2006 Az archery hunt (pics)

[BOHNTR]

Well after 14 days of incredibly dry hunting conditions, coupled with unseasonably warm temperatures, I decided this was one of the worst bowhunting conditions I’ve experienced in the Arizona desert in a long time. To add even more misery, the rutting activity was moderate at best. The best buck I saw (only 2 times) was a 28” 4x4 that would score about 180”. I just never could close the deal and get close enough for my liking.

One day 13, I came right up on a buck lying underneath a thick mesquite tree. My binos revealed a 24” buck that had G-4’s that were at least 8”, decent main beams and eye guards, but I couldn’t see the rest. Judging the body size, I figured he was a decent buck, especially this far into the hunt. I glassed a small opening and sent an arrow through the buck. When he exploded out of his bed, he caught his right antler in the tree and up-ended himself and on his back. Regaining his composure, he sprinted about 80 yards and bedded again. I gave him 30 minutes, thinking I had double lunged him. When I returned and snuck up on him, he was still alive so I had to finish him.

I was amazed the buck was only a large 3-point with eye guards. It was then I noticed he had broken 3 of his points (part of main beam, G-4, and G-1) on his right antler when he was catapulted from his encounter with the tree. UNREAL!

I went back and briefly looked for the broken points under the tree, as he was fully intact when I arrowed him. I searched for a few minutes to no avail. Ever tried to find the same colored antler tines amongst thousands of dead mesquite twigs the same size and color?

The buck measured 24” outside. His main beam (non-broken side) is 22.5”, G1 is 2”, G-2 is 14”, and G4 was 8.5”. His inside spread was right about 20”. The broken side (looking at the diameters) was probably his bigger side, as his G2 was almost 15”. Had he not broken his points, I guessed he would have net scored in the low 140’s as a 3-point. By far not my best, but a good representative to end out a tough hunt. Hope you all enjoy the photos……it’s a long time until deer season again! Time to start scouting.



Some live ones I passed:







Here a coues whitetail doe:

[prohunter]

nice buck! congrats! great story!

[VHRAM]

CONGRATS AWESOME BUCK

[easymoney]

Great photos...
It sounds as if you did fairly well considering. We cancelled a trip down because of the dry weather and problems along the border.

[jerkee]

BOHNTR- Great job man! That's a fine desert muley and it sound like you earned him. Bowhunting for 14 days takes some dedication.

[Backcountry]

As usual, great pics! Ed (BOWUNTR) and Terry are there now (on a comparatively "easy" trip of just 11 days!). I've to try this hunt myself someday.

Backcountry

[Orso]

Nice buck... On this hunt and the pickin' being lean, did you stay in the field all day or come in for lunch each day?

[BOHNTR]

Hey thanks guys, glad you enjoyed them. He's nothing like some of the other bucks posted here lately, but this was a tough one to get!

Backcountry:

Yeah, Ed & Terry left a message on my cell-phone (like I check that when I'm hunting) that I listened to yesterday. They wanted an update on the rut.......hope it gets better for them. :)

Orso:

Depended on the day, most of the time I was out in the field all day. Mid-day naps under mesquite trees make for a sore back for 40 year old bowhunters.

[tylercreek2]

nice buck , thanks for the pics

[BigDave]

I enjoyed the pictures and photos.

[Sodhunter]

Nice. Thanks for sharing those pics and the story.

[Franklin3]

Way to go Bohunter. still considering the tough weather conditions and the fact that you really gotta work to get on these guys with a bow. I'd have been proud to stick him myself.
Thanks for sharing.

[wmidbrook]

Congrats on thumping another good one and nice pics~! It's good to have someone around here who consistantly is tagging big ones with a bow & arrow and gives us a clue on how to do that every now & then.

[Arrowslinger]

Go to the taxidermy forum and take a look at some of Bohntr's trophy's.....this dude is a hunter, not just someone that hunts.
Another great trophy.

[hntnnut]

Congrats on another fine critter, and oviously well earned.


Richard

[dgmalone]

Bowhntr, Great job thanks for the story and pitures and it's nice to see the story from the begining to the end and final result. And the hype leading up to your trip nice buck job well done.

[jrobbd7]

thanks for sharing,nice buck

[CA Bowhunter]

Nice Buck Bowhntr. Blake

[bucknut]

Very impressive!!! I don't know if I would have lasted 14 days...especially bow hunting. Well done!

[blazintowers]

Awesome job...congrats on the successful hunt....that picture of the terrain looks awfully crunchy! By the way, do the deer feed on those prickly pear cactus? I have seen some of that same stuff in one of my hunting areas with perfect bite marks out of it...Do they actually eat it and how do they keep from getting the prickilies stuck in there tongue???? Thanks for any info...

[baboltin]

nice buck and thanks for sharing pics.

[One Track]

Roy: That's an awesome feat! That's a great desert buck! I know you like to kill bigger bucks, but this year is tough. I just got back from a five dayer. The bucks were not acting like they're supposed to at this time of year. Thumbs up on your incredible determination and resilience.

[SDHNTR]

Wow! Nice job. That is a great buck with a bow. You hit the nail on the head. Those bucks just weren't doing their normal January thing. Way to stick out a tough hunt.

[BOHNTR]

Hey thanks again guys....I'm just lucky is all. 14 days was a long time......not the record though. Went 17 days one year chasing monster muleys before arrowing a monster. Was a lot easier then though, as I was at least seeing bucks daily.

Blazintowers:

I sure have watched them eat the cactus......both prickly pear and cholla. UNREAL to say the least. I saw more than the usual amount feeding on cactus this year. Maybe the lack of water??????? Tough critters to eat the cactus...thorns and all!

['Ike' @ HM]

Way to go Roy! Great buck, photo's and hunt.....

[BOWUNTR]

Don't let this guy fool you. I've always said that Roy is the luckiest best bowhunter I know. Congrats Roy . It was tough this year. 11 days for me and I didn't even draw my bow back. I only saw one muley I wanted. Hunted whitetails most of the time. Saw some good ones, but never put it together. Water is at a premium in So Az. Ed F