Author Topic: 2012 Archery Mule Deer (Read 4024 times)

Weste · « **on:** October 09, 2012, 09:51:34 AM »

Well, after hunting hard with my bow for 15 years, I finally had it come together on a trophy mule deer. I have been chasing this buck all season and have been inside 30 yards two times earlier in the season. A friend of mine had taken up bowhunting this year and I have been trying to help him harvest his first deer. Both times he was with me and I was trying to get him a shot at this deer (Quite frankly, I thought this deer was 170" buck) and I was willing to hold out for something a little bigger. On Saturday, we set out again to get to find this buck and work a sneak in on him. After a 2 mile hike in the dark, we were near where the buck was living. We seen him and 3 other bucks within the first 5 minutes of legal light and the hunt was on. We followed him around for about 3 hours in the rolling hills and ended up about a mile from where we had located him in the morning. After another 2 mile hike to set an ambush, playing the wind and avoiding other deer from busting us, we were inside 50 yards on him. At this point, he was only with 1 other buck, and he was sleeping with his head sideways on the ground. After a short wait, he either seen or smelled something that he didn't like and was alert. He stood up and was looking in my direction, I loaded my bow and ranged his antlers at 44 yards. Unfortunately he was in a hole and his vitals were not visible for a shot. After a brief second he walked a couple yards to his buddy and gave me a clear shot. The arrow found the mark and he was on the ground in a few seconds. His body size is one of the biggest I have ever seen and certainly helped me under estimate the size of his antlers. Once I got to hold him, then I realized how big this deer really was. Let's just say there was a some field celebrating over the next few minutes. LOL Anyway, he has great mass with over 22" in mass on each side with a total gross score of 195".

Paul · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2012, 09:55:36 AM »

Fantastic buck Rick, well deserved, congrats!

sporthunting · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2012, 10:21:20 AM »

Great buck congrats!!

wildmeat · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2012, 10:45:29 AM »

very nice rick... congrats... hard work and patience pays off again!!!!

Sonny · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2012, 01:47:16 PM »

Wow what a beast...congrats.

Deputy sheriff · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2012, 03:06:48 PM »

Buck of lifetime, will look great on your wall.

walleyes · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2012, 04:37:14 PM »

Wow what a beuty.. Awesome read and pics to go along with it.. Thx for sharing..

jboutdoors5 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2012, 05:38:50 PM »

NICE BUCK!! Thanks for the story and the pics!

chicken · « **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2012, 07:13:51 PM »

Great mulie, congrats!

Primal · « **Reply #9 on:** October 09, 2012, 07:43:27 PM »

Wow, what a buck. Congratulations!

Doug N · « **Reply #10 on:** October 09, 2012, 07:55:21 PM »

Very nice!!

OL_JR · « **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2012, 08:21:59 PM »

What a friggin stud huge congrats to you!

Pottymouth · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2012, 10:07:32 PM »

sweet muley buddy ! congrats

CAN_bigbore · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2012, 10:15:55 PM »

very nice deer! Congrats

badback · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2012, 11:12:00 PM »

Right on Rick!!!

diamonddave · « **Reply #15 on:** October 10, 2012, 07:54:01 AM »

That is a great Mule buck Rick, congratts on a well earned trophy!!

Springer · « **Reply #16 on:** October 10, 2012, 08:26:09 PM »

Thats a Brute of a Muley . Congrats Weste.

Weste · « **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2012, 10:37:43 PM »

Thanks all. I am still having a hard time believing that I got him with my bow! LOL and I passed him up twice!! What was I thinking???

JIMMY 808 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2012, 11:43:40 PM »

Heck of a deer…

Weste · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2014, 09:48:32 AM »

Well got the big guy back from the taxidermist and I am very happy with the result. He seems bigger than I remember. LOL A big thanks to Levi and Kevin Wiebe at Top Notch Taxidermy in Coaldale, AB. They did a great job.

Author Topic: 2012 Archery Mule Deer (Read 4024 times)

Sonny

walleyes

Pottymouth