Humpty Dumpty

[JLSMEDIC]

Okay, well after watching everybody post pics from the first hunt and daily checking the website for any new information, my hunt finally came. Having my trail cam up for 3 weeks prior and plenty of scouting I was ready! I have hunted Coues my entire life as a matter of fact Ive only killed 2 mulies ever. I love the thrill of the hunt and the 110% effort that is needed. I didnt get drawn AGAIN.. but I was lucky enough to get a 36A left over tag.

 

I hunted thurs through monday with no avail but a couple of dinks. Determined that I had not lost my skill I changed areas (quite a big unit) and found the motherland. Deer EVERWHERE! I was like a kid in a candy store it was like you couldnt look at a hill or a mountain without it crawling with deer but one small problem. They were all does, every one of them, I figured after the first hunt and 5 days into the second and increasingly warm weather I had miss my prime oppertunity. then one day while having lunch on top of a mountain ..... It was there.... off in the distance (1000+ yards) a fine looking young straping buck I couldnt see specifics but I could see that his horns extended beyond his ears. This was MY buck! I will finally have the coolest story to publish on CouesWhitetail.com!!! Down the mountain to set up for a perfect shot!!!

 

Once down the hill to my pre-determined spot to make my final play I ran into a small obstacle. The place to make my safe 300 yard shot, The ridge between myself and this monster was too high i would have to sneak into the danger zone to get closer and knowing how elusive these little critters can be, I headed into the red. I arrived on the next ridge a few minutes (it seemed like 2 hours probably more like 7-10 minutes). There he was laying under a tree 179 yards from me ASLEEP!!! At this point I could see his respectable rack 4x4 with an extra eye guard on the right side. with my bear eyes but I couldn't resist putting the glasses on him for a couple of seconds to enjoy the view. I tried tirelessly to get a pic on my droid but couldnt get the eye releif right and decided to get to work. Took the glasses off the tripod setteled the 6.5 creedmoor on top and prepared for my precision shot. I have a leupold scope with a boone and crockett recticle with has yardage marks in it from 200-600 yards after ample time practicing 300-600 yard shots in the off season I knew I could make any play I wanted. I knew that from my 200 yard mark i should be hitting 3" high, The deer was positioned facing away from me with his head turned to the right facing me. I pulled the crosshairs down to the final rib on the right side of his body to place a shot that should traverse his lungs and seal the deal. Breath........Breath..........Bang............TTTTThwack!. Jacked another round into the chamber but it was unnecessary all I could see in the scope was legs in the air. I looked at my hunting buddy knowing I had just shot a DANDY! WHOOOOO... after a small celebration He went back for the Ranger I headed to get the dirty work done and we were gonna be enjoying a cold one in an hour or two. The MEGA canyon was no problem now it seemed like I flew across it. As I approached the spot I got excited and ran up to find....Heartbreak.

 

There lay this perfect specimin of a coues whitetail deer.. minus its horns. My shot had been high not 3" but 6" it caught him in the back of his head below his right horn and exited his skull below his left ear. The spot where his right horn was a hole and his left main beam was broken in half. I was mortified and sick to my stomach at the same time. I am NOT a horn hunter and I would have been just as happy shooting a two point buck as this guy but to have a beautiful rack and a perfect deer to only have it destroyed by my failure I was sick. I looked around for 30-40 minutes and found all the parts and pices I could and began to clean him up. I got back to the truck and got some bad pics to have a memory of what I never want to happen again.

 

 

I have taken him to one of the best taxidermists in the planet http://wellerswildlifestudio.com. Fortunately they were able to save my kiester and said not to worry they can put humpty dumpty back together again and make it so you could never tell. I was soooo relived to have some comforting news. They were the most gracious people with all the answers and the skills. I will be shure to put up pics once he is completed but for now here is one for the memory of what NOT to do again.

[Pine Donkey]

That is a great buck. I have seen some mounts where Wellers had repaired the horns...you will be very happy. You will have a beautiful trophy on the wall in no time. Look at the bright side, you didn't ruin any meat. Congratulations on a great buck!

[trophyhnter]

Great Buck! Great story.....The title.....I finally got it! Thanks for sharing!

[CouesWhitetail]

I am glad Wellers can fix the horns for you! Congratulations on your buck!

[azcoues]

awesome story and deer,i did the same on a 375 bull elk i was devastated but my taxi gotit fixed and you cant even tell,its all good bud.

[Elkaddict]

Good story, congrats on a very nice buck!

[double lunger14]

Bud and Gavin finish my Mullie tomorrow! Congrats on the buck

[Ernesto C]

Yes great story and great buck! You never gave up and persistence paid off. Congrats!

 

Ernesto C

[cflores]

Congrats !!! Nice buck.

[JLSMEDIC]

Thank you to everybody who has posted on here! its been a week now and I'm back to the grind stone Happy that I could at least share the story with you guys and you all have made it so awesome thanks for the posts again!