 |
|
10-20-2010, 09:50 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 384
|
|
The Quest for Brutus
Some of you may remember a thread that I started during the summer, on Brutus the mulie buck.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...ghlight=brutus
Well, after about 30 trips out this fall, I finally got him. Over the last month and a half, I have passed on quite a few smaller bucks, hoping that it would pay off, all the while wondering if I would ever succeed. On my first day out, I watched him bed, then sat 160 yards away for 6 hours before he finally got up to feed. When he did, I executed the perfect stalk, then proceeded to shoot under him 
Two days later, I crept ahead of him and his buddies in some thick trees, passed on a different big buck at 28 yards, then got a crack at him, only to watch my arrow deflect off the only branch around. After that, it was one close call after another, including another miss at gimme range (good old buck fever). After that, it seemed like he was just toying with me, always one step ahead...
Last night, I was sneaking as quietly as possible through a patch of poplars, when I spotted him. He knew something was up, but I was able to pique his curiosity with a grunt call while moving into position for a shot. I wish I could say I made a textbook double-lunger, but that wasn't the case. When the arrow caught him, he went ballistic, and came charging through the trees like a 325 lb. freight train. I was trying to nock another arrow, and had to sidestep him as he passed within 10 yards of me at top speed. Impressive to say the least. I knew where he was headed, and tried to head him off, but he gave me the slip. I then picked up the heavy blood trail, and followed it slowly until dark.
I was able to get the day off, so at first light, I was back where I left off. After about 100 yards, the trail dried up. I was beginning to worry now, so I began to push the bush, hoping to rouse him if he was alive and bedded. Eventually, I ended up at the river, and upon looking downstream, I spotted a magpie party 200 yards away. A quick look through the binos revealed 4 coyotes having their way with him as well. I made my way down the narrow gravel bar, to find Brutus.
I was saddened to see him go out like this, and wished I could have brought him down with a quick, clean shot, but it is what it is. I tagged and cleaned him up for a photo session, and couldn't help but smile at the history I've had with this buck. I'd chased him around last year, but not to the obsessive extent of this year.
I made calls to a few close friends (including the infamous Treeguy), as they all knew about my quest for Brutus. Tree came down and met me at my vehicle, and when we arrived back at the river, we were shocked to see that it had risen 18 inches in an hour!!!! I raced down to where Brutus lay, and was glad to see him still there, although partially submerged. His gut pile had been swept away, and I had to marvel at my good fortune. My cousin soon arrived, and we spent a couple enjoyable hours snapping pics, quartering the buck, and packing him out (thanks again Tree).
He is my biggest buck yet, and is pretty impressive to hold, although he is one of those bucks that the tape measure will never do justice. Regardless of score, this has definitely been a hunt that I will always remember. Thanks for reading.
Last edited by BrownBear416; 10-20-2010 at 10:37 PM.
Reason: fixed pics for no charge :)
|
10-20-2010, 09:56 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 3,665
|
|
Great buck , glad that you found him .
|
10-20-2010, 10:04 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,772
|
|
About time you posted him!!
Congrats again man!! you deserve it!! After putting in all that time I'm glad you got him!!
awesome buck!
__________________
Look for the outline of V when the geese are flying South 
|
10-20-2010, 10:47 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Slave Lake
Posts: 5,639
|
|
Good job buddy...
Great buck and now you just need to find a new one to fill your dreams..
Lucky you got him because Hunter10 was closing in fast 
Thats an ugly fella in the 3rd pic 
|
10-20-2010, 10:55 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: AB
Posts: 3,350
|
|
Awesome buck and congrats on all the hard work.
|
10-20-2010, 11:06 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: out in the boonies
Posts: 2,495
|
|
Congratulations! Great deer!!
|
10-20-2010, 11:09 PM
|
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: medicine hat
Posts: 9,037
|
|
giant congrats islander!!! the tape measure will be kind to him in the gross score.....dont sweat the number that comes next, gross is what he grew! sounds like you were persistent and it payed off.
|
10-20-2010, 11:14 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 8,815
|
|
Congrats on finally connecting on Brutus!
Sounds like he was well deserved.
__________________
Rockymtnx
www.dmoa.ca
Pro Staff member for:
Benelli, Sako, Beretta, Tikka, Franchi, Burris, & Steiner
|
10-21-2010, 12:00 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,260
|
|
Heckuva buck. Sounds like you put some work into getting him, congrats on a well deserved deer. Great story and pics, good job!
|
10-21-2010, 05:40 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Beaumont
Posts: 4,643
|
|
Nice going! Awesome pursuit and dedication
|
10-21-2010, 07:21 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,120
|
|
Gotta love it! Great deer.
|
10-21-2010, 01:51 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Foothills SW of Cowtown
Posts: 279
|
|
Great buck! Congrats! Persistence wins again....
|
10-21-2010, 01:58 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
|
|
Congrats! Surprised Tree was able to make it down that embankment with the old knees and all.
Glad you finally got him!
|
10-21-2010, 02:28 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: northern alberta
Posts: 2,661
|
|
hes an awesome buck. good job finding him. hes going to make a beauty mount. too bad about the scavangers finding him hey.
|
10-21-2010, 03:06 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Red Deer
Posts: 2,872
|
|
Congrats on a great mulie......persistence pays off. Nice job on the field photos despite the damage by the yotes.........Marco
|
10-21-2010, 03:08 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 207
|
|
WOW! Beauty Buck. Congratulations!! I am so jealous.......once again!
__________________
www.albertasasquatch.com
|
10-21-2010, 08:59 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In the 400's
Posts: 6,581
|
|
Huge congrats Islander, he's definatly a great buck. I've been keeping an eye on him for 3 seasons now, I got some pics, I'll copy and send to you if you want. I 'm glad he's going home to a guy who put that much work into him. He's definatly a trophy and will look amazing on the wall forsure, regardless of score !!!
__________________
How to start an argument online:
1. Express an opinion
2. Wait ....
|
10-21-2010, 09:01 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 384
|
|
Thanks for the kind words, guys. I wasn't way too choked about sharing a bit of meat with the scavengers, as I would have never found him without them. The friendly coyotes even did half of the gutting for me, lol. On that note, as I was kneeling down taking pics, one big yote came down the bank, looked me in the eyes, and kept coming. When he was about 5 feet away, I jumped up and yelled, and he ran as fast as I've ever seen a dog run. Brave dog, and lucky that my release was sitting on a rock 20 feet away.
|
10-21-2010, 10:16 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,210
|
|
Way to go Islander, beauty buck!
|
10-21-2010, 10:29 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 11,576
|
|
Where to start on what was one of the wackiest Wednesdays ever!
My day started pre-dawn about 25km away, in the stand enjoying a gorgous sunrise and warm tempetures. With a nearly full moon the night before, the deer activity was basically nil.
When my cell softly hummed away at 9:15am, a quick check on the call display told me all I needed to know. Brutus was dead. Good ol' Bill Shakespeare could not have crafted a better tale!
Fast foreward a couple of hours. I meet up with, Islander. A celebratory toast is made with a raised pint, high fives are exchanged and please do not ask about the somewhat ackward 'ass grab' moment. He was excited is all! 
Please disregard, Islander's natural level of modesty. The effort he has put into this buck is quite simply off the charts. He lived and breathed, Brutus since last year and consistantly hunted this individual buck nearly each and every time out in a vast area.
When personally witnessing the scene, I was simply astounded. Finding, Brutus took at least as much, if not more, dedication than it took to put an arrow into him. This was truly a buck of destiny, and really could not have happened for a better guy who's a creepy karokee singer. 
Here's a proper pic. Please disregard the 'YMCA' handlebar mustach, damn fool believes it's his lucky charm.
Seeing as how 209 is having trouble picking out the joke, I'll help him. Here is how a guy is supposed to look posing with another man's trophy!
And just for good measure......... The Shrubs were thrilled for, Islander's success. Despite being city kids, they've been around dead stuff since they were in diapers, and hopefully until I'm in diapers! 
The day ended with hanging quarters, a selfish phone call offering false congrats under the guise of getting permission, and moving a new living room set into the house. Pretty wild day, but a great one.
C-Town, you earned this one buddy. It was really meant to be. Congrats my friend! 
Last edited by TreeGuy; 10-21-2010 at 10:38 PM.
|
10-21-2010, 10:57 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,772
|
|
Well Tree, your lucky your phone wasn't almost taken away while you were righting a unit exam! lol.
Congrats again man!! you totally deserve it!
__________________
Look for the outline of V when the geese are flying South
|
10-21-2010, 11:14 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 11,576
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter10
Well Tree, your lucky your phone wasn't almost taken away while you were righting a unit exam! lol.
|
If yer on the phone while getting you 'unit' examined you're doing it wrong!
I'm also guessing that it wasn't an english lit test!
|
10-21-2010, 11:22 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
|
|
I just can't help myself but ask...
Was there any Karaoke involved pregame or postgame???
|
10-21-2010, 11:27 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 11,576
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albertadiver
I just can't help myself but ask...
Was there any Karaoke involved pregame or postgame???
|
No, but there's gonna be. After poking fun at, Islander's antics on the mic a while back, I made the unlikely bet that if he nailed, Brutus, I'd sing the same tune. 
The magic eight ball is predicting a sever hangover in my near future. 
You in?
|
10-22-2010, 06:29 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,772
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TreeGuy
If yer on the phone while getting you 'unit' examined you're doing it wrong!
I'm also guessing that it wasn't an english lit test! |
shhh, dont tell my mom, but it was past my bedtime! 
__________________
Look for the outline of V when the geese are flying South
|
10-22-2010, 12:37 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Strathmore, Alberta
Posts: 461
|
|
Big congratulations!
|
10-22-2010, 02:59 PM
|
 |
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,238
|
|
Congrats! That's an awesome buck. Well-deserved for sure.
Kudos to the fellow AO members for lending a hand - Sure is great to hear stories like this.
Stinky
|
10-22-2010, 09:58 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,776
|
|
Congrats, He is a heck of a trophy indeed!!
|
10-22-2010, 10:11 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
|
|
|
10-23-2010, 07:56 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 164
|
|
great buck wat to go thanks for sharing
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:45 AM.
|
: 
Linear Mode
