Hanksaiditbest Report post Posted December 17, 2015 I put in the work in the preseason and it paid off big time this week. I watched this buck along with a few others in the weeks leading up to the archery opener. During the first 3 days of the hunt I put multiple stalks on this buck and came close but never got a shot opportunity. On the coldest day of the year I woke up to my alarm and strongly considered going back to bed. It was 0 degrees, snow was crunchy and I was tired from the weekend. About 10 minutes after first light I glasses him up pushing does in a saddle about 3/4 mile away from their normal spot. After putting on greuling 3-4 hour stalks over the weekend, freezing, kneeling in snow for hours, I decided to be aggressive and really didn't think I'd be able to get in on them in the crunchy snow. A buddy and I worked around them to get downwind and popped up over the ridge where we left them in the glass. In the thick cedars we couldn't see but had a good feeling about where they were. He stayed back and I took off through the snow towards the saddle crunching along... Expecting them to bust out at any second. Snow is nice for tracking but I'd do without it for stalking (too squeaky). After 100 yds or so I cleared a cedar to see a doe staring right through me at 30 yds. She snorted and busted out and up the saddle to my right. The stars aligned and the buck followed with his nose up her tail. I grunted and he stopped in his tracks but had me pinned. I have been shooting 5-6 days a week leading up to the hunt and felt decently confident in guessing range, not wanting him to see meta raise up to range I guessed him at about 70 yds and held my 60 yd pin on his back. I let it fly and heard a smack, he blew out crashing through the cedars. I was unsure of a hit and judging from my arrow flight thought it may have gone under him into some scrub. Typical 2nd guessing. I heard crashing behind me and it was my buddy who had snuck up after me and watched the whole thing unfold. He said "you freaking smacked him man i saw the fletchings right behind the shoulder!" I must have asked him 30 times if he was sure during the hour wait. We inched forward and found the back half of my arrow with good blood. The blood trail however was almost non existent which had me sick. We slowly followed track through the snow with some small sprinkles of blood and looked up to see him piled up not 85 yds from where I shot him. Double lung, 9 inches from arrow/broadhead inside him done deal. This is my first mule deer with a bow and it happened on the most unsuspecting of days/stalks. Tonight I'm smoking a Gruyere,bacon,Rosemary and chive stuffed backstrap with a cranberry port sauce. Life is good and I am so grateful to be able to hunt these amazing creatures. The larger bucks we watched will meet me come January! 22 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shedhunteraz Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Nice job. Congrats on a great looking buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DUG Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Nice! Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SWDesertRat Report post Posted December 17, 2015 You've certainly earned that buck. Even better that you did it in that cursed snow in 0 degrees. Nice work man. Hope to chase some of them Moscow mules in January too... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted December 17, 2015 I love it when life is good. Nice job on the guessing and lunging that stud. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hanksaiditbest Report post Posted December 17, 2015 You've certainly earned that buck. Even better that you did it in that cursed snow in 0 degrees. Nice work man. Hope to chase some of them Moscow mules in January too... Wish you were there man. The mules will be flowing... Your turn! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
218buck Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander79 Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Nice buck, congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Green Bullet Report post Posted December 17, 2015 great job and congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
olmos1010 Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Man I got the muley itch bad, can't wait until the first. Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maverick351 Report post Posted December 17, 2015 congrats on a great buck. hope you get a repeat in jan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will K Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Good job. Nice buck for a first. Congrat's. I bet your thinking come on January:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redman Report post Posted December 17, 2015 great job... man that looks cold. What clothing gear do you use to stay warm? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hanksaiditbest Report post Posted December 17, 2015 great job... man that looks cold. What clothing gear do you use to stay warm? Alot of layers, I've worn Sitka and Kuiu and find them both to be great. Pricey but worth it for comfort and function with as much as I am in the woods. That morning was tough to escape the cold though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AmericanThunder Report post Posted December 17, 2015 Very well done. Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
