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My Santa Rosa Island Mule Deer
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Just returned from my hunt on Santa Rosa Island, off the coast of California. Fought some high winds and fog. Had a great hunt, but didn't get that 30 incher I was dreaming of. Maybe some day, somewhere.

Here are my buck and me. Took him at about 100 yards with my brand new 300 Win Mag. He nearly fell down a canyon.



Here is my guide, Gordy Long, recovering my deer where he fortunately, hung up in the only tree at the top of the canyon.



The fog rolling in.



This is the old ranch house were we stayed.



Flying out. We had to wait for the fog to lift before the plane could come and get us.



Regards, D. Nelson
 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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Nice deer. I need to post my buck from this year in Colorado. I have been chasing 30 inches for 20 years and finally connected this year. I would love to hear about the hunt on Santa Rosa. Please post some details, including game numbers, terrain, weather, facilities, guides and cost if you can.

Perry
 
Posts: 1144 | Location: Green Country Oklahoma | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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PWN 375;

As you can see, I'm NO spring chicken, and have been after that 30 incher for OVER 20 years myself. I've taken lots of mule deer, I swear I'll stop hunting them, if ever I connect. So I'm very happy that you finally got yours, but I'm sure you won't quit hunting them.

As I mentioned, the weather played a big factor on my hunt. So I didn't dare hold out in fear of coming home without a nice deer like this one. The last 2 days we were socked in with fog.

I have been on M.U.M.'s waiting list for 4 years waiting for this opportunity. They have a flat rate for the deer hunt and trophy fees based on SCI scores over certain amounts. Unfortunately or fortunate, my deer didn't make the additional trophy fee qualifications. There was some talk about less costs for deer under 200 SCI in the future. All hunting on the island is scheduled to end 2011.

The terrain in rolling hills and steep canyons. The first day we did a death march from the top of the island to the ocean. It was beautiful but we didn't see a shooter that day. The rest of the time, due to fog, we pretty much did spot an stalk. The guides are fantastic, the food was unbelievable, the facilities were good (above average for a deer camp).

One of the 4 other hunters took two deer that scored over 200. But the rest of did not. We did see numerous deer and elk. But according to the outfitter, "you should have been here last year". That's always my luck.

Best regards, D. Nelson
 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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It was weird hunting deer and hearing sea lions roar in the back ground.

 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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very cool! congrats!
 
Posts: 51246 | Location: Chinook, Montana | Registered: 01 January 2004Reply With Quote
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Darn fine buck, that's for sure. thumb


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Posts: 3308 | Location: Southern NM USA | Registered: 01 October 2002Reply With Quote
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Awesome mulie. What a neat place to hunt!
Congrats!
Walt
 
Posts: 324 | Location: VIRGINIA | Registered: 27 January 2007Reply With Quote
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SWAMBO,

Great buck! Hey! There's Texas next year....

Mark


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Posts: 13118 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Great Buck. I didn't even know there was a Santa Rosa Island


Windage and elevation, Mrs. Langdon, windage and elevation...
 
Posts: 944 | Location: michigan | Registered: 16 December 2004Reply With Quote
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Mark;

That Texas hunt next year is more important than ever now!!!!

Regards, Darin
 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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Beautiful buck- Congrats!


Good Hunting,

Tim Herald
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Posts: 2981 | Location: Lexington, KY | Registered: 13 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Great buck, D! -TONY


Tony Mandile - Author "How To Hunt Coues Deer"
 
Posts: 3269 | Location: Glendale, AZ | Registered: 28 July 2003Reply With Quote
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WOW!Congratulations on a super buck! thumb
 
Posts: 3608 | Location: USA | Registered: 08 September 2004Reply With Quote
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Very nice buck! beer

Looks a bit steep though. Eeker
 
Posts: 8773 | Location: Republic of Texas | Registered: 24 April 2004Reply With Quote
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Darin,

Very nice deer...I have hunted Catalina a couple times...always interesting to be hunting deer and looking out over the ocean.


Very nice deer...did I say that twice...it must be.

Regards,


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10181 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Great looking animal, and that looks like a fun place to hunt, DN! Too bad it's only got a few more years before it's only a memory. Anybody have any insight into why the feds are nixing the critters?

KG

"We are sad to say that 2011 will be the last year our hunting program will occupy the island. The National Park Service is still firm on the removal of elk and deer heard that populate Santa Rosa Island. It is distressing that the Park Service/Government is planning to exterminate the herds after the 2011 season ends. This is the Federal Governments plans for Santa Rosa Island and it is heartrenching that these wonderful herds will not be left to inhabit the island. Our hunting program has no intention of changing or adding any extra "extermination" hunts. Efforts will be made on our behalf to relocate elk and deer unfortunately we will only have the ability to move a small number of the existing herds."


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Posts: 2897 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Great deer !! Congrats.
With your dedication and passion for hunting you deserve to connect that 30" some day thumb

L
 
Posts: 3085 | Location: Uruguay - South America | Registered: 10 December 2001Reply With Quote
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Nice buck, congratulations.

In the ninties I guided for several seasons on Santa Rosa. It's an amazing place, I've never even heard of anything like it.

They're right about last year. The stuff they took was insane. The taxidermist we use for our business also guides out there and does quite a bit of taxidermy and trophy shipping for the Island hunts. Last season I got to see several absolutely unbelievable racks as they passed through his shop. One had bases thicker than my wrists, points EVERYWHERE and as I recall grossed 253"!!!!

Too bad it's all going away, but the handwritting was on the wall in the '80's.

Kyler


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Posts: 2520 | Location: Central Coast of CA | Registered: 10 January 2002Reply With Quote
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Great trophy!


NRA Life Member
DSC Life Member


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Posts: 486 | Location: SE TEXAS | Registered: 26 June 2007Reply With Quote
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Super Deer but it not worth the almost $10,000
that you spent to hunt there.

This is a grate deer but I would expect nothing Less.
 
Posts: 1462 | Location: maryland / Clayton Delaware | Registered: 16 December 2004Reply With Quote
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Wow Darin, as always my friend, you are my hero! Smiler What a beautiful buck. That looks like a great place to hunt, too bad it is going to disappear.

I owe you a big catch-up email and will get to it soon but am in the midst of (desperately) chasing Green Mountain, western NY and Michigan deer!


~Ann





 
Posts: 19750 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001Reply With Quote
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You may not consider yourself a "spring chicken" but take it from this old rooster, you are one fine looking woman with one truly fine buck. Congratulations. clap


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Posts: 4263 | Location: Pinetop, Arizona | Registered: 02 January 2006Reply With Quote
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I just walked in the door from my last hunt of the year (had to check out the AR Forum first thing)...Roseburg, Oregon after blacktail deer. I held out for a big one and never saw him.

I've had an wonderful hunting year, so I can't complain. Just gives me excuses to continue THE HUNT!!!

Thanks to all the kind words re: my Santa Rosa Island mule deer.

Best regards, D. Nelson

blaser93...I can't agree more, "Super Deer but not worth almost $10,000"!!! I choked on the price too, but figured I wouldn't get another opportunity to do this hunt. (Cheaper than another safari!! Roll Eyes
 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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