2010 Boulder Buck

BrowningRage

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My Brother-In-Law just before we headed out to track down my deer

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Considering the quartering-towards-me shot, through the neck, into the body cavity, is not a bad shot, IMHO

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Back at camp with my dad...

Not the biggest buck we saw, but the biggest one that I had a shot at...

Story to Follow Tomorrow...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
So to start off, the deer herd was way down on Boulder... Most years we easily see 100-120 deer per day, with about 10 of them being bucks, and usually some nice bucks. Not this year. We were lucky to see around 30-40 deer per day. As far as bucks, they were few and far between.
We decided that this year we were going to have to hunt harder than in previous years. We made multiple pushes through thick cover which produced a lot more deer, but still not many bucks. Still, this was a very fun hunt, the weather was great, and we had more family there than we had in years.

The morning started like most mornings do for us, driving around trying to locate some animals during prime time in the morning. This makes up a very small part of our hunt as the deer are only out for a short time in the morning. On this morning however, we located a good 4-point and put a plan together for a stalk, and to cover the backdoor should he and his 2 point brother make an escape.
As it turned out, my cousin who had found them, stalked in, but didn't get close enough before the big boy decided to head for the trees. His ambush point was just a little low and the 4 point was gone. Luckily, my Bro-in-Law and I had driven up around above the area he was in, and had started making our way down throught the trees. We had no hope of ambushing these bucks as the wind was at our backs. We had put on some of that Primo's Natural smell stuff (first time ever). As it turned out, the stuff must work. Not 20 yards down intot he trees, wind right over our shoulders, I see movement ahead. My Bro-In-Law is about 10 yards below me and we are side hilling it. A 2 point materializes and starts feeding in the quakies ahead of us on the side hill. He has no idea we are there. I draw on him and consider it for a moment, then pass as I know the 4 point must be coming. As I let off, I turn and Jer is at full draw. I'm thinking "If he wants that 2 point, great!" I watch the 2 point at 40 yards broadside. I hear the Hoyt whisper, and then a crashing of an arrow off a rock... Then the 2 point takes off, and out from behind a pine tree (For me) the 4 point takes off too... He was standing at about 30 yards, in full view of Jer... Clean miss. Case of Buck Fever, and ranging a tree behind the buck accidentally...
So back to my buck. We decided to drive up a dirt road and make a push through another remote area... The sun was just up at this time, and we were still seeing some deer out. As we came to a clearing, there was a doe and a small 2 point 'frolicking' out in the open. We barely paid them any mind. As we got closer, we noticed another doe. And then, back in the shadows of the trees, I saw some tall antlers. I new it was not a 2 point, and said "There's a bigger buck!". I jumped out of the truck, opposite the deer, and knocked an arrow. The truck pulled away and I was at full draw. The buck moved forward from behind a pine tree. He was quartering towards me and had his head down peering out of the shadows at me... I rested on his shoulder and let the arrow fly. All heck broke loose as other deer (including another buck) that we could not see all took off in every direction.
We waited 30 minutes to go after him. As soon as we get to where I shot him, we find blood, good blood. Then my arrow, broken off but covered in blood almost to the fletchings. He ran uphill through a small burn area, and let me tell you, tracking blood through a burn area sucks. But we found consistent, frothy blood, and knew this buck would not go far. Once on top of the hill, it was as steady blood stream. We decided to sit and wait another 20 minutes just to be sure.
My dad returned to his truck just down the hill from us now. When he returned, we resumed the tracking. Not 10 yards from where we were, the buck turned and started downhill, right towards my dad's truck. We eased our way down, knowing he must be laying in the thick stuff- dead we hoped. Unfortunately, he busted out of soem thick stuff. He bolted straight down hill, ran within 3 yards of my dad's truck and disappeared into the next thicket.
I was so upset. We were all asking how the deer wasn't dead. There was so much blood. Now we had our hands full trying to find blood. We tracked him into the thicket, and it appeared he hadn't come out. We circled around and started searching again. Finally, Jer came over the walkie and said "I found it...!!" I just gave a hollar through the trees. I was so excited.
Thanks to my Bro-In-Law for finding my deer and being a great hutning partner these last few years. And to my dad who I have hunted with since I was old enough to spit up. Thanks to my uncle and cousin that came with us and made some memories.
Most especially, thanks to my wife- who didn't make this trip with us because of our beautiful new baby girl.
And thanks to all you MMers that make this site so much fun. This is my second archery buck. First was a Deuce, now a Tre... I've missed bigger in between, but I think I have a good pattern going...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
Thanks for taking the time to write the story. A great read!

Congrats on a fine general archery buck.
 
Great story. Congratulations. Boulder got hammered with snow last year. Killed a lot of deer and even some of the fishing lakes.
 
There will be alot of unfilled tags on Boulder this year. That a good buck.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
Had to bump this back to the top of the list so my wife could see and read my post finally...

Thanks for all the comments guys...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 

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