N
nvhunter_32
Guest
LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-07 AT 00:45AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-07 AT 00:44?AM (MST)
I'm new to posting on this site but i frequent it quite often and enjoy seeing and reading about everyone's successes in the field. I happened on some good luck this season and thought i would share with all of you.
I shot this buck on the 26th of october in Nevada but the story of how i got this buck actually began a week earlier. The previous week is when i first jumped this buck in a deep canyon. I had spotted a group of deer from about a couple miles away. They were working their way across a large bowl on the adjacent ridge. I notice what i thought were antlers on one of the deer so i decided to put a stalk on in hopes of there possibly being a buck in the group. From my position there were three ridges in front of me and the group of deer. There also happened to be 50 or 60 elk on the hillside directly in front of me so i knew it would be difficult getting on them. After planning the stalk out i headed down the ridge i was on and angled up a drainage in hopes of getting around the elk. That didnt exactly go as planned as the elk seeing my movement slowing began to work there way over the ridge they were on. I continued on my path as planned and as i began up a deep draw i noticed several deer moving through the trees. I put my binoculars up and it was nothing more than a few does and a couple small bucks. Right about the time they disappeared into the junipers i took a few more steps and all hell broke loose. Apparently the elk had actually spooked the group of deer i had been watching down into the draw i was in. I quickly got down in anticipation of a possible shot. At first all i could see were does but i soon noticed a tall heavy 4x4 in the rear of the group. That's when this buck stepped out. At first all i could was a side profile and i noticed the 5 inch drooper off the back. He was making his way up the ridge but not knowing how wide he was and since there were trees and other deer hindering a clean shot i didnt want to risk it. After the group went over the hill i quickly grabbed my pack and tried to cut them off. Luckily there was snow on the gound at the time so i had the benefit of being able to follow their tracks. I followed them up the next ridge and settled in to try and spot them again. I quickly found them near a rock outcropping across the canyon from me. Being that the rut was in full swing and they weren't too spooked they had resumed feeding. This gave me an opportunity to judge him better. As i looked through my spotting scope my heart just kind of sank. He appeared to be in the high twenties width wise and along with the cheater off the back i could see a few small points around his bases. Knowing they wouldn't be in that position long i quickly came up with a plan. I grabbed my pack and took off around the ridge i was on as to get on the opposite side of the ridge they were on so i could drop down on top of them. After about 30 minutes i was in position as i slowly peaked over the ridge. I immediately located the group not more than 100 yards in front of me and dropped down to get a shot. At this point i still had my doubts about whether to shoot or not as i had seen some real toads in this area over the summer. Well i settle my crosshairs on the buck and began to inspect him again. From my earlier location he looked alot heavier than what he was now that he was in my scope. Still having my doubts i opted not to shoot at the time. I was miles from my truck and the light was fading fast along with a nasty storm moving in. I watched them move into the trees and kicked myself all the way back to the truck as to whether or not i made the right decision. Well that takes me to when i finally shot him. I kept debating all week what i should have done and decided that if i saw him again i would drop the hammer. The following Saturday found my friend mike, my cousin, and i driving up the front side of the mountain i had seen him on the previous week. Mike and my cousin were sound asleep and i wasn't much better having the toll of already two weeks and countless miles walked weighing on me. Well we made our way up to the top of the ridge and that's when i heard mike say "DEER". I immediately stopped and jumped out. I got in position and as soon as i got my scope up there he was at about 80 yards with his group of does. As soon as i heard mike say he was clear i fired. The 165 grain hornady SST from my 30-06 did the job shattering both shoulders and dropping him instantly. As i walked up to this buck i couldn't have been happier. He's 28 1/2 inches wide with a 27 inch inside spread. Along with the 5 inch drooping cheater he also had an extra point coming off the left eyeguard along with several small points coming off his bases which are tough to see in the pictures. Overall it was a great hunt and luck just happened to be on my side twice.
I'm new to posting on this site but i frequent it quite often and enjoy seeing and reading about everyone's successes in the field. I happened on some good luck this season and thought i would share with all of you.
I shot this buck on the 26th of october in Nevada but the story of how i got this buck actually began a week earlier. The previous week is when i first jumped this buck in a deep canyon. I had spotted a group of deer from about a couple miles away. They were working their way across a large bowl on the adjacent ridge. I notice what i thought were antlers on one of the deer so i decided to put a stalk on in hopes of there possibly being a buck in the group. From my position there were three ridges in front of me and the group of deer. There also happened to be 50 or 60 elk on the hillside directly in front of me so i knew it would be difficult getting on them. After planning the stalk out i headed down the ridge i was on and angled up a drainage in hopes of getting around the elk. That didnt exactly go as planned as the elk seeing my movement slowing began to work there way over the ridge they were on. I continued on my path as planned and as i began up a deep draw i noticed several deer moving through the trees. I put my binoculars up and it was nothing more than a few does and a couple small bucks. Right about the time they disappeared into the junipers i took a few more steps and all hell broke loose. Apparently the elk had actually spooked the group of deer i had been watching down into the draw i was in. I quickly got down in anticipation of a possible shot. At first all i could see were does but i soon noticed a tall heavy 4x4 in the rear of the group. That's when this buck stepped out. At first all i could was a side profile and i noticed the 5 inch drooper off the back. He was making his way up the ridge but not knowing how wide he was and since there were trees and other deer hindering a clean shot i didnt want to risk it. After the group went over the hill i quickly grabbed my pack and tried to cut them off. Luckily there was snow on the gound at the time so i had the benefit of being able to follow their tracks. I followed them up the next ridge and settled in to try and spot them again. I quickly found them near a rock outcropping across the canyon from me. Being that the rut was in full swing and they weren't too spooked they had resumed feeding. This gave me an opportunity to judge him better. As i looked through my spotting scope my heart just kind of sank. He appeared to be in the high twenties width wise and along with the cheater off the back i could see a few small points around his bases. Knowing they wouldn't be in that position long i quickly came up with a plan. I grabbed my pack and took off around the ridge i was on as to get on the opposite side of the ridge they were on so i could drop down on top of them. After about 30 minutes i was in position as i slowly peaked over the ridge. I immediately located the group not more than 100 yards in front of me and dropped down to get a shot. At this point i still had my doubts about whether to shoot or not as i had seen some real toads in this area over the summer. Well i settle my crosshairs on the buck and began to inspect him again. From my earlier location he looked alot heavier than what he was now that he was in my scope. Still having my doubts i opted not to shoot at the time. I was miles from my truck and the light was fading fast along with a nasty storm moving in. I watched them move into the trees and kicked myself all the way back to the truck as to whether or not i made the right decision. Well that takes me to when i finally shot him. I kept debating all week what i should have done and decided that if i saw him again i would drop the hammer. The following Saturday found my friend mike, my cousin, and i driving up the front side of the mountain i had seen him on the previous week. Mike and my cousin were sound asleep and i wasn't much better having the toll of already two weeks and countless miles walked weighing on me. Well we made our way up to the top of the ridge and that's when i heard mike say "DEER". I immediately stopped and jumped out. I got in position and as soon as i got my scope up there he was at about 80 yards with his group of does. As soon as i heard mike say he was clear i fired. The 165 grain hornady SST from my 30-06 did the job shattering both shoulders and dropping him instantly. As i walked up to this buck i couldn't have been happier. He's 28 1/2 inches wide with a 27 inch inside spread. Along with the 5 inch drooping cheater he also had an extra point coming off the left eyeguard along with several small points coming off his bases which are tough to see in the pictures. Overall it was a great hunt and luck just happened to be on my side twice.
