Viper

Leaving Thursday for 22-S. meeting in Payson is a good idea, maybe later into the hunt. I'll check the site for info.

I heard they have been mating with skunks Yikes! That'll make a very unique mount. We have been seeing a muley doe with those kind of markings.

Very, very good buck! Your first big game animal.....you will have to pass on a lot of good bucks to top that one. I know what you mean...it is surreal to take a good buck. Feels more like a gift. That will be a great mount......you are having it mounted, right? ...I see you brew beer. Need a huntin' partner?

What is the axle weight rating?...typically around 3500 lbs. Where are you located?

YUP

PM sent

Two years ago, I was blessed with my first 113" buck (SCI). Last year, we could not hunt our usual area due to fire closure. Hunter pressure was very high and I did not tag a buck. This year we were back in our favorite area, where I took the big buck 2 years prior. Opening morning my buddy Paul and I climbed the steep, high ridge to still-hunt along the top. Bill and his son-n-law Brian stayed low to glass the sunny, east slope. That morning we bumped/spotted a few bucks and does, but no shots fired. We stirred things up quite a bit, so we decided to let it rest the 2nd day (Saturday). Sunday morning we tried our opening day strategy again. Paul and I climbed to the top of the ridge, while Bill and Brian stayed low. Paul and I slowly hunted along the ridge top, glassing down both sides. We got a ways down the ridge when Paul said it was time for his "mornin' constitutional". I said "go ahead, I'll walk over here and check out my "sniper spot". This is the same cliff I shot my big buck from 2 years ago. I quietly walked down to the cliff edge, rested my binos on my shooting sticks and started scanning down the finger ridges below. Within a minute a nice bedded buck filled the view. "Holy sh!!...big buck"! Great mass! wide! and looong eye guards! I looked up the hill toward Paul...still taking care of business. I couldn't wait and risk losing this great buck. I pulled my .270 from the pack scabbard, removed the scope coat, snapped on my new Stoney Point flexible bipod and set up prone on the rock cliff edge. I ranged him at 230 yards (angle compensated). I got the buck in the scope at 14x....solid rest. I thought about taking the shot, but thought it best to have Paul spotting for me. I look up at Paul....he is done with the business. He realizes I am on a buck. I put my ssshhh finger to my lips and motioned for him to sneak down the hill behind me. This gave me time to get over the buck fever and settle my nerves. I described where the buck was and Paul got him in his glasses. "Keep an eye on him...I'm gonna shoot". The buck was laying, quartering to me. I had to wait for him to move his head uphill a bit so I would not hit him in the face. When he did, I squeezed off the shot...BOOM! With the recoil, I lost him in the scope. Paul says "he's up, rack another round"...."he's down, get on him". When I got back on him, he was laying in his bed, belly up. One front leg was still moving. "I'm staying on him for a few minutes....stay on him". Soon we determined "he's done". We high-fived and giggled like cheerleaders. I couldn't believe it. I shot from 40 feet away from where I shot 2 years ago. Two nice bucks from the same spot. Now we had to figure out how to get to him, and how to get him out. Paul stayed up top to guide me in to the buck, while I worked my way down below the cliffs and down the steep ridge. It took a while, but finally found him. Then I attempted to guide Paul down an “easier” way. That didn’t work out so well. With some rock sliding and bushwhacking he made it down OK. We admired the buck, took pictures, a few more high-fives, then got to work. Before long, Bill and Brian showed up at the top of the ridge with two more pack frames. I didn’t expect them to come down to help, but they did. I caped the buck, quartered him up and we loaded the three pack frames. We picked our way, slow and easy, up the ridge and through a slot in the cliffs to the top. It was a tough haul, but well worth it. I thanked God for a great buck and nobody got hurt. Also, I thank my great, long time friends for their help. He taped out at 110 6/8 "camp score". The shot from the cliff. 230 yards Deer is tiny white spot, belly up Big buck down This is about where he was laying Paul is happy to be a part of it...thanks buddy Another view Shot was from up there The pack out back up the ridge Cape, antlers and meat....doesn't get much better Fall colors ....and beautiful sunsets

Yes, if the weak side matched the strong side he would be around 118". It seems strange to me that most bucks that have a weak side seems to be their right side.

In the green area on the map

Those are chair leg rubbers....they work well for capping off the open tube and protect your rifle/sling when you sling your rifle over the post.

I've used Deer Creek Processing, down the hill near Rye. Years ago I used a guy and his wife with a shop behind his house, up behind the airport. Only did boneless. He did a good job. Don't know if he is still in business. I'm thinking his name was Ron (?)

What he said.... I had my pickup done 8 years ago and the liner still looks great. Inyati....mine is 8 years old as well, still looks great. I will have this done on any truck I have from now on.

Oh, I do remember your article. Thanks for sharing again. Have you tried stain, but didn't like the results?

Nice! Did you use oil stain?.....what color?

Wow! Amazing ram! Most of us can only dream of a sheep hunt. What unit/mountains was this taken in? Congrats to the hunter.

What is the inside width? Is the inside length 14' or including the tongue?

Great job Evan!! You guys did it again! They got a double last year too. I think Evan has gone 4 years in a row with opening day bucks. I was up the mountain when Evan called with the news. I said "I wouldn't expect anything less". These are two of the nicest young men you would ever want to meet. You are welcome at my fire anytime.

You are right. A newbie can have a real eye opening when hunting DIY in the west. Most of the hunting shows don't portray the toughness, ups and downs of western hunting. I don't watch the Eastern/Texas type deer hunt shows over food plots. Hunting shows have the advantage of editing and money. My favorite shows that I DVR are Western Hunter, Meat Eater, On Your Own Adventures and Eastman's. I've met a few guys that are disillusioned about western hunting success. They seem to slip into a depression after day 3.

Nice! That looks like my 200 yard target

What are the bed dimensions? Why are you selling?

Thanks for all the input. I am sighted in and have enough to shoot this weekend, and get me through the hunt. I just wanted a couple more boxes just in case. I am a bit of a procrastinator, but not so much when it comes to hunting. Maybe I'll have to take up reloading this off-season. Good luck with your hunts.

About 5 years ago I was in the market for a deer rifle. I was settling on the .270 WSM. A few folks was talking me out of it..."stick with the standard calibers, ammo is more available" they said. I found a good deal on a .270 Win and bought it. I find it ironic that I can't find factory .270 Win ammo, but there is plenty of .270 WSM from several manufactures. Go figure.

Thanks. Bass Pro, last night, had no Rem Core Lokt, only 3 boxes of Rem Accutip at $42/box. There was a little Winchester. Sportsmans and two Walmarts had nothing.

I'll check the Walmarts around E. Mesa.

That's way too funny......that's exactly what I was thinking, but hesitated to post.