Bookcliff Buck

This is going to be a bit of a picture overload but I think the pictures tell the story better.  Dan and I after a LONG drive reached a spot to sleep at 2:00 am Wed morning.  I was so tired and new that by six he would be chomping at the bit.  I was not in any hurry because from past stories the hunting is the best the last day.    So at 7:00 am I gave in and we finished driving in to Indian Ridge where we found a spot to camp.  I was so frustrated at the number of camps and hunters in there.   Since my turkey hunting experience this spring turned out to be unsuccessful do to the number of stupid hunters it was not looking good.    We set up the trailer grabbed some lunch and headed to Cooper and the Wolves Den.   Dan is preparing me all the way down the Canyon for the deer I am going to see and not to pull the trigger on the first buck I see.   I had never seen so many bucks.  I  lost count after the first couple and Dan did have to keep me from shooting a few of them.   I did take a little nap when we were in the Wolf Den.   We learned quickly that the 4 wheeler was not the way to hunt.  Number one it was cold and two the deer were afraid and scattered.  They are so use to the oil riggers driving by that they are not afraid of trucks at all.    After driving and seeing some beautiful country and some not so pretty country we saw so many bucks I was getting ok with turning them down.   I saw one die we heard the shot and watch him drop 100 yards from our truck that was pretty weird.  We were stopped by the fish and game.  The secret to the deer is where there is water holes there are deer.  So we stopped by a water hole (the head of McCook)  that we had passed earlier in the day and there was a nice 4 point on the side hill.  We got out of the truck to check him out.   In front of us was a big ravine with deer in it.  Dan said come over here and he stepped to the edge of the ravine.  When he did that a huge 4 point came up out of the ravine at us.  I was so scared I couldn't think he jumped back in the ravine and up the side hill.  He turned broad side and Dan was yell shoot shoot.   I was so scared I ejected two bullets before I even shot and then I missed him 3 times.   Dan grabbed the box of bullets keys to the truck and was up the hill yelling at me to follow and I was still standing there shaking.  So I tried following him and while trying to calm my shaking body.   He finally slowed down enough to tell me what a horrible shot I was.   We got over the side hill and on the next ridge was a group of deer with a nice 4 point laying down After looking him over it wasn't the same 4 point I had just missed but it was a shoot able 4 point.  So I waited and tried to find a good dead rest and then he finally stood up and I shot him.  He did get up over the hill into a wash and I had to finish him off.   The worst part of the deal was that I forgot my camera and all day long I kept saying I wish I had my camera.  So this first picture is with Dan's cell phone.    

These next few are back at camp and we stopped another hunter to take one of both Dan and I. 



The best part of the hunt was the amazing guide and then he gutted and packed it out.  Once we got back to camp he hung it and then he skinned it the next morning.   I helped where I could but Dan was so willing and excited to do all of the work.  In fact before this My dad did all the work.  Sometimes it is great being a GIRL.  I have learned that my husband is part Mountain Goat and Mountain Lion!
The next morning I was the one getting Dan up early I wanted to go take picture of where we had killed and the amazing deer.  I also had such regret over missing the bigger one I wanted to go back and see if he was there.  This is the wash where mine died.
This is the Raven where the big buck come at me.  The does are head up on the hill out of the bottom of the ravine.  If  you are thinking what ravine now you see why we never saw the buck to begin with.  
This is the water hole where they come for water.  While I am taking these pictures I am standing on the other side of the water hole and there is a guy gutting and boning out the 3 point he just killed.   The deer are maybe 30 yards from us and are not concerned.  In this picture there are 3 bucks. 
These are 2 of the bucks that are headed to the water hole.  The big 4 point on the right is the one I think I missed the day before and Dan disagrees.  To make me feel better we are going to say he is and the only difference between mine and this one is the eye guards and he is wider than mine by a few inches.  So really I am ok with mine.  The experience was great and I have to say you can't look back and have regrets.   Dan and I solved a couple of life's problems on the mountain (usually I am on horse back in the mountains.)  We saw some amazing country.  I reminisced back to my childhood hunting the Paunsaugunt with my dad and cousins.  That is where he grew up hunting before they made it a limited entry unit.   The Bookcliffs reminded me of the good old days riding in the back of my uncles truck with the camper shell carpet insert looking for deer.  The deer were not as friendly but there were as many and they were just as big. Thanks Dan I had a great time and now my hunting is done for a few years it is to hard to be the mom and go hunting.