Sons First NM 2010

300MIKE

Active Member
Messages
256
LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-10 AT 04:33PM (MST)[p]Havnt posted in a couple years but thought id share this one.

Worst year I have ever seen in this are for NM in some 20 years. Deer numbers are way down, my thought was the massive amount of water kept the deer spread out so it was tough hunting, who knows maybe it was the 8 sets of lion tracks we saw? We saw 3 bucks and 1 doe in 4 days. My dad had arrived 5 days prior to the hunt and saw 2 does, not looking good.

Started out opening morning I picked up 2 bucks and a doe about a mile off as the were entering the thick stuff. Now im thinking I wish he had my gun, not his 243. He had practiced with both all year opting to use my 300 if we would be shooting distance or long hikes cause of the weight. carbon fiber and titanium is way lighter than steel. We made our way over and I managed to find the smaller buck bedded down. The phrase of "Dad im not shooting a forkie on the first day" made me laugh. This was about an honest 24'wide and 25 inch tall velvet covered forkie. Im thinking great first deer. Mind you this is second year hunting and he ate his tag last year after passing a couple of forkies the first days of the hunt.
I ended up picking that hill apart for the next 5 hrs with no luck on big buck he was with in the morning. The rest of day 1 was a bust with zero deer.

Day 2 found us sitting in the dark on a ridge with a good vantage point looking into the same bedding area. Never made a showing so we decided to still hunt the area the went the day before about 10am. Picked up the beds and tracks and figured they slipped out the back. After looking around that entire hill it appeared it was a one time deal for the area. Not another track to be found.

The rest of day 2 and 3 were the same, zero.

Day 4 came as the alarm rang at 4am. I tried to wake up my dad and he said he was spent so was not going out. We loaded up and hit the road. I asked Mikey my son what he thought he said lets go to your canyon. He was referring to a place I had took a nice buck about 4 yrs ago. We had been in there on day 2 and cut a couple of good tracks. After a long while of glassing since the sun started to peek were were on our usual....nothing. We loaded back up and headed to a canyon about a mile away we had glassed previously. As we sat looking at the massive rim rock mesas im telling myself something has to be in here. We were just getting ready to leave when I see about 6" of antler about 1000yrds away with the spotter as im picking apart the place. The sneak was on as we made our way to see if it was a buck or and elk, since this canyon was covered with elk tracks the day were here previously. Were heading up the middle of this GIANT U shaped cyn. Sheer cliffs all around. We got to a spot to see where I had saw the antler, gone. We walked to the area and found his tracks heading to the back of the cyn. It was 10' stop glass on the tracks for the next hr. As we neared the back of the cyn we stop on a little knob. I tell him hes in here we just have t find him. Just as I finish he starts yelling, "there he is". The buck is doing mach 1 down the boulders of the left side heading for the bottom. My son is on his butt gun on the sticks saying, now, now? Im saying wait hell stop theres no where for him to go. I toss the 15s and the tripod after trying to put them down, spit the coppenhagen out so I could whistle and kneel down next to Mikey. the buck hits the bottom and starts to go up the oppisite side. Im saying just wait hell stop. I put the range to 300yrds on the turret of my 300. He thought hed need it today so he brought it and left the 243. I asked do you have him, he said yes...now? I said wait hell stop, i give the super whistle as we call it and the breaks come on, I yell now. Before I finished the the bullet was down range and he was hit hard. He jacked another shell that was never needed. The buck piled up within 10 yards. I cant even describe the celebration that came next. When he went down we sat waiting to make sure for a few minutes. I shot the range as we were waiting that read 282. When we made our way up to the buck we were in awe at he size of his body just a massive deer. Now im thiking quater this monster, Mikey is saying I want Papa to see it whole. 6 hrs later after trials, tribulation and a sprained back were on our way to camp.

Sorry for the long winded story heres some pics..

6832new_mexico_2010_046.jpg


7783new_mexico_2010_049.jpg
 
Great story and awesome first buck........congratulations to your son!

.....and welcome back to the board 300MIKE.

BOHNTR )))---------->
 
Sweet! Awesome buck! Congrtas!

------------------------------------------------------
"So... Now you got a little taste of what I do...pretty dang exciting, eh?"
 
As good as it gets. Hunting as a family :).
That is a fine buck and so much more rewarding when you have to work for it a little :).
Glad to see all that work pay off.
Congrats to all involved!!
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom