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Woodsman
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/21/2010 2:33:12 PM
Posts: 51,
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On December 19th I set out with my smokepole in hand in search of a mature mule deer buck in SD. The week prior I spotted some nice bucks the day before season but as luck would have it, the opener was a nasty day with gusting winds, blowing snow, and temperatures well below zero. As I returned on the 19th I had hopes of finding one of the bucks that I had seen the days prior. I was able to find a buck that I had a chance at earlier in the season and quickly began to trudge through the snow in hopes of closing the distance to the buck. Little did I know is that I would come across a much bigger buck in the process...... I first spotted him at close to 500 yards away, actually he spotted me first and he made sure he put some extra terrain between him and I....when I saw him there was no question that he was a shooter. I didn't have to ask myself if he was a buck that I had wanted! There was no question. So the search began; I finally located the buck after following his tracks over numerous ridges and through many draws, trudging through knee deep snow as I went with temperatures hovering around the 0 degree mark. I finally was able to catch up to him and watched him from 300 yards as he and a spike and doe dug through the snow in search of food. They continued over one more ridge and into a draw. I was sure that he would not leave the next draw. He was relaxed again and went about his normal routine. As I neared the top of the ridge where I last saw the buck I took off my pack and began crawling through the snow paying careful attention that I didn't fill my barrel with snow in the process! When I neared the crest I spotted the deer feeding unaware of the audience they acquired. I pulled my range finder to my eye and read 186 yards. I felt comfortable in the prone position as I readied for the shot. I had sighted the muzzleloader in at 150 yards so I knew I needed to hold a bit high. The fiber optic open sights settled on the buck but he turned away and was now facing directly away. I watched him for 15 minutes before he finally turned and was broadside. The sights became steady again as I cocked the hammer and began to squeeze the trigger. A puff of smoke obscured my veiw. When the smoke cleared I could see him laying on the ground! He dropped in his tracks! I quickly gathered my gear and set off to take a look. I new he would surpass the 180" mark but didn't truely know how big he was until I got him packed out and back to the truck. After putting the tape on him three times I kept coming up with numbers over 190"! The official scoring will take place in 60 days to come up with the final score. He could quite possibly be the biggest typical mule deer killed with a muzzleloader in SD and be within the top few typical mule deer bucks ever taken in the state of SD!
Jared "J-Rod" Bloomgren
Mossy Oak Pro Staff
http://www.camospace.com/Bloomgren
http://www.myspace.com/jaredbloomgren
"Getting close to game undetected and maintaining self control while delivering a well placed shot are the true keys to bowhunting success." -M.R. James
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Tracker
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/23/2009 7:29:25 PM
Posts: 151,
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186 yds with open sights...Wow..How do you even sight open sights in at 150 yds?I can barely even shoot 100yds consistently open sights.
Cameron Armstrong
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Woodsman
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/21/2010 2:33:12 PM
Posts: 51,
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I am not sure if you are familiar with the sights on a TC. When you have all three fiber optic dots lined up and ready for a shot you can still see a gap between the front sight and the two rear sight dots. So yes, you can still see the target just fine to line everything up. The biggest key was shot fundamentals that I learned in my military training. That really helps keep me consistant, proper and consistant sight picture, breathing control, and trigger squeeze make it possible. And throw a little luck in there and you are golden! Anybody can do it!
Jared "J-Rod" Bloomgren
Mossy Oak Pro Staff
http://www.camospace.com/Bloomgren
http://www.myspace.com/jaredbloomgren
"Getting close to game undetected and maintaining self control while delivering a well placed shot are the true keys to bowhunting success." -M.R. James
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Trophy Buck
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 12:23:03 PM
Posts: 2,074,
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That's an awesome mulie! I seen some really nice bucks while driving through SD about a month ago, whitetails and mulies.
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Gameskeeper
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 3/7/2010 6:47:11 PM
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Wow that is a beautiful animal! Congrats!
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"Welcome to Tennessee, the patron state of shootin' stuff."
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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Marksman
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 11:59:13 AM
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Congrats on an incredible buck! You're having a heck of a season!
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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
1 cross + 3 nails = 4given
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Button Buck
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/2/2009 11:40:12 PM
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one word awesome''''''''''
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Buck
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/7/2010 8:03:59 PM
Posts: 292,
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| Great mulie!! That is one heck of a distance with open sights. Congrats thoughon a nice buck.
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