2007 Wyoming Report: Ted’s Story
Day 1, 9/29/07
Left 5:00 am, visited my father in the Washoe Valley at 9:30 am…left 11:00 am in his suburban for some bunny exploration on Carol Summit (hwy 50)…saw none, nothing came to my coyote calling. Cut north at Austin, stopped 2 more times, no bunnies, no coyotes at complete bust. Arrived in Wendover at 8:30, rooms were full, slept at a dive.
Day 2, 9/30/07
Left 6:00 am, recent snow past Salt Lake, caught up with the clouds at Rawlins around noon. Shopping, gas and headed for camp. Got there around 2:00 pm, had forgotten my radio, gate was locked (of course), walked to camp and found nothing. After some pondering, I headed for Jaure’s headquarters and found Bill asleep in his rig. Woke him up, found out Craig was out chasing a “wounded antelope” (wounded by rancher’s son, surprisingly not Craig). Realized the wait would be long and convinced Bill into trying for coyotes…after a bit longer walk than he anticipated, we called to no avail. Back to Jaure’s, Bill confirmed zero on his rifle, I waited. Craig arrived too late to set up camp so we slept in the trailer…pretty comfortable.
Day 3, 10/01/07
Bill was headed towards Box Canyon, Craig opted to forgo his Wyoming version of The Hook and try the waterfall on the opening. (I don’t know if the rancher’s report of no big bucks at the Aspen or in Craig’s Cut had an influence). I went to Craig’s normal spot. Saw nothing at the Aspen, 6 small bucks in Craig’s Cut, and headed across the flat to try some other cuts and work my way towards the 11:00 am meeting with Bill. I had seen a few deer, including one 3 point of some note but nothing that got the heart going (and no responses to my varmint calling) when I headed into the last draw.
I was headed for a small service berry bush and planned to set up in front of it. About halfway there I noticed 2 bucks (+/- 250 yards away) at the bottom feeding and, being typically late to spot them, they were already eyeballing my person. I put up my binocs and realized that one was a definite shooter. I knew they would bugger if I stayed, so I tried turning 180 degrees and walking out in plain view. I cast a glance over my shoulder and saw them running, so plopped down in the sage to have a last look at Mr. Big. He turned for that so often fatal last look and just stood there looking. He couldn’t see me and I suppose he figured I went out the top as I was headed that way the last he saw. After 10-15 minutes he went up a small cut (out of my sight) presumably to bed down. His running mate stood for a good ½ hour longer before he bedded in a spot in view and looking my way. Trapped for the second time, I decided to crawl on hands and knees out of the bowl. He saw me but did not get out of his bed. The larger was the widest I had seen in WY, had decent forks but lacked mass. The smaller had pretty good mass and rear forks but crab claws for fronts.
I was back at the Bronco about 3 minutes early and ate while waiting for Bill, and waiting for Bill, and waiting for Bill. I decided Bill might have one down and drove over to Box. Looked in Box…nothing, but saw some deer at the bottom of the next cut over and Figured Bill wasn’t in that one. Moved to another spot in Box and buggered out 2 bucks…now I was confused. Bill wasn’t in Box and wasn’t in the next draw, I was 15 minutes walking from our meeting spot making Bill close to an hour late. I drove up a small rise and scanned the area. I thought I saw Bill sitting at our meeting spot…ah ha, he must have walked below the rim back to the car…a very unusual move for Bill but I was out of options. Back to the meeting spot, nothing (I don’t know what I saw), I looked around and saw Bill on top by Box. Instead of driving the rim a second time, I took the gravesite road which turned out not to save Bill any time. He said he had wanted a closer look at a buck and had done a sneak into the canyon next to Box, taking more time than he figured….back to the trailer, met Craig and set up camp, finishing just in time for a short evening hunt. I talked Craig into looking for my buck from across the main canyon. I stuck in the truck, Craig went off…he saw some deer, I didn’t see mine.
Day 4, 10/02/07
It rained/sleeted during the night and we decided it too wet for Bill and I to return to Bird Gulch. I walked to the buttes behind camp, saw tons of deer out after the storm and wished I was at Bird Gulch looking for the shooter. I saw a coyote at 300 yds, blew my call, his response was to head across the canyon and away…running too close to a doe who quickly began to harass the coyote for the next 5-10 minutes and ½ mile or so. Back to camp, lunch, then the evening hunt. I was going back find the shooter, Bill to Box and Craig was going down Lookout Ridge and perhaps to Orchard’s Hole.
It was about 2:00 pm when I started down a steep cut on the right side of Mr. Big’s bowl. There were a couple of does at the bottom, in view, so I was on my back wiggling down when I noticed a mature buck bedded about 100 yds below…staring at me. I froze…45 minutes later he finally decided I was nothing and looked away. When he turned, I saw that he was the running mate and knew my buck was near. I crept down another 3 feet to a flatter spot, complete with back rest and started picking the sage apart for the buddy that had to there. I could see neither hide, nor hair, nor tine of that guy. The visible buck was out there a bit, the wind crisply into my face…I put the sights on him to see what was what…I was going to need to rest my arm on the inside of my knee, but thought I could make a reasonable shot if need be. I didn’t know what I’d do if mine was 20-30 yards lower. Another 45 minutes passed and my buck got up, 25 yards towards me! He faced my direction with his head down…I sighted between his shoulders, down into the boiler room and began my squeeze…he lay down, this time with antlers in sight.
I began the wait, this time knowing he was well within range. Shivering started, perhaps not from the temperature as much as the adrenaline rushes I had been getting. I began isometrics, fearing having to pass an easy shot on my best buck because of shivering. There was now plenty of time to evaluate the antlers which had started to look much smaller than imagined the day before. The thought of passing on this guy came and quickly went, remembering the famous quote “the stalk was so good I had to shoot”. I hunkered down for more waiting, tightening the legs, arms and abs for 10 sec, resting for 5, tightening for 10, resting for 5…
The lower buck was intent on something across the canyon…I looked and saw Craig’s truck crawling down a ridge at least 1000 yards away. He stopped and I guess got out although I didn’t notice. The lower buck kept staring and after 10 minutes or more, got up and kept staring. Another 5 minutes and he came over to my buck and convinced it to look at the truck. I got ready…the larger buck stood, again facing me, this time with his head up…sights centered on the chest…squeeze…come on he won’t stay there long…squeeze, boom, thud…the buck hunched a little, took a slow step to his right, and plunged out of view (they were bedded next to a 12’ deep gully). The smaller buck trotted 25 yards and stood, still staring at Craig’s truck…minutes passed. I didn’t want to show myself so I blew my coyote's call…no response from the buck, but a couple of does came around the corner and eventually buggered out, taking the buck with them. I started the walk down, Craig called and relayed to Bill. He said Bill would come to help…very nice of Bill.
I got to the edge of the gully and peered over. He was dead in the bottom but his antlers didn’t look right. One was at an odd angle, I looked through the binocs, phew, just an old shed he had fallen on. I walked down, took a couple of pics and began quartering. I was just getting the last front quarter in the bag when the radio came to life…Bill was on top, somewhere near. No details, but suffice to say I will never try to direct Bill without a map or GPS in hand. We finally connected when I walked up with a quarter and backstraps in my day pack. Bill helped with the neck, and packed the head plus a quarter, letting me to take the rest of my gear and the last quarter. I realized I did not have my car keys and I went down to look…not at the kill site, back to camp. It was my best buck to date, 28” wide, grossing 178 5/8s.
Bill: "Ted's buck is one of the better ones in the pile of racks on the taxidermist's floor."
