For those of you who read the tread I posted about a month ago about whether or not the buck that I had pictures of from 08 and 09 were the same buck or not, I just wanted to inform you that after a closer look of the 09 buck, that he is most likely not the same as the 08 buck. Unfortunately I think the 08 buck is a bit bigger framed, both taller and wider, while the 09 buck has more points and character.
08 Buck
09 Buck
I hunted the 09er openning morning, found him at daylight and watched another hunter spot him and immediately put a stock on him. So there went my plan to wait for him to get comfortable and the wind to get right. I changed my plans and headed down the canyon in hopes of him spooking them my way. He did and I got to 150 yards and stayed there for 2-3 hours as he rubbed off his velvet, but the wind was not right, there was a lack of cover, and I did not want to spook him too bad on openning day of a week long hunt, so I backed out and we went to try and find a bigger buck, and that's what happenned. We found a buck that would go over 190 typical. I forgot about the other buck and hunted this guy for 5 days straight, but he dissapeared on me twice. I peaked over a cliff at 150 yards and he had moved on me both times when everything was looking so good. The last day a trio of bow hunters that apperently knew about this buck walked straight out to the canyon he called home and glassed for about 20 minutes. After that they started rolling rocks right in to his bedroom and then all the way back to their truck they did the same. Who rolls rock when bow hunting a particular big buck? I don't know. Anyway, it was the last day of my vacation days so I decided to check on the buck from openening day in a last chance effort. Within 30 minutes of glassing I had him spotted. The wind was right and he was in a good position for a stock so I hurried around to the other side of the canyon and put on the stock. I got to 37 yards undetected and shot. He ran behind a huge rock. I saw the arrow hit behind him so I thought I missed and got ready for a second shot if he gave it to me. He ended up staying put fo 5-10 minutes, so I started to think maybe he was hit. He then took a few steps and stopped, it was obvious that he was hit well. I took aim and sailed an arrow right over his back, then another right into the goodies. He ran about 50 yards before going down and rolling through a rockslide for 20 yards. I finally got the close look at him that I wanted. I sure am glad that I took advantage of the one last chance. He taped out a bit less than I hoped. He grosses 166". Anybody else think he might make 175"? It is great to have good hunting so close to home.
08 Buck
09 Buck
I hunted the 09er openning morning, found him at daylight and watched another hunter spot him and immediately put a stock on him. So there went my plan to wait for him to get comfortable and the wind to get right. I changed my plans and headed down the canyon in hopes of him spooking them my way. He did and I got to 150 yards and stayed there for 2-3 hours as he rubbed off his velvet, but the wind was not right, there was a lack of cover, and I did not want to spook him too bad on openning day of a week long hunt, so I backed out and we went to try and find a bigger buck, and that's what happenned. We found a buck that would go over 190 typical. I forgot about the other buck and hunted this guy for 5 days straight, but he dissapeared on me twice. I peaked over a cliff at 150 yards and he had moved on me both times when everything was looking so good. The last day a trio of bow hunters that apperently knew about this buck walked straight out to the canyon he called home and glassed for about 20 minutes. After that they started rolling rocks right in to his bedroom and then all the way back to their truck they did the same. Who rolls rock when bow hunting a particular big buck? I don't know. Anyway, it was the last day of my vacation days so I decided to check on the buck from openening day in a last chance effort. Within 30 minutes of glassing I had him spotted. The wind was right and he was in a good position for a stock so I hurried around to the other side of the canyon and put on the stock. I got to 37 yards undetected and shot. He ran behind a huge rock. I saw the arrow hit behind him so I thought I missed and got ready for a second shot if he gave it to me. He ended up staying put fo 5-10 minutes, so I started to think maybe he was hit. He then took a few steps and stopped, it was obvious that he was hit well. I took aim and sailed an arrow right over his back, then another right into the goodies. He ran about 50 yards before going down and rolling through a rockslide for 20 yards. I finally got the close look at him that I wanted. I sure am glad that I took advantage of the one last chance. He taped out a bit less than I hoped. He grosses 166". Anybody else think he might make 175"? It is great to have good hunting so close to home.
