So I got super lucky this year with filling my D16 tag. I didn't get to scout at all except for google earth. I've been looking at this place for years and actually hunted it once last year. This year I decided to hit it again anfter my go to spot didn't produce like last year. I didn't take one last year just cause I was being picky. It being so late in the season and not knowing if I can get back to hunt. It was forky time.
I hiked in about two miles(guessing) and got to a high point that was the wrong one I picked on google earth. Still I decided to stay out and glass and than move in a few hours down to the next vantage point. Glasses about two hours for nothing, saw some jacks and thought about taking one but passed. 20 minutes later I see what I thought was a coyote pop out at 200yards.
I look in the binos only to be surprised to see a forky buck. I scramble to get my binos off my tripod and get the rifle rested on it. I missed three times and connected on the fourth but it was a gut shot. I reload and was hitting him everywhere but the damn vitals. Sick to my stomach I finally bring him down. I bumped my rifle in Az on a coues deer hunt and must of jacked it up big time. Also I'm sure buck fever didn't help any. But I got him down and glad he didn't run off wounded and suffer. I learned a lesson from this buck. Never hunt with out checking your rifle after bumping it. Too make sure everything is perfect so I can my a clean shot.
I hiked in about two miles(guessing) and got to a high point that was the wrong one I picked on google earth. Still I decided to stay out and glass and than move in a few hours down to the next vantage point. Glasses about two hours for nothing, saw some jacks and thought about taking one but passed. 20 minutes later I see what I thought was a coyote pop out at 200yards.
I look in the binos only to be surprised to see a forky buck. I scramble to get my binos off my tripod and get the rifle rested on it. I missed three times and connected on the fourth but it was a gut shot. I reload and was hitting him everywhere but the damn vitals. Sick to my stomach I finally bring him down. I bumped my rifle in Az on a coues deer hunt and must of jacked it up big time. Also I'm sure buck fever didn't help any. But I got him down and glad he didn't run off wounded and suffer. I learned a lesson from this buck. Never hunt with out checking your rifle after bumping it. Too make sure everything is perfect so I can my a clean shot.