This has been one of the greatest epic hunts I have read about in a while. Congratulations to Smoke and Rafael. WOW!

Great stuff guys. Gona do it again?

What a beautiful animal!  Dark chocolate antlers, and just an absolute brute of a body.  The neck on Bruce's buck measured 32" around.  Simply massive!  I don't think there is a more impressive looking deer than a muley buck in full rut.

The most difficult part of this trip for me was just figuring out where to sit.  Deer were everywhere, but it is big country, and narrowing down your choice to the exact spot where a good buck might pass within range is the tricky part.  

There was a good group of does that seemed to favor a particular hay field and had some very nice muley bucks hanging around.  I spent a few mornings tucked in on the ground hoping one might use the draw I was in to move up into the hills.

In the evenings I sat in treestands on top of a ridge between bedding and feeding grounds.  On one evening I had a whitetail spike directly under me but held off hoping for something bigger.  When you see as many good deer as we did it makes it pretty easy to pass up the small ones.  Just a couple minutes before quiting time I glanced to my right and a beautiful 10 point whitetail was already at 8 yards and closing. I was paying the most attention to the trails in front of me, and in the fading light I hadn't noticed him creeping in from my backside.

He passed at five yards, and I needed to turn around in a hurry if I wanted a shot.  I didn't get away with it, and he was quickly gone.  

He was a beautiful deer, with good width, mass, and height.  But that would prove to be my only really close encounter with a good buck during the trip.  

We only had five days to hunt, and like so many trips out west just about the time you really get it figured out it is time to head home.  Oh, what I wouldn't have given for a few more days!!

QuoteOriginally posted by PA-Spot:
Great stuff guys. Gona do it again?

Without a doubt!          

Congrats everyone, sounds like a great trip and special memories!

         

Congratulations gents.

This is without a doubt, one of the most well documented adventures, along with fantastic photos I have read here..

There should be an annual award for the best hunting story....

Thanks for taking us along with the story guys.  I love the pics with both deer laying together, and all of you are gathered around...........      

Excellent story and great pictures. Congrats to those who got their bucks and those who just enjoyed the hunt. Looks like a fine time was had by all.

What an awesome hunt guys, thanks for sharing the stories and pictures!!!

It's a great feeling to have those two on the ground.   Awesome bucks for sure.  

Shawn

That hunt looks awesome!  Congtrats!  Is this hunt available for people to buy.  What is the contact info?  Great job looks like fun.

The hunt is available for booking.  I'd be happy to share contact information with anyone interested.  Just send me an email or PM.

Stories well told and great buck on the ground. Congrats.

awesome bucks!!!!!!

 EXCELLENT !!!!!

You guys done good. Great story.
Jack

Great deer guys...what a great time  

Thank you for the story and pictures....

Thanks Whip for your capping expertice. Taxidermist said you did a great job. Also thanks Rafael and BowhuntenFool for all the teamwork necessary. Joe Bzura helping me in the field and taking those pics with my camera of this Dark Horned Mulie. After you get back home and think of the collective experience we had you want to find a way to get back, especially with the late start I got in this game. Life can be so short sometimes. Joe B had great experiences on this trip but I'm sure his work schedule has kept him away from this post. Maybe later?

Awesome stories guys. I hunted the badlands a few years back. It truely is an awesome place. We hunted about 15 miles south of Medora along East River Road, just north of "Handy Ranch." I plan to get back there in the next few years.

DId you guys have to draw rifle tags or archery tags?

Looks like a great trip.Thanks for letting us tag along.