My 2016 Buck

[ColoradoV]

Well in 2016 the stars aligned and I was lucky enough to have a archery hunt that ended up with a great buck and amazing story. I was also fortunate enough to have the story/pics published in the 2016 back country edition or July/August edition of Eastmans.

Took around 15+ days of scouting and 9 of hunting before on the last afternoon of the last day I had off of work - that it all came together. Here is a bit more about my hunt.

Last year in mid July I did not have a deer tag in hand but a LO tag was available so I was scouting where I thought I would be hunting. With the changes to the returned tag system on Aug 1 I was first in line with 4 choices to put in the machine and when they were punched in at 9:01 am sharp... "You got one" is what the guy running the machine said... What there were 4 great hunts on that list 1 high country rifle, 1 late season rifle, 1 muzzy, and 1 archery - what one could it be?? Next the printer was printing - Zip, rip, here you go.. I was hunting archery!

Well as the scouting started I turned up a few real good deer and they all got bumped down the list when I found the buck in the video below. This was the video from the first day I saw him in 2016.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM52HaOyPyg&feature=youtu.be

 

[Colorado T]

I just read your story this weekend in Eastmans, great buck for sure ColoradoV. Congratulations!! I remember emailing you before the season started and you told me you lucked into a good tag. Thanks again for all your help on my hunt!

 

[ColoradoV]

Thanks T glad that you and your father's hunt went well.

The first couple of times I saw the non typical buck he was a long way off and while I knew it was big buck I could only make out the frame and what I thought were matching in lines. A hike confirmed what I had thought as you can see in the video below. Real good mass, tall, with extra's. Only downside is his width.

The video below shows the mass and extras well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90lpblJ9AAE

Also it did not help that I had also found another buck... A big wide 31"+ typical who's video I shared before but the pics and video are below. It made for a hard decision on who to chase on the opener.

Also the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnbhAy3FgoM


Until the Thursday night before the opener I did not know what buck to chase but the typical won out in the end and on the friday before the opener I watched the big typical bed in the same place as usual. It was then I decided that I would chase the typical until the end of the season.

Well the next day there were other hunters in the basin and the big typical was in a giant group of 15+ bucks and with where he bedded there was no chance for a stalk on him. So I backed out and watched the other hunters put a good stalk and killed a very good buck that was in the group. Great for them but with a carcass in the basin as well as the coyote's that chew on such things. Well it would no doubt change the habits of the deer. Day 2 was spent looking over adjacent basins with no luck. It took until day 3 for me to find the big typical again. I saw him just after first light and he was with a small group of bucks. They laid down in a good spot for a stalk with a large drainage and scree slope as my road map.

I was able to get with in about 35 yards after a long stalk and the wait began. Two hours of watching those giant antlers rotate above the willows. A smaller buck was above me and when the wind changed he stood up. I drew and the big typical stood up 33 yds away but when he stood up he had moved and I had no shot. All I could see was his neck and head through a gap in the willows not a good shot for me and he soon moved across the basin. Day 4 I located him at first light then hunted him in the am. Lost his group in some steep cliff bands. I had made plans to head home for a night after day 4 and on the way out I ran into another group of well seasoned mule deer hunters. I wished them luck and headed home.

At a bit after first light on day 5 I returned I did not find the big typical. I saw the other hunters so went over and found out that they had gotten a shot and hit him the night before. They thought it was a good shot and they soon recovered the buck and I helped them pack him out. As I packed up and moved basins I wondered if the non typical would still be there. I had to return after day 9 so I thought I would have a chance with 4 solid days to dedicate if he was still in the area I had seem him.

 

[ColoradoV]

First light on day 6 I found the non typical but he was heading into some thick trees to bed and I moved all around all day but could just not see where he was. On day 6 he did not come out of the timber until about 30 min before dark. Day 7 was the same. He would bed below timberline in thick trees and could not be seen for a stalk. Frustration was starting to set in as I did not know if this buck would bed in a spot for a stalk. Day 8 it rained/snowed all day so there were no sightings of any deer I just got cold and wet. Down to the last day day 9. At this point I had only had a one night break. Hunting and living at 12,000+ feet all solo mentally is tough and the rain/snow/cold almost sent me home early but instead I decided to change vantage points to see if I could catch where he would bed and have a chance at a stalk.

I found him in the same spot as usual heading into the same tree patch as usual but this time he bedded higher in patch and first I could see what I thought was one antler then it moved. I knew it was him and wasted no time getting down to the tree I thought he was under. I took my time step by step barefoot until I was about 40 yards from the tree. I drew and stood up hoping he would be there but nope. Bed was empty... There was a small game trail so I worked slowly along it and soon below me across a small field I saw one of the bucks he was with and the small buck was just over 70 yards away. He had to be close. I was patient and the wind was perfect, loud, hard, a good wind right in my face.

Soon I saw his rack and ranged the tree he was going to feed across it was 31 yards away.. A smaller buck had worked to the side of me about 40 yards away but I had to just risk pulling the bow and as he fed across the field I drew. He never stopped so it was a walking shot and as I as the bow released I saw the arrow stick in the tree just behind where he was standing. He blew out but laid down with in 30 yards. Then got up and bolted down hill.. I got my arrow and saw the blood tip to tip. I thought the shot could have been just a bit low due to the steep angle so I decided to give him 3 hours...

Well it was a long 3 hours I have never checked my watch so many times lol. I did not need to give him that much time as about 30 yards past where I had last seen him there he was with his last bite of grass still in his mouth. The shot was true.

What a hunt and on the last day to boot. I took more photo's all on a timer then started the solo pack out.

 

[Work2hunt]

Very nice. Thanks for the story.

 

[N.Y.ArcheryMadMan]

Congratulations on a Great Deer and Hunt......

 

[Bonecollector]

Congratulations bro. Thanks for the additional videos as it adds to the story.
I hope to someday have my own trophy animal story.

 

[Slugz]

Another great Colorado story from a hard working dude. That's just awesome. Congrats again!

 

[bigmoose]

Beautiful buck ! Great story and videos. Glad you were able to stay positive and shift to plan B. Congrats on a awesome hunt !

 

[ridgetop]

You did good. Congrats

 

[ColoradoV]

Thanks everyone - it was a fun July and August last year. While I try to hunt deer almost every year it has been since 2013 that I was last able to harvest a buck so for me when I get one it is reason to celebrate lol!