35-1/2" Strip Buck 13B 2012

StripBuckHunter · Dec 30, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Dec-30-12 AT 08:04PM (MST)[p]Oh wait........he's only a 3-point. Would you shoot a 3-point??? I've only whacked one other and that was when I was a kid.

I tipped over this buck on November 15 in the northern portion of 13B in the places shown in the photos. DIY, all by my lonesome, no trail cams, no buddies. Whacked him in his bed at 77 yards. Only saw 3 bucks and 7 does in seven days. Only did one scouting trip on Labor Day weekend. Lots of drought stunted antlers this year on the Strip, and I wonder what this buck would've grown on a wet year. This was my second Strip tag in 18 years (the first buck was from 13A and is bigger).......lightning does sometimes strike twice.

I don't do scores, but I taped a few measurements out of curiosity. 28"+ mains, 28" inside, 6.5" first circumference, over 30" on the frame plus stickers, ridges, blades, double eye guard........and HEAVY. Exceeds the magical 50" adding outside spread to the height measured from the skull.

Overall....I'm pretty well disappointed since I wanted a classic Strip 40-incher, LOL.

BTW......I have a great Zeiss bino for sale in the Classified section if you're interested.

Enjoy.

TOPGUN · Dec 30, 2012

Bang whether he's a 3 or not---Congrats on a neat buck!!!

eldorado · Dec 30, 2012

Great buck. I would be happy to take him. Congrats.

Eldorado

Gator · Dec 30, 2012

That one helluva a 3 point with kickers, split eyeguard, I would of dropped the hammer on him too.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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South_slope · Dec 30, 2012

Cool buck. Thanks for sharing.

CAelknuts · Dec 30, 2012

That's an awesome buck regardless of the number of points. You did well, congratulations!

Triple_BB · Dec 30, 2012

>Would you shoot a 3-point???

Maybe, depends where I was hunting and what day I was on in my hunt...

rmanwill · Dec 30, 2012

Great buck. I would have bagged him in a heart beat, unless I had scouted prior and knew there was one or two better bucks in the area thta I had personally scouted!!! Thanks for sharing.

RipnFlip · Dec 30, 2012

Awesome awesome. Congrats on one fine Muley. I'd love to put him in my freezer and on my wall.

Stubaby · Dec 30, 2012

Nice. Hard to pass up a tank like that.

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

RPAJSR · Dec 31, 2012

Seventh day of the hunt and DIY, for sure !

Longun · Dec 31, 2012

I would of dropped him in heart-beat....Congrats to almost a three footer..

HiMtnHntr · Dec 31, 2012

Great DIY hunt and fantastic buck. I love those kinds of hunts.

CouesSniper · Dec 31, 2012

Great buck. Could you post some pics from the side? Love big 3's'l"
.

MEANTTOBBUCK · Jan 1, 2013

Great buck. I would not have hesitated at all. He will look great on the wall!

lundellhunting7 · Jan 1, 2013

Great buck!!!! last year one of my good friends picked up a dead head on the strip thag was a main frame 3 that is pushing 2 bills. Havnt been down this year but have heard there are alot of giant main frame 3s running around

billythekid · Jan 1, 2013

Great buck for s tough yr like this. Probably well over 200 last yr. congrats

Snuffy · Jan 1, 2013

Nice buck Two Dogs, oop's strip buck guy.

REDDOG · Jan 1, 2013

Yep, good ol' whiskeyman..

Huckbunter · Jan 2, 2013

I love the mass and character on those strip bucks and this one is no exception. Awesome buck!

woodruffhunter · Jan 2, 2013

"Nice buck Two Dogs, oop's strip buck guy"

Ha ha, when he started saying "whacked" I thought the same thing!

Regardless, that is a great buck and I would have "whacked" him too!

StripBuckHunter · Jan 2, 2013

I'll yell you guys what.......get up off the ground and use the Walkstool instead of a butt pad on the ground. I can hardly sit and get up from the ground at my age......stiff and numb. The 18" Walkstool worked well for me and I didn't need a butt pad. I'll pack it anywhere, regardless of it's few extra ounces. Be wary of a taller Walkstool (they come in several heights)......they will pinch your legs between the tripod legs and then you can't get a steady rest.

Also get the TERRIFIC tall Outdoorsmans tripod with their pan head. You'll have to hold it down in the wind, which gets tiresome and old......but it's precision made and light to carry. Also get a Leica 15 x 56 HD Geovid, LOL. Don't skimp on these things, okay?

This is as good as a side view as I can provide as someone requested. Look hard at the photos and get a load of the Pinion tree branch that he raised hell with and rubbed off before I even shot him in his bed right there.

Cozmo8 · Jan 6, 2013

Just got back from the Strip what fascinating country. Congrats on the DIY success you had. I hope I draw it someday.

DonMartin · Jan 6, 2013

I think we were in about the same area.

You can sure see alot of country if you climb up top!

Great buck! Congrats!

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Luckie7 · Jan 12, 2013

WOW! Congrats on an awesome buck. I would have shot that buck in a heartbeat! Heavy and wide, he has "the look"!!!

Ghostbuck · Jan 14, 2013

Great Job! You would be foolish to not shoot a 35 incher anywhere. The best part you didn't have all of the cyber-pimps,trail-cam jockeys,and 47 certified scoring clowns advising you on a big buck& successful hunt.Congrats!!!!!

280ack · Jan 28, 2013

congrats on the knarly buck, better than a guided 4x4 any day.

SoleSearcher36 · Jan 30, 2013

Congrats......fantastic buck!

nontypical · Jan 30, 2013

Great buck Chris!

StripBuckHunter · Jan 31, 2013

Howdy Dudes,

If you want to better yourselves as big buck hunters, listen to everything that Nontypical offers you here. I know who Cliff is...but we've never met. He is a TERRIFIC DIY public land big buck hunter and more respected than he realizes. I remember his EJ articles from 20+ years ago. He is modest but EXCEPTIONAL at this thing, okay?

StripBuckHunter · Jan 31, 2013

I hunt older animals all over the west by trying to successfully cross paths with one by predicting their habits and behaviors. My brain gets the workout....not my legs. This is my own personal style and I'm contented with it and it gives me the ultimate personal satisfaction.....which is what I'm in this for. I love it when my brain generated plan comes together.

Having said this.....at the end of the day........it's still only just a deer. They are not magicians with superpowers who are unacheivable. But...........mature bucks generally have predictabilities. The BIG SECRET as a hunter is.....knowing what they are.

A buck with the proper habits and behaviors necessary to survive 5+ years on public land was born to an older doe. His momma already knew the survival program versus a young doe who didn't. His momma taught him well right from day one. Then..........he bachelored up with one or more mature bucks as a yearling. The other older bucks were already versed in the necessary survival habits.......and he further learned and keyed in on these traits. Don't come out during daylight.....feed within the cover if the nutrition is there.......bed in places where a predator can't get to you without forewarning......stay away from humans........hold tight and they will walk right by you unless their body language says otherwise and/or eye contact has been made.

Whack a 5+ year old buck of any antler size on public land in the west.........and you've truly accomplished something worth being satisfied over. Antler size is secondary to a buck's age......IMHO.

Here's my first Strip buck mentioned above at 6.5 years old. Sorry about the big pic size but Founder's photo uploading site is down.

Here's a UT Bookcliffs buck that I shot in his bed in 2004 that was a whopping 10.5 years old.

DonMartin · Jan 31, 2013

Very nice bucks..good job!

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

gznokes · Feb 1, 2013

big buck striphunter.

For someone who doesn't score their deer, you sure take a lot of measurements! LOL! (Just having fun with you.)

Thanks for posting the pics.