RackTracker

That's a great deer and an awesome story (could almost be called a book). Congrats to both of you. J and C

March 24, 9:10 am

Sounds like there should be OTC tags.........

Thank you for the info. We just bought a preference point for next year in Utah. We still have time to apply for Colorado this year........guess we making hiking up high !

We may have received some bad information. I was looking for for an out of state OTC archery deer tag and was told to check out this unit in Utah. Thanks for the info. I will contact Utah GFD to verify.

Is the badlands summit pack still available?

My Dad and I both filled our 2015 archery tags in December so we were both looking forward to January 1st. While scouting the last week in December, I located a nice 4 point I called Dude. this would be my target for 1-1-16. Just before daylight on opening morning, my Dad and I were almost to our glassing point when we came up on some deer just above us. Our packs were fully loaded and our bows were strapped on our packs. We stopped and slowly got out the rangefinders and one pair of binos. My Dad located a nice 3 point in the group but was not the buck I was after. As we watched the deer mill around, I got my bow ready. As the minutes passed , it became light enough to see more deer and light enough to shoot. I was carefully looking at each deer trying to locate Dude. By this time, my Dad had his bow out too. Just a few minutes later, the 3 point presented a broadside shot. I gave my Dad a range of 58 yards and he let one fly. The arrow hit solid and the deer ran downhill from us about 175 yards before bedding down. We had moved about 25 yards from our packs. As we went back to retrieve them, we saw a few more deer above us. A quick look through the binos revealed Dude standing motionless above us in the trees. My Dad gave me a range and I moved a few steps for a clear broadside shot. I held my 70 yard pin steady behind the front shoulder and touched the release. Swhack!!! Dude ran about 75 yards and piled up. My Dad and I looked at each other and we could not believe what had just happened. It was 7:28 am! My Dad snuck down and made a 25 yards follow-up shot on his deer and we were done. Although the 2016 hunt only lasted a few minutes, the memories will last forever. i have already started the countdown to 1-1-17. Only 365 more days!

We got our heads hung up today. Thank you all for the kind and positive comments!

Great buck!!! Would love to hear the story!

Thats a heck of a first deer! Congrats man and welcome to the site!

Very nice video footage. Thanks for sharing.

2 archery bucks in one day. That's impressive!

Congrats! Any animal with a bow is a trophy!

This story really begins in 2013. I archery deer hunted almost every day in December and January of that year without success. I had numerous failed stalks and lots of near misses but I definitely had the archery bug. I killed a small buck on the evening of the first day in December 2014. I could only hunt a few days in January before having to return to college to prepare for the upcoming baseball season. I already started counting down the days until December 11, 2015. I practiced shooting my bow all summer and anytime I came home during long weekends. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I went on a preseason scouting trip. I located this buck and watched him for several hours. I took pictures and video and decided this would be my number one target for the December hunt. I named the buck Crawdad. On 12-8-15, I was out early again to try and find Crawdad. I located him at first light with 10 does. I took more pictures and video and then decided to leave him alone until opening morning. On opening morning, my dad and I were on the mountain 30 minutes before light. At about 6:55 I heard the three magic words, "I got him." The good news was my dad located Crawdad. The bad news was he had 18 does with him. Within minutes of finding him, I took off on the stalk with my dad on top of the mountain with a radio. I went off the backside of the mountain and circled around until I got on the opposite side of the deer and the wind in my face. I was about 200 yards from Crawdad and his does at this point. I took off my pack and shoes and put on two additional pairs of socks to ease the pain of the cactus covered ground. I slowly started creeping towards the group of deer. My dad could see me but could no longer see the deer because they had fed behind the ridge between us. After about an hour, I had closed the distance to 100 yards. Most of the deer were bedded with only a couple does still feeding. It had been about an hour and a half since I had seen Crawdad but I knew he had to be bedded somewhere in front of me. I inched my way forward another 30 yards until I heard a deer jump from its bed. I had four doe staring at me at 67 yards. Then more doe begin to appear from the trees. At this point I can see most of the 18 doe but Crawdad is nowhere to be found. I sit there motionless for about half an hour as the deer mill around in the trees. My legs are burning. I had to make something happen. I began to crawl forward an inch at a time. I make it about 10 yards when through two palo verde trees I see a white nose. I lift up the binos and there he is! I was within 50 yards of Crawdad but can only see his white face through the trees. I try to move around the trees but only make it a few feet when a group of does bust me. They began to walk off at 60 yards. Crawdad does not follow but instead turns away and trots up the ridge. He stops suddenly quartering away at 79 yards. I draw and steady my 80 yard pin right behind the shoulder. All the hard work and hours shooting my bow came down to this one shot. I touch off the release and SWHACK!!! Crawdad buckles and takes off running away from his does. I quickly call my dad on the radio and tell him that I had just smoked him! At this point I can barely walk from all the cactus in my feet and uncontrollable shaking from excitement. I make my way to where he was standing and immediately find blood. I mark the spot and go back to get my pack and boots. I have never been so excited to see a pair of shoes in my life. I met up with my dad and after exchanging high fives I show him how everything unfolded. We wait the longest hour and 45 minutes of my life before we start following the blood to the last place I saw Crawdad as he bounded away. The blood trail was really good but as each step I took I got more and more nervous. Then out of nowhere I look up to see Crawdad walking up a ridge. He was hit really hard but the shot was a little back. My dad and I watch as Crawdad beds down 320 yards away. We sit there for about an hour and a half until Crawdad finally expired in his bed. I hugged my dad and thanked him for all the help. I could not have done it without him. He has taught me everything I know and I am so glad I was able to share this experience with him. Walking up to my buck is a moment I will never forget. Crawdad is finally down! After hours and hours of watching him prior to the hunt, I was finally able to get my hands on him. He is by far my biggest buck to date. The countdown begins until January 1st. Only 18 more days!!!

Holy crap

My dad and I were fortunate enough to fill all four of our archery tags this December. I spent 17 out of the last 19 days in the field either hunting or scouting. Can't wait till January 1st to get back out there. Only 4 more days! Sorry the photos are rotated. if anyone can fix them that would be great.

Beautiful buck! Congrats

i would guess he is 4 1/2 years old but I am no expert

Holy mass!!! Heck of a buck and on his first hunt ever. Wow

Great story and congrats on a great buck!

My first bow was the diamond infinite edge and I loved it. Had no complaints

Congrats!

Congrats on two great bucks!

Great looking buck! Congrats!

Congrats. Way to get it done!