Viper

Nice buck for your first! Way to stick with it. I like the license plate.

Deer hunt success Monday, 12/12/16. This was the toughest adventure of all my hunts. 12 hours from the time I started after this buck until we got him out. Bill, Brian and I glassed him up early morning, one mile across a major canyon. I decided to go after him at 8:30. Bill and Brian kept an eye on him and watched him bed. It took 3 hours to get in position. Bill guided me to the best position on the opposite ridge so I could look back to find him. It took about 20 minutes to find him in his bed, across a canyon at 375 yrds. I focused on what I thought was an ear, until it moved...got him! My only shot, if he doesn't stand up, is through a small opening in the brush. After careful study with the binos, I determined which way he was laying. It took a while to set up. The shot had to be perfect. Sitting up, I rested my rifle on top of my upright pack and used my collapsible shooting sticks under the stock for a rear rest. He had his head resting low, so I blew the grunt call to stand him up. He just raised his head to look, then dropped his head again. I got ready again and blew the call. As he raised his head, I settled the crosshair below his nose and squeezed the trigger....boom...thwap! I got the scope back on him as quick as I could. No movement. I could make out a sliver of his grey back laying there. I phoned Bill..."did you see him bust out?"...."No". "I think he's dead right there!" After the shot, it took 1 hr. to get to him. Brian guided me to him. The bullet hit exactly where I aimed, centered through his lower neck. It took about 2 hours to cape and bone him out and load my pack. Holy CRAP it was heavy! I decided to go a different route, down to a major canyon bottom and up the other side to a trail that led back to where I started. The way I had come in included two brush-choked canyons with serious deadfall. No way I could carry a 80 lb. pack through that. It took 5 hours to pack him out up a long, steep ridge to the trail. It's dark now and Brian and Bill came down the trail to meet me. I made it within a couple hundred yards from the trail when Brian came down to take the load. I had crossed a total of 4 canyons, choked with tall brush and deadfall, and climbed out of the last canyon 500 vertical feet in 1/3 mile. I really had to dig deep and expend every ounce of energy and tenacity I had. I had no idea I was capable of carrying that kind of weight through that kind of country. I learned a little more about myself...and renewed my prayer life . Big thanks to Bill and Brian for sticking behind the binos for so many hours and putting me in position...then helping with the load the last 1/4 mile. The cool thing about this buck is the piebald pigment on his legs, chest, and belly. It should make a unique mount. Not too good with the selfie thing Notice the light colored hoof and piebald leg and chest 80 lb. pack! Backstrap goodness!

Nice! I like those high and tight bucks.

I have the Kuiu Superdown as well. I was skeptical about performance due to the "lack" of puffiness. But it performs very well in cold and wind. I cary it in my pack until glassing or riding my atv. It is a great piece of gear. There is a huge difference between quality 850 goose down and the cheaper 650 down that is usually mixed with feathers. The Badlands packaging/tags should specify wat it is, especially if its the good stuff.

...also watched a big muley chasing a doe and running off a smaller buck, down low, Monday evening.

North or South part of the unit? South...up high.

My buddy and I would be interested in attending just for pointers and learning...if some folks are willing to tudor. My gun is only capable of 600 yrds, but his new rig should be good to 1000 plus. We are just getting interested in longer range shooting.

Watched a nice buck chasing two does last Sunday, 12/11in unit 22. The buck I shot Monday, 12/12 was also chasing a doe. His neck was swolen.

I used the Kuiu Icon Pro 3200. It hauled the weight awsome. I didn't think I was capable of hauling that much weight, but a good pack makes a huge difference. I know it is designed to pull the pack bag away from the frame and put the meat there, but I didn't have time to fool with it, so I put the game bags of meat in a garbage bag, inside the pack bag. Still got some blood leakage, but not too bad. The two bags of deboned meat weighed 43 lbs. With the cape/head....probably 50 lbs of deer. Add my 25 lb normal pack weight and 8.5 lb rifle...thats over 80 lbs. The Kuiu pack made it possible.

Thanks Tony. Hows Danny? Haven't seen him in a long time.

Updated with pics. Had trouble uploading.

All three weeks off?? Nice you will have so much fun! Yeah, should be fun. Less pressure than trying to get it done in one week. I won't get out as much the middle week, due to my son's family visiting, and Christmas. But plan to hunt hard the last week.

I believe the Payson community pond is stocked with trout...but don't know for sure. Otherwise, Tonto creek would be about it.

I have a Dec tag in 22. Will get started Saturday. I managed to get all 3 weeks off work! Good luck.

Kuiu 3200 or Outdoorsman. A cheaper option I've used is the Kelty Cache Hauler frame with a large fanny pack attached. When you get to where you hunt, drop the frame until you need it. You don't need Cabelas or Sportsmans. You can find these packs online cheaper used or new, usually without tax.

I've only seen a muley doe like that. Very cool! He has to do a full body mount!

I have an older pair of Midlands. I really like them. You can turn off all of the beeps and noises. Also have the call/vibrate, which is critical for silent communication. You can remove the recharge battery pack and use AA's. Not sure if the newer Midlands are similar, as far as turning off all the beeps. I have some limited experience with the Motorola radios. Couldn't turn off all the beeps...no call/vibrate...and had trouble communicating with Midland radios.

Great bull!! Welcome.

I use a couple old throw rugs, one at the door and one between the cots. A lot easier to haul than a big roll of carpet.

"She weren't no trouble"

"Skin that one Pilgrim, I'll go fetch another"

Great story! It made me stop and think of my Grandpa and the future I will have with my grandkids. Great hunt with great results! Thanks

I have the Attack pants. Very comfortable. Feel like wearing pajamas, yet pretty tough. I am noticing some thread pulls in the lower legs, but not bad. The Attacks have the hip vents, which work well. I wear a 34 - 35 waist in jeans and the 34 fits perfect. I have the Peloton 240 fleece, the Kenai jacket, and Superdown jacket, all in large, which fits perfect...l am 6' 170lbs, kind of skinny 39" chest. The Peloton has several thread pulls in the sleeves. Kinda have to be carefull with the jackets.

I bumped into a momma bear and cub in a raspberry patch up on the Rim. The cub ran away from me at about 20'. Couldn't tell what it was right away, as it ran through the thick bushes. Then momma stood up about 40 yards up the hill, looking at me. I stepped out in the open, raised my arms and yelled "Hey momma bear". She dropped and ran up the hill another 10 yards....stood up and stared at me again. I did the same thing, this time waving my hat in the air. She dropped and ran up over the hilltop. Then I heard my wife yell, "There's a bear up here". I yelled back, "hang on to the dog". I didn't realize my wife and dog had worked their way around the hill and up top. Thankfully, I didn't get between momma and cub, and the cub ran to safety. I've ran into bears a few other times, and they ran away. I suppose under the wrong circumstances, it could turn bad quickly. I usually carry a sidearm. I believe research states that bear spray is more effective than trying to hit a charging target with a sidearm.

Me too. Looks like I got a pig tag.