shedhunter's 2003 UT archery buck (pics)
shedhunter
4/25/04 1:01am
Hey guys:
This is some pics of my 2003 archery buck. He is my first archery deer, and not too shaby for a first bow-buck, hey? He scores around 175, only about 4" of deduction all around. Here is pic 1 (dont be decieved by this side view, he's still got 22" main beams and 9" G-4's) then THE story, and more pics.
http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/2003archerybuck.jpg " alt="" />
Ok, here is how it all went down: It was only two weeks before the opening day. I went to a a newer area looking for water, not deer. It was a nice day and getting pretty late in the morning. I was wearing a bluejean jacket and some bluejeans. As I was hiking up a trail, towards a big canyon that I thought had water in, I caught a flash and when I looked, the heavy 4x4 lifted his head from feeding, he was only 40 yards as I lifted my Stiners up fro a better look. He was just a pretty buck. We stood there moving from time to time, but neither was too disturbed by the other. It must have been five minutes before i decided to keep scouting and I broke and kept moving, he was still fourty yards and I had lost the currious staring contest. The hunt was two weeks away and he ranked #3 in order of importance.
Two weeks for days later #'s 1 and 2 had eluded me and it was time for a break as a friend called and asked if we could hunt together. He doesn't get out scouting much so I tought #3 would be good for him, and off we went.
The stiffling oak and manzenita were choked and half dead (due to drought). We arrived in the saddle overlooking the canyon where the buck had been spotted earlier. We sat down and glassed, no buck. Further down the hill, almost to the same trail I met the buck on earlier, I thought to sit and glass one more time. Right off there was a small buck in view in the binos. Then there he was, lying among 6-8 other smaller bucks. He made them all look like babies. Finally, when I was able to point him out to my buddy, the deer caught on to the "moving bushes" opposite them about 100 yards. I decided they would spook when stalked, so we split up. I went up the canyon, Kev went down.
I tried not to snap the twigs of the thick manzenita and scrub oak as I made my way towards the bucks, which to my advantage, got alerted by my buddy walking the opposite direction. They calmly stood up and made their way uphill. I got to where they should have crossed paths with me and waited, nothing. I thought a few more steps and I'll be about 30 yards from where they'll come through. Just as I looked down and stepped I noticed I was being watched. One of the smaller bucks, a 20" 3x4, had caught me moving. I thought I was busted when he turned and bounded off. He was all alone. Just as he bounded out of site, I herd the snapping of twigs where the bucks should be coming from. Sure enough he appeared. I ducked out of site and drew. When I stood back up, he was looking at me, perfectly broadside. I took the 33 yard shot and hit the buck. He ran back into the canyon and Kev saw him as I ran to the edge to see where he'd go. The buck walked into the bottom of the canyon with a lot of blood running down his side. It was soon dark and I feared jumping the buck and retuned in the morning, not in camo, as you can see before we packed him out.
I look forward to getting my fist Pope and Young animal in the books!
http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/2003archerybuck1.jpg " alt="" />
http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/2003archerybuck2.jpg " alt="" />
Let me know what you all think! If you haven't bowhunted yet, you've got to try it. Just be prepared to never hunt with a rifle again! Serious, it is that much more intense and challenging!
This is some pics of my 2003 archery buck. He is my first archery deer, and not too shaby for a first bow-buck, hey? He scores around 175, only about 4" of deduction all around. Here is pic 1 (dont be decieved by this side view, he's still got 22" main beams and 9" G-4's) then THE story, and more pics.
Ok, here is how it all went down: It was only two weeks before the opening day. I went to a a newer area looking for water, not deer. It was a nice day and getting pretty late in the morning. I was wearing a bluejean jacket and some bluejeans. As I was hiking up a trail, towards a big canyon that I thought had water in, I caught a flash and when I looked, the heavy 4x4 lifted his head from feeding, he was only 40 yards as I lifted my Stiners up fro a better look. He was just a pretty buck. We stood there moving from time to time, but neither was too disturbed by the other. It must have been five minutes before i decided to keep scouting and I broke and kept moving, he was still fourty yards and I had lost the currious staring contest. The hunt was two weeks away and he ranked #3 in order of importance.
Two weeks for days later #'s 1 and 2 had eluded me and it was time for a break as a friend called and asked if we could hunt together. He doesn't get out scouting much so I tought #3 would be good for him, and off we went.
The stiffling oak and manzenita were choked and half dead (due to drought). We arrived in the saddle overlooking the canyon where the buck had been spotted earlier. We sat down and glassed, no buck. Further down the hill, almost to the same trail I met the buck on earlier, I thought to sit and glass one more time. Right off there was a small buck in view in the binos. Then there he was, lying among 6-8 other smaller bucks. He made them all look like babies. Finally, when I was able to point him out to my buddy, the deer caught on to the "moving bushes" opposite them about 100 yards. I decided they would spook when stalked, so we split up. I went up the canyon, Kev went down.
I tried not to snap the twigs of the thick manzenita and scrub oak as I made my way towards the bucks, which to my advantage, got alerted by my buddy walking the opposite direction. They calmly stood up and made their way uphill. I got to where they should have crossed paths with me and waited, nothing. I thought a few more steps and I'll be about 30 yards from where they'll come through. Just as I looked down and stepped I noticed I was being watched. One of the smaller bucks, a 20" 3x4, had caught me moving. I thought I was busted when he turned and bounded off. He was all alone. Just as he bounded out of site, I herd the snapping of twigs where the bucks should be coming from. Sure enough he appeared. I ducked out of site and drew. When I stood back up, he was looking at me, perfectly broadside. I took the 33 yard shot and hit the buck. He ran back into the canyon and Kev saw him as I ran to the edge to see where he'd go. The buck walked into the bottom of the canyon with a lot of blood running down his side. It was soon dark and I feared jumping the buck and retuned in the morning, not in camo, as you can see before we packed him out.
I look forward to getting my fist Pope and Young animal in the books!
Let me know what you all think! If you haven't bowhunted yet, you've got to try it. Just be prepared to never hunt with a rifle again! Serious, it is that much more intense and challenging!
5,625
Nice buck and story, congratulations. Definately a great deer for your first bow kill! I still remember my first "booker" years ago. It's always nice to get an arrow into a good one.
Sounds like you havn't had him officially measured yet???? If you need a meaurer, go to
Again, great looking buck in full velvet. Congratulations.
BOHNTR )))----------------->