Little Dropper

nk

Active Member
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Here is the story and pics of my 3rd season Southwestern Colorado buck.

I started my Colorado Mule Deer hunt with hopes of going 3 for 3. I'd shot a Bull Elk with my bow in September, an Antelope Buck with my rifle in October and now it was time for Mule Deer. I have found myself frequently hunting around Halloween and unfortunately interesting things happen to me around this time. 4 flat tires on one trip, a blown engine and stuck in Tucson on another. Break ups, another flat tire and now this.

The plan was to scout out Southwestern Colorado three and a half days prior to opening day but things got interesting on Halloween. I had spent the prior day and a half scouting out an area I thought held some good bucks. Although most of the deer were in the lower Juniper and Sage country, I found myself in some steep and deep country. I had been finding lots of sheds which led me to believe there were bucks that hung out in the canyon. I found a few decent bucks and one I would consider shooting.

On Halloween evening I scouted a burn area that did not disappoint me. The burn area held lots of deer and one more buck that would be my back up buck to this point. As night time fell I got into my truck and headed back to camp. I was crossing a wash that had a pretty good drop to it. I thought to myself ?ahh, I can make it.? Unfortunately my Ford Ranger did not have enough clearance and the hitch caught up on the ledge leaving my back two tires a couple of inches off of the ground. I tried and tried to get unstuck. Jamming rocks, wood, sand and gravel underneath the tires produced nothing but burnt rubber. I even tried a number of different techniques using my jack, all with no luck. So, I called a tow truck to get me unstuck way back in the country. A 3 mile hike, and $100 dollars later, the all too familiar tow truck guy had me off of the ledge and driving again.

It was late and I needed new tires due to the fact mine were now worn down to nothing. I decided to stay the night in the nearest town instead of four wheeling back to camp. It was only five miles or so and as I cruised down the winding 2 lane highway a doe decided to run right out in front of me. WHACK! I smoked her and she felt no pain. The grill of my truck did. There was minor damage to the grill but still I could help but think, only on Halloween. I stayed the night and spent the rest of the next day getting new tires.

One more day of scouting and I saw the buck I was contemplating shooting again. But once again I only caught a glimpse of him. The night before opening day I fell asleep knowing I had a decent buck in the area so I decided to hunt for him. At first light the crisp cool air gave me the boost I needed to make the hike. I hiked good mile back from camp when sat down to glass the buck?s home range. I glassed, and glassed and shivered and shaked but could not find the deer anywhere. Below me in the lower country it sounded as though we were at war with all of the gunshots that were going off. I decided to move to another point where I could get a better angle into the canyon where I'd previously seen the buck. As I got up something told me to take a look directly behind me. I lifted my binoculars and scanned the rolling hills below me. There he was, at the bottom of the basin. He was only four hundred and fifty yards away. I saw a small ridge about a hundred yards below me so I slowly worked my way through the short bristly grass to a Juniper tree. I set up my rifle and looked over the bronzed colored buck one last time. I could see his neck was swollen and he gradually turned his head my way. As I peered through my scope the cross hairs steadied just below his front shoulder. At that moment the buck was looking directly at me. He was broad side so I knew I wouldn't get a better opportunity. I slowly squeezed the trigger and the shot rang through the canyon. A millisecond later you could hear the crack of the bullet hitting its mark. I lowered the rifle and reloaded another round into the chamber as the buck stumbled to the ground and laid still as day. A quick hike down to where he lay and once again I felt the most satisfying feeling. The smiles continue and will last quite a long time.

This buck has a gross score of 174? and has a 3? drop tine on its right side and a cheater off of its left side. This is my first Colorado Mule deer and my second Mulley ever. I'm extremely pleased and happy to say I did it myself on public land. Hopefully I'll be able to write one more story for 2007 as I hunt for Coues deer in Southern Arizona near the end of December.

NK

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Nice deer. It feels good all the way through to have "done it yourself", doesn't it!
 
nice buck, looks lke he broke off the tine while in velvet and rolled down.
 
nk

Nice buck with great character. You wrote up a very good account of your hunt. Thanks for sharing.


Ransom
 
That was a good story... Damn good looking buck.. Congrats to you. I thought I was the only one that had that kind of weird bad luck... I could tell you some stories.. Thanks for sharing..
 
That's an awesome buck! Congrats to you! Crappy luck but it looks like it all paid out in the end.
 
looks like an injury while he was in the velvet. great buck!




the only eagle with enough power and speed to kill and gut you with one shot
 
thanks for the replies. most definately injured so it caused the drop tine. DIY is the only way for me and usually solo. ill post some pics when i get him back from the taxi.
nk
 
Awesome buck! I love the Roman Nose.

jeff

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, weapon in one hand, calls in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
 
Nice buck!
Job well done...congrats!

------------------------------------------------------
By the way,
I live in UT.
There are a lot of UTARDS that live here.
I have also seen quite a few WYOMORONS, NEVADUHNS, COLORADORKS, ID-IOTS and AIRHEADZONANS in my travels.
 
Great story and a nice buck done the hard way. Nothing feels better than a successful DIY hunt, nothing. Again great job.

WP
 

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