Southern Utah Rifle Success 2006?

well in the first pic its looks like theres 20 to 30 head of deer there. well i hope ya get ya a deer. its been crazy over here and the only buck i seen over the weekend was a spike that i didnt think was legle. looked like he had pencils on the top of his head. so ya its a mad house over here

I counted 27 "white rumps" out there but I'm sure I missed one or two.

Sounds like a tough decision ya got there my friend. Heck, I don't know what to tell ya except GOOD LUCK!

Lets hear the rest of the story.

So I had basically decided on where I'd be opening morning, but then I received a phone call late Friday that completely changed my mind.

We had been watching an area for several months with a couple of good shooters located. Problem is some days the bucks were there and other days absolutely nothing. The day I scouted it was NOTHING!

Come to find out a relative had checked the area the DAY BEFORE opener and WALLA they were back in the area (or some of them.) 2 definite shooters...a 28" 4point and a 4x6.

Problem is we have 6 tags amoung our party. After some debate and humility... :) I decided the relatives will get the good spot and crack at the big ones.

Me and the other tag will head to my original scouted location. There is/was simply no need or room for all tags to be in one space for only 2 shooter bucks. Plus it's a very small area to hunt.

But for some reason, I knew the bucks would be there in the morning. Now may nerves be calm and the relatives 'shots hold true' :)

It's now 5:00 AM Saturday morning of the opener and I'm off to my area with the ZOO of DisneyLand lines of people.

More later...

well i hope you and your relatives both find a shooters. i decided to skip sunday after what i seen saturday i just decided to hunt the weekdays. so im just gonna be hunting during the weekday nights and maybe skip school thursday or friday and see if a few of the hunters have gone home

It's opening morning I'm less than 1000 yards from my spot when about 7-8 ATV's come flying by on the road. Now the real agony sets in as I watch them drive straight up the mountain (knoll) I wanted to hike before it gets light. I utter stupid ATV's as I strive to figure out plan B in a hurry.

I decide to hike in from where I'm at, having no idea if I'm in a good spot.

At first light it's still fairly quiet as the deer are "holed up" and hunters by the MASSES converge on the hills. I quickly climb one hill as the chilling cold wind fights to push me back.

Upon arriving at the peak, I decide to climb down the canyon and across to the next one in hopes of hitting higher ground with less people. Which in the end didn't matter. After several minutes I hear shots ring out and turn to see 4-5 bucks with one looking pretty good as they top over the skyline directly behind me where I'd just left. #-o

More shots ring out as hunters take theire shots out downing the bigger bucks in the group. Later found out one hunter did take one that was a 3x5. Sorry no pics.

Several more shots rang out, and several guns were emptied on (2) 2-points. One of which was hit, man I hope they found him. I helped them track/look for him for a few minutes before moving on.

Re-grouped later in the morning after not shooting a shell myself and passing on a couple of 2-points.

Hunters EVERYWHERE, counted 13 different people standing on the ridges around me. Looks like CHAOS really. But I'm not complaining to much, just glad to be out in the hills with friends and family enjoying the beauties of nature and doing what I love to do.

Talked with some fellow friends we met on the mountain and then decided to head to our next area. Wind is still blowing VERY COLD AND HARD. At least I was prepared this time.

More later with a picture...

I'm now debating if I should have stuck with my original hunt instead of trying a new area. I'm in a hurry to get to my favorite area for fear that everyone has already 'been there, done that' to this area also.

Driving down the road when all of a sudden straight to my left a group of deer comes running out of a little 'gut', I quickly stop and jump out as my Dad says there's a buck with them and he is a nice one. I get out just in time to turn with my gun/scope to see if he is shooter material. My Dad says wait he's already hit, we watch as he stumbles and falls over dead right in front of our eyes...

Seems weird, but of course I'm sure someone just shot him and will be popping over the ridge any minute to to retrieve him right?? Well at least you would think so...

the saga continues later and gets weirder and weirder...

I hope you'll are ready the whole story without looking at the pics first, it won't make much since unless you do. :)

So I head over the downed buck, because I can't see anyone else in sight or claiming the buck.

Here is what I see when I arrive at the scene, decided to snap some photos because he is a nice pretty buck and I'm well confused...

Here is what I see...

http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/side_three.jpg" alt="" />

Bigbucks92,

I messed up and deleted your last post...my bad.

That buck could not have run 100 yards max with that shot placement.

AND.

ridgetop

A very wise man you are. :)

ridgetop, my thoughts exactly! The shooter can't be that far off, can he?!

So I'm thinking exactly what you to are thinking, there is no way that deer could have gone far in that condition. Minutes continue to tick by with absolutely no hunter in site. Very strange indeed. We start to ponder what to do?? Tag the buck ourselves, don't want to. I didn't shoot it, but obviously I'm not going to let it waste.

So I take a few more pics, while we try and figure what the heck happened. Exactly who shot it, why are they no where in sight and what direction did the deer come from and how far???

http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/IMG_1489.jpg" alt="" />

KEEP IT COMING!!!! I'M WAY TOO IMPATIENT TO WAIT FOR THE ENDING!!!

im with AGCHAWK - cant take it anymore, haha.. this story is too strange???? id be hootin n hollerin the whole way to that buck runnin full speed.. what on earth is goin on?

someone without a tag maybe? hidin out hopeing you'll leave? :-k

"MuleyMadness" wrote:Bigbucks92,

I messed up and deleted your last post...my bad.

Thats ok i was just thinking the same thing as every one else. just wondered if the hunter ever came and got it

ya so what did you end up doing

If I could get more time to sit down I'd tell the whole story, but I get tired of typing and my eyes burn, I've got a million and a half things to do.

That enough excuses?

Okay back to the story, we are all quite confused...about as much as you guys are.

So we start following the tracks back and blood trail, it lead to a small draw/ gut of trees. They no more blood, so the same as you thought, this deer was hit and only went 100 yards or so.

So we send one of us down one direction of the road the I go the opposite direction where I just came from. My party radios back that he can't find a single soul the other direction and know one has a clue. So I continue on down the other road, I stop the first set of hunters off the road and they have no idea. They saw us drive over to the deer and thought we had shot it, we told them the story and said nope never fired a shot. Weird they say and we carry on.

About a mile or so down the road we stop a silver X-Terra vehicle and ask them if they shot at a deer a bit ago. They said yep we shot at one but never hit it, some guys over the ridge/hill shot at it and got it. We continued to ask/probe questions and found out that they indeed where the ones who did shoot at and hit and kill the buck.

It was actually the wife or lady who hit and killed the buck. There son I believe turned to the lady and sad see I told you, you hit it the first shot.

There is much more to the conversation that this, but I'll spell you the details. Needless to say they didn't think they hit or let alone killed the deer. And needless to say, they DIDN'T check for blood or anything. I was shocked.

They just got in their vehicle and drove down the road looking for it?????

The funny or dumb part is I don't think there is any way they would have EVER recovered this buck. You simply couldn't see it from the road the only reason we did is, we saw it fall dead. It was impossible to pick out by looking.

So they drove down the road and stopped for a second and looked at us. Never got out of the vehicle, or rolled down the window or came over to us. Nothing! I'm still amazed at the lack of follow up.

They apparently thought we shot it, but guns make loud noise and we never fired a shell. :)

So to shorten a lengthy story, we drove them back to their deer and took a couple of pictures.

They were VERY excited and couldn't believe that we would do such a thing. They thought we would just tag and take the buck.

Simple not the case, who would want a buck they didn't kill. Can't stand those kinda people.

Anyway, it's a pretty buck. Very nice symmetrical 3-point. Tall nice back tines, good width etc.

BTW - they where out of state. Any guess on the state?

Don't be mean, I gave them my business card and told them I'll put the pic on. So no bashing.

Oh and you got the short version, cause you keep bugging and I'm tired of typing.

...more later on my relatives success or lack there of...and more on my day maybe to.

Here is the buck before they arrived upright and after they claimed their prize. :)

I was actually happy to help them recover the buck, they seemed very appreciative and excited...as they should be of course.

Great buck and congrats to her!

http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/dad_buck.jpg" alt="" />

http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/photos/lucky_hunter.jpg" alt="" />

That is a great buck for an area with as much activity as this. Congratulations to the mystery lady! I really hope that they learned their lesson to follow up on each shot taken. You never really know until you go back and check and re-check. I watched a guy, during an archery elk hunt, get trapped in a herd of spike and cow elk and not take a shot when the elk were only feet from him. I asked him later why he did not take one and the answer was that he was trying to find blood from one that he had shot earlier in the day. I have made a concious effort since then to follow up on all shots taken and not to continue to hunt until I know for sure.

Very odd story but a very nice ending. My guess as to what state they are from would have to be California, the southern part in particular. The reason for my guess is because she's wearing earrings. Don't know to many folks that would wear earrings that size while hunting. Of course, there have been no prolific studies conducted in this area of hunting accessories by myself nor any one else that comes to mind of what that fashionably dressed ladies of souther CA would wear while hunting. I would even venture to say they are from the city rather than a small town or country. All guesses, of course.

Well, I must admit that it was a great story...and I must also admit that I made that same mistake once but also had a "happy" ending.
I was whitetail hunting in Idaho during the early stages of the rut when I called in one shooter buck (4X5) along with another small 3X3. I took careful aim and fired a chest shot from about 150 yards (The buck was facing me). After the shot, all I remember was seeing two white tails making a b-line for the trees. There was no sign that I hit the buck and when I walked over to where they were standing I found no blood, hair, or anything else that would indicate that I hit it.
Well I sat back down, going over the scenario in my head over and over for about 45 minutes before I decided to head back to my rig for a bite to eat. I got about 100 yards through the brush before I decided to take ONE LAST look around in case I missed anything.
I searched around the area where the bucks were standing for a good 20 minutes before walking slowly in the direction that they took off. About 5 minutes later a found a SMALL drop of blood on an old deadfall and not 30 seconds later I turned to my right and there he was, the big 4X5 laying dead about 50 yards off the trail.
If I had given up and continued back to my rig that poor animal would have been waisted! I WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AREA AFTER A SHOT UNTIL I AM 100% SURE THAT NOTHING WAS HIT AFTER THAT DAY!!!!!

CONGRATS to the lady shooter though..that is a fine lookin' buck!

great story and i hope they learned a lesson also

Thanks for the story. :thumb Brett, now I'm looking forward to your story of your buck.

Man I'm dragging these out so long, even I'm having a hard time keeping track.

Lets see if I can't put wrap on this story...

If you remember back at the beginning of my story here is my decision...

Come to find out a relative had checked the area the DAY BEFORE opener and WALLA they were back in the area (or some of them.) 2 definite shooters...a 28" 4point and a 4x6.

Problem is we have 6 tags amoung our party. After some debate and humility... I decided the relatives will get the good spot and crack at the big ones.

So after about mid-day of the opener, I stopped for some food and my Dad called his brother to check in on my relatives success or lack thereof.

Turns out they did really well and ended up getting 2 of the bigger bucks, the biggest one left the area. But they ended up getting a nice 4-point and a 4x6. Can't complain about those at all, I was really happy and excited for them. Not going to lie though, I would have liked a crack at them. :)

So here are the pics, not the best sorry...they forgot the digital and used the cheap disposable camera they had.

This is Brad Wilson my cousin with the nice 4-point, not really wide but a great buck with good eyeguards and nice forks.

http://www.muleymadness.com/gallery/d/18787-1/brad_001.jpg" alt="" />
http://www.muleymadness.com/gallery/d/18783-1/brad_side.jpg" alt="" />

My cousin Steve Wilson with a 4x6, hard to tell from the pictures.

http://www.muleymadness.com/gallery/d/18789-1/steve.jpg" alt="" />
http://www.muleymadness.com/gallery/d/18785-1/brad_steve.jpg" alt="" />

So several people have inquired as to how Mr. MuleyMadness did himself!

Lets just say I took a 'meat' buck and am a little embarrassed to post a picture of my little dink after all the big ones I've posted and found this summer. I've realized I spend to much time finding the ones I can't hunt.

But the reality is I LOVE photoghraphy. And most times would rather 'shoot' a buck with the camera.

Maybe next year I can get out more on the general unit and get a respectable buck. I may have to sign up for Dedicated Hunter again?

I don't hunt on Sunday's and had to Teach school the following Monday. Makes it pretty tough to back a nice buck with 3 afternoon hunts after school.

Anyone wanna see my dink, just for the heck of it?

NAH I didn't think so. :)

Now you know that you won't be able to get off that easy. We love seeing pictures no matter the size. We all know how much it changes from the nice summer days to the madness that comes with the hunt. Post away I"ll bet that your deer is bigger than the one that I didn't get. :)

Congrats on those fine Utah bucks killed by the Wilson clan. :thumb Mr. MuleyMadness Congrats on getting your Utah buck, Congratulations. :thumb I would like to see a photo of it.

yes, yes, yes. post a photo please congrats on a great hunt.

Yea lets see them.