Finally got a deer back from the taxidermist. This is the first deer that I have had mounted. This deer means a lot to me, it is not the biggest deer that I have ever shot, but it sure holds a very special place in my heart. The last year that I was able to hunt with my 82 yr old Grandfather was 2001. We were hunting some wickedly tough country near the Missouri river breaks. He had to spend most of the time either in the truck or at camp. The first day we were out he spotted this buck way up a ridge line at least 1/2 mile from where we were and the buck was running the opposite way. I told him to sit tight and I would try to track the deer and see where he was headed. After a long couple hours of hiking I didn't see the deer again that day or the following day. The last day of our hunt I spotted him again and asked my Grandfather if he was up for a little walk. He said he wouldn't miss it for the world. So, we took off and walked about 3/4 of a mile mostly uphill, it was slow going with the old feller but I wasn't about to set him down and leave him behind. After walkning for a better part of 2 hours we spotted this buck just going over the next ridge and our hopes were dashed. We sat down to contemplate our next move when the buck jumped back over the ridge and headed our way at about 400 yards. My Grandfather had his gun up, but he was just too shaky and exhausted from our hike to get a steady shot at that distance. He told me to take the shot from where we were. I really wanted him to harvest this buck, so I didnt take the shot in hopes that the buck would come closer. Well, the buck did just the opposite, he got wind of another doe and bolted back over the ridge. I asked my Grandfather if he could make the walk just to the other ridge, he said he could so we took off for the other ridge at what must have been a dead run for him. We slowly topped the ridge to see the buck chasing a doe at 350 yards. With light fading I asked my Grandfather to take the shot, but he still was just too fatigued, so I took the shot. I lined up the cross hairs of my .264 Win mag right on this old boys back and pulled the trigger. This buck hit the ground so hard we didnt know where he went. My Grandfather had brought up his binoculars and was able to see a horn sticking up out of the sagebrush. As we walked over to where the deer was laying, my grandfather kept slapping me on the back and saying that was the most exhillerating hunt of his life. He didnt care, but I sure would have liked to have seen him pull the trigger on that buck. He was stricken with spinal meningitis the follow spring and died soon afterwards. I kept the cape in good shape from my deer this year and used it for the mount. I will always remember that hunt, and now every time I see that buck hanging there it brings a great big smile to my face.

BigSky

A great story and fine looking muley, BigSky.

[quote=BigSky;334816]Finally got a deer back from the taxidermist. This is the first deer that I have had mounted. This deer means a lot to me, it is not the biggest deer that I have ever shot, but it sure holds a very special place in my heart. The last year that I was able to hunt with my 82 yr old Grandfather was 2001. We were hunting some wickedly tough country near the Missouri river breaks. He had to spend most of the time either in the truck or at camp. The first day we were out he spotted this buck way up a ridge line at least 1/2 mile from where we were and the buck was running the opposite way. I told him to sit tight and I would try to track the deer and see where he was headed. After a long couple hours of hiking I didn't see the deer again that day or the following day. The last day of our hunt I spotted him again and asked my Grandfather if he was up for a little walk. He said he wouldn't miss it for the world. So, we took off and walked about 3/4 of a mile mostly uphill, it was slow going with the old feller but I wasn't about to set him down and leave him behind. After walkning for a better part of 2 hours we spotted this buck just going over the next ridge and our hopes were dashed. We sat down to contemplate our next move when the buck jumped back over the ridge and headed our way at about 400 yards. My Grandfather had his gun up, but he was just too shaky and exhausted from our hike to get a steady shot at that distance. He told me to take the shot from where we were. I really wanted him to harvest this buck, so I didnt take the shot in hopes that the buck would come closer. Well, the buck did just the opposite, he got wind of another doe and bolted back over the ridge. I asked my Grandfather if he could make the walk just to the other ridge, he said he could so we took off for the other ridge at what must have been a dead run for him. We slowly topped the ridge to see the buck chasing a doe at 350 yards. With light fading I asked my Grandfather to take the shot, but he still was just too fatigued, so I took the shot. I lined up the cross hairs of my .264 Win mag right on this old boys back and pulled the trigger. This buck hit the ground so hard we didnt know where he went. My Grandfather had brought up his binoculars and was able to see a horn sticking up out of the sagebrush. As we walked over to where the deer was laying, my grandfather kept slapping me on the back and saying that was the most exhillerating hunt of his life. He didnt care, but I sure would have liked to have seen him pull the trigger on that buck. He was stricken with spinal meningitis the follow spring and died soon afterwards. I kept the cape in good shape from my deer this year and used it for the mount. I will always remember that hunt, and now every time I see that buck hanging there it brings a great big smile to my face.

BigSky[/quote
He sure looks pretty to me. I know the hunt was more important than the deer head to you.
I have yet to take a good muley. It isn't easy!


Good Luck

Nice story. I bet your Grandfather got more joy out of seeing you make the shot than if he had done it himself.

Beautiful deer BigSky, and a nice last hunt for grandpa.

Very nice story and what a memory. Beautiful buck as well.

It ain't the size of the deer but the size of the memories. My fondest memories are of hunting with my grandfather.