2015 UT general season muzzy buck

I decided to branch out and try something new this year. I applied and drew a muzzle loader deer tag in my home state. I received a lot of good info about muzzle loading from the good ole campfire members.

This year was good for seeing a few more decent bucks than normal on my unit, but it was tough to keep my mind focused on mule deer knowing that my wife had a late season elk tag for the same unit.

Being my first year with a muzzle loader I certainly wanted to harvest a buck, but I did not come across anything the first couple of days to itch my trigger finger enough.

After coming back home for work for a few days I headed back to the unit to finish the remainder of the hunt.

The first night back I spotted a buck that got my blood pumping. I tried to make a move but ran out of daylight. The next morning I went back in hopes of relocating him. I was able to do so at first light. He was leading a group of 7 bucks which had been pushed by some other hunters. I only got to 174 yards, which I did not feel comfortable shooting at such distance, before the crested the top into the thick stuff.

I spent the rest of the day milling around in what I thought was his bedding ground but all I ever came across was a doe and fawn. It was a hot day and I had ran out of water so I decided to hang tight in the spot I had saw him come down the night before.

As time went on I first saw 5 deer, then 4, then 2, and 3 more before the first antlers came over the ridge. I knew he wasn't the same buck I had saw previously, but I only had one more day left and he was a no brain shooter for me. He walked in front of a rock, which was previously ranged at 95 yards, and the rest was history after the crack of the CVA accura.

My wife and kids came down to meet me at the bottom of the mountain and supplied much needed cheers and a cold Dr. Pepper.

Not the biggest buck, but for my first muzzy, diy, public land buck I was certainly happy. He had broke off about 8-10" on his left G4.