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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,704
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,704 |
Last year was the first year in 30 years I didn't fill my tag and that didn't set well with me. This year my enthusiasm was low due to the fact I really didn't have anywhere great to go, and the deer numbers are way down in Montana due to disease and hard winters. So just finding deer is a major problem this year. I went out last weekend and passed up 16 young mule deer bucks. It was nice to see that many bucks, but spikes, forkhorns, and really small 3x3's don't light my fire at all. Anyway last night after work I knew I had about two hours of daylight that I could go hunt. I called a land owner and they gave me permission to hunt on their place. They also mentioned they hadn't seen any deer. So I wasn't overly confident as I left my truck to hike up the mountain. In fact I had zero expectations to see much of anything. This was weighing on my mind along with the fact I have very little time to deer hunt this year. To make a long story short, as I neared the top of the ridge and rounded a corner I was surprised to see a small herd of deer. Even more surprising was the fact there was a buck chasing around the does and he wasn't a forkhorn. I ranged him at 260 yards. I then laid down, got him in my scope, and gave him a hard going over. I knew he was far from the biggest buck I've ever shot. In fact he would qualify as very "average". The thoughts about limited time, and a bird in hand, came to mind and I decided to take him. I settled in for the shot, squeezed the trigger and heard that very satisfying WHUMP of a solid hit. He took a few step and tumbled down the steep slope. By the time I reached him it was getting dark. I took photos as quickly as I could and then reached for my headlamp in my pack. The friggen thing was dead! So I had the fun task of quartering this buck out in the dark (the no gutting method) and then transcended my own carcass off the mountain in the dark. Made no less stressful by the fact that one misstep on that super steep rocky slope and I would wind up in the obituaries. I made it back to the pick up long after dark, ran home and recruited my two youngest boys to come help me pack the buck out. We got all our head lamps working, returned to the buck, loaded everything up and were home by 9pm. I wish they could of been with me during the hunt itself but both were busy at the time. Glad they were free when the work started though. Here are my two Sherpa's. My son took this photo of me (the old fat man) on our way out. Me with the buck shortly after taking him. So there you have it. I killed an average antelope buck this year, and now an average mule deer buck. So just call me Mr. Average. My buck is down and I can get back to more important things like fishing, coyote hunting, and possibly helping one or both of my daughter get a buck or two.
Is it Friday yet?
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,575
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,575 |
Your Average sounds pretty damned good, OFM.
I do not entertain hypotheticals. The world itself is vexing enough. -- Col. Stonehill
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 20,379 |
Nice buck in my book.
Looks like you got the light load.. That's how it should be, dad.
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,637
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,637 |
WWP53D
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
You are starting to suck in a big way...... cool beans
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692 |
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,273
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,273 |
Nothing wrong with that buck, nice kill.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,737
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,737 |
Nice story/buck! Congrats!
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,408
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,408 |
Your Average sounds pretty damned good, OFM. Exactly!!!
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,352
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,352 |
Congratulations! An average buck and an average antelope equal a lot of good "average" meat in your freezer. L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,018
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,018 |
+1, and having two sherpas haul your deer beats a big buck anyway!
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,464
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,464 |
Congrats to you - looks like a nice buck & one I'd be happy to take anytime!!
"Rather hunt Mule deer than anything else" "Team 7MM-08"
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,173
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,173 |
+1, and having two sherpas haul your deer beats a big buck anyway! Sherpas like that can eat a lot of venison... Congrats on getting your buck. I've had some of those night-time pack outs. Ugh. Was a real help when my own "Sherpa" helped me pack out a good buck a few years ago. Guy
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,904
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,904 |
That's about as good as it gets and as mentioned you might need to adjust your "average" scale..good going on a nice buck done right!
Golden............
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,691
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,691 |
I've yet to get a chance at a Mule Deer of either sex, so I'd call that one a dandy. Great job and thanks for taking the time to write it up!
"The number one problem with America is, a whole lot of people need shot, and nobody is shooting them." -Master Chief Hershel Davis
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,704
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,704 |
I have been fortunate to kill a lot of mule deer. Given the conditions this year in Montana, I'm more than happy with this buck.
Is it Friday yet?
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33,856 |
Good post, hunt. Sorry, it won't place in the dink contest.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.
If being stupid allows me to believe in Him, I'd wish to be a retard. Eisenhower and G Washington should be good company.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,704
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,704 |
Eyeball, there is always next year.
Is it Friday yet?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 524
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 524 |
Just remember that 49% of the bucks are below average! So you did great. Have fun Clint
just for Fun
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