Day 5 -
Let me preface my little story here by going back to the start of this entire thing. Due to my career, also being a single father with kids that live out of state, and so many other things, I wasn't able to due a lot of scouting for this hunt or put the time in that was needed. My kids were here for the summer, I had classes to take, I had Stuff, just like we all do. I turned to Monster Muleys as we all know for assistance and some help. The vast majority of you offered up so many great tips, and I am very grateful and appreciate the PM's, the phone calls, text messages and so many words of advice and encouragement. To the others on this thread that shot their "opinions" and some sarcastic remarks to me, well thanks for those too.. I guess.
10/18/2019 - I had just finished working a long 48 hour shift at my Fire Department. 10/16 and 10/17 were long days full of thoughts of Muley Bucks, The Paunsagaunt, and the adventure that I was about to embark on. I was eager and excited.
10/18 arrive, I was off shift and headed home to pack some items, supplies, and get on the road.. A buddy of mine, Ralph .. was already in Kanab. And props to him, this guy and I talked all summer about his adventure and I want to Thank him early on.
While on my way I spoke to Ralph and he had told me that Doyle Moss had taken up residence in the same place we were staying along with several other guys and guides, again the thoughts of being around said person(s) like Doyle, WLH, and so many other outfitters weighed on my mind that they knew what they were doing and that those lucky people that could partake of such an opportunity would harvest big bucks, the kind that we hunter dream of.
On arrival on Friday, I was fortunate to shake hands with Doyle Moss and visit with him for some time. Talking to him, he was very helpful and offered up some advice about how to hunt the Pauns. I explained to Doyle that I hadn't done my homework but was willing to take the chance that after 19 year of waiting was finally here and put the effort into finding the buck of a lifetime. That's the first time I had met and talked to Doyle Moss, he was very cool. He was easy to talk to and interested not only in the hunt, but asked me about me too. Very personable and likable guy. Talking to him got me more pumped for the days to come.
This hunt was challenging, mentally and physically. This is a tough hunt! Seeing Deer, lots of deer. Then not seeing Deer, and then the repeat. You some some bucks, good bucks. You see little bucks. You may even get a chance to see a GIANT buck. It's truly an emotional roller coaster and those that share a passion for hunting and wait for the opportunity to hunt said Giants, know exactly that type of emotions I am talking about.
During the week, I had seen and heard of some killer trophy bucks being taken. I had the chance to chit chat with some of the different guides at the gas station, all offered up some great advice and direction. To all of you, I say thanks.
Day 5 began like any of the other days that I had been putting in. The morning came and my alarm sounded, I woke up and to be honest for a short moment during the getting ready started to doubt that it was going to be anything other than the typical day. Seeing some deer, mostly small bucks, does, and fawns. Putting in the miles, putting in the time on foot and glassing and searching the hills for that trophy buck. But my excitement and spirits were down, I just hadn't seen that one big Pauns buck people talk about, I had read stories about, and had even seen the pictures.
After readying up I followed Ralph out of the door, and on exiting I heard someone call out to me. I looked through the dark to see Doyle Moss walking across the parking lot to talk to me. Doyle arrived by my side and asked me how my hunt had been going. I explained to him that it hadn't been shaping up to be what I wanted and that I was running short on time, and just not seeing any shooter bucks. We discussed for a few minutes the tactics, the areas and all I and my friend Ralph had been doing to find that one shooter buck.
What happened next, is something that I didn't expect, or really fathom would ever happen to an a guy like me. Doyle Moss, looked over at me and said "Follow me, I'll put you on a spot and I will put you in a place where you can kill a buck." I was completely taken off guard, as I knew that he had his own clients that he was charged with guiding and helping them shoot a deer on the unit. I asked him if he was really serious about this, and he said yes.
We followed Doyle to the 7-11 for supplies and fuel. I stood next to him as he showed me the area he was going to take me and he offered up that there were some good bucks coming into and out of the area until around mid-morning. He told me that there would be several bucks to choose from and to take some time to look them over. He assured me that a chance would present itself to me.
I was blown away, humbled and totally in awe that all of this was unfolding. We have all heard the war stories, we have all heard the tales, we have all participated in the hunting gossip. Hell, there is people on here that do just that. I was totally blown away that Doyle was helping me. He didn't have to even take the time to talk to me that first day, or to talk with me after that day, let alone offer up a spot that was going to hold some Deer for me to go hunt.
We followed Doyle to the location, he pulled over which indicated we were to drive to the location he discussed with myself and Ralph. We followed directions and just as he had told us arrived at a lookout point before dark.
I was overcome with the amount of Deer that I could see moving through the area at first light.
As it got lighter, I noticed there was a handful of bucks lurking about. I began to glass up the area and found 2 bucks, both very mature deer. However with the first morning light you could make out antlers, width and height. Just not light enough to look them over, they began to move to the East along a draw, and before the sun crested the Plateau moved behind a rolling hill....
That's when I saw a line of 5 Deer coming right to me. The first 3 were Does, and then a buck came into view. He was tall, he was wide and in the early morning light looked like a shooter. Ralph stood next to me and we watched as the buck went down a draw and stopped. There was water in the bottom and while he was drinking Ralph and I had a chance to look him over. I saw the mass, the deep forks, the height he carried, and I decided that this was my buck that I wanted.
With Ralph next to me, the sun hitting the Red Cliffs all around I raised my rifle and looked at him again through my scope. By this time he had started his way up the embankment and was quartering away from me, with a slow breath I squeezed the trigger. The morning stillness was broken by the sound of my .300 Win Mag... the "WHUMP" came next.. The big heavy horned 4 point ran up the hill and went down.
As I looked through my glasses at the buck that lay there on the hillside I couldn't believe that it was over.
I want to thank Ralph, you were there with me and stayed with me to grind out a tough hunt. To Doyle Moss, thanks for putting me in the right place at the right time and helping to make my hunt a hunt of a lifetime. Mossback is a stand-up outfit, you went out of your way to help me and I thank you for that.
To everyone here, thanks for the encouragement, advice and listening to my little story.