LAST EDITED ON Nov-24-12 AT 01:42PM (MST)[p]Just a little summary of the hunt. I killed this buck on the fourth day of the hunt. I had a buddy hunt with me the first two days, then I was hunting on my own. I hunted that morning, seeing a few nice bucks, but no shooters. I did see one buck that I would have liked to get a better look at, but never found him again. I was actually headed back towards the truck to sit on this draw for the evening, and I looked back where I had just came from, probably 1000 yards back I see a buck on top of a ridge, put my glasses on him, and realize that I have found a buck that I want to kill. Well, three hours, a lot of wind at my back, and many, many steps later, I end up back where I had started that morning. It was a basin that had a patch of very tall sage, where I had figured the buck had gone. I get into the draw and I can see a buck and a doe bedded in the sage. It wasn't the big one. A little disappointed and thinking about just getting out of there and returning in the morning, I start heading up and out of the draw. I then look across and spot a buck about 200 yards out and recognize him as one that was with the big guy. Then the wind hits the back of my ears again. Son of a!! I RUN back up to my left to try and get the wind better. I circled around where the buck was and come up on a little knob, take off my pack, binocs and crawl up to the edge between a couple of sage. As soon as I peek over the crest, I spot the big buck just standing up out of his bed. They have no clue I was even there. The actual shot was the easiest part of the hunt. 150 yards away, standing broadside. First shot drops him right back in his bed, he picks up his head and tries to get his front legs under him, and another shot put him back to bed.
Definitely the hunt and buck of a lifetime. Though, probably not quite sunk in yet, I do realize that I have just killed a buck that I will not likely best. A very rewarding experience being a state draw tag, solo diy, public land and a trophy of a lifetime!