This was written last Tuesday:
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Ok. I'm back home tonight. It KILLED me to come home, but I gotta work to pay the bills.
Let me first say that this whole experience has been the single coolest hunting experience in my life. I had a fantastic experience 2 years ago on an open bull unit and lucked into a great bull. That experience was amazing. Once we located the elk, the strategy, the tracking, the stealthy stalk and then shooting a big bull in its bed from 45 yards was unforgettable.
The thing that has been cool about this hunt is that it has gone on now for more than 4 months...actually longer than that. I have been dreaming about chasing big mulies on the Henry Mountains for years. When I learned that I drew the tag, this thing has consumed a large portion of my thoughts and dreams. The planning and strategy, meeting new people and getting information. Learning new country, seeing new sights....it has all been one fun ride. I guess what I am trying to say is that this hunt has been everything I could have hoped for in a premium limited entry hunt. Even if I eat tag soup (which I have NO intention of doing) I will have zero regrets.
That said, I have still felt a great deal of pressure. Most of it is self-imposed. This is a hunt of a lifetime. I don’t want to screw it up by doing something stupid. As a result, I have tried to think of every scenario and angle. I probably have over thought things. That is where I found myself on Saturday morning. Saturday I found myself almost frantic in searching for a shooter buck. As a result, I did not have the right attitude and perspective. Here is a buck I found first thing on Saturday. I blew right past this guy and didn’t even give him a second look. As I look at him now, I think “wow, what a great mule deer”.
I spent most of the day Saturday saying things like, “too small”, “weak fronts”, “he’s kind of crabby”, “too willowy”, “too young”, “not what I’m looking for” etc. Saturday night I laid eyes on one cool buck. The guy I talked to from Richfield who has been hunting him called him the tripod buck. He is a stud of a buck.
Sunday was a good day for me. I don’t want this to turn into a no-hunting-on-Sunday thread. If you hunt on Sunday, more power to you and I wish you the most success possible. For me personally, it’s something I choose not to do. But taking that day off on Sunday was the best thing that could have done to get my head straight. Sunday night we drove back to look at Tripod and his posse. There were 3 other REALLY nice bucks with him as well as a whole bunch of interference. The Richfield Hunter was just coming back to the road after sitting on Tripod all day. We had a great chat. He and his hunting buddy are good dudes.
Monday morning I started set up where I hoped Tripod and his posse would pass. They went the other way and headed into the timber to bed. I knew the other hunter was in that timber. I did not want to blow his hunt, so I hiked around the mountain and came from the backside above him. It took me over 2 hours to sneak in about 100 yards. I finally found the bucks that were bedded. That is when I gave the update on my phone. I spent an hour just 50 yards from this guy. What do you think, is he a shooter?
As I sat there trying to talk myself into shooting this buck, a quick micro burst thunderstorm moved in. In the end, I’m glad I was patient. Fate decided the situation for me. When that storm came in, the bucks scented either me or Richfield…either way, they bolted like they had been shocked by a cattle prod.
Monday was an AWESOME day. I had been within bow range of SEVERAL mature bucks. I crawled and rolled around in the dirt for more than 6 hours. I hiked about 2 miles, about 1 of it straight up, and the other 1 straight down. It doesn’t get any better than that!
That night I went to Richfield’s camp and talked strategy. He wants that Tripod buck bad. Since he found him before I did, I feel like it is the right thing to do to let him have first crack at it. Like I said, this is a stand-up guy. I agreed to steer clear of this patch of timber for the short-term. As a result, he told me where I could find a stud of a typical 4X4.
I found that buck this morning. He was too close to us for me to get out the scope and get a good pic. I had to snap this pic with my point and shoot as we were pretending to drive by so as not to alarm him. After a quick gear check, I set out to stalk him. He ultimately gave me the slip in the oak brush, but I know where he lives and I will be back for a visit. He is a WIDE perfectly symmetrical 4 point. A truly beautiful buck I would be proud to have hang on my wall (read unfinished basement wall)
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Like I said, overall it has been incredible. I can’t wait to get back down there. Sorry this was so long……there will be more to come.
Here are a few photos:
Some of Tripod's posse:
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Cheater buck on top:
"Them Sirens loved him up and turned him into a h...horny toad!"
A couple of great 4 point.
Me with my father-in-law. A great guy and friend:
Stay tuned. More to come.........Hopefully!