Big or Bust

I figured this would be a great thread as there appears to be some foodies here. I'll start. Chime in... Homemade pizza from start to finish, spinach pesto is the sauce...

Yeah. I didn't go to Mexico this year and my observations were for north of the border only. Rainfall is only one aspect of it in Mexico. We feel we have predator problems up here? Mexico is a different animal...

From what I've seen, coues deer are absolutely thriving and spreading into even more mule deer country. Activity was low this summer and some into the fall as I think they were in conservation mode due to poor monsoons which I've seen before and greatly limiting activity. I have not seen any buck or age class reductions from average.

Fourm needs some hunting content so I thought I'd post my January archery buck. Opener I missed him in his bed at 58 after a crawl. Arrow deflected on a piece of grass in front of him that I didn't see. Clean miss. Next AM before light an epic battle occurred below me. Couldn't wait to see what they were. The guy I missed the previous day got whooped and was being escorted out of the area. He bedded on the top of small ridge. Guy who kicked his butt was a big old guy with crabs all around. He got a pass. Solo stalks are fun with no spotter but I had a hunch he'd stay for a bit after his whooping. I started crawling up the slope stalking the bush he laid under. Stalk took 2 hours to get to 30. I got to 30 from the bush and no deer or sight of him. Figured he'd left but I've been burned before thinking I was done. So I stood up slowly and still nothing visible. Crept up standing. At 22 yards a big rack was now visible from a bedded deer. I couldn't see him as his face was in the dirt. I only saw him after he woke. So he's at 22 yards bedded, doesn't know I'm there. No play. He's gonna have to stand and walk left or right three yards for a window. 4 hours later after I watched nothing but his rack move, and listening to him groom himself, he stood, stretched, and started feeding. Shot was 28 yards. He went about 150 and bedded. Found him dead in his bed an hour later. Sorry for crappy photos. He's only 17+" inside but he's tall and forky and heavy and scores well.

He scores 176" and change...

I'm gonna dream about that dang sandwich(s) for weeks. xxxx.....

Elk pastrami reubens.....

Got some space on the deer wall freed up to hang up this weirdo.

He is not the knucklehead. 2 of our 4 capes were tossed in trash just last year...

Crustless pizza bake...

Lol. Come on man...

Strip loin.... Will be served with horseradish sauce, black beans, and homemade chips and guacamole.

Homemade chiliquiles. Merry Christmas all!

Looks giant in this one. These photos are proof of why scoring from pictures is hard and misleading...

Don't see anything near 170" from that photo...

Green Chile elk burgers and roasted sweets....

Wow, great finds...

Good job. Its very very tough prerut in the desert units this year. Poor monsoon, hot. The deer are in conservation mode and are not moving hardly at all during daylight...

Mujaddara...

Me too...

Elk hunting now. I'll get recipe on my return....lots if ways so make it, some easy but from scratch is way better....

Homemade King Ranch casserole from scratch...

Zebralight....

I have had horrible CS from Swaro unfortunately, multiple times. Glad you guys had better luck.