16 year old DIY Backpacking hunt

LAST EDITED ON Aug-20-10 AT 04:15AM (MST) by Founder (admin)[p][p align=right]Thread Views Counter....[/p]

My last 3 or 4 years of hunting deer with a Rifle and Muzzloader I haven't harvested an animal I keep passing on the smaller bucks in hopes of seeing them again next year. But nothing has connected yet so this might be the year. This year I had the dream to hunt all three seasons, with archery being my top priority.


A lot of 16 year olds are playing video games, or going on dates, or when they go hunting there dad he drags them out of bed for the four wheeler ride or truck ride in search of the mighty road side mule deer. That's 16 year old ain't me, before I was 16 and I was deprived of driving anywhere. I would ride my bike over a mile in the snow. People might not think this is bad but the road ain't plowed and it's steep and long, it also has frozen cow patties on it and well you don't want to hit one of those! I recall one trip of me riding down on my bike and there was snow half way up on my tires(about 11 inches). I was looking for the mule deer that live in the trees by my house. I get down there when it started snowing harder, on that trip only saw one doe. Normally I didn't see much but just the chance to see one would make go back. Now I can drive, and am out looking for deer whenever I can, as long as gas permits. Around January I started counting my money that I made this last summer picking corn, and found I had enough for a bow, over 400 dollars later, I had in my hands a Diamond Razor edge, 6 arrows, target, and a release. Well I was broke but shooting my bow in the snow was addicting. Fast forward the summer. I had scouting trips where I would see bucks, but none to get to excited about and I didn't have a decent camera so never took any pictures. I started working on my grandparents farm, to earn some extra cash. Being my first year bowhunting well I went through arrows pretty fast. Missing the target, and each time I would cringe. Four days before the archery deer hunt had me without a spring or a lake located on the mountain. So the worst situation came I had to get around 8 gallons to the campsite which is over 2.5 miles up. It was hard for me but I made it up in 2 hours and 11 minutes. So the next day came and now I had to pack another 4 gallons up. Well this trip each step seemed twice as harder as the day before, instead of just my calves aching my butt was starting to get sore. But I pressed on. Little did I know on these trips I would find the buck I want to go after or atleast give me hope to find a decent buck up there. For my birthday this year I recieved a canon powershot sx120 IS with 40x optical zoom doesn't take the best quality but will help me judge the bucks.

I ended up picking up some g5 striker broadheads to test out for my first hunt after being recomended to me by a few friends.


I got really excited with this buck tell I got home and saw he was only around 18 inches.
[IMG]http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/4197picture_035.jpg
So the next trip up with water about to camp I spotted this bachelor herd, and one buck really caught my eye so I sat down and snapped 79 pictures of these mule deer wanting to shoot the biggest one I call "Shooter" because it's the first shooter I have found, and I will likely pass on the smaller ones.





Another small buck


Now Still dreaming about my hunt I had to put my camo on, so I halted the packing session and had to take a quick picture. Sometimes "BUCK FEVER" Takes over and you forget to knock and arrow. I was after some big bucks for sure.

Good luck on everyones hunt I will post again about my hunt stories.[/img]

Archery hunt just started and it was a blast, just got blown off the mountain so had to pack up camp and head down, what a blast saw some nice bucks, including "shooter" and a buck I call "Super Bird".

Opening morning arived, and not 30 min into first light we had a buck spotted and was feeding so I got over there for a better look but some other archers already busted him out but why I was over there I spotted "shooter" looked him over debating on whether to take him and how to stalk him since he was in the thickest brush out there.

During my stalk I thought I would show you how thick it was I was on my hands and knees crawling since it was the only way to make the least about of noise and get through the brush.

I made it within 100 yards but some random hikers came up and he had enough and went into the pines so I aborted that stalk. Not seeing anything else the rest of the day besides some small bucks and does.

Day 2 August 22
I headed to where I have seen some decent bucks, only saw a doe and a fawn so I took a look across the canyon and saw "shooter"! Or was it? I watched him bed then headed over and got about 150 yards above him, I got the buck in the scope and could see he was a three on his right side.
Spot the antler tines


Then he was up feeding again and I couldn't believe my eyes he had a cheater that started really low on his antler, then I looked closer and could see some more horn spirting off forward, on his right antler.



I thought what a buck, easing closer very slowly. I really wanted him I had to hold the binocs on him with my left hand cause my right was shaking uncontrollably, he was about 23 wide, but just had so much character.I eased to 80 yards from my intended target. Watching a two point leave the seen into the pines on que I thought this is where everything goes right and I get my Dream buck. Well a pine hen flew up and flew by the buck, then another one, then a little bit later another one, then another one. Four Pine Hens had to fly up. This made the buck nervous and he started feeding quickly into the pines. That is why I call the buck "Super Bird". I bet he has these birds all around him to spot danger. Wishing I could have another chance a the buck I watched a two point and a 22 inch four point run into the trees, spooked by something unknown.

I was walking by where the grouse flew and what do you know the stupid birds had to pose for a photo.



Will be going again in the next couple days, hopefully so we can get a closeup picture of "Super Bird".

Another picture of Super bird, It's awesome being on the mountain around 5 a.m and the birds whizzing by you sound like missles zooming past you.

Heading back out today in search of some muleys, looking forward to it. Hunting partner has work so it will be my second and third night/day alone, will be coming back Thursday night and then again heading out Friday afternoon.

Will report back later.

It just sucks leaving your buddy home sometimes.

Walking up the mountain I got the scare, that has been worrying me the whole time I have been hunting. Rattlesnake! He was about 2 1/2 ft long, and not scared one bit he made me go around him as he stayed on the deer trail I was walking. It didn't take much convincing of him for me to go around he ment buisiness!

Here is my stash, Gossners milk tastes twice as good on the mountain and here is my bed I'm making almost done.







That evening after I set up camp had me overlooking the area where I last saw "Shooter" and "Super Bird", I saw quite a few two points and two 3 points one around 20 the other 22. Nothing to my liking so I passed and let them go. I headed back in the dark, where I made my ramen noodles and had an apple.

That night I must of drank to much cause I filled my pee bottle to full capacity and had to hold the rest, in tell morning. I now will have two pee bottles with me.

My alarm rang at 4:30 no one is around I'm the only one on the mountain. The full moon, lit everything up making it spookier than before. Having someone somewhere on the mountain makes you more relaxed but when your alone every sound gets you to look and wonder.

I was up on my lookout knob, watching everything around me, feeling like I was on the top of the world. First light showed me a small two point and some does. Then I looked over where I last stalked "Super Bird", and to my amazement there he was. I watched him bed and planned a stalk. I eased around trying to pop up above him. I took my pack off and my shoes and went on in just socks. There he was! I could see the tips of his antlers feeding up the drainage, 50 yards away. I eased down slowly when he got behind a tree I figured he would keep going up the drainage, wrong! He went to the left where I would of had a nice 40 yard shot. Well now he was behind a tree, when a sudded gust of wind went right his way. I smiled and laughed to myselft cause I new I was busted. He looked up and after a few tense moments of him staring a hole right through me and through the mountain he bounded off. So frusterated I layed there for the next 20 or so minutes. After that I went 10 yards lower from where he busted out and sat there for the rest of the day. I had a hunch the deer would come out and feed down this trail 80 yards below me but decided not to move. Well I should have cause here he came but he had his friend, "Mr.Deuce" who is a 2 1/2 year old two point I always see. They fed below me sneaking down there when "Mr.Deuece" started sniffing the air. 50 yards away at the time, "Super Bird", didn't know what was going on and he froze. I new he was going to go for the pines so I snuck quickly up there where, I estimated 45 yards, and Super stopped broadside. As I watched the arrow go clean over his back. I waited a moment and then went to find my arrow and make sure I didn't hit him. I didn't find my arrow so distraught, I got my stuff and decided to just head for home. But I had to go through the thickest brush which ended up knocking an arrow out of my quiver so losing $40 bucks worth of stuff, just made me cringe.

What a day 2 stalks on the buck, but now deciding that I want to take "Super Bird" or "Shooter", trying to figure if I want a nice framed three point, or a smaller buck with a cheater.
Who knows hopefully I will have pictures of me with one of them before the hunt comes to a close.

There is something special about archery hunting. You might be mad about your failed stalk at the time but you look back at it and say that was freaking awesome!!

Heading up again today, till Sunday afternoonish. Maybe earlier if something happens to run into an arrow!

27 MILES! In the last week and a half.
Made our way up, still thinking about the Rattlesnakes through the back of our minds. Well what do you know I think I jumped out of my underpants, well I wish I would of because I had to change them. Not really but what do you know not 50 yards from where I ran into the last one, there was a different one but this one was about 3 ft long, but didn't have all of his rattles for some reason. Well it took us a lot longer to get up to the top, walking twice as slow holding my bow in front of my feet hoping that, if a rattlesnake was to strike it would want my bow instead.



I reach the look out knob dragging my buddy up the mountain. The wind starts howling and the rain starts coming. So we hunkered down behind a bush trying to stay dry. Around 7:30 I spot some deer feeding on the opposite ridge and sure enough one of them is "Shooter" waiting for them to feed to a stalkable area, I start planning my attack. He is with a 18-20 inch 3 point with small eye guards, and a doe later joins them. I started the stalk working the edge of the pine trees up to the feeding bucks, when I notice to my left another archer sneaking across the bare hillside. Worried what was going to happen we both just kept easing towards the bucks. When I see him come to draw and shoot, I hear the bucks moving towards me so I draw at 42 yards I stop them but the other buck moved behind the larger one, they end up moving farther so at 46 yards I released the arrow but the buck jumped the string and the arrow flew off it's mark thankfully. If it would of been on I would of had a gut shot deer to deal with. The deer didn't know where to go and just calmly trotted off. It was getting dark so after a few moments I went to find my arrow and check for blood but couldn't find neither.

Heading back to the tent talking to the other archer who was camped below us, going through the freshly soaked brush. Getting back to the tent I made ramen noodles and we set it up. Well that night it poured, we had to cover are stuff with garbage bags around 12 at night, to realize everything was already soaked. The wind started blowing hard which knocked a stake out of the ground, and knocking the pole holding the tent up out. So for the rest of the night we had to hold the pole, so the tent canvas wouldn't get us wet. Then the thunder and lightning started keeping us up for most the night.

Well 4:30 came awful early that morning, with around and hour and a half of sleep for me. I grabbed a gossner choclate milk and headed up to the look out knob. Once I got there the wind was howling, and the sun was taking it's sweet time coming up as usual. I spotted a two point and some does so my hunting partner a.k.a "Baby killer", went after them while I watched the opposite hill side.

I spotted "Shooter" and his buddy and a small two feeding with them. I saw the other archers watching them so I headed to them to see if I couldn't get in on the gameplan. Which they ended up letting me. I pushed up the same way throught the pines but the wind wasn't in my favor so I held up where I had shooting alleys both ways my right side was 33 yards and my left was 41. I waited patiently hoping the deer would get pushed my way when I heard them coming, I saw "Shooter running to my left with blood spraying out, but here comes the two smaller bucks, they passed slowly but I decided to let them walk. But they stopped 13 yards in front of me behind some trees. They stared at me for some tense moments but weren't worried about me they kept looking back to where "Shooter" was on his last run. I was amazed at how close I was, and the buck fever burning throughout my blood stream. I wanted to see how close I could get.. Well at around 10 yards they saw me and busted out of there and just trotted over the hill.

I waited on the hill and later the group met up with me and we looked for blood, well it was all over. We followed it for less then 100 yards to find "Shooter" piled up.

He taped at 23 1/2 inches wide. I'm glad my fellow archers camped below me were as nice as they were, and it made the experience that much better.
Sorry about the snow storm protecting some identities and not sure if there going to post pics of themselves on here.



"Shooter" is down but I hope to find another buck on the last weekend.

Well wanted to go with my dad so we saddled up the horses and headed to a different area. Had a fun ride up to where I was going to try and find some deer. The deer weren't cooperating and I guess that's what you get for not scouting out that area. Well headed down before dark, the horses were doing great!

Here is the dink that caused all the drama.



Well I spoke to soon as we loaded the horses into the trailer, the littly filly loaded just fine. But the guilding wasn't used to this trailer. He just wouldn't go in rearing back causing havoc. I was holding the rope when he decided he wanted to get out of there and the rope burned my hands fairly bad. Pissed, at the horse, nothing was working. So we ended up tying the horse to a tree and headed down now it was passed the time we told everyone we would be home. Getting out of the canyon, my mom and uncle were already on there way, and luckily they brought the other horse trailer.

So I came home since school is starting in the morning. And my dad and uncle are up getting the horse loaded hopefully.

It was a fun trip, but my moms not falling for my excuse of my hands are burned I can't grip a #2 pencil.

Well it looks like I will be going to school in the morning.

I guess this picture sums everything up of why we go through all this trouble.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-31-10 AT 10:17PM (MST)[p]School sometimes needs to wait till after the hunt, I am dying sitting at school, day dreaming. Thinking about hunting the last weekend of the 2010 Archery Season. Pondering about buying a Idaho archery tag, or a new spotting scope. Dreaming of the hunts, I should of put in for. Which got me thinking about my dad's Idaho buck he killed back in 1999 I think was the year.

I was to young to go that year but wish I was there, I've never seen my dad pull the trigger on a big game animal. Which I hope to see within mine and his lifetime. He has killed one other deer since he harvested the Idaho buck, a small 20 inch 4 by 3 which he is very regretful of shooting, which I was playing baseball at the time of harvest. I am glad I have a picture of the buck he harvested and glad I went through the processes after harvest with him, but wish I didn't have to hear the story of it, wish I was there.

This was the last year the Sublett Unit was a draw unit in Idaho.
5 By 5
25 inch

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/8383scan0001.jpg

Well the week is almost over, and I am headed up again tommorrow, ALONE! Being in the backcountry is physically and mentally draining. I have been searching thinking which friend I could take to my spot with no luck. Maybe something will turn up, but I highly doubt that. Last weekend of the hunt well see how it goes, if I stay up there the whole time I should be up there tell Sunday afternoon.

Thanks

Well sometimes you have to roll with the punches, but because of a family reason can't go up tonight will be heading out at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.

I've always heard that full moon means deer don't feed when it's light. So I got excited to just have a sliver of a moon, thinking the deer would be feeding a lot more. Well I was wrong but still saw some bucks.

Saturday night I am on my look out knob, wondering why am I not seeing anything. It was getting dark fast, and even if I did see something I wouldn't have time for a stalk. I spotted a two point feeding, so I started to get excited. I noticed his body language and the way he was looking and their stood a small 2 by 3. Now I'm really worried two deer in a evening this is strange.

When I get a hunch to look whee I always seem to find deer and not far off of my main look. There's a buck, I inspect him more and he is about a 22 inch 3 by 3, with small eye guards. Being it to late to go after it I waited watching it till it was dark but he never moved out of his bed.


Well night was here so I quickly set up my tent, and ate a pb and j. I hopped into my sleeping bag and was happy to not be outside. I fell asleep quickly, 4:30 came I got up packed up the tent and sleeping bag.

That's when it hit me, I'm alone it's dark I'm in the mountains. Uh, mountain lions, maybe wolves, rabid squirrels, Rattle snake, and big foot. Well about everything that you can think of that's scary ran through my mind, waving my flashlight looking for a set of eyes looking at me. I sat at my camp site scared as can be. When I finally got the courage to head to the look out point. I pretty much spun in circles all the way there, what is following me what is waiting to ambush me. Then the F-16 birds start flying whizzing by my head, sounding like their breaking the sound barrier.

Waiting counting the moments before I can finally see enough to spot deer. Not 5 minutes after I can start seeing, I spot some deer feeding a few canyons a way from me. I look them over and notice no fawns!! They must be bucks, well the sun kept coming and I could start to see horns. The one was a buck I saw earlier in the hunt. But I didn't get a good look at him well now I did and his buddy. 5 bucks 2 small two points a 19 inch 4 point, another buck that's heavier and a little wider. Which also has something non-typical going off his back tines. But the buck that caught my attention was the 4.







Being it was still way early and the bucks were out feeding I couldn't put a stalk on. I was waiting to watch them bed, praying they wouldn't go over the hill to the thick canyon. Well you know how that goes they fed over slow so I marked where they went over, and headed that way. I got to where I thought they would stop and started my stalk easing down slow, with the wind just perfect. Never did run into them again, and I had to head down. Knowing my hunt was over I didn't see anything on the way down but had a HECK of a time and saw some nice bucks.
On the way down I think I found where some elk have been hanging out it was around 10ft long by 10ft wide. Had a few elk tracks in it.

I don't think my hunt is over looks like I will be going to an area where the hunt is still going on next weekend!
Stay Tuned.

September 30
Well the last time I went up on the mountain was to get the tent, and left over water and food off the mountain. But sitting in school, just can't plain concentrate. I practically walked up to my spot, in my dreams throughout the day at school. So today I headed up with my hunting buddy after school.



The air was cooler then previously the leaves were turning to there fall colors. Some had already fallen onto the ground. It now felt like hunting season, but this time I had a little bit more of an advantage, now I had a Muzzleloader. It took us about 2 hours getting up to our spot, glassing along the way.

Along the way looking at where the fond memories happened, 35 yards from "Super Bird", 10 yards from two smaller bucks, and those pesky grouse had to make an appearence today. Everything all gelled together, just wishing I could have those days back.

Well now lets get to talking about the deer.... Well saw a doe and a fawn. That pretty much sums it up, headed back down in the dark, and now 10:30 P.M. Finishing homework for school tommorrow.

Thanks for reading!

Muzzleloader Weekend! To much anticipation I finally got to hunt with my dad for the first time this year. After having an interesting time on the highway dodges bunnies, we were up and looking around.

When I told my dad to stop, and lets look up this draw, when my binos wandered over into another small draw I couldn't believe my eyes, elk shed!! After another conformation, I was off.
If you look, at the shaded part of my dad's knuckle and go right, into the crack in the middle of the draw, it's laying there.


As it lays.


Well, today was just an elk day it seemed, glassing around I spotted this small bull bedded.


Today saw the most bucks I have seen in a day, which is 8 nothing worth going after.

Always seem to run into these guys, since the rut is going on.


The start of day two had us headed to a different area, that I hadn't been to since I was packing around a daisy red rider bb gun. It's amazing what I could remember about that place, from me stalking in on the antelope with my bb gun, to seeing moose, to watching some hunting buddies miss some bucks.
The sunrise was a good one for sure!

Headed back to a different area during the day, ran into this buck, that had a doe rounded up.

Well, I will finish the story tommorrow, I am dead.

My hunts this year have taken me from high country down to high desert which can make for a good change, the flatter terrain lets me hike all over and not break a sweat, Zigging and Zagging, through the likely lies of a monster muley buck. To no avail, just the occasional doe, or small buck.

Well Like I said what a sunrise, nice to see some new country for a change.


Found this buck off the side of the road, only had one doe rounded up. Pretty good buck if you ask me.


Finally I found a quakey grove that was off the beaten path, 99% get the piss beaten out of them. Normally I try to avoid them, but I just couldn't resist temptation. I slipped into it sneaking around throwing pebbles around. In hopes I would sneak close enough and then the pebbles would make the deer stand.

I then noticed a shiny object in just a few feet away, when I noticed it was a Happy Birthday baloon. You always see a baloon, levitate away, but you never see them come down. I guess this one has seen some awesome things, and if it could talk it would have a heck of a story to tell.


Then I walked farther into the grove and noticed a tiny footprint about five feet high on the tree, I'm thinking porcupine or a raccoon.


Every hunt is action packed, but have you ever had ninja marauders in hot pursuit? They chased us tell we ditched them by tossing an oil slick out and they both skidded off the road. Well ok maybe they were just out for a ride, and maybe the black lines is part of a window decal, but they still were ninjas.


One thing that I must say I like about having a truck around. Is to have a cooler to keep these tasty treats cool.


Thanks for reading! The next story will be around the Rifle deer hunt or the next time I get out looking for deer.

Sometimes when your not deer hunting you feed your other hobbies. I will have another Deer Hunting post coming up but will post this first.





Now that I got that over with, tommorrow maybe tonight I will post pictures of my hunt.

Few days before Utah's Rifle Deer Hunt. I've been getting my dog out lately for a few runs, after the almight birds. But this time it was for huns. Gotta love while your chasing birds and muleys get tossed in front of you.
Got within 50 yards of this little guy then he decided I was close enough and darted off.




After making it up to a ways more I found myself walking through an area where there was a few scattered maple trees. When I looked down and at about 300 yards was a deer. Right off the bat I knew it was a buck just by it's body so I got the camera out and snapped a few photos. Still in the velvet, pretty neat looking deer.
I like his eye guards


Hunting with my dog Toby never gets old


Him telling me there is Huns over this fence



Then you always wonder where the heck the balloons go after you let them go and well found another one!


Thanks Next post Mule Deer!

Here is another look at the velvet buck that I forgot to post.


Rifle weekend found me hunting with my dad. I was getting a little stressed at the amount of people we were seeing but was hoping to have them push a deer our way.

I spotted a group of does and a spike that was out feeding on the hill, we made our way over to check a new area in the truck when the deer moved over the hill. I was out on a walk when I heard the familiar sound of a gun going off. A 3 shots later I was looking through the spotting scope as a guy made his way down the hill. Watching 4 guys 3 with guns resting them on the fence post, and the guy working his way from above, I knew this buck was dead. But I was wrong, over 9 shots later the spike and does came up the hill about 150 yards away running with there mouths wide open from exhaustion. Rooting for the spike to get away I hear another 5 shots from below us seeing dust fly up to the right and behind of the buck. Amazed at how lucky this buck was we watched as the group of guys drove up the hill trying to follow it, giving them a big smile as they went by. That was the excitment in the hunt with my dad deer wise.



The weather was wet, and the wind was blowing hard, and the deer just weren't there Debating on what I wanted to do for a monday hunt,I decided I would call my mom and ask her if I could get off school. To my amazement she said yes, and me and my dad headed home after the evening hunt. So as I got home I unpacked and packed my backpack got everything ready to be up in the morning.

The morning was cool, and the snow was falling, the seasons had changed. The leaves were falling symbolizing the death of this year. It really hit me that this was the last time I would be deer hunting up in my area this year, and I felt like I had experienced everything I could of in this season. I sometimes think to myself maybe my misses during Archery season were ment to be, I wouldn't of experienced everything and I wouldn't have that much of a story to tell. I have experienced some things I only dream of seeing again in my lifetime, felt things that I only hope to experience again.

It seems only yesterday I was scouting deer looking at there nubs. Dreaming of Archery season and what was to come, now all that has come and gone, my hunt is over.

10/25/10 A day in History I will never forget.

I got an early start with some Choclate Instant breakfast A.K.A "Gas Juice", I pulled the handle on my truck to releasing the warm air to the cooler outside air. After taking the time to layer up I realized I had a ways to go to get to my spot so I was off. I realized as I was walking up this is my last time carrying a gun up this mountain, so that motivated me to push my self as hard as I could.

As I reached an area where I could start to see a bit I realized how fogged in the top of the mountain was so I decided to set up here for the morning hunt. As I sat down I realized how cold it was, to keep warm I would move my arms in big circular motions moving my fingers and shuffling my feet. I could only wait for the light to come.

That's when I started being able to see around when I spotted 6 deer feeding down in the draw, when I realized they were just does I moved on but kept them in my sights. I couldn't keep warm I just had to keep moving around keeping my body tempature up. The sun was up but the fog was keeping it hidden, as I decided what to do, go down the mountain and get warm or go up higher to get a better look at things. Well the 3P's(Passion,Patience,Persistance), stepped in and I couldn't live with myself if I walked down
as I got up and walked 10 yards up the hill I noticed some movement up in some brush to my left, I just got the binos up to know it had horns, so I scurried up a little bit farther so I could see back in the brush. I waited a while hoping to get another look at it when I got it I could tell it was a crabby forked three,I had some debating to do as it knocked and scratched some brush with its antlers. Right then I called my dad to talk to him about it and through all his words of advice he says "Do what makes you happy", I told him good bye I had a decision to make. That's when he got out of the brush and was quartering away. When I put it on his shoulder area and still debating started to squeeze the trigger. As the gun went off I looked at the buck just to see him do a jump kick, a couple shots later I had struck the buck atleast one more time, when I lost sight of him I thought I better let him expire.

That's when I noticed him broadside still alive! So I put another bullet through him this one right into the liver. As I watched him run down hill into the brush I knew I had made a lethal shot, and realized what had just happened. I started to really get excited, I had to make my way through the brush that 2 or so months ago I was crawling through stalking a different muley with my bow. I finally made it to about where he went down hill. When I noticed a deer rub on this one branch, now wishing I had taken a picture. Just then 60 yards above me and a little bit North I hear a snap,explosion, crashing sound as I watched a old Pine tree fall into the ground. I jumped and was amazed at how loud it was. I made my way when I noticed a freshly made trail heading downhill, that's when I noticed the blood and not 10 yards from where I merged onto the trail I noticed my buck.


I slid down on top of him and popped his head outta the brush, and I let a big long yell out that echoed off the canyon walls. I dragged it down a few yards to get it out of the brush it was piled up in. Since I was alone I couldn't take pictures at that spot so I tagged it and drug it down about 20 yards to where I could get the camera set up and set the timer, so I then took the tag off for pictures. After I nice long photoshoot, I had to start the dirty work. That's when I gave my dad a call and he walked me through, a little gutting tips, since this was my first deer. After a trial and error gut job it was time to begin the drag.




It always bugs me when someone holds there deer out in front of them to much or they sit way behind it. So I was hoping to make my deer look as small as possible just to give a new perspective of the antlers, since no one ever takes a picture of it this way.

Looking back at the first little bit of the drag.


What I have to drag through.



I finally made it through the jungle and after making it a good distance, the deer started to slide down this steep ditch, I couldn't keep it out and after a tug of war I just let it slide. I drug it in the ditch and then fianlly went and got some help, a couple of guys helped me pull it out and I was off. By this time I had explained in detail to my dad where I was and he was going to grab his friend to come help me get it out. After the snow line quit dragging was 5 times as hard and I was beginning to tire. That's when I saw the familar sight of orange and here was my dad. After some congratulations we began sawing off it's legs when what do you know a guy on a horse. Thankfully he threw it on for the remaining 3/4ish mile. I dragged it around 1 mile by myself, and was glad to be able to just walk down for the remaining. I am glad that the horse guy suprisingly came down the same way I did.

Thanks to the strangers I met up on the mountains, they made it twice as easy and pretty enjoyable.



Over these past several months the seasons have changed but my memories will never change.

I met a guy that said he would teach me how to do a European Mount and he would teach me for free as long as I did the work, and he would supply the supplies. Well after learning how to do it I am pleased with the results of my first buck and euro.

Well it's been a while but, I was out chasing huns trying to not push the deer around but ran into some bucks that I can't wait to try and find there sheds.

This first buck is the buck I really hope to find it's sheds, back tines almost touching in the back his eyeguards are nice.




the buck 2nd to the right already dropped one side it looks like.