The year of the mule deer (picture heavy)

fstop

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LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-16 AT 07:44PM (MST)[p]I probably should have put together a 2015 Hunt Adventure Challenge thread (Sorry Brian), but I had no idea of what a great year 2015 would be. It started with me guiding Rich Brooks on his Utah CWMU archery elk hunt. A great guy who had his wife along for the hunt and he hammered this nice bull at 15 yards on the very first day. His wife was watching right behind him.

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I then had a rare opportunity to help a fine young lady get her bull.

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I had never met Eva Shockey. Didn't know what to expect. Boy was I surprised. Eva is down to Earth, fun to be around and of course a very beautiful young lady. We hunted hard for five days with a bow. We had quite of few bulls in her range, but they never gave her a clean shot. AND..She didn't take a bad shot. She picked up a rifle on the last day and shot this heavy, old bull. Her first Utah elk.

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This year I cashed in my Colorado points and got to hunt with an old friend Steve Smith. Steve was with me on my first big bull hunt in 2002.

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I've always considered him to be a great mentor and he was right there when I shot this respectable four by four.
I had lost my dad about three weeks before this hunt, so it meant a lot to have Steve there to fill the void.

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A week later found my son and I in Wyoming for my first rifle whitetail hunt. I've hunted them with a bow in Wisconsin, but never connected. With my son by my side, I took this three by three with eye guards. An 8 pointer for you Eastern folks. His first successful hunt with dad. Good times.

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But I could hardly wait for Christmas to come and go. On January 2nd, I took off for my third attempt at a monster muley down in Mexico. My good friends at Kings Camo invited me again and we had a great time. On the second day, we spotted this huge typical at about a 1000 yards. He looked giant when he hit the skyline.


My buddy Kevin had the option to kill this buck but gave me the opportunity to go after it. We made a great spot and stalk and found the buck again at 100 yards and I dumped him.

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It was quite the experience to walk up and see a 30 inch wide typical rack sticking WAY OFF the ground. I have taken other great bucks, one with "Founder" in Colorado, but this thing is a giant. Even without eye guards he scores better than my other three bucks that I have mounted in the house. A great trip, with great friends, I hope to one day be back.

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I got a chance to reflect a lot about life and hunting this year with the passing of my dad. I hope to pass the knowledge he taught me to my kids. My dad wasn't much of a big buck hunter. We killed for the meat and the opportunity to just be together. I think I've finally realized what is most important to me. It's the chase and who I get to share it with. Size does matter, but it is only icing on the cake. I hope you enjoyed my 2015, early 2016 hunts. Here's a few more pictures to enjoy. Cheers! Adam (aka FSTOP)

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Nice post here Adam and I just forwarded the whole post to Merritt to read, not sure if he reads MM or not even though I told him awhile back about this site.

Congrats on that great Mexico Buck and getting to be next to Eva Shockey.

Brian
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Great pics and stories, now on your down time it would be great to have a story on the Expo proposals? PS sorry to hear about your dad.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-28-16 AT 01:10PM (MST)[p]Awesome thread! That vid of the buck up on the ridge is how my dreams are often made.

Kudos to the photography! Antlers sticking up into the camera to make them look huge turn me off, don't care how big they look. These pic's well show us what was actually taken, a class act in itself!

Thanks and Congrats on a very special year afield!!

Eva +1, cutie pie sweetheart if ever was one!

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 
Some hunts end with an impressive trophy, but eventually they all just become memories. For many of us, our best hunting recollections are of tagging along with a father or a son.

I too am sorry to hear about your father's passing but the picture of the big smile on you son's face indicates that you have already begun a new legacy.

While that giant Mexican deer may never be topped and the other hunts were incredible, I'm voting for the little whitey as your best experience of the year!
Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.

Great post Adam
 
Super year that most hunters can only dream of. Sorry to here of your fathers passing, I lost my dad in sept. And know exactly what you went through this year. Cherish those memories and make those same memories for your kids.
My father was with me at the expo every year since it has been held this year will be rough my brothers and I will be there. Carry on your traditions with your family!
Dakota
 
Incredible year hunting wise! Some tremendous animals, only bettered by the memories. Remember the great memories with your Dad and make lots of new ones with your family! Thanks for sharing!
 
Great stuff Adam! It's a bummer you lost your dad this year, but you have some awesome memories with him I know.
Fun year of hunting you've had.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook!
 
Thanks Brian:
I've always appreciated our friendship. I'm so excited you found someone like P. Lane. She's such a great lady and she compliments you very well. By that I mean she makes you a better man/husband/and probably hunter! It sure meant a lot to me and my family to see you two at my dads funeral.

Stubaby: I had 7 points and drew 2nd 67. We didn't have the best weather for the hunt, it was pretty warm. My buck was probably the third best we found in six days, but it was a fun hunt.

Brian "Kilowatt": Thanks for giving Merritt a heads up. I don't get a chance to talk to him or Wade much. I did talk to Merritt when my dad passed. He had a hunt planned and was going to cancel it and come to the funeral. I told him to go. My dad would have been upset to know that he missed a hunt for his funeral. Wade and Lanie came out for the week. My dad loved those boys. His last big game hunt was with them in Wyoming just after Darrell died.

Elkassasin: the "Stroker" was parked at the airport. But the rack looked good coming home in it!

Pleasedear: You must see us on our way out chukar hunting? We usually meet near the Common Cents and then head out. I love those 'Devil Chickens'!

Thanks guys and gals for the comments. I'll cherish this year for so many different reasons. For those headed to the Hunt Expo, the buck should be done and in the Monarch Mountain taxidermy booth....laters...fstop
 
Congrats Adam on an amazing year of experiences and memories both from your hunts and a lifetime with your Dad!
 

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