SureShot's Utah Muzzy Hunt

SureShot

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As most of you know, I'm a pretty big deal in the hunting world. You may be familiar with some of my past exploits. I've been on the cover of pretty much every hunting magazine published in the whole world. So anyway, expectations were pretty high for me this year after I found out I drew one of the most coveted premium unit deer tags in Utah. I actually put down another unit as my first choice, but I guess I drew this one as my second choice with only 1 bonus point. I know. Pretty lucky.

Being the dedicated trophy hunter that I am, I immediately began scouting every day to locate the buck of my dreams. It's a four-hour drive each way from my house to this hunting unit, but I faithfully made the drive every day after work to get in a couple of hours of scouting. With the price of gas this year, it's really put a dent in my savings account, but I figured it would be worth it.
 
Here are some pictures of some of the bucks I found during my summer scouting trips:

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Of all the bucks I found during my many scouting trips, this was probably my favorite:

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Here is the same buck after he rubbed off his velvet. As you can see he put on additional 20 inches or so after losing his velvet. He?s a real pig.

deer9.jpg
 
Anyway, I was all geared up for the hunt of my lifetime. In addition to all of the time spent scouting, I also put in at least two hours a day at the range to make sure I could shoot a 3? group at 600 yards. I would never actually take an unethical shot like that, but it's always good to practice just in case.

In addition to that archery practice, I was also shooting my rifle for another hour each day. I can shoot a 2? group out to 800 yards pretty much whenever I want. So I felt pretty confident as my hunt approached.
 
Then, a couple of weeks ago, I got a call that turned my world upside down. My brother called me up and asked if I wanted to go with him and his boy on the Utah Muzzleloader hunt. This was to be his son?s first hunt and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend some quality time with family and help my nephew get his first buck. So, without a second thought, I turned in my LE tag and traded it for a Central Unit General Muzzleloader tag.

To make this even a more special hunt, I found out we were going to be packing into our hunting area on horses. I don't know very much about horses, but I knew we had to hunt the high country for the monster bucks that live there and be able to eat good while doing it. The only way to do that is on horses.
 
The day before the hunt started, we loaded up the horses and headed up the trail. There is something about moving at horse speed in the beautiful mountains with the gorgeous fall colors and the music of bugling elk echoing off the canyon walls that really makes you feel alive. I was having the time of my life and knew this hunt was going to be something special.

Everything was going great until we were making our way up some switchbacks on a steep ridge. Somehow the lead rope of the pack horse I was leading got caught under the tail of the horse I was riding and he did not think that was very cool. With a ?Do...I...know...you????? wide-eyed expression on his face, he immediately jumped forward and started bucking. This caught me completely off guard and before I knew it, I was sailing through the air like a bald eagle on a warm updraft. I saw the ground coming, but couldn't get out of the way in time. It ran into me pretty hard.

When I came to my senses and realized what had just happened and how lucky I was to be alive, I said to myself, ?What does a good cowboy do when he gets bucked off a horse?? That's right. I decided to walk in the rest of the way.
 
We got to the top of the mountain and set up camp with just enough time to glass a few hillsides before it got dark. In that time, we counted 75 does and fawns and one really nice 2 point. He was probably pushing 15? wide and he was almost as tall as he was wide. We knew where we were going to be the next morning. (Remember, this is public land in Utah on a general season tag after all.)

It wasn?t easy to sleep that night, but after tearing down the tent at 2:00 am and moving the rocks and sticks we should have moved in the first place, it was much better. Finally, about 25 minutes before the alarm went off, I settled into a nice, deep sleep.
 
The alarm went off and I awoke in a fog. Then it hit me that today was the opening day of the deer hunt. I jumped out of my bag and quickly got all of my gear together. We wolfed down some delicious eggs and bacon and hashbrowns--thank you, horses?and headed off to the big basin we had scouted the night before.

Unfortunately, we got there late and it was already 10 minutes after light. There were already two other guys in front of us and I could see they were setting up to shoot a huge buck, so I ran over next to them and hit the dirt, setting up the bipod...

Oh wait. Wrong story. Sorry about that.
 
We got to the basin about 15 minutes before light and I went up one ridge while my brother and his boy went up the other. We settled into our positions and waited for it to get light. As the dark grey shapes gradually started to become more clear with the rising sun, I began glassing the open basin and immediately spotted a group of 4 bucks. One of the bucks was a real monster. He had 4 long points on each side reaching almost to the sky and I couldn't even guess how wide he was. I had never seen anything like that to use as a reference. One of the other bucks he was with was about the same size and the other 2 bucks were even bigger. This was unbelievable!

The deer were about 200 yards away and I didn't feel good about taking that long of a shot because I hadn't been able to practice with my muzzleloader very much this year. So, I just sat and glassed them for about 20 minutes, waiting to see which direction they would move when the sun hit the hillside and they headed for their beds.
 
Before they had a chance to move very far, a doe that was with them must have winded me and she stared right at me. She started to stomp her foot and act really nervous. I knew it was only a matter of seconds before she bailed out of there, taking the big boys with her. I had to make a snap decision and I decided it was now or never. I settled my open sights on the smallest 4 point and took a deep breath.

You may be wondering why I picked the smallest 4 point. I was hoping that when I shot it, the other bucks would run towards my brother and nephew and they would get a chance at one of the bigger ones. That's just the kind of guy I am. I'm sure you would all do the same thing in that situation.
 
Anyway, I gently squeezed the trigger as I exhaled and was immediately blinded by the cloud of smoke from the muzzleloader. As the smoke began to clear, I counted one, two, three...four bucks still standing there wondering what had happened. I quickly began to reload when another shot rang out. Apparently we weren't the only hunters in this basin.

Dang it.

The bucks milled around nervously as another shot rang out. Then another. Now the deer were shifting into high gear and heading for cover. I took one more desperation shot as the big bucks bounded healthily into the trees on the opposite side of the basin...right toward my brother.

I frantically used some pre-arranged hand signals (we only use hand signals because we believe radios are unethical and not fair chase) to let my brother know that the deer were going into the trees about 150 yards above him.
 
Then everything fell silent. I waited. And waited. And waited. About 10 minutes had gone by and I was just about to get on the radio to ask my brother what was going on when I heard another loud boom over in the pine trees on the edge of the basin.

?Well?? I asked him.

?I think I hit him and I'm going to check for blood.?

About 30 seconds later he came back on and said, ?He?s down.?

Wow! I quickly made my way over and saw the same small 4 point I had shot at laying dead on the ground. I asked him why he shot that buck and he said he wanted to leave the bigger bucks for his son to shoot, but his boy had forgot to put a cap on his gun and nothing happened when he pulled the trigger and the other deer got away.
 
We were still excited about this nice public land muley and immediately began dressing him. As we were boning him out, we noticed that he had a massive hole right through his vitals from my brother?s shot and a trickle of blood running down one of his back legs from a second shot. We followed his tracks back and realized that there was blood going all the way back into the basin. One of my first shots must have nicked, which made me feel a lot better, because I have a lot of confidence in my shooting abilities.

Since we follow the ?first blood tags the deer? rule in my camp, we decided this deer was mine and happily put my tag on him.
 
As you can see from this picture, this is a really nice public land Utah mule deer.

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I haven't measured him yet, but I'm guessing he goes about 28? wide and grosses about 180 with a net score of 185. The most impressive thing about him is probably the mass. Unreal. Not bad for a public land Utah mule deer taken on the opening morning of the muzzleloader hunt.
 
Editor?s Note: The details of this hunt as told in the story above are pretty much exactly what happened and are not verifiable by anybody else, except those other hunters that were there in the same basin that morning and if any of them are reading this, I'd ask them to just keep their mouths shut. It's not my fault I can run faster than you.
 
I call horse pucky on this story! Least of all your 28" 180 buck is more like a 22" 140 class deer. Heck man, i'd like to believe your story and not trash your deer but you set yourself up by your own words!

Joey
 
Dude that is awesome, thanks for keeping it fun.
Hey these days the experience is the best trophy.
I laughed my ass off THANKS.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-28-08 AT 11:18PM (MST)[p]LMAO! Classic for sure! One of the best stories I have ever read! Thanks for the laugh Sage, that was great, can't get nothing by you! lol!

Elk

BTW... SWEET BUCK! Esp. for public land! No Fences Here!
 
Ok Ok Ok so i'm the goat lol Fair enough! lol i usually don't call B.S. on guys cause some of my exploits are a tad unbelievable but this one took the cake...and i fell for it! you got me! good show!!

Joey
 
Is this some kind of joke? "A really nice Utah public land buck"??????
Congrats on the buck, but I think you are a little off on the score and mass, BTW where is the mass? There are plenty of bucks on public land that could eat that buck for breakfast.
 
Looks like Sage anf HJB should get together for pancakes!! Great story sureshot, LOVED IT!!! And your Buck is definitely closer to 30 and 190 than 26 and 160!!!!
 
I don't care who you are

Thats Funny.

though I think all those that contributed to this post should claim copyright's and nail his ass to the floor. haha
 
SureShot,

Awesome story.I LMAO. Also, although that buck of yours will gross score around 185, he'll net score at least 197 or 198. Those baseball bat sized beams are freaky. LOL

T264
 
SureShot, your the best!

Every year your hunting stories are the ones I look forward to the most. I can't wait until your Xmas end of year recap.

Thanks again, Mike
 
-You have been on every cover of every hunting magazine in the world???
Which ones? Where's the pics?

-You drew a premium LE tag on your second choice?
The only way that happens is if you don't draw the first choice and there are left over tags for the second choice. I pretty sure the Premium LEs don't have too many left over tags buddy.

-You are a strict trophy hunter?
The buck you shot was nowhere near a trophy class buck

-In regards to your scouting pics
How come they are all in different terrain? (Pines, Sage, Cultivated fields, snowy scrub oak, and fenced off areas.)

-3inch group at 600 yards with a muzzleloader??????
That is not possible no matter who you are, no way possible!

-2 inch groups at 800 yards with your rifle???
Possible, but not likely

- A really nice two point? Those don't exsist

- Radios are unethical, but 800 yard shots aren't???

Man you are a real character!!!
 
HJB, join the club. There's a few of us having pancakes a bit later, care to join us? lol

The whole post was a really just a joke. At least now i don't feel so bad. i fell for it too!

Joey
 
LOL...The best part is HJBs comment after sageadvice already admitted falling for it...too funny...who's next...great post.
 
Dude, I'm typing this real slow because I know you don't read too fast.

No, I don't have a lot of time on my hands. My mind just works a little bit faster than yours...

:)
 
One of the funnist stories I read in a long time. It really messed with a few of the people here. Loved the 600 yard archery practice. lol Great scouting pictures. Bet that took a lot of time surfing here to find them. Hard to believe you could find the time with all that driving, scouting and practice. :)
Thanks for the laugh!
Good job.
 
Good one. I quit reading after the sentence about the second choice on the the limited entry hunt and thought who is this corn-ball. I then went on and read the last few, which brought me back to all of the rest of them. Funny SureShot.
 
I think you're way off on the size of that deer.

Utah is full or really big bucks, bucks with huge bodies and ears. The deer management in Utah is second to none.

Conservatively I'd say your looking at a 190+ net typical. The mass is unreal and those fronts are to die for.

Chalk another dandy up to sound game management, good hunting, hard work, and little old fashioned luck!

Congrats on another Utah stud!


"Dear MacGuyver, Enclosed is a rubber band, a paper clip, and a drinking straw. Please save my dog." Peter Griffin aka The Family Guy
 
Sureshot...I was one of the guys lobbing..er I mean shooting from the other basin. I think that I may have hit that deer. That is all I will say for now on advice of my attorney R. Debry (trackdownwoundedbuck4u here on monster muleys).
 
WH, i'm not being sarcastic. He got me with his story. Not the first time i've been the butt of a joke...won't be the last. I give!! UNCLE!!lol

Looking back when i wrote the origional comment, i was pretty darn tired, still am. Glad you guys got a good laugh on me! Sometimes we get a little too serious with ourselves and could do with a tad more laughs!

Joey
 
That story is hilarious! It made it ten times better when a few people fell for it. They almost seem upset by your story.
 
SureShot you had me rolling a number of times throughout your story!!! Thank you so much for this!!! I needed it today especially!!! You are "THE MAN" at least for one day...
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-08 AT 04:54PM (MST)[p]I don't know guys somethings fishy...That buck looks like one that was hit by a truck down Modena way......I think an investigation is warranted. Info has been forwarded to the game warden.

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That's a great post!! I'm with ya. Pretty funny to read a couple of the comments before they figured it out. Heck, I think he'll go more around 210 typical, 265 nontypical. Definitely one for the magazines. Maybe even a full season on the Outdoor Channel. lol.. My son got this one in a photo during his archery hunt. Probably going to go around 230 nontypical due to the difference in point length. haha.
 
SureShot musta been thinking about the Sarah Palin buck when the single shot popped outta his pants.

Whatta Dork!



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RUS
 
Great story SureShot! You had me on the floor laughing again!

For those who don't know, about once a year SureShot goes off his meds and tells us a hunting story! This is the best one ever! LMAO!!!!!

Eel
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-08 AT 08:07PM (MST)[p]Awesome buck! And great story! I think I saw that buck off the tee box of a golf course too. Hey - aren't those 15 inch bases??!!!

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)
 
sureshot, great story, I became totally interested as soon as I read your a big deal around the hunting world, I love it. Can I get your autograph? Great story, thanks for the laugh.

markhunts, let me guess, your sons hunt wasnt on a high fenced ranch?
 
Sureshot,
You certainly know your stuff. You are a monster muley killing machine. To think you were able to scout all those big bucks and then hammer that whopper, it is mind blowing. I especially like that 33 inch 190 buck in the grainy pics. Would be really a hard one to pass up. But knowing there are monsters like yours out there, I suppose it was easy for you. Congrats big time.
 
I love it. You blew the opportunity for further sarcasm though. You should of at least played up that you were unable to post photos because you were beyond that and were currently in negotiations with several magazines over the copyrights.
 
Holy Sh*T! This is the funniest post I have read on Monster Muleys in a long, long time. Thanks SureShot, this was the exact kind of post I needed to read today....I was RFLMAO!!!

I dont know what was better, the story or some of the responses of the guys who didnt get the joke. LOL!! :)

TUFF
 
Very nice sureshot !! I love it !!! All you need is bcboys personal scoring tape now and he could be b&c real easy Id say.
 
You big shot hunters with your big bucks and world records. Geez. Haven't got your face on enough magazines, is that it? So not fair. That buck is massive. I guess I'm just jealous.

LOL Great story! Loved all of it. Hilarious.
 
Sureshot are you sure you can post those pics. I heard that eastmans, muleycrazy and huntinfool had to pool their money and buy that story for their one time collaboration magazine. look for it on magazine stands in march.
 
SureShot, YOU ARE DA MAN!!! That work is your finest to date and congratulations on taking such a bomber. Were you able to use your chute-plane for your scouting work? What a great "fair-chase" buck and as Roy mentioned, those 15-inch bases tell the tale of the tape. B & C will be all over this. You are killing Kirt with such a trophy!! Congratulations.

And thanks for getting October off on the right laff!!!!
 
Used hand signals, then got on the radio. that chit is funny. Net higher than gross? who'd a thunk it. Nice buck, better story.
 
Good one.. I haven't ever seen a high fenced mule deer ranch. Let's just say, close to home....LOL.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-01-08 AT 01:29PM (MST)[p]SureShot are you sure that you didn't see my 81 yr old granddad on the other side of the valley there, cause the way he tells it, he was about to jump up and stab that biggest buck with his pocket-knife and you went and scared them off with all of your noise. You should see him now, boy was he pissed! =) Great story...
 
LOVED IT!! Especially reading it during a drag day at work. Just what I needed!! Love how your net score is greater then gross. Gotta give time for that 90 day expansion period!! Great stuff, looking forward to more posts!!!

So.... is your nephew a true part of the story? If so, how did he end up doing? Always fun to be with a youngster when they get their first buck!!
 
I have been lurking on this web site for quite a while and been tempted several times to actually say something. This time things went too far.
I am SURESHOT'S former scoutmaster and it is very apparent that we need a little time around the campfire to discuss his conduct.
 
On my honor!

LOL

Hey, it's good to see you, Jeff! You really were one of those people who had a big influence on me as a youth and helped mold me into who I am today...so, I guess you don't have anybody to blame but yourself.

:)
 
>On my honor!
>
>LOL
>
>Hey, it's good to see you,
>Jeff! You really were one
>of those people who had
>a big influence on me
>as a youth and helped
>mold me into who I
>am today...so, I guess you
>don't have anybody to blame
>but yourself.
>
>:)


OUCH
 
SureShot,
Loved it!!! If you actually weren't a big deal in the hunting world before, you will be now.....or, at least you should be. Maybe we need to start a new magazine like, "Trophy Forums".... or "Guys on Trophy Forums with Racks".....or whatever....This month you would most assuredly be on the cover. In any case, great humor which made good fun at me and others which I can laugh out loud at. Also loved those who thought you were legit and 100% serious. WOW. Anyway, enjoyed it buddy!!
 
I'm glad I didn't find this post until now or I would be eating pancakes with the others. Great post! Maybe next time you could have a friend blowing a duck call in the back ground of your picture. Can't wait for the Christmas letter.
 
Sureshot...I just read your post again and laughed harder than the first time. Dude- that is funny.
 
So funny I woke my wife up and made her listen to it. She laughed too!! I was on a couple of those deer this year, but I just couldnt get it done like you!
 
I love the guy's who fell for it that was the best part! You made my day with this one. I drove 4-hours each way every day too scout was amazing a co-worker of mine said when he read your post. He I quote "I wish I had that time & money to do that".. I just shook my head & said "HERE'S YOUR SIGN"<<<
 
Sureshot Great story. I'm still laughing. I wonder if that is a record for poking the most fun at the most people in one post?
 
Hello fellow MM'ers. This is my first post, even though I have been a faithful nightly viewer for the past 6 years. I don't really know why I have never posted over the years, but I vow to contribute to this awesome hunting community in the future. Reading posts like this one or Chad's elk hunt that was donated (along with taxidermy work) is what hunting is all about. I feel each post ought to further each hunter's skills, conjure up memories of hunts long ago, make people laugh and relieve stress of every day life, or just show off great trophies!

That being said, the reason I decided to post is for a sugeestion. Sureshot's buck is such a fine specimen of a trophy buck and the rewards of awesome conservation, that it should be immortalized by being placed on MM's homepage in one of the two photos that everyone gets to view when they visit MM. By the way Sureshot, did you enter that trophy in the buck & bull photo contest; I'm sure it will win. Anyways, seriously that is a great trophy, I would be proud of it! And great story.
 
SureShot, that was great! I was busting a gut the whole way through. Loved the guys who thought you were serious!
 

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