I was extremely disappointed this year to learn that I had not drawn an early archery tag in the state of Utah. I was still excited to do lots of scouting and hunting with my good friend, Matt Bateman. I told Matt about a month ago that I was starting to "get a good vibe" about his hunt....
I spotted this buck high up in the rocks and shale early on Saturday morning. He finally made his way to a small patch of aspens and spruce pines and lied down. I got ahold of matt and had him move into position 150 yds below the bedded buck. Then I hiked up the mountain and got positioned above the bedded buck. Matt gave me a "thumbs up" meaning he was ready for the action to begin, so I dropped down off the cliffs and worked my way over to the spruce patch where the bucks had bedded. It didn't take long for the buck to get nervous. He suddenly stood from his bed, turned and began running down the mountain directly towards Matt. The big Buck ran past Matt at 40 yards and Matt made a perfect quartering away shot; back ribs moving forward into the heart and lungs. The buck was dead in less than 10 seconds. In no time Matt and I were whooping and high-fiving each other with hugs and smiles all around. We knew we had just taken a giant buck.....a mainframe 4 point with droppers on both sides....but we didn't realize until we scored the rack that the buck would gross over 200"!!!!
We both realize what a tremendous buck we had just taken. Simply put, there aren't many 200" bucks out there on public land with a general season tag. So we feel lucky and blessed to have harvested such a great animal.
Kudos to Matt for once again putting the arrow where it needed to be when the chips were down. Well done Bro.
I could not be happier for you!
Kip
I spotted this buck high up in the rocks and shale early on Saturday morning. He finally made his way to a small patch of aspens and spruce pines and lied down. I got ahold of matt and had him move into position 150 yds below the bedded buck. Then I hiked up the mountain and got positioned above the bedded buck. Matt gave me a "thumbs up" meaning he was ready for the action to begin, so I dropped down off the cliffs and worked my way over to the spruce patch where the bucks had bedded. It didn't take long for the buck to get nervous. He suddenly stood from his bed, turned and began running down the mountain directly towards Matt. The big Buck ran past Matt at 40 yards and Matt made a perfect quartering away shot; back ribs moving forward into the heart and lungs. The buck was dead in less than 10 seconds. In no time Matt and I were whooping and high-fiving each other with hugs and smiles all around. We knew we had just taken a giant buck.....a mainframe 4 point with droppers on both sides....but we didn't realize until we scored the rack that the buck would gross over 200"!!!!
We both realize what a tremendous buck we had just taken. Simply put, there aren't many 200" bucks out there on public land with a general season tag. So we feel lucky and blessed to have harvested such a great animal.
Kudos to Matt for once again putting the arrow where it needed to be when the chips were down. Well done Bro.
I could not be happier for you!
Kip