After an awesome weekend of deer feasts from the does that I have harvested this year, BBK and I decided to head out into a spot that a good friend (TwoTwelveGuy here on the forum) showed me this summer. It's a PITA to get to; a quad would have trouble getting in there so off on our two feet and a heartbeat we decided to go just after legal light.
We hiked up to the ridgeline and crept into the spot, I actually didn't see him at first - which is strange cause there's so much horn there, I don't know how I missed this old man of the woods.
TwoTwelveGuy has passed on this bruiser a few times, and suggested I try and get a crack at him. He is waiting for his mythical booner show up, and since this one just about makes book he is just not satisfied with it not being a true trophy so I took him up on his offer.
BBK spotted him, but she didn't have a tag
She whispered to me that he was about 80 yards in front of me, and that he definitely was a shooter. Just then he took off bounding toward the tree line. I let out my best short grunt, and he stopped in his tracks at 120. One shot and he was legs up.
When we walked up to him, BBK asked "How are we ever going to get him out?!" I remembered a quote from an article TJ wrote in a recent issue of Alberta Outdoorsmen. "Shoot and we'll worry how to get it out later!" is the title of the article if I remember correctly. After the shot I realized that I had left my rope in the truck, so I had to leave BBK there with the bruiser and high tail it back to retrieve the rope. Since my pup Bronco was in the truck, I let him accompany me back to the ridge top since we would be preoccupied with the hike, I figured he would be a good watchdog for predators on the way out with the bruiser.
Well.... It was an ordeal. The amount of logs, brush and thicket would not allow us to drag him out. We eventually succeeded, after a grueling hike with him tied up on a pole, and carried on our shoulders. I am very proud of BBK, she didn't complain at all and got it done like a pro all while showing me how tough she really is.
Today I am sporting a decent bruise on my shoulder from the haul of Hades, hence the name "The Bruiser Buck".
A HUGE thank you to TwoTwelveGuy and BBK for all of your help and hard work! I couldn't have done it without either of you, and I will not forget it!!
I haven't managed to get a tape on him yet, but my buddies think he'll just fall short of book. No worries for me though, he's my first Muley buck and all in all an incredible experience.
View from where he fell. TwoTwelveGuy has an incredible nack for finding amazing spots!!!!
My first Muley Buck - The Bruiser Buck
"You skin that one Pilgrem, and I'll git ya another!!!!"
I'm not joking when I say that buck and the "tree" we trucked him out on likely weighed more than I do - very proud of me!!! HAHA! Thanks for the patience! I'm sure that won't be the last time we drag a deer through less than desireable terrain - I agree, shoot first, decide how to get 'em out later! Rookie move by me not havin a mulie tag, but in all fairness I am glad that we only had to carry 1 out, I would have probably died on the second! Hopefully I get to shoot at something soon.... I'm getting a very itchy trigger finger! 
I was worried about you going hunting this year TFG, I'm glad you had the guide, packhorse, and butcher with you. I guess you are done trophy Mulie hunting now, he'll be a hard one for you to beat. 
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