lancetkenyon

Great deer. Congratulations and I am very glad you recovered him so quickly.

2012 was a great hunting year for me. I did not take a record book deer, did not get drawn for elk or antelope, but fantastic memories were made for all involved in it with me. It all started when I called AZGFD when the results were out for deer. I had drawn a 12AE early deer tag...finally. I had heard from numerous people and even professional guides, that this year was the worst in 12 years for antler growth in northern AZ. They had photos/video of deer from last year that were 200"+ and they were expecting to be in the 230-250"+ categories, that were only going 180" this year. And these guys know their deer. First scouting trip was over Labor Day weekend with my family, and my brother and his wife. It snowed on us Sept. 1st! Rained the rest of the time, but had a great trip just hanging out and seeing lots of deer, but nothing big at all. I scouted up in my area numerous weekends after that first trip, and put in a lot of miles looking for a big buck this year. My efforts were a little disappointing, but I still had fairly high hopes. After hearing about the antler growth problems, I lowered my expectations a touch from holding out for a monster, to tagging a mature 4x4 or better. I had only seen about 20 bucks scouting, but had never really had time to put a lot of shoe leather on the ground. I had also only seen one shooter buck, and not an opening morning shooter at that. I did find out where a LOT of deer were hanging out with only 3 weeks left to the hunt opening day, and that helped boost my spirits some. I got up to my area the day before season opened, dropped my stuff at camp (I had left my trailer up there a month earlier for weekend scouting trips), and hit the hills about 1:00PM to glass some canyons. It had been very cold and windy (up to 40mph) all week, and was supposed to remain cold through opening day, but the winds were supposed to die down during the night. Hopefully making for a good opener. I glassed all afternoon, and hardly saw a deer where I had seen plenty before. I figured the wind had them all bedded, since deer get nervous when it is windy and they can't rely on their hearing/smelling to warn them of predators. It was only 38* on Thursday at 2:00PM, and still 30mph+ winds. If the winds let up, the deer should really be moving after high winds all week. (Friday 10-26-12) Opening morning found me up early, 4:00AM. Legal shooting light starts 30 minutes before sunrise, meaning I needed to be where I wanted to hunt by 6:17AM (6:47AM sunrise). I had hardly seen a soul during archery season, and any of my other scouting trips where I planned to hunt. Opening morning would turn out to be a freeway in my hunting area. I left camp (about 7 miles from my hunting area) at 5:00AM, thinking I would beat everyone into the area. Boy, was I wrong. While on the main highway, I could see truck after truck pulling into the large burn I wanted to hunt. Seriously, about 25 trucks were pulling into the area I wanted to hunt. Opening morning in the area is a road-hunter mecca, and I was prepared to hoof it to more remote canyons away from the roads. After following no fewer than 5 trucks that turned down the road I needed to be on, I was getting nervous. As one pulled off after another to stop and wait for light to start glassing, I kept going to the end of the road where the big canyons start. At 5:30AM, I hit the dead end and started getting my gear ready. It was a balmy 14*, but no wind! I layered up and put on my pack, headlamp and rifle and grabbed some water and snacks and hit the canyon. I had crossed the canyon that the road ran along by opening light, and topped out just as it was getting light enough to glass. Another truck pulled up behind mine, and I thanked the Lord I had beat him to the end of the road. By 6:15, I was glassing the next canyon over, and slowly stalking along the canyon about 3/4 of the way up the eastern ridge, with the light at my back if the deer were looking. Here is where is got fun: 6:30AM I can hear deer in the bottom of the canyon moving and glass up about 15 deer. 4 small bucks (two 2x2, a 3x2, and a small 3x3) and the rest does and fawns. I ranged them at 418 yds. and set my scope for 400 and sat down to see if another bigger buck would come in. Watched them for about 20 minutes when another small group came in. A single 2x2 buck and three does. After 10 more minutes, picked up, set my rifle back to my 200 yd. zero and kept stalking. 7:30AM See another group of deer walking down the canyon feeding. 3 bucks (two 2x2 and a decent 3x3), and two does and a fawn. Ranged them at 300 yds and set the scope just in case. They started feeding up the hillside I was sitting, so not to spook them off, I sat. They wandered down the canyon after about 20 minutes and I picked up again to keep going. Feeling better about my choice to hike now too. 8:30AM I jump a nice wide buck with a single doe out of a bed on the hillside I am stalking. I am thinking this is a shooter buck. I figure about 26" wide (outside his ears a bit on each side). I range him at 200 yds, but he is moving pretty good. Not stotting, but heading for the opposite ridge. I find an opening I think he will go through and range it at 366 yds. Set my scope to 350 (downhill shot) and get a decent, quick rest on a log. Low and behold, he walks into the opening and stops. I can see he is a mature 4x4, but his front forks were really weak, like 4" crab claws. The backs were decent. Here is my dilemma....he is facing straight away from my, but below me. I only have a spine shot. Now, my rest is decent, but not great. I am not a fan of flinging lead at an animal if I do not have an ethical, clean kill shot. If I miss by even 1" left or right, this deer could either: 1) Not go down right away, leaving a long chase, or 2) Not go down at all if only a single lung is hit, and not be recoverable. While I am thinking of this, he moves out after about 3 seconds. I still stand by my decision not to have shot at that time. So...he goes up and over the ridge. I can see the next canyon hill, and all down-canyon from where I am. Range the other canyon hill at 650 yds, set my scope and wait....nothing. Not up the other hill, or down the canyon. Off I jump to get to the top of the other side to see if I can locate this buck. 9:00AM Top of the other canyon, and glassing like crazy. The canyon splits into three fingers going up, and I know he did not go down canyon. Left canyon is pretty bare, glass it, no dear. Middle and right canyons are thick at the bottoms, but it is in a burn, so the sides are visible. Glass the two canyons...no deer? Cross the bottom and start up the ridge between the two canyons in hopes of jumping the buck again, and getting a clean shot. 10:00AM Top of the fingers, and now 3 canyons away from my truck. No deer on the other side either. Dang it. Glass the next canyon over and see a saddle I did not notice....could the buck have gone that far without me seeing him? Of course, he is a deer, not a fluorescent orange elephant. Cross another canyon and start glassing. No deer. Crap. 11:00AM Pull out my GPS and realize I am now 1.5 miles from my truck, and 4 major canyons away. Time to head back to the truck, grab some lunch, and head into the east canyons for the evening, so the sun will be at my back again, making it hard for the deer looking into the sun to see me. Think to myself....one last glassing of the three new fingers I see then head out. First canyon, nothing. second canyon, before I can even start glassing, I see a buck looking at me at the bottom, with two others in the brush. Binos up and notice he is a mature buck. Definitely not the same buck, not wide enough, but nice and tall. Right about his ears, so maybe 22" wide I'm thinking? But how many points??? Range him at 488 yds, set the scope to 500 and turn up the power to 20. In my scope, I can see he is a nice looking buck, but again, can't see how many points. Quartering on to me, head right, rump left. Plan my shot in case he is a 4x4, holding right at the front right shoulder. 11:05AM Deer is still looking at me without turning his head a bit. A 3x3 walks in front of him and heads up the hill to my right. Still looking at me. A small 4x4 walks in front of him heading up the same hill. As the 4x4 walks by, my buck takes a quick look to his left at the passing deer.....4x4 buck. Squeeze slowly and BOOM, the 100gr Barnes TSX is on its way! Deer does not move, jump, turn, flinch...nothing! Oh crap...did I just miss a buck at 488 yds??? The two smaller bucks take off like they are shot out of a cannon. Another buck, who I never saw, runs left and then turns right at me (luckily he was a 3x3 too). Chamber a second round quickly and just get my finger on the trigger for a second shot at the buck when he rears straight up, and falls backwards. DEER DOWN! No kicking, nothing, just down. Wait for a total of 1 minute and start heading down. 11:25AM Get to my deer....where is he? Look for about 5 minutes with no sign of him. Look back across the canyon to where I was and range my position.....425 yds. Oops, keep walking. 11:30AM My 2012 deer season is officially over. I have a mature 24" wide 4x5 on the ground. Months of planning, scouting, hand-loading, practicing, etc. are laid to rest.....wait....I am 1.5+ miles and 4.5 canyons away from my truck....the hard work has just begun! Snap a few photos, with my phone and camera, and think to myself....I forgot my bone saw in my truck, and I only have 3 knives? WT heck? OK, tag the deer so I am legal. This deer has a HUGE body, I mean I bet he was 200+ on the hoof easily. Bullet hit him just behind the shoulder blade on the right shoulder, took out the right lung, heart, and exited the left hip. I was pretty impressed with the .25-06 Ack Imp and the 100gr. Barnes TSX. OK, gut him in the bottom, skin him out up to the base of his skull and split the neck with a pocketknife and twist like I am in a serial killer movie. Head and cape are loose. Quarter him and hang the quarters in a couple tall burnt stumps about 6' off the ground. By now, even though it is only 38*, I am sweating like crazy. Still see your breath at noon. Beautiful day! So, I shed some sweatshirts/fleece and start tying them around the quarters hanging to keep the crows/coyotes off for the night. Prop open the ribs and lay it on the back half of the skin to keep it out of the dirt as much as possible. 1:00PM This is going to sound funny, but you hunters will get it. Pee all around my deer to try and keep coyotes from coming in, as I have to hike out the meat in the morning. Load up my tools and trash, sling my rifle over my back, grab the head/cape and throw it ver my shoulders and head out to the truck. Only 20oz of water left, so I need to take my time. 2:00PM As I top the second canyon (still 2 to go), I see a truck driving slowly on top of the ridge that my deer is laying at the bottom of. Great sign for packing out my deer meat, as it sure beats the way I came in, and am heading out now. 2:40PM Get to the top of the last canyon and see my truck. Out of water, out of fruit and snacks. Still a little over .5 miles to go. 2:50PM Bottom of the last canyon, my legs are on fire, my shoulders are on fire. Drop everything, lay down and take a 40 minute nap, just me and Bambi and my trusty .25-06 Ack Imp. 3:30PM Wake up, pack up and head straight up the last canyon wall. 3:50PM Make it to the road, still .5 miles of road to get to my truck. Drop the deer and rifle behind some low brush, and drop my pack by the road and walk back with nothing but my keys and an exhausted smile on my face. Jump in the truck, drive back to my pack, load up and hit the road back to camp by 4:15PM. Now my wife and kids are on their way up to spend the hunt with me for the next 10 days, but they left Phoenix in the afternoon. As soon as I get reception, I send text photos of the deer to everyone I can think of who would appreciate it. My wife calls back asking, "We're still coming up, right?" "dang skippy, I took off a week and a half from work for this vacation, see you in a few hours!" (Plus, my future son-in-law was coming up, and I needed help on Saturday morning to pack out the meat! I'm not as stupid as I act sometimes.) Saturday morning: 7:00AM Head out to find the road that is above my deer. So, I think I know what road it MIGHT be......turns out, luckily, we got within 1/4 mile +/- above my deer, and only one small finger canyon over. Got to my deer, nothing disturbed it overnight, and the meat feels like it has been in a chiller. Very cold to the touch. Cut out the tenderloins, backstraps, neck roasts and a touch of the rib meat. Leave the rib cage for the yotes. My oldest daughter packs the loose meat. My future son-in-law packs out the front quarters, and I get the joy of the back quarters. Luckily, I always bring my good frame pack, but needless to say, those hind legs are heavy! Back to the truck and camp within 4 hours. Spent the rest of the 10 day hunt kicking back with the family and dogs, hiking, eating, sleeping, campfires, varmint hunting with my little daughter, etc. The temps warmed up considerably, which was great for us, but horrible for the hunt. We usually see a lot of deer just driving the roads, and usually a nice mature buck every other day up there. We checked on other hunters at the lodge, and deer check station, and it was quite depressing. A LOT of small 2x2 deer were being harvested this year, and G&F said very few mature deer were being taken. Talked to a lot of guys in the field, and hardly any big deer were even seen. After the third day, hunters were all over the area I hunted, and seeing no deer at all. Talking with some guides, they stated they would have their clients shoot a deer like mine in a heart beat made me feel even luckier. Still have my mountain lion tag, and never got a shot at a yote, but had a great time. My oldest daughter and her boyfriend came back on Monday the 29th and dropped off my deer at Kreuger's Creations Taxidermy for me, and we kept the meat on ice while we were up camping. The tenderloins and back straps never made it home. The deer is extremely lean and not a bit of "game" taste to it. When I got back, I dropped off the quarters at a butcher I use, Sanchez Wild Game to be processed. Got some hot chorizo, hot green chili sausage, steaks, and jalapeno/cheese snack sticks made up. Got it back, and dang, good stuff. Great times with the family, great memories, and I thank God He let me take a nice deer cleanly and ethically to feed my family. I got to spend time in the field with my younger daughter just sitting over a tank watching wildlife (and waiting for a yote). Got to watch my bird hunting dogs learn to tree squirrels, even though I didn't have a .22 to shoot them with. Got to meet some new hunters in the field, and really enjoy God's wonder and beauty. On to some photos: The whole family taking time to hit the North Rim on a scouting trip... Play time with the young kid... On to the hunting... Freaking sissy citified dogs had to bundle up at night.... My 10 year old daughter waiting for a coyote to come in...

Update.... Got my deer back from Krueger's Creations yesterday and hung him on the wall. I can't be happier with the mount and the quality work Chris did for me. I also had a duck done from him last year. I swear, I think he GREW while at the taxidermist!

Awesome story. Congrats on the two trophies, and great memories stored away for years to come. Enjoy the good eats too.

Bushmaster .223 Ruger M77 in .22-250 Rem 700 BDL in .250 Ackley Imp. Mauser 98 with muzzle brake in .270 Win. Mossberg 500 20 Ga. Both my kids have shot these rifles. My older daughter took a deer with the .250 AI, and an elk with the .270 Win. when she was 11. My younger daughter, 11 year old now, shoots the .223 like crazy. She has also shot the others with no issues. She shoots the .22-250 into 2" groups at 200 yards all day long.

Got three pig tags in the household this year. My 11 year old daughter drew 20B/21 Jr. hunt, and my wife and I drew 21 general. Here is the issue...I have never hunted 21! Any suggestions for the 21 hunt besides scouting a bunch? I am just hoping to get my daughter and wife one. Will be both of their first big game hunts.

Looks like you shot that in Alberta rather than Arizona it is so big! Congrats on a buck of a lifetime. I am sure many long hours have been put in to harvest a trophy like that.

Wow! I still own that house, but my oldest daughter and her fiancé live there now. I assume you moved also? Are you the young guy with the backpack kid and drove the grey Chevy truck?

"Hunt Limo". It is long, black, and rides in style when hunting.

Depends on the conditions. I watched a deer hang in a camp a few years ago. They shot it opening morning, gutted it and hung it, no skinning though, or wrapping of any kind. It was on a 10 day hunt, and that deer hung in the open (including sunlight) for the entire time. Temps were from the low 20s-mid 50s. There is absolutely no way that deer was edible by the time they got it home. I watched it swell up like a balloon, covered with insects/birds, and was disgusted the entire time. What a waste of table fare. I am of the "Keep it clean, get it cool, and keep it cool" camp. I gut/skin/quarter as quickly as possible (within an hour of shooting/recovery), and get it in a cooler on ice (but not touching the ice or water). I have left game in a cooler for up to 14 days while helping others and the meat has always been very moist and tasty when I get back and get it to a butcher. Last year I had to quarter and leave my deer overnight in the canyon, but temps were about 40o at the time I shot it, and cooled to the 20s overnight. Got back early the next morning with help and packed it out. Meat was cold to the touch, but not frozen. The deer is now completely gone, but it sure was good eating!

Went back up yesterday for the day. Amazing how elk hunters can push the elk up into the deep timber, and allow the deer to come out. I did not see a single elk except one in a camp at first light....still had the skin on....and not gutted.....laying on the ground.....stiff as a board....starting to swell.......yeah. I got a few photos, but they are on the camera at home. Nothing big, but quite a few deer. More in one morning than in the last 3 trips combined. Good sign.

Both would be fair game in my opinion also. Both look to be nice mature bucks, with deep briskets and large bodies. The 3x4 has some decent mass. I also agree with the possibility of the injured 6x2, but without any photos of the backside of the buck, can't tell if he still has a pair or not. An arrow or bullet in the boiler room would sure help to solve the riddle...

Anyone take their kids squirrel hunting yet? My 11 year old daughter slayed them last weekend. Limited out in a couple hours. Outshot my brother too! Saw some bruiser bull elk, shot some squirrels, good times with the family. Heading back up in a few weeks to try it again. Taking the hunting dogs next time to try them out on squirrels instead of birds. Should be a blast. My two best hunting partners...my brother and my daughter. One proud papa.

Crap. Why did the photos rotate??? Oh well, tip your laptops over to see the photos....

I used to have pretty good luck around the areas north of Red Lake on the western border of 7W. Seen some monsters in there, but few and far between. That was in the past, but it was consistent in the past. It really seems like the deer population has dropped significantly in the last 10 years in the unit. I will be heading up periodically this fall, and will post more photos if I se any more shooter bucks in the unit.

I stalked this guy for 2 hours before he gave me the slip in 7W this archery season. I could not get closer than 90 yds. These photos were from 153 yds. Well within rifle range. I have been back up there a few times since then, and not seen a whole lot of deer like there used to be. TONS of elk though, including a few bruisers last weekend. One was a 380+ bull easily. Biggest one I have seen in quite a few years up there. Lots of nice 310-340 6x6s too.

Mine is a Rem 700 BDL in .300RUM with a few tweeks. HS Precision stock, trigger job to 3#, Vortex 4-16x50, KDF muzzle brake, etc. Took an elk with it back in the 90s when it was brand new, haven't been drawn since. If I could ever draw another elk tag, I would be a happy hunter. My hand load is as follows...

Just like seeing the big bulls day before season opener, and then they disappear. I think there are calendars posted in the woods for the game animals to check. I also saw this antelope buck the day before rifle season opened for them. Sorry for the quality of the photos. They saw me coming and hightailed it until they were 600+ yds away per my LRF. Took the photos with my DSL from there.

I was up in 7 for five days. I had my family up with me so I did not hunt REALLY hard, but was out for most of the day every day. I saw a few bucks, maybe 7 over the 5 days. Mostly small forkies, but saw two that I pursued for 2+ hours until they disappeared. Never got closer 90 yards, and they were always just feeding along. One as a 1x2, but pretty wide for a 1x2. Sorry, not the best photos. He was bedded with this guy. Decent 3x3 with eye guards.

Buy a couple of cheaper tree stands. First time I ever used one was up in 12AW on an archery hunt. What a blast! I am hooked for archery hunting all game species now. Site over a tank as far away from a road as you can get. Last light is great, but I have had deer (and turkey, mountain lions, coyotes) all come in throughout the day. The mountain lion snuck in and then sat the same tank I did for 30 minutes and he had no clue I was there. We were both waiting for a deer to come in (wouldn't you know it was the ONLY year I did not buy a lion tag, but he was about 70 yards across the tank from me). Worst (or best) time I had was on a tank up there 30' up in a blue spruce. In one afternoon, I missed a big tom turkey, missed a huge 30+" heavy tall dark horned 4x4 buck at last light (long horrifying story), and thunked a coyote all in the same evening. Even though I missed the huge buck, that evening will remain in my memory (and nightmares) forever. Easily saw 25 turkeys, 40+ deer including 5 other bucks that day from 1:00PM until after dark. And turkey are freaking smart and have the best eyesight I have ever witnessed.

Antelope/elk/deer/turkey= 0 for me. Antelope/elk/deer/turkey= 0 for my wife Antelope/elk/deer/turkey= 0 for both of my kids. Bummer year for our house. Back to flinging arrows again.

1985, 14 years old, archery Turkey out of a roost in a tree at first light. Thought I missed as the arrow went sailing off into the sunrise. Then the bird started coming down and hit just about every branch on the way down it seemed. Shot through the neck.

Like others have said, WAY COOL!

Took me 10 years with Hunter's Ed and loyalty points to draw an October 12AE tag. Just saying, 7-8 points is far from a guaranteed draw for any of the 12A hunts.

I can tell you I was very thankful for the numerous roads last year in 12AE. I shot my deer 1.5 miles and 5 canyons over from my truck, and what I thought was the closest road. After dressing it and starting to pack it out, I spotted a truck on the ridge above my deer. Made getting it out the next day MUCH easier! But, there are still plenty of secluded areas that are far away from roads up there, just need to hike into them.....like I thought I was doing.....