2010 was good to me!

[yotebuster]

Well 2010 was an awesome year for me! I was able to steal away from dental school to do enough hunting to keep me more then satisfied. I was blessed with an AZ archery antelope tag this year. I think the scouting was more fun then the hunting for sure! I had a run in with a true monster that I had been watching for a month when he bedded 83 yards from my blind on opening day. I didn't want to risk the shot with a cross wind, and assumed he'd nap and come for a drink. Well after a 3 hour siesta he woke up and walked the other way, then the rain came! I later heard he was killed in a firearm hunt and scored 86+". Wish my arrow would've done him in. I ended up with a heavy buck that would make anyone proud though, that grossed at 79 2/8"s having only 14" horns but excellent mass.

 

I then went on to NM for a muzzleloader elk hunt. They were all but done bugling, and I was new to the area, so it was a bit of a challenge. I really had high hopes for a big boy, but ended up shooting my first 6 pt. bull through the ribs at 250yds on the last day, definitely not a bad day in my opinion!

 

I went back to NM to a completely new area that I wanted to check out for elk with a muley tag in my pocket. I had heard stories of big big deer in this area but not many. Boy were they right! I only saw one deer during the daylight on the whole trip, but it happened to be my best ever muley! One shot with my 7mm STW and he was down. He was 24 1/2" on the inside (probably 27-28 outside?) and had 26" beams. He ended up rough grossing at 176"!

 

All of these hunts were on my own, DIY hunts, I really enjoyed getting away from school, and learning the new places. I spent hundreds of hours on forums, google earth, mapping software, etc to make it all happen, but it was worth every bit of effort. I've also got a freezer full of dang good meat. I will say I was skeptical of these desert antelope and their meat, but that buck was every bit as good as the alfalfa and corn fattened bucks back in North Dakota!

I've got one Coues hunt left, so I'm hoping to pull of a slam of sorts by nailing a nice coues buck, but will definitely not be dissappointed if I don't shoot another animal this year!

[izquik72]

Those are all really nice animals.

Looks like the hunting gods smiled quite a bit.

 

Congrats

[bonecollector]

Congrats on all the success you had in 2010, hopefully you can end the year with a nice coues. Good Luck.

[Coues Archer]

Wow what an amazing year its been for you.... Great job.

[Basser15]

Heck of a year man....you're making me look like a slouch!

[Sam]

Boy, I'd say it was a great year. Well done. I would just like to know how you are able to get away from school. I was a science major in college and never had a chance to miss that much school.

 

I know dental school is harder than that.

[ruthunter]

Congrats on some awesome trophies! It was also nice to meet you while scouting for antelope..good luck on your coues.

 

 

[CouesWhitetail]

Outstanding! and thanks for the restraint you showed not lobbing and arrow at that awesome antelope! Those are some great animals you harvested and some great meat you will get to eat all year!

 

[Chef]

Great trophy pics.

It has been a banner year for you.

Thanks for starting the thread, always nice to recollect the season.

[Hiker]

Congratulations on a great year.