Post by: Napalm68 on November 06, 2009, 02:17:20 PM
Going into this hunt my biggest fear was not knowing what a nice sized buck would look like and that I would make a poor decision early in the hunt. I have only been hunting about 9 years (im 41) and all of my hunting has been for Okanogan Mules and Nile elk. Okanogan, were I hunt anyway, does not really spit out monster deer. So...I did the right thing and decided to scout at least 4-5 solid days prior to my opener. I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of hunters in the area and found the good access points.
Well...after all of the running around and talking I decided to put all of my effort in one area and started my scouting. 2-3 dozen doe and one ONE! 2x2 later after 4 days I was starting to freak out a little. I was seeing tons of good sign and always seemed to be about a minute late when it came to running into a buck.
Opener came around and I decided to really put some miles on and aroung 2.5 miles from my entry I ran into a nice little 4x4. He was just sitting waiting for does to run by so I watched him for about a half hour or so. Later I pushed past his area and flushed a very nervous buck that I saw for a total of about 2 seconds. This dude was huge and never looked back at me. His horns were past his ears about 6+ inches and so i decided to give hime a chase. His tracks showed him bounding full out for the first half mile or so then he decided to slow down. Needless to say I never put eyes on him again but was happy that he was heading in the right area and there would be a chance that I could run into him again the nex day.
The second day I headed out to the same area and about a mile into it I was able to sneak right up onto the same buck that I had passed on the day before. I dropped some gear and brought my scope up to get a better look and right then another buck jumped up about 20 yards to my right. One look told me he had nice mass and very tall horns on him so i decided to drop him. I am not sure if he knew i was there or not but he was on his way out of the thicket and was moving on at a quick pace. I am terrible at moving targets and my first shot missed because i led him a bit much. My next was better as he turned away and gave me the old "Texas heart shot" look (which i am not a fan of) which i passed on but he decided to stop and take a look back. I put one in his head and he went two steps, bedded down and took a nap.
Now...I know there are a lot bigger out in the desert but I must say I am pretty happy with this guy. His beam is a bit narrow but he has some very nice mass and I actually like how tall his set is.
Hopefully before I die I will draw this tag again and try and hunt down the true monster that I know this gmu holds. Hope you all had a good season. Mine kicked ass.
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on November 06, 2009, 02:18:17 PM
Post by: agchawk on November 06, 2009, 02:22:20 PM
I love the mass on him. Very handsome buck!
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 06, 2009, 02:23:05 PM
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on November 06, 2009, 02:25:18 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on November 06, 2009, 02:32:33 PM
CONGRATS on a great lookin' buck! Certainly nothing to be ashamed of there!:yeah: :tup:
I love the mass on him. Very handsome buck!
Post by: wastickslinger on November 06, 2009, 02:35:23 PM
Post by: NWBREW on November 06, 2009, 02:35:58 PM
Post by: 509er on November 06, 2009, 02:37:07 PM
Post by: wamuledeer on November 06, 2009, 02:37:27 PM
Post by: Buckmark on November 06, 2009, 02:46:47 PM
Post by: wastickslinger on November 06, 2009, 02:48:48 PM
Post by: Track-er on November 06, 2009, 02:49:11 PM
Mike
Post by: bankwalker on November 06, 2009, 02:52:09 PM
Post by: fishunt247 on November 06, 2009, 03:34:07 PM
Post by: huntnphool on November 06, 2009, 03:50:34 PM
Post by: bucklucky on November 06, 2009, 03:54:06 PM
Post by: KillerMiller on November 06, 2009, 04:21:16 PM
Post by: scoyoc5 on November 06, 2009, 04:23:02 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on November 06, 2009, 04:25:07 PM
Post by: Birdguy on November 06, 2009, 05:15:32 PM
Post by: bowman on November 06, 2009, 05:17:25 PM
My dad and I are leaving tomorrow morning for his late Gardner tag.
Post by: Napalm68 on November 06, 2009, 05:23:19 PM
Oh...and I had 5 points when I drew that tag. Right after I drew the tag I went out and bought a lottery ticket .........nothing.
Post by: jstamp on November 06, 2009, 05:23:33 PM
Post by: antlerbolic_bearoids on November 06, 2009, 05:26:48 PM
Post by: jamng on November 06, 2009, 05:38:55 PM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on November 06, 2009, 05:40:52 PM
Post by: boneaddict on November 06, 2009, 05:44:37 PM
Post by: WAmuleyHunter on November 06, 2009, 06:08:56 PM
Post by: fishunt247 on November 06, 2009, 06:10:19 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on November 06, 2009, 06:16:44 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on November 06, 2009, 08:13:10 PM
I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.
Post by: eastside boy on November 07, 2009, 12:04:36 AM
Post by: eastside boy on November 07, 2009, 12:05:23 AM
Post by: andrew_12gauge on November 07, 2009, 12:44:36 AM
I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.
nice buck napalm i agree i think stickslingers pic is him live, and mtnmuley take another look the 5th is in the same spot on both the field photos and the live photo
Post by: MtnMuley on November 07, 2009, 05:39:28 AM
I'm pretty sure I'm right about being forked on opposite sides. Re-check.I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.
nice buck napalm i agree i think stickslingers pic is him live, and mtnmuley take another look the 5th is in the same spot on both the field photos and the live photo
Post by: wastickslinger on November 07, 2009, 06:08:13 AM
I'm pretty sure I'm right about being forked on opposite sides. Re-check.I dont think we have the sheds if i did i would give em 2 ya its kinda cool to have the sheds from a buck u harvested, but those sheds eluded us last year, but i do have 1 side from his buddy that he was with last year. My guess sticks pic is your buck from last year, i would put money on it.I would agree that's the same buck. One opposing factor is that his 5th is on the opposite side in the live photo though.
Weird camera angle. The buck is looking twords the camera. Fork on left.
nice buck napalm i agree i think stickslingers pic is him live, and mtnmuley take another look the 5th is in the same spot on both the field photos and the live photo
Post by: trout-n-salmon on November 08, 2009, 06:17:22 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 08, 2009, 06:49:26 PM