My WY mule deer

Tactical .20

Tactical .20

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I stalked this nice 4x4 after spotting another a mile off the road. I came up toward where another 4x4 had disappeared into a patch of trees. I spotted a deer body in a small bowl, head down feeding. I dropped to crawl closer from 20 yds. I saw a 4x4 rack when it raised its head, thinking it was the narrow 4x4 we spotted from the road. I stood up for the shot, to clear the sage and grass, its head was still down. I had to step to the left a couple feet to clear as it stepped up the edge of the bowl, then it was clear and I let the arrow go at 12 yds.
The buck ran off a little funny like, I found it was shot through the heart. I wasn't sure about the shot at the time, I went to see where it went over the hill. I was suprised to see how wide it was, I thought 26". I had to drag it a mile or more to the road, thank the lord it was down hill! It measured 27" wide, 160+ inches, 4x4 with thick bases, and stickers on the lower main beams. Unbelievable hunt, thank you my friend JW, great hospitality, advice, help, outstanding time with good people!
Another guy in our camp saw a buck shed its velvet and missed a 50yd shot. I almost had a 180+ inch mule deer with velvet off, 2 mornings in a row. 1st morning we watched hm slip into a patch of woods after getting 50 yds from him. Then we spotted a tall(24-28") racked 3x4 in same spot as where I got mine. We walked 2 miles to stalk him, and a small buck took him away when we were at 80yds, 20 yds from a shot! Wow, what fun!! 12-15 bucks in one square mile!
JW showed me how to hunt elk, stalk western deer, cut up the meat and ground some of it. Thanks JW, your the MAN! We saw a wolf track, cougar track and monster sized black bear track at a very remote water hole.
I dedicate this hunt to Prairie Muffin, my friend, she needs your prayers if you can..
 
That's a great looking buck. Sounds like you found quite the hunting area. Congrats.

Quote:"JW showed me how to hunt elk, stalk western deer, cut up the meat and ground some of it."

I like that last part. There's nothing more satisfying than eating something that you took care of yourself from start to finish. Good hunting!

Nate
 
We ate some elk steak he let me try from last yrs elk. My wife even ate a little!! I will try the deer tomorrow, he says it tastes better than whitetail, blood didn't smell as strong. I can't figure out why I thought it was a small one before I found it expired over the hill, 80yds. I guess I was too busy trying to make sure I didn't screw this one up!
 
I did the same thing last year. My mulie grossed 179 1/8 and he got bigger every time I looked at him after the shot. His body was so big that his antlers were in proportion to it. I thought it was an average sized deer until the guys I was hunting with got excited. I could really tell the difference when it was hanging next to a smaller buck. Beats the heck out of ground shrinkage.

Nate
 
Very nice mule deer buck you got there TAC. Just what you were looking for.

Now, what REGION were you in?

AND, whats with PM and need for prayers for her? She IS a special person here.


Talked to a guy today who was trying to arrow one of our local trophys. He thought it was the biggest buck there. Who am I to argue!
If thats what he thinks, well, by golly, I am going to agree with him every time.....

 
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Wow, 179 is nice! I want that 180+ one next yr, if he survives!
I am not supposed to say where we were, my friend wants it that way. Personal message sent Dog1whckr. We did see large bear tracks, wolf track, and cougar tracks, at a remote water hole.
 
my prayers are out to prarie muffin.
i didn't know she was having problems.
P.M. your family here are praying and hoping you are OK.
 
Lets see,,,, Secret place with bear, mountain lion and WOLF track in Wyoming on the Bighorns,,,,hmmmm, yep, being on the Bighorn county predator board just paid off again.

Now, I know what region you were in, a very good place to hunt, and, your budies secret place is safe as far as the world is concerned.

My wife and I will be in REGION F, area 40 for opening day elk and mule deer. Also, there are bear, mountain lion, whitetail, but no wolf, in that location. Last time we were there we saw over a thousand mule deer in a 5 mile stretch and where we will hunt elk? there are three springs with 5 different elk/deer trails coming into them, all on private property that backs up to the national forest.

Its going to be fun!!! OCT 15th is just around the corner..

Later, Thanks for the PM. Check the response when you get a chance.
 
Heck we know there are no wolves in the Bighorns,lol! Sounds like a good place for mule deer, where you have your tags.
The rancher I used to trap for in Sheridan co was on the predator board, then they dropped out of the program to get rid of poor fed coyote control guy. They hired a good private trapper-killer. Thanks to him shutting me out, if I trap out west, I'll need all new area, he has all of it sewed up. 5 yrs since I trapped out there.
 
Tact you didn't have to do that But thank you!
& the rest of you
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I haven't been feeling well but I'm sure all is going to be fine..

Awesome pic & story
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Yeah PM, you ARE the best, just as TAC says.

TAC, I know the private trapper from sheridan county(Al) and they do like him over there. As to the wolves... In the last three years they have been showing up more often than we would like - as to be expected. Going to get real interesting since the head of our farm bureau just lost 31 sheep up there on our side of the mountain in 4 different incidences and the WS boys have not yet put the (wolf) predator on the ground. Now politics is on our side for a change.

BIG deer in the north end of the bighorns: Cause and rational works back to the fact there is a lot of lime stone in that area which enriches the antler size of the bucks. Now, if I could just rationalize that statement as to why we here in the 'hood here are seeing that same phenominon this year...................................
 
That's a real trophy Tac, 12 yards? Why can't I get that close to them with a rifle. I've got within 20 yds with a bow but never anywhere near that when rifle hunting. Must be the mindset or something. Sounds like you had a great hunt.

Praire Muffin, take care and have a speedy recovery. The best time of the year is fast approaching
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Maybe you got more rain than normal, they did in the area I used to trap. We sure did here! JW is elk hunting this weekend again, should do good now that they are bugleing.
I am hoping to make it back out to trap, haven't been out in 5 yrs. I went 10 yrs in a row, then things went to crap.
Looks like I found a place to stay, now I need to get this darn gps figured out, dang they are worse than a computer to run!
They should take lessons from F. Cummins! But then they might not be trying to put one on the ground. I wonder what I will do if I trap one,lol.
Do you get along with Lyman, trapped there last trip, NEVER again! I did ok in the Shell area, after leaving Ten Sleep.
 
Thanks guys that means a lot to me
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Extra Prayers are welcome! But I'm sure I'll be running wild before muzzle opens here, cause ya know that's when I get out my wolf and do some serious trick or treating...
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Tac.. are you getting that mounted????
looks like a wall keeper to me!
You should go back and trap.. so we can see all the cool pics!

 
Yup,PM, JW owns the company Bear Bones European Mounts, the skull is in the tank right now. He is coming to IA in Jan, but I can't wait that long!
I am going to do my best to get up enough money to trap out west this fall, 5 yrs is too darn long, I never expected to go this long without a trip! And I always have my 35mm camera!

May God bless you PM, best of luck on good news!!!!! Can't wait to find out, got to be good news! Prayers will be tripled!!
 
PM, same thoughts as TACS here as well..............

Yeah, I know Lyman. GUARANTEED to have predator problems.
Thinks anyone and everyone can/should/oughta kill HIS problem predators. Barnett,and Nielson are pretty near the same way as well, and, if they don't think your doing a very good job of it(which is most of the time), they are going to tell you all about it...

Look into Flitner as they have a lot of ground and raise cattle instead of sheep. They MAY let you trap there with a minimum of back flash fire. Redlands and Hamilton may be reasonable as well. Hamilton was the one who had wolf problems on the mountain recently.
 
I think Barnett lived near Shell, right? He was nice to me, gave me a house to stay in. I thought he sold the place? I'll keep the names in mind, I would prefer the east side of the mountains. There is coal shale there, and taller sage brush. I might go further south, where there is more blm land.
I have a place in Gillette to stay in, that will help a lot, but might need to travel and sleep on the road a few nights. There is a place or two I can probably trap north of Gillette, but I might do better south of there.
Whckr, let me know how deer hunting and ect go!
 


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