Not My Biggest But My first Rattled In Mule Deer

[jacksondog]

It's been a tough year in the West Kootenay's hunting mule deer, warm rainy weather, fog, no snow and low deer numbers have contributed to a lower than normal harvest rate. Me and my Son walked into a section of a cut block not visible from the road where I have seen several does throughout the year but had not produced any buck sightings until this day. Early in the hunt we ran into a 3x2 Mule Deer who spent more time looking up to the tree line than at us, but after 15 min nothing came out of the trees and he decided to head into the center of the cut. We moved to a bit of a lookout that overlooks a draw in the center of the cut where most of my deer sightings have taken place, but this produced nothing. Still curious about the 3x2 looking up to the treeline and knowing the timber was to thick for a stock I decided to roll the dice and try my rattling bag to see if maybe the 3x2 had been following the group of does I knew lived in the area. I rattled for maybe 15 sec and less than 1 min later my Son said Dad a doe just came out of the trees, by the time I turned to look the buck had also come out of the trees. I told Tj to drop down to a knee and shoot that buck but he lost his angle on the buck and informed me all he could see were is antlers, I then told him to stand up and take a free hand shot but at 130 yards and Tj only 15 he didn't feel comfortable with the shot. At this time the doe winded us and started to spook taking the buck with her so Tj said Dad take the shot, at the first shot the buck didn't even flinch, thinking I missed I fired a second shot this time dropping him in his tracks. Both bullets connected, Buck Down, Tj has always been the shooter when hunting together so this was the first Mule Deer that I killed with him and the first Mule Deer buck I've ever rattled in which was pretty cool. This buck had several bruises on his body and at the location of 1 of these bruises he had a broken rib,. http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag395/jacksondog/20161108_08332770_zpsb6htd2q2.jpg (http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/jacksondog/media/20161108_08332770_zpsb6htd2q2.jpg.html)

[Hank Hunter]

Congrats on a beauty buck

[Blainer]

Great deal!

[180grainer]

That's a pretty nice buck. Thanks for sharing the pic

[butthead]

congrats on the rattle

[Rattler]

Nice work rattling. No doubt tough conditions in West Koots this year for late season muley hunting.

[butthead]

think its every where

[WKCotts]

Right on. Nice buck

[Budman]

Congrats on getting that buck .

[Salty]

Right on jd that's a buck neither of you will forget any time soon :) I gotta get in to this rattling thing I've raked brush etc but never tried proper rattling, very cool hunt thanks for sharing.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Right on! Congrats!
I've rattled in more mule deer than whitetails over the years but have only shot one mule deer buck in all my years rattling.

[jacksondog]

Thanks Everyone, he was a fighter for sure, 4 broken tines including both brow tines and absolutely no fat left on him and a broken rib didn't seam to slow him down as he came in for a fight. I will definitely look forward to rattling next year, of course it won't always work but just knowing it worked this one time is certainly reason enough to add in to my hunting tactics for future hunts.

[HarryToolips]

Way to get er done congrats!

[ryanonthevedder]

Great story, but I am hoping it makes OK table fare. Sounds like he's pretty banged up!

[steepNdeep]

Right on, nice buck Gord!! Can't wait til the day my boys wanna hunt...

I've called in a few muleys. Killed a decent 5x5 Koot. muley by raking a tree with a big stick in the broken timber. I grunted a small buck to ~50 m this year.

[jacksondog]

Right on, nice buck Gord!! Can't wait til the day my boys wanna hunt...

I've called in a few muleys. Killed a decent 5x5 Koot. muley by raking a tree with a big stick in the broken timber. I grunted a small buck to ~50 m this year.Thanks Dean, he doesnt want to come out all the time so I don't push him. Friends and girls are way more important than hanging with Dad :).

[jacksondog]

Great story, but I am hoping it makes OK table fare. Sounds like he's pretty banged up!Going to make Smokies and Garlic Coil out him so should be good but yah he had some stink to him.