Late Season Success

"The Deep Tine Buck"
28" Wide   Gross Scores:189"

      Side View 

This is where I found him.

 He ran right through the oak and fell 

Caped out and ready to ride down the mountain

My pass through arrow sticking in the snow.
This is when I knew that I had harvested a GIANT buck.

A "crazy man" fist pumping all alone on the mountain!

A Full Moon the morning I harvested my buck
Looking down on SLC (2,500 ft incline hike in just .8 of a mile)

My buck in velvet ten miles from where I shot him
 (photos provided by another hunter)

 

"The Wide Buck"
32" Wide Gross Scores: 178" P&Y
Photo: Me and the lucky hunter Matt

Photo: Me and my hunting partner Russell (both jealous)

 

Wide Buck

"The 175 Buck"

Russell stalking the 175 buck

                There are several places in North America where one can hunt mule deer late in the rut. Incredible locations like Old Mexico and the Jicarilla Reservation come to mind. However, I can think of only a handful of destinations where it can be done without winning a lottery permit or without taking a second mortgage out on your home. I feel blessed to live next to one of these little gems. It is public do-it-yourself bow hunting at its best. It is rugged.... It is extreme.... and it isn't as easy as it might look and sound. I have hunted this unit for several years, but this season would prove to be one of my all time favorites.

                 It actually started last year, when my brother Jared and I located two bucks rutting a group of does. We didn't care which buck we harvested, because both of them were GIANTS! They were very different from each other.... One buck had super deep tines-scoring around 190" and the other had a super wide heavy frame-scoring around 180". We hunted hardcore, almost pulling off a miracle, but the hunt came to an end, leaving us dreaming all year long.

                Fast forward to Thanksgiving weekend, when we located both bucks again. We couldn't believe it! Jared was the first to get within bow range of the Deep Tine Buck, but the oak was just too thick and he slipped away. That afternoon, we glassed up the Wide Buck. We got within 30-40 yards of him several times but again just never had a shot opportunity. I was disappointed because this was the last day Jared could go hunting with me, even with one more week left in the season. (He coaches high school basketball.)

                The following Monday, I invited my friend Russell Mason. We split up and looked for either of the two bucks. Russell circled high and I stayed low. I glassed into a small draw and 150 yards above me both GIANTS were standing  five yards apart from each other. The sun was rising and the colors were spectacular. They were not fighting, they were mostly feeding and taking a break from the rut. There was several does and a younger deep tined 175" buck below them. Every so often, the two larger  bucks would raise their heads and lay their ears back showing off their awesome headgear. The wide buck was lip curling. It was an awesome sight!

                It didn't take long for the dominant bucks to split up, chasing does in different directions. The deep tine buck left the canyon. I played cat and mouse stalking the wide buck all morning long.  At one time, I had him at less than 20 yards. I was at full draw, as he was twisting and turning his antlers to get through the brush. He was soon going to be in a good opening for a broadside shot. My heart was racing, as I could tell it was finally going to happen. Two more steps was all I needed, but he froze. He picked me out standing there, even though I hadn't moved an inch. He was close enough that I could see his eye blink and his wet nose flare while he was attempting to catch my scent. He didn't quite like what he saw and turned back into the oak. Dang the bad luck!

                We crossed paths later again that afternoon. I caught him and a doe circling a small pine, only 35 yards out in front of me. I was waiting for him to make a mistake, when the  175" buck came in from behind. He was following a track from the hot doe. I drew on him at 20 yards, while his nose was to the ground. I had the shot, but I couldn't do it because the Wide Buck was still right there close in the oak. I turned around getting back on the Wide Buck, only to see him leave trailing his doe. The next time I saw the Wide Buck, he was heading straight away from me. I grunted and stopped him at about 60 yards. He turned, exposing his front shoulder and ribs. This is when this story gets crazy...crazy!

                I settled my pin and let an arrow fly. I watched the buck lunge forward busting up through the oak and then he stopped, only 20 yards from where I had shot at him. He was there for no more than a couple of seconds, when he whirled around doing almost a complete 180 crashing  and stumbling down through the oak. I watched him fall, never to get back up again. He was dead! I was in shock. I honestly thought that I had just killed a buck of a lifetime.

                I ran up to my where the deer had been standing and could not see my arrow anywhere on the ground. "It must be in him still", I thought. I got on his trail and soon found bright red blood and tons of it. Even though I watched him fall, l decided to give things a minute. That's when another public hunter came out of the oak and up to me. He said he had just hit a big buck and it ran down this way. "What?!"

                His name was Matt. I had no clue he was even there. I could tell he was just as equally excited as I was. We talked about how I had just shot and he explained how he too had just shot.  It must have been only seconds apart. I said to Matt, "I think this buck has two arrows in him, which explains why he died so fast." We took up the blood trail and it didn't take long to see the monster buck laying there in the oak. The Wide Buck was dead.

                 He was bigger than I had judged him on the hoof. His enormous head, and long ears and heavy body hid his 32" wide frame. He wasn't nearly as crabby as he looked on the hoof either. I could clearly see Matt's arrow sunk deep in his chest. I flipped him over expecting to see another arrow in him.... Nothing! It was a clean miss. I was crushed!

                As we visited, I learned it was Matt's first ever buck. I also learned that he was a pretty nice guy and could tell he was feeling bad for getting in between our stalk. I knew he was new at all this stuff. I decided to make sure that I didn't have a sour attitude and ruin his celebration. Instead of getting upset, I told myself that I had my chances with this buck long before Matt got an arrow in him.I tried my hardest to be positive.

                Since Matt was on the mountain alone that day, we helped him with photos and I caped out his deer so he could get it hauled back to his truck that night and to a taxidermist. We did put a tape to his buck. He is 31" 5/8 wide and scores just under 180" P & Y. I couldn't help but wish that it was me loading this buck on my pack instead of Matt. While hiking off the mountain empty handed that night, I told myself...I can't let this season end this way.

                Two days later, with the hunt almost coming to a close, I decided to made a solo trip. I was the only one that could go hunting that day. I knew it was going to be tough hunting conditions by myself, but I had to get that bad taste out of my mouth. I knew the Deep Tine Buck wasn't dead and I was determined now more than ever to try to find him. I didn't give up looking that day. It took me all morning and part of the afternoon hiking way high in the pines under the rock peak to finally turn him up. 
             At about 2pm, while perched high on a steep snow covered mountain peak, I found the Deep Tine Buck. He was with two does and they were working my way. I watched as they all three hooked down underneath me. I was in a bad spot and could do nothing but wait. I knew they would hear me if I tried moving. They stopped and began to feed out of the oak and into the pines below.   

                With only one doe in sight, I carefully cut the distance trying not to let her see or hear me. I knew I couldn't get any closer without her busting me. I assumed the buck and the other doe were behind the tree to my right. I ranged her at 82 yards. I could see all of her body now. "That is a very long shot", I thought to myself.  (This is where the right equipment, tons of practice and having good shooting form all comes together.)

                I calculated the things I needed to do for a good shot, as I was waiting for the buck to appear. He finally walked forward and stopped sniffing the doe standing in front of him. He was broadside, so I slowly came to a full draw. I knew with the steep angle, that I needed to make yardage adjustments. I decided to use my 70 yard pin, holding just barely above this back and behind his front shoulder. I made sure I bent a little at the waist for the downhill shot. I let the wind die down some and squeezed the trigger on my release... The arrow was on its way!

                To be honest, I wasn't sure of my shot? It felt good, but it didn't sound like I hit him. The buck lunged forward, but I didn't think he was hit. I held my position and watched one of his does cut out to my left, while the other doe circled back to my right and over to where she just came from. He should be following one of them. He must still be below me, held up playing  possum in the thick pine and oak?

                I waited ten minutes and eased to my right to get a better view. That is when I saw red blood in the snow. "Are you kidding me!" I rushed down and found my arrow totally covered in blood stuck  in the snow. I collapsed to my knees in disbelief.

                 After a brief wait, I easily followed the heavy blood trail. After 100 yards, I found him laying there in a small opening dead in his tracks. As I approached him, it was a humbling experience. I could not believe the week I had. I was happy and kind of sad all at the same time. Happy for my success but a little sad both giants were now dead and I couldn't hunt them anymore. They were very special bucks.  As I picked up his head, I really got to appreciate this great buck deep tines and symmetry. He is 28" wide and gross scores 189" P&Y. I called my wife then Jared and Russell and let them each know of my good fortune. They each made the comment...."Now this is your arrow for sure, not some other hunters?" Good one guys. This week truly was extreme late season bow hunting at its best!