Muley Buck....my personal best.

[35 Whelen]

Well I had the most exhausting hunt I think I have ever had. Got into our area at daylight and sitting on a ridge with commanding view of a huge basin and opposite drainage. After bugling for elk for a bit we just sat and glassed. I was looking at the top of a ridge to my right when I noted movement. Paydirt....2 nice bucks feeding. We watched them for a bit , then for some reason ( not our wind) they got nervous, looking over their shoulders and filtered off. We made our way across the basin and came up one ridge above where we suspected they were. As we topped out, buddy freezes and whispers " GRIZZLY"...there at 150 yds and closing as he fed down the hill towards us. We drop down off the ridge and give him our scent....not to be seen again. To make a long story short we play cat and mouse with the bigger buck for the next hour and a half; covering about 2 kms of VERY steep mountain face of an old burn. Buddy says he is going to walk the finger of spruce above in case the buck went up and bedded down. It was a good decision, about half an hour later he busts him out of cover and down the slope he comes....but at a very long 400 yds or so. We book it and head in his direction. We see him again at about 600-700 yds away , and he finally stops to feed. He thinks he is safe and is contently browsing for about 20 minutes. A decision is made, that he is doable but it will be a tough pack out. We begin our final stock...after a long slow stalk we are finally above where we think he is . A thorough search and glassing turns up zip. I hand signal buddy, that I think it's time to go. He suggests we just pop over the next hog's back ridge just to see......
Now we are looking down a near vertical shale chute...all of a sudden buddy says " there he is" the buck is walking down and across. A snap decision is made. He askes if I want him...and with my bum knee I think this is a bad spot, as I can't pack him out. He says, you shoot him, I'll pack him for you.

It is a long poke. I am guessing 275-300 yds, steep downhill angle and he is still on the move. I settle in behind a blowdown, and the crosshairs are between his shoulders as he is facing directly away from me. Slowly squeeze and he goes straight up, turns, and runs downhill and slightly towards me. Chambering another round, I settle my nerves and take up the rest again. This time he is broadside and facing uphill with his body in clear profile side view. I think to myself...don't compensate for the long range and severe downhill angle ( at least 45 degrees) I hold the center of mass and aim for his shoulder, as I want him anchored and not having him run off into the alder slide below him. The shot breaks and he is down for good the 35 Whelen with it's 250 grain bullet has done the job again ( after the skin job at home, it turns out I hit him the first time a bit far back, but shattered his liver) . It takes what seems like forever to get down to him....every step in the shale sends you on a downhill slide. There is no ground shrinkage and his body is like a small cow elk. I can hardly believe a muley can get this size.
He is field dressed and loaded up. There is NO WAY we can go up, the slope is at least 45 degrees and to peak the crest would mean at least a 500 yd climb of nearly vertical rock slide. We can see below us a there is a switch back of a quad track....we go for it and nearly two hours later finally come out of the alder jungle, hands and legs are bruised and sore. Now the really hard part. The 5 km walk UP the very steep cat track to the quads on the ridge top. We are finally at the truck with my personal best Muley, some six and a half hours later. I am exhausted , sore and thirsty. I have drank all my two litres of water from my camel back during the pack and walk up the mountain.....but waiting at the truck is ice cold Kokanees and cigars for me and my two very good friends who worked SO HARD to get me into a good buck. Thanks guys....you have made a memory that will last a lifetime.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v376/1004jake/P9300051.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v376/1004jake/P9300055.jpg

[tootoowild]

nice buck! congrats man!

[Fisher-Dude]

That's a great buck! Congrats!

[Blainer]

He looks like a heavy boy.
Sounds like a memorable hunt.
Good story.

[Manglinmike]

well done ,you well remember that hunt until they start throwing dirt on your pine box,now I was planning a trip into the high country after mulies and was just wondering if I could get those fellas phone number?

[Phil]

That story gets the juices flowing! Congrats on a wicked buck!

[kootenayelkslayer]

Great job Paul, sounds like you got some good hunting buddies there!

[35 Whelen]

[QUOTE]I was planning a trip into the high country after mulies and was just wondering if I could get those fellas phone number?/QUOTE]


Yup....dial 1-800 Mountain goat buddies. Those two are freakin machines!!!!!

[Muleycatcher]

Nice buck! congrats..he does have a big body forsure!

[BigfishCanada]

Love it and the story, its amazing how much that kinda hard work feels when you reach that cigar!!

Congrats

[Rattler]

Loved the story. Congrats on a great buck.

[35 Whelen]

Thanks Rattler.

Took the rack over to Brambles after he called me...he liked the character of all the ridges on his tines and the palmating of the browtine on the left side and webbing going on. The ridges on the outside edges of the tines are pretty cool. Loads of grizzly sign up there makes one a bit nervous with a bloody hors d'oeuvres on your back and in the alders.....LOL

[Jimr]

Congrats, thats a beauty!:mrgreen:

[1899]

Congrats on that buck!

[3006pg]

holy deer . nice shot too ;)

[d6dan]

Super buck!. and a great story. Nice and heavy rack on that big boy. Congrats

[Spy]

Good story great picture's awesome buck. Thank's for taking the time to share.

[sapper]

Wow!! Nice buck. That is a serious amount of meat.

[blackbart]

Glad to hear that the 35, as per the author's name shone through. The lure of kokanee and cigar's may be even enough to entice Blackbart into coming packing in the future.

Very nice deer, and an even nicer way to harvest your meat.

Good job!

[N-W-Redneck]

Holy schidt! That thing is huge! :eek: :D Pretty skinny antlers for a moose though. :lol:

Great story too. Thank you for sharing! :biggrin:

[landphil]

Awesome buck! Well worth the effort to pack out I'm sure :wink:

[Salmo]

Wow!!! Any thoughts on live weight!!

That is a great buck.. Congrats

[35 Whelen]

I think I would leave that to those with more experience on big bucks.....although the one buddy feels better than 250.

Anyone out there with a more experienced guess???

[Steeleco]

Freekin big, that's one hell of a buck and a great story too. Gets a guy syked for the weekend!!

[5 spike]

great story and one nice buck, congrats to you and your buds.

[Tarp Man]

I am curious, what bullet were you using in the Whelen?

[M.Dean]

I'm pooped just reading the story!!! Excellent buck and even better hunting partners!!! Congrats!

[kennyj]

Great story and great buck.Those big mulies rarely come easy.Congratulations.
kenny

[NaStY]

That sounded like a great hunt. Congrats on getting a trophy size buck. Sure hope you can wall mount it....

[TIKA 300]

Sure is a big buck,good on you and your buddies.

[Maxx]

huge Congrats! Well done....

[frenchbar]

Congrats on a great buck 35!!

[1/2 slam]

Great buck Paul. PB just got a goat.

Rod

[rifleman]

great story for a great buck & a great hunt. congratulations

[Brambles]

Huge congrats there buddy, its been a long awaited trophy for you, and I'm sure you'll appreciate the meat. Finally you don't have to eat fish all the time:lol:

[BCJunior]

congratz on the nick buck,
gotta love the whelen!

[steepNdeep]

Right on - great buck and hunt!! Congrats.

[open-sights]

Great painted eyebrow, reinds me of Groucho Marx. Real nice Buck!

[plumbob]

Great story and great buck,congrats on the hunt.

[Chuck]

Tough job, but then nothing comes to those who just sit & wait. Very interesting looking face on that animal and good size. Congratulations on your success!

[Mr. Dean]

A well earned Deer. Congrats, Man!

[lilhoss]

That's a biggun for sure.And, according to that story,your next one should be shot on the side of the logging road,so you can just roll him into the truck.I love these "hard working stories",makes that 1st steak and cold beer seem all worth it!! good job.

[jrjonesy]

Great story! Thanks for taking the time to post it and let us be a part of an exciting hunt! You worked your tail off and were rewarded. Congratulations on a Great Buck!!!

[35 Whelen]

Thanks for all the kind words. But the real hero's in my book are my buddies. Without them I would just have watched that big boy walk away. Without their hard work and mule like packing abilities made the hunt what it was....I did the easy part and pulled the pin on him.....

[WKCotts]

Awesome mulie & great story! Nothing like having a few cold ones waiting after the pack out!

[theK.G.B]

i havent got a buck yet. but when i do i hope it's something close to that.
how many seasons have you chased that buck?

[In4TheHunt]

That is a really good story.
It gets me excited and ready to go on my hunt comming up.

thanks
M

[35 Whelen]

i havent got a buck yet. but when i do i hope it's something close to that.
how many seasons have you chased that buck?


To be honest that is the first time for me in that area, as it is my buddy's favorite spot. So it is the first time I had ever seen him.

He is obviously the smart old buck of that mountain, as he took off like a whitetail and never did look back like the classic muley. Otherwise I would have had a poke at him a lot earlier on.

[whitetailsheds]

Thanks for posting 35...great buck, and story! I like the "block" head on that fella. Wall bound? Or just photos and memories?

[35 Whelen]

Just photo's and memories...his antlers will grace " The Man Cave" ( as my wife puts it). There are bigger around these parts, but that will have to wait til next year now.

[ZENYO]

That's a great buck! Thanks for the story!

[nano]

Thats a very nice buck. congrats!!

[35 Whelen]

Thanks guys....

[huntsooke1]

nice work goood to see

[Brambles]

I have drank all my two litres of water from my camel back during the pack and walk up the mountain.....but waiting at the truck is ice cold Kokanees and cigars for me and my two very good friends who worked SO HARD to get me into a good buck. Thanks guys....you have made a memory that will last a lifetime.

[/URL]

[URL="http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v376/1004jake/P9300055.jpg"] (http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v376/1004jake/P9300051.jpg)


Geez you didn't say anything about cigars the other day, I should have taken you out I guess eh:lol: I always got time for a good "lung torpedo" after a memorable hunt:D

[35 Whelen]

LOL....is that all I needed????? Hell I had a pile of them for you Jeff. Cubans to boot..

[Brambles]

LOL....is that all I needed????? Hell I had a pile of them for you Jeff. Cubans to boot..


Ah... darn. always a day late and a dollar short:lol:

Only problem is I wouldn't have had to work you as hard to get a good buck, so I guess I wouldn't have earned the cigar....

[HD95]

Fantastic mature muley buck,great writing.:D

[BCBigGame]

Nice buck, those alpine bucks have unreal amout of high quality browse and grow like cattle in alfalfa. The beast I shot last year, was deboned and on the second trip back a Grizz took the entire deboned loin
Way to go, have your legs stopped burning yet?

[35 Whelen]

Ah... darn. always a day late and a dollar short:lol:

Only problem is I wouldn't have had to work you as hard to get a good buck, so I guess I wouldn't have earned the cigar....


Jeff you mean you could have saved me all the blood, sweat, and tears....oh and did I mention cussing;);););)

After all said and done, it was very rewarding to do it the hard way....on boot leather and not shot on the side of a logging road.


Biggame. The legs are doing fine...all the road biking this summer worked! I think I just now have my electrolytes back up to where they needed to be....LOL

[Brambles]

Jeff you mean you could have saved me all the blood, sweat, and tears....oh and did I mention cussing;);););)

After all said and done, it was very rewarding to do it the hard way....on boot leather and not shot on the side of a logging road.


Biggame. The legs are doing fine...all the road biking this summer worked! I think I just now have my electrolytes back up to where they needed to be....LOL


There seems to be a direct correlation between how much boot leather is warn off vs how the animal tastes. More is definitly better.

[35 Whelen]

I'll make sure I have my cuban stock ready for next fall............

[pete_k]

Great story. Even a griz invovled! You have a good buddy.

[BlacktailStalker]

Damn nice buck.
Good story of cat and mouse too.
Got yourself some solid hunting buddies, often hard to find.

I need to get off this Island and try and get a poke at something like that I think.

[Caveman]

Great Looking Buck, Congrats!. Looks like he carries some nice mass.

[doubled]

One big hog, great story, thanks for getting the blood going again.

[bowhunterbruce]

a hunt like that and a buddy like you had with you made for one hell of a trophy buck,i do hope you get him mounted so you can relive it all for a lifetime.
bruce

[hunter1947]

Very nice mule buck you got there you have one hell of a partner there ,I hope you sat him down and opened up a http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif one for him when you got back to camp http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif.
Good hunting partners are hard to find for a life time.

This buck will look very impressive on your wall ,congratulations bud you deserve it http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif.

[Vanman1985]

Nice Buck!!!

[Big_Island_Hunter]

Very nice.

[Deerhunter85]

Great buck, congrats.

[cleaner]

good job nice buck it will tased good on the bbq

[guest]

Very Nice buck, congrats to you!

Wow you have some good friends there, I bet you'll continue to hunt with those guys, good on them too, makes a buck like that even more special.

CT

[riflebuilder]

nice buck way to go. the ones you work hard for are the best.

[835]

that is a mean looking deer.
his face looks like he was not just in his prime but king

[BCrams]

Great story and a realy nice buck!! Congrats.

[Islandeer]

Boot leather,bum knee,blood and sweat, good buddies,great buck.... priceless.

[gameslayer]

Great buck ! Thanks for sharing your story. Like other said It's great to have good hunting buddies, makes for good times in any situation.

[Bearen 09]

Great job. that will look nice with a mount.:-)

[TheDuckinator]

That is a beauty!

[35 Whelen]

Thanks everyone...I am itching to get out again. This time to help out my buddies get there deer. By the looks of the mountains up here today...we might be snowed out.

[trigger]

awesome buck . congrats.

[killman]

That is a nice heavy looking buck. Congrats