, just killing time. As I sat there taking a few bites, glassing, taking a few bites, glassing…it began to get darker and darker. Like a ghost, just before dark, a deer materialized in a small opening in the steep, treed hillside that I had been glassing. I ran back to my tent, scrambling to retrieve my spotter. I quickly found the buck in my scope and realized that it appeared to be narrow. As it walked across the opening, it quickly changed direction uphill, revealing what appeared to be, long velvet covered tines. Like that, it was dark.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: grundy53 on September 14, 2017, 09:03:59 PM: Tagging along

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 09:06:53 PM: I crawled into my tent, tired, and looking forward to what the next day would hold. I decided that I would hunt the same basin that I had glassed that night. It looked too good to not hold a big deer. Soon, I fell asleep. Although I would wake up every 45 minutes to an hour (I am a heavy sleeper so I can only attribute this to the thin air), morning came quickly. I drank 16 oz of water, threw on my pack, and headed up the hill behind camp. As I scrambled over the top of the ridge and set up my 15x’s, the skied began to lighten. I felt my heart began to race, ever so slightly, as the anticipation began to build. “What would today bring?”

As the sun began to rise, I could hear two bulls screaming below me and quickly located a group of 30 cows with a 6 point herd bull and several satellite bulls trying to sneak into the action.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 09:11:15 PM: I glassed for about an hour, spotting a few does and one little buck. I packed up my gear and headed to the South ¾ mile to get a different view of the basin and open up some additional country in the bottom of the canyon. I quickly spotted a tall, heavy 3 point below me, but the rest of the morning was a bust and I headed back to camp at around 11:00.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Birdguy on September 14, 2017, 09:18:24 PM: Sounds amazing so far.....tagging :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 09:19:50 PM: As I reached camp, the storm clouds began to roll in. I was in desperate need of water, so I grabbed my pump and headed to the north, hoping one of the little creek drainages held water. Thankfully, it did and I brought 5 liters of water back to camp – enough to last me a couple of days. As I got back to camp, the wind began to howl and heavy rain fell. I crawled into my tent and fell asleep. Several hours later, I awoke and the rain and wind has subsided. I fired up the jet boil and pulled out a bag of mtn house spaghetti for the night. Like the night before, I set up my 15x’s and enjoyed my evening meal, hoping to catch a buck in an opening on the same timbered hillside.

After several minutes of glassing, I spot a buck. It is a 30-32” 4 point with a tall, boxy rack. However, with just decent tine length, he is a 175” type buck and not what I am looking for. I continue to glass and enjoy the evening, working my way up the mountain, pausing in each opening and looking for movement on the timbered edges.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 14, 2017, 09:25:10 PM: :tup: :drool:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 09:26:44 PM: As the sun continued to dip, I spot a deer walking quickly in a long narrow lane between two tree lined bluffs on a mountain to the East. Tonight, I am prepared and grab the spotter lying next to me, getting the buck in my scope in seconds. I watch him for about 10 seconds as he meanders out of sight. “What did I just see?” It was the tallest, heaviest, narrowest buck I had ever seen! But, I had no doubt that it was over 190”. The only problem was that I would have to move camp into an entirely different drainage to hunt him; one that would take considerable effort considering that it was nearly unreachable from any angle.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: outdooraddict on September 14, 2017, 09:34:58 PM: We want more, We want more!!!!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 09:40:07 PM: As I crawled into my tent, I made a deal with myself. "I will hunt one more basin on “my side” in the morning, and if I don’t see anything good, I will move camp midday and dedicate the rest of the hunt to the narrow buck."

The next morning, I left camp extra early, hiking up to 13,000 feet and looked over a new, beautiful basin for the first time. I instantly spot a large 4 point, but again, this buck is a little lacking on his G3s and G4s. I continue to glass, spotting 7 more bucks but nothing that I am interested in. I come to the realization that for whatever reason, the deer have moved down out of the rocks and ledges and that it is time to move camp!

(Sorry for the selfie, I didn’t know what else to do solo?)
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 09:49:15 PM: As I head back to camp, I meet another rifle tag holder on the trail. He is a really nice guy so I let him know where I saw a couple of the better 4 points. We wish each other luck and I hustle back to camp. I need to get moved and set up before the next storm arrives!

I quickly break down camp and dread putting my heavy pack back on – but, it is what I need to do! I head down the hill (I hate losing elevation!) and pause along a quick running creek before I push up the other side through 1200 yards of 6-8 foot tall willows. “This may get western”, I thought to myself. After an hour and a half, I have powered up through the willows and found a suitable place for camp. I am still 1500 yards below and on the other side of the ridge from when I last saw “the buck”, but he is huntable from camp in the evening which is my best chance to kill him.

I set up my new camp, hanging my rain fly, pants and vest to dry as I came out of the willows completely soaked to the bone. Thanks to my rain cover, my pack and contents were still dry. I put on a pair of KUIU shorts (home made mind you…ok, we’ll call them what they are…”Jorts” hahaha) and wait for evening.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 10:04:35 PM: My plan is to leave camp at 6:30, putting me at the top at around 7:00 (prime time). I have a good feeling that I will kill that buck tonight!

Around 4:30, the clouds roll in along with 30 mph winds and whipping rain. “Oh no” I thought “I am not going to get to hunt tonight!” The storm pounds on for the next two hours and I have lost all hope. At 6:45, I notice that my tent stopped whipping. I peek outside and see that it is dark and the thunder is still rumbling, but I am going hunting! I grab my rifle and my EL Range and power up the hill, still wearing my jorts!

At the top of the hill, I begin to slow and check the wind. Wind is good! I crest over the top looking into the little valley where I caught him feeding the night before. Nothing. I continue to slowly stalk and glass along the tree line, looking intently into the narrow lanes that open up before me. I get the end of the ridge and wonder what I should do? I am hesitant to drop down into the steep, thick hillside below in fear of blowing the buck out of the country. After all, I have all week to let him make a mistake.
Below me is a 30 x 100 yard opening in the timber….I guess it wouldn’t hunt to head down about 40 yards and have a look around? I can’t help myself and I slowly work down the near vertical face. As I look to left, I notice that there are two lanes where I can see several hundred yards. As I look in the lower lane, I notice a the back half of a deer. I quickly drop another 15 yards to get a better angle, but the deer has his head in the trees and I can’t drop any lower. The buck picks up his head and I see a massive blob of G3 and G2, scrambling for the range button on my ELs. 321, 325. In seconds I spin the turret on my scope to 325, check the range one more time, and shoulder my rifle. One step and the buck could be gone forever. As the crosshairs come up the front leg and into the pocket I squeeze the trigger. I am instantly rewarded with the all familiar “whop” and catch the buck donkey kick as the recoil causes me to lose my sight picture.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 10:14:04 PM: I scramble across the hillside, wondering where the buck went after the shot? What did I actually shoot? Is it the same buck? A different buck? It has to be the same buck with that MASS!

As I round a small patch of pines, I look below be and notice two nice, velvet 4 points staring at me from 75 yards. I have to be close? I scan to my left and see why they are just standing there, I have just killed the mountain monarch and he is laying 25 yards from me in the brush!

I am shocked at the mass and tine length! It is the same buck that I had moved camp for. “He is only about 20” wide, but he had to pushing 200 inches” I say to myself.
I fly back to camp, seemingly unconcerned with the long night ahead me and grinning the whole way. Thanking God, thanking my wife for allowing me to pursue my passion, thanking my brother for pushing me to this unit, thanking my dad for teaching me to be an outdoorsman. “I did it, I freaking did it!”
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 10:21:29 PM: With knives and pack, I head back up the mountain by headlamp, excited to spend some more time admiring my buck. I quickly find him in the dark and snap a few pictures with my cell phone. I get my camera set-up on the tripod, but alas, the timer function was not working. I was devastated! I shot a 200” buck on a solo back pack hunt and won’t have any field photos with it! I lick my wounds, take some additional cell phone ATL pics and proceed to bone out and load the buck into my pack, making the slow trek back to camp. As I crawl into my sleeping back, and shut my eyes, I can’t help but smile. This is a moment that I will keep forever.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 10:25:48 PM: This buck is literally a one-in-a-million. The mass is just incredible, though it "only" gets credit for 41"

The stats:

41" of mass
189" frame
16" inside spread
20" outside spread
202 3/8" gross
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 10:27:51 PM: Goodnight. Hope you enjoy the read!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: WA1232 on September 14, 2017, 10:31:10 PM: Well done! On both the buck and the story telling. Thanks!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: full choke on September 14, 2017, 10:32:41 PM: awesome! :tup:
Thanks for sharing the story!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Dan-o on September 14, 2017, 10:44:06 PM: Wow, what a great write-up on a terrific buck.

Holy mass, batman!!!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Caseyd on September 14, 2017, 10:47:13 PM: Congrats!! Great buck and read
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Brushbuster on September 14, 2017, 10:52:48 PM: Congrats on another great trophy and for taking us along on your quest! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 14, 2017, 11:07:24 PM: Awesome stuff. Such a cool buck with unique character and well earned.

You going to save a cape and do a mount with him?
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 11:14:18 PM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on September 14, 2017, 11:07:24 PM
Awesome stuff. Such a cool buck with unique character and well earned.

You going to save a cape and do a mount with him?
[/quote

I am contemplating a 3 buck pedestal for this CO buck and a couple mid 180s deer deer that I haven't mounted.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 14, 2017, 11:18:32 PM: That would be awesome. I have always wanted to do a 3 buck mount with a whitetail/mule deer and blacktail. I just need the whitetail :bash: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: cmiller85 on September 14, 2017, 11:22:55 PM: Much respect!!!
:kneel:

Congrats on an Amazing buck!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 11:23:47 PM: Quote from: Brushbuster on September 14, 2017, 10:52:48 PM
Congrats on another great trophy and for taking us along on your quest! :tup:

Thank you and appreciate your PM earlier this year!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: fishnfur on September 15, 2017, 12:09:59 AM: Wow! What an adventure. You told the story perfectly. Congrats on the killer buck! You certainly deserved your success.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 15, 2017, 02:23:19 AM: Heck of a story and an amazing buck :drool: :drool: Congrats
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: grundy53 on September 15, 2017, 03:26:15 AM: Wow! Dream buck! Congratulations!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 15, 2017, 04:31:59 AM: Quote from: cmiller85 on September 14, 2017, 11:22:55 PM
Much respect!!!
:kneel:

Congrats on an Amazing buck!

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :bow:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: JakeLand on September 15, 2017, 04:32:22 AM: Thanks for sharing and a big congratulations !!! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Timberstalker on September 15, 2017, 05:36:01 AM: Awesome buck, JJ and a great wrte up.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: whacker1 on September 15, 2017, 05:36:23 AM: great buck and story jj
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: zwickeyman on September 15, 2017, 05:41:23 AM: What a great buck and well earned. Epic trip for sure
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: opdinkslayer on September 15, 2017, 06:25:34 AM: Congrats on having the mental fortitude to do that solo and take a once in a lifetime buck for most hunters. Just goes to show that width means very little in making a giant mule deer but I'm sure you join a small group that have a 200 inch buck with 20" of spread credit. That's an impressive buck and hunt jj! Congrats! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jsnmac on September 15, 2017, 07:08:01 AM: Amazing buck and great story.
Sure cant wait to get out in the woods.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Ironhead on September 15, 2017, 07:29:38 AM: Nice buck and story JJ, congrats!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Craig on September 15, 2017, 07:41:22 AM: Great buck and story. Congratulations of a hunt of a lifetime.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Harbor_hunter on September 15, 2017, 08:09:58 AM: Awesome story and awesome buck!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Seabass on September 15, 2017, 08:19:03 AM: Spectacular Man!!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: boneaddict on September 15, 2017, 08:22:04 AM: One of the best write ups I've read in a long time. As you know this is my kind of hunt. Well done! An amazing animal.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Yakirack on September 15, 2017, 08:34:41 AM: Cool story, and even cooler buck. Nice job.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: bearpaw on September 15, 2017, 08:55:51 AM: outstanding buck and story :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jackelope on September 15, 2017, 09:00:18 AM: Great buck, great write up. Thanks for sharing, JJ. Huge congratulations!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: SkookumHntr on September 15, 2017, 09:00:55 AM: WOW!! WTG!! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: elkrack on September 15, 2017, 09:07:09 AM: Awesome job on the write up! What a cool buck!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Duckhunter14 on September 15, 2017, 09:33:38 AM: Great write up and awesome buck! Congrats! What a bruiser. Love the mass.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jmscon on September 15, 2017, 09:35:34 AM: Awesome write up and Buck!!
This kind of hunt is a dream of mine, hope someday to make it happen!

Thanks for sharing your hunt with us!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Alchase on September 15, 2017, 09:49:41 AM: Awesome buck!
Thank you for sharing with us!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: OutHouse on September 15, 2017, 10:07:15 AM: Very impressive. Great story. Great hunt. The type of hunt most people can only dream about. That thing's a donkey of a mule. Great job!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: hunter399 on September 15, 2017, 10:10:24 AM: Congrats on a nice deer,the one thing I like about your story is that you took the time to hunt the deer you wanted to get.That's what hunting is about , so much more rewarding after you get it done.Congrats again, :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: M_ray on September 15, 2017, 10:23:17 AM: That's my kind of buck, nice and tall! :tup: Congrats again JJ I'm really happy for you! You know I wanted to be there but from the sounds of it I'd prob still be there curled up next to a rock like those on the Hillary step! :chuckle:
I agree with bone this is an excellent write up, thanks for taking us on your journey and sharing your experience. Your post is why I don't have magazine subscriptions anymore.

One question though? What do you do for an Encore'? ... 200" whitey??? :)
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: 724wd on September 15, 2017, 10:32:23 AM: excellent deer and wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: croix on September 15, 2017, 11:00:23 AM: Quote from: jjhunter on September 14, 2017, 08:30:34 PM
Although I threw out several invites to friends and family to accompany me on my quest, I had no takers on a backpack hunt that would take us up and over 13,000 feet.

You didn't ask the right person. ;) I'm glad you didn't though... I think you will value this more as a solo trip. Congrats on a dandy brother. Can't wait to get a look at this one.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: bigmacc on September 15, 2017, 01:30:27 PM: That is a dandy buck!!! :tup:.....I too enjoyed your story :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: meatwhack on September 15, 2017, 03:17:36 PM: Excellent story and awesome buck congratulations.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: actionshooter on September 15, 2017, 03:51:15 PM: Awesome buck! Thanks for taking the time to share..
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 15, 2017, 04:30:37 PM: Crazy great buck Justin! Where's the cape lol. I'm sitting at 7000' shot my buck this morning. I caped him. Hard to find summer capes.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 15, 2017, 07:30:43 PM: Appreciate all the kind words. I have a lot of respect for the guys who hunt the high country in Colorado. I've hunted high here in WA and Western Wyoming, but that CO high country is a different animal!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: bearhunter99 on September 15, 2017, 08:06:40 PM: Great buck and great character! Congrats on a beauty!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: muleyslayer on September 15, 2017, 08:50:04 PM: Congratulations amazing buck! Great write up enjoyed it very much
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Wacenturion on September 15, 2017, 09:53:59 PM: Congratulations on your dandy buck! Great story as well. Thanks for sharing with all of us here on the forum. :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: huntnfmly on September 16, 2017, 04:18:21 AM: Congrats great buck and story.thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Wingin it on September 16, 2017, 04:21:42 AM: Wow! Congrats on a hell of a buck! The write up of the story is great too, thanks for taking us along. :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Ghost Hunter on September 16, 2017, 04:51:50 AM: Living the dream! Beautiful buck.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Miles on September 16, 2017, 06:44:31 AM: Quote from: jjhunter on September 15, 2017, 07:30:43 PM
Appreciate all the kind words. I have a lot of respect for the guys who hunt the high country in Colorado. I've hunted high here in WA and Western Wyoming, but that CO high country is a different animal!

Great buck and congratulations!

People who haven't experienced trying to climb a mountain out here probably have a hard time imagining what you went through. It's no joke...

Another thing is the afternoon storms... I've lived in many places and have never seen anything like these rain/lightning storms that move in very quickly. Lightning never really bothered me until this place. It's definitely something to watch for and plan around.

Good work!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: FWilliams on September 16, 2017, 08:59:09 AM: Nicely Done JJ :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 16, 2017, 01:39:48 PM: Awesome hunt and what a way to break into the 200" club!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 16, 2017, 02:16:54 PM: Quote from: Ridgerunner on September 16, 2017, 01:39:48 PM
Awesome hunt and what a way to break into the 200" club!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, Brian. Appreciate all your insight leading into the hunt. The diamox worked well!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: stew pidasso on September 16, 2017, 06:19:04 PM: He's pretty nice. A little narrow.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: High Climber on September 16, 2017, 08:00:35 PM: That thing is gnarly, congratulations and well done!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: kevinlisa06 on September 16, 2017, 08:16:15 PM: Very nice buck! Congratulations on a great hunt!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: badnewskruse on September 17, 2017, 06:53:44 PM: one of the coolest racks i think ive ever seen! awesome buck and great story
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: savagehunter on September 17, 2017, 08:53:59 PM: I loved the tale and how you spun it. Felt like I was there made me tired by the time you changed camp. Kudos man awsome
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: huntnphool on September 17, 2017, 09:15:07 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: quadrafire on September 18, 2017, 08:35:51 AM: Thanks for taking us on your trip with the nicely written story. Congrats on a great buck.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on September 18, 2017, 09:54:44 AM: I always enjoy this time of year and the stories we get to read about hunts like this. Congratulations, that is a beautiful buck!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 18, 2017, 11:53:46 AM: Congrats and thanks so much for sharing the hunt with us!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: C-Money on September 18, 2017, 12:24:24 PM: Very cool buck is an understatement, but cant think of anything else to say!! Congrats!!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Pathfinder101 on September 18, 2017, 12:52:58 PM: JJ,
For those of us who have been on this site for a little while, we have followed your quest for a monster muley for years. I remember when you drew that Idaho tag and passed up some deer that I would have killed without hesitation. This was more than an epic hunt in 2017, this is the culmination of years of planning, prep, and (perhaps most importantly) passing on bucks that most of us probably would have harvested. I have seen pictures of some of the bucks that you have passed on, and when reading this story every time you said "a nice 4 point", I am thinking to myself "I probably would have shot that one".
Congratulations to you on fulfilling your quest. Thanks for taking us along. Perhaps the best thread this year. :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: jjhunter on September 20, 2017, 05:10:43 PM: I'm glad you all enjoyed the write up. I haven't posted a story for a few years, but usually post my success pics. With all the recent effort spent on trying to get the site back on track, I thought that I would try to do my part and contribute to that cause.

I leave for Nevada two weeks from today and hope to have another successful adventure to share.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Timberstalker on September 20, 2017, 07:58:45 PM: Awesome. What an experience. Thanks again for sharing, JJ.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Bigshooter on September 21, 2017, 08:04:32 AM: Great buck but that write up was awesome. You should think about writing. Your writing style reminds me of my dad.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: sternwarning on September 21, 2017, 09:20:17 AM: So cool!

Thanks for sharing your story!

Congrats on a buck of a lifetime!
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: link on September 21, 2017, 11:37:40 AM: Such a cool buck. Congratulations! Love those tall bucks with big backs.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: boneill on September 21, 2017, 03:08:38 PM: Beautiful buck and great write up. Thanks for sharing!

If you ever find yourself solo and you're trying to take a field picture, one thing I've done that has worked pretty well is just propping my cell phone up on a branch/brushpile/bush/grass clump etc and putting it on 'video' with whatever you're trying to capture in the frame. Let it start rolling, walk into the frame, grip n' grin, and then turn video off. You can then take a screen grab from the video footage. Photo quality isn't the best, but at least it's something! Don't mean to give unsolicited advice, seems like you're doing just fine, just a little trick I've had success with while hunting solo.
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: 400out on September 21, 2017, 03:22:26 PM: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: idaho guy on September 21, 2017, 04:00:11 PM: That's a great buck and story best ive read in a long time congrats
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on September 21, 2017, 04:31:38 PM: Great work man! :tup:
Title: Re: Quest for 200"
Post by: Holg3107 on September 21, 2017, 05:19:39 PM: A 200" Buck with a 20" spread!!! AWESOME! I just cant imagine that happens very often...