2010 general archery buck

M

mathewsman

Guest
Hi friends and family,

I just got back from my archery deer hunt yesterday evening and wanted to drop you a quick line about my hunt and good fortune this year. Last Friday me and my hunting partners Tony, Riley, Kevin, and Phil left for our hunting spot in southern Utah for a week long adventure chasing mulie bucks with our bows. Man how quick the season rolls around! We were all excited for the big opening day. Saturday morning came and Phil snuck up on a group of 3 bucks including 2 really nice ones, but wasn't able to get off a shot. He ended up spooking them right to another hunter who ended up nailing one of the big bucks which ended up being a nice 26" wide, heavy, 3x3 with deep front forks and an extra "snorkle" point that came out and up from his front fork. Then on Sunday Riley almost got a chance at the other big buck (the buck I ended up getting) and was at full draw with him only 15 yards away, but didn't have a clean shot at the bucks vitals. Hoping the buck would only take a step or two, he waited at full draw ready to hammer him, but luckily for the buck, the other buck that was with him caught Riley at point blank range and blew out of the area taking "Mr. big" with him. I could only imagine Rileys frustration, but being an ethical archer, he decided to pass on a questionable shot-my hats off to you Riley! So then Sunday evening Kevin just about had his first chance at the big boy. Sneeking slowly through a narrow, thick sliver of quakies, he caught them in their afternoon beds and again the smaller buck busted Kevin as he was approaching for a shot. This happened twice to Kevin as he found them again on Monday in the same group of quakies-DANG! How many lives does this big guy have!!! By Wednesday Phil, Riley, and Kevin had left for home leaving Tony and I to try and close the deal on this elusive buck. Up to this point neither Tony or myself had even laid eyes on this guy. But in talking and stratagizing with the guys, we decided to set treestands in a small clearing in the sliver of quakies that Kevin had seen them bedded in. Then we sat in the treestands Wednesday and Thursday morning hoping to catch them as they traveled from their feeding pasture to their morning beds. All we saw in 2 mornings was a few does. Starting to second guess our plan, I reluctantly went back to the stand Friday. After the hike in, I found myself ready and in the stand at 6:00. By 6:30 it was light enough to see, and the search for the 9 lives buck began. "OH MY HECK THERE HE IS," I said to myself at about 7:00! He was out in the feeding pasture and only needed to close 100 yards and I would have a shot.....as long as he worked his way toward my location. I would cringe every time he walked away from me feeling kind of helpless sitting in that stand as I was pinned down to that 1 location....but as long as I could see him there was hope...WAIT...he's coming...HE'S COMING!!!...closer...CLOSER....At that point I knew he was going to work right under me-YES! Next thing I knew he was heading toward a log in a small shooting lane I had ranged at 42 yards. That will work I thought to myself, and then he turned and headed RIGHT TO ME. I raised my bow and when he stepped out from behind the trees, I had him at full draw and was only 25 yards away. It happened so suddenly, the year of anticipation, and preparation all boiled down this moment of truth...my moment of truth at the biggest buck I've ever had a shot at. As I watched the orange fletches track right where I was aiming, and heard the un-mistakable thwack of the arrow striking home, I was screaming YES, YES...to myself. Reacting to the hit, the buck spun around and before I knew it, had cover 60 yards to the tree edge from where he came from. He then slowed to a walk and stopped in the clearing. I got my gear, climbed down and went to the point of impact and started to look for blood. 10 feet away I found my arrow broken in two pieces with good blood all the way up to the fletches. So I marked that spot and worked my way to the tree edge I saw him run to. When I got there it looked like you had taken a paint brush and flicked it on the ground, bushes, and trees. Assessing the situation, I felt pretty good about the shot and started to follow the good blood trail. After following it for about 120 yards I slowly came over a small rise and I could see his antlers sticking above the scrub oak brush he was bedded in. But wait, he was still alive! He was really sick and could hardly keep his head up so I figured I would wait for him to expire. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity (probably 20 minutes), like a dope, I decided to try and get another arrow in him. "When he turns his head away, get up and sneak around and above him for another shot," I told myself. When he turned, I got up and he caught my movement and busted out of his death bed. So then I ran to where he was and quickly saw him as he worked through the trees. I couldn't get an angle even though he was only 50 yards away. Then he hopped up and out of sight. I went to where he was and luckily he was still bleeding good, so I resumed tracking him. But unfortunately he had gone into a very thick stand of "spagetti" quakies and the blood trail got worse and worse. By now he had traveled 250 yards from where he was shot. Starting to panic, I decided to mark the last blood and then went back to camp to get some help to find the buck. Tony and the other camp that was up on the mountain including the guy that tagged the "snorkle" 3-point all pitched in to help me find my buck. When we all got back to the marked spot, we spread out and went in the general direction he was heading. About 20 yards away one of the guys found another spot of blood. By now I'm BOILING inside with emotion! Then from 10 yards away, Brad broke the erie silence and exclaimed, "Nate there's your buck. "YYYEEESSSS....YYYEEESSSS...YYYYEEEESSSS," I yelled over and over! He was mine, finally he was mine!! Having completely bled out internally and running on pure adrenalin, my buck had only made it 30 yards from where I had marked the last blood. Then the cheers and high 5's began as we all celebrated the hunt and the harvest of such a magnificent buck. By far my best to date. My thanks to all my hunting partners and to the "wolf pack" for helping me get my buck. 2010...what a year!

Nate


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This is how he lay when we found him

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26 1/2" main frame 4x5 with 1 1/2 cheater, 3" eyeguards, 6 1/4" bases with great mass all the way up.

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Me and Tony, one of my hunting buddies. Riley, Kevin, & Phil, wish you were there.

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Thanks to the "wolf pack" for helping me find him. The young feller on the left got the "snorkle" buck that was running with mine opening morning.

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By far my best buck to date!!

p.s. My apologies for his tongue hanging out in a few of the pictures. It kept falling out even though I tucked it in several times.
 
Congrats on a nice buck, definite shooter in my book


I'll tell you who it was . . . it was that D@MN Sasquatch!
 
So - have you stopped smiling yet?? Awesome hunt dude! Congrats on a great buck and a great hunt. That's what its all about.


UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)
 
Way to go man there is just something about a General season Buck that is sweeter to me than a draw tag. Usually its cause you worked harder or got luckier and sometimes both. Congrats on a stud deer.
 
Great Buck Nate. It was a blast sharing the mountain with you, Tony, Riley, and Kevin. You are a great group of guys and definitely a pleasure being able to spend some time with your all swapping stories etc... I am glad we were able to help you find this big toad. I can only imagine the knot in your stomach wondering if you were going to be able to tag him. Keep in touch.

B-Hutch
 
Very nice, looks like a great spot.Looks like the archery hunt was a fun time for all.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
Thanks a bunch all for the kind words. I just dropped him off to the taxidermist tonight and it was sort of tough letting him go. Already counting down the days till he's done! Snkyhuntr (brad) thanks for sniffing him out that last 30 yards-I owe you one! You Wolfs are half blood-hound. Thanks again,

Nate
 
Well dang, there goes my daily productity! I'm just counting down the last few days to my hunt, and your story an pics just fueled the fire. Thanks for sharing. What a buck and memories to remember.
 
I'm a little late here but congrats...great buck!

I couldn't care less about the toungue hanging out, but if you'd rather not see it just cut that sucker off!

Congrats again!!
 
Dang nice buck! congrats on getting it done and sweet pics!


<Stu Padasso Pro Staff

<Dixie Nourmous Field Staff
 
Congratulations on taking a great buck!

The mass is the most impressive to me.......well......along with the width, points, heigth etc. haha

Oh, glad to see you're smiling. You look like you are happy to be there!

Zeke
 

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