WA Raffle Update

M

Mule_Deer_Crazy

Guest
Been getting a number of calls and e-mails, so just giving an update on my raffle tag hunt.

Just got back from a week in the greater Entiat area. The lack of snow appears to really be putting a crimp in my style, so to speak! I've never hunted for mule deer in December in Bermuda shorts and a Hawaian shirt before - don't much care for it.

We saw 82 bucks during the week and glassed some truly awesome (and some ugly) mule deer country. We saw 7 bucks in the 150's, 3 bucks in the 160's, 6 bucks in the 170's, 1 buck around 180 and another I think would have broke 190 (maybe even net). I maybe should have taken the biggest, but it was the first day and his antlers tipped way out making him look funny? Anyways, it was the first day and I figured I could find him again later (which I couldn't).

Some may question my mental state - my wife certainly did when I let that biggest buck walk away (I still got the Swarovski indentation in the back of my head)! I really want a monster buck and decided I was going to try to gamble and pass up some really nice bucks in an attempt to get a monster. Obviously, the down side to this is that I may end up being the first idiot to kill a spike on the last day of his raffle hunt. But it keeps me in the field and that's what it's all about!

At this point my plan is to go back after Christmas and hunt the last week of the season. Figure I'll give it another 3 or 4 days holding out for a monster and then shoot my spike at the last minute.

I'll keep you all posted and thanks for the input over the past several months.
 
Dang, you passed on a 190 buck, how wide was he. Any width to the other bucks. Good luck after xmas, you better shoot a 200 buck to make up for it. :)
 
The biggest buck looked to be 30"-32" wide at the tips, but pretty deceptive when they keep tipping out all the way to the tips of the antlers. He was probably only about 26" wide between the mainbeams. Kind of a goofy looking buck, although pretty big, and by the time I was done sizing him up he walked off and then the fog rolled in and I couldn't find him again.

He was only about 100 yards away and I was on top of him before I saw him. It didn't take too long, maybe 1-1.5 minutes, and then he got pretty edgy and moved off. It probably would've been a better deal if I'd seen him from a few hundred yards and had time to think it through a little more, but that's the way it goes!

That spike I'm gonna get the last day will be a lot more tender anyways!
 
Here is a 100 dollar bet that you wont whack a spike the last day of the season. Good luck.
 
You can hunt the desert unit cant you? Have you checked out any other areas besides the entiat?
 
Question your sanity.... tell your wife to smack you again for turning down a 190 in Washington. It will make the back of your head look more symetrical with two indentations anyhow.
 
Have hunted several units and I don't want to lose a $100 bill (I expect you're right on the not shooting a spike thing). My head already had multiple indentation from my wife and dad. I'm going to take my 7 year old daughter next - she don't hit as hard!
 
Sam,

Hey man dont get discouraged. We know they are out there. You put in a lot of work while you were over. All the hard work will pay off. Ya got to pass up those "big bucks" as your wife calls them to get to them BIG BUCKS!!! You are looking for.

Had a great time look forward to meeting with you again. And hey dont worry i know where you can shoot a big 2 point!!!! :)

Garrett
 
Make sure you let us know a couple days in advance before you settle on a spike. I am willing to drive over and help you out on the last couple days if that what it comes down too. My cell # is 253-209-8638. The more eyes out there the better..................rf
 
MDC.....MDC......MDC!!!!!!!!! What??? Pass up a 190 buck in Washington? You obviously didn't know he was a 190 buck at the time right, you figured that out later? Did you have a shot at the 180?

Its cool you are doing this one your own and have some resolve. If you were in Utah you'd just hire Doyle, and he and his 95 guide/scouters would go out and locate you a buck then take you to it and you could shoot it.

Heck, put an add in the Wenatchee paper, front page....REWARD...$5000 to the biggest buck located! Send pics to...MDC...MM.com! That is NOT the way to do it and its cool you aren't doing it that way.....tempting though isn't it! :)

Good luck man! Dont shoot a little buck, let him grow up for the next raffle tag winner, or even for you on a general hunt!
 
There's no shame in takin' a 170, 180, and especially a 190 class buck with that tag. Just because you can hunt ANYwhere until the end of the year doesn't gaurentee you'll kill that 200" buck.

I admire you for stickin' to your goals....man, don't know if I could've.:) Nonetheless...good luck the rest of the way, I think all us WA. guys are pullin' for ya either way.
 
I am not possitive but i have been watching a buck over the last 3 years that i think would gross in the low 190 ish range but i am not very good at judging. I havn't gone and looked for him this year because if the lack of snow. I am going out this weeknd after i get home from duck hunting to see if hes is around. I am saying this cause he's got to be 8 or 9 years old by now and maybe its not a bad idea for someone to harvest him but i am not sure if i want to reveil his location, but i can maybe lead you towards the general area.
 
I have nothing but respect for someone that lets a 190 buck walk. If it doesn't have the look (regardless of score) then that becomes an easy decision. There is NO shame in eating a tag.

GO BIG or go home. LOL

Good luck the rest of the way.
 
I got the resolve all right, but it doesn't look all that great mounted on the wall! I'm actually cool with "swinging for the fence" and coming up empty (that's why they call gambling - well, gambling).

The curious thing is I'm not even holding out for a 190 or 200 point buck to begin with. I would just like to get a great big beautiful buck! If and when the right buck comes along, I'll know it when I see it. And if it don't score 200", well that's alright too!

I just love being out there and learning new stuff. I'm awfully content (not completely, but pretty close) looking at all those different bucks. I seem to learn something new from each one I watch very long and maybe that will give me an edge some other time and help me get that monster somewhere else.

The hardest part about not getting a big buck is facing all the guys at the office, not the fact that things didn't come together for me the way I wanted. They don't quite have the appreciation for trying to get a truly big buck that you guys have here on MM. I may fail in their eyes, but there's a whole lot more to it than bragging rights to a 200" buck! Thanks for the encouragement, it'll all work out one way or the other.

Life's a ride, we may as well be in four wheel drive!
 
Screw the guys at the office, just remember why you are out there.....and I hope its not to impress anyone but yourself! Doens't sound like it is.

Good Luck man, cant wait to see your results!
 
You better hurry up and get one before he loses his horns. I know some people around here(NE WA)that are already finding fresh sheds. I am one who definitly admires your patience. I too am guilty of passing on good bucks because I didn't want to miss out on the best part. And that is spending enough time in the woods. There's something special about packing your favorite rifle and binoc's all by yourself in that far away honey hole. That's what I look forward to all year.
 
Your comment on them shedding their antlers is an interesting one. We saw two bucks that only had one side. In the past it seemed like the big bucks started shedding early when we had really hard early winters, but that's not the case this year. And both of the bucks we saw were just two points?

People are all acting like I'm nuts when I suggested that I saw a couple bucks only packing one side. In all fairness, I didn't see the pedicle, but the missing side was absoutley smooth (no chunk of busted antler or oddity).

My buddy shot a buck one winter and while trailing it found both antlers before getting to the buck. I hope mine will wait a little longer than that!
 
Best of luck, I think your nuts for passing up some of the bucks you have, but admire your dedication and willingness to hold out till the end, as well as leaving the bowhunters alone. Best of luck, can't wait to see a picture of you and the big one.
 
Good luck and find the one you want. Does your season end on the 31st.Have you heard or know how the person with the auction tag did and what county he hunted. I will be waiting for pictures. I hope you get some more weather in the next couple of days.
 
MDC
I admire you for doing this on your own. And it's ok to be picky! The last thing I would want is to have that tag and shoot something I wasn't happy with and then regret it. It sounds like your having fun and that's whats important.

Good luck.
 
Yes, one way or the other the hunt ends on December 31st. I just heard the aution tag holder is still hunting and will be in the same general area to hunt a few day (not sure when).

I doesn't look like we're going to get a whole lot of ugly weather this week (last I looked), so we'll play the hand we're dealt. I'll let everybody know how it goes.
 
>You better hurry up and get
>one before he loses his
>horns. I know some people
>around here(NE WA)that are already
>finding fresh sheds. I am
>one who definitly admires your
>patience. I too am guilty
>of passing on good bucks
>because I didn't want to
>miss out on the best
>part. And that is spending
>enough time in the woods.
>There's something special about packing
>your favorite rifle and binoc's
>all by yourself in that
>far away honey hole. That's
>what I look forward to
>all year.



get er done man!......and Buckblaster" I know the feeling!!..Manny
 
Today it was 46 Degree's in Wenatchee!!! The record for Dec. 21 is 54 Degree's. There is no snow!!!Are all the Buck's on Winter Range? If you are second guessing on a 190 Class Buck than YES you should have taken him!!! A TRUE Horn Hunter will not settle for SECOND BEST!!! If you shoot a small one you will NEVER shoot a BIG ONE!!!If you need help contact me!!! Good Luck
 
Well, I gambled that I might get a little more snow by the very end of the month and it looks like most of the snow I had is gone? Oh well, it's do or die week now!

Have a couple leads, but they're several days old now. We'll see if they're still around. One thing's for sure, even without good snow and lots of deer, it sure is cool being out hunting this time of year!

I'll post pictures of my big two point when I get back!

Thanks again for all the input from everybody.
 
>Well, I gambled that I might
>get a little more snow
>by the very end of
>the month and it looks
>like most of the snow
>I had is gone?
>Oh well, it's do or
>die week now!
>
>Have a couple leads, but they're
>several days old now.
>We'll see if they're still
>around. One thing's for
>sure, even without good snow
>and lots of deer, it
>sure is cool being out
>hunting this time of year!
>
>
>I'll post pictures of my big
>two point when I get
>back!
>
>Thanks again for all the input
>from everybody.








Dude think & Speak positive!...were getting some snow souldn't you....?..
 
Seen a big one you'd want. I'll try to get some photos of him on here for you with GPS coordinates. ; )
 
A guy my father in law works with up in twisp found a fresh whitetail horn in the middle of the road two weekends ago. The buck was feeding on side of road with fresh blood coming out of the pedicle or what ever its called.
 
Well, tomorrow is the last day! Hope you get some sleep tonight, for we've had snow the last two days. Good Luck!

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-30-04 AT 11:31PM (MST)[p]You're killing me, have you had success or not?

And what about the governors tag? Or has it been taken away and they need to have a recount?
 
You guys are killing me! Every time I see that there is a new post here I expect to hear about his hunt.

Mike Henne

P.S. Hi MIchaelJ, where have you been?
 
What are we down to the last nine hours. I had my internet access cut off here at work, so broke into my bosses office since he is off for the holiday just for an update. Now I need to figure out a way to remove me from his computer. Ah heck its just a job anyways. Without it, I'd be out hunting. Where is an update. Go get him MDC.
 
Well, you guys were just about the only thing I was killing! Thursday was the last day I had to hunt and the fog and snow this week was killing me cause I couldn't see more than 100 yards most of the time. No glassing was taking it's toll on the productive end of things.

Passed up one around 180 the first morning and a bigger one I never got a look at close enough to know what he was that afternoon. The second day was so foggy we couldn't glass anything we wanted to. Third day we went after a buck a buddy had glassed last week, but the weather wouldn't fully cooperate for that glassing session either.

By Wednesday night I was pretty discouraged and had all but resolved to shooting a two point on Thursday, wishing maybe I'd been a little more trigger happy earlier in the hunt. But, I'd gambled it all and was willing to risk taking a little buck on the last day, which was looking like reality (especially since I couldn't glass any of the spots I wanted to.

Thursday we got up early and I wanted to be on top of the mountain at daylight. We had a fresh new blanket of snow and got up there before light and sat in the truck for a half hour waiting for daylight to finish rolling out to the spot I wanted to glass. It was pretty clear where we were at and I thought maybe we'd get a break this morning and be able to see something.

We'd spotted a few does across the canyon from where we sat and when it got a light enough to see what was going on I started the truck and had gone about 100 feet when a fog bank rolled in cutting visibility to 50 feet. I stopped the truck and shut it off again and we waited another 20 minutes when the fog cleared a little, but now the snow was coming.

I was about ready to shoot myself, but fired the truck up again and took off while there was a little window and went about 100 yards and now we could see the does across the canyon good now. We glassed them one more time to make sure there were no bucks and lo and behold about 50 yards above the does was a buck bedded by a stump.

I had already decided I was going to take the first buck I saw, especailly given the foggy conditions we had been sitting in all morning. I didn't even try to size this buck up, although he looked to be a fair buck. I ranged the does at 251 yards and he was about 50 yards above them (the fog around him wouldn't let me range him). I grabbed my gun, got set up on the bipod, cranked the scope up to 20X, set the objective at 300 yards, found him in the scope and settled in for the shot.

He was curled up into a tight little ball, quartered slightly away. I was having trouble deciding where to hold the way he was laying, but decided I'd center him up and let those ballistic tips do their thing (tissue damage/shock transfer). I tightened up on the trigger and my .300 Win. Mag. broke the early morning silence.

Looking up after the shot, I was somewhat surprised to see the buck on his feet. He was hunched up pretty bad, but wasn't trying to run or anything. At that point I put another through the lungs and he still didn't go down. I had cycled the third round and my dad said don't bother and the buck went down behind the stump. He was in such a tight ball that my first shot had clipped the stomach, blew through the liver and part of the lungs.

I had seen flashes of antlers while taking the second shot and something looked weird. Now that he was down the stump was in the way to see him and then another fog bank rolled in. We drove around to the top of the canyon and headed in to find him. When I finally came walking up behind him I said to myself, that ain't the buck I just shot?! An as he lay picture will explain why.

All I can say is it never hurts to be lucky! I hunted hard and passed on some bucks I probably shouldn't have. During my three trips over there I saw 141 bucks, 7 in the 150's, 3 in the 160's, 8 in the 170's (a number of those 180's except for one small fork), 3 in the 180's and 1 I think would have broke 190, maybe even net.

My good luck/consolation buck was definitely the heaviest buck I saw. Here are some stats on the buck and will post a few pictures when I get the film developed.

Gross 182 5/8 (without the busted tines, he'd gross around 190)
Net 174 2/8 (mostly because of two busted tines)
Outside Spread 28 3/8
Inside Spread 24 4/8
Mass Measurements 42 4/8 (this is where this buck shines)
Balanced and symmetrical he would've landed around 191

Thanks for everybody's feedback. I had a great time and enjoyed it right up to the end, except the fog part. I will try to post some pictures tonight, though I may need someone to walk me through it the first time?

Happy New Year!
 
Let me be the first to say - CONGRATULATIONS! I really appreciate your resolve and determination to make the most of this experience, and am glad you received a fine reward at the end!
 
Congrats, you had quite the season, can't wait to see some pictures. Post them under a new thread though, this one is getting long.
 
Sam,

Congradulations again on an awesome buck once these people see these pic's they are going to love him too. You put in a lot of time and miles, you were very dedicated to your task and it was very very refreshing to see what hunting is all about. You and your dad and your wife are all top notch classy people and i had a great time hunting and helping you guys out. If there is anything else down the road that you need i will always be willing to help. Let me know if you want me to send your dad some more pictures right now, they all turned out really really well. Awesome buck man!!!

Garrett
 
>You guys are killing me!
>Every time I see that
>there is a new post
>here I expect to hear
>about his hunt.
>
>Mike Henne
>
>P.S. Hi MIchaelJ, where have
>you been?

Mike, hey good to see you on here again. I've been busy lately. Working on school, selling my car, buying a new one...etc It happens every year. at the begining of the summer, I start getting REALLY excited for hunting, and visit this site almost every day. Then after the season ends, and Christmas is past, I usually loose interest in the site. I try to visit back here every once inawhile, but I don't visit here as much as I do during other months.

BTW: I met one of the K-9 trainers here in Wenatchee. Forget his name, but he was a guest speaker in my Health Class. Cool guy. I asked him about you, and he said he's heard of you, but never met you.

Good Luck and stay safe on the job!


Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.
 

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