2004 smokepole hunt

AndymanSavage · Oct 4, 2004

Here are some pics from our 5 day pack trip in northern Ut. We passed up over 3 dozen bucks. The group I was with has a 28" 4pt minnimum. One guy in camp shot a 34" 208 pt typical up here three years ago, I think it's the state muzz record. Good time, even though nobody pulled the trigger.

Me

Joemama aka hornyman

The ride out

Andy

B_F_E · Oct 4, 2004

Nice Pict's. is that snow in the 2nd to last Pict. or just clouds ?
Also what is the penalty for whacking a deer that doesn't qualify with the minimums ?

AndymanSavage · Oct 4, 2004

It's just clouds, but we did get snowed on a couple of times.

penalty- no more invites to an awesome spot, and you pack your own deer out 10 miles.

shotgunjim · Oct 4, 2004

Nice job on not killing small bucks, I wish more people would do the same. The Muley Gods are smiling upon you. Better luck next year.

muzz · Oct 4, 2004

I am deerless for this year also, I am kinda pissed. I passed up 12 bucks in the 12" to 20" range wanting to put a good buck down. I passed up 4 bucks this morning and that is all I seen. What a season. Another normal Utah hunt.

bobcatbess · Oct 4, 2004

PLEASE SEND ME EXACT GPS COORDINATES!!!

I'LL SETTLE FOR A 27"ER!!!(AND YA,I'LL PACK IT OUT!!!)

PISS POOR UTAH MUZZLE HUNT AND THEN A FULL MOON TO TOP IT OFF!!!

YA SEE,I HAVE EXCUSES!!!

THE ONLY bobcat WONDERING HOW MANY MILES MUST YOU GO BEFORE AT LEAST SEEING A DECENT BUCK,LET ALONE GETTING A SHOT AT ONE???

MichaelJ · Oct 4, 2004

Just curious, but what was the biggest buck you guys passed on? Looks like a ton of fun!!

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.

cpsandman · Oct 4, 2004

What area were you in? Not the honey hole location but the general area. Beautiful country and being a North-UT hunter just courious. Love the pics...thanks.

CPSANDMAN
"The Buck stops here...I hope!"

KNOPHISH · Oct 5, 2004

So how do you measure 28" before you shoot? Tranquilizer dart, then go check, let him get up & bang. JK. Like the guy who loses the monster fish & sez I lost a 55 pound king? What, did you have him jump on a scale 1st. Last year I did pass up a spike for a 2 point. heh heh

HornyMan · Oct 5, 2004

To answer you're questions the biggest buck that was passed was in the 170" mark. I passed up a couple of big bucks that I should have shot. Last night I missed a 30" Doh I'm so stupid. He was only 50 yards away. It took me an hour to stalk him and 30 yards or so he winded me. I couldn't shoot at 30 yards because he was in the thick pine blow down and I coudn't see him. The deer weren't in there like they have been but it was still better than any road area. Nothing like primitve area. That was a hint as to where its at. I personally passed up more than 30 bucks but there were two that I should have greased.
Andy could have greased a couple but I told him I wasn't packing them out on my horses. Which got loose for two days and were found by the mirror lake toll booth. So much for eagle scout knots. All in all it was great fun. I'll post my pictures soon.

AndymanSavage · Oct 5, 2004

>So how do you measure 28"
>before you shoot? Tranquilizer dart,
>then go check, let him
>get up & bang. JK.
>Like the guy who loses
>the monster fish & sez
>I lost a 55 pound
>king? What, did you have
>him jump on a scale
>1st. Last year I did
>pass up a spike for
>a 2 point. heh heh
>

clearly past the ears on both sides on a mature bodied deer is close enough. I didn't mean an exact figure guys. Although the dart thing is a good idea......

MichaelJ · Oct 5, 2004

Too bad on the miss, but it's hunting! Another question, do you pack in food for your horses or just graze them? Thanks.

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.

eelgrass · Oct 5, 2004

That's some beautiful country alright. And some people think hunting is all about the killing. Country like that with good friends.....awesome!

HornyMan · Oct 6, 2004

Both, there is still plenty of feed but we made a few trips in before the hunt and took hay cubes.

ICMDEER · Oct 6, 2004

I hope you and your buddies did not pass up any bucks like the one in the other post for which we are guessing the score. He's a 200 class buck, but he's not likely 28" wide. I'd have to set some other standards before I could hunt with that group. There's lots of B&C bucks that are under 28" wide. And I know I could not pass a stud just because of spread.

Beautiful country and thanks for sharing the pictures, though.

HornyMan · Oct 6, 2004

Its a rule of thumb. We've shot 26" and 24" out of there becuase they were "big enough" Better put we try not to shoot something that doesn't go under 180"... but we have. When no one hunts up there but us we kind of manage the size of deer ourselves. Having passed up some decent deer this year I know they will be there next year if they make it through the winter.

ICMDEER · Oct 7, 2004

That sounds more like my theory. I try to stay with big, mature, deer, and 180 is a heckuva good standard. Thanks for the good response.

Gator · Oct 7, 2004

Fine looking country, being back in the back-country with great people and that kind of country is want it all about, Take a deer is only topping, on the cake.

Omegafan · Oct 12, 2004

Looks like some awesome country. I am also from northern Utah and I respect guys like you that don't fling shots at the babies. I finally connected with a decent buck this year only cause I drew out for the Book Cliffs. He was probably one that you would have passed up but I like him. He was a 25" 5x6 with double eyeguards on his left main beam and really heavy. He will look good on the wall (if the wife lets me) If anyone who reads this happens to get a limited entry deer tag for the Book Cliffs, let me know. I know of some awesome spots for nice deer and some frieking monster bull elk. The place was awesome.