So Saturday was the last day of the season and I had big hopes for a monster mulie but they were fading fast. On my way from one area to another, I spot some deer way out in a coulee and quickly get the spotting scope out to see whats up. I spot a couple of decent bucks following some does into a draw and have to change by game plan to go in for a closer look. After turning the truck around to ask for permission from the land owner(heck of a nice guy BTW), I drove around to some abandoned buildings and headed out after them still unsure if I was wasting my time or not. Working my way around a hill I spot a couple of does then one buck...then another...then this guy. I knew immediately he was the one, while not the biggest buck in the area, he was a trophy for me. With no chance of getting closer due to the bare canola field I settled in and ranged him at 501 meters, the .260AI cracked and the 140 berger did the rest. I not only wish I had someone with me to enjoy the moment, I could have used a hand getting him into the back of the truck! I think he's a pretty cool deer anyway.
Alberta barbed wire buck
- Thread starter ivo
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HARPERC
Well-Known Member
I think he's pretty cool too! I always like the big bodies on the northern deer.
Bigeclipse
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I was just about to say the same thing! If I ever get a buck with some sort of cool thing going on with his rack, id leave whatever it was there for the story! If you remove it, anytime someone comes over they see a sweet buck but thats it...if you leave it...they ask, whats up with the barbed wire...then you get to tell a cool story
I know a guy who shot a buck that had an arrow stuck in one of the antlers...he left it there when he got it mounted. The buck itself isnt even that nice, but whenever anyone goes over there, they ask about that buck rather than the other WAY nicer ones on the wall.
Doublezranch
Well-Known Member
That's excellent!! I love mule deer expecially ones with character. I would say that big boy has some stories to tell.
Congrats on a very nice buck.
Congrats on a very nice buck.
bowstryder
Well-Known Member
Great buck and let me just say one heck of great shot too!! That boy was dead before he hit the ground.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Nice buck! And I agree with the others, leave the barbed wire in there. Makes for an interesting conversation piece.
No Fear in Accuracy
Well-Known Member
Where do you think he got the barbed wire come from? Can barbed wires be damaged by mule deer?
Just curious...
Just curious...
Wow! Thanks for all of the positive feedback, I sure wasn't expecting it. I just posted the pics because I thought it was something a little different.
I figure it was either left over barbed wire a farmer left on a fence post or he got hung up in a fence somewhere and tore the crap out of it. Mulies are big, especially in the area where this one came from, so it's entirely possible that a big buck could rip up a fence by thrashing around in it. I'll have to take a closer look at the barbed wire to see if I can find any evidence either way.
On a side note, I skinned the head out today and it's funny how much bigger the antlers look with no fur on the skull.(I'll have to post another pic tomorrow)
I figure it was either left over barbed wire a farmer left on a fence post or he got hung up in a fence somewhere and tore the crap out of it. Mulies are big, especially in the area where this one came from, so it's entirely possible that a big buck could rip up a fence by thrashing around in it. I'll have to take a closer look at the barbed wire to see if I can find any evidence either way.
On a side note, I skinned the head out today and it's funny how much bigger the antlers look with no fur on the skull.(I'll have to post another pic tomorrow)
Doublezranch
Well-Known Member
Ivo,
If he was caught in the fence, your antlers will be all scratched to you know what from him trying to free himself. If they are not scratched very bad, my guess is he picked up the wire casually and it never bothered him. I've seen what they do when they get caught in a barbed wire fence. They can shred a pair of antlers very quickly. No matter how it got on there, it's still really cool. Sweet buck!!
If he was caught in the fence, your antlers will be all scratched to you know what from him trying to free himself. If they are not scratched very bad, my guess is he picked up the wire casually and it never bothered him. I've seen what they do when they get caught in a barbed wire fence. They can shred a pair of antlers very quickly. No matter how it got on there, it's still really cool. Sweet buck!!
goblbustr
Well-Known Member
you say he's not the biggest buck in the area but good enough for you. I don't know if anyone on this board would turn him down. I know I wouldn't think twice. I have never hunted mule deer but he would go in the Dandy category in my log. Congrats brother nice buck and nice shot.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Ditto, I've put enough nice trophies on the wall over the last 3 decades of hunting anymore I'm more likely to pick out the oddball than I am the "biggest one in the bunch" if the choice is offered.I was just about to say the same thing! If I ever get a buck with some sort of cool thing going on with his rack, id leave whatever it was there for the story! If you remove it, anytime someone comes over they see a sweet buck but thats it...if you leave it...they ask, whats up with the barbed wire...then you get to tell a cool story
This guy is just a story waiting to be told.
My hat's off to the OP on a great trophy and a nice write up.
clemens
Well-Known Member
Sweet buck. He does look heavy any idea what his field dressed weight was. I have not shot mule deer but would love to. Congrats!!!
Sorry if it came across the wrong way, I didn't mean to sound like a pretentious a$$hole. What I meant was that I know that area very well and have seen some monster buck (30" wide x 30" high). I have been waiting 7 years for a tag in a huge zone that only issues 6 tags for the whole zone!
Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with this character buck that you would see in magazines that other people shoot.
As far as weight, on the hoof, maybe 350lbs? He was heavy enough for me to bust a nut loading him into the truck by myself.LOL
