Elkaddict

Gorgeous buck! Congrats!

OK, I think I see it.

Nope..

Sad to say, some of the ranches in Mexico that "haven't been hunted" have been shot out by the Cowboys working the ranch. Not saying that's the case here, but I have seen it on some ranches. The price is definately right for someone that wants to give it a try.

The 2014 draw results were out and I got drawn for mule deer unit 5, it's where my cabin is and an area I could spend a lot of time looking for a good buck. The problem with this area has been that when I glass a big buck, and I will see 1 or 2 throughout the summer, I will never see him again. I wasn't going to shoot anything but big. My hunting partner Dusty and I were lucky to spot a great buck 10 days before the season and was able to find him 3-4 times before the season. Opening morning I glassed him at 6:15, 1 mile away. Believe me 6:15 is still dark! We put the spotting scope on him ,and when it gathered enough light , confirmed it was the one. We watched the buck go into some trees and to our amazement bedded at 6:30AM. We formulated a plan and by 7:00 I was on my way over to set up for a shot. I got to a spot where the wind would be good and I would have shooting opportunities of 450 to 500 yds. Shooting a 300 Win Mag which has been shot out to a 1000yds with amazing accuracy. So I was comfortable. I say comfortable, I guess that's relative. After I had been there for an hour I decided to do an inventory of my pack. I found I had no water and several packages of granola bars for food. Dry granola for the long run is not the best. Several times during the day Dusty would give me a radio check and tell me things like "he got up and turned around and laid back down" or "he got up and moved to the next tree". It was a long day. After the sun went down I finally saw him come out walking directly towards me. He turned broadside and I checked the range at 480 yards. A final adjustment on the reticule and I was ready. When I shot I got back in the scope and didn't see him. Dusty radioed and said I hit him and he walked behind the tree we had been using as a landmark throughout the day. Light was fading so I took off to look for blood. When I got to where I could see the tree he busted out. I had just enough time to go to the tree and with my flashlight found blood. I made it down with a light and not knowing what kind of hit I had decided to get on the blood trail in the morning. Found him within 100 yds. Had him boned out and ready to pack by 9:00. I have several nice to great coues but this was my first really good mule deer. Gross scored with a little trash at 181" w/ a 27" inside spread. Couldn't be happier.

I thought the same thing! Kind of a bait and switch, just kidding. I went back to the original and still can't find it.

Great looking buck! Congrats! Never met you but feel like I know you listening to Ron about your hunts. Hope to meet someday. Terry

The hunt is 5B I believe, hunt the north if you are afraid of the south.

Good shot!

Will have to give that a try.

You can do a screen capture and view it in your photo album.

Trimble free for ipad, you can use offline. You have to get the ipad that has a GPS chip, maybe they all do. I think you have to at least look at the maps while you have service then you can use it without. Also ihike GPS is a great app. I switch between the two.

To clarify my post I sure don't mean drive around looking at waterholes at first light, or busting canyons. 99% of my scouting is like Elkhunter1 said, behind my glasses. You can see where there might be other hunters and where they aren't.

Scout when you can. Why would you not?

Bibs, good headgear, gloves, gore tex boots with thinsulate.

Wow! Great buck! Heavy, love it!

There are Bulls with cows, Bulls alone, cows alone, a little of everything.

Congrats! Glad you found them again.

Wow! Looks like the antlers are on backwards!

Great buck. Where's Duwayne?

Amazing!! Congrats!!

I have been posting pics with ipad and ios8. Here's a test. Oh and find the deer!

He is back in this area.

Lost my GPS a couple of weeks ago, hated to tell my wife, this would be the second one I've lost in 10 years. Twice my partner and I searched the ridge we figured it must be on, about a mile from where we park. I found it a week later in my pack!I'm sure it's an age thing!

Yep, fair game!