Wes
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This year started out great. I had my Utah dedicated hunter tag and I finally drew a Nevada tag in an area that I've guided hunters to numerous great bucks in the past. Now I had the chance to hunt it for myself. My plan was to guide the hunters that I had the first week of the season then pack in and hunt for the remaining 10 days of the season. Unfortunately due to work commitments I was forced to turn the Nevada tag back in at the last minute. That left me with only my Utah tag. I didn't have any time due to work to hunt the archery or muzzle loader season either or do much scouting. A good friend spent much of the summer scouting and found a great buck that he was able to harvest on the second day with his muzzle loader. It measured 29 1/2" 4X4. I figured that would be the only good buck to come out of this canyon. On opening morning I left home at 4:30 with the plans to ride my horse to the top and hunt an area that rarely sees other hunters. When I arrived where I was going to park there was a large camp set up with trailers and quads. I couldn't believe the number of quads and trucks that were going by me in the dark. As I said this canyon rarely gets hunted. I thought about trailering south and hunting another canyon that the quads can't access but figured what the heck I'm already here so I'll make the best of it. Besides it will still be a great day to ride my horse. Because of the condition of the road I had to park my truck and trailer two miles from the mouth of the canyon. When I rode out it was pitch black as there was no moon that morning. I rode off the road out in the flats and watched as dozens of quads raced for the mountain. As I rode I could already see headlamps and flashlights bouncing through the dark up the ridges I wanted to hunt. Figuring it would be a waste of time going to the top I rode along enjoying the shooting stars and the quiet. It was starting to break daylight when I reached the mouth of the canyon. There were two older gentlemen sitting there on their quads watching the face. I stopped and we shot the breeze for about 30 minutes before I decided to ride on. It's daylight now. I'd gone maybe a quarter mile when I caught a glimpse of a deer off to my left. I had to back my horse up to get a look. I could tell it was a buck so I dismounted and pulled out my binos. He was standing broadside out in the open with no cover for hundreds of yards, just cheat grass and a patch of mule ears. When he came into focus he looked directly at me. I could immediately tell he was pushing 30". I grabbed my horse to tie him off and he decides to start giving me a hard time. Now I'm starting to get a little rattled, I haven't had buck fever in a long time but it's starting to set in thinking this buck is going to run off. I finally get the horse tied and grab my rifle out of the scabbard. I pull off my bikini ( the one on my scope not the one under my clothing) and start fumbling with it. I had to climb the hill to get to were I could shoot because it was too steep where I was standing. All the while this buck is standing broadside watching me. I get up to where it flattens out so I can shoot and throw my pack down. I estimate him at 300 yards and put the cross hairs on his chest. My thought was I couldn't believe how rock steady they where. I reached for the trigger and had to stop myself from jerking. I recomposed and took a deep breath and started the slow exhale while applying pressure to the trigger. I was surprised by the scope smacking me in the forehead. I looked up to see the buck collapse. After watching him for a few minutes I gathered my gear and went back down for my horse. It was pretty steep so I had to lead the horse. As I climbed I started to have second thoughts , was he as big as I first thought? I had to climb above him and come down to reach him. When I was directly across from him I could see his left antler sticking above the grass. I could see he was a good 4 point. I didn't count points before I shot. When I was about 25 feet form him his rear leg twitched. I knew what was about to happen so I turned to grab my rifle. My horse didn't understand then but he does now that he's to whoa when I say whoa. The buck was hurt bad but had enough left to push himself up and with one lunge he started rolling down the mountain that I had just climbed up. He rolled about 200 yards before he stopped in the bottom of a ravine. His head came up so I put another bullet down through the top of his shoulders and that was it. When I got down to him I was happy to see that he was as wide as I thought. After I sighted my rifle in I scrubbed it clean as a whistle and forgot to fire a few fouling shots. My first shot was a flyer, even though I was rock solid on his shoulder it hit him in the neck and exited under his jaw. I feel lucky to have even hit him. I just sat for a while looking at him and taking in the beautiful morning. I also thought about all the quad riders that had raced to the top only to ride past this buck at the bottom. This story may not be as exciting as one involving months of scouting and hours of stalking but heck when their this big I'll take em when and where I can get em. Sometimes I'm good and sometimes I'm lucky. This time I was danged lucky.
Wes
Wes
