Muley with Stick and String

[CouesBuckhunter]

Well the December archery season started but I was unable to hunt the first week due to finals at school. The last day of finals I went out and glassed a nice 3x3 Coues buck a mile and a half away. It was getting dark so I sprinted around to come in from below him where the wind and the slope of the mountain were in my favor. I closed the distance to 35 yards but ran out of cover. At 6'3" I can’t hide behind brush so well, so I had to mimic a yucca as the buck happened to turn as I was sneaking and pick me out. He and I stood there at a stare off for 25 minutes. His doe had no clue I was there and it was getting real dark and cold real fast. Finally he calmed down and walked out but my rangefinder was giving me over six different readings as he was standing there. I had come so close to not get a shot so guessed the yardage and barely missed over his back. It was a long hike back to the quad in the dark but I told myself there had to be a reason, something better is out there waiting for me.

 

The day after that my dad, my friend, and I had seen over 100 does and only a couple spikes. Every year there is usually at least a spike in every herd of does as well as forkies and 3bys roaming around. That just goes to show the impact all the rifle hunters are having on the bucks with as much tags the game and fish have been issuing.

 

The next day came and my dad and I decided to try another area closer to home that has produced some decent bucks in the past. I did not have any confidence in finding any decent bucks because of what I had seen the day before. Either they are there or they aren't in the morning so we had made plans to go to the gym with my brother since he was down for the holidays. Well just my luck, I glassed up a little buck hanging in the shadows a couple miles out. Then I spotted some does and then another buck. We then made our way closer to see what was all in the herd. Once we got closer we discovered that the first small buck I had glassed was in fact, a hybrid. He had an 85inch Coues whitetail rack and a whitetail tail but the rest of the body, as well as the size, was muley. It is the first one I have ever seen. The other buck was a big forky muley and both were pushing the does around. Seeing this hybrid I was stoked to begin my stalk and I closed the distance fast. Then I hit a wall, it was a steep bank of nothing but thick brush and extremely loose rock. Every step I sunk back down, rocks were crumbling, brush was ripping along my clothes – it was like a noisy, never ending stair climber. Somehow they never heard us but soon the wind gave us away. Both bucks were out of bow range and the does spooked. I thought it was over when suddenly three does made their way back to us. My dad whispered to me: "Too bad there isn't a buck with them, they would get a buck killed coming to us like that." Right as his last word left his mouth we look up and a big 4x4 appears sky lined on top of the ridge. He canters his way through the thick ocotillos on a bee-line to the does. Unfortunately to him I was nocked and ready and my dad was running the camera as he emerged from the cut. He stopped quartered to me and I let an arrow fly. It hit its mark and the buck took off on a death run. A couple minutes later the does ran back to us, I knew that was a good sign. Immediately we saw blood where he was standing, then I found my arrow, a good length broken off. As we looked over in the direction he ran I then knew my blood trailing job was not going to be hard -- there was a wide red trail, it looked as if someone sprayed blood out of a hose behind them as they walked. Not far down that red path there my buck laid. I could not be any happier. I am extremely fortunate that I am in good health and can do all the hunting that I want, I could never wish for anything more.

 

 

[Redman]

great looking buck, you have been putting the smack down on some great animals.

['Ike']

Awesome buck, congrats!

[tommat]

Great accomplishment!

[Will K]

That is a nice buck.

[trophyhnter]

Great buck! Huge congrats on such a great buck! A lot of people complain that they cannot get drawn for great deer units we have in this great state! You cannot beat the rut hunt in the desert during dec and jan! Shhhh don't tell everyone about the trophy hunts that can be had every year! Looking forward the the video of this hunt! When is it coming?

[olmos1010]

Very nice buck, Big congrats. Score?

[CouesBuckhunter]

The video should be up soon. Hopefully in the next week. He taped out at 149. Not a monster but a dandy buck for December and a fun hunt.

[bigorange]

Awesome buck. Congrats! Can't wait to see the video...

[bow.hunter8971]

That's awesome nice buck and congrats

[Pine Donkey]

That is a great buck. Just think, in two days you can do it all again!

[tjhunt2]

Congratulations Eric. That's a very nice buck you shot and I can't wait to see the video. You and your dad certainly know how to get it done. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing more of your hunts to come. I assume you took it with a swacker.

 

TJ