WHT_MTNMAN

That awesome, congrats, maybe this weekend we will get my little bro.s first deer in the Jr.'s hunt.

like .270 said the leather factory is great and if someday you really want to do it yourself they have a little tannery in a box or something like that. it is about 50 bucks and has all of the chemicals and instructions to tan a hide. I bought one about 3 years ago, read the instructions and realized that as a student and father of 3 kids I didn't have enough time, (or that much desire) so it still sits at my parents house waiting for my brother to grow up.

Great job, like some of the above posts, good luck looking for the big one next year.

CHD- I just bought a new digital camera. I'd love to tag along . congrats on the pic and story. Next week is my wifes bull tag in 3C, and my brothers coues hunt in 36a. can't wait. Again congrats CHD

peckl1, I've spent quite a bit of time down in that area, I'll send you some info.

CHD- Great bull, good mass. congrats with the bull. As always love the pics and story. ~Houston

Thanks Amanda, Still trying to talk my wife into letting me get one now AND later.

As always it is great to look at great bucks, Thanks for the post and story to go along with it. My brother has a 36a jr's hunt, can't wait.

Unit 22 javelina general hunt, (good and close to home for a school boy) no turkey for me.

I love the hats, still trying to talk my wife into letting me get two hats, I may have to wait for the low profile baseball hats,(preference) let me know if they are in the works, if not, I'll buy one of these. THanks good idea.

Great bull, thanks for the pics and story.

Thanks CHD, that is a great buck and love to read your stories.

Austin way to go, that is a great buck, Scott thanks for the story and the pics, great job guys. ~Houston

Interesting topic, last oct I had a colorado deer tag, and backpacked in for the first four days. I told myself I would only shoot a deep forked buck over the width of his ears, I passed on a few bucks. On the fourth day we hiked out, and went on a drive to see new area. A little spike was standing 75 yards off of the road, and i bailed out and spent about 5 minutes trying to decide if I wanted that buck. The reason I even thought about it was I really wanted to eat a deer. I didn't end up shooting a deer in colorado that year and I don't feel bad about it, but I did miss the deer steaks. Thankfully I shot a Dec. WT that year and had some deer in the freezer. I don't know what that has to do with anything except I love to "trophy" hunt but I love the taste of game.

Very nice, I've never had a goat tag, and probably won't for a while. Thanks for the pics and story.

I don't know about everyone else, but all i get is those dreaded red X's

CHD- Sorry to take up space on your post, but since these are colorado bucks, i thought it would be a good place to post them. I along with the others would love to see that 13a buck. Thanks again.

111- I have no idea what it scored, it is my uncles, the head got ruined and so he cut up the antlers and made them into knife handles etc... All there is left is the one picture. Here is another head, I think it was measured at 33 inches, good buck even though it is thin.

Congrats, very nice bucks guys.

Sorry I never got anything PM'd to me, at least it says I don't have any messages. I sure like that area, can get into some really good country, thanks for the response, again nice buck. Here is a pic from that area taken quite a few years back.

CHD-very nice buck, I asked this question on another thread but I'll ask it again, Have you ever hunted north of Collbran? I have spent a few years in dry kimball area, last year only saw and passed up 6 bucks in a 5 days of backpacking in, didn't take one home last year.

Looks great, thanks Amanda I forgot about it until reading your post. Have to show the kids.

Stanley- Thanks alot, I am taking my brother out, but with his school schedule and my schedule can't make it until late thanksgiving weekend. Sure wish we could make it down there, It would be good for him to meet and share experiences with others his age and not just his older brother. Good luck to everyone that is heading that way, and enjoy the time with the youngsters.

When I worked at popular I tried about everything and I think any light that is hands free is good. I only own the LED head lamps though, they are plenty bright for hiking, working in the dark and use alot less power than a regular bulb. I like the ones with their own strap so that if I don't want to wear a hat I can still wear it hands free.

I think genetics are the main cause of antler growth. Even though nutrition and water plays a big role, without both you can still find big bucks. I know of lots of areas that the bucks resemble each other. There is a canyon where i grew up that the right side of a mule deer buck, never branched into the 4th point, but the left side branched normally, we always saw numerous 3x4's of all differnt width's and lengths but with a similar non branching right side. Who's knows I'm not a genetisist.