221L Success?

LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-15 AT 02:05PM (MST)[p]I was just curious as to how the other hunters who had this hunt did. It was hot and windy over the start of the hunt (so I was both sun and wind burned!!!), but it did cool off over the last 3 days - I am hoping this started the rut for those of you that were patient enough to wait that long. The common wisdom that I kept hearing was to wait for the last 2 days of the hunt, and the 30-inchers would just appear...but I could not pass up this 5x5 (or 5x6 depending on who is counting...) I spotted on our 5th day of hunting. So I spotted him, snuck on him, spooked and lost him, spent 4 hours looking for him, found him, chased him over 4 ridges, then success!

It was just me and my father-in-law on a DIY hunt, so we didn't necessarily have the resources of many of the other hunters, but we had a great time! The only thing I would have changed if I could was the weather - high 60's in November is ridiculous!

Nice Buck!I Love area 22!Its just now starting to cool off up there.We were there for the mid hunt and it was pretty much the same weather,with a lot of rain over the weekend.

You made a very good choice to shoot this one. That's a cool buck. Any more pictures?

Thanks! Unfortunately, I SUCK at taking pictures, so only have these two others (and he is off for a Euro mount already).

great buck congrats !

I'll get a pic of mine up soon.

Not what I was hoping for but in the same class as yours.

Supposed to be the best tag in the State, at least the longest odds of drawing.

There are HUGE bucks in those units BUT some things to consider: First 2 days there are tons of youth hunters in the field as well. Last day elk season starts. There are 4 days when only the 221,222,223 late tag holders are in the field.

I found a spring that I sat 3 evenings early in the hunt and saw over 51 deer come to water each evening. Best night was over 70. Reflecting back, I should have sat this dawn to dusk cause I kicked deer off the water every time I came in there, betweem noon and 1:00 each time.

I passed a "better than I shot" buck on day 5. Glassed him at 1200 yds. He was following 20-25 does, headed to PJs. Took him 20 minutes to get there so I could have gotten in front of him. We thought he was 27", typical 4X4 with about 6" eye guards. I thought I could do better.

The buck I took came out after we watched a large group of does and one small 4X4 for 30 minutes. We watched him for about 10 minutes, I was going to pass. Then he got rutty, lip curled, neck out, nose up doe behind. I got a little more excited. Then he bedded down. I told my partner, "He just chose his death bed." He was surprised I was going to take him but didn't try to talk me out of it.

412 yds, he struggled to get out of his bed, but did.

@ 418 he went down for good.

He actually grew when we got to him which was kinda sweet. Not a HUGE buck the unit is known for but with only 1 day left, and elk season starting the next day, no regrets.

I live in Nevada and can't seem to draw this tag ever. Its among my first choices and can only get a last choice Ruby's. Your buck is nice, way to go.