Outdooraddict
Active member
Nice Job T-Bone! I've got to say, you had a few more days- but that might not have paid off. Great buck. Did you see more bucks after the 1st weekend??? The weather cleared up quick- any difference?
CO 3rd season Unit 61 Halftime report
- Thread starter T Bone
- Start date
putm2sleep
New member
Way to go T-Bone! Congrats to ya. (...I was going to post here last eve something good must have happened, had a good feeling) Righteous bucks r going down this season!
Dinkshooter
Well-known member
Me likey alot.
T Bone
Well-known member
A couple details:
At the beginning of the hunt I hunted fairly high. I saw two bucks in two days. One was Mongo, one was the 180 class deer in the first photo. Then the snow hit, the deer hung around for a day or two then started moving to lower ground.
Wednesday morning I went to the transition middle elevations and saw 3 bucks lined out on the move to lower ground. One looked like a shooter. I tracked them for a couple miles through an ocean of oak brush without seeing them.
Earlier in the hunt I'd met another hunter from Kanab, UT that really knew what he was doing. He's killed a lot of big deer and he was trophy hunting. I stopped by his camp for lunch and he asked if I wanted to kill a buck. He showed me video of the buck and said he wasn't interested in it, but it was mine for the taking if I wanted to give it a go.
He lead me right to the buck. It was within 100 yards of where he put it to bed a few hours before. We spotted it bedded, and stalked to within 80 yards. It was in the thick JP cover so we waited. Then the wind switched and the buck blew out. I was hoping he'd do the classic bounce and stop broadside, but he didn't. He hit the afterburners so I shot and put a Partition through the rear axel. He disappeared over the hill and I ran after.
I found him in some thick cover and anchored him.
This deer was a gift from Travis from Kanab.
A couple thoughts on unit 61.
1- The unit has so much cover and ideal habitat that the bucks can get old there. It has huge potential as the Mongo buck showed. It can be frustrating because of all the cover.
2- Three days after a big snow, the deer magically pop out in the low country.
3- Elk, elk everywhere. I saw 100 elk for every deer. True story.
4- This is the first hunt ever where I wished I had an ATV. I beat the crap out of my 4Runner and got stuck several times where an ATV would have had no problem.
5- I need a better tent for late season stuff.
6- I'm applying every year for this hunt.
7- I think I'll look into the Leupold CDS turret thing. Increasing effective range can't be bad. Maybe Mongo would be in my garage instead of someone else's.
At the beginning of the hunt I hunted fairly high. I saw two bucks in two days. One was Mongo, one was the 180 class deer in the first photo. Then the snow hit, the deer hung around for a day or two then started moving to lower ground.
Wednesday morning I went to the transition middle elevations and saw 3 bucks lined out on the move to lower ground. One looked like a shooter. I tracked them for a couple miles through an ocean of oak brush without seeing them.
Earlier in the hunt I'd met another hunter from Kanab, UT that really knew what he was doing. He's killed a lot of big deer and he was trophy hunting. I stopped by his camp for lunch and he asked if I wanted to kill a buck. He showed me video of the buck and said he wasn't interested in it, but it was mine for the taking if I wanted to give it a go.
He lead me right to the buck. It was within 100 yards of where he put it to bed a few hours before. We spotted it bedded, and stalked to within 80 yards. It was in the thick JP cover so we waited. Then the wind switched and the buck blew out. I was hoping he'd do the classic bounce and stop broadside, but he didn't. He hit the afterburners so I shot and put a Partition through the rear axel. He disappeared over the hill and I ran after.
I found him in some thick cover and anchored him.
This deer was a gift from Travis from Kanab.
A couple thoughts on unit 61.
1- The unit has so much cover and ideal habitat that the bucks can get old there. It has huge potential as the Mongo buck showed. It can be frustrating because of all the cover.
2- Three days after a big snow, the deer magically pop out in the low country.
3- Elk, elk everywhere. I saw 100 elk for every deer. True story.
4- This is the first hunt ever where I wished I had an ATV. I beat the crap out of my 4Runner and got stuck several times where an ATV would have had no problem.
5- I need a better tent for late season stuff.
6- I'm applying every year for this hunt.
7- I think I'll look into the Leupold CDS turret thing. Increasing effective range can't be bad. Maybe Mongo would be in my garage instead of someone else's.
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Doug in Idaho
Member
Good work T-Bone
T Bone
Well-known member
Here is a pic of the collapsed tent.
fowladdict
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2005
- Messages
- 2,546
Congrats T-Bone! That is a hell of a buck. You have had a heck of a deer season. I didn't fill my tag this year, but did get a great look at a Mongo this year myself from 40 yards away out in the Owyhees. Unfortunately I had an archery tag and he was bounding away. Seeing him that close and in velvet made my season a success.
The first picture I previously attached said it was killed near Gateway Colorado this week. Didn't know if that is near where you were hunting. This attached photo specifically says 3rd season Unit 61. Could this be Mongo?? Both of these photos were posted on the Trophy Hunter web page.
The first picture I previously attached said it was killed near Gateway Colorado this week. Didn't know if that is near where you were hunting. This attached photo specifically says 3rd season Unit 61. Could this be Mongo?? Both of these photos were posted on the Trophy Hunter web page.
Attachments
T Bone
Well-known member
I'd really like to know specifics on the buck in the green Toyota. The sticker is like Mongo's. Crab claws on the back are right. If the Toyota is wearing New Mexico plates, that's him.
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Dinkshooter
Well-known member
If that is Mongo I think I'd slit my wrist.
T Bone
Well-known member
Keep me away from sharp objects.
krshunter
Member
Great buck T-Bone. I probably would have pulled the trigger too although I may not have made it past the buck in your first picture. That's quite the headache rack on that Toyota. Damn!!!!
fishing4sanity
Well-known member
Congrats on a great looking buck, you chose a great one to pull the trigger on. My 2 cents on the Leupold CDS turret is that they're a great tool. I've got a Vortex Viper with their custom turret and love it.
Bambistew
Well-known member
If thats Mongo, I'll slit T-Bones wrists.
Too bad his fronts are so weak, he'd have been a really nice buck..
Congrats on the buck! I wouldn't have had any problem pulling the trigger either.
T Bone
Well-known member
Outside spread is 26" so those ears are all of that.
I'd estimated the buck in the snow to be 28" wide, but he may be an honest 30". My judging skills lack.
