A MT Mule deer Hunt. Pic heavy!
Contributors to this thread:Mule Deer
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
This is the story of my 2014 Montana mule deer hunt. It starts in March when special tags are drawn for deer and elk. I was lucky and drew a 270-50 mule deer buck permit. 45 tags. This unit peaked from 2002-2006. It still holds lots of deer and some great bucks. Its a HUGE unit with lots of roads and burns.. Here's the story of my hunt. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
March to June. I was talking to lots of people about the unit. Friends ,outfitters, FWP people and anyone that had any info. I have spent 100s of hours horn hunting this unit in early 200s. I have elk hunted here and even guided some for Joe A.K.A Mule Power.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Late July. Now i am scouting Alot. Lots of 4 am wake ups. In the truck driving the 100s of miles of logging roads in the Unit. Watching the boys of summer.HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
August 1 -13th. More early morning scouting trips. The deer where out good early from daylight to 7 am. I am seeing 100s of bucks. Just not a for sure shooter. I will keep looking. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Lots of these. They never get old. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Late August 20-25th. Things are starting to change. The weather is changing and so are the bucks.HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
August 24. i see my first hard horned bucks. This was the widest deer i saw all year. Just didn't split in the back. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
The future . HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
The pic for August 24th. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
This is what my front seat looked like all summer. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
August 30-31. I am watching 3 diffrent good bucks now. There is a great 5 by6 with a kicker and a nice clean 5 by5.HUNT
From: GhostBird
15-Nov-14
Keep it coming... we like pic heavy!
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Sept 6. Opening day. I was looking for the 5 by 6. Not long after daylight i find him. I move in with my hunting partner Roger taking pics. I had him 34 yards . But he broke his left g 4 off. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Mid day is spent in the shade of the truck glassing.HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Opening day ends with 26 bucks spotted and 8 with in 40 yards. A great start. We set up camp and make a plan for the morning. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Sept 7. Its a little slower today. We find some bucks but no shooters. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
From: Mark Watkins
15-Nov-14
Here we go! Bring it on HUNT!!!
Mark
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Sept 8-14. I hunt two afternoons. A few little bucks. I turn my focus to elk for the next 2 weeks. HUNT
From: Nick Muche
15-Nov-14
Love it buddy, happy for you!
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Sept 13 -28th. Elk time. I have a great elk hunt. I was in on 5 kills and had a chance at a booner. I also got to help a bowsiter get his first elk. Congrats again Trevor. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
September turns to October and the big bucks are hard to find. I hunt 5 days in Oct and never saw a 4 year old buck. But the rut is coming. HUNT
From: Mule Power
15-Nov-14
The end. ha ha
Take your time Hunt. Already a good story.
I'm glad I got the pic on the phone yesterday or I'd be saying hurry the heck up!
I had no doubt you'd get it done. I can't recall an unpunched tag with your name on it. Congratulations buddy.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Oct 27. It rifle season now. Lots of elk hunters out and Orange every where. I am carrying my bow and Roger is packing the Rifle. He has a whitetail tag and a wolf tag. Pre rut is picking up and the bucks are with the does. I find a nice buck and move in. To many eyes and 90 is as close as i can get. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
This will be a cranker if he makes it. 8 by 9 2 year old. HUNT
From: otcWill
15-Nov-14
Heck yea! I knew when ya said ya had a good tag there'd be a great story to follow. Thanks for sharing!
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 1 and 2nd. Weather is changing. I am seeing bucks all day and diffrent ones every day. I wait and make stalks on High Tines a clean 5 by5 in the 170s. He makes me look like a fool and wins the game this time. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
This is a nice buck in the photo. They love the burns. Easy to see them hard to get bow range. I am seeing 20 plus bucks a day now and bigger ones all the time. Have to love the rut. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 8th. Its going to be 60 today. On the way in this buck was thirsty. He didnt want to leave. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Roger sees a nice buck coming down the hill at daylight. We move in and i make the decision to pass. Had him broadside at 43 full draw. just not the one. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
We load up the packs and head in to glass. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
The sun is up and so are the bucks. We glass and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
We spot a buck pushing does I make a move and here he comes. I am full draw and its just a BIG 2 point. Dang. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
The day ends with a great sunset and more bucks. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
We got the wall tent up now. Wood stove is nice this time of year. We relax eat and make a plan. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 9. Up early to glass some open faces down low. Sheep and a few small bucks is it early. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Rut is in full swing now. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
It starts to rain and a weather change is coming. We take a nap mid day as it pours rain. In the evening we find a nice buck.HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 10. Cold 10 degree. We call off work and i head out for a evening hunt.
From: orionsbrother
15-Nov-14
Really enjoy the way you put together the pics from the beginning all the way through your hunts. Looking forward to the rest of the story.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
There is a buck crossing the hill in the pic above. I hit the can call. He looks my way. I hit it again and here he comes. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
A great buck. Broadside at 32 yards. Just not the one. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Its snowing hard . I head down to the truck in a white out. Ready for the next day.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 11. Veterans day. Thanks Guys. I head in to check some doe groups. Its cold 4 below. I find a great buck with some does. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
I call him onto 25 yards. weak fronts.HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
When i got back to the truck in the sun it was only 3. Burr. But the deer where up and moving. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 12. I had a Idaho deer tag and the season closes nov 20th. So i get up at 3 am and drive 150 miles to be in the stand by daylight. It pays off and i got a nice bonus buck. I had him loaded and on the road by 9 and in my mule deer unit by 2. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
I find some nice bucks but not where i can hunt. I do get some info about a big buck from a local. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 13th. Cold 10 below. I have a buddy with me today. Its nice to have the extra set of eyes. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
We see a ton of deer. This buck is moving in the photo. I had him at 45 but passed and then second guessed myself. He never gave me another shot.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
We get some info about a non typ. We head that way. We find 6 bucks on the hill chasing does. He is not there.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Nov 14. Its warmed up to 10 and is snowing. I plan to look for the non typ. First i was going to look at a doe group that had a different buck there the last 2 days. I find some does but no bucks. I thought that was weird and took another look with the spotter. Bang there a big one with a doe pinned down in a dead tree. I make a plan.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
I but the bow on the pack and grab the heads up decoy. They are 800 yards up the hill and in a steep cut.I grab the trekking poles and head around the hill down wind and out of sight for now. There are 3 does up the hill and the doe and buck in the cut. I get to the top in 15 mins and can see the 3 does above. I show them the decoy and hit the can twice. They see me and get nervous. Then the doe in the bottom gets up and i start ranging rocks and deer and stumps. I drop the decoy and hit the can. She looks up and here he comes neck stretched out and grunting. I come to full draw and dig my foot in to the hill. My bubble is maxed out to the right i level up and its gone. We have contact and he is sick fast. He beds head up. I duck down and slide fall and run around the hill. I pop over and there he is . I waste no time and stick him again. He slides down the Mountain. I am in shock. 19 days of hunting, 1oo s of bucks and he is down. Solo alone snowing i walk up to my buck. HUNT
From: M.Pauls
15-Nov-14
Fabulous story, please do keep on!
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
He is a beast of a deer. I sit there in shock. I just look at him for 2o mins. My whole life growing up in GA i dreamed of a buck like this. Now he is laying there in the snow dead.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
I move him and get set up for self timers. I wish Roger was here to take pics. HUNT
From: Bowhunter
15-Nov-14
Great job hunt man, thanks for sharing!
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Happy Happy man. HUNT
From: CD
15-Nov-14
Awesome story and pics! Congratulations!
From: JLS
15-Nov-14
Great story Hunt!
From: Backcountry
15-Nov-14
Way to go HUNT! Stoked to see you got it done!
From: GhostBird
15-Nov-14
Congratulations!!!
Thanks for taking us along.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
A few more self timers.HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
I drag him down the mnt . Its a chore takes hour and a half to make it down. I didnt care i was looking at this the whole time smiling. HUNT
From: trkyslr
15-Nov-14
Pic heavy! Hunt heavy! Muley heavy! Equals celebrate heavy! Congrats!
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
I get him down and loaded up after a struggle at the truck. Happy i hit the road. When i get home i hang him and wait for the boys to come over . He is a big deer. HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
When Roger and my buddies show up we take some more pics.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
HUNT
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
From: hunt'n addict
15-Nov-14
Congrats HUNT. Great story and pictures.
From: DWarcher
15-Nov-14
Heck yea! Congrats Hunt!
From: orionsbrother
15-Nov-14
You did a great job with the self-timed shots, Hunt!
Congrats! Great buck and a great job with the story.
From: bowbeck
15-Nov-14
AWESOME!!!! Love the way you tell your stories!! Congrats on a fine buck!!
From: nijimasu
15-Nov-14
WAAAAAAAHOOOOO!
From: mnbowhunter
15-Nov-14
Nice buck hunt.
From: Willieboat
15-Nov-14
Thanks for sharing.
From: DL
15-Nov-14
Have you been Putting in for a Bighorn tag for that area? Congratulations on a nice buck.
From: Jbow
15-Nov-14
Nice work! Great story and photos!
From: elkmtngear
15-Nov-14
Great Thread Hunt Man!
Congrats, Sir!
Best of Luck, Jeff
From: cnelk
15-Nov-14
Great story, pics and hunt! Congrats!
A refreshing change form the 'mobile live WT' hunts!!!
From: drycreek
15-Nov-14
Thanks for the ride HUNT ! Agreat story and a great buck. Congrats to you !
From: svrelk
15-Nov-14
Dang! Great job!!
From: Ermine
15-Nov-14
Awesome story and awesome pics! What a buck and badass hunt
From: deerslayer
15-Nov-14
Congrats Hunt, that is awesome! I had complete confidence in you as usual. Congrats again on a great buck.
From: AndyJ
15-Nov-14
Awesome HUNT MAN!!!! Congrats on a great buck! Thanks for doing this.
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Thanks guys. I have two buddies that drew the tag with me. One still has a tag and one got a giant with the rifle. Hope to post a few more kill pics. HUNT
From: sbschindler
15-Nov-14
I know a few guys who are driven to hunt, they go regardless of the obstacles that pop up, Hunter is one of those guys, Good job, you deserved what you got,
From: trevore
15-Nov-14
congrats!
From: SteveB
15-Nov-14
Congrats! What a great hunt a d a great buck
From: TurkeyBowMaster
15-Nov-14
Nice hunt and congrats on a good one!
From: Lucas
15-Nov-14
Congratulations and great writing!
From: mountainman
15-Nov-14
Great deer and great write up. Thanks for bringing us along. Congrats.
From: Mark Watkins
15-Nov-14
HUNT, congrats on a giant....you persevered and beat him on his own terms!
Maybe you can elaborate....what are you shooting for bow, arrow, sight, rest, BH, release, etc these days?
Mark
From: Jaquomo
15-Nov-14
Fantastic job with the photo essay and with an awesome buck. Thanks so much for sharing this with us! This was really inpirational for me right now, out on the plains alone, wind chill about -10, snowing, bucks in lockdown and scarce. Your thread encouraged me to bundle up and head back out.
Congratulations, Hunt!
From: t-roy
15-Nov-14
Love those big mulies in rut!
Great buck & story as well!
Congrats
From: HUNT MAN
15-Nov-14
Jaquomo, Thanks i learned alot from your hunts over the years. Good luck only takes one. HUNT
From: Beav
15-Nov-14
Congrats HUNT and thanks so much for sharing!
From: Eric B.
15-Nov-14
Awesome hunt Hunt!! Congrats
From: JTreeman
15-Nov-14
Congrats. Great buck. Happy for you brother!
--Jim
From: IdyllwildArcher
15-Nov-14
Hunt, I'm super happy for you. Grats man. Hell of a hunt and hell of a buck. Thanx for taking the time to post the story.
What a season! You'll remember this one forever.
From: Julius K
16-Nov-14
Hunt, thanks for sharng, your hunts are always a treat to read. It is amazing how many bucks you passed! Congrats.
From: Nick Muche
16-Nov-14
Congrats again bud! You get it...
From: turkey talker
16-Nov-14
Congrats on a hell of a deer and a hell of a story Hunt! Thanks for taking the time!
From: Chad429
16-Nov-14
Nicely done Hunt!! Congrats!!!
From: midwest
16-Nov-14
Way to go, HUNT! Beautiful, big buck, great story and pics!
From: 'Ike'
16-Nov-14
That's excellent Hunt, congrats! One month from today I'll start in Nevada, can't wait...
From: TEmbry
16-Nov-14
Congrats again man... You certainly deserve it. Can't wait to see this beast in person this weekend!
From: Bowboy
16-Nov-14
That's a great buck thanks for posting!
From: BLG
16-Nov-14
Nice ! Excellent in both the doing and the telling . Thanks
From: LongbowLes
16-Nov-14
Great bucks! Congrat!
From: Grunt-N-Gobble
16-Nov-14
Very nice. Congrats!!!
From: Caddisflinger
16-Nov-14
That's a lot of perseverance, Hunt! Nice buck, and greats photos.
From: Wirehair
17-Nov-14
Absolutely awesome! Congrats to u!
From: Mule Power
17-Nov-14
If you guys think he types a good story you should spend a few nights in a wall tent with Hunt. He has a helluva sense of humor too. The guy has had me laughing until I couldn't breathe. In tears! (Don't look Duke lol!)
Congrats again Hunt. The more I look at that buck the bigger he gets.
From: OFFHNTN
17-Nov-14
Great pics, story, and buck!!! Congrats HUNT!
From: rooster
17-Nov-14
Great hunt, and great buck! Thanks for sharing.
From: CurveBow
17-Nov-14
Congratulations and thanks for the great write-up and photos!
>>>>-------->
From: Surfbow
17-Nov-14
Excellent!! Great pics too, I'd be happy with almost any of those other ones at this point...
From: Fulldraw1972
17-Nov-14
Congrats Hunt. Great pictures and story for sure. That is a dandy of a buck.
From: ROUGHCOUNTRY
17-Nov-14
Hunt,
Good job dude, I knew the best bowhunter in Montana would get a nice buck!
From: GRoe
17-Nov-14
Great job...what a hunt! Thanks for taking the decoy.
GR Heads Up Decoy
From: GRoe
17-Nov-14
From: Bake
17-Nov-14
Awesome buck!! Congrats!
Bake
From: Florida Mike
17-Nov-14
Congrats Hunt! Very good buck, even better write up! I really admire your dedication. Mike
From: Wild Bill
17-Nov-14
Great buck, congratulations! Thanks for the story and all the pictures. I passed up two smaller bucks yesterday hunting in zero degree weather and was getting discouraged. I decided to look on Bowsite for Jacuomo's annual thread to get some inspiration. I found yours instead and now I'm ready to go back at it tomorrow.
From: Bullhound
17-Nov-14
Super sweet buck and even better job telling the story! congratulations on a job well done!!!
From: TD
17-Nov-14
-10.... good grief.... my thermometer doesn't go that low....
Congrats! That's a dandy, big body too. Well earned, well deserved. Good job.
From: Jasper
18-Nov-14
Man, what an awesome hunt and recap! Thanks for sharing!
From: HUNT MAN
18-Nov-14
Thanks again guys. To me this is what bowsite is all about. HUNT
From: COLO 3-D
18-Nov-14
Great buck and great story.
From: ScottParson
18-Nov-14
Great buck, Congrats!!!
From: Iaintafraidofnotag
18-Nov-14
Well earned smoker!
From: joehunter8301
20-Nov-14
Awesome stuff buddy. Congrats. Love all the pix
From: Beginner
20-Nov-14
Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing.
From: T Mac
21-Nov-14
Outstanding HUNT! Really enjoy the short captions under the pics, makes for an easy read. Great job!
From: Medicinemann
21-Nov-14
Well done....both the hunt and the story telling.
From: steelhead
21-Nov-14
Awesome!!
From: Barty1970
01-Dec-14
Many thanks for sharing; congratulations on taking a cracking buck
From: TurkeyBowMaster
01-Dec-14
I didn't know eagles had beards.
From: sticksender
01-Dec-14
Very nice Hunt Man. Glad that Barty brought this thread back to the top, because I missed it the first go-round while away on a hunt. Great looking buck.
From: Ridge Ghost
02-Dec-14
What an awesome thread. Nice buck and great story/pictures!
From: Bernie1
02-Dec-14
Great Buck! Congrats!
From: bill v
02-Dec-14
Awesome Huntman, Congrats!!
Thanks for sharing.
Bill V.
From: spike buck
03-Dec-14
Excellent thread. Congratulations on a real trophy!!
From: willliamtell
04-Dec-14
That one is gonna feel good forever - way to stick a wall hanger.
Who took the pix? As good a job on that end as I've seen - and excellent optics. Were you digiscoping those through your Swaro?
From: Randy11
27-Dec-14
Heck yeah Hunter, great buck! I missed this thread and have been wondering how your hunt ended up coming together.
Way to make the most of the tag!
From: Bigpizzaman
27-Dec-14
Damn I missed this thread! Congrats Man!!
From: Notnormal
27-Dec-14
I missed this one also. Probably hunting too much. lol
Looks like a couple yard sales when you open the back of that 4runner.
It is crazy how much gear we carry with us to hunt.
Thanks for sharing
From: Yotkilr
27-Dec-14
Great buck and awesome pics. Thanks for sharing
From: mt hunter22
07-Jul-15
Great story and great hunt.. Congrats
From: ermont
23-Sep-15
You earned it! Congratulations.
From: Mark Watkins
24-Sep-15
Ermont,
Thanks for bringing this back.....a Bowsite classic!
Mark
From: MallardSX2
12-Nov-15
I love the pictures!
What do you do for a living that allows you this much time to scout?
Im assuming you live there?
From: Nctrapper
02-Jan-16
Great hunt recap
From: HUNT MAN
02-Jan-16
Thanks again guys. Best of luck and may your arrows flight true in 2016! Hunt
From: kota-man
02-Jan-16
I missed this one as well. Must have been "busy" this fall. Congrats on a great hunt, Hunt.
From: BOWUNTR
02-Jan-16
Missed it too... bad ass.... congrats. Ed F
From: FLGator
02-Jan-16
Congratulations and thank you for sharing! Fantastic trip report, wow!!!
From: Two Feathers
04-Feb-16
A classic indeed!
From: SedaliaJay
05-Feb-16
Awesome story!! Great buck! Congrats!
From: JimmyT
05-Feb-16
Sweet! Congrats, that was a good read
From: Dooner
05-Feb-16
Great story, and pictures:-) I love Mule Deer hunts. Thanks for sharing.
From: JimmyT
07-Feb-16
Sweet! Congrats, that was a good read
From: Butternut40
07-Feb-16
Great story and an awesome buck. Thanks for sharing.
From: JimmyT
12-Feb-16
Sweet! Congrats, that was a good read
From: HUNT MAN
02-Dec-22
One more from the past!!
