CO Archery Mule Deer Hunt

[Gr8 White Jr]

Wow! Talk about a dream hunt! That is some beautiful country. Great write up and congrats on a magnificent trophy! Thanks for sharing your hunt with us!

 

 

-Tracy

[Pine Donkey]

Thanks for sharing your hunt with us, beautiful country, beautiful buck.

[Heat]

Great job! That's a dandy! Awesome pics and story.

[elkster9]

Great Story. Did you end up selling all of your Land Owner vouchers for the year?

[1azbowhunter]

What a memorable Labor Day Weekend! Packed up and ready to go, we left the Friday afternoon heat in SE Arizona for the long drive to our cabin near Silverton, CO. After sleeping in, we woke up to a beautifully crisp and clear morning full of excitement and anticipation.

 

 

I had processed our one remaining archery voucher, and was hoping the bucks we have been watching the last few seasons would be in their usual areas. With some luck, and providence, perhaps I would be able to close the distance on a decent buck, and maintain my composure enough to get a clean shot! I hiked to a nearby trail camera I had setup a month prior to see what kind of activity we might have had in the area. A lot of bucks and does, and some bucks with real potential if they finished strong the last 3-4 weeks of growth.

 

 

If this was indicative of the kind of action I was going to have, it was going to be a great weekend!

 

I hurried to the trail head and verified that my Badlands 4500 held everything that I was going to need, and that my PSE Bruin was the instrument of precision I had tuned it to be during the long summer. As I shouldered my pack, my mind went to the 13,500' peaks rising up above me, and the ordeals, and opportunities they would present to me.

 

 

As I rose in elevation through the dense, hardwood forest, the oxygen, as well as the trees, began to thin, opening up into treeless bowls and gulches, well above timberline.

 

 

I retrieved my Kaibabs from my pack, and set up for some serious glassing. I spot several does, many with fawns, as I scan through the mountain meadows. I finally come across several gray-bodied bucks, bedded high against a rocky cascade: the biggest being a large 3-point buck, around 155-160, a smaller 4-point buck, and a yearling. They begin to feed across the basin, single file on a steep game trail. As I continue to look, I find a solitary bachelor group bedded up on a granite promontory, below a long, rocky ledge. 3 bucks, consisting of 2 Tall 3-pointers, and a brute 4-point: great mass, width at least a few inches outside his ears, tall and very symmetrical! He was well worth the hike if I could get to him!

 

 

As the afternoon began to turn into evening, I found myself within about 250 yards of my quarry. They had milled about all afternoon, making it hard to read how, or if, they would move off the top of the mountain. However, about 5:00pm, they committed to a game trail that would take them just above where I was at. I dropped my pack, untethered my bow, and quickly moved into position. With them moving towards me at about 120 yds, I had to cover a 10 yd exposed hillside to really optimize my shooting position. I had on my Mossy Oak 3-D Leaf Suit on, but I was not taking any chances. The bucks would move a bit, and I would inch my bow further down the slope. Then they would look as though they were looking right at me. I held very awkward positions several times so as not to move while they were looking my direction. I finally got into position on a small, rocky promontory just above them and was able to take one last picture before we reached the point of no return.

 

 

As the Bucks passed below me, it was a matter of stepping from behind my rocky cover, and placing my pre-ranged 50 yard pin on his vitals and easing my shoulder blades together, releasing the arrow. The arrow, green fletched rose, arcing subtly, as it dropped directly into the upper ribs of the buck's right side and into its far lung. I watched as the buck exploded away down the mountain, slowing to cross a shallow stream bed, and stopping 150 yds away. He looked around for about 12 seconds, before he started to lose his feet and lay down there, where he perished.

 

 

I made my way to him, filled with increasing excitement, and humility, at the sight of this buck growing before my eyes. I cleaned him, and made my way back to the cabin. I would return early the next morning with my dad to cape and quarter him, and finish what was an unforgettable day in the San Juan Mts. of Colorado. I could not be happier with my experience, my beautiful buck and the beautiful mountains I had the privilege of seeing.

 

 

your are hunting country that i have always wanted to hunt!

[AntlerObsession]

Great Story. Did you end up selling all of your Land Owner vouchers for the year?

 

We have sold all but a few rifle tags. Hunts still available for the end of Oct., the beginning of Nov., and the rut hunt starting Nov. 16. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

[mountaingoat]

AntlerObsession, I would be so upset with myself if I didn't have take this opportunity to comment on your post. I just have to say that the deer you shot with your girl bow is really tiny and my dad can beat up your dad. Great job on your deer! Sounds like you had a blast. Next time can I go with you?

[Younghunter]

Absolutely stunning country! I dream of someday hunting those mountains. That buck is tall. Great job.

[AntlerObsession]

AntlerObsession, I would be so upset with myself if I didn't have take this opportunity to comment on your post. I just have to say that the deer you shot with your girl bow is really tiny and my dad can beat up your dad. Great job on your deer! Sounds like you had a blast. Next time can I go with you?

 

Yes, MountainGoat! Yes you can!

[Brian Payne]

I really enjoyed your write up and photos. Congrats on a great buck.

[coyotekid]

great photos and write up. congrats on a smokin buck.

sam