one_dryboot
Long Time Member
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Just got back from our Colorado 3rd season hunt. We went out a few days early to look around trying to find a few good bucks for opening mourning. Well, that was a waist of time because it was snowing and blowing all day long causing the deer to hold up out of the bad weather. We saw very few deer in the three days before the hunt. But we did manage to seal the deal on a few yotes
Opening mourning brought sunshine and warm temps. It seemed like when the storm broke and the sun came out so did the deer. Around noon, as I was taking a nap in the warm sun my uncle spotted a good buck he wanted to take. Six shots and a few hours later we could not find any sign of a hit. As we were driving out we spotted a decent buck just off the road. we looked at him quickly and decided to keep on going. When we got back to our room I realized I forgot my Gps up on the rock I was glassing from. We made a plan to run up early and get it, then head to a different spot. After I found my Gps we were heading back. We spotted the buck from the night before laying in the open on the skyline. We looked him over and realized he was better then we thought. I told my uncle it was bigger then anything he has shot. After thinking it over he decided to try for this buck. A few shots later we were walking up to his biggest buck to date.
After we got his deer taken care of we headed out with hopes of finding a good buck for me. Monday turned up alot of smaller bucks but nothing that got my crank turning.
Tuesday we decided to meet up with my good friends Shane, Tj, and there father Steve. We wanted to try a different area a little higher then we were hunting. We drove the roads looking over new country. on the top we found this old cabin. If this old place could tell storys, I wonder what it would say??
Later that afternoon we went back to an area we have hunted in the past. As we were sitting on a cliff overlooking a big canyon, Tj spotted a Monster 3 point. We figured this buck was 30 inches wide and would score over 170 as a straight 3. We made a plan to go after him and kill him. As we were working our way to him, I jokingly asked Tj "what if we see a shooter buck on our way over to the big 3"? We smiled and carried on knowing we would shoot it. Well, to our total suprise and about half way to the monster 3, Out jumped a shooter buck from a little ravine 50 yards ahead of us. We instantly got into position and tried to give this buck a dirt nap. Around a dozen shots later and some buck feaver, this buck was still on his feet and making tracks. We knew we hit this buck but we didnt know how well he was hit. We watched him go over the hill. I turned to Tj telling him I was out of shells. He looked at me saying Im low also. He gave me one bullet and off I went looking for this deer. I found him bedded on a open hill under a cedar not 200 yards from where we last saw him. I closed the gap to about 300 yards. As I got ready to shoot I decided to try and get closer. I did not want to miss because I had one bullet left. As I crept closer the buck spotted me and busted out of his bed. I made it to where he was laying wanting to see if I could find blood and what kind of blood. As I got there I looked up to see the buck looking down at me. Just as I got ready for the shot, he layed down behind a rock. The only thing I could see was his ears and his antlers above the rock. I told Tj I found him and come to where I was. We were set up 300 yards from him waiting for him to get back up, but he couldn't. It was getting dark and we were starting to worry. We thought about backing out and coming back in the mourning. My uncle, Steve and shane were across the canyon and had a clear view of the deer. We told them to set up for a shot and try to take him out in his bed. At the shot he bolted from his bed allowing for a shot. I missed low then Tj shot. Moments later he bedded down again and at this point we decided to back out for the night and come back in the mourning. This was the first time in my life I have had to leave an animal not knowing if he was dead or alive. Many thoughts went through my mind wondering how well he was hit, if he would be there in the mourning. ect... It was the longest night of my life. I worried myself to the point I felt sick.
The next mourning we were perched back on the cliff glassing where we last saw the buck bedded when we backed out. He was not there. I instantly felt sick knowing he got back up at some point during the night. A few minutes into glassing shane spotted a great buck bedded in the open. I was hopeing it was the wounded buck but as I looked him over it was not. Tj and his dad went after him and shot him just after he got out of his bed.
I worked my way over to them, dropped off there packs then started over to where I last saw my buck bedded. As I got over to the ridge, I slowly started working the thick rocky cover glassing and looking for sign. My uncle was still on the cliff guiding me to where he was last bedded so I could try and pick up a blood trail. As I neared the area coming in from above, out jumped the buck from his rocky bed. I was in such shock that he was still alive and in the same area I missed my first shot by a mile. I instantly felt like I just lost my best chance to find and kill him. I ran down through the pinions trying to find an opening. As I was running he came into view and instantly stopped and looked at me. As I came to a stop he snorted and started running. only having a split second I put up my gun and shot. Not knowing if I had hit him tryed to find him again. Then I see him sneaking away giving me one last shot. As the recoil hit me I saw him fall over.
At last it was over. All the feelings of doubt and worries running in my head were over. As I walked up to him I sat down next to this beautiful animal and just enjoyed the moment. It felt as if a burden was lifted from my shoulders. I felt very blessed not only to kill a great buck, but also to find a wounded animal that easily could have never been found. As I sat waiting for my help to arrive I cracked open a Mtn. Dew to celebrate thought about how everything that could have gone wrong didnt. everything went our way and usually that does not happen.
This is my biggest buck to date. I finally feel like I have accomplished my goal of killing a great buck. We passed many smaller bucks along the way and just enjoyed being out in the hills enjoying the country. Spending time with friends and creating memories is what it is all about. I cant wait for next year trying to top this one.
Opening mourning brought sunshine and warm temps. It seemed like when the storm broke and the sun came out so did the deer. Around noon, as I was taking a nap in the warm sun my uncle spotted a good buck he wanted to take. Six shots and a few hours later we could not find any sign of a hit. As we were driving out we spotted a decent buck just off the road. we looked at him quickly and decided to keep on going. When we got back to our room I realized I forgot my Gps up on the rock I was glassing from. We made a plan to run up early and get it, then head to a different spot. After I found my Gps we were heading back. We spotted the buck from the night before laying in the open on the skyline. We looked him over and realized he was better then we thought. I told my uncle it was bigger then anything he has shot. After thinking it over he decided to try for this buck. A few shots later we were walking up to his biggest buck to date.
After we got his deer taken care of we headed out with hopes of finding a good buck for me. Monday turned up alot of smaller bucks but nothing that got my crank turning.
Tuesday we decided to meet up with my good friends Shane, Tj, and there father Steve. We wanted to try a different area a little higher then we were hunting. We drove the roads looking over new country. on the top we found this old cabin. If this old place could tell storys, I wonder what it would say??
Later that afternoon we went back to an area we have hunted in the past. As we were sitting on a cliff overlooking a big canyon, Tj spotted a Monster 3 point. We figured this buck was 30 inches wide and would score over 170 as a straight 3. We made a plan to go after him and kill him. As we were working our way to him, I jokingly asked Tj "what if we see a shooter buck on our way over to the big 3"? We smiled and carried on knowing we would shoot it. Well, to our total suprise and about half way to the monster 3, Out jumped a shooter buck from a little ravine 50 yards ahead of us. We instantly got into position and tried to give this buck a dirt nap. Around a dozen shots later and some buck feaver, this buck was still on his feet and making tracks. We knew we hit this buck but we didnt know how well he was hit. We watched him go over the hill. I turned to Tj telling him I was out of shells. He looked at me saying Im low also. He gave me one bullet and off I went looking for this deer. I found him bedded on a open hill under a cedar not 200 yards from where we last saw him. I closed the gap to about 300 yards. As I got ready to shoot I decided to try and get closer. I did not want to miss because I had one bullet left. As I crept closer the buck spotted me and busted out of his bed. I made it to where he was laying wanting to see if I could find blood and what kind of blood. As I got there I looked up to see the buck looking down at me. Just as I got ready for the shot, he layed down behind a rock. The only thing I could see was his ears and his antlers above the rock. I told Tj I found him and come to where I was. We were set up 300 yards from him waiting for him to get back up, but he couldn't. It was getting dark and we were starting to worry. We thought about backing out and coming back in the mourning. My uncle, Steve and shane were across the canyon and had a clear view of the deer. We told them to set up for a shot and try to take him out in his bed. At the shot he bolted from his bed allowing for a shot. I missed low then Tj shot. Moments later he bedded down again and at this point we decided to back out for the night and come back in the mourning. This was the first time in my life I have had to leave an animal not knowing if he was dead or alive. Many thoughts went through my mind wondering how well he was hit, if he would be there in the mourning. ect... It was the longest night of my life. I worried myself to the point I felt sick.
The next mourning we were perched back on the cliff glassing where we last saw the buck bedded when we backed out. He was not there. I instantly felt sick knowing he got back up at some point during the night. A few minutes into glassing shane spotted a great buck bedded in the open. I was hopeing it was the wounded buck but as I looked him over it was not. Tj and his dad went after him and shot him just after he got out of his bed.
I worked my way over to them, dropped off there packs then started over to where I last saw my buck bedded. As I got over to the ridge, I slowly started working the thick rocky cover glassing and looking for sign. My uncle was still on the cliff guiding me to where he was last bedded so I could try and pick up a blood trail. As I neared the area coming in from above, out jumped the buck from his rocky bed. I was in such shock that he was still alive and in the same area I missed my first shot by a mile. I instantly felt like I just lost my best chance to find and kill him. I ran down through the pinions trying to find an opening. As I was running he came into view and instantly stopped and looked at me. As I came to a stop he snorted and started running. only having a split second I put up my gun and shot. Not knowing if I had hit him tryed to find him again. Then I see him sneaking away giving me one last shot. As the recoil hit me I saw him fall over.
At last it was over. All the feelings of doubt and worries running in my head were over. As I walked up to him I sat down next to this beautiful animal and just enjoyed the moment. It felt as if a burden was lifted from my shoulders. I felt very blessed not only to kill a great buck, but also to find a wounded animal that easily could have never been found. As I sat waiting for my help to arrive I cracked open a Mtn. Dew to celebrate thought about how everything that could have gone wrong didnt. everything went our way and usually that does not happen.
This is my biggest buck to date. I finally feel like I have accomplished my goal of killing a great buck. We passed many smaller bucks along the way and just enjoyed being out in the hills enjoying the country. Spending time with friends and creating memories is what it is all about. I cant wait for next year trying to top this one.