Adam's Buck

My brother Adam has the best luck of anyone I know for finding lots of elk in archery season and lots of big bucks in deer season.  He is always into something.  He as had more chances at trophy deer than anyone but our dad in the family.  He just wants to fill his tag so he doesn't hold out.  

Well this year was my son's first year hunting so we split up.  That way Adam could shoot what he wanted without messing up Tyler's and my hunt.  He scouted a new area in a major downpour.  He spent most of the day in the fog.  It only lifted for a few minutes, but he spotted two good buck he was interested in.  This could be one of the bucks he saw that morning he scouted the area.  

He passed us at 4:17 am headed up the road to his start point on opening morning.  We talked for a few minutes before heading to our chosen places.  He found 11 other trucks at his starting point; not too encouraging.  But he hiked hard and got above everyone before day light.  He spotted some deer with what looked to be a really big buck heading into the trees.  On his way over there this buck came sneaking through the trees below him.  He sat down and shot the buck.  He was pretty happy to find a 6 inch drop tine on it when he got up to it.  

After taking pictures, he gutted and skinned and then packed the deer out to his truck by himself.  He would ferry his pack and gun a ways, then return for the other half of the deer.  Then he'd carry that half past the pack and then return for the gear.  He did this for about 2 or 3 miles getting his deer and gear back to the truck.  He left a note on my truck as he went by telling Tyler and myself what he'd shot.  My comment was, "What a jerk.  He killed a big buck with a drop tine."  Tyler and I laughed.  

Adam's pack from two years ago was right at 130 pounds (he's about 165 pounds) with all his gear, half of our camp and his gun, 1/2 of his deer and the caped head.  We packed that one 2.5 miles out of really steep country.  Thankfully it was mostly down hill.  It sure hurt though.  We only had our camp for about a mile of it (not to mention an elevation drop of over 1500 feet).  

Our bucks of 2008.  
I think I would have left the velvet on the head.  It really looks cool!  What a beautiful buck!  This wasn't much of an antler year with the hard winter, late snow and cool spring/summer.  I wonder what this guy would have looked like on a favorable year?  

The country is a lot steeper than this picture makes it look.  You can't believe what he carried this deer through to get to his truck.  HE IS TRUELY NUTS!  That is why I like hunting with him.