Print Page | Close Window

Montana High Country Mule Deer

Printed From: OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc.
Category: Hunting, Fishing & General Outdoors
Forum Name: General Hunting
Forum Description: Techniques, tips, stories, general discussion, etc.
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=30329
Printed Date: March/28/2024 at 23:38
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Montana High Country Mule Deer
Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Subject: Montana High Country Mule Deer
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 21:39
Well, my buddy and I backpacked nine miles deep into the Montana high alpine backcountry for the opener of early rifle.  This is a public land, OTC hunt for mule deer.  Deer numbers are not high in this area, but if you find a lone buck, he is often an old one.  That is the case with this deer.  He only had a few teeth left.  He was in full, beautiful, untouched velvet with a 4 inch horizontal kicker on his driver's side ... before the shot(s).  I kept putting shots on him to try to keep him on the ribbon cliff he was on, but of course he rolled right off.  The velvet was shredded, and the kicker was MIA.  My buddy and I searched the path of the fall, and through some miracle, my buddy found it in the rocks.  My taxi should be able to fix the kicker and put some synthetic velvet on.

The pack-out was brutal, but worth it!




-------------
-Matt



Replies:
Posted By: ckk1106
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 21:59
Awesome.  What gun/caliber?


Posted By: grizbacker
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 22:02
Nice buck!!! I have always wanted to hunt this unit and have done a few scouting trips in it.  As soon as I graduate and have more time I plan to give it a try.


Posted By: grizbacker
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 22:06
Bitteroot, About what elevation were you hunting? looks pretty high


Posted By: jselsor
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 22:10
That is one extreme hunt! Congrats Man. Next Fall I hope to do somthing similar
        J Selsor


-------------
Dont take yourself to seriously


Posted By: jonoMT
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 22:23
That's a stunning shot and a good story. Glad you had such a rewarding trip.

-------------
Reaction time is a factor...


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/17/2011 at 22:29
Originally posted by ckk1106 ckk1106 wrote:

Awesome.  What gun/caliber?


It was my backpacking setup:

Remington Model 7
Douglas barrel stainless 22'
7mm-08
Leupold PRW bases
Leupold PRW rings
Vortex Viper 2-7X32 BDC

Handloaded Barnes 140 TTSX.




-------------
-Matt


Posted By: Claus
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 06:18
WOW!!!!!
That is REALLY a nice buck you got yourself there Matt. 
Looks like a lot of work to get him out of there. Big Smile
What was the elevation there?
How heavy is a beast like that?




-------------
Savage 93 17.HMR. Tikka Tac A1 308 Blaser R8 6,5-55 / 30-06. Beretta Silver Pigeon. Comming up-TIKKATAC A1 22LR

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 09:35
The elevation was over 8000 feet.  That buck led to 113 pounds of boned out meat.  So using the "thirds" rule-of-thumb, he should have been around 300 pounds live weight.







Edit:  Just noticed the error on the meat poundage. 


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: jonoMT
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 11:05
That's about the altitude you need to be hunting at with the temperatures we've been having. I'm glad it's finally cooling down.

-------------
Reaction time is a factor...


Posted By: billyburl2
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 11:10
Jealous...Very Jealous Excellent

-------------
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?


Posted By: Claus
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 13:16
If you weren't in good shape before, i bet you are now. Wink
That's a lot of heavy work man.Bow
Is that a normal weight for a muledeer buck?
Please let us see how you mount it.
Thanks


-------------
Savage 93 17.HMR. Tikka Tac A1 308 Blaser R8 6,5-55 / 30-06. Beretta Silver Pigeon. Comming up-TIKKATAC A1 22LR

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 15:59
Originally posted by Claus Claus wrote:

Is that a normal weight for a muledeer buck?


Most I have taken have been in the 200-250 range.  In my experience, it takes a really old buck to get into 300 pound territory.  This guy had a 2 inch cover of fat over the rib meat.




-------------
-Matt


Posted By: lucytuma
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 16:26
Beautiful, plain and simple. Congratulations Matt!

-------------
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 17:51
Way to go Matt.  He is a dandy.  Excellent

-------------
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 19:43
Outstanding! 

-------------
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/18/2011 at 19:47
Thanks guys!

I will be working on the video for a while...


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 07:30
Excellent


Posted By: Dogger
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 07:37
Very nice buck Matt and gorgeous location (maybe not so gorgeous with 100lbs of meat on your back).  A dream hunt for most of us!  Congrats.

-------------
God save the Empire!


Posted By: 8shots
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 08:14
Way to go...the tough hunts are the best.. but ExcellentExcellentonly after you have a cold frosty in the hand!!


Posted By: Stud Duck
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 08:22
Beautiful, thanks for posting.
 
I've always wanted to hunt out West; I'm torn on where to go and what to do, Canadian whitetail, sheep, elk......so little time and money! Big Smile


Posted By: Claus
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 08:23
8shots: Hear hear.Big Smile
After a few frostys it gets even better.


-------------
Savage 93 17.HMR. Tikka Tac A1 308 Blaser R8 6,5-55 / 30-06. Beretta Silver Pigeon. Comming up-TIKKATAC A1 22LR

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened


Posted By: BeltFed
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 10:14
Thunbs Up
Great hunt with some risk of failure or great rewards.
Don't envy your trip out, that had to be a gut buster.
 


-------------
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 10:25
Originally posted by BeltFed BeltFed wrote:

Thunbs Up
Great hunt with some risk of failure or great rewards.
Don't envy your trip out, that had to be a gut buster.


Mid gut bust:



The Eberlestock is loaded to the gills with meat, head, cape, antlers, and camp about half way out.  My partner's load was about the same.  Its good to have good friends, especially when they are marine veterans.


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: anomad
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 11:00
When I see that picture, I think:



Posted By: BeltFed
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 11:20
Man, the mule deer is heavy enough to pack out. Mule is not that good, so why would you want to pack out a pack mul......................never mindBucky

-------------
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.


Posted By: hunterwingler
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 11:53
Right On!!!ExcellentExcellentExcellent 

-------------
I wasn't upset about the black cat crossing my path this morning but mouthing "your fu@#ed" as he passed was just rude.

If Guns kill people mine are all defective


Posted By: helo18
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 21:10
Very very nice! Wish I could be out there right now. But I do that with horses. In fact that area looks familiar, but hard to say.

-------------
To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

GEORGE WASHINGTON


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/19/2011 at 21:48
Originally posted by helo18 helo18 wrote:

Very very nice! Wish I could be out there right now. But I do that with horses. In fact that area looks familiar, but hard to say.


My partner and I both have good pack stock.  We just couldn't get where we wanted by trail, and didn't have anyone to monitor the stock while we spiked out.  So the horses were at home getting fat while we were working like mules.

Still worth it.


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: BeltFed
Date Posted: September/20/2011 at 08:48
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

Originally posted by helo18 helo18 wrote:

Very very nice! Wish I could be out there right now. But I do that with horses. In fact that area looks familiar, but hard to say.


My partner and I both have good pack stock.  We just couldn't get where we wanted by trail, and didn't have anyone to monitor the stock while we spiked out.  So the horses were at home getting fat while we were working like mules.

Still worth it.
Now that's a huntExcellent

-------------
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.


Posted By: Thundey
Date Posted: September/21/2011 at 16:33
You might want to go back and edit those photo's and blur out the mountain behind you.  I know where that is...

Nice buck BTWExcellent

I don't think I'll make elk season this year, but the later part of deer season I might.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/21/2011 at 17:27
Originally posted by Thundey Thundey wrote:

You might want to go back and edit those photo's and blur out the mountain behind you.  I know where that is...


Why would I photoshop the peak out when I already photoshopped it in to send would-be sleuths on a wild goose chase!

Seriously, I would be interested to hear your best guess (PM only please!). I don't ever mind sharing the mountains with hunters that are willing to work as hard as you have to in order to hunt that country.

-------------
-Matt


Posted By: Thundey
Date Posted: September/21/2011 at 18:11
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

Originally posted by Thundey Thundey wrote:

You might want to go back and edit those photo's and blur out the mountain behind you.  I know where that is...


Why would I photoshop the peak out when I already photoshopped it in to send would-be sleuths on a wild goose chase!

Seriously, I would be interested to hear your best guess (PM only please!). I don't ever mind sharing the mountains with hunters that are willing to work as hard as you have to in order to hunt that country.


I'm just messing with you about where that is, however it is real similar to a couple spots I used to pack into when I lived in MT.  Just thought maybe you should use a little caution, as there are those that would look for that specific place.  Google earth is an SOB.

Any way I'll send you a pm.


Posted By: Thundey
Date Posted: September/21/2011 at 18:41
Staying away from the grizz too hopefully.  Friend of mine was just involved in a grizzly attack  a 'ways' north of here.  He wasn't injured but the guy that was with him got killed.  


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: September/21/2011 at 19:16
Originally posted by Thundey Thundey wrote:

Staying away from the grizz too hopefully.  Friend of mine was just involved in a grizzly attack  a 'ways' north of here.  He wasn't injured but the guy that was with him got killed.  


That story is all over the news right now.  Sad, sad story.  There have been a bunch of grizzly fatalities this year.  I think its time to put out some tags.

As far as somebody finding that spot, it could happen ... but it is a bit remote, and if people want to put in the effort ... more power to 'em.




-------------
-Matt


Posted By: Thundey
Date Posted: September/21/2011 at 23:08
The 3-1-__Wink

Yeah it is unfortunate what happened.  The media is spinning it like crazy.  Lots of misinformation floating around.  Lots of the anti crowd going berserk.  It sucks even more cause we were going to be headed up there this past weekend.(friday night) hunt Saturday.  One of the few weekends I could squeak away this fall.

Hopefully the fish and game doesn't bend "T" over, he's a good guy, and comes from a good family.  I've known them my entire life, and they're practically my family too.  I'm not going into much detail, but it is a tragedy for both sides here.

My condolences to Mr. Stevenson's family.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: November/27/2012 at 14:49
Well here is the mount, finally finished:
 
 
 


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: JGRaider
Date Posted: November/27/2012 at 15:21
Awesome pics and a great buck Bitterroot.  Congrats on a hard earned and obviously very fulfilling hunt.  Thanks for sharing with us flatlanders!  


Posted By: tman1965
Date Posted: November/27/2012 at 17:01
Awesome Matt! Congrats! Excellent

-------------
Sometimes my tongue outruns my brain and I say something I haven't thought of yet!


Posted By: rustic
Date Posted: November/28/2012 at 11:12
Very nice.


-------------
Light is alright.<br /><br />The end is just... the beginning   -soul surfer


Posted By: Claus
Date Posted: November/29/2012 at 03:58
Hey Matt.
Long time no hear. My falt. Smile
That mount looks absolutely fantastic. 
GREAT job on the velvet too, hard to see how torn up it was.
ExcellentExcellentExcellent


-------------
Savage 93 17.HMR. Tikka Tac A1 308 Blaser R8 6,5-55 / 30-06. Beretta Silver Pigeon. Comming up-TIKKATAC A1 22LR

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened


Posted By: RifleDude
Date Posted: November/29/2012 at 12:22
Man, that's beautiful, Matt!

Awesome buck, and awesome extreme hunt!

Congrats!


-------------
Ted


Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.


Posted By: Stud Duck
Date Posted: December/01/2012 at 16:19
Beautiful mount, you earned it bud; congrats.


Posted By: WYcoyote
Date Posted: December/04/2012 at 22:18
Your taxicoligist did you a good job on that mount.
And you guys did a nice job on the hunt.
Memories for a lifetime.


Posted By: ccoker
Date Posted: December/11/2012 at 21:29
outstanding!
I would love to do that hunt..

Looks like a fun place to mountain bike too!




-------------
www.TacticalGunReview.com

Pro Staff - Silencer Shop

http://tacticalgunreview.com



Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: December/12/2012 at 08:37
Originally posted by ccoker ccoker wrote:

outstanding!
I would love to do that hunt..

Looks like a fun place to mountain bike too!






Sorry Charles, mountain bikes are not allowed. This hunt is a general hunt, so get a tag and get out there!

-------------
-Matt


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: December/12/2012 at 08:45
Tremendous mulie!!  Well, you guys are young.  I would want ......a helicopter!!!    Big Grin    haha!

Great photos, fellers.. 


-------------
Visit the Ed Show



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net