TaylerW
FNG
Thought I'd share my story from this season hunting Central Oregon.
I have been spending a good bit of time in a great wilderness area in Central Oregon for the last couple seasons. Was fortunate enough to take my first mule deer in 2016. Its not a huge area, and the numbers of animals are not the best, but I really like the spot. Its really rugged country with high craggy ridges and really deep draws, my average drop in from where I like to sleep to where the Elk live is around 1600ft in a pretty short linear distance.
Anyways, I got to hike in a few days before the opener which is always fun. On the way into my basin I spotted a group of 4 bucks all in velvet. A nice fork, two 3x3s, and a nice 4x4 with a kicker on his right side. I sat and watched till they went to bed.
Fast forward till opening day, I spotted a small fork buck in a meadow. He was in a good spot so I decided to make a play. The wind swirled when i got to 80 yards and the jig was up. Forky started to move away, then up stood the 4x4 from some thick brush.
Two days and several close calls with branch antlered bulls later, I was moving between basins around 10:00. It was pretty quiet moving on decomposed granite. To my surprise I see the fork buck just as he sees me, but he doesnt spook. Just continues feeding no farther than 25 yards give or take a few. Arrow nocked, I take a few steps to my right. As I clear a manzanita bush, 10 yards in front of me I see the entire body of a big deer, head buried in a bush and 8 fuzzy points poking out of the brush. Draw back and send him the arrow. Hits where I aimed, and he is done in about 10 seconds and 40 yards. Watch him fall. Broke him down and one tripped him to the truck. Around 130lbs meat and head. He scored 156. Now I wait for the call from the Taxidermist!
I have been spending a good bit of time in a great wilderness area in Central Oregon for the last couple seasons. Was fortunate enough to take my first mule deer in 2016. Its not a huge area, and the numbers of animals are not the best, but I really like the spot. Its really rugged country with high craggy ridges and really deep draws, my average drop in from where I like to sleep to where the Elk live is around 1600ft in a pretty short linear distance.
Anyways, I got to hike in a few days before the opener which is always fun. On the way into my basin I spotted a group of 4 bucks all in velvet. A nice fork, two 3x3s, and a nice 4x4 with a kicker on his right side. I sat and watched till they went to bed.
Fast forward till opening day, I spotted a small fork buck in a meadow. He was in a good spot so I decided to make a play. The wind swirled when i got to 80 yards and the jig was up. Forky started to move away, then up stood the 4x4 from some thick brush.
Two days and several close calls with branch antlered bulls later, I was moving between basins around 10:00. It was pretty quiet moving on decomposed granite. To my surprise I see the fork buck just as he sees me, but he doesnt spook. Just continues feeding no farther than 25 yards give or take a few. Arrow nocked, I take a few steps to my right. As I clear a manzanita bush, 10 yards in front of me I see the entire body of a big deer, head buried in a bush and 8 fuzzy points poking out of the brush. Draw back and send him the arrow. Hits where I aimed, and he is done in about 10 seconds and 40 yards. Watch him fall. Broke him down and one tripped him to the truck. Around 130lbs meat and head. He scored 156. Now I wait for the call from the Taxidermist!
Last edited: