Sometimes you have to Wonder

predator

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I have a confession to make. I haven't killed a mule deer since 2000. I haven't killed a mule deer with my smokepole for probably 16 years. While I did scout out a positive bruiser, I've been having an achilles problem and couldn't really risk a rupture going after him in the hellhole in which he lives, so I made a decision. All those neat little places I drive by hither and yon that I've always wondered about I would explore. Boy, did I find some really nice mulie country! And deer, too, a few forkies and lots of does. All looking nice and fat. I really enjoyed exploring new ground.

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High, low, I went all over the place. Leaves are really starting to pop off!

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Last night, I again picked an area I had always wondered about, and not even hiked. I crept along a mountain bike trail, with the wind in my face. To my right I saw an interesting little drainage with high rock faces and HUGE sagebrush meadow. So I eased up into it and found a nice boulder (okay, it was the size of a house, really) to cozy up to.

To my left was a saddle coming out of a larger drainage, in front of me really heavy scrub oak, just the perfect place to bed in shade while the 80 degree afternoon wore out.

To my right a second saddle, with a very obvious game trail right through the middle. I did some ranging around and found it all within reach, right across the meadows.

The sunlight began to wane, and once full shade hit this little piece of muley heaven, deer started showing up. Does mostly, a small forky. It was just about 730 pm when I looked again to my left and saw a large-bodied deer. Not only that, it was obviously a buck with naked eye. He had been bedded against the cliff toe the whole time and had just stood up, I guessed.

I pulled up my binos and saw that it was a really good-looking buck! I ranged him at 178 yards, and got a little nervous. I don't have optics, and have felt comfortable out to about 125 in the past. But holy cow, I have a virtual bench rest with this rock, and could even prone out. I KNOW that this load can do it, and I KNOW I can make this shot. Despite this knowledge- I was shaking so bad I could hardly move. Buck fever like you would not believe.

So I prone out, tuck the barrel into the V of the rock that seems to have been placed there just for me, put the front sight on the buck's back and touch off.

Poof! After the smoke clears, no deer! WTH!! I look frantically around and start to think I imagined everything. Then I look again really really close and see a tine thrashing around. OH MY GOSH, I DID IT!!

I ran over to see no ground shrinkage. Not very wide, won't score at all, but man, he is a nice dang buck. I really had to grunt and groan to get him down into the flat to dress. Buckbunger and Eaglebeak volunteered to come help when I called them with the good news, and after a lot of headlamp enjoyment with blood and guts, we got him back to the truck at midnight.


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The Badlands 2800 rocked! Two quarters and the head, all in one trip.

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He may not be a Monster Muley, but I'm damn proud, and have to wonder if it was not meant to be given the way it all played out. Sometime we all get hung up on score, but this was a great reminder of why I love hunting.


Pred
 
Congrats on your buck. I always love to hear a good story to go along with the pictures. I agree the score is not always as important as the road it took to find the animal.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-26-09 AT 06:37AM (MST)[p]Sweet work pred and nice sniper action with the smoke pole I must say. I love it when there is a great well told story to go along with the pictures. I agree with your sentiment 100%.
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Great reminder indeed Lisa.........congratulations on a true trophy and adventure.

BOHNTR )))---------->
 
Very good story with a happy ending. Thanks for sharing and congrats on a great buck and the first one since 2000. I'm impressed with your persistence to keep hunting after all of these years without tagging out. Congrats, congrats, congrats! fatrooster.
 
Loved your story, thanks. I often get distracted and spend too much hunting time checking out new areas instead of focusing on areas that I know well. Seeing new country is half the fun of hunting for me. It is nice to know that sometimes doing a little exploring can pay off. A great buck and great story. Thanks for sharing, and congrats on a good looking buck.

Dax
 
Buck fever is a love/hate thing isn't it? It is for me. Most excellent Lisa!

Eel

Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
 
Omigosh, Eel, it has just been so long since I had it, I was really caught off guard.

And I never would have taken that shot without the bench rest. It was truly strange that I ended up where I did; but I am so happy for it.

Can I also say that I must be getting old, CUZ I HURT TODAY.
In a good way. :)

Fatrooster- thank you for your compliments. I just hadn't really had the chance, then I shot a monster in 2000 and like an idiot instead of realizing how special that buck is and how rare, have been trying to beat him ever since.

Trophy hunting is tough. Young buck meat is nice and tender.



Thanks for sharing my excitement! Sorry about the blood, I didn't realize last night how much I had on me. Shoulda perhaps freshened up a bit; maybe done my nails, put on some makeup.

I dunno.

Pred
 
Nice buck Lisa....Congrats !!

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Disclaimer:
The poster does not take any responsibility for any hurt or bad feelings. Reading threads poses inherent risks. The poster would like to remind readers to make sure they have a functional sense of humor before they visit any discussion board.
 
pi$$ on score! It has ruined hunting IMO. That buck got your blood pumping and thats all that matters. That is what makes a trophy! You did your self proud!
 
It seems like I'm the only one who's not on a "first-name basis"....I'll still offer sincere congrats on both the deer AND the pictures/story....and having it back "outta there".

Well done!


Within the shadows, go quietly.
 
Not on first name either...But great story. Nice buck, and obviously it's nice enough to make you happy. That's what matters:)
 
Here ya go, Fat.....all ya'll who have seen this a million times....Ya know you love him!!

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Now does it makes sense that trying to beat him is verily nigh improbable?

Pred
 
WHOOO HOOO !! Nice job Lisa. That is a great buck - good strategy too. They are there if you look hard enough. Way to go predatora!

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)
 
Congrats Lisa,
Score means nothing, it's the thrill of the hunt. Great story by the way and thanks for posting.
OMB


There's room for all of God's creatures, right next to the mashed potato's and gravy.
 
Nice job Pred!!!!! Persistance pays! I am in the same boat you are and taking Meagan to Wyoming this week for muleys. It's been a while since I've found a muley that I wanted to drop the hammer on. I'm hoping this is the year for us too! Good read and great pictures. I'm in love with my 2800 as well!


It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com
 
Nice Buck, I love the stories that take you by surprise on where you find some good bucks. again Nice Job
Now Get ready for the elk hunt.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-27-09 AT 11:05AM (MST)[p] PleaseDear: Smart-aleck........I might just have to taze you at the Gorge, for that one.

AWLB: How exciting! Father-daughter hunting, can't beat that. Just make sure you haven't taught her so well she shoots better than the 'old man'. LOL

Gator, you are so right. Where he was was ridiculously accessible. I'm sure I'm not the only one that didn't know it was there.

Pred
 
Congradulations on your success! Nice buck too! I like it when a person goes out, enjoys the country and the adventure and is genuinely happy with the hunt regardless of the score of the animal. No one should have to apologize for having fun!

Bud
 
Awesome job...Congratulations!
Glad you have been out and about exploring. Always fun.
May have been awhile but it's always worth the wait.
Congrats again on a fine buck.
Best,
Jerry
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Nice buck Pred,

Glad it was a nice buck getting packed off the hill and Not YOU!!! Great pics and story. See ya around!

Chad
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-28-09 AT 05:18PM (MST)[p]Thanks for the encouraging story, I haven't taken a buck since 2004, and have had a wonder or two myself, maybe that's the message for some here?...

Nice buck and thanks again....
 
Job Well done!!

I really liked your story. That is a very nice buck! I think most of us would be very satisfied to bring home a buck like that!

Congrats!! Joey

PS; Hey Manny, i know one buck you may have gotten last year anyway. You may have had to stretch the barrel on your 7mm a bit and to have had the right tag but you put one in front of me sure enough! Thanks again Bud!! :)
 
Ms. Pred:

Trophies are where we find them! Congrats on a nice one --- you rock, Lisa (as usual) ...

Lv2hnt

"Every man dies --- not every man really lives."
 
Congrats Lisa...
That is a great buck regardless!
I'm kind of in the same boat..haven't shot a buck in years..

thanks for stopping by the hospital..was nice to see you..
Is this the buck you were telling me about then?
 
I wish! The one I scouted is Booner quality. I may have partially ruptured my Achilles, so I didn't dare go in after him. He lives in some nasssssty stuff!

Glad to hear things are going well now, good luck on the mooshka.
 
If the situation feels right pull the trigger. Congrats. I think we would all rather kill a bigger buck than a small one but the one you killed in 2000 are hard to come by. Sounds like you had a great experience
 

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