I got my dream buck!

J. Mullins · Joined: Oct 17, 2008 4:48 pm Posts: 5 Location: Arizona

I figured this buck would be appreciated here! I had the late 12AW tag this year and after putting a week of scouting in I had my heart set on this non-typical buck that I named "Sticks" because of all the long tines that shoot straight up! I found him opening morning and passed as I wasn't steady enough for a clean kill...buck fever was definitely present! I sat on his bedding area till dark and he never showed but was hopeful for day 2! My brother and I hiked through the same area the next morning and located Sticks as he fed through an opening in the trees. The range finder read 381 yards, the turret was dialed up, safety off and.....CLICK! I forgot to chamber a round! I jacked one in and settled back on the now quartered away buck and hammered em'! My brother could tell he was hit hard and running but after 70 yards he took a nose dive due to the pass through lung shot! I couldn't believe I was able to follow him, learn his habits and ultimately harvest him.....I'm still on cloud nine! Gross green score is 218" with 14 scoreable points! There were deer from one end of the unit at the top to the other at the lowest elevations, very tough to find the big ones but the trail cams and scouting were very instrumental in my success. Thanks, Jim.

Junior88 · Joined: Nov 28, 2008 11:56 am Posts: 2

Jim, that is a beautiful buck. A monster for sure. I was able to tag a 5x4 during the early hunt on the west side also. When I figure out how to add pictures to go along with the story I will post them.

RGhan · Joined: Jun 26, 2006 5:13 pm Posts: 91

JM,

What an outstanding Kaibab buck! Awesome character, mass and size! Pre-season scouting is always helpful and your success reminds us (me anyway) that its worth the time and money to make an extra trip or two up before the hunt. Did you head up the week prior to the hunt or were you scouting well ahead of the season?

I just started using trail cams this year myself - actually going to check them tomorrow in my desert unit - and to me they're a huge help. I don't have a lot of time on my hands so rather than try and get out for a day or two to look around I can set the cams out on a promising spot and leave them until I can get back up - usually 2-4 weeks later. They've already helped me eliminate one spot that looked promising but after 2 months looks can be deceiving. I think I'm now dialed in on a sweet spot, hopefully the pics I bring home tomorrow will prove it. Great job and congrats on a great buck!

PS: Anyone with pics can email them to me at bigbucks@keytothekaibab.com and I can post them. I'm a little slow these days due to a crazy work schedule (I owe 2 guys a posting already...don't worry guys I'll get em up!) but I will get them up if you send them my way.
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Ryan Ghan
KeyToTheKaibab.com

AZ_BOWHNTR · Posted: Nov 30, 2008 8:53 am Post subject: RE: I got my dream buck!

Jim,

Congrats on a beautiful buck! That is a buck of a lifetime! Great photos as well.

JB

J. Mullins · Joined: Oct 17, 2008 4:48 pm Posts: 5 Location: Arizona

Thanks guys! I had back to back hunts leading up to my Kaibab hunt so I could not make it up any earlier than a week prior. I felt that having a solid week before season up there would be enough to work trail cams and find out where the bigger bucks were after that first snowfall during the early hunt. It was very tough and there were a few big bucks being seen in all elevations, but the trail cams were very instrumental in finding this one! The Top Secret Waterhole map is awesome and I'm glad I bought it! Thanks again, JIM>

TommyCaller · Joined: Nov 08, 2008 2:23 pm Posts: 7 Location: Oklahoma

That is a great deer! Congrats!
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