Hey guys, my wife and I just returned from a romantic get-away to Southwest Saskatchewan chasing the Wiley Mule deer. This time my wife was the one holding the tag and I was acting as guide. All I can say is she is a very fussy trophy hunter and is probably a better hunter than I am!! I learned a lot from her on this trip.
We looked over probably 75 bucks in four days and she passed on a high 170's low 180's buck on day two because she felt if she held out she could do better. On the evening of day three she was right and had her big opportunity. We closed the gap on a 190-195 class typical mule deer giant, but fading light a very heavy trigger and a bit of buck fever led to a disappointing miss.
The very next morning (our final morning) we hiked back two miles in the dark to the same location and set up in some cover and began to glass. We looked over fifteen bucks that morning but never saw the BIG one.
Around 8:00, I located a very good buck and I suggested that since it was the last day she shoot it. She looked it over with her binoculars, and told me she wasn't sure, and passed on the buck. As he filtered over a large dune and out of sight, I told her we should sneak up to the ridge and have a peek over and see if any other bucks were in the area and possibly have a better look at the buck she just passed on. After a 20 minute stalk we were in position and were now looking at 20 deer, 10 of which were bucks. I looked them over and found the biggest. He was the same one she had just passed on, and I again pleaded and convinced her this was a good last day buck. She conceded and upon closer examination she agreed that she would be happy to take this buck.
She settled in to a prone position, aimed the 7mm Remington Mag and squeezed off the 200 yard shot, breaking both of the buck's shoulders with the 160 gr. Nosler Partition, putting him down for the count.
Here?s her last day buck?.pretty darn good I?d say!!! He has a 176 typical frame and grosses 184 NT.
We looked over probably 75 bucks in four days and she passed on a high 170's low 180's buck on day two because she felt if she held out she could do better. On the evening of day three she was right and had her big opportunity. We closed the gap on a 190-195 class typical mule deer giant, but fading light a very heavy trigger and a bit of buck fever led to a disappointing miss.
The very next morning (our final morning) we hiked back two miles in the dark to the same location and set up in some cover and began to glass. We looked over fifteen bucks that morning but never saw the BIG one.
Around 8:00, I located a very good buck and I suggested that since it was the last day she shoot it. She looked it over with her binoculars, and told me she wasn't sure, and passed on the buck. As he filtered over a large dune and out of sight, I told her we should sneak up to the ridge and have a peek over and see if any other bucks were in the area and possibly have a better look at the buck she just passed on. After a 20 minute stalk we were in position and were now looking at 20 deer, 10 of which were bucks. I looked them over and found the biggest. He was the same one she had just passed on, and I again pleaded and convinced her this was a good last day buck. She conceded and upon closer examination she agreed that she would be happy to take this buck.
She settled in to a prone position, aimed the 7mm Remington Mag and squeezed off the 200 yard shot, breaking both of the buck's shoulders with the 160 gr. Nosler Partition, putting him down for the count.
Here?s her last day buck?.pretty darn good I?d say!!! He has a 176 typical frame and grosses 184 NT.
