Marks deer was officially scored and made P&Y...147 and some change! Good going Mark!

After admiring their bucks, I prepare myself for my upcoming stalk. Steve drops me off in a very large drainage. The temperatures have soared to 94 degrees and it is HOT!!!!! The stalk is about a 3-mile distance. The first 2 miles seemed like I was walking on Mars as the only wildlife I saw was Sheep, Cows and a few Antelope. Then I took a break under a lone tree. From there I glassed a nice Antelope buck. It was a nice break, and then I saw a nice small (maybe 20 feet) cut ravine. It was nice and tight with enough brush to conceal some bedded deer...a perfect situation for a bowhunter. As I made my way down this ravine I caught a couple of very large jackrabbits, but I didn’t shoot because I would hate to scare a nice buck goofing around!

As I slowly worked my way around a corner, I caught movement from a passing car about a 1/4 mile away. Knowing I was somewhat close to the road I knew I had a great chance at seeing a deer since they seemed to congregate near the roads during the late day. Not a minute passed when I caught an antler move, it was a small forky who had yet to catch my movement. I quickly ducked behind the only sage, which caused the forky to see some movement. I sat still for a while as he got up and walked around and bedded down again. Did I mention it was very hot!? My legs were not happy being scrunched and my patience began to run thin.

After the buck had bedded back down I stood up and began forward toward the buck WITHOUT assessing the situation. This was a mistake, I was so excited I had yet to scan the area to see if there were other deer around to blow my stalk.

Shortly after my first step a doe stood up looking right at me, then my forky, and then a gorgeous 3x3 that was wide, thick, and beautiful who I had not seen. They were at a paced off 48 yards. I watched as the deer made their way over a rise. As soon as the deer disappeared I hustled toward the rise and just as I was about to step down with my left foot onto a sage, a beautiful, large red fox darted out scaring the heck out of me. Stopping to watch him run I realized I had just learned another valuable lesson.

LESSON #3: REMEMBER lesson #2! Actually while on this stalk I kept telling myself to look for other deer, but for some reason I didn’t heed my advice. Rarely did I see any deer alone, so I knew I had to find the other bedded deer while stalking. Tough to do though when you get too excited!

A bit frustrated with myself I gained my composure and continued my stalk. As I neared camp there were a couple of good overhangs I knew could hold deer. I carefully approached each shaded area, and at the second overhang, I peeked over the edge and was almost hit by a doe jumping up, man that was close! 3 doe left their beds in a hurry! Chuckling I realized what a fun stalk that was.

Back at camp I decided it was time to get cleaned up and regroup and figure out where I was going for the evening hunt!

After having talked with a couple guys from Oregon. I decided I was going to sit in a stand that a guy had shot a nice 4x4 out of the night before

I quickly gathered my stuff together and was off for another adventure! As I found the lone tree that was my marker to park, I pulled over and hopped the fence and was on my way.

I quickly made my way up the hill and began my way down into the first ravine. Since it was a very small and shallow ravine I thought nothing was in it or I would have spotted it, but it is amazing in such little cover 4 good bucks can hide! As the 4 bucks bolted from their beds I noticed a nice 4x4. 2 3x3’s, and a large forky. Cursing myself for not slowing down I realized that there were 2 LARGE bucks watching the bachelor herd run by. The weather was still hot, and these bad boys knew that exerting any more energy than need be is a waste.

I quickly assessed the situation. The bucks were about 300 yards below me, out on an open flat at the base of the hill I was on. There was not much cover except the short 2-foot sage. Just short of the bucks was a nice 3-4 foot sage. I realized if I could scoot my way to that bush, I would have a chance at these incredible deer. The plan is set!

One thing I have yet to mention is the cactus. In Idaho there are no cactus so this was new territory for me. As I crouched I knew I had to make my way slowly but deliberately. As I picked my way down I made sure not to be in sight of the bucks. 100 yards went by and I saw no sign of bucks bounding on the horizon. 200 yards passed and all was going as planned. Then the moment of truth came, as I approached the large clump of sage I took a deep breath and prayed that I got lucky this day.

Upon arrival I sat down, got my binoculars ready and told myself, "DO NOT LOOK OVER THE BUSH!" As I peered through the sage I scanned the horizon for any sign. My heart sank as I did not see them. I continued to look wondering where they could have gone to...then there...right there...a shining antler just 20 yards away! These two monster bucks right there! My heart went from my stomach to my throat in a hurry. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

As I sat there I had this discussion with myself: "OK. If ANY of these bucks get up SHOOT. They are big! Don’t rush this. Sit back and wait for one to stretch his legs or start feeding. Get into a comfortable shooting position so you don’t have to move. Wait! Do NOT rush this!"

So after much deliberation I decided to wait the bucks out. It was now 5:00. As I waited I looked over the first buck. Man what a beautiful animal. He was a 6x6 with about 28-30" spread, with several sticker points and in velvet, he was more than anything I could ever have dreamed of. The other one was a beautiful 4x4 just smaller than his compadre, but he was already hard antlered. After several minutes of drooling I put the binoculars down so I could be prepared.

5:45 After 45 minutes, the bucks were still bedded, and the wind still blowing to my face. All of a sudden a deer I had not spotted stands up, a small forky, and walks behind the two bucks and beds down again.

6:00 About 1 hour since I made it to my clump of sage finds me staring at these big bucks when the 4x4 gets up. I draw and wait for him to turn broadside. He walks toward me, behind a bush, and beds down about 10 yards closer! No shot. Disappointed I let down.

6:15 1 hour and 15 minutes later I almost cramp up but solve the problem. Whew! That would have been bad!

6:30 1 hour 30 minutes. The big non-typical stands up and is ready to feed some more. I pray, "Please come to me, don’t go the other way!" As if he heard me, he turns my way and begins feeding. My heart starts its pitter pattering again. The buck slowly makes his way towards me. As he feeds I think he looks really close, maybe 15 yards, but I hesitate because my range finding has been inconsistent this trip and I add some distance for insurance, I decide he is at 20 yards.

The buck continues to feed exactly the way I wanted him to and he is almost parallel to me and I draw. He continues feeding and as he is broadside to me, a stone throw away, I rest my pin on him. 1...2...Deep Breath...Release...whooosh...

The arrow flight looked true and the placement was perfect for a double lung shot, but as if in slow motion I scream to myself, "It’s TOO HIGH!!!!!!!!!!" The thunk reverberates in my ears and I watch as the arrow hits just below the spine. The buck tears off like a drag racer. He covers 100 yards, then 300 yards, he covers a 1/4 of a mile, jumps the fence and crosses the road, then crosses another 1/4 mile and up the opposite side hill. He is gone.

Amazing enough the other deer didn’t notice the commotion and are still bedded in the same place. Sick to my stomach that I made such a bad judgement of distance I want to scream. I resign that I can’t risk another shot at this other deer without making sure the shot I just took wasn’t lethal. I do the hardest thing to this date hunting. I stand up. The buck doesn’t move. Annoyed I walk right at him. At 5 yards, he stands up and looks at me. The other 3 deer, 2 of which I had not seen, also stand and bolt.

I follow the trail best I can of the deer I shot. No blood. Nothing. Just a flesh wound! Man how disappointing. I paced off the distance...14 yards! Can you believe it!

Lesson #4: Trust your instincts. Had I gone with my original range I would have scored on a phenomenal buck. Also, whenever I start second-guessing myself and compensate for my wavering is when I make poor shots.

Well, dejected and very frustrated I make the long journey back to the Minivan. I stumble into camp and relive my tale. The guys are very understanding and start remembering similar stories. Even Steve Gorr chimes in with unbelievable stories from the past. This cheers me up, but I know that in the back of my head I will always have the memory, as the buck turned to run, of antlers high and wide that should be on my wall. Man isn’t hunting great!

What a day! I have seen tons of animals and made 4 stalks. All of which I learned something from. Plus I had a chance at a true giant. It doesn’t get any better than that!

John scores on a forky Mule Deer after making a great shot!

September 4, 2001

With only 2 guys left hunting the alarm is quiet this morning and I wake up a little slower. Everyone is sleeping in. I get dressed and head out for some stalking this morning.

The morning was quiet with only a few animals spotted. I do find a shed from a forky which is cool!

As I return to camp that afternoon it got even hotter outside. I believe it was 96 degrees. I took a quick shower and met Steve Gorr and Dennis Behn for a quick brainstorming session. More stories were told than anything. After we were done Steve had a place that he thought might produce.

As he showed me the way to this stand I knew it would be good because it was way back, a mile and a half hike. Most guys didn’t want to take a hike back that far, but I didn’t care! I was hunting!

Well, I thought I had followed Steve’s directions well, but I knew I was in the wrong stand as soon as I got up because I saw another windmill and through the evening deer were funneling to it like a bargain matinee! Plus there were cows around me, which should have tipped me off!

While sitting in stand I scanned the horizon for any movement. There was a small calf in front of me about 15 yards out. He stood there and looked at me for a long time. I thought that was really odd. Not like I was after him. Well, about 20 minutes later he spooked like the devil! Then it came. I will never forget it...the sound of a cougar! Scared and shaking like a leaf I slowly turned around to find myself face to face with a Bobcat.

What do you do: You are 18 feet up in a wooden windmill, sitting on a chair, face to face, 4 feet away with a really upset Bobcat?

I yelled at it to scare it away. That only made me look more appealing because he came even closer! Then I could take no more risks. I drew my bow back, and only had a head to aim at, and released! Whooosh! Missed just over his head. This didn't’ scare him one bit. I put another arrow on the string. I came to full draw. Whooosh! Exact same thing! One arrow left. I took it out and as I was putting it onto the string I dropped it! Ooops! What do I do now! Well, I take my bow and smack him. Well that got him to climb down, but now he was even more upset with me.

After the initial shock of the last minute, I realized he was figuring out how to get me. So I climbed down, grabbed my arrow, and as he crouched, as if to jump at me, I came to full draw and had a much bigger target to aim at. I released. This time I didn’t miss. The Bobcat danced trying to rid himself of the arrow, which was stuck behind him. As soon as he did he took off and ran into his den.

After taking a deep breath. I shake my head and can’t believe what just happened! I look at the calf and say, "Can you believe that? I mean can you really believe that just happened?!?!?"

Shaken I climb back up the windmill. I am much jumpier and at any noise behind me I turn quickly. As the sun sets, another creature, a skunk, visits me. He walks right at me and down the path I am about to take when I climb down. Great!

As I get down and make my 1 1/2 mile hike back I see nothing but Bobcats and Skunks chasing me. A beautiful night, smiling I realize I just had an Outdoor Life moment!

Upon returning to camp I relive my tale. Everyone can’t believe it. Steve Gorr says I will win the most unusual experience award this year. I agree. I am also informed that I was in the wrong stand. I was right it was the other stand!

John scores on a nice antelope and is done with his hunt!

Lesson #5: If you don’t listen to Steve Gorr you will be punished! lol! Although it sure feels like it!

September 5, 2001

I feel like Bill Murray in Ground Hog day when the alarm goes off. Alone in my waking I get dressed and hustle to my Minivan.

After a few wrong turns getting to my stand I finally come to the stand that all the deer ran to last night. Excited but a bit worried because I got into stand 20 minutes before first light I sit and await the morning.

The sun brings light to the valley I am sitting in and with that I see forms heading my way. Five does, with two spikes, and a small 3x3 that actually looks like a forky, with two-inch tines making him a 3x3. I watch as they carefully make their way to the water. They have no idea I am there and come and drink for several minutes. I casually debate with myself whether or not I should shoot him. I decide not to because Steve Gorr has told me some nice bucks have been taken from this stand. As I let him walk more deer appear. More does and spikes. Then more deer appear. The morning really flies by and all in all I see 37 deer. Lots of does, some spikes, a few smaller forky’s, and that smallish 3x3. A great morning all the same!

I return to camp and let the hot part of the day pass. The deer have not been moving once the temps hit 90 so I opt to shower and get a bite to eat. I also do some laundry.

As the time approaches to head out to my stand the clouds and strong winds roll in. Then the skies unloaded with lightening and heavy downpours. Not amused I contemplated my fate for a few minutes. Well, it’s really hard to kill a deer sitting in camp. So I headed out.

The decision to head out was a good one. The storms were to the east and west of me, but someone upstairs decided to leave a small clearing of blue skies and sunshine...thanks Grandma!

As I sit down on my seat in the stand, my hat flies off, curses! I scale down and retrieve it. As I sit down, and I mean not a second later, a doe comes over the rise! Then another one, and another, and another. The first 15 minutes on stand I had 11 deer into my water. The trend did not stop, for the next 45 minutes I had 24 deer all around me at the water. It was an awesome experience. The does would vocalize a fawn call and the fawns would come out from the bushes. The vocalization between each other was something I will never forget.

On my mind though as I kept looking back were the storms approaching. Knowing the storms could roll in any minute I decided to take anything that comes along that’s decent. After being in stand for about and hour and a half I turn back to check out the storms when I catch movement 5 yards beneath me. A nice forky has snuck in from behind and is below me working his way into the water. He is in full velvet and his winter coat is almost complete except his belly still has his summer coat which looks blond, pretty cool!

The buck walks right in front of me, but I wait because I know why he is there. The water tank is right below me at 3 yards, and then there is a feeder stream that was creat