My deer season has come to completion with an amazing hunt. I wanted to hunt an area with no hunting pressure, where deer die of old age and not from hunters. This required backpacking into some of the deepest wilderness AZ has to offer. Our hunting location was 7 miles from the trail head with several thousand feet of elevation gain and loss to reach our destination. It took 2 days to pack in to camp between the initial walk in and bringing water up from a stream. The water source was a 900 foot drop and climb back to camp.
My goal on this hunt was a 110” buck or better knowing I was willing to walk out empty handed. After getting settled the first morning, I glassed a 105 class buck and opted to pass, i knew he didn't meet the mark. Later that evening i glassed a buck deep in the canyon hidden by shadows. I was able to get my spotter on him and i saw all kinds of character …. And character will get you killed!!
I knew this was a buck i wanted to kill so I set my spotting scope up to record, ranged the deer several times at 365 and dialed up the 6.5 SAUM . BANG! First shot went right through the lungs, he took a few steps and was leaning hard so I sent another round for insurance as I wanted to anchor him immediately. The deer was down and I was anxious to get my hands on him. I dropped all my gear at camp and headed back in to process him.
To my surprise the buck was bigger than I expected, after many many pictures i caped him out and found no loss of meat and first shot was clean through the lungs. We hiked him back to camp and hung him overnight. The next morning we began the process of breaking camp and beginning the hike out.
It took a day and a half to hike back to the truck. The hike was just as tough as it was on the way in. A quick call to find a good taxidermist and the first shower after 5 days I was packed up the head home.
I am thankful for an amazing hunt. I am thankful for God keeping me safe in some of the most remote area the state has to offer, and i am humbled by these little animals. We are privileged to live in abundance and be able to chase animals for sport and not for necessity. If I am lucky enough I will continue to chase these deer for years to come.
For those who want to know, the buck scores 114 4/8
My goal on this hunt was a 110” buck or better knowing I was willing to walk out empty handed. After getting settled the first morning, I glassed a 105 class buck and opted to pass, i knew he didn't meet the mark. Later that evening i glassed a buck deep in the canyon hidden by shadows. I was able to get my spotter on him and i saw all kinds of character …. And character will get you killed!!
I knew this was a buck i wanted to kill so I set my spotting scope up to record, ranged the deer several times at 365 and dialed up the 6.5 SAUM . BANG! First shot went right through the lungs, he took a few steps and was leaning hard so I sent another round for insurance as I wanted to anchor him immediately. The deer was down and I was anxious to get my hands on him. I dropped all my gear at camp and headed back in to process him.
To my surprise the buck was bigger than I expected, after many many pictures i caped him out and found no loss of meat and first shot was clean through the lungs. We hiked him back to camp and hung him overnight. The next morning we began the process of breaking camp and beginning the hike out.
It took a day and a half to hike back to the truck. The hike was just as tough as it was on the way in. A quick call to find a good taxidermist and the first shower after 5 days I was packed up the head home.
I am thankful for an amazing hunt. I am thankful for God keeping me safe in some of the most remote area the state has to offer, and i am humbled by these little animals. We are privileged to live in abundance and be able to chase animals for sport and not for necessity. If I am lucky enough I will continue to chase these deer for years to come.
For those who want to know, the buck scores 114 4/8
