lancetkenyon

Looks like a perfect shot on a good buck. Congrats on the deer, the wife who took it, and the baby!

^ This. They have the entire state on 7.5 minute maps. You can get them laminated there too for a more permanent solution.

I wonder if the green tag in the ear is a G&F tag denoting either a poaching investigation, an animal hit by an automobile, or a lost animal found after a hunting season and G&F took the antlers? It looks to be fairly recent though, as it appears there are still eyeballs in the skull, and birds would be on this quickly. Also no apparent bloating noted from what I see, or signs of animal feeding on the carcass. Do not put it past some people to shoot an already dead animal. I have seen it first hand. Plus, if it is an animal that was hit and injured by a vehicle, then it would be legal for someone to take the antlers. I know if I clipped an elk and busted up my truck, the antlers would be at least a little compensation for me. I would take them. Care to shed some light on where this carcass is located?

Why is UA encroaching upon Devil's territory? Just kidding...but seriously. Bump for some much needed job opportunities.

BS. What an A-hole.

Is that a Coleman propane lantern in the blue hard case? One of mine died this week. Photos #1 & 3 next to the water jug.

Amazing job! Great buck, and awesome shot from a 10 year old. The adults ain't too shabby either!

That gutless method is the bomb. Used it this year on my muley.

Great buck! Congrats.

PCR Built: Stiller LA action Bartlein #5 contour fluted 5R barrel at 28" .280AI or 7WSM w. 168-180gr. VLDs McMillan A-3 w. adj. cheek in McMillan camo w. 700BDL bottom metal Jewell trigger @ 1# Spuhr rings Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 FFP PM-II LP/MTC/LT 5-25x56 w. P4L fein reticle.

Awesome buck. Congrats to the huntress!

Great buck! Congrats. Nice meeting you too.

Awesome double! I was hoping for that too, but no dice.

Awesome buck. And good times spent with family are made even better.

Great deer. Congrats.

2.5" group at 600 yards (assuming a 1" square on the bold lines)? You are golden. Nice shooting. Get a big one!!!

I have never looked through them, and know nothing of their quality. I know they are cheaper glass however in their budget lines. Like any cheap glass, they might appear to be pretty clear for the money at first, in perfect conditions. But who hunts in perfect conditions? It happens, but I would not want to rely on that scenario all the time. They do have a higher end line ranging up to almost $1K, but for that kind of $$$, I would go with a brand a little better known, and one that carries a lifetime warranty, not the 5 years that Vixen offers. Like Meopta, Vortex, used Swaros, cheaper Leica or Zeiss, etc. Here is the thing with cheap ($100-300) glass. The center clarity might be comparable to mid range glass at full light and moderate ranges, but in low light conditions or longer ranges, the higher priced stuff will really start to extend the gap in quality difference, even in mid range ($500+/-) glass. Another BIG thing is eye fatigue. I just got back from a mule deer hunt, and I spent literally 10 hours a day minimum behind my binoculars. With a lesser quality glass, you will have a headache after a few hours. I never had any issues with headache, eye fatigue, etc. To ME, that is worth every penny I spent. With higher quality glass, you also get much better resolution, clarity, and color representation. On my hunt, we were consistently glassing up chipmunks/ground squirrels from over 1000 yards. We could also distinguish the difference between Abert's Squirrels, Kaibab Squirrels, and Pine Squirrels at 1000+ yards. Try doing that with a pair of $100 binoculars. When you can see a buck at 838 yards, and make out the 3x3 frame with small eye guards and weak front forks and know he is not a shooter with a 10X bino 30 minutes before sunlight in a shaded deep timber canyon, you will thank the makers of quality glass profusely. I guess the BAD thing with high quality glass is seeing all the bugs, birds, squirrels, floating seeds, mirage, etc. will distract you with seeing the movement from time to time. You won't have to worry about that with cheap glass, allowing you to concentrate on trying to make out the blurry movements you might notice across a 1000 yard canyon. If you are new to hunting, hunt only occasionally, or do not sit for hours behind your glass, I think most people would be fine with a $300-500 piece of glass. But glass is like most other hunting equipment, once you start using them more frequently, you will find out shortcomings and want to upgrade after a while.

Awesome photos and congrats on a cool Coues.

Sold my rig about 2 years ago. It was getting neglected and needed someone new to beat on it. It is now being raced in the Dirt Riot series and doing well from what I last heard.

Not sure about a younger buck, looks mature, but maybe not in his prime yet. The article states people have "seen the buck several times in recent years." Meaning at least a 3.5 year old buck. I am surprised he lasted as long as he did. Albinism is a genetic defect, so yes, technically bad genes as far as coloring goes. Maybe not in antler growth genes though. I would definitely shoot this one. He sure would be difficult to hunt in November/December/January timeframe in Michigan. I am glad deer are not like Snowshoe and Arctic hares and Ptarmigan.

Here was the extent of my blaze orange this year...

Phoenix Custom Rifles. They are in Tempe, but amazing work and even better customer service. Quick turnaround too. Even for full builds. They quoted me 2 days on some service to one of mine, and Keith called me two hours later to tell me it was done, for less than I expected to pay.

.25-06 Ackley Imp. Shooting a 115 Berger VLD. With the 28" barrel, shoots like a .257 Weatherby at 3400fps down in the Valley. Deer hate it.

One other thing, I talked to about 15 different guys who said they "took shots at a 180" 32" wide 4x4 but missed". One of 6 things happening here: 1. There are at least fifteen 180" 32" wide 4x4 bucks running around up there that are not very smart to be seen. 2. There is ONE very lucky 180" 32" wide 4x4 up there wearing a Kevlar vest. 3. There are lots of terrible shooters out there. 4. There are lots of guys who can't score a deer on the hoof even remotely close. 5. There are lots of liars out there. 6. Answers 3/4/5.

Sorry, I was starving. Anyway, as I was packing out the first trip, they guys I met that morning glassed me up coming out of the canyons apparently. I saw them the next morning, as the story continues. Monday night, I called the wife and kids to let them know I had a deer down and would be heading home the following day depending on how the pack out went. I loaded up 90% of my camp leaving only the tent, air bed and sleeping bag unpacked. Got to bed about 9:00PM Tuesday: Up at a leisurely 5:00AM. Head out to start the pack out and arrived below my normal ridge wondering if my new friends were up watching me. Started in with only my trusty frame pack, plenty of water and Gatorade, and my Havalon knife (they are awesome and easy). I was a little worried about the meat as I have seen a decent number of coyotes in the area. Started in and immediately jumped deer. At first a doe and her fawn, then about 100 yards further, a small heard of 11 does, fawns, and one small 3 point buck. They circled around and I watched them top the ridge right where I was parked. Hiked the 3/4 mile in about 30 minutes with no weight and no need to be stealthy. Found the bed the deer had been in. I think he had the ONLY easy in/out location on the whole canyon side. From the back Front view Got to the deer just as the sun came up. Checked the 10' long blood trail, and was amazed at how much he had lost in so little of time. Nothing molested overnight. Typical .257" entrance just behind right shoulder/neck Big exit hole on left shoulder I got to the deer, and decided I was not going to carry any more weight than I needed to, so I boned everything out, bringing back ONLY meat. Weighed the rear quarters, front quarters, and half of the neck meat when I got home from my second pack out and it weighed 81#. Plus the other half of the neck, back straps and tenderloins and it was right at 105#. I was back at the truck by 9:00AM and loaded up. Heading out, my two new buddies found me on the road and we stopped and chatted a bit. I found out they had seen my packing out the day before, and watched my drive in and head out that morning. They came to congratulate me and just shoot the bull for a few. Super nice guys who live up in Flagstaff. Also gave me some good info for my daughter's elk hunt next month. These types of guys are few and far between, and it was a true pleasure to meet them and share God's country. Seems like one out of 50 are like this, and they are becoming extinct. There were many bad experiences during this hunt, mostly due to inconsiderate or just plain idiotic people, but these two guys are the type that need to be commended. Just good all around guys. Got home yesterday evening to a happy wife and kids. Dropped the deer off at Krueger's Creations last night too. Tell me if you think, these guys are related? 152' away from each other, and look at the similarities between the two. 2012 buck 2014 buck