74 Years old and Getting it Done

[bowfishAZ]

After finishing my hunt in October, I had forgot that my Uncle had the next Whitetail hunt. I have been helping him the last few years now shooting some smaller bucks until this year. Thursday night before opening day I was in an area, the wind was blowing and I didn't see a thing. I met up up with my uncle and dad after I got off the mountain to let them know I didn't see anything but I still felt good about the area and that was where we would hunt. It was about that time he realized he left his tag at home! Him and my dad had to head back to his house in Phoenix to get it.

Friday morning rolled around and we were off. It wasn't till about 730 I glassed up the first deer. It was a buck and I could tell it was a good one! I didn't bother putting the spotting scope on him since I could tell he was a 100" type buck and that was beyond his expectations. I decide to stay put and watch the buck till he beds (which was about an hour later) I make sure my dads on him and tell him if he gets up to let me know. My uncle and I take off. We end up across a canyon at 471 yards from the buck still bedded. I get him all setup in my rifle, make sure he can find where the deer was and the wait was on. About an hour and half later the deer stands. My uncle briefly see's him in the scope and the buck starts walking. We played the 10 minute game of me jumping back and forth between the rifle to help him get on the buck and back to my bins. No shot was taking because my uncle could not see the deer in the scope. It may have been one of the most frustrating moments in my hunting career to watch that buck walk away! We finished out the day not turning the deer back up. My uncle wasn't very happy and kept telling me that may have been his only chance at a buck that size. We busted his balls quite a bit but I told him we would find this buck again. I called my buddy Justin Friday night to tell him the story and see if he wanted to come Saturday morning. Like always, He was in.

Saturday morning, We head in. We get to where we glass from and 2 minutes into glassing I have the buck. I tell Justin where he is and Justin tells me immediately, He just laid down! I point to my uncle where we have to go and we were off. We get to where we want to be and it puts us 438 yards from the buck. I get some good reference points for my uncle, get him set up on my gun and pack and he's on the deer. My uncle tells me he can kill him in his bed but I said no will let him stand. For just over an hour my Uncle laid in the gun not taking his eyes off this buck. I could see the sun getting real close to him and told my uncle to get ready. No more than a minute later the deer stood. I told my uncle I was ready and he let one go. I watched the vapor trail travel perfectly behind the shoulder. The deer ran about 10 feet and tumbled! It was over!

I knew this buck had 4 on his right side and 3 on the left, To our surprise when we got to him he was a straight 4x4. I ended up taping this buck at 109 3/8"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Will K]

Awesome. Let's see the pic's.

[bowfishAZ]

Awesome. Let's see the pic's.

Sorry Im computer dumb, I think Ive got it all there now

[rancilio]

Hhhhhuge! Congratulations.

[5guyshunting]

Congrats on a nice buck! Not sure where you were hunting, but you can purchase duplicate tags for about $5 at any business that sells licenses.

[Millhouse]

Congrats on a nice buck! Not sure where you were hunting, but you can purchase duplicate tags for about $5 at any business that sells licenses.

I was told by AZGFD Main Office that if the tag had been awarded through the draw, you must buy the duplicate tag from one of their Branch Offices.

[Millhouse]

Congrats on a great buck!

[Quagmire]

So cool, defiantly cherish those moments. Huge congrats to all!

[5guyshunting]

 

Congrats on a nice buck! Not sure where you were hunting, but you can purchase duplicate tags for about $5 at any business that sells licenses.

I was told by AZGFD Main Office that if the tag had been awarded through the draw, you must buy the duplicate tag from one of their Branch Offices.

 

a few years back a buddy of mine forgot his turkey tag and bought a duplicate in williams. Maybe things have changed?

[wildwoody]

Sweet

[cramerhunts]

Congratulations to your uncle on a great buck! With you and Justin in the hills the big coues deer better hunker down and lay low!

[gotcoues]

Nelson "I have a big buck located and we could use some help to get him on the ground"

Me "Let me get right back to you"

Me "I'm in"

 

BBD

 

What a cool deal, never gets old chasing these coues deer. Team Coues Killers strikes again on a good one. Congrats again to Tony and it's a special kind of hunt when you can help someone who has been hunting longer than you've been alive, and I'm no spring chicken.....

 

By my calculations, if I can keep hunting coues into my mid 70s, I could be able to rack up 3000 plus more inches of coues bone... Dare to Dream!

[JLW]

Very cool!

 

James

[.270]

Score one for the old guys. Good for the kids for helping him out. My ol man shot his last buck at 82. Went every year until he died. Their is a lotta emphasis on youth hunters. I kinda feel like the old guys get shoved to the side and there should be some sort of old guy season or tag preference. Good job all around. Lark.

[Lucky Draw]

Congrats!