Central Oregon Buck (pics)
- Thread starter kilowatt
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B
BULLSCAT
Guest
Thanks again Brian for posting my photos!
If I am dreaming PLEASE don't wake me up! Less than two weeks after getting back from an awesome Alaskan Caribou adventure (see "2004 caribou pics" in the alaska section), here I am with the buck of my life!
Trying to play catch up with work and the family after Alaska I only had a couple days to sneak away for deer season. This is my second year hunting this area and although I suspected there were some good deer in the area I hadn't seen any big ones. I was hopeful, but my expectations weren't very high. The first morning and afternoon my two buddies and I only saw a handful of does. That evening right before dark we ran into a bachelor group of four bucks that were very nice, however, darkness was upon us and we couldn't get to them. The next morning we scoured the area tring to find them without success. That afternoon we decided to try a different area that I had never hunted. We split up and I took the high route against the cliffs and rimrocks. Twenty minutes later as I was topping a sharp ridge I sat down to catch my breath. I scanned the small pocket below me without seeing anything. Then out of habit I pulled up my binoculars to glass even though I was sure nothing could be there. My heart skipped as I saw a heavy 3 point filling up my view. Then I think it actually stopped when below him I saw my buck. Luckily the wind was in my face and I had time to calm down and set up my snipe pod for the 231 yard shot.
After he rolled over, the hillside erupted with three more bucks I hadn't seen including another 4 pointer that was wider although thinner horned than mine. I watched the other bucks for a while and made sure mine was down for the count. Then I about broke my neck sliding down the steep shale slope and praying for no ground shrinkage. Well, I was estatic to say the least. There are a lot of excellent hunters on this sight with many deer bigger than this one, but no one will ever be more excited and thrilled than I am with this buck!
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for letting me share this experience with those who can appreciate how I feel the most.
Brett
"Bullscat"
If I am dreaming PLEASE don't wake me up! Less than two weeks after getting back from an awesome Alaskan Caribou adventure (see "2004 caribou pics" in the alaska section), here I am with the buck of my life!
Trying to play catch up with work and the family after Alaska I only had a couple days to sneak away for deer season. This is my second year hunting this area and although I suspected there were some good deer in the area I hadn't seen any big ones. I was hopeful, but my expectations weren't very high. The first morning and afternoon my two buddies and I only saw a handful of does. That evening right before dark we ran into a bachelor group of four bucks that were very nice, however, darkness was upon us and we couldn't get to them. The next morning we scoured the area tring to find them without success. That afternoon we decided to try a different area that I had never hunted. We split up and I took the high route against the cliffs and rimrocks. Twenty minutes later as I was topping a sharp ridge I sat down to catch my breath. I scanned the small pocket below me without seeing anything. Then out of habit I pulled up my binoculars to glass even though I was sure nothing could be there. My heart skipped as I saw a heavy 3 point filling up my view. Then I think it actually stopped when below him I saw my buck. Luckily the wind was in my face and I had time to calm down and set up my snipe pod for the 231 yard shot.
After he rolled over, the hillside erupted with three more bucks I hadn't seen including another 4 pointer that was wider although thinner horned than mine. I watched the other bucks for a while and made sure mine was down for the count. Then I about broke my neck sliding down the steep shale slope and praying for no ground shrinkage. Well, I was estatic to say the least. There are a lot of excellent hunters on this sight with many deer bigger than this one, but no one will ever be more excited and thrilled than I am with this buck!
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for letting me share this experience with those who can appreciate how I feel the most.
Brett
"Bullscat"
R
Ridge_Runner
Guest
Bullscat.. Great buck man and great story. that truly is a beautiful buck and the photos are awesome. Good looking country you're hunting there. Way to go.
Happy trails
Ridge Runner
"Now Pilgrim,you sure you can skin grizz"
Happy trails
Ridge Runner
"Now Pilgrim,you sure you can skin grizz"
D
DeerKing
Guest
Great looking buck Brett. Congats!
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ridgetop
Guest
Big time congrats on a great big mature buck Brett! That bad boy is gonna look real nice hanging on your wall!
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Hornseeker
Guest
Beautimus!
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hornaddiction
Guest
Thats a nice buck! Congrats!
Horn
Horn
oregonmuley
Very Active Member
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- 1,030
Bullscat,
Thats a great looking buck - I'm also an Oregon hunter that just returned from Desolation unit. Didn't kill anything, saw four really nice bucks Sunday morning - one 4 point similar to yours only not as heavy - problem was they were about 150 yards on the wrong side of private property fence. I had the big one in my scope and could have killed him but unfortunately I guess I have a conscience and didn't pull the trigger - hate that sometimes. Anyway, great buck - glad to see deer like that are in Oregon.
Oregonmuley
Thats a great looking buck - I'm also an Oregon hunter that just returned from Desolation unit. Didn't kill anything, saw four really nice bucks Sunday morning - one 4 point similar to yours only not as heavy - problem was they were about 150 yards on the wrong side of private property fence. I had the big one in my scope and could have killed him but unfortunately I guess I have a conscience and didn't pull the trigger - hate that sometimes. Anyway, great buck - glad to see deer like that are in Oregon.
Oregonmuley
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csutton7
Guest
ain't nothing wrong with that buck--mega congrats--chris
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manny15
Guest
nice mass, were you hunting around K-Falls..?..
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cpsandman
Guest
Congrats Brett. Fantastic buck and awesome story.
CPSANDMAN
"The Buck stops here...I hope!"
CPSANDMAN
"The Buck stops here...I hope!"
Brett,
Nice buck. It is amazing how in the high desert there is nothing one minute and a minute later the deer just appear. Looks like you had a great hunt. What does the big boy score about 165.
Congratulations, I just love to hunt mule deer in the high desert.
Bowguy
Nice buck. It is amazing how in the high desert there is nothing one minute and a minute later the deer just appear. Looks like you had a great hunt. What does the big boy score about 165.
Congratulations, I just love to hunt mule deer in the high desert.
Bowguy
B
BULLSCAT
Guest
Thanks for the nice comments guys!
To answer some of your questions. I was hunting in the Biggs Unit in Central Oregon near the John Day River. The country there is really unusual. It's high desert that looks flat but has tons of monster draws. Most all the trees (juniper) are down in the draws and the top flat ground looks barren. It is truly amazing the game that is in that country. Opening day we watched a very nice 6x6 bull with two cows amble by at 200 yards. I hope he hangs around for elk season!
I haven't scored the buck yet. By the time I got done caping, skinning and quartering my buck it was close to dark, so we had to go back in the next morning to pack him out. From there I drove the 5 hours back home and went straight to the taxidermist to drop him off. I am going to go out there next week and do a rough scoring on him. I don't know how much he will score. He is only about 25" wide on the outside of the main frame although he does have symetrical 1" - 1 1/2" stickers on each side. He also has pretty deep front forks. Personally, I really don't care about the score because he is just perfect for the kind of mount I have always wanted, plus the fun story behind it. I will post the score for the heck of it when I get it measured.
Thanks again to everyone and I hope all of you get as lucky as I have this year!
Brett
"Bullscat"
To answer some of your questions. I was hunting in the Biggs Unit in Central Oregon near the John Day River. The country there is really unusual. It's high desert that looks flat but has tons of monster draws. Most all the trees (juniper) are down in the draws and the top flat ground looks barren. It is truly amazing the game that is in that country. Opening day we watched a very nice 6x6 bull with two cows amble by at 200 yards. I hope he hangs around for elk season!
I haven't scored the buck yet. By the time I got done caping, skinning and quartering my buck it was close to dark, so we had to go back in the next morning to pack him out. From there I drove the 5 hours back home and went straight to the taxidermist to drop him off. I am going to go out there next week and do a rough scoring on him. I don't know how much he will score. He is only about 25" wide on the outside of the main frame although he does have symetrical 1" - 1 1/2" stickers on each side. He also has pretty deep front forks. Personally, I really don't care about the score because he is just perfect for the kind of mount I have always wanted, plus the fun story behind it. I will post the score for the heck of it when I get it measured.
Thanks again to everyone and I hope all of you get as lucky as I have this year!
Brett
"Bullscat"
oregonmuley
Very Active Member
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- 1,030
Brett,
Just wondering - I was looking at the tag book and Biggs is only 15% public land. Did you luck out on public, or were you even luckier to hunt private in that unit. I have heard some of the private ground has really nice deer, like the one you shot. Just wondering, I have fished the John Day and always thought it would be a great hunt.
Thanks
Frank
Oregonmuley
Just wondering - I was looking at the tag book and Biggs is only 15% public land. Did you luck out on public, or were you even luckier to hunt private in that unit. I have heard some of the private ground has really nice deer, like the one you shot. Just wondering, I have fished the John Day and always thought it would be a great hunt.
Thanks
Frank
Oregonmuley
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rsearcy
Guest
LAST EDITED ON Oct-11-04 AT 03:59PM (MST)[p]Based on the fact he said "looks flat" I would say it is private ranch land. Th only real public land in that part of the unit is on the John Day breaks and is far from flat. Even though there is 15% public land you can not acess much of any of it. The land owners have all the BLM on the river land locked by closing the roads in. You can float from Clarno down to cottonwood, but it is a LONG float and with the levels that time of year you are looking at a week long float.
I hunt West Biggs on public land in the Deschutes canyon. Brutal steep country, but atleast there is a public road in the bottom so they can not keep you out.
I hunt West Biggs on public land in the Deschutes canyon. Brutal steep country, but atleast there is a public road in the bottom so they can not keep you out.
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bugle1in
Guest
Way to go Brett!!! Stuck in London living vicariously(sp)through you guys. Thanks for the preview pics!!! Talk to you soon.
SP
SP
B
BULLSCAT
Guest
OregonMuley,
Good detective work! Yes, I am very fortunate to have close friends who with their family have some private ground in this area. I feel extremely lucky to have an arrangement for my son and I to hunt such a cool area and with such great people!
Good detective work! Yes, I am very fortunate to have close friends who with their family have some private ground in this area. I feel extremely lucky to have an arrangement for my son and I to hunt such a cool area and with such great people!
oregonmuley
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,030
Brett,
Sounds like you have a good deal, I know how hard it is to get on private in that area. Do whatever it takes to keep in the good graces of the landowner, I know I would. Again, great deer and thanks for the story - hope you have a good elk story/photo for us also.
Best regards,
Frank
Sounds like you have a good deal, I know how hard it is to get on private in that area. Do whatever it takes to keep in the good graces of the landowner, I know I would. Again, great deer and thanks for the story - hope you have a good elk story/photo for us also.
Best regards,
Frank
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scottyboy
Guest
good buck....congrats
Scottyboy
Scottyboy
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BULLSCAT
Guest
Post Script...
I said I would post the score when I had this buck measured, so here it is. He actually scored quite a bit I higher than I guessed he would. According to my taxidermist he "Green" gross scored 190 2/8 and net scored 178 3/8. I'll take it!
I said I would post the score when I had this buck measured, so here it is. He actually scored quite a bit I higher than I guessed he would. According to my taxidermist he "Green" gross scored 190 2/8 and net scored 178 3/8. I'll take it!
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Bull7
Guest
Very nice buck...Nice mass
