lancetkenyon

Great deer. Congrats.

2.5" group at 600 yards (assuming a 1" square on the bold lines)? You are golden. Nice shooting. Get a big one!!!

I have never looked through them, and know nothing of their quality. I know they are cheaper glass however in their budget lines. Like any cheap glass, they might appear to be pretty clear for the money at first, in perfect conditions. But who hunts in perfect conditions? It happens, but I would not want to rely on that scenario all the time. They do have a higher end line ranging up to almost $1K, but for that kind of $$$, I would go with a brand a little better known, and one that carries a lifetime warranty, not the 5 years that Vixen offers. Like Meopta, Vortex, used Swaros, cheaper Leica or Zeiss, etc. Here is the thing with cheap ($100-300) glass. The center clarity might be comparable to mid range glass at full light and moderate ranges, but in low light conditions or longer ranges, the higher priced stuff will really start to extend the gap in quality difference, even in mid range ($500+/-) glass. Another BIG thing is eye fatigue. I just got back from a mule deer hunt, and I spent literally 10 hours a day minimum behind my binoculars. With a lesser quality glass, you will have a headache after a few hours. I never had any issues with headache, eye fatigue, etc. To ME, that is worth every penny I spent. With higher quality glass, you also get much better resolution, clarity, and color representation. On my hunt, we were consistently glassing up chipmunks/ground squirrels from over 1000 yards. We could also distinguish the difference between Abert's Squirrels, Kaibab Squirrels, and Pine Squirrels at 1000+ yards. Try doing that with a pair of $100 binoculars. When you can see a buck at 838 yards, and make out the 3x3 frame with small eye guards and weak front forks and know he is not a shooter with a 10X bino 30 minutes before sunlight in a shaded deep timber canyon, you will thank the makers of quality glass profusely. I guess the BAD thing with high quality glass is seeing all the bugs, birds, squirrels, floating seeds, mirage, etc. will distract you with seeing the movement from time to time. You won't have to worry about that with cheap glass, allowing you to concentrate on trying to make out the blurry movements you might notice across a 1000 yard canyon. If you are new to hunting, hunt only occasionally, or do not sit for hours behind your glass, I think most people would be fine with a $300-500 piece of glass. But glass is like most other hunting equipment, once you start using them more frequently, you will find out shortcomings and want to upgrade after a while.

Awesome photos and congrats on a cool Coues.

Sold my rig about 2 years ago. It was getting neglected and needed someone new to beat on it. It is now being raced in the Dirt Riot series and doing well from what I last heard.

Not sure about a younger buck, looks mature, but maybe not in his prime yet. The article states people have "seen the buck several times in recent years." Meaning at least a 3.5 year old buck. I am surprised he lasted as long as he did. Albinism is a genetic defect, so yes, technically bad genes as far as coloring goes. Maybe not in antler growth genes though. I would definitely shoot this one. He sure would be difficult to hunt in November/December/January timeframe in Michigan. I am glad deer are not like Snowshoe and Arctic hares and Ptarmigan.

Here was the extent of my blaze orange this year...

Phoenix Custom Rifles. They are in Tempe, but amazing work and even better customer service. Quick turnaround too. Even for full builds. They quoted me 2 days on some service to one of mine, and Keith called me two hours later to tell me it was done, for less than I expected to pay.

.25-06 Ackley Imp. Shooting a 115 Berger VLD. With the 28" barrel, shoots like a .257 Weatherby at 3400fps down in the Valley. Deer hate it.

One other thing, I talked to about 15 different guys who said they "took shots at a 180" 32" wide 4x4 but missed". One of 6 things happening here: 1. There are at least fifteen 180" 32" wide 4x4 bucks running around up there that are not very smart to be seen. 2. There is ONE very lucky 180" 32" wide 4x4 up there wearing a Kevlar vest. 3. There are lots of terrible shooters out there. 4. There are lots of guys who can't score a deer on the hoof even remotely close. 5. There are lots of liars out there. 6. Answers 3/4/5.

Sorry, I was starving. Anyway, as I was packing out the first trip, they guys I met that morning glassed me up coming out of the canyons apparently. I saw them the next morning, as the story continues. Monday night, I called the wife and kids to let them know I had a deer down and would be heading home the following day depending on how the pack out went. I loaded up 90% of my camp leaving only the tent, air bed and sleeping bag unpacked. Got to bed about 9:00PM Tuesday: Up at a leisurely 5:00AM. Head out to start the pack out and arrived below my normal ridge wondering if my new friends were up watching me. Started in with only my trusty frame pack, plenty of water and Gatorade, and my Havalon knife (they are awesome and easy). I was a little worried about the meat as I have seen a decent number of coyotes in the area. Started in and immediately jumped deer. At first a doe and her fawn, then about 100 yards further, a small heard of 11 does, fawns, and one small 3 point buck. They circled around and I watched them top the ridge right where I was parked. Hiked the 3/4 mile in about 30 minutes with no weight and no need to be stealthy. Found the bed the deer had been in. I think he had the ONLY easy in/out location on the whole canyon side. From the back Front view Got to the deer just as the sun came up. Checked the 10' long blood trail, and was amazed at how much he had lost in so little of time. Nothing molested overnight. Typical .257" entrance just behind right shoulder/neck Big exit hole on left shoulder I got to the deer, and decided I was not going to carry any more weight than I needed to, so I boned everything out, bringing back ONLY meat. Weighed the rear quarters, front quarters, and half of the neck meat when I got home from my second pack out and it weighed 81#. Plus the other half of the neck, back straps and tenderloins and it was right at 105#. I was back at the truck by 9:00AM and loaded up. Heading out, my two new buddies found me on the road and we stopped and chatted a bit. I found out they had seen my packing out the day before, and watched my drive in and head out that morning. They came to congratulate me and just shoot the bull for a few. Super nice guys who live up in Flagstaff. Also gave me some good info for my daughter's elk hunt next month. These types of guys are few and far between, and it was a true pleasure to meet them and share God's country. Seems like one out of 50 are like this, and they are becoming extinct. There were many bad experiences during this hunt, mostly due to inconsiderate or just plain idiotic people, but these two guys are the type that need to be commended. Just good all around guys. Got home yesterday evening to a happy wife and kids. Dropped the deer off at Krueger's Creations last night too. Tell me if you think, these guys are related? 152' away from each other, and look at the similarities between the two. 2012 buck 2014 buck

196 2/8" is the world record taken in 1971, so maybe? Although the photo looks a little weird.

Story to continue after lunch....

Saturday: No photos, but lots and lots and lots of glassing, with no shooter bucks spotted. Sunday: Cold and windy, 34° at sunup and 25+ mph winds. Makes for cold glassing, but we bundled up. Glassed up a decent 3x3 at 848 yards, and got a photo of him (with his head down of course) through the binos. Passed on him. One of our glassing spots. At noon, my wife who had come up on Friday evening and daughter had to head home. I was kind of bummed and it got lonely really fast. I went out and glassed the rest of the evening though, and I was finally finding deer in a different location than I had hunted previously. I glassed up a big 2x2 with a smaller 4x4, and watched them head into a canyon. I saw a group of hunters walking the canyon, and was hoping to see a kill shot. No luck, but three shots later the deer were seen heading out of the canyon, seemingly unscathed. I also saw two other bucks at last light moving quickly, and one was a shooter buck from what I could tell at over 900 yards. Monday: Got up at 4:00and saved some time by not having to drag the bear around. Got to my glassing spot by 5:15 and started getting ready to go. Looked across the small dirt road and saw a red light. Two other hunters had beat me to the spot. No sweat, I went and talked to them briefly and even though they said I could stay, I did not want to be rude so I move down the road about 3/4 mile. Still glassing at first visible light, ad 15 minutes before legal shooting light. Glassed up 32 deer that morning, but only a small 2 point that was feeding about 300 yards below me in the bottom of a canyon. They other guys left about 8:30, and I saw a few more deer after they left. I figured being by myself, I was going to hit it hard, so I made a PB&J, and downed an apple, and headed over to a spot I had killed a deer two years previously. It would be the smartest decision I had made the hunting trip so far (or the dumbest).I had a little talk with God, and let him know how happy I am to be out in His wonderful creation, but I am already missing my family. I ask him to let me get a deer in the next two days, or I am packing up on Wednesday afternoon and heading home if I don't at least start seeing some decent bucks. Monday and Tuesday are going to be marathon days for me. Drove around about 8 miles to the other side of a big canyon to save some legs. Got over there about 11:30AM, the same time I had killed my deer two years earlier. Threw some water, in my pack and headed out to check out my canyons. I had the rifle in the Eberlestock scabbard for the first canyon. Topping out on the second canyon, I was moving slowly, about 5 steps and glassing the whole way. About halfway down, I thought I better get out the rifle "just in case". I mean, it is noon, 65°, and the hunting pressure has been crazy. What deer would stick around if they heard someone walking through the thickest, nastiest, most blow-down, thorn infested, sticker crap known to man, right??? I am now bleeding from the torture of 1000 cuts by nature, and 3/4 mile away from my truck. I seriously take 5 more steps after getting out my rifle. Stop and glass again, hoping against hope to see a buck sneaking out of the country. On the very next step, 6 steps and maybe 2 minutes after getting out my rifle and chambering a round, I hear the "blow" and the crash of deer 30 yards to my left. Out bounds a doe, with a nice 4x4 on her heels. They are stotting across the bottom before I can even get my scope caps opened as I watch them. I flick off the safety, and throw up my rifle as he is halfway up the other side of the canyon. He stops for about 1 second and turns to look at what jumped him out of his bed so rudely during his noonday siesta. I see he is outside of his ears and let one fly at about 90-100 yards offhand. Crack! He hunches up, and takes off as I chamber another round. 10' later I am back on him as he goes over a log and nose plants on the other side. Not a single kick after that. I sit down on a log to watch him for a minute, and give my thanks to God for the very quick answer to my prayer and the magnificent animal He has let me harvest. After 5 minutes, I get up on shaking legs and head over to look at my deer. Now remember, this is really only the first verified legitimate shooter buck that I have seen in 4 days. I am not sure how big he is, just that he was a 4x4 and as wide as his ears. Takes me another 20 minutes to fight my way across the canyon to my buck, and I was quite surprised by what I found. First of all, his body is HUGE!!! I would estimate over 200# on the hoof. With that being said, his antlers look better as I approach. Now I am also thinking this is very close to where I shot my 2012 deer. According to GPS, it is 152' from my 2012 deer! Upon arrival, I am also struck by how similar this buck is to my 2012 buck. Same type of frame, great fronts, decent backs, short main frame, a sticker on the left rear, but this one is wider and heavier. I would honestly say these last two bucks I have taken would HAVE to be brothers. Definitely in the same gene pool. Snap a few photos, tag the deer, and start the dressing process. For those that have never done it, I tried the "gutless method" on this deer. Way easier!!! Google it. I had him quartered, caped, backstraps and tenderloins out, and neck roast off in about 30 minutes. That is with skinning out all 4 quarters and getting them in bags and cooling! I loaded up the neck roasts, backstraps, tenderloins and head and cape on my pack, and it was so stuffed I could not get my rifle into the scabbard! I would estimate about 60-70# with all of my gear too. The pack out is going to SUCK! Took me almost 2 hours to cover the 3/4 mile. Got to the truck and was WIPED out. After I got back to camp, I pulled out the tape measure for a quick reference. How wide do you think a big bodied mule deer's ears are? I always figured 18-22" depending on the size of the deer. This deer has ears right at 22" wide. The rack is just over 26" wide. Quite a bit wider than I originally thought.

Most true trophy bucks are "different". Good for the kid. On making a good shot, on taking a legal animal, and for getting a genetic defect out of the gene pool. Kind of like a 30" wide 2 point muley buck. Bad genes that should be culled from the future herd.

I see you used your son's gun to break your fall..... Glad you had a good first rifle hunt. Congrats on the nice buck, and thanks for the early photos to keep me motivated while on my hunt.

Awesome deer. I was up there on the 12AE hunt. Heard a lot of shots opening morning.

I'da shot him.

I-10 north and south at Sacaton have been closed all morning due to a fatality crossover accident. For those southern hunters.

No to rag on you, but why are you sighting in a hunting rifle and checking your ammo supply 2 days before the opener?

My deer rifle is at 2# also. Good enough for hunting and still safe. I usually carry hot, but have recently started packing in on an empty chamber. Safety is always on but it is hard to verify when stuffed down a rifle scabbard backpack.

I guess I am already in vacation mode. Got up early today, got my daughter ready for school, dropped her off at my older daughter's house, drove into work on the phone with crews heading out of town to make sure everything is set, and get to my office before 6:00am for a half day of work.....only to realize I left my backpack with my computer sitting on the counter.

Thanks for the info. Stupid Internet must have lied to me. I guess everything you read is not always true!

What a crock of crap!!! Pretty smart actually, as those who would save the most money will be out hunting.

Just rub it in why don't you.... Good luck and be safe.