After several years of hunting a particular area along Colorado’s northern front range I finally had chance to shoot a monster mule deer. I had applied for a deer tag that covered most of the mule deer rutting season. My tag started the 3rd week of October but I waited until I had seen bucks in the area start to group up with the does before I started my hunt. I had a free afternoon so I decided to head out and see if I could find a shooter buck. I headed out to a piece of private property I permission to hunt. I parked my truck and hiked up a ridge to glass the far valley. I soon spotted a group of deer down the valley about a half mile away feeding along a hillside of mountain mahogany. I saw 3 bucks in the group and one looked like a possible shooter. I would need to make a hike long around a mountain to approach them from the top of a valley. So, headed back down the ridge and began my stalk. After a 50 minute hike I was able to sneak within 200 yards of the deer herd. I saw two of bucks along with 6 does. One of the bucks looked like a good buck, but it was hard to tell in the mountain mahogany. I picked the biggest buck up in my scope and place one shot behind his front shoulder. He hunched up at the bullet impact and walked about 30 feet and fell over. I gave watched to other deer mill around the area for 15 minutes. After waiting sufficient time to make sure the buck had expired I walked to the area and found the buck laying dead. I was surprised to see the buck was much bigger than I had realized. He measured 32” wide and weighed about 300 pounds. My taxidermist thinks he will score around 190. I used a 30-06 Tikka T3 stainless, Leupold Vari X II with a Nosler 180gr Accubond. The bullet made a clean pass through taking out lungs and his heart. In all the time I have spent scouting that area it was the first time I ever saw that buck. This will certainly be a deer to remember.

First stop was to my taxidermist.

WOW!
Congrats to you, and thanks for sharing.

That's a dandy! Beautiful trophy.

Awesome!

Congratulations! That is a great deer.

outstanding! great deer.

Ranger, good for you man! That's a heck of a buck, and will definitely push the 190" mark. Nice job!

That deer is a stud! Congratulations! Who is your taxidermist?

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drummondlindsey

Pat Wensman who owns Wildlife Creations in Fort Collins.

Beautiful buck. Congrats!

Psst - Does he have an older brother hanging around, somewhere?

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Originally posted by Ranger02:

quote:

drummondlindsey

Pat Wensman who owns Wildlife Creations in Fort Collins.

Right on, I've never been over there. I live in Windsor

Hell of a deer.....congrats! Hope I see one close to that next week.

CONGRATS!!!

That buck is a toad!
I have one exactly like him that I killed in the Gunnison area a few years ago. Right down to the uneven depth on the forks. Colorado is the place to go for big Mule Deer.
Once again Congrats!

Congratulations, agreat trophy. That's a buck of a lifetime for most hunters.

Great deer! Love those 30+ deer

Congratulations! Great buck!

Very nice buck! Congrats.

Outstanding...pushing 190 for sure
You got your self a real trophy there
Congradulations..good job

Thanks to everyone for the compliments.

I went to the Boone and Crocket website and attempted their offical scoring chart. I came up with a score of 186. This was my first attempt at scoring a deer so who knows how accurate my measurements turned out. I'll wait the required 60 days to have him offically scored.

No matter what the score, he is going to make a great mount.

quote:

Originally posted by Ranger02:
Thanks to everyone for the compliments.

I went to the Boone and Crocket website and attempted their offical scoring chart. I came up with a score of 186. This was my first attempt at scoring a deer so who knows how accurate my measurements turned out. I'll wait the required 60 days to have him offically scored.

No matter what the score, he is going to make a great mount.

Score doesnt matter, big is big and that deer is big!

Very nice! Definately belongs on a wall. Nate

Bragger!
If that were my deer I'd be a braggin also!
Seriously, dam nice buck!

That is one hell of a deer. Congrats. That's very close to my dream mule deer...the one I hope to get some day.