2014 Archery Muley Success - Badlands 2200 Up for Grabs

Founder

Founder Since 1999
Messages
11,448
[font size=+2 color=darkred]Let's see those 2014 archery mule deer bucks![/font]

[font size=+1]Share a photo or two in this thread, plus a little detail about your hunt.[/font]



Just for sharing, you might WIN yourself a sweet Badlands 2200 pack.
Thanks to Badlands for sponsoring this giveaway. It's a real cool prize and great hunting pack! All who share their photos will be entered in a drawing to WIN the Badlands 2200. I'll draw a winner in about a month.

And of course, when you guys are in the market for a pack, bino case, rangefinder case, or even quality apparel, please be sure to checkout all the fine gear offered by Badlands. In fact, take a moment now and look at all the fine gear they have available. Maybe you're in the need of one of the Bino X binocular cases for this season, or maybe a Summit 4700 cubic inch back pack, or maybe a sweet Enduro Jacket. Take a look at all they have to offer folks. Good stuff.

[font size=+2]Visit Badlands[/font]

[IMGhttp://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos2/5745badlands.jpg][/IMG]




Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-25-14 AT 04:36PM (MST)[p]I watched this buck for about 2 months and named him forks, hunted him hard opening morning but other hunters pushed him a long ways from his usual hang out. Luckily I was able to locate him again and had him all to myself, snuck over a pond damn 40 yards quartering to me and made it happen! He is my 3rd archery deer, I have been lucky enough to get it done with archery equipment 3 years in a row!
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-25-14 AT 04:34PM (MST)[p]I have a lot more pics but these are just some of my favorites!
9107img_9757.jpg

7781img_1280.jpg

7286img_0733.jpg

3701img_3789.jpg

3207img_5384.jpg

5753img_2364.jpg
 
Shot this buck January 11th on the late archery hunt here in New Mexico. My first buck ever after 7 hunts. Bow got knocked off and I missed 3 shots the first 3 days. Once I got it dialed in this guy was the second buck in my sights. Too bad for him I actually executed the shot correctly.
89381102411_562830103808991_1368807624_o.jpg
 
There's gotta be more archery bucks down than this!!!!

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....
 
This is in the Mule Deer forum as well, but I posted it here to get my name in the hat.

This year has been fast-paced. From the scouting and preparation to already being 11 days into the season. I wouldn't say there have been any lows, but I have been disappointed slightly in several misses I had leading up to today's harvest. I practice all summer and felt confident, having the mindset that I think I should, but that I wouldn't miss any shots and that I basically would need 1 arrow and that's it.
James Yates and I, especially him, worked our butts off scouting with hiking in cameras, salt blocks, tree stands, gallons of water, and spent many trips besides those with the tripods and spotters in tow.
I'd hoped before the opener to nail a big deer, but then, and I'm grateful for it, my mindset really wanted to get a deer and be happy with him. I'm happy with today's deer. I really am. I was solo today, and it happened. It was rewarding, but bittersweet as I would have loved to of had a buddy with me there to witness. But there also comes with the spot, the stalk, the shot, the processing, and the hike out, a feeling that is super gratifying when alone.
Luckily, I had a buddy, Scott Facer hike up and meet me close to the ridge on the way out. We talked, he hydrated me and gave me a Clif bar and then took part of my load.
I was talking with Marc Smith recently and it really is amazing what happens to friendships as they're forged over extreme conditions and life passions. I truly love and respect my hunting brothers and hope I can be there at their side as they need me. Best of luck to my fellow archers and outdoorsmen.


4597wallpaper.jpg


23622014_buck_3.jpg


73852014_buck_4.jpg




>>>---->
For the love of the game
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-14 AT 06:49PM (MST)[p]Took this guy on the Beaver unit last week. Had a great hunt due to a little help from a friend here on MM. I would mot have had all the fun or success I did without MM and my buddy Dustin. By far not the biggest buck I saw, but he gave me a great shot on the last day I had so I took it.

398image.jpg
 
After watching this buck bed in a great spot for me to get close, I decided that i should try to get on this buck. My first thought was he was about a 28" three point, but when I was within shooting range he looked bigger. Maybe a 30 incher. After making a 52 yd shot, waiting an hour, 500 yds of tracking blood, I found my buck. Well, it was bigger than I thought. This bugger was massive! 33" outside spread, 21" g2's, 24" main beams, 44"of mass.
5325img_0921.jpg

8139img_0937.jpg
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-30-14 AT 09:00AM (MST)[p]Here you go RabidRattler - looking a it sideways was making me naseous!

Great looking buck too. He deserves to be posted rightside up. ;-)

9814398image.jpg



HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________

Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:

http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-30-14 AT 09:08AM (MST)[p]

I have to comment on the last 3 bucks! NICE JOB FELLAS!! 3 huge bucks!!

Drake - WOW - classic buck! He just has "the look" to him.

Dblkicker - I posted on your other thread, but MAN I love this buck!

And way to go getting Drew Brees to pose with the rack in that last pick. HA HA! Uncanny resemblance!

BIGOLMULEY - the username says it all right there! That is all you need to know. Love it!! Congrats!


HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________

Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:

http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-14 AT 01:27PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-14 AT 01:25?PM (MST)

MEANT TO BE SUBMITTED INTO THE SCOUTING PICS TOPIC

2 bucks we've seen multiple years in a row.

We call this buck "Blondie" because he has a pale forehead. Also notice the split in the right ear.
814blondie_buck.jpg

We call this buck "crooked browtine buck".
3554crooked_brow_buck.jpg
 
Might as well get my name in the mix.
Here's my 2014 Utah general archery buck,killed him on a solo backcountry hunt. This was one if the most rewarding hunts I've done, with all the hard work preparing, packing my camp in on my back and the successful stock on this good buck!!
 
Keep the pics coming and get your name in to WIN!

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....
 
This is really not what I was hoping for, but after 5 years of trying with a bow, and many blown stalks and missed opportunities, I lowered my standards.

2527spike_deer.jpg
 
JACO, nothing wrong with that. First deer I killed out west with my bow was a spike, took me 5 years as well. I was as thrilled with Him as any deer I've killed since, congratulations on your first.
 
Here is my 2014 general archery buck. I had a 190" buck bedded at 60 yards for 3 hours and while I was waiting for that one to stand up this buck came out of no where and was feeding broadside at 30 yards. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. He ended up 183".

898020140816_114516.jpg


215320140816_114358.jpg
 
So I said,"Hey they both taste the same." My brother didn't like that comment... But we both took bucks in our Utah general unit this year, it was a fun hunt. The time in the field with the family is the best part but we were lucky enough to get some icing on the cake this year.

7773p1020334.jpg
 
Ok you asked for it

I missed the draw date on the computer by one day! By default I was left with the option of buying an over the counter leftover archery deer tag or just going for a cow or spike. I figured " what the heck and bought me a deer tag just in case I had a decent buck walk in on me while hunting elk. I set the trail cams and prepped for an elk hunt with my brother in law. When opening morning arrived we had chosen our spot wisely as 30 head of elk with 5 spikes in the group came running into water. In the lead was two calves and a cow. In hopes of getting a double kill, my brother in law decided to shoot the first elk to the water. He pulled back, took aim and let the arrow fly with a perfect pass through in the vitals. Unfortunately the rest of the herd noticed and moved on. We gave his first ever big game kill a good 30 min and went in pursuit. The blood trail got thin and spotty and all but disappeared, but with some luck we managed to find his elk. One elk down, two to go.
7253image.jpg

About the fourth day into the hunt the rains began and seemed to be unrelenting. A ground pursuit was in order. Taking a turn in pace my cousin and I went for a little spot and stalk journey on a ridge in search of bulls for a hunter who would be joining us shortly. Without much luck for bulls. Something amazing happened as we pinpointed a pair of bachelor bucks we had been trying to see beyond trail cams for three years. (Last years photo)
1779image.jpg

These weren't just any bachelor bucks but a pair of bachelor bucks you would see on the Henry's.
We began questioning to each other if we were really on a general unit looking at what we were seeing,or were we dreaming. Watching the bucks as they slipped away into the tree line we decided to name the bucks Pinocchio ( due to his cheaters looking like wooden noses in velvet) and Jepetto. A few days of searching led to feeling like they were a lost cause after one failed stalk attempt and no sign of them for days. So it was back to chasing elk.
Another buddy of mine had been in the air force for some time and was home to stay for a couple years and was looking for some help on filling the freezer with some elk meat. He had limited days. I set him up where I figured he had the best chance of killing and went off to have a very boring sit. I went back to get my buddy to find he had shot himself his first ever elk. We loaded her up in the pack and made our way out. Two down one to go.
7107image.jpg

I was down to myself and a bull hunter in a distant camp with tags. The days rolled on with no success until that much needed call came on the radio. " we got a bull down! Were coming to get you" it was off to pack out another elk.
9635image.jpg

7255image.jpg

The archers choice hunt was dwindling as the trees began turning colors. The final days of the elk hunt came to a close with only the opportunity at bulls without a tag to kill them.
3907image.jpg

The elk hunt was over and the disappointment of tag soup began filling my head.
After a day of rest back at home I figured I would head up, Pull stands and glass for bulls for another friend with a bull tag. An evening came and went.
With two days left for archery deer and limited entry bulls, I made a decision to stay the night without food and do my best to locate a bull for my friend in the morning and head home.
Early morning came and it was back out on the ridge looking for bulls. After spotting a nice bull, to my surprise, Pinocchio and Jepetto were out feeding right where my cousin and I had seen them two weeks earlier. Being in the worst place possible to make a ground stalk I watched from a mile as they went to bed. I figured "what the heck" I'll give it a shot. So off across the canyon I went, the whole time hoping that good karma would come my way. smiling and imagining how awesome it would be if everything worked out. It would truly be a dream come true.
Two hours later it was crunch time, literally, it was crunch time! The bucks had gone to bed in the middle of a minefield of those dried up crunchy leaf bushes mixed with stunted knee high sage brush. The stalk was on! All I had to my advantage was good wind gusts up at me. Every time the wind would gust I would move, concealing any noise I might make. After what seemed like hours, I had made it within 20 yards of the tree the buck was under. I had run into a problem. There was no way of getting closer without spooking the buck (if he was still there) and there was no shots near the tree. My only chance was to stand still and hope that he would come out of his bed and walk 15 yards directly through one open path I had at 30 yards. The wait began. After a good 30 minutes at roughly 11:30 am I heard a stick pop. He had got up! To my amazement the buck walked straight into the only possible opening and began feeding on a bush. All I could see was mass and trash! I drew back, took a deep breath settled my thirty yard pin behind the front shoulder and let the arrow fly! Whack! The arrow hit its mark punching through both lungs. Surprisingly the buck hunched up and slowly made a 180 degree turn. Without hesitation I loaded up a second arrow and drew back. I grunted and he turned broadside looking up at me. Once again I settled my sights at 35 yards and let it fly. WHACK! This time the arrow grazed the shoulder blade and sunk right into the top of his heart. Off he ran, and so did I! I knew I should have sat there waiting but anxiety got the best of me. I ran to where I had shot him and stopped to listen. So many emotions circled in my mind. No sound was to be heard. Panic began filling my head as I started on the track line constantly panning ahead for tines in the bushes. Ignoring every bit of common sense of "follow the blood trail". All that was going through my head was please don't say I wounded him! After ten yards of frantic searching, there it was! The sight I had dreamed of all my life. A giant heavy nontypical antler sticking up above the bushes. My knees instantly buckled as I collapsed and began bawling like a little girl. I managed to crawl my way beside the buck as I latched my hands onto his antlers and hide so he couldn't get away. He was mine!
After a good 5 minutes, I pulled myself together and for the first time in my life had a moment so surreal I really did feel like I was going to wake from this perfect dream I was having! It wasn't until the next morning that reality began to grasp that it had really happened. I had killed Pinocchio, the buck of a lifetime on a general unit with an archery tag I bought "just in case" a decent buck walked in.
5782image.jpg

He goes 209 3/4 with 10x11 score-able points and an outside spread of 32 1/2 185 inch mainframe with 42 inches of mass.
8642image.jpg
 
I sat in the truck watching several sets of headlights in the distance work towards my direction. These were other hunters that I did not expect to be in "my area." It was the second day of hunting season in the grasslands of North Dakota. I have spent every day off from work I had scouting this particular area out trying my best to keep tabs on two bucks on my hit list. One was a non-typical not very wide deep forked buck I named "STICKERS" the other was a wide 4x3 I named "SASQUATCH" (inside joke with coworkers). Opening day "SASQUATCH" was bumped by another hunter and has yet to show himself. STICKERS went AWOL almost two weeks before but I had high hopes of finding him in one of the 3 draws he frequented. As the sun slowly illuminated the landscape I could see the white outline of a deer. As soon as my binoculars hit my eye I knew it was STICKERS. GAME ON!! He slowly fed into a draw filled with buffalo berries where I lost sight of him. I moved to a different vantage point only to find nothing. I started to get worried that he left the area when I was re-positioning. I took a deep breath and turned up the power of teh spotting scope to pick apart the draw. After 5 minutes I picked out what appeared to be velvet antlers in the bottom of the draw. With another re-positioning, I confirmed my hopes and it was him. As far as I could see he was already bedded. The sun was not even up an hour. I sat and though what my next step was going to be. Stalk him in hopes he stayed put or get close and if he moved would he be in range? Thinking back to all the other headlights I observed that morning, if he was to get busted out the country I would rather it be by me and not someone else.

He was bedded in a good location.I had a bench between him and I. If I could get to that bench he could possibly be in range. I also referenced 2 broken branches that the leaves were yellow and one piece of sage brush. I made my stalk.

The distance was not hard to cover. Only took me about 10 minutes. When I got to my reference piece of sage brush I could see the two broken branches. The shaking began as soon as the range finder read 35 yards knowing he was bedded below those trees. I slowly crept forward, inch by inch. His tines were soon visible, he was looking up the draw. Inch by inch, his head and back was now visible with no obstructions over his vitals. I needed to get more of his vitals to show for a shot but didn't want him to stand up. I backed off a few steps side stepped a few feet for a better angle and creeped back up. Once I saw his tines I drew back my bow. He saw this movement and pegged me. I took one step forward exposing his whole body. 30 pin was on his vitals and my finger squeezed the release. I saw the arrow in the sunlight disappear into the dakrness where he was bedded. My first thought was that I shot high. He bounded out the draw up the opposite hillside. When he was leaving I could see blood pouring out of both sides of him. I knew I hit my mark!!! I backed out and went and picked up my buddy to finish the job.

On my walk back to the truck, I couldn't believe what just happened. Emotions started to overcome me. It was 1 day short of 3 years from losing my best hunting parter, my dad, to a lightning strike while deer hunting. Even tho I stalked this buck alone, I knew that I truly was not alone. Dad was with me the whole time!!!

Back to the spot where he was bedded was instant blood. The tracking job was easy with the new RAGE HYPODERMIC. My buck went only 30 yards out of sight. Fist glance at my buck, I knew I underestimated his size. I thought he would be a 175 class buck, big for North Dakota. Having his antlers in my hands he was a lot bigger with incredible mass!

Short work later and back at the shop I caped my buck out for the taxidermist and put the tape on STICKERS. Taped out to be 193 5/8" gross with 45"+ mass and 5" brow tines. After the 60 day drying period and if I taped him out correctly he will be the new #1 North Dakota Archery Non-typical State Record Mule Deer (if my research is correct).


3682deer.jpg


9003deer1.jpg

706deer2.jpg



21891.jpg


56522.jpg

45846.jpg


560410653380_10101773573157163_8513961399009998268_n.jpg
 
8930tanner_2014_mule_deer_book_cliffs.jpg


We ran into this wounded buck by a domestic dog on the books on our way out ahead of the flash flood warnings. The dog had just torn out a third of his hind quarter so we didn't let him suffer and we are putting the meat to good use. My son is turning into quite the tracking machine for a 13 year old.
 
2014 Utah Extended archery buck. Shot on Saturday September 13th.

Spotted this buck at 9 am on Saturday. Watched him feed and bed. Got to 40 yards and grew impatient so I started throwing rocks.

After 6 rocks he finally stood but offered no shot. He fed for a minute, turned a circle and laid back down. After 3 more rocks he stood again and took a step forward exposing his vitals.

He surveyed the canyon and looked up at me for about a minute. With my Be The Decoy hat on he stayed calm and began to feed. When he put his head in the brush I raised up on my knees and settled my pin. He didn't go 50 yards before collapsing.

I was guessing him around 170".

He ended up at 173 3/8" gross!!

I'm super happy with him.










Prime Alloy
Easton FMJ 340
Sure Loc Single pin
TEAM RAMROD
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-22-14 AT 12:40PM (MST)[p]There's got to be more of you who have shot a buck with a bow this year who'd like to WIN a pack!!!! Let's see pics!

I'll pick a winner in a few more days.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....
 
Shot this buck on Labor Day in utah after he bedded 100 yards from me. I cut the distance in half and he never got out of his bed. Great hunt and extremely happy with him.
 
>Shot this buck on Labor Day
>in utah after he bedded
>100 yards from me. I
>cut the distance in half
>and he never got out
>of his bed. Great hunt
>and extremely happy with him.
>


3359image.jpg
 
My buddy and I watched this buck bed down in a small creek bottom. With the wind in my favor I snuck within 35 yards of the buck. When he stood up, I settled my pin and released the arrow. This is my best buck with a bow and my most unique so far. If you look close on his right side you can see his eye guard grow straight out since there is no room for them to grow up like normal.

677image.jpg


9062image.jpg
 
[font size=+1]My wife drew the number and Ranger1 is our winner for the Badlands pack![/font]

Thanks to all of you who share your photos. Great stuff to see for sure. The photos are always fun to see.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom