Here is what my old man is calling his "Consolation Prize" from his latest trip to Mexico. My dad, his bro, and the guide were out walking an area they had been seeing some good deer in when they heard horns clashing in the next draw. They got around to where they could see what the commotion was and saw some movement in the bottom. The old man through his binos up at the first deer he picked out and instantly went into panic mode. My uncle did the same thing and he was just there to help out, so bad he couldnt even range with the Leica binos. My dad is no stranger to killing big deer with 2 typicals that net over 200 and a bunch of others 170-200, but this one he said was the biggest he's ever seen. The experienced guide said "220 easy" in his Mexican accent, and the old man says "220-240 who knows".
The big boy and 4-5 other bucks were battling over a hot doe in the bottom. The old man had some shooting sticks and had to shoot standing on a side hill. His health issues, buck fever, along with the hill side had him off balance and wavering all over the place on. After trying to steady himself for a minute he finally took a shot and hit at the bucks feet! He says if the brush wasnt so high and he could have sat down it would be a different story. The deer went up and over into the next little drainage. At that point my dad put his gun over the spotting scope tripod and steadied for another shot if they came out. Next thing they know they see a buck walking straight away almost over the next ridge, "thats him thats hims" the guide and my uncle shouted. My dad pulled up, shot, and heard the WHACK. He said theres a dead deer and instantly got the feeling that it might not have been the right buck. When they got close another buck was beating the $hit out of the buck he shot while it was on the ground dieing. They could see dust flying and all sorts of commotion. The other buck gored him in a few places and ripped the cape up a bit, he really went after him I guess. Anyways my dads suspicions were right and it was the wrong deer! Another one of those stories where the Big One Got Away. I havent through a tape to him yet, but guessing 180-185? Nice buck but now where near what could of been.
He is still having nightmares over it Im sure.
The big boy and 4-5 other bucks were battling over a hot doe in the bottom. The old man had some shooting sticks and had to shoot standing on a side hill. His health issues, buck fever, along with the hill side had him off balance and wavering all over the place on. After trying to steady himself for a minute he finally took a shot and hit at the bucks feet! He says if the brush wasnt so high and he could have sat down it would be a different story. The deer went up and over into the next little drainage. At that point my dad put his gun over the spotting scope tripod and steadied for another shot if they came out. Next thing they know they see a buck walking straight away almost over the next ridge, "thats him thats hims" the guide and my uncle shouted. My dad pulled up, shot, and heard the WHACK. He said theres a dead deer and instantly got the feeling that it might not have been the right buck. When they got close another buck was beating the $hit out of the buck he shot while it was on the ground dieing. They could see dust flying and all sorts of commotion. The other buck gored him in a few places and ripped the cape up a bit, he really went after him I guess. Anyways my dads suspicions were right and it was the wrong deer! Another one of those stories where the Big One Got Away. I havent through a tape to him yet, but guessing 180-185? Nice buck but now where near what could of been.
He is still having nightmares over it Im sure.
