3-30/3-31, any suggestions

[REMINGTON JIM]

I think the DEER have mostly all moved out due to the Fire and will stay away till there is sufficent food source for them to return ! They are VERY Smart ! RJ

[aamenta]

Well.. finally after a crazy tough season.
I am not ending it with just tag soup.

On Saturday Nov 11th I connected with my FIRST mature Mule deer!
This beautiful 4x4 showed himself after following some fresh tracks.
My friend and I stopped and were discussing the area, how we should hunt it for the evening and then in the corner of my eye this guy was staring at me from about 40 yards.
He looked shocked and was immediately on the run.

I go to a vantage point and spotted him again 50-60 yards away, he turned and looked at me where I was able to confirm he was legal but he was on the run.

At this point I was breathing heavy, running like my life depended on it as he was on his way down a slope into some marshland with the timber right behind it.

He was on the left of a patch of trees and was turning right into it and on the other side was a wide opening where I could get a shot.
I tried to control my breathing but.. after running close to a combined 100 yards and seeing a MONSTER like this, there was no controlling the heart but I did my best, had my gun ready hoping he would come out to the opening and there he was running.

BOOM....
MISS..

I take a deep breath and reload instantly with the gun back up.. I still have some time so I didnt rush the 2nd shot,

BOOM.


HIT.

Buck immediately slows down and is clearly maimed but is moving fast. He enters the forest and I head down to try and confirm blood.

I find his blood and was so revealed that it was gushing out.

After a small track and a slight chase he got up from his bed and ran back up hill towards where I shot him from. I was able to finish the job.



Thank you to all those who messaged me and sent me tips, It was helpful to get out and check those locations but I ended up finding this buck in a different spot.
Since we had no luck anywhere you all told me to go. We needed to start spreading out and getting higher.

Unfortunately, the area was very dead and no movement.
This deer was the only deer we saw in 3 days of hunting.
My friend had a doe draw for 3-31 but there wasn't anything but tracks.
Yes there was tracks but no movement at all.

A CO stopped us at a gas station and said we were the first people he's check that had a tag filled in a couple days.

Until next year! This closes out my season, and like I said, thankfully it's not just tag soup!

-Anthony






[/QUOTE]

[Weatherby Fan]

Awesome work Anthony, congrats on a nice buck, glad it all worked out for you.
Nice rifle Ruger 77 Tang safety..............caliber ?
Thanks for sharing
WF

[LuckyIfYouGetOne]

Nice buck congrats

[wideopenthrottle]

great work on that buck...thanks for the story and the pics and taking the time to put them up for us

[Whonnock Boy]

Quality buck right there. Thanks for sharing.

[aamenta]

Awesome work Anthony, congrats on a nice buck, glad it all worked out for you.
Nice rifle Ruger 77 Tang safety..............caliber ?
Thanks for sharing
WF

Ruger M77 Mark II in 7mm Rem Mag

This rifle has been a blessing. From deer, bear and moose.
My scope is an old one but incredibly reliable.
bausch and lomb elite 3000, 3-9

[huntcoop]

Well done, I'd be very please shooting that 4 point, nice work!

[Eva_Hunts]

incredible dude! way to persevere!

[wideopenthrottle]

Ruger M77 Mark II in 7mm Rem Mag

This rifle has been a blessing. From deer, bear and moose.
My scope is an old one but incredibly reliable.
bausch and lomb elite 3000, 3-9

just an FYI on your scope....when my B&L fogged a few years ago I sent it to bushnell (they bought B&L) to get new seals and a fresh charge of gas...they said it was too expensive to repair and sent me a bran new bushnell scope to replace it....