Mule Deer Bucks Down...and a wolf

270quest

WKR
Joined
Jan 31, 2017
Messages
624
Location
Boise, Idaho
It was another good year here in Idaho. I spent all my summer scouting for my Antelope super tag, so no scouting time was spent in our deer/elk area. Truth be told, I have hunted this area for 20 years - I know were the big bucks usually are and how to hunt it so I wasn't worried too much.

My 11 year old son harvested his first buck last year as a 10 year old- a nice 22" 4 point. This year, due to Year around Travel Baseball and Football, he could only spend a couple days with me hunting. Said he wasn't going to be picky, so on his second day, we found this little 2 point and it was go time. We snuck within 191 yards and he put a 139 scenar out of my 6.5 prc in its neck and down it went. 2 bucks in 2 years and not even 12 yet - he did well and was extremely excited.

IMG-5450.jpg


The next day me and my buddy got into some elk, I had a raghorn bull with 3 cows at 480 yards. Elevation was correct, but I didn't account for the wind blowing across the canyon. I missed just in front of the bull and off they went. My buddy however had dropped down the opposite side drainage in an attempt to find a big bull we thought lived there. While down there he hears a wolf howl so he starts cow calling. Within a few minutes, this big 105 pound dog comes straight to him and he smokes it at 42 yards. (300 RUM was just enough gun lol) On a side note - damn these things stink like hell while skinning - worst than the worse mange coyote.

IMG-5436.jpg


We had another youngster in camp that had never shot a deer. 13 year old young man that was brought up by another one of our buddies. He asked if he could go with me on the mountain as I was going into my honey hole that evening and I said sure. As we got in there, I immediately started spotting deer and was frantically looking for horns for his first buck. Looked a bit lower and found this guy bedded looking up at us at 320 yards. I kind of forgot bout my young hunter as this buck was a monster. I hear him whisper - "can I shoot it?" Man for a second that was hard, but said sure - you get the first shot - if you miss - I'm going to shoot him, We both got setup prone and dialed in ready to go. He shot - and didn't miss. He was overwhelmed in joy and was almost in tears. His first ever buck a 180" 27" wide stud. Awesome to share that experience with him. (He killed it with a 30-06 shooting 150 grain ballistic tips)

IMG-5492.jpg


On the last day of the season, I still hadn't killed anything for myself. We went into a big basin and found 24 elk. As we searched for a bull - which we couldn't find - just cows - I noticed a 25-26"160 class deer on the other end of the basin and I decided to go after him. I crested the last little ridge in-between us that was going to give me about a 250 yard shot, and nothing. He was gone - somehow gave me the slip. I decided to head back and check on the elk. I walked about 30 yards and just had a gut feeling to glass the cliffs that were a few hundred yards above me. As I did so, I found this 3x4 buck and decided to kill him. 139 scenar out of my 6.5prc dropped him in his tracks.

IMG-5499.jpg


The next day after deer season closed, we went into this same basin looking for elk and found a legit 30" 200" class buck bedded in the rocks not more than 100 yards from where I killed my buck. Here's hoping he survives till next year - Ill be back in that spot looking for him.
 

mike.adams.467

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 15, 2016
Messages
262
You are a true sportsman. Nice job. And, thanks for killing a wolf!


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OP
270quest

270quest

WKR
Joined
Jan 31, 2017
Messages
624
Location
Boise, Idaho
I have harvested two deer within a couple inches of that one and harvested another deer that’s bigger than that one so really all I was doing was saving myself a taxidermy bill. Lolol
 

srfdmatty

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 26, 2018
Messages
107
Location
Norcal
Nice work. You may have just hooked a young hunter for life with a big buck like that!

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PNWGATOR

WKR
Joined
Oct 14, 2014
Messages
2,613
Location
USA
Congratulations on an EPIC trip!

Taking your son and the other young man hunting create memories for everyone that’ll last a lifetime. It’s a testament of your character that you helped that young man kill the buck of a lifetime!

Very, very well done.

With your due diligence, hard work, knowledge of the area and the good karma you’ve earned, I recommend saving your pennies for a taxidermy bill in ‘20.
 

OXN939

WKR
Joined
Jun 28, 2018
Messages
1,790
Location
VA
It was another good year here in Idaho. I spent all my summer scouting for my Antelope super tag, so no scouting time was spent in our deer/elk area. Truth be told, I have hunted this area for 20 years - I know were the big bucks usually are and how to hunt it so I wasn't worried too much.

My 11 year old son harvested his first buck last year as a 10 year old- a nice 22" 4 point. This year, due to Year around Travel Baseball and Football, he could only spend a couple days with me hunting. Said he wasn't going to be picky, so on his second day, we found this little 2 point and it was go time. We snuck within 191 yards and he put a 139 scenar out of my 6.5 prc in its neck and down it went. 2 bucks in 2 years and not even 12 yet - he did well and was extremely excited.

IMG-5450.jpg


The next day me and my buddy got into some elk, I had a raghorn bull with 3 cows at 480 yards. Elevation was correct, but I didn't account for the wind blowing across the canyon. I missed just in front of the bull and off they went. My buddy however had dropped down the opposite side drainage in an attempt to find a big bull we thought lived there. While down there he hears a wolf howl so he starts cow calling. Within a few minutes, this big 105 pound dog comes straight to him and he smokes it at 42 yards. (300 RUM was just enough gun lol) On a side note - damn these things stink like hell while skinning - worst than the worse mange coyote.

IMG-5436.jpg


We had another youngster in camp that had never shot a deer. 13 year old young man that was brought up by another one of our buddies. He asked if he could go with me on the mountain as I was going into my honey hole that evening and I said sure. As we got in there, I immediately started spotting deer and was frantically looking for horns for his first buck. Looked a bit lower and found this guy bedded looking up at us at 320 yards. I kind of forgot bout my young hunter as this buck was a monster. I hear him whisper - "can I shoot it?" Man for a second that was hard, but said sure - you get the first shot - if you miss - I'm going to shoot him, We both got setup prone and dialed in ready to go. He shot - and didn't miss. He was overwhelmed in joy and was almost in tears. His first ever buck a 180" 27" wide stud. Awesome to share that experience with him. (He killed it with a 30-06 shooting 150 grain ballistic tips)

IMG-5492.jpg


On the last day of the season, I still hadn't killed anything for myself. We went into a big basin and found 24 elk. As we searched for a bull - which we couldn't find - just cows - I noticed a 25-26"160 class deer on the other end of the basin and I decided to go after him. I crested the last little ridge in-between us that was going to give me about a 250 yard shot, and nothing. He was gone - somehow gave me the slip. I decided to head back and check on the elk. I walked about 30 yards and just had a gut feeling to glass the cliffs that were a few hundred yards above me. As I did so, I found this 3x4 buck and decided to kill him. 139 scenar out of my 6.5prc dropped him in his tracks.

IMG-5499.jpg


The next day after deer season closed, we went into this same basin looking for elk and found a legit 30" 200" class buck bedded in the rocks not more than 100 yards from where I killed my buck. Here's hoping he survives till next year - Ill be back in that spot looking for him.

Awesome story, man! That's some incredible hunting. I don't think anyone reading this can realistically say they wouldn't also forget momentarily about whoever they're hunting with after seeing a deer like the one that kid killed- that thing is a stud. Tons of good hunting karma headed your way for guiding him to that thing. Congrats on a great season!
 

mcr-85

WKR
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
1,069
Location
Southern Utah
Time well spent in the hills. Congrats and good on you for giving the kid the shot on the big buck

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 

isu22andy

WKR
Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
417
Location
IA
Thanks for sharing . Hammer muley for a kid. Karma will come around to you. That wolf is sweet to boot !
 

DeepForks

FNG
Joined
Jan 19, 2018
Messages
38
Location
Idaho
Great write up. Awesome season for sure in the great state of Idaho.
Karma will come around to you for letting that kid shoot his first giant buck. Nice job.
 
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,123
Great season and congrats to everyone involved!! Seems the 6.5/Scenar combo has been working well for you!
 
Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
2,191
Good sportsmanship. Hopefully he will remember that and allow another hunter to take a trophy one day.
 
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Messages
12
Congrats on the great season!

Kudos to you for giving that youngster the first shot! Very impressive! Shows alot of character!
 
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