Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Track-er on October 31, 2009, 04:54:25 PM
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Yesterday my friend Keith aka skyvalhunter and I went hunting and he was sucessful in harvesting a three point blackie.Today he went with me to see if I could close out the season with the same outcome.little did I know he would be taking me to one of his secret spots.I never thought I would ever see a blacktail of the size of the one that I was able to harvest.I think I told him 100 times thank you and its great to have great friends like Keith.
Mike
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That there is a book blacktail my friend, congrats.
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one hell of a blacktail! congrats to you
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:yike: :yike: I have never seen a BT that size before :yike: :yike: Congrats man.....
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Holy crud! Awesome!
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Holy crap!!! That is the tallest blackie I've ever seen. That's an unbelievable blacktail deer. WOW! Awsome job and congrats :tup:
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Holy S__t!!!!! That is one big, huge, massive, fat, and large and huge and big and massive and fat and....... Anyway that is a lifetime BT for sure... Way to go, and yeah, it is good to have friends-especially GOOD friends.
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unreal blacktail. Great job and you better thank him again ;)
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and again....
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i cant stop looking at this buck. In my mind this buck should win trophy of the year on this website :twocents:
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WHAT! :drool:
holy chit.... I'm going to get a beer i'll be back later :yike:
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holy sh$$t that is a toad of a blacktail. congrats
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Mega blacktail!!!
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Great buck, way to end the season. :brew:
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Can you say tall eye guards? Great buck!
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what a toad congrats i hope you are entering him in the book could you post a score for him when you get it also i hope you are mounting that blacky be very very hard pressed to kill one that big again sounds like your friend needs a hug to me :chuckle:
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He was a scrapper,if you look under his right eye there is a nice gash and his nose has a piece removed.Makes a person wonder who would have messed with him.The eye guards are 3" long.
Mike
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tracker congrats on a trophy blacktail.. man that thing is huge :o
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Holy Moses! Hek of a buck! CONGRATS!
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I quote myself when I first saw the pic: "Jesus F**k." I would do very naughty, immoral things to befriend somebody who would take me to a spot to kill a blacktail half that big. Congrats on the trophy, and congrats to Keith for having a spot that would hold bucks like that. Jesus.
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Oh and can we get the story on the hunt? :drool:
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That is one impressive BT!!! Congrats, great buck.
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WOW! Now that is a big Blacktail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on one helluva buck!!!!!
What you gonna do for an encore now? :chuckle:
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Rarely see true blacktail the size of that pig! Outstanding!!
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That is an outstanding blacktail!! Awesome :drool:
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What an awesome buck, Congrats to you!
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WOW!!!!!!!!!!! That is impressive
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Thats a frickin stud buck man! Congratulations.
MS
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My lord thats a stud. all time B&C for sure
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We have a winner!!!
:o
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wow :o
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Phenomenal blacktail, you must have been very high, I think the snow is up to 5,000-5,500 feet. Great buck.
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I had to look at that thing again to make sure I wasn't dreaming earlier. Awesome!
MS
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:yike: That is a beautiful buck! Congrads :)
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Very nice indeed!!! Would love to know what he scores. Congrats
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that thing is a toad, congrats to you
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Holy crap!! Thats a dandy!
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I'm speechless. Booner Blacktail! Wow!! Congratulations on something few will ever experience in a lifetime of trying. Looks like you guys were hunting migratory deer.
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Wooohoooo!!!! Hell of a big black tail buck, That would even make a damn nice Muley, let alone a Blacktail!!!! Way to go :)
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Damn..... Nice..
Mulehunter :drool:
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A couple more pictures.
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WOW! :drool: :o
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:yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :rockin: :rockin:
NICE BUCK MAN!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!
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Damn nice job! You guys looking for anymore friends just let me know............!!! :)
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What A blacktail!!! Great job. Bucks like that keep us wetsiders out there busting the brush and tolerating the wet weather.
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Really nice buck...congrats
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Nice Buck!!! :drool:
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Great you had a camera along that buck needs a special place on the wall andglad you have a friend and hunting partner like that.
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can u say boone and crockett
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Gorgeous buck. Love those dark antlers
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Take everything said already and wrap it all up together and that is how I feel about your buck.
Speechless :dunno:
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WOW. I saw this when my buddy yelled: "come check this out" I asked: "is that a mulie?" Impressive! :kneel:
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My oh my :o That thing is a pig. Congrats Mark
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Holy crap, that is awesome.
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WOW :yike:! Did you FRIEND poke your eyes out just after the pictures so you would...A- NEVER find your way back to his secret spot... or B- never have to deal with the fact that no matter how long you hunt you will never shoot another blacktail that big :drool:? I would guess you will be an east side hunter from now on :chuckle:. Congratulations on the buck of a lifetime. What a great way to end the season, and whit a good....GREAT friend. Way to go.
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:yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :rockin: :rockin:
NICE BUCK MAN!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :o :o :o :o :o :o
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That is truly an amazing buck.... :drool:
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Blacktail of a lifetime! CONGRATS
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Holy balls Batman! Conratulations on such a fine specimine!
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Well Track-er made a 1 shot kill on this buck. It took us a while to get it out but it was worth it. He had good reason to be excited. Defiantly a buck in his prime. Sometimes it helps to have luck and persistence on your side. They don't get that big from being stupid. He never even knew we were there. Congrats to a good guy on a nice buck!!
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Thanks Sky,I really can't thank you enough for all the help support,and patience you have given over the years we have hunted together.
Mike
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That is an awsome buck! Congrats sir.
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WOW!!! I have only ever seen one close to that size and never got him. Nice job!
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I keep finding myself clicking on this post to see the pics over, and over, and over, and over. Congrats on a true trophy of a lifetime. Cant wait to hear the score. You better have a taxi picked out because he is going to look sweet on the wall. Great job Mark.
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HOLY $^!) unbelievable.
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:kneel: All I can say is :yike:CON FRIGEN GRADULATIONS DUDE!
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Hopefuly he needs new friends,,, Wow great deer
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Congrats. on that monster. :drool:
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Way to go tracker and sky, super buck.
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nice buck! thats a pig of a bt!
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Great once in a lifetime blacktail. Nice job :tup:
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:drool: Seen a lot of nice blacktail racks, but yours is about perfect in every way. Congrats on a great hunt!
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Helluva buck Tracker. Thats about perfect for a blacktail for me. WOW
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Congratulations Mike !! Great Buck !
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Massive Blackie!!! Well done
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Beautiful buck, I think I would have been afraid to shoot him until I saw the ass and tail. I would assume "muley" until then. Never hunting blackies before, how do you tell in the field with a quick look? Thought about taking my 12yo out for the late blackie hunt.
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Could it be a "bench leg" blackie? Either way awesome looking buck.
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Do you have any pics of the tail area? Still have the hide? It sure looks like a true BT but some of them do cross breed on occasion making some rather nice racks.
He sure is a monster!
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Great buck Mike you are my deer hunting idle. Next year I will be perched on your doorstep on opening day waiting for you to take me to your secret spot ;). Just kidding gongrats on a hell of a buck.
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Congrats man. Awesome Buck. Love how tall he is and how well he holds his mass. ;)
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That is a helluva BT, Congrats!!!!
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I wasn't trying to start a discussion or dispute your awesome buck. Just wondering how to tell out in the field or does it matter? Does F&W consider it a blackie if your are west of the Pacific Crest? Again, nice buck.
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That is one great buck, congrats Track-er. You should enter that one in the Hunt-WA horn competition.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33447.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33447.0.html)
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That is unreal!! Congrats!!!!!!!
How about a story? I went back thought the post and didnt see one.
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I try to post as little as possible, but that buck is every blacktailers dream! Congratulations! You might just owe your buddy a case of Raineer..... o.k. maybe something a little better.
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Been meaning to ask about that big cut under his eye. It looks puffy like an older wound. Still in awe of that rack...wow!
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Yea that was a nasty cut,all the way to the bone.When we caped it we checked it out looked to be about a week or so old.He had a small chunk off his nose and slices under his ear and cuts on his neck.I would like to have seen who he was fighting with.
Mike
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Anything west of the pacific crest trail is considered a blacktail it doesnt matter if it is a pure muley spike in the unit he hunted if it is a buck with a horn on its head its a shooter. That unit 448 is a any buck unit.
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There have been several bucks taken in the same area and posted on this site, nobody has questioned any of them being blacktail.
Congrats again Track-er, thats one for the record books.
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Never fail, Anytime a true monster gets killed, it gets called a benchbuck by someone :rolleyes:
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180 grain, thanks for clarifying that. Nice to know if I get my son out during the 3 day late hunt. Only problem is it over-runs my late archery plans but I might just have to give him his chance if the weather is right. Not slamming anyones success btw.
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Great buck, no doubt about it, but based on the pics I see a mule deer that happened to live pretty far west. Since he is west of the PCT, the state would call him a blacktail and the buck was legal for the unit, but that thing looks like a muley to me.
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The tail photos clinch it for me. That nice buck looks like either a mulie that got lost, or a cross that is mostly mule deer.
I had a talk with Ruth Milner, blacktail deer biologist, a while back. According to her, there is no specification written to describe a bench leg, but she did say they do exist. "Crosses, do happen," is how she said it. Looking at the photos, the deer has mulie characteristics: the muzzle, antlers, hide coloration, and the tail is the clincher. But since it was bagged in a west-side location, it's legal, and I would have shot it in a heartbeat.
Call it what you want... it's one of the nicest looking west-side bucks I've seen. Congrats again!
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Probably why B&C only counts blacktails as being west of I5. But who cares what it is. There isn't a person on here that wouldn't shoot it during ANY general hunt for "pure" mule deer anywhere in this state. Blacktail, muley, benchleg, its a freaking great deer. :drool: Congrats again.
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Track-er
Thanks for posting the tail picks. And it does look like a true cross breed. I like those. Wish we had more pictures of those kind.
Regardless of it being cross, as long as it is west of the trail, it is legal.Ya baby! Something the department got right!
His rack sure makes him look like a pure blackie though.
I arrowed a full-blood mulie once in the stampede unit years ago. It was about 200 yards west of the line and only a 1x2 but still legal and good meat in the freezer.
Thanks again for the pictures Track-er. Mount that monster!
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thats a big boy. congrats guys!
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I dont see the mulie resemblence at all? Just looks like a BIG ass high country Blacktail to me.
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Thankx for the tail pics, 100% mule deer, must have had a good amount of early snow to push that bad boy over or down, hopefully he bred some of the blacktail doe's.
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Awesome buck. Looks like a pure muley to me. The photos of his ass pretty much tell the story. Not even the cross breed stripe down the tail. Wouldn't hesitate an instant to shoot that one though.
Great job.
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I thought i recognized the area. not exactly where it is but close. i had a thread on here earlier in the year. i saw a bunch of mulies in that area. but its a great buck either way. congrats
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don't let anyone take away from you trophy they have the idea that roads divide the blood lines. not true we havent killed a true blacktail or muledeer for years they are mud-blooded mixed up we even have some whittail crooses killed every once and awhile he looks alot like are columbia croos bucks but he is great anyways congrats again
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Don't give in to the doubters they are just trying to get you to tell them where it was shot.
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Hot Dog Guys.Great Job! Man what a monster.
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I looked again at the tail under a magnifying glass. There does seem to be a small brown stripe running down the tail. This would make this big fella a real treat. If I was a guessing man, I would guess 25 percent BT 75 percent MD. He's got some rather large ears too.
I really hope you save the tail end of that wonderfull and semi rare deer. Would be nice to have as a souvenir and great conversation piece. Get it tanned and hang it with the mounted head.
and again - congrats Track-er!
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The general reference to the location where he was shot would technically classify him as blacktail. It might be a mixed blood deer but that doesn't really matter.
Great animal. I'd a shot that thing as well and would be proud.
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The question of legality over this deer seems to keep coming up. I don't see where anyone has questioned the legality of it but the defense keeps popping up as if it is needing defense. I only asked for butt end pictures because I originally thought I saw mule deer ears. Everyone knows it is legal. Anyone who might think it isn't legal needs to read the regs. If they need help with that, then ask.
It might be a mixed blood deer but that doesn't really matter.
In my opinion, it does matter. It is a very rare deer and one that he can really brag on. Again, that is why I originally asked for butt pictures. I want to show this thing to all my friends and I think Track-er has some really big bragging rights. I think the tail has some brown down it and that makes it a mixed breed. I also think the tail end should be tanned and saved next to the mount. I have stated my opinion on what I think it is as far as percentage and again - nobody has questioned its legality as far as I can see. Only God knows for sure what mix it is but I don't think it is pure MD either. Others may think so but that is what this discusion is about too.
A MD/BT cross has been in my dreams for a long time. I would like to see more pictures of these bucks on this forum. :chuckle:
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Between this buck and Houndhunter's Uncle's buck last year, those are two of the biggest blackies I have seen. Beautiful deer. Are you going to keep the wound intact when you get it mounted?
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I would like to see more pictures of these bucks on this forum.
How many friends do you think Skyval has :rolleyes: J/K Sky ;)
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That eye wound will look the same when mounted.I won't have it sewn shut.
Mike
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It almost sounds like he took a fall, rather than sparring. Either way, that will add some character to the mount.
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The question of legality over this deer seems to keep coming up. I don't see where anyone has questioned the legality of it but the defense keeps popping up as if it is needing defense. I only asked for butt end pictures because I originally thought I saw mule deer ears. Everyone knows it is legal. Anyone who might think it isn't legal needs to read the regs. If they need help with that, then ask.
It might be a mixed blood deer but that doesn't really matter.
In my opinion, it does matter. It is a very rare deer and one that he can really brag on. Again, that is why I originally asked for butt pictures. I want to show this thing to all my friends and I think Track-er has some really big bragging rights. I think the tail has some brown down it and that makes it a mixed breed. I also think the tail end should be tanned and saved next to the mount. I have stated my opinion on what I think it is as far as percentage and again - nobody has questioned its legality as far as I can see. Only God knows for sure what mix it is but I don't think it is pure MD either. Others may think so but that is what this discusion is about too.
A MD/BT cross has been in my dreams for a long time. I would like to see more pictures of these bucks on this forum. :chuckle:
I defend it because people are calling it a mule deer. Nothing to do with legality concerns and everything to do with the right to clarifying what it will be considered in my statement. There are no hidden agendas regarding legality from me. So it being a cross breed does not matter one bit in the context of any remark I have made. Other than it will be considered as blacktail in the record books. My statement is correct. Yours might be too but they are of different context and you make things confusing. You are speaking of sentimental value. I am clearly not when it comes to my choice of words.
Nice deer. Now let's get past being focused on my positive remarks.
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every cross bred buck ive ever seen shows more blacktail characteristics than muley, id say its possible that this is a pure strain muley who was just west of the pct, either way though a nice buck congrats
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That is an awesome buck. I would say definately a cross, but who cares? That is a great buck no matter what species. Just to find him at that altitude, means he is a very mature, smart buck. Good job, and keep it up.
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Probably why B&C only counts blacktails as being west of I5.
Not true, here is the B&C boundaries.
http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgRecords/records_boundaries.asp?area=bgRecords
By the way awesome buck Track-er! :drool:
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Hello Track-er. Very nice deer! Don't let the squabbling over blackie-vs-muley-vs-cross thing bother you. You hunted with a good friend, had a good hunt, got a good deer, got some good meat, got outside and since we only ride this ride of life once just savor what you've just did 'till the ride is over. Congratulation's my man!
After reading some more of the reply's........tie some flies with that tail!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
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Wow, incredible buck!
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amazing buck and in the snow! nice job
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I don't think anyone is arguing the legal aspect of this buck. From the posts I have read it just seems like a civil discussion about crossbreed deer. Seems like a very interesting topic to me. Not too sure why some our taking it personal. I have found this post to be a great read and everyone agrees it's a great deer. :twocents:
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Well its almost been a week since I got my deer and my excitement is winding down.I want to thank a couple of members for their advice on taking care to preserve my mount.I also can't thank Sky enough for his help.I have enjoyed reading all the comments and really like this site and am glad to be a member.
Thank You, Mike
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What a monster!! Did you submit it for the B&C? If not why not?
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Keep us updated on the score.
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Strictly from a Record Book perspective, that mule deer looking tail will raise plenty of question with an official measurer, regardless of where it was killed. I know if I was scoring that buck officially, I'd be seeking advice and guidance from the records office and consulting with the area biologist. Yes, it looks like a big blacktail, but that tail says mule deer. It's just not something you can overlook when it is plausible for a mule deer to be in that same area.
That being said, who cares about the record books for a moment. It doesn't need to be entered, for that matter. This is an incredible buck no matter the DNA and as someone already said, there isn't a person here who wouldn't tag this buck in a hunting situation based on whether or not it will make the books. Anyone?
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Also, note the white rump patch, consistent with mule deer markings. Blacktails don't have a rump patch.
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WOW, Some of you just take things way to personal. I LOVE THIS DEER and would love to see it get submitted in the B&C.
Realx everyone, it is a GREAT BUCK and some of us do care what it scores!! I would submit it in a heartbeat. I do not see why anyone wouldn't. I would want to know if it was a BT or a MD and it doesn't matter one way or the other. It is a great buck.
Get it scored and let us know, we all are waqiting to see the score.
Thanks for listening and don't mind the negative posts on here, THEY ARE JUST JEALOUS!!!!!!
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What a monster!! Did you submit it for the B&C? If not why not?
Have to wait 60 days for official scoring.
Thanks,Mike
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Galpster, it's not about jealousy, and I think if you read the words of every post, that point is very clear. Questions arose quickly based on physiological differences between mule deer and blacktails, specifically the tail. If you cropped out that tail in photo and showed it to 10 measurers and asked them if it's a whitetail, mule deer, or blacktail, I'll bet a paycheck that 10 out of 10 will claim it is a mule deer - knowing nothing else. So, it IS about the formalities of entering an animal into the Records Programs for B&C. Those rear-end photos would raise red flags for EVERY official measurer. It will simply need clarity before an official entry can be made. That's all I'm saying.
Nothing about jealousy. It's a great deer and everyone acknowledges that fact clearly.
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I see what u r saying. But what is needed to clarify? It was shot in a BT area and the antlers are BT like just huge. I would be curious to see what happened. MAybe thats all, I just would be curious to see what the ruling was.
I sure hope we find out!!!
GREAT BUCK AGAIN, I cannot say that enough!!
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All that may be true but according to the boundaries its a blacktail. I'm quite sure loads of the book bucks could have gone either way. Unless they make the boundary obvious so as there would be no question whether or not a mule deer came over the PCT, say maybe I-5, then there will ALWAYS!!! be room for question when a blacktail of any size is entered. Track-er didn't make the rules he's only going by what the "experts" have layed out.
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All that may be true but according to the boundaries its a blacktail. I'm quite sure loads of the book bucks could have gone either way. Unless they make the boundary obvious so as there would be no question whether or not a mule deer came over the PCT, say maybe I-5, then there will ALWAYS!!! be room for question when a blacktail of any size is entered. Track-er didn't make the rules he's only going by what the "experts" have layed out.
Completely agree - and I'm not stating the record book boundaries are good or bad - they are what they are.
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And that post wasn't intended for bow4elk it was just a comment in general.
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Dear Track-er
If the list isn't too long, please add me to the list of:
1. Jealous hunters
2. Camp cook
3. Wood cutter
4. Meat hauler
5. Guide (yes man, butt kisser, etc.)
6. Bedtime story teller
7. Camp dish washer
8. Camp jester
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Dear Track-er
If the list isn't too long, please add me to the list of:
1. Jealous hunters
2. Camp cook
3. Wood cutter
4. Meat hauler
5. Guide (yes man, butt kisser, etc.)
6. Bedtime story teller
7. Camp dish washer
8. Camp jester
so noted
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Dont get me wrong that is an awesome Muley, pretty crazy you got it west of the PCT. Have any of you guys looked at the Boone and Crockett website. Deer are considered Blacktails if they are are
Washington — Beginning at the Washington-British Columbia border, the boundary line runs south along the west boundary of North Cascades National Park to the range line between R10E and R11E, Willamette Meridian, which is then followed directly south to its intersection with the township line between T18N and T17N, which is then followed westward until it connects with the north border of Mt. Rainier National Park, then along the north, west and south park boundaries until it intersects with the range line between R9E and R10E, Willamette Meridian, which is then followed directly south to the Colum.bia River near Cook
It ends up being around Baring in that area.
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It actually has nothing to do with I-5 or the PCT
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Dear Track-er
If the list isn't too long, please add me to the list of:
1. Jealous hunters
2. Camp cook
3. Wood cutter
4. Meat hauler
5. Guide (yes man, butt kisser, etc.)
6. Bedtime story teller
7. Camp dish washer
8. Camp jester
I don't see photographer :rolleyes:
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I saw the rack and assumed it was a blacktail but once i read the posts and saw the tail mentioned I went back and looked closer, that thing definately has a mulie tail. Still a bomber buck.
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The book has a category just for these dear taken in the portion between I-5 and the pct just for all the reasons covered on this post. Mule deer, blacktail and crossbreeds all fall into the same category in the book. They are scored as a cascade blacktail just for inbreeding situations. The other side of I-5 is considered columbian blacktail so looks like you got yourself a monster B&C cascade blacktail Track-er congrats again.
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:dunno:never have seen a blacktail with a yellow butt looks like a muley to me ,nice buck anyway.
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A few things to add. Correct me if I am wrong but 180 grain's statement is true regarding the state record book. Boone & Crockett does not have a classification for cascade blacktails. There are simply columbian blacktails and sitka blacktails. I also believe that there are no field photos REQUIRED to enter an animal in the book. If he had submitted a photo and cropped out the ass, we would not be having this conversation. As bow4elk, stated all the measurers would see the tail/rump and call this deer a muley. I think we all need to keep in mind that there are a lot of official B & C scorers that have neither seen nor scored a blacktail and would simply use B & C boundary descriptions to clarify if or not is is indeed a blacktail. I know a couple of scorers that have never hunted a day in their lives. They are antler collectors and that is why they become official scorers. My point is that just because someone is an official B & C scorer, it doesn't make him an expert in mule deer/blacktail classification. Bow4elk would definately be an exception. I would be willing to be that a lot of folks on here know as much or more than the average scorer. That being said, it is a hell of a buck. I would call it a blacktail, get is scored in 60 days and let B & C decide what they want to do. The rest is history,
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I would call it a blacktail, get is scored in 60 days and let B & C decide what they want to do.
:yeah:
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Nice deer.
Question. Are you calling this a blacktail because of the location it was shot?
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I would call it a blacktail, get is scored in 60 days and let B & C decide what they want to do.
:yeah:
X2 :yeah:
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Welcome to the site mule deer, cant believe that name wasnt taken till now.
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Apparently this question had already been addressed. Sorry about that, I had only read through the first 2 pages of posts before I fired off my question. Tail and ears are huge indicators
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No, because it is a Blacktail and that is what it is.
Mike
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If that's not a mule deer I don't know what is. I don't know how you can refute the rump and tail. . . Regardless, it's one hell of a buck and it doesn't matter what kind of deer it is!
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Thanks for sharing your marvelous trophy with us. To bad there are so many deer biologists creeping around your thread. Congrats on a great buck. I will look for it in the B&C book next year. Again congrats on a masher trophy.
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Look at my buck and then look at the poached deer in oregon.They look the same.
Mike
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WOW!! Nice buck. I'd be proud to have shot it no matter where it was. Sorry Tracker. That deer is not a blacktail. That deer is bench at best, but mostly mulie. Don't matter what someone else called a blacktail south of us. That deer in the bioligist book is mulie. We can't change science.
None the less. Congratulations. That's gonna be a tough deer to best in this state. There are bigger, but most of us junkies won't shoot a bigger one. But than again we gotta try.
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Great buck!!!!
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A few things to add. Correct me if I am wrong but 180 grain's statement is true regarding the state record book. Boone & Crockett does not have a classification for cascade blacktails. There are simply columbian blacktails and sitka blacktails. I also believe that there are no field photos REQUIRED to enter an animal in the book. If he had submitted a photo and cropped out the ass, we would not be having this conversation. As bow4elk, stated all the measurers would see the tail/rump and call this deer a muley. I think we all need to keep in mind that there are a lot of official B & C scorers that have neither seen nor scored a blacktail and would simply use B & C boundary descriptions to clarify if or not is is indeed a blacktail. I know a couple of scorers that have never hunted a day in their lives. They are antler collectors and that is why they become official scorers. My point is that just because someone is an official B & C scorer, it doesn't make him an expert in mule deer/blacktail classification. Bow4elk would definately be an exception. I would be willing to be that a lot of folks on here know as much or more than the average scorer. That being said, it is a hell of a buck. I would call it a blacktail, get is scored in 60 days and let B & C decide what they want to do. The rest is history,
True - NW Big Game, Inc. http://www.nwbiggame.com/ (publishes the state books for WA, OR, ID, MT) does indeed have a Cascade Blacktail classification. The Boone and Crockett Club does not, however. But, it is a widely known fact that deer don't care about boundaries, and that deer population dynamics vary depending on many factors. And it is true that there are a number or official measurers around who don't hunt, and many more that are not informed about Blacktails. "Benchlegs", as they are commonly referred, are the result of cross-breeding between mule deer and blacktails. Bucks may display characteristics of both species or heavily weighted one way or the other. The B&C Records Program has this to say about Mule Deer, Sitka, and Columbian Blacktail Deer:
The problem of properly defining the boundary between the large antlered mule deer, which ranges widely over most of the western third of the United States and western Canada, and its smaller relatives, the Columbia and Sitka blacktails of the West Coast, has been difficult from the beginning of the records keeping. The three varieties belong to the same species and thus are able to interbreed readily where their ranges meet. The intent of the Club in drawing suitable boundary lines is to exclude intergrades from each of the three categories. These boundaries have been redrawn as necessary, as more details have become known about the precise ranges of these animals.
Also, if you consider Scott Haugen's new book, he outlines the five variations of the Columbian Blacktail, speaking to these points. I've read his book and have found his science-based account very informative. I highly recommend it, especially for those following this thread. (By the way, he just got back from AK where he killed a big brown bear, and will be doing some late season blacktail seminars in at the new Wholesale Sports (formerly Sportsmen's Warehouse) stores...will be in Burlington at 2 pm on Nov. 7, Federal Way on Nov. 10 at 6:30 pm and on Nov. 11 at 6:30 pm in Vancouver)
I stand by my assessment that it will be up to the physical location of the kill and the B&C determination of specie. It's an awesome buck, regardless.
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Great buck!
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Look at my buck and then look at the poached deer in oregon.They look the same.
Mike
unfortunately we have no tail pics of the deer poached in oregon, your buck has a mule deer tail not a typical cross tail, dont get all worked up nobody is questioning that it is a nice buck for either species
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There is no question that legally it is a blacktail. And, there is no question that it is a heck of a nice buck!
The latest rangewide genetics work pretty clearly shows that during the last glacial period, and perhaps previous ones too, that constant isolation allowed the single species to differentiate. Since the end of the last ice age, there has been some interbreeding.
It is unlikely there are any truly genetically pure members of the subspecies, after at least 12,000 generations of deer post-isolation; a good geneticist will likely find a small amount of O.h.h. post-glacial DNA in every animal from the blacktail range sampled, and conversely a small (and I'd bet larger) amount of O.h.c. post-glacial DNA in O.h.h. from across the range. I've seen mule deer with blacktail traits in eastern Wyoming: browner coats, shorter ears, dark stripe down the tail (I've given affidavits on a few of these, where they were shot in whitetail-only seasons and the defense was claiming they were mule deer-whitetail hybrids; they were not, they were pure Odocoileus hemionus).
Here's the abstract from the March 2009 Molecular Biology, for those who care to read the science:
Mol Ecol. 2009 Apr;18(8):1730-45. Epub 2009 Mar 19.
Species-wide phylogeography of North American mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus): cryptic glacial refugia and postglacial recolonization.
Latch EK, Heffelfinger JR, Fike JA, Rhodes OE Jr.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3209 N. Maryland Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA. latch@uwm.edu
Quaternary climatic oscillations greatly influenced the present-day population genetic structure of animals and plants. For species with high dispersal and reproductive potential, phylogeographic patterns resulting from historical processes can be cryptic, overshadowed by contemporary processes. Here we report a study of the phylogeography of Odocoileus hemionus, a large, vagile ungulate common throughout western North America. We examined sequence variation of mitochondrial DNA (control region and cytochrome b) within and among 70 natural populations across the entire range of the species. Among the 1766 individual animals surveyed, we recovered 496 haplotypes. Although fine-scale phylogenetic structure was weakly resolved using phylogenetic methods, network analysis clearly revealed the presence of 12 distinct haplogroups. The spatial distribution of haplogroups showed a strong genetic discontinuity between the two morphological types of O. hemionus, mule deer and black-tailed deer, east and west of the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. Within the mule deer lineage, we identified several haplogroups that expanded before or during the Last Glacial Maximum, suggesting that mule deer persisted in multiple refugia south of the ice sheets. Patterns of genetic diversity within the black-tailed deer lineage suggest a single refugium along the Pacific Northwest coast, and refute the hypothesis that black-tailed deer persisted in one or more northern refugia. Our data suggest that black-tailed deer recolonized areas in accordance with the pattern of glacial retreat, with initial recolonization northward along a coastal route and secondary recolonization inland.
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The latest rangewide genetics work pretty clearly shows that during the last glacial period, and perhaps previous ones too, that constant isolation allowed the single species to differentiate. Since the end of the last ice age, there has been some interbreeding.
This would explain why things happened the way they did between humans after Snoqualmie and Stephens pass opened up.
I've got to warn my kids!
All joking aside - this is good info. Thanks :)
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that thing is awsome Mike. good job
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NICE BT!!!
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Whats the gross bone pyle score settler
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148 is my :twocents:
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IM GOING NUTS WHATS THE SCORE DUDES :yike: SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW
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Waiting the 60 day drying period to get it scored.
Mike
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Waiting the 60 day drying period to get it scored.
Mike
Seriously? Of course I would wait 60 days for an official score, but I think I would put a tape on him myself for an "un-official score", just to see what he rings in at...
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I thought I had someone lined up to give me an official score but the guy said he's busy all month so I will have to wait for the Sportsman Show at Puyallup.
Mike
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I will rough score him at 129 6/8 for you!!
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:drool:unreal
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Some of you who believe the tail and rump are Muley may be right :dunno: but I can't keep from looking at the Blacktail head and horns!!! Great Buck :drool: :drool: :drool:
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What about the head and horns say blacktail?
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:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:
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littlebuf, just take a good shot of Bourbon, and slowly walk back down to the basement. It will be ok. Really! :chuckle: :chuckle:
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Are people really still talking about this? When are you guys going to be able to just let it go as a nice buck holy cow.
I'm with you littleuf
:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:
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Just needed to stir the pot for a laugh. I just couldn't believe this subject was back on page 1!
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Are people really still talking about this? When are you guys going to be able to just let it go as a nice buck holy cow.
I'm with you littleuf
:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:
i stated from my first post on this thread that it is a nice buck no matter what species, but frankly its a mulie
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:chuckle:
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Doesnt matter its still a cascade blacktail! :bash: Some of you guys will just never get that!
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Doesnt matter its still a cascade blacktail! :bash: Some of you guys will just never get that!
coming from a guy in Spokane :rolleyes:
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I love the look of the Washington Benchleg bucks. Huge, heavy dark horns. If this is one so much the better - better than a blackie - better than a mulie. I've never found much attraction to the whole "scoring" and "book" addiction thing. Seems to me to take something away from the experience. Instead of you and the buck its you and the book or you and the tape.
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littlebuf...let it go man!!
this is locked.
not gonna drum this up again.