Eli Report post Posted November 28, 2023 I won the lottery this year and drew a late 12AW rifle tag. This fall has been a mess with a lot of family things going on, including my father in law having a stroke, so it’s been very touch and go season hunting wise. I knew going in I didn’t have the full season to hunt so I tried to keep my expectations reasonable. @buglethemin came through and made the trip up, giving up family time and spending thanksgiving in a tent. We saw some huge bucks scouting. Opening morning we saw some does where we had seen a monster buck with does the night before. The does were moving down a finger. We followed the does out, and saw a few smaller bucks and this guy in some oak thickets, but we didn’t get a real good look at him but could tell from the body he was big. They fed down the finger and down the slope to a draw to our right, then up the slope of the next finger. There was a clearing about 175 yards away and he stepped out and we got a better look at him. I decided he was the deer for me, and took the shot. He dropped, and I put another in to be sure. Just like that, the hunt was done. Could not be happier with this guy and can’t wait to go back some day. 35 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Big buck. That buglethemin guy is a hammer. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goinhuntn Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Nice Buck congrats 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eli Report post Posted November 28, 2023 4 minutes ago, trphyhntr said: Big buck. That buglethemin guy is a hammer. Yeah, he’s been good luck for me for sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oilcan Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Great looking Buck congrats 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
olmos1010 Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Congrats on a Stud. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatfishKev Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Great buck! The bodies on those deer up there are something else. Hopefully you were able to drag downhill. How was the pressure? Sounded like the early hunt didn't have the typical traffic. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wish2hunt Report post Posted November 28, 2023 The late hunt up there is a blast. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eli Report post Posted November 28, 2023 17 minutes ago, CatfishKev said: Great buck! The bodies on those deer up there are something else. Hopefully you were able to drag downhill. How was the pressure? Sounded like the early hunt didn't have the typical traffic. Thank you, it was a horse! Luckily it wasn’t too bad a pack out. The pressure wasn’t bad. There was only that one recent snow a few days prior to opener so the deer were still transitioning which kept them (and I think the pressure) spread out. Most of the deer we saw were still around 7k feet and they hadn’t fully moved out to the flats yet. We didn’t see the expected guide glassing groups either 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
452b264 Report post Posted November 28, 2023 How many points did you have going into the draw? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Awesome buck! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eli Report post Posted November 28, 2023 2 hours ago, 452b264 said: How many points did you have going into the draw? Not a lot, I drew in the random not the bonus pass Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ernesto C Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Now, buy and win the other lottery! Congrats man great buck! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HyNoon Report post Posted November 28, 2023 Great buck Eli. Congratulations 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites