BACK FROM THE ABYSS!! Colorado update

five_point_buck

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Been a few months since I have got to reply to anything, been reading the site everyday, but the "geeks" here at work have killed my ability to post. May have found a way around it so hopefully this works.

Been an interesting year with the truck (and me) getting totalled three days before my hunt, but all things considered, I came out "A" O.K. Thanks to everyone for the emails and the good thoughts, I appreciate it.

Here's a re-cap of my colorado trip..... kinda long, but it was a long trip....


The trip went well, my Dad killed his first ever bull, and 4 of 5 of us killed good bucks, but no monsters. A few 4x4's and a 5x4. All in the 24" range. I passed on 23 different bucks. I saw a big one the morning of the opener but he got up into the pinions by the time I made it over to where he was. It was fun to do more glassing than usual, especially with my back all tore to (bad word). Got a Nikon xl spotter and used it a ton. Almost too much in fact. Looking back, there are a few bucks I should have stalked on instead of watching for so long.

For this trip, I had set a bench mark of 180" plus. That first buck would have done it easy, but every other buck I saw was missing one thing or another. No complete packages...tall with no mass, wide with no height, or they were super tall and heavy with shallow forks, you get the picture. Nothing had kickers or monster eyeguards. So, they live another day. The buck the first morning was 800 yards out and was an easy 28 with very deep forks, great eye guards and good mass. Probably 10-12" bigger than my last good buck two years ago (same gene pool). My dad and I kinda miscommunicated as to where we were going and we bumped them before I could put something together. The big buck got to the saddle I was headed for before I got there and he was with 4 other bucks that were all 24" 4x's, and I got confused and wasted the few moments I had sorting through them. My bad. After seeing him, a few 24-25" inch bucks weren't gonna do it for me. My biggest problem was making up my mind to go after them once I located them. I scoped the crap out of them but indecision killed me. I would like to blame it on my back, but it was my brain that was stuck on stupid.

The highlight of the trip was getting to see a 350" bull cross the river in front of me at 100 yards. He got half way across, drank, and needed to come another 20 yards for an easy shot on my side (100 yards). I was tucked in on a rim with a lone PJ in front of me, sweet set-up. I was on my sticks and ready when all of a sudden he blows out and runs down river. For the life of me I can't figure out what spooked him. I trailed him in my scope waiting for him to hit dry ground so I could drop him but he stayed right in the middle of 4 feet deep water. I didn't want to kill him in the river and have to figure out a way to canoe his ass down to a pull out point. He got around a bend and I lost sight of him. So I hauled ass cross hill trying to get out to the edge. I was quickly losing light and bouncing from rock to rock was challenging. By the time I made it out there he was invisible. As I walked back to get my stuff, I see a truck on one of our roads. Turned out a "local female" who "knew" one of the ranch hands had "traded services" for access. (I tried to keep that last sentence as clean as possible). Which, in all actuality, she didn't have. What she did have was real (bad word) timing. To add more salt to the wound, my buddy Rich approached her truck and asked what the "yep- another bad word" she was doing, and told her she just blew (no pun intended) a monster bull for me..... Her reply "Yeah, I saw him, he stopped and looked at the truck from 15 yards away, but I don't have a bull tag. Just a doe tag. A Flippin' DOE TAG. Like she couldn't fill that off any public road in Colorado. I spent the last three days trying to find him or the buck again, but always seemed to be one or two steps behind. In hind-sight, I should have concentrated on one or the other.

Next day, my Dad headed to a favorite spot where I killed my 187 two years ago and he stumbles on a 5x4 bull. He dropped him in his tracks, problem was those tracks where 400 yards downhill on a river bend choked thick with willows and snags. He insisted on dragging him out whole to get some good pics on the meat pole. If it wasn't his first bull I would have really pushed to quarter him up. So 5 of us drug that load out in two hours, the last 100 yards were all but straight up. It was fun to see how excited he was, which made my whole trip.

My last bad decission of the trip came on the last day. I had snuck out a old washed out road where it opens up to a sage flat where we always do good. On the way, at first light, I peak across a creek to my left and this old willow horn buck is laying in the grass covered in snow, looking back over his shoulder at me not 25 yards away!! 10 years ago I would have smoked him without blinking, but instead I foooled around with him. I whistled, flung a few pebbles and he wouldn't budge. I was starting to think he was frozen stiff! I continued on and peaked back. He just watched as I continued. Twice I stopped and second guessed not killing him just for the story alone. A few hundred yards later I see two bucks working out of the sage skylined on a little finger 320 yards out. They were moving with a purpose but kept stopping to pick at the grub. One was 25 not too tall, and average mass, the second had a monster body and was tall but inside his ears. I took a few steps trying to get closer but soon enough they moved out over the ridge. My indeccision had killed me again. But I had a whole day of hunting to go!

I stayed on stand all day waiting to see if the monster from day one would make a showing. In the meantime I glassed a 170 type buck for my dad over on his side and I sent him stalking on him. For the next hour I watched it unfold as he crossed a plateau. Once he peaked over the edge, the buck and his does broke and my Dad didn't see him sneak out the back door. Kinda agonizing to watch.

So time rolled by and about noon two guys came down a public road that borders our piece, so we chatted, I thought I'd help myself out by sending them out after those two bucks, and was thinking some of that pressure might kick something down my way. I was spent and was content on staying put. Well, an hour later they come back with the tall buck in their truck. Immediately I started kickin' myself. He was super tall, and heavy as chit at the bases, lots of character. From 300 + in low light I wasn't gung ho till I saw him in the truck (immediately I thought "nice filed judging idiot" to myself). An hour before dark I tried to force the issue and headed out to side hill a few fingers. Was amazed that in two hours I bumped 6 decent bucks in a square mile. Nothing worth tooting any horns about though. So it ended, the second year in a row not pulling the trigger. I was beat up, broke down, and flat defeated..... and I can't remember a better time chasing muleys!!

Anyway, it was a real fun trip, everyone got along, we saw nice animals, and I was pumped for my Dad to kill his first bull. He was tickled. Weather kinda petered out for the week and slowed down the pre rut activity. Even so, horn growth was excellent and a lot of 24" 4x4's and 4x3's were left to try and get bigger. Hopefully the winter isn't too bad, and the spring is nice and wet again. The drive out was a lot more green than in years past. Maybe a good sign that we are turning the corner on this drought thing.
As for now its ducks and wild pigs and an indoor archery league.... Pretty soon the planning and scouting and mapping will start all over!!!

Thanks for reading



?America is a great country, the harder you work the luckier you get.?
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five_point_buck
AKA Larry Pasero Jr.
 
Welcome back FPB... I was wondering where you been. Always look forward to hearing the stories of your hunt. Congrats to your dad on his bull and the rest of the team also.


Happy trails
Ridge Runner
"Now Pilgrim,you sure you can skin grizz"
 
LARRY, ....GOOD TO HERE FROM YOU AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD TRIP, ALWAYS ENJOY YOUR STORIES. TAKE ER EASY,...YD.
 
Larry:

Enjoyed the story, although it's been too darn long since the last one I read. Welcome back!

BOHNTR )))---------->
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-10-05 AT 06:13PM (MST)[p]Nice to have goals, feels better at the end knowing you stuck to them! Next year will really pay off for you all I hope!
Ya the ole "I shoulda-coulda"! But don't let it keep ya up at night!
congrat to your Pops on his Elk!
welcome back!
great read thanks for sharing!
rackmaster
 
"Man looks into the abyss, there is nothing staring back at him, at that moment man finds his character & thats what keeps him out of the abyss"

As always 5pt. good having you back round !!
 
Larry,
Sounds like an awesome trip. Great to have ya back here to share the story with us.
-Steve
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Good to see you back! That was a great story and a great hunt. I hope to help my dad with his first bull this coming year...I can't wait! Sounds like you've got a great hunting area with lots of game. I'm sure next year will treat you better. Have a good one.
 
Thanks for the great replies,

It was a great hunt and I had a blast. It seems I am already getting the itch for next season, and thats scary because I am usually mellow unitl tags go in. Not this year. I have been teaching my hunters safety class every month, shooting my bow 3-4 times a week and shooting an indoor archery league. Add to that the "TIVO" I bought my wife for x-mas and I'm going crazy. The TIVO allows me to record programs anytime day or night AND search for "mule deer" or "elk" programs. Almost too convienient. So I shoot my bow, watch some hunting shows, and teach lil' buggers how to get after it, I'm gonna be burnt out by the time the hunting season rolls around!

?America is a great country, the harder you work the luckier you get.?
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five_point_buck
AKA Larry Pasero Jr.
 
Glad your back. Sorry I missed your post, just before we left for Co. Lets see some pictures. Congrats to your Dad. I would give anything if my Dad would go with me to Colorado.
 

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