thought I would share a pic and story of my good luck in central Idaho this fall. Although I was born and raised in the Boise valley area, I have only been successful on mule deer for the last year or 3 as a non-res. I put the hammer down on this guy on the second day of the general hunt. I missed a genuine once-in-a-liftime buck last year in the same area. heavy, old buck with multiple stickers and massive main beams. only maybe 20" wide, but one of those bucks that need to be seen to believe. The shot distance did me in. It was a little out of the ordinary. I missed him 2 times broadside at about 40 yards. Folks ask me if my scope was off. But i don't believe that there is enought adjustment in a scope to throw it off that far at 40 yards. Bummer. I have never been able to shake the fever!
This year, after a 3-1/2 mile stroll through the woods on a logging road, I overtook a couple of guys that had beat me into the area. I found out later they had horses, and had tied them off and were walking the same road I was. I backed off, decided I would just climb a little rise above the road and take a look around. This old feller and his twin were just feeding into timber at around 500 yards. I took a quick look around for a rest, and saw the dead snag in the picture around 100 yards closer. A quick sprint behind some cover, and i was set up! But the bucks were in the timber, lucky for me, cuz I was out of breath! I'm to old to run a 100 yard dash at 9K feet!!
When the first one stepped into a clearing, I took my time, remembered to squeeze carefully, and MISSED!!!!! Steep angle through me off. And he just STOOD there!!! My lucky day! Not his, though!! Best buck in 35 years. Last time I was able to hang a buck like this on the wall was in 1979 In region "H" in Wyoming. Needless to say, I am pretty stoked. I've had a lot of help in Idaho from some of you regulars, and a lot from folks who would PM me. A few i still keep in touch with. You guys are the greatest!
This year, after a 3-1/2 mile stroll through the woods on a logging road, I overtook a couple of guys that had beat me into the area. I found out later they had horses, and had tied them off and were walking the same road I was. I backed off, decided I would just climb a little rise above the road and take a look around. This old feller and his twin were just feeding into timber at around 500 yards. I took a quick look around for a rest, and saw the dead snag in the picture around 100 yards closer. A quick sprint behind some cover, and i was set up! But the bucks were in the timber, lucky for me, cuz I was out of breath! I'm to old to run a 100 yard dash at 9K feet!!
When the first one stepped into a clearing, I took my time, remembered to squeeze carefully, and MISSED!!!!! Steep angle through me off. And he just STOOD there!!! My lucky day! Not his, though!! Best buck in 35 years. Last time I was able to hang a buck like this on the wall was in 1979 In region "H" in Wyoming. Needless to say, I am pretty stoked. I've had a lot of help in Idaho from some of you regulars, and a lot from folks who would PM me. A few i still keep in touch with. You guys are the greatest!
