CO 4th Season Buck
 

Just got back from Gunnison, Colorado. Had a 4th season rifle mulie tag. Took this 173" buck on the 4th day.

Anyone else hunt a 4th season? I don't mule deer hunt much and was curious what you think of this buck. The locals said he was small for that area. I was having a rough time, totalling my jeep on an icey hairpin turn. I hunted hard and did not see many bigger bucks, so I was happy with this one. I think the 4th season is over-rated. From now on I'll be hunting the longer 2nd or 3rd seasons.

One nice thing is I spotted this buck from 2 1/2 miles away and watched him for an hour. There were 5 other smaller bucks and 5 does. I drove to within 200 yards of them! Stopped my truck behind them in a power line clearing and stalked over the edge of the dropoff. Shot him from 100 yards and had a cream puff time packing him out. The day before I hiked in 3 miles through the snow to see 80 deer/14 bucks, but I passed on all of them. Crab claws and big 3x3's. Bad genetics?

Anyway my buck is only 22" wide but had nicer forks than anything else I saw, plus 2 cheaters.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

One thing I learned on this trip was the patience to sit in one high spot and glass for hours, and lug that spotting scope around. After the first 3 I was kind of bored and thought I'd never spot anything after most of the deer bedded at 9 AM. I even fell asleep up there for an hour. However I kept at it and lo and behold, finally saw this group. The critters were so far away I could barely make them out with my spotting scope. Background snow allowed me to see them. They were extremely active for mid-day, chasing. I watched my buck tear up somebrush making a rub. The bucks were fighting too. I sat and scoped until I identified every deer in that quakie grove. This kind of hunting is now really appealing to me. I hope to return and try this some more someday.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Nice buck!!! Nothing wrong with that one.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Very nice buck,I would have shot it too. Too bad about your Jeep but you got to look at it this way,there's lot of Jeeps but only one of you!!!

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Great Mulie! Congrat's

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Well those people are dumb that is a nice buck i live in colorado and thats a nice mulie were were you hunting at

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

This was in unit 551. Snow blocked many areas. I know he's not a dink, it's just this hunt took all 10 of my preference points. That's a lot of points. I kind of expected to at least SEE a few bucks over 180". That is how this hunt was described. I saw only one monster and had no shot opportunity. I bumped him out of his bed in the dark timber. No way will I ever wait 10 years again. I think I can find a buck like this in a 2/3/4 point unit. Certainly I can have a good hunt for that anyway. I am in great shape and hike long & hard.

Next time I'd like to either try an archery hunt or a high mountain basin type hunt. This winter range stuff isn't for me.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Thats a nice buck for sure!! Congrats on the hunt!

BTW - didn't you have a NV bull archery tag? How did that go?

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Yes. I thought I posted my NV bull on here back in September. Here's another pic. That was a great 9 day hunt. Ihad extremely close calls with a 400" 6x6 and a 380" 8x8 before taking this 347" bull.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Looks like you had a good year. Not much to complain about withthe deer or the elk.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Definitely. The only thing bad about my season was not getting a whitetail so far. I missed all the prime midwest rut for that 4th season CO hunt. It will be much tougher now, but I am still seriously trying, mostly with my bow here in Illinois.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Great looking buck, Ken! You've sure put in your time over the year accumulating those points. Well deserved animals there.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

That's a gorgeous buck!

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

I like the long tines and deep forks and the dark antlers;plus a couple kickers .The only thing he is missing is a little more speard and that nothing but air.Now are you going back for another elk in NV? Good luck on those big midwestern whitetails.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

No I'm not going back to Nevada for elk.........not in my lifetime! I am now not even elligible to apply for 10 years. If I start applying for another tag then, and take 10 years to draw that would put me at 67 years old. Now I am in good shape and push myself hard, but I am not enthusiastic I'd have the joints left to handle those peaks! Unless I upgrade to some titanium ones. By that age I'll probably just be ground blind hunting for whitetails? Anyway I am glad I drew while I am young. I was in great shape and easily handled the mountain. I now have 3 bulls over 320" and am switching to more fun group hunts in the future.

I am looking forward to getting this buck back from the taxidermist. I don't have a decent sized mulie on the wall. The cape is beautiful and the white face is so different from my whitetails.

Looking forward to returning to Colorado for another deer hunt someday within the next 4 years.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

I know what you mean ,I want to chase billy goats befor I cann't .I'm 45 hard years old and this carpet laying is starting to get to my knees.I'll be in your neck of the country saterday at panther creek for the 3rd time this season plan on hunting 5 or6 days. good luck from Pa.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

dayna,

No %#&@! I was thinking of going down to JEPC next week too! The public land I have been hunting up here near Chicago is pretty well pounded by now and I was thinking my chances would be better down there. I have a pop-up camper but was going to call to see what they charged for those little cabins. Those are pretty neat. Frustrating still having 2 buck tags in my pocket. How often have you hunted down there? I know it pretty well.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Great job on both Zim, Congrats!

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Hey I just found out I got lucky on that elk I shot. Had it scored by pope & young and he just topped the majic 350" mark at 350 7/8" gross. Haha. That was goal of mine. For 3 months I thought he was 347".

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Jim nice deer. DA BEARS,BEARS,BEARS,BEARS.


PS-WHO WOULD WIN DITKA OR A HURRICANE CALLED DITKA?

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Mini Ditka.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Great lookingn buck....congrats!!

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

You've drawn some great tags. Congrats! on getting a nice bull and buck.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Gotta apply for a lot to draw a few.

Up to 10 points in many states. Still waiting on my first sheep tag though.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Ken,

Are you still applying for the WY sheep points? Or at least doing so until you find out how many applicants dropped out after thefee increase? I'd love todraw a sheep tag someday, but man, for a NR it seems nearly impossible anymore. The $100 point fee will keep me out.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Joey,

Ya I got 6 or 7 points and will probably drop out. Only thing is I bet when WYF&G see how they cut off their money supply they will change the rule to give some more realistic chance for non-max point holders to draw. Who knows? Maybe there are a lot of hunters who can't figure out they will never draw in their lifetime. Waiting for the stats.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Time to replace profile with packer helmet pal

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Puuuuullease,

Sunday night was the Super Bowl for the Packers.

It meant absolutely nothing to the Bear. Just a glorified scrimmage to get past without injury, which they did.

That, my friend, is human nature. The Bear will unleash their can of whoopa$$ come January 14th. Heck Lovie went straight up vanilla on BOTH offense & defense, not even showing the cover 2 for upcoming opponents to study. Didn't you notice that??? Michaels & Madden even picked up on it. They flashed it one time the whole game and Vasher promptly picked off Favre. Then it quickly got shelved.

Todd Johnson did not play. Tank Johnson played about two series. Devon Hester played corner. Haha! Puuuulease.

Watch January 14th and you will learn something.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

Well what do you know!? Did you call that or what?!

Bears face hurricane poster child Saints on Sunday for Halas Trophy!

Go Bears!

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

That's a smoker mulie! Are you refering to the Panther Creek that runs into the Mackinaw River near Secor? If so, that's my old stompin ground! I lived and bow hunted there for the first 24 years of my life. My old man is still a G.C. there.

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

I live in Gunnison, and that is a decent buck for this area. Not worth 10 PP though. Hunted 54 elk in 3rd seson and saw several bucks over 25" and a pair about 30". VERY nice bucks. Couldn't find a hunter with a buck tag for for 2 days! About 12 elk tag guys staring at it @ 140-150 yds laying down at edge of aspens. Sorry your hunt did not turn out a 'monster'. But hey, I would have taken that guy in a heartbeat. If you want to hunt this area agian, I can provide SOME info, but I have only taken does. Have seen lots of bucks, especially during archery season(grouse season for me and gather wood for winter). Let's talk.

Nice Buck though, congrats.

Jerry

RE: CO 4th Season Buck
 

I would shoot that in an instant, don't listen to those people saying that it's small. He's got great tine length.

To me, anything over 150" is a monster.