JDBrenay Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Well, this year we just couldn't find the big bucks in the areas we knew they were in. Maybe it was the hotter temperatures on the front of the hunt followed by the terribly windy temperatures on the back part of the hunt but we just couldn't get the big bucks to show themselves. The only exception was when I had the great opportunity to glass up and put a stalk on a Lion up on Diablo Mountain. After what seemed like an eternal starring contest at 150 yards followed by me getting a fleeing shot at him at 300 (looks like I missed him though - bummer), I looked down to see my dad had pushed up a big buck over the ridge that the Lion must have been watching. Double bummer! Anyway, so the quick story with this buck was we had just hunted the morning in one of our favorite spots only to see a ton of does. After consulting with a few guys scouting for a future hunt, they told us on the other side of the mountain we were watching they had seen a few smaller bucks that morning. So instead of moving, we decided to sit on the big canyon that afternoon that circles the mountain just to see if anything was moving around. It was so flipping hot that the thought of sitting under a shady Mesquite was right up all of our alleys. About an hour in we started seeing movement with Does and Fawns popping up everywhere. Then, as I was glassing way down the canyon, I saw some movement and saw some horns. There was a small buck coming up the canyon about a mile off. As I was up pretty high on the ridge, I decided to work my way down to closer to the bottom and on my way down, I spooked up a doe and fawn that started running tails up right towards that buck. Dang, I thought...they are going to spook that buck so I quickly looked and saw that the buck just looked at them as the cruised by him. I dodged a bullet there. So I kept making my way down the hill as quickly as I could. Once I made what I thought was a good spot, I pulled up my binoculars just in time to hear a twig snap in the canyon bottom. There, about 220 yards away looking right at me was the buck. With the sun at my back he quickly lost interest in me and started zigzagging his way up the other ridge. This gave me about 30 seconds to get set up and secure for the fairly straight forward 200 yard shot. Right when I pulled my rifle up and got a clear view of the buck, he stepped into the open spot I had planned on and stopped after I let out a soft bleat. The 270 WSM barked loud and the buck went down immediately right where he stood. You know, it never gets old, no matter how big or small the buck! Until next year... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rclouse79 Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Sounds like fun, nice job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loco4coues Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Sweet. Looks like a mature buck regardless of antler size. Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Congrats on the success. Too bad you missed that lion, it would have have icing on the cake with your buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
southernxpress Report post Posted October 30, 2013 well done jon boy.. would have been double good if you could have got the lion too! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MULEPACKHUNTER Report post Posted October 30, 2013 I would take that deer any day, way to spray some non lead at the lion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PelaPapas Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Great job on tagging that buck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted October 30, 2013 You are definitely right that it never gets old! Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
randyolson Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Congrats on your success!! Nice looking deer! Thanks for sharing your story and pic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mocha1545 Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Congrats. Sounds like a fun hunt. Too bad about the lion but the deer tastes better! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doogan Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Its about time you joined this site! Congrats Jonny! Maybe next year huh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trophyhnter Report post Posted October 30, 2013 Its the size of the experience that counts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Although a giant buck doesn't hurt, when you retell your story around the camp fire 10 years from now people will be able to relive or visualize the size of the hunt and not the size of the rack! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvw789 Report post Posted October 31, 2013 Sounds like a fun hunt. Nice buck and congrats Cole Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ElkyG Report post Posted October 31, 2013 Congrats on your buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted November 3, 2013 Nice work JB. I wish I could say it couldn't have come together for a better guy, buy we both know that isn't true. I was just glad to have you away from the office for a few days! All joking aside, congratulations! Sounds like you guys had a great time. I wish you could have connected on that lion. It would have been all the sweeter! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
