Last night was one of the best nights I have ever been a part of. Besides it being Christmas eve, it was the apex of a 2 year story for me. If you like a good story sit back and enjoy!!
Two years ago my mother-in-law remarried a man by the name of Pat. Pat and I hit it off pretty good when we met and I found out he enjoyed the outdoors also. He sat me down one of those first meetings and showed me his hunting picture albumn. I really enjoy pictures of the past so I was having a great time flipping through his pictures. I eventually got to a page that held this picture.
By tracjaco at 2008-12-25
The picture stopped me in my tracks. It was obvious that this was a great buck. I asked him about it. Pat told me a short version of the hunt and how he took the buck in 1983 only 30 miles from where we were sitting in Downey, Id. I was in awe! What a buck! I asked him where the rack was?
He went on to tell me that it came up missing about 8 years ago when he had his house rented out. He said he had filled police reports, and looked around for it but to no avail. I was bummed that I was not going to be able to see it in person.
Fast forward 8-10 months and I had just recieved "Idaho's Greatest Mule Deer" by Ryan Hatfield. It was great evening reading before bed each night. About a week into it I noticed a picture of a deer that looked just like Pats big buck. It was on page 401.
By tracjaco at 2008-12-25
Closer inspection showed that the top picture had his buck in it also. I wasn't sure, so I made a trip down to his house the next day and showed him what I had found. It was clear it was the same deer.
I decided to post this info on Monstermuleys and see if we could get anymore leads. This lead me to conversations with MM member Ryan Hatfield(book author) and also Larry Cross(gentleman that did the plaque mount). It was great talking with Ryan and he did some more digging for us, but found more dead ends.
Fast forward to Nov,2008.
I got a call from my good friend, Jay. He and I buy antlers of big bucks and he was calling to talk about an offer he made to a gentleman on a buck that he thought would go at least 220". We were discussing how much he offered since it was on a plaque mount but he could tell the skull plate was broke.
I asked him if he knew the location of the kill and when, just out of curouisity. Jay said he knew it was killed in 1983 because the tag was still on the antlers and the guy that had them thought it was killed down by Downey, Id. This perked my interest. I almost did not say anything, but finally I said, "Jay, I going to send you an email with a pic."
He said, "OK?" We ended our conversation, and hung up.
2 minutes latter he called back and exclaimed it was the same buck!!! I about fell out of my chair.
We spent the rest of the night back and forth with the person that had the buck in possesion. We worked out a tentive deal so that I could pic the antlers up! Once I had this all figured out I sat back and could not believe Pats luck. As I sat in my office a plan began to form..........
The day I picked Pats buck up!(Notice the origianl plaque mount and tag.)
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Everyday for 8 years as Pat went to work he drove by the house his antlers were in! Crazy!
With Christmas only a month+ away I decided that this big of story needed a big ending. I called my brother, owner of Teton Taxidermy in Preston, Id. I told him the story, and he agreed, this buck needed a shoulder mount! We worked out big cape issues and fast turn around times.
As you all know, it is not what you know but who you know in life! With only 3 1/2 weeks to work with Jared showed up yesterday before our big family party and.......WOW!
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
You have probably firgured out by now I haven't told Pat yet that I found his buck. Well, I had to wrap this thing, and it took one huge box.....
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Pat and Betty showed up and sat next to that big box for the next hour!
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Finally, out family tradition started. Its a Christmas pass around of small gifts. When the dust settled, Pat opened up his small gift and it was a camo hat. He was then informed since he recieved the camo hat he also got whatever was in the big box.
We lifted the box.......
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
I think he was kind of confused at first.....
I think it is starting to sink in......
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Yep, he knows what's up now.....
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
We hung him up for a better look....
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
The best part of the night was once the head was up on the wall his gaze kept wandering over to this great deer. We were all treated to his hunting story about the day this great deer fell.
It has been a long time since I have felt the true meaning of Christmas. To give, is to recieve. The greatest gift of all. I told my wife last night that she could take every gift back to the store this feeling would not be topped! I hope your christmas was just as rewarding. It's not often that you get to give a gift "Monster Muley" style!
P.S.- For all you score nuts 235 6/8"!
P.S.S- Special thanks to Jay, Clay, Jared, Ryan Hatfield, my wife. With out all your help this story would not have happened!
Two years ago my mother-in-law remarried a man by the name of Pat. Pat and I hit it off pretty good when we met and I found out he enjoyed the outdoors also. He sat me down one of those first meetings and showed me his hunting picture albumn. I really enjoy pictures of the past so I was having a great time flipping through his pictures. I eventually got to a page that held this picture.
By tracjaco at 2008-12-25
The picture stopped me in my tracks. It was obvious that this was a great buck. I asked him about it. Pat told me a short version of the hunt and how he took the buck in 1983 only 30 miles from where we were sitting in Downey, Id. I was in awe! What a buck! I asked him where the rack was?
He went on to tell me that it came up missing about 8 years ago when he had his house rented out. He said he had filled police reports, and looked around for it but to no avail. I was bummed that I was not going to be able to see it in person.
Fast forward 8-10 months and I had just recieved "Idaho's Greatest Mule Deer" by Ryan Hatfield. It was great evening reading before bed each night. About a week into it I noticed a picture of a deer that looked just like Pats big buck. It was on page 401.
By tracjaco at 2008-12-25
Closer inspection showed that the top picture had his buck in it also. I wasn't sure, so I made a trip down to his house the next day and showed him what I had found. It was clear it was the same deer.
I decided to post this info on Monstermuleys and see if we could get anymore leads. This lead me to conversations with MM member Ryan Hatfield(book author) and also Larry Cross(gentleman that did the plaque mount). It was great talking with Ryan and he did some more digging for us, but found more dead ends.
Fast forward to Nov,2008.
I got a call from my good friend, Jay. He and I buy antlers of big bucks and he was calling to talk about an offer he made to a gentleman on a buck that he thought would go at least 220". We were discussing how much he offered since it was on a plaque mount but he could tell the skull plate was broke.
I asked him if he knew the location of the kill and when, just out of curouisity. Jay said he knew it was killed in 1983 because the tag was still on the antlers and the guy that had them thought it was killed down by Downey, Id. This perked my interest. I almost did not say anything, but finally I said, "Jay, I going to send you an email with a pic."
He said, "OK?" We ended our conversation, and hung up.
2 minutes latter he called back and exclaimed it was the same buck!!! I about fell out of my chair.
We spent the rest of the night back and forth with the person that had the buck in possesion. We worked out a tentive deal so that I could pic the antlers up! Once I had this all figured out I sat back and could not believe Pats luck. As I sat in my office a plan began to form..........
The day I picked Pats buck up!(Notice the origianl plaque mount and tag.)
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Everyday for 8 years as Pat went to work he drove by the house his antlers were in! Crazy!
With Christmas only a month+ away I decided that this big of story needed a big ending. I called my brother, owner of Teton Taxidermy in Preston, Id. I told him the story, and he agreed, this buck needed a shoulder mount! We worked out big cape issues and fast turn around times.
As you all know, it is not what you know but who you know in life! With only 3 1/2 weeks to work with Jared showed up yesterday before our big family party and.......WOW!
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
You have probably firgured out by now I haven't told Pat yet that I found his buck. Well, I had to wrap this thing, and it took one huge box.....
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Pat and Betty showed up and sat next to that big box for the next hour!
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Finally, out family tradition started. Its a Christmas pass around of small gifts. When the dust settled, Pat opened up his small gift and it was a camo hat. He was then informed since he recieved the camo hat he also got whatever was in the big box.
We lifted the box.......
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
I think he was kind of confused at first.....
I think it is starting to sink in......
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
Yep, he knows what's up now.....
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
We hung him up for a better look....
By tracjaco, shot with SP560UZ at 2008-12-25
The best part of the night was once the head was up on the wall his gaze kept wandering over to this great deer. We were all treated to his hunting story about the day this great deer fell.
It has been a long time since I have felt the true meaning of Christmas. To give, is to recieve. The greatest gift of all. I told my wife last night that she could take every gift back to the store this feeling would not be topped! I hope your christmas was just as rewarding. It's not often that you get to give a gift "Monster Muley" style!
P.S.- For all you score nuts 235 6/8"!
P.S.S- Special thanks to Jay, Clay, Jared, Ryan Hatfield, my wife. With out all your help this story would not have happened!
![[000134]Copy.jpg](/xf/data/xfmg/thumbnail/35/35435-3dca6ac4055d14b7c5d982fc32679332.jpg?1684979424)
