LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-10 AT 10:59AM (MST)[p]I took this buck on Monday after the snow blew through. He was the nicest buck that I had seen. There was one similar in width and mass a 3x3 and he was already in someones camp.
We put in our time over opening weekend trying to get a feel for the area and where the deer were. On Sunday morning there was a nice 4x4 that 5 trucks were looking over that eventually fed over the draw. He had decent backs but crab claws in the front good height and probably 20 inches wide. I couldnt believe knowone was taking him. We drove around the corner and the truck that was behind us decide to take a shot at him. I assume they got him but didnt hang around to see if they pulled him out.
After Sunday morning I met my wife in Duschene to drop off my son who had to be back to school on Monday. I headed back up that night and went for a drive to a different area and only seen some does.
Monday morning I headed back to the area that we had seen the crab claw buck and decided to do some hiking around to see what was hanging around that couldnt be seen from the road. About a mile in I seen 6 does and fawns feeding around and couldnt believe I wasnt seeing more. The snow started easing up and the sun came out as I was glassing. Checking out the ridges I came to an opening of red and yellow sandstone and there he was basking in the sun. I watched him for about 5 minutes as he laid at about 350 yds. I estimated him to be about 27 wide but couldnt make out his forks that well. The backs looked good but I questioned the fronts. Just as I was making a plan to try and get closer he stood up and fed over the ridge. I decided to get on the same ridge he was on and work my way down toward him to see if he was a taker. I worked my way down the ridge with the wind in my face and got within what I thought would be about 100 yds from where I seen him last. I couldnt see him and thought that maybe he had somehow winded me or heard me walking down the shale rock that popped with every step. I decided to try and work in alittle closer. I got within what I thought was about 50 yds from where I had seen him go over the ridge and there he was feeding up out of the draw. He was looking down the draw and I was above him now at 50 yds. I put the gun on him looking at his rack and questioned whether I should take him or not. I put the gun down and put the glasses on him. When I seen the fronts on him I didnt think I could pass on him. Again I put the gun on him and this time put him down. As I walked up on him I was shocked he only had one antler? Had I shot a one horned buck? As I looked around his left antler laid about 3yds away. I had not adjusted for him being so close and had placed the shot right behind his ear and exit out the other side taking that antler clean off. My heart sank and my thoughts turned to thinking how I was going to get this pig bodied deer out of the canyon that I am sure is the only one in the bookcliffs without a 4 wheeler trail coming right up the bottom.
I returned to the truck about a mile or so away emptied the pack and returned for the meat and antlers that I wasnt sure I wanted. I went through the gammet of thougts from he's a decent buck and did I just waste the tag. I got him deboned and head detached and back to the truck. All in all about a 3 hour haul out. I could feel the back tweaking with each step knowing that if I pinch my back nerve again I could very well be laying out in the middle of a sagebrush flat with a load of meat and rack on my back.
Still not sure what I had done I got back to camp and did my best to put the rack together. As I did and started taking some pics I was surprised. He is a great buck and I couldnt be happier. Good mass, length and age.
I want to thank everyone who gave me areas to check out since the time that I found out that I got that expo tag.
I am definately getting him mounted so know my attention turns to a taxidermist. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I am in West Haven, Ut which is around the Ogden area. As you know from my previous posts I own a sign business and would like to find a taxidermist that would like to do some trade for some signage either full or part. I should probably post this is the taxidermist section as well.
A special thanks to my wife for putting up with my obsession.
Thanks again.
meatinthepot