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The Death Of An Old Mule Deer
The Death Of An Old Mule Deer
A Colorado bowhunter chased this magnificent mule deer for two years without getting a shot. The story of how they finally came face to face at close range is a hunting tale for the ages, one that pierces through the bluster that too often obscures the true purpose of our enterprise and goes straight to the heart of why we hunt—and how.
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Photo Gallery Comments (30)
Great story, what a buck!
What an adventure,to spend all that time hunting the same buck just to find him, then realize he's dead makes for the highest of high's just to crash and burn. But that's just part of the reason we as hunter's do what we do. Great story n nice buck.
Great story, and even Greater respect for the Buck by Matt. A true hunter and a good man with a good heart to know that he could not claim the Buck had fallen by his hand or his arrow, that should be a lesson to all those trophy hunters out there to be humbled by such a magnificant animal. Matt deserves to display the antlers and tell his and the Buck's Story to his children and grandchildren...
that is great man what a story the respect for the deer and the time put in and he found him that is what is really cool cause someone else could of found him and taken him but he did and thats what is really cool
To see a follow a buck like that for two years, and find it dead a day after you last saw it chasing does is amazing. I have stumbled upon great bucks, but never after I have been chasing one for so long. At least, he knew what happened to him.
Amazing Story!
Now that's true integrity Matt! What an experience to be a part of. Makes you wonder if it's just luck, or if it really was meant to be/higher powers at work. I'd say you've got many great hunts coming your way in the future ! Thanks for the story !!!
A wonderful story. Matt is a man who gives hunters a good name. Live long and prosper, my friend....
Amazing story glade you at least found out what happened to him.
A great story and a great deer. I am glad you showed him the honor he deserved and thereby earned your own. Thank you.
Awesome story and great pictures
Nothing spoken better than "the value of a hunt can never be measured by a tape."
Matt is a great example of the definition of a "real hunter". "Long may your big jib draw"!
I am certain that there will be other great outdoor experiences coming your way. As hunters, we don't always need to kill our quarry to enjoy an outstanding experience as this superb example
demonstrates so well!
This story serves as a reminder that nature has it's own plan.
Great story and great hunt.
This story serves as a reminder that nature has it's own plan.
Great story and great hunt.
Great story but depresing.
Awesome story and great pictures..Thanks for sharing..
wow they are some great mule deer
wow what a great story and a great buck. also sounds like he has some great hunting property and it sounds like he deserves it. A very respectible person. Good luck and Good Hunting
Im glad you did the right thing and not claim him as a kill, many people would have done the wrong thing but that shows alot about yourself as a hunter
good story to bad you did not harvest him but better off knowing if you did not no one else did either
Matt, I'm happy for you there are some things that can only be seen in the outdoors.Many hunters have storys to tell about deer they have taken but fewer are the storys of deer we have known.I have a deer on our place I'm begining to known (some what).He made it through the rut with everyone around shooting any buck they could.I called a friend a few weeks ago and told him the big 9point is back and he looks like an old battle horse.The trail cams have him there eating corn 3days in a row after first light,he's lost mybe 20 or 30lbs or more and his neck, shoulders, hams are all cut up from fighting.He said you should be there and kill him,why are'nt you?I told him you know I put the corn out to help the deer after the winter freeze not to shoot them.(not legal hunt over corn Ga.)He said no one would know,I said I would.I've already killed one nice 8 and we have a 2 buck limit,but for some reason I want this old boy to be there next year and to be even bigger.I'll be looking for my 2nd buck on differant land we lease.Next year would just seem better if old battle horse is there,Lord willing I will be too.
Awesome story, great hunt.
That's why we hunt. Great story, great buck, and a great example of a hunter with integrity.
What a story. What a buck. What a great two years.
You are truly a man of great integrity Matt. You make people like myself proud to call ourselves hunters!
I once tracked the sames deer for four years. It was always something that messed up my shot but it was fun watching him grow up. Eight point every year. 4x4
Great story and great integrity. May you always have a good hunt, and sometimes get to take something home for it.
quite the story. i hope to shoot bucks like that some day.
Thata a nice mule deer Matt congradulations on the excellent kill GOOD HUNTING and GOD BLESS
Great story and photos good job.
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Great story, what a buck!
What an adventure,to spend all that time hunting the same buck just to find him, then realize he's dead makes for the highest of high's just to crash and burn. But that's just part of the reason we as hunter's do what we do. Great story n nice buck.
Now that's true integrity Matt! What an experience to be a part of. Makes you wonder if it's just luck, or if it really was meant to be/higher powers at work. I'd say you've got many great hunts coming your way in the future ! Thanks for the story !!!
A great story and a great deer. I am glad you showed him the honor he deserved and thereby earned your own. Thank you.
Im glad you did the right thing and not claim him as a kill, many people would have done the wrong thing but that shows alot about yourself as a hunter
Great story, and even Greater respect for the Buck by Matt. A true hunter and a good man with a good heart to know that he could not claim the Buck had fallen by his hand or his arrow, that should be a lesson to all those trophy hunters out there to be humbled by such a magnificant animal. Matt deserves to display the antlers and tell his and the Buck's Story to his children and grandchildren...
that is great man what a story the respect for the deer and the time put in and he found him that is what is really cool cause someone else could of found him and taken him but he did and thats what is really cool
To see a follow a buck like that for two years, and find it dead a day after you last saw it chasing does is amazing. I have stumbled upon great bucks, but never after I have been chasing one for so long. At least, he knew what happened to him.
Amazing Story!
A wonderful story. Matt is a man who gives hunters a good name. Live long and prosper, my friend....
Amazing story glade you at least found out what happened to him.
Matt is a great example of the definition of a "real hunter". "Long may your big jib draw"!
I am certain that there will be other great outdoor experiences coming your way. As hunters, we don't always need to kill our quarry to enjoy an outstanding experience as this superb example
demonstrates so well!
Matt, I'm happy for you there are some things that can only be seen in the outdoors.Many hunters have storys to tell about deer they have taken but fewer are the storys of deer we have known.I have a deer on our place I'm begining to known (some what).He made it through the rut with everyone around shooting any buck they could.I called a friend a few weeks ago and told him the big 9point is back and he looks like an old battle horse.The trail cams have him there eating corn 3days in a row after first light,he's lost mybe 20 or 30lbs or more and his neck, shoulders, hams are all cut up from fighting.He said you should be there and kill him,why are'nt you?I told him you know I put the corn out to help the deer after the winter freeze not to shoot them.(not legal hunt over corn Ga.)He said no one would know,I said I would.I've already killed one nice 8 and we have a 2 buck limit,but for some reason I want this old boy to be there next year and to be even bigger.I'll be looking for my 2nd buck on differant land we lease.Next year would just seem better if old battle horse is there,Lord willing I will be too.
Awesome story and great pictures
Nothing spoken better than "the value of a hunt can never be measured by a tape."
This story serves as a reminder that nature has it's own plan.
Great story and great hunt.
This story serves as a reminder that nature has it's own plan.
Great story and great hunt.
Great story but depresing.
Awesome story and great pictures..Thanks for sharing..
wow they are some great mule deer
wow what a great story and a great buck. also sounds like he has some great hunting property and it sounds like he deserves it. A very respectible person. Good luck and Good Hunting
good story to bad you did not harvest him but better off knowing if you did not no one else did either
Awesome story, great hunt.
That's why we hunt. Great story, great buck, and a great example of a hunter with integrity.
What a story. What a buck. What a great two years.
You are truly a man of great integrity Matt. You make people like myself proud to call ourselves hunters!
I once tracked the sames deer for four years. It was always something that messed up my shot but it was fun watching him grow up. Eight point every year. 4x4
Great story and great integrity. May you always have a good hunt, and sometimes get to take something home for it.
quite the story. i hope to shoot bucks like that some day.
Thata a nice mule deer Matt congradulations on the excellent kill GOOD HUNTING and GOD BLESS
Great story and photos good job.
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