Finally filled my buck tag...First Trad Mule Deer

[snakebit40]

Well after another roller coaster year I finally filled my buck tag today.

I've spent hours and hours this fall reading books on mature whitetail, scouting whitetails, and spending even more hours in a treestand for whitetails. I did fill a doe tag mid October, but no mature whitetail bucks passed by me.

Anyways I'll get to the story.

I was working this afternoon pulling some old barb wire fence when my father in law pointed out a mule deer out in the middle of a pasture. After glassing him I decided he was a pretty nice buck. My father in law asked if I thought I could get him, and of course my reply was yes! I don't know why but it just felt right, the wind wasn't blowing but maybe 10-15 mph so it wasn't exceptional stalking weather.

So I run home get my bow and go back to the  pasture. Good he's still there. I'll try and set this up for you. He was facing east with a south wind. He would look north and east a lot. So I got behind him from the west. Once I was straight west of him the boots came off.

[centaur]

[Cookus]

   

[snakebit40]

Every time he would look to the east I would move, very slow and cautious. Then he would look to the north and I just knew he was going to bust me, but he would calmly look back east. He had his ears tucked back and down the whole time. Slowly but surely I was getting closer. 30 yards, I think I can get closer than that. 20 yards, this is pretty close but I would really like to get the little nob in front of me. Finally after a couple scares at about 15 yards I settle for a 12 yard shot. He was laying down but quartering away from me. I pick my spot, draw, and the arrow is gone. I hit about 2 inches left of where I was looking but it still hit his spine. After a quick well placed heart shot he was done within 10 seconds.

[A.S.]

     

Tim sent me your pic...congrats!!

[bretto]

Congrats Jon. Can't wait to hear the story and see the pics.

bretto

[snakebit40]

And here is my first mule deer with a trad bow!

 

 

When I finally got back to the farm I grabbed my 18 month old son and got him in on a pic.

 

Thanks for coming along!

[huntnmuleys]

geez that's a dandy!  wow

[centaur]

That's a tall sucker! Nice deer!

[Bob B.]

Jon,

That is an amazing buck!  Good on ya buddy!

Bob.

[elknutz]

Well done!

[Hawkeye]

Fine hunt!  Congratulations on pulling it off...  

[snakebit40]

Thanks for all the kind words everybody!!!!

I guess I should put my specs-

I was shooting a 71@28 Schafer Silvertip with 350 Heritage shafts and 200 gr. VPA three blade on the front.

[Sawpilot 75]

Holy smoke! Nice buck.

[ChuckC]

Excellent deer.  good job there.

ChuckC

[South MS Bowhunter]

What did Pa in law say after the fact, hehe?

[Orion]

That's a very nice first mule deer.  Might be hard to beat that one for a while.  Congrats on a job well done.      

That is an awesome buck. I love how tall that rack is!

Congrats,

Bisch

[bretto]

Nice Buck!!

bretto

[jt85]

HOLY COW!!! What a buck