Mule Deer Buck
#151651
11/05/2014 3:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
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OP
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Posts: 4,155 |
To be frank, one of my current health conditions (right knee) precludes me from doing much walking in uneven terrain; ie. pretty much the entire Colorado wildlands.
So I was very limited in mobility while hunting to fill my mule deer buck tag. My method was quite simple: keep re-visiting my past successful (and some not so successful areas) and using my Zeiss optics, scouring the meadows and open areas for long minutes and even hours, from my truck. Glassing, waiting, repeat, move to another area, repeat.
I figured that if I spotted a buck that I wanted, that my adrenalin and stubbornness and love of the stalk and hunt could keep me going for at least one good try.
After a couple of mornings and afternoons, I had yet to see a buck. I was seeing does without bucks; due to the unseasonably warm weather here the mule deer rut had not quite started yet.
The time was 4:30 p.m. on the third day of my season and the sun was sinking fast. A cold front was moving through and we had gotten a flurry of snow the previous evening, which would hopefully get the game moving around some. Moving slowly along a two track excuse for a road in my F-150 following a small drainage, I suddenly spotted a buck down on the edge of the creek, about 75 yards away. I stopped the truck and turned the motor off. My Zeiss binocs automatically came up to my eyes and I looked at him and sized him up in about two tenths of a second. Staring back at me was a very respectable 4X4 with one brow tine. I slowly opened the door and got out, my right hand going to my Custom .475 Linebaugh and removing it from the makeshift shoulder holster (works for me) As my right foot touched the ground, the knee pain along with the crunching sound of the porcelain spacer block in that severely compromised joint rudely reminded me to step very carefully in spite of my excitement at seeing such a beautiful buck. I carefully moved ahead to the nearest tree for a rest and where I had a clear view of the buck and brought up my revolver, planted the red dot of the JPoint sight just behind his shoulder, cocked the hammer, and pressed the trigger. At the boom, he swapped ends and started scrambling up the opposite hillside. Something however was very very wrong. His hind end wasn't working very good. Yet he was still moving away, so I put another 400 Gr. XTP through him. (Note this was the opposite side as the first shot) He fell down and died in the creek. It was almost dark. These photos were taken the following day. The following photo shows my two shots, one entrance and one exit, due to the fact the buck turned around 180 degrees after the first shot. This area is about 4 inches behind the shoulder.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#151653
11/05/2014 4:02 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,116
GlennS
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,116 |
Nice work Gregg! You always find a way to fill the tag with a good one. I'm gonna start riding in the back of your truck
Hope the leg gets better!
"Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt"
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: GlennS]
#151654
11/05/2014 4:28 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Congrats, Gregg! I hate you're not able to enjoy your hunts to the fullest due to your knee, but at least you are not giving up and making the best of it; and quiet well may I add.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#151655
11/05/2014 4:47 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
It's good you made the best of it, well done!
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: s4s4u]
#151657
11/05/2014 5:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
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Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
So happy for you Gregg!!!
Ernie the Un-Tactical
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Ernie]
#151658
11/05/2014 6:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#151659
11/05/2014 7:09 AM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
Awesome buck! Beautiful handgun. Well done.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#151660
11/05/2014 8:44 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920
billa
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920 |
Nice buck Gregg. Congratulations.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... " Matthew 28:19
Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since! HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: billa]
#151663
11/05/2014 11:13 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649
dhom
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649 |
Very well done,nice buck!!!!
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: dhom]
#151664
11/05/2014 11:55 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
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veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Duke3026]
#151667
11/05/2014 1:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 214
chas3stix
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 214 |
Nice buck. Way to go Gregg.
NRA Benefactor life Member
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: chas3stix]
#151668
11/05/2014 1:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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Posts: 4,669 |
Congratulations, Gregg! Very well done!
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#151672
11/05/2014 2:08 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725
500WE
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725 |
Beautiful buck, Gregg! Congratulations!
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: racksmasher1]
#151674
11/05/2014 4:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Russell]
#151675
11/05/2014 4:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,101
Bearbait in NM
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,101 |
Gregg,
That is a dandy. Please do not beat yourself up for spotting it from the truck, and not having it instantly hit high gear. Those of us who hunt the west, probably have logged hundreds if not thousands of boot rubber miles over the years. If you divide the miles by the number of animals it will quickly reveal that you have put in a lot of unsuccessful miles. Every once in a while we get a gift "stalk". Nice shooting.
Craig
Northern born and Southern bred
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: racksmasher1]
#151679
11/05/2014 6:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,642
BBwheelgunner
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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hell of a buck, congratulations!
"If you are going to go through all the trouble to put a hole in something, why not make it a big one?"
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: BBwheelgunner]
#151680
11/05/2014 7:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 161
MrMcPorkchop
member
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member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 161 |
That's a damn nice buck! Good shooting Gregg!
Choot em!
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: MrMcPorkchop]
#151685
11/05/2014 8:30 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 244
Mad Dog 1954
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 244 |
Nice buck I can empathize with having a medical condition that hampers hunting
Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a 12 pound sledgehammer!
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Mad Dog 1954]
#151688
11/05/2014 9:48 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 976
doc with a glock
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 976 |
Way to go Greg! What 400 gr. bullet / load are you using? I sympathize, not all my parts ( knee ) work like they used to before I exceeded the warranty.
Doc
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: doc with a glock]
#151689
11/05/2014 11:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 493
wyote
addict
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addict
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Posts: 493 |
Good goin Gregg! That's a dandy buck
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: wyote]
#151691
11/06/2014 12:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359
SChunter
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359 |
Congratulations Gregg! Fantastic buck and good shooting!
Here's to getting out and getting after them...
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: doc with a glock]
#151693
11/06/2014 1:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
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You guys are great, I am humbled by your positive responses! Thank you so much! Way to go Greg! What 400 gr. bullet / load are you using? I sympathize, not all my parts ( knee ) work like they used to before I exceeded the warranty.
Doc Doc, your part about exceeding the warranty is funny!
My load is 25.5 gr. H-110 underneath a Hornady 400 gr. XTP. Not the hottest load but I know how it shoots and it gets the job done.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#151716
11/07/2014 1:43 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502
reflex264
Gun Slinger
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Gun Slinger
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502 |
Beautiful buck! By handgun makes it that much better. Huge congrats!!!!!!!
"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"
I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: reflex264]
#151725
11/07/2014 8:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249
PythonHunter
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249 |
Congrats Gregg. Jealousy does not become me, but describes me pretty well right now.
PH
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: PythonHunter]
#151740
11/08/2014 4:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
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Congrats Gregg. Jealousy does not become me, but describes me pretty well right now.
PH
No reason to feel that way; I would have enjoyed having you or one of your daughters take that buck instead of me.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#151884
11/11/2014 5:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 28
BlackhawkBama
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 28 |
Awesome muley buck....gotta love the effort & desire
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Mark Hampton]
#151898
11/12/2014 12:34 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 156
csherrill
member
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member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 156 |
Good job! Glad to see a handgunner enjoying the outdoors. Congratulations!!!
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: csherrill]
#151912
11/12/2014 3:16 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 61
riggeruwz
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 61 |
Gregg, that's a great buck. I love reading people's posts and seeing their pictures. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: riggeruwz]
#151914
11/12/2014 5:16 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
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Posts: 3,020 |
Great job gregg. Awesome shooting as usual. You can be our honorary president of the bad knees club
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: racksmasher1]
#151919
11/12/2014 12:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757
cottonstalk
Pooh-Bah
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"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: cottonstalk]
#152266
11/21/2014 3:30 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 33
3dcadman
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 33 |
Not even your health could keep you from scoring another beautiful animal. That is passion, despite the pain you made it happen. Good job!
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#152518
11/27/2014 1:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461
pab1
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
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Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce. Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper
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Re: Mule Deer Buck
[Re: pab1]
#152547
11/27/2014 9:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,276
cfish2
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Posts: 2,276 |
Very nice buck Gregg. I miss colorado. Great shooting and great get r done drive.
Life Member NAHC HHI Member #7149 NRA Member
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