huntingfool Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Well I finally have enough time away from school and work to write up the story. After going buck-less last season I was really looking forward to deer season this year. Last year I saw some bucks but didn't connect, largely due to my effective range being 250 yards. I passed up a spike the second morning at 200 yards, and missed one at 300 yards the fourth morning. As a result my tag went un-filled last year. I'm mostly a meat hunter so I'm usually not too particular but I'd seen so many bucks scouting that I knew I could do better and I had 6 days to hunt. Well the bucks dried up and if it wasn't for my elk tag I'd have gone hungry for the year. After last season I vowed to be able to shoot at lest 300 yards but due to parenting and school and work my range this year was 250 yards again. I don't like to take pot shots because I hate losing deer and I don't want one to die of a belly ache and be left for the coyotes. Also I didn't take Casey up on his offer to use his 257 Weatherby, otherwise I'd have been able to shoot one at 1000 yards over the hill and behind a tree... Anyway I only had 3 days to hunt this year so I was ready to put some meat in the freezer. You pass up too many of these little devils and you go hungry, that's the lesson I learned last year. So, first morning my old man and I headed out to the spot I had picked out. This was his first hunt down here (36B) and I was playing guide. Anyway we set up in the hills waiting for the hunters down below to push deer up to us (this worked pretty well last year). We spooked some on the way to our spot but didn't get to identify them, it was mostly dark still. Anyway we got set up and started watching, and as the light came the shooting started and we had deer running up to us. Unfortunately most were does and fawns, unlike last year About 8:00 AM I got a text that a spike was coming my way with 3 does, and sure enough 4 deer popped over the hill and headed past me. They were about 200 yards below me and were moving slow. I had my rifle on my shooting sticks and I glimpsed a spike on the lead deer so I flipped off my safety. He stopped and I was gonna pull the trigger but I took another look at his head (gotta be sure, these deer are so little) and I couldn't see any horns... so I had to let him go and he walked into a canyon and out of sight. I got good looks at the 3 does behind him so I figured I did in fact see horns on the lead one but I wasn't too worried as it was the first morning. After about 10:00am my dad made his way up to me and said the spike only had an antler on his left side, which explains why I had trouble seeing it. Around noon he made a walk over to the canyon and spooked the deer out and we saw the spike again, indeed only on the left side. He got away. With all the activity in the area (it's a popular spot) my old man wanted to move somewhere else so we headed for another spot I knew of. We popped over a ridge and were gonna set on a perch I had in mind for the rest of the day. I decided to glass the AO before we made our way down to the perch, and instantly I spotted a deer laying near the bottom of the canyon. He had bushes all around him, but I was at the perfect angle that I could see his whole body. Sure enough we could tell it was a buck, which was good enough for me. I ranged him at 228, and I'm zeroed at 220 so I knew I could make the shot. Best part was we were behind a big boulder, so not only could I sit on the step it had, but with our packs stacked up it was like shooting on sand bags. I was excited but had time to collect myself as he was looking up the canyon and not at us at all. I put it on his shoulder and squeezed one off. I don't remember hearing the report so much as the bullet smacking him. Whacked him good, he didn't even twitch. Didn't kick his legs or roll over. Never knew what hit him. Well we made our way down to him and could see he was a small 3x3, I'm guessing a 2 1/2 year old deer. We also realized we forgot the dern camera on the table but we got a few quick photos before we skinned him and butchered him up. Dog added for scale; such little deer! Neigbor's friend's beer gut (white shirt) added for good measure. He's not as hilarious as my neighbor but was way more drunk. He knew everything there was to know about skinning deer and even had spare knives if we wanted to use them...how convenient! I just capped him and tonight I boiled and bleached him, he's ready to get hung up now! I couldn't get my old man on one this year but hopefully next year I'll have more time to scout. There were definitely less deer in my spot this year thatn last year. Anyway I had a good time and I've got enough meat to hold me until elk season. Cooked up some burgers and tenderloins tonight, and they were top notch. Every bit as good as beef, but WAAAAYYYY more fun to go get! Happy hunting to those of you with tags to fill! (victory beer can included for scale) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
otdrsman Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Congrats! Fine buck!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattobertin Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Congrats on the success. Good thing your neighbors drunk friend was there to assist with his knives and endless wealth of knowledge! HAHA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cohntr6 Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Nothing like showing off your dead deer in the suburban neighborhood!! Thats awesome and congrats! Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sam Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Nothing like showing off your dead deer in the suburban neighborhood!! Thats awesome and congrats! Jeff Yeah, I remember a few years ago bringing home a nice buck on Halloween day. Imagine the look on some of these kids in Scottsdale as I was butchering the deer in my garage. Bloody hands, knives, a cooler with legs sticking out and a head and rack on the floor.........the little vampires and firemen thought it was so cool, but the little Cinderellas ran the other way....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Congratulations on your buck!! Definitely a perfect setup for a shot. Glad you are already enjoying the meat! Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Archer Report post Posted October 30, 2009 nice buck! Great job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Congrats dude! Shoulda thrown 'seed' in for scale! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huntingfool Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Shoulda thrown 'seed' in for scale! Seed was quite intrigues with the skinning and butchering. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
