Let me start by saying thanks for all of the positive responses to my buck.Well that being said heres the story.
Me and my hunting partner John arrived in Idaho on sunday, three days before the season opened to scout it out. We received some information from a friend of johns and an Idaho resident where to camp and begin our search. After setting up camp we went out for an evening to take a look around, John took one ridge and I took another. I only saw three deer that night, two does and this buck, I was pumped to find this deer.
After a couple more days of scouting I saw several other bucks, but none that compared to this one. I decided to check the draw he was in on tuesday evening and I took John with me. What a mistake that turned out to be the buck had joined three others and they must have heard or winded us and they all blew out of there.
I was discusted, but none the less decided to try it opening. John would hunt another canyon and give me the space I needed to hunt this buck.(It is good when you have good hunting partners like this as sometimes hunting brings out the greed in people)Opening came and to my surprise I saw all the bucks that mine was with, even one new one. My buck was no where to be found.
At about 9:00 a.m I started working my way to the next canyon when I spotted my buck heading back into his canyon.He was 450 yards away and it was very windy, so as I struggled for a steady rest he dropped down into a draw.
I worked my way back around, but after watching the draw for a couple of hours I realized he was bedded for the day, and sneaking in on him was not an option. I left him at about 11:30 had some lunch and returned at about 2:00.
After a couple of hours my buck got up and started feeding at about 5:00. I snuck as close as I could, but he was still 300 yards. Now he bedded again and didnt present a good shot. After another half hour he got back up and I steadied for the shot.
All of my off season shooting went out the window as I missed, but he didnt even move, as he had no Idea what happened. I fired again and this time heard the thud. I made my way to where I had seen him go, but found no blood or buck and it then was dark.
I hiked out in the dark, and replayed the events over in my head a hundred times, but was 99% sure I hit him. I went back down there the next morning and started seaching again. With still no blood I justed started taking game trails and when I walked to a group of pined trees, Bingo there he was piled up I was very happy. We took some pictures and packed him out, what a chore. Thanks John