Shoot or Don't shoot?

[Apatkelley]

Well I decided to shoot. I'm really happy with him. He's not quite what we thought he would be when we first glassed him up, but he's a really cool buck to me. It's a long story, so I won't bore you with all the details but here's a few. He was right at 1200 yards when my friend Kyle spotted him. He was across a deep canyon on the edge of some really thick stuff. We didn't get a real good look at him before he bedded down. While he was bedded, we would could see his horns every now and then but still couldn't tell how big he was. While we were watching him, some javalina we had seen further down on the same bank were feeding right to him. They ended walking right up to him and he busted out of his bed and ran up the bank about 50 yards or so. That's when I got the pictures of him in my spotting scope. I have to admit, I thought he was bigger than he was. He looked high, wide and had great eye guards. We couldn't quite see how good his thirds were, or how much his main beams came around, but he looked good. Soon, the pigs walked right into him again and this time he tried to stomp one of them into the ground with his front hoves. They scattered like rats, and he ran closer to the skyline and was about to top over. Then he turned right, walked down the bank a bit, and disappeared in more thick cover. After talking it over, we thought we better give it a try. We made our move and ended up about 640 yards from where we last saw him. We had to go one canyon past him to get a good view of the bank he was on. We looked for about an hour but couldn't find him. We moved up and closer to get a different look. We looked for about three more hours with no sign of him. It was tough looking at that bank for hours, with the sun beating down on us. Then I look again and see the back leggs of a deer in some brush. I watch it for a bit thinking it was one of the six does we had been seeing over and over. He walked out and I see his antlers. I tell Kyle as I grab my rifle and get set up. Kyle got a better look and said, "he's right at 95 inches" I decided to take him, and one shot later he was down. The shot ended up being 424 yards. I couldn't be happier with him. He's not quite as big as my last buck, but I just couldn't pass him up.

[John O]

Pretty sweet dude!! Given your situation and the area you were in, I think you made the right choice.

[308Nut]

He looks alot bigger than 95" although I know how deceiving pictures can be. Regardless, dont down play him, he is a superb buck.

 

Congrats!

 

M

[Guest super jumbo]

Nice buck . Congrats!

[deerhunter]

If nothing flies nothing dies. That is a nice buck. Congrats!!

[daryl_s]

That is a very cool buck. It's like everyone says about "the look." I wouldn't hesitate at all to wrap my tag on a buck like that.

[Cimmaron81]

Great looking buck, looks like you made the right decision.

[firstcoueswas80]

I'll admit, he didnt have the mass I thought he had, but I wouldnt have been able to pass either. He is a neat lookin buck! Imagine if he had one more year?! Woowee big old buck! I woulda shot him to, he will look great on the wall! Love those eyeguards!

[STOMP442]

Good choice on shooting. That's a dandy buck.

[WadeNAZ]

that buck is bigger than 95".. has to be...Great Buck Congrats!

[firstcoueswas80]

that buck is bigger than 95".. has to be...Great Buck Congrats!

 

 

+1

[Tines]

that buck is bigger than 95".. has to be...Great Buck Congrats!

 

 

+1

 

-1

[Pine Donkey]

If he is only 95 then you are a master at posing him for a picture. Congratulations, great buck.

[loco4coues]

that buck is bigger than 95".. has to be...Great Buck Congrats!

 

 

+1

 

-1

 

you just canceled each other out so....is he bigger than 95" or not??

[25-06]

Aaron, Thats a great buck. Big congrats to you.