Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 12:22:29 PM

Title: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 12:22:29 PM: This year I was able to take my wife and son along for my annual deer hunt. They would not be hunting just along for the trip. I always put a good amount of time scouting trying to find a quality buck. This year I wanted to find a large buck I had seen last year but was unable to harvest. My first attempt to locate this buck was unsuccessful. So I looked in other areas and found three shooters in three different areas. But nothing compared to the buck I had seen the year before. The previous year this buck had a limp so I was not sure if he would return. Even with this in mind I made another attempt to locate him. This time I was able to locate the buck. He had regressed from the previous year, but was still an exceptional buck. This buck hides in a spot that you cannot get in to rifle range. This year would be no different. I seen the weather report was calling for 1-2 feet of snow for the night before the opener. I was torn about weather to attempt to go after this buck or not. I felt he would have to move a long ways to get into a stalkable area. I literally was still unsure where to go on the opener when I got up. I finally decided you don’t see a buck like that every year. I have to go try and maybe the weather will push him into a better spot. As daylight arrives. I locate the buck that was hanging with the big boy during scouting! He was also in an area I could put a stalk on him. I did not wait to see if the big buck was there or not. I just made an educated guess that he would be. An hour later I find myself in range. The first deer I see is the Big boy feeding. I get a rest and set up for the shot. I squeezed the trigger and when the gun settled out I watched him drop and slide down the hill into the timber. :tup: :tup: :tup: I sat and waited for a while to make sure he didn’t get up again. After a few pictures I boned this buck out and headed out.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 12:23:42 PM: Scouting
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: coachcw on October 23, 2018, 12:32:20 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 12:46:20 PM: I’m trying to post pics :bash:
Bare with me
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: WAcoueshunter on October 23, 2018, 12:50:28 PM: Nice, I always look forward to your Idaho trip! Can't wait to see the pics.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 12:53:01 PM: Pics
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Post by: boneaddict on October 23, 2018, 12:54:51 PM: Oh that’s nice!
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Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 12:55:27 PM: Check the tag notch on the main beam. Just to help show the extreme mass
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Post by: Timberstalker on October 23, 2018, 12:56:40 PM: Nice! Dandy for sure.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 01:02:57 PM: Loaded up
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Post by: huntnfmly on October 23, 2018, 01:07:30 PM: Great buck thanks for the story and pics enjoyed reading
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Post by: Machias on October 23, 2018, 01:07:56 PM: Awesome buck!
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Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 23, 2018, 01:09:36 PM: Oh dang! That's a masher! :yike:

Great job! :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 23, 2018, 01:18:21 PM: Back at camp
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: idaho guy on October 23, 2018, 01:53:56 PM: ! :tup: nice one 1
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Kamo2112 on October 23, 2018, 02:10:44 PM: STUD! Congrats!
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Post by: trophyhunt on October 23, 2018, 02:14:14 PM: Way to go after it!! Congrats! Great deer!
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Post by: Wanttohuntmore on October 23, 2018, 02:19:00 PM: Nice!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Widgeondeke on October 23, 2018, 02:23:57 PM: hope those genes were spread :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Rainier10 on October 23, 2018, 03:03:56 PM: Wow, that is a big buck!

Congrats.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Doublelunger on October 23, 2018, 03:35:13 PM: You're the man :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: elkboy on October 23, 2018, 03:40:50 PM: I think I will be looking forward to your report every year! Congratulations!!!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: grundy53 on October 23, 2018, 04:01:48 PM: Wow! Great buck!

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Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 23, 2018, 04:04:36 PM: Very nice buck, congratulations!!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: TVHunts on October 23, 2018, 04:12:58 PM: What a buck! Congrats!!!
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Post by: elkoholic1 on October 23, 2018, 04:52:36 PM: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 23, 2018, 05:55:43 PM: Congrats on a fine animal
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 23, 2018, 05:59:26 PM: Great buck. Congrats!
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Post by: elkrack on October 23, 2018, 08:30:47 PM: Wow great buck! :tup:
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Post by: h2ofowlr on October 23, 2018, 09:06:22 PM: Good looking buck.
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Post by: MonstroMuley on October 23, 2018, 09:47:47 PM: What a Masher!
Congrats!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: huntnphool on October 23, 2018, 10:09:51 PM: Hell of a buck. :tup:
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Post by: redi on October 24, 2018, 12:11:20 AM: Great buck congrats
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: CaNINE on October 24, 2018, 05:47:17 AM: :tup: I’d be ticked pink to take that buck. Congratulations!
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Post by: MerriamMagician on October 24, 2018, 08:03:40 AM: Just wait until ya'll see the second buck...... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Rainier10 on October 24, 2018, 08:25:23 AM: Quote from: MerriamMagician on October 24, 2018, 08:03:40 AM
Just wait until ya'll see the second buck...... :chuckle:
I thought he said his wife and kid weren't hunting. Who else was on the trip and where's the photos?
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: X-Force on October 24, 2018, 08:47:55 AM: Quote from: h2ofowlr on October 23, 2018, 09:06:22 PM
Good looking buck.

:yeah:
:IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 24, 2018, 09:46:06 AM: You can buy two tags OTC. Here is the second best buck I seen this year. I was lucky enough to harvest the two best I found scouting :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 24, 2018, 09:47:08 AM: There second buck
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Rainier10 on October 24, 2018, 09:52:33 AM: :yike: Holy Smokes! What a trip, way to go. :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Reidus on October 24, 2018, 09:53:33 AM: Nice bucks! I was going to ask if there was a 2nd one.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Timberstalker on October 24, 2018, 09:59:49 AM: Solid work!!
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Post by: cbond3318 on October 24, 2018, 10:03:10 AM: Slayer!! Nice work on 2 outstanding bucks!!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: fillthefreezer on October 24, 2018, 11:01:08 AM: Very impressive, x2! How long have you been hunting the unit?
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Post by: RC3 on October 24, 2018, 11:17:37 AM: Very cool hunt!
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Post by: Watimberghost on October 24, 2018, 12:17:06 PM: Amazing bucks! Thanks for sharing :tup: :tup:
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Post by: pianoman9701 on October 24, 2018, 01:24:05 PM: :yeah: They are amazing. Well done.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 24, 2018, 07:08:22 PM: @Freezer
I have hunted Idaho off and on for 25 years. Mostly for elk in lots of different regions. I have spent recent years perusing Deer. I am hoping to cross paths with what I consider a once in a lifetime buck. I have seen 3 of them in my life 1 in Wyoming and two in Idaho years ago.

I have hunted most NW states for deer. I think idaho has potential if you work your but off or you are really lucky. Why I add lucky is a few years ago I seen a 230 buck loaded whole in the back of a pickup on a website. So I’m guessing they were very close to a road. I’m not that lucky. The big buck I got took me over 5 hours to pack it out one way. I think Montana and Colorado are good states for the number of deer and access and I put in for these. Idaho has ok deer numbers with an extreme amount of back country. I take advantage of this. I have not been able to ever go deep enough to get away from people. But I do hunt it differently then others.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: fillthefreezer on October 24, 2018, 10:39:45 PM: Appreciate your thoughts on it. I’ve read a lot of your posts and appreciate your insight, as well as approach
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 25, 2018, 07:09:51 AM: Yea you bet.
I try to help give a realistic expectation for the hunt if people go over. Idaho has upperend potential and that is why I go there, and the second deer tag. I really can’t believe they let you do this :dunno:
What I see on a deer hunt as an average during season:
Oregon-5 bucks in a week
Idaho-5 bucks in a week
Washington-1-3 bucks a day
Wyoming-3-5 bucks a day
Montana- 10-25 bucks a day
Colorado-LOTS of DEER
Nevada- Never drawn deer tag

I’m taking my family to hunt in Colorado 3rd season should be a fun hunt.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 25, 2018, 07:17:49 PM: I was pretty lucky to find this guy scouting. I did not hunt this buck due to he was hanging out right where I see another guy set up each year. I hope he makes it thru to next season! I know he made it thru the first two days of season. He only had to make it thru 19 more days.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: hunting4sanity on October 25, 2018, 08:38:57 PM: Magnificent bucks, congratulations! When you get your buck of a lifetime I hope you share the photos, you just got what I'd call two bucks of a lifetime.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Tschaefer72 on October 25, 2018, 09:21:47 PM: Wow that is quite the double to pull in one hunt. Congrats!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 26, 2018, 07:00:22 AM: @wedgeondeke
I feel this buck is 7-8 years old. I shot his twin a few years ago and I felt that buck was 5 at that time. I’m not sure at what age they start regressing on antler growth. This buck was noticeably bigger last year. I am sure many factors play into this each year other than age. I also hope he was able to bread lots and lots of does :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: MonstroMuley on October 26, 2018, 12:38:34 PM: Just curious ... do you find many Ticks on the Idaho or Wyoming Muleys?
NE WA WhiteTails seem to be thick with them...
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 26, 2018, 07:35:17 PM: In the high country of Wyoming the deer I have gotten had ticks. In the high desert I don’t recall any ticks. Idaho none. Eastern Washington and eastern Oregon have lots.
I wonder if it has to do with the region, time of year, maybe temperature. I did get a buck in the snow in title in Washington that had them.

Have you noticed a difference in which season it was??
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 26, 2018, 07:54:05 PM: Beautiful bucks :tup: :drool:
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Post by: wheels on October 26, 2018, 08:05:56 PM: wow congrats awesome buck
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 26, 2018, 09:18:23 PM: :tup: That's why we love to jump the state line and hunt Idaho!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: MonstroMuley on October 26, 2018, 10:00:45 PM: Quote from: go4steelhd on October 26, 2018, 07:35:17 PM
In the high country of Wyoming the deer I have gotten had ticks. In the high desert I don’t recall any ticks. Idaho none. Eastern Washington and eastern Oregon have lots.
I wonder if it has to do with the region, time of year, maybe temperature. I did get a buck in the snow in title in Washington that had them.

Have you noticed a difference in which season it was??

Glad to hear Idaho has considerably less to none.

Same here ... Mid November NE WA ... Snowing and Freezing Temps... approx elev 3500 to 4000 ft ... could not believe how many found on buck's under side ... and thought should be dormant, surprisingly found ticks "sluggish", but still active.

Have Not had opportunity to inspect earlier season animal from that area.
Believe it has to do with region/habitat ... have heard many similar stories from that area.

Appreciate sharing your story and educating ... Idaho sounds enticing.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 27, 2018, 01:40:35 PM: It does seem some regions have more. The nasty little bugers. In Washington I get them on me during general rifle just walking around. I’m not sure if they are the same as what are on the deer or not.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Naches Sportsman on October 27, 2018, 01:58:42 PM: I thoroughly enjoy your threads and look forward to them every year.

I hope to one day take a caliber of a buck like you seem to shoot every year.
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 28, 2018, 07:52:35 AM: That is really nice to hear. That a few of you enjoy seeing pics and a story of my hunts. I almost did no post this for a few reasons. But I decided to post it anyway. I know I enjoy seeing posts from a guys first buck to bones pictures of mule deer each fall!thanks for the positive feed back these comments will assure future threads :tup:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Muleyslyr on October 28, 2018, 06:25:48 PM: Great trip and well done. Two great bucks for sure!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on October 29, 2018, 05:44:58 PM: Thanks guys! These are great bucks. The one is exceptional. I will be honest this is the worst year I have seen in a long time(number of deer seen). I think the winter of 2016 really showed this year. And I fear next year maybe really bad. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a nice buck. I’m am curious to hear reports from others on their deer hunt this year
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 31, 2018, 09:38:40 PM: Amazing hunt and great bucks. Thanks for sharing and showing what hard work can lead too.

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Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on November 01, 2018, 06:46:02 PM: Thanks Ridge,

You are spot on with that. Well put :tup:

Now I’m pacing around my house hoping Montanas alternate list makes it to me :dunno:
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: SuperDave on November 01, 2018, 07:35:32 PM: Congratulations on two nice bucks!
Title: Re: Big buck!
Post by: go4steelhd on November 06, 2018, 05:29:57 PM: Thanks Dave!!