Thanks again Brian for posting my photos!
If I am dreaming PLEASE don't wake me up! Less than two weeks after getting back from an awesome Alaskan Caribou adventure (see "2004 caribou pics" in the alaska section), here I am with the buck of my life!
Trying to play catch up with work and the family after Alaska I only had a couple days to sneak away for deer season. This is my second year hunting this area and although I suspected there were some good deer in the area I hadn't seen any big ones. I was hopeful, but my expectations weren't very high. The first morning and afternoon my two buddies and I only saw a handful of does. That evening right before dark we ran into a bachelor group of four bucks that were very nice, however, darkness was upon us and we couldn't get to them. The next morning we scoured the area tring to find them without success. That afternoon we decided to try a different area that I had never hunted. We split up and I took the high route against the cliffs and rimrocks. Twenty minutes later as I was topping a sharp ridge I sat down to catch my breath. I scanned the small pocket below me without seeing anything. Then out of habit I pulled up my binoculars to glass even though I was sure nothing could be there. My heart skipped as I saw a heavy 3 point filling up my view. Then I think it actually stopped when below him I saw my buck. Luckily the wind was in my face and I had time to calm down and set up my snipe pod for the 231 yard shot.
After he rolled over, the hillside erupted with three more bucks I hadn't seen including another 4 pointer that was wider although thinner horned than mine. I watched the other bucks for a while and made sure mine was down for the count. Then I about broke my neck sliding down the steep shale slope and praying for no ground shrinkage. Well, I was estatic to say the least. There are a lot of excellent hunters on this sight with many deer bigger than this one, but no one will ever be more excited and thrilled than I am with this buck!
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for letting me share this experience with those who can appreciate how I feel the most.
Brett
"Bullscat"