cramerhunts

Sweet finds for sure! Thanks for posting the pics. Phil

I know that I wouldn't hesitate to take it, but each person has his own thoughts on the subject. Phil

My check will go out Monday as well. Thanks. Phil

Happy Birthday Jeff, I hope you had a good one and many more to come. Phil

Put me down for 2 again Amanda. I always look forward to this and am happy that the dates work out this year. Thanks, Phil

Cool pics Clay! Thanks for sharing them with us. Phil

Very cool Scott. Thanks for sharing the info with us and of course your awesome pics and story! What a hunt.....Awesome! Phil

Beautiful mounts and bucks! Awesome wall for sure with some monsters hanging off of it. Phil

Very nice job Amanda! Phil

Great video and awesome buck! I'll throw a guess out there of 115-118". Phil

Would an arctic cat prowler fit on the trailer? Phil

Very cool Amanda! I'm sure its a lion as well. Phil

Thanks Doug, I'm starting to like to get home and write the story almost as much as the hunt....just to relive it and try and share the experience that I was able to have. I also agree that there are alot of great stories this year! Phil

Sweet pics Doug, thanks for sharing them. Phil

Great pics and a couple good looking bucks! Phil

Absolutely wonderful mount for a wonderful buck! Chris nailed it and you couldn't have said it better when you needed "a once in a lifetime mount for a once in a lifetime buck"! Congrats again Dan! Thanks for sharing the pics with us. Phil

Awesome job on the shed Doug! Looking forward to getting out and find some myself.....it's getting close. Great rack Hunting6! Phil

Wonderful job on the story Larry! I was there for most of it and knew the rest but I really enjoyed the read and looking at the great pictures as well. Job well done! Congrats again on an awesome buck. Phil

Well this hunt actually started in the middle of October when Sundevil, Scout’m, and I headed down to Sonora to scout the ranch that we had each purchased DIY tags for later in the year. When we arrived at the ranch I will admit that I had my worries when I saw all of the catclaw and cactus. I immediately thought what great mule deer country even though I had been told there weren’t any of the floppy eared creatures on the ranch. There weren't hardly any oaks like I had envisioned but we still saw plenty of deer and several real nice bucks with one being close to 115”. The rancher and his son were really good people who we all really enjoyed being around. The ranch had a lot of water with stock tanks and natural springs that had been developed with concrete drinkers. The ranch house itself was very comfortable with a nice kitchen and best of all a hot shower at the end of each day. We set out trail cams and learned the ranch roads and boundaries and then headed back to the states. Finally December rolled around and we headed back down to do some hunting! Jim Parker (Rut on the forum) was with me to help with the glassing and picture taking and Sundevil, Scout’m, and one other hunter was leading the way in their truck. We arrived at the ranch with some seriously windy weather which seemed to really hinder the deer’s movements. We hunted hard for three days without seeing any bucks that needed closer inspection. On the fourth day Jim, Justo Jr., and I were set up on top of a large mesa that provided a 360 degree view with me glassing off one side, Justo Jr. glassing off another, and Jim glassing off the other. Jim had forgot his radio at the ranch so we couldn’t communicate with each other so around noon I walked back to where Jim was set up to check in. Jim had a video of a couple of bucks from just minutes before that he thought I should check out. December Buck Needless to say a plan was formed with Jim and Justo Jr. dropping me off to hike in above where the bucks had went and then they would go back to the ranch to get the radio and then back up on the mesa to watch the backside. Everything worked out perfect except for the part of me making the shot. Yep I missed him bedded at 280 yards! After the first shot the “fever” set in and I couldn’t hit the hillside let alone the big buck. The buck snuck out of the canyon and darkness fell on my last full day of hunting in Mexico for the month! I conservatively score the “missed buck” at 115 to 118”. The rest of the hunting party had seen a lot of deer and quite a few bucks just not any shooters. Fast forward to January 15th when Jim and I headed down early to the ranch with Sundevil, Scout’m, and two other hunters coming in later that same day. Jim and I decided that we would pound the area that I had missed the big buck in December until we found him or something better. We spent a lot of time up on the mesa seeing some great bucks and a lot of does…..unfortunately all of the bucks we were seeing were all broke up. Broke Buck After a few days of being up on the mesa we decided to go look at some different country for a while. Everyone was seeing deer and quite a few bucks with a few in the low 100’s but it just wasn’t quite working out. Stephen (one of the other hunters) had taken a nice three by three on Sunday and it helped motivate the whole group. Monday Jim and I headed back up on the mesa and saw some really good bucks, at least we think they would be if they had all of their horns! I was getting discouraged seeing all of the broken horns and I think I passed up the December buck at forty yards because he had no right main beam past his G-2. That night back at the ranch we had learned that Scout’m had found a really nice buck that was intact and chasing a doe that he had put a stock on only for it to get dark without any shot opportunities. Everyone but Jim and I were leaving the next day around noon so Sundevil and Scout’m went after the buck the next morning and again got close but not able to get a shot. Jim and I found a really good buck that day that I think would be in the 108-112” range but he was lined out cruising for does and I never could catch up to him before he walked out of site. Before the guys left they called me on the radio to let me know how it went that morning and where the buck was last seen. The next day (Wednesday) Jim and I got off to a late start due to a flat tire on the prowler, a little sleeping in, and just plain not getting going! We decided that we would take the truck and head over to the “Sisters Ranch” which was part of the area we could hunt and see what we could find. On the way we would be passing right by where Scout’m had been chasing his buck so we stopped to glass for a little bit. Jim spotted a nice two point hounding a doe and we were about to leave when I spotted three does up feeding. I got Jim on them and he immediately said there’s our buck! I left Jim right there in the road with his optics and I jumped back in the truck and hurried back around behind the knolls that the buck and does were on. I hadn’t gone twenty yards from the truck when Jim calls me on the radio to let me know the buck and one doe was coming over the saddle right at me. I dropped the radio and threw up my rifle just as the buck came into view. I let one fly and missed just low! The buck and doe took off back the way they had came. Jim got back on the radio and said they ran about 100 yards and then the buck got back to chasing the doe. I quietly cussed myself for rushing the shot and started my stock once again. I got up to the saddle, busted out a doe, busted out a spike, but I just couldn’t find the buck and two other does. I kept easing along talking to Jim on the radio when I looked up the canyon and saw the group quietly sneaking out. I ranged the buck at 385 yards and got set up on my shooting sticks and took my time. I didn’t miss this time and dropped the buck. I got my spotting scope set up and could see that the buck was down so I headed back to get Jim. We hiked up to the buck and even though he wasn’t the biggest buck that I had seen I couldn’t be happier. He has great character with a cheater on each side and great mass and ended up scoring right at 103". Jim did a wonderful job on the pictures and after hunting for twelve days in Mexico I was on cloud nine. I can’t thank Jim enough for sticking with me through all of it and helping me the whole way. I’ve got to give credit to Scout’m and Sundevil for finding this buck and sharing his whereabouts with me before they left. Scout’m is back down hunting this weekend and I hope he finds a big one. My hunting partner and friend, Jim Parker. Our hosts Justo and Justo Jr who I can't thank enough for their great hospitality. Thanks for putting up with me for the long story! Phil

Beautiful buck Larry! Phil

That's one of the bucks I tried to get last week while hunting with Ward's outfitters. He is a very cool buck, isn't he? I will make a post eventually in another thread about all the great bucks I saw out there. When I sat that blind, I didn't see that buck, but I didn't sit it very long since I was really after some other bruisers.... Amanda Very cool! I went to highschool with Steven so I look forward to your post! Phil

Well that was worth the wait! Congrats to all involved and thanks so much for taking the time to share them all with us. Great bucks, great adventures, and great times with family and friends......I don't think it gets any better then that! Congrats again. Phil

I agree with Amanda that you should contact Covert as I believe that there is a timing issue with the shutter and the motion sensor. Amanda great pictures....what's the story of the buck, he looks great and I think that's a blind in the background isn't it? Anyhow awesome buck. Phil

Thanks Doug. I had been wanting to go on a DIY hunt for a long time and when a couple of members of the site asked me if I wanted in I just couldn't pass it up. I am very happy that I took the chance and went. It was great meeting and hunting with other members and also a lot easier since they knew the process of getting our tags, gun permits, and such. As long as I can afford it I'll be going again next year! Phil

Holy Bucks Batman! I don't think I've seen a post with so many whopper bucks in it before. Congrats on such a fine couple of bucks taken with amazing shots. And what an awesome find as well with the bucks locked together. Congrats again and thanks for posting the story and pictures. Phil