I apologize for the ugly mug, and perhaps the long story!
This was my second year of the Utah dedicated hunter program. I had spent 8 full days (10 days total) in the field hunting this general area in the southern region; ( 2 full days and 2 half days, 1 evening and one morning archery hunting; 3 full days and a half day muzzleloader; and 1 full day and this morning rifle). I when I say full days, that is sunup to sundown. I have hunted this same area for since I was a boy. This area is public land and faces a fair amount of pressure. This year was no different and I noticed of deer camps even in areas I had not seen any before. Perhaps due to the extremely mild weather. However, I usually manage to work the edges and try to use other hunters to my advantage as much as I can. My hunting method is almost always still hunting. I usually get into areas that most other hunters don't make the effort. During the warmer weather hunts, archery and muzzleloader, I will walk for hours in my stocking feet to keep the noise down. I will simulate this type of hunting during the rifle season, working my way through wooded draws and areas that the deer generally move to. This year I had seen a higher than average number of deer and a good number of small bucks. Even though this area is not known for big bucks, I had not seen any mature bucks or even the normal 3 points that I have seen in this area. I was convinced that the pervious winter, combined with heavy snow during the 2004 rifle season and rumors of a lot of big bucks taken, there were none around. The previous day I had missed a smaller 4 point and spotted a decent buck about a mile away.
I was hunting with my brother and two nephews who had commitments the next day and needed to leave that day. As usual, I had to give it one last try for a few hours. As happen many times during the rifle season most of the hunters had disappeared from the field. I worked my way around the back of the mountain heading for an area that I have seen comparatively larger bucks. I had in mind a draw that has a ?finger? of quaking aspen running along it and feeds into a large sagebrush flat. I had actually tried to come down this same draw the evening before, but got started down another similar draw to the north. I was mad at myself for missing it. However, that was probably the best luck I had. My plan was to work my way up the draw to the top of the mountain and back down the other side to camp. I did not spot any deer on my way there or as I worked up the draw.
The sun was not yet over the top of the mountain, as I was on the westerly slope. As I approached the top, I spotted ?the buck? in a saddle with tall sage just beyond the quaking aspens. Even though he was only about 125 yards away, my bowhunting instincts must have kicked in. Instead of setting up for a shot, I quickly squatted down behind a small outcrop of rocks and brush, thinking that he may work his way down the draw. I did not know how big of a buck he was, but knew that he was at least a decent 4 point. I remained surprisingly extremely calm and kept tabs on him for the next few minutes, peering through the brush. It was one of those times, etched in my memory, watching this old boy cautiously working his way through the sage. He would take only a few steps and then check every direction with his eyes and ears. Still my mind was thinking that he may just work his way down the draw and I kept waiting on him. After a few minutes, I could see him standing at the top of the draw at the edge of the quakies. I estimated just over 100 yards. I did not have a perfectly clear view of him, but could see the tall eye guards. He was standing broadside, still partially blocked by brush. He began staring intently down the draw. I did not dare raise my binoculars to check and see if he had detected me or was just checking his direction of travel. I began to get nervous that he had somehow detected me. It must have been about now that I realized that this I was in a pretty good position to take a shot with a rifle.
I had managed to get my ?shooting sticks? from my pack strap. I decided that I needed to get a shot while a had a chance. I had to adjust my position slightly 3 times to get a clear view at through the brush and trees. He remained frozen as I got set and anchored on his shoulder. I squeezed of the shot, he began to stumble backward! I stood up and watched him as he somewhat gathered himself and slowly move toward some quakies. I tried a follow up shot, but missed. I quickly worked my way up to where I seen him enter the quakies. Immediately I head him rustling in the brush and saplings. He was down!
I walked up behind him at about 10 yards. I stopped to gather myself and make sure that he was down for good. I still did not realize that he was as good of a buck as he was. I radioed my nephew, and told him I had a ?pretty good? buck. After a few moments, I walked up to him. Certainly no ground shrinkage. The first thing that impressed me was his eye guards. They measure almost 4". The next were the ?kickers?, his mass, and the ?daggered? back forks. I got back on the radio, much more excited now using a few explicatives describing the buck, and gave directions to my nephew were to find me.
I admired the buck for sometime before getting to the work. I assume as most hunters, I did have the moments of not regret, but respect for this buck. Being on public land, he had to escape many hunters, winters, and in this area the cats that have been present the last few years.
I debated whether to field dress him, or bone him out. Having two young nephews on the way, and knowing that on the top of the ridge there was an old logging road. I decided to field dress him. In hind sight, I should have boned him out. His size made him difficult to dress by myself, and dragging him to the logging road was very difficult, even for 3 of us.
However, when we got him to the logging road we were resting and debating what our plan was. Get the truck or 4 wheeler? My nephew noticed 3 deer standing in some quakies. Two of them were small bucks! I knew there was a small clearing on the other side. I sent him around that side as I moved toward where the deer had entered. He made a good shot on a 2 point, his first Utah deer. I think I was as excited for him for this deer as I was shooting the big buck. Our decision was then made, go get the truck. However, I don't understand how people like to road hunt. I think my kidneys still hurt from bouncing through all the rocks on that road. Next time, I'll choose the pack!
This is clearly the largest buck I have ever taken. I green scored him at 184 (gross). The only ?disappointment? is that he is only 26". Part of the reason he is not wider is how is antlers grow more vertical from his skull and the tines are also nearly vertical. He has 6 on 1 side and five on the other (including junk). I wish that my brother and hunting partner was there to share it with me. Life will never be as sweet without you.