| Sit for a minute and actually think about how | | | | Chuck came into my city a few years back and |
| many people you know that have taken a trophy | | | | happen to be doing a book signing at our local |
| mule deer? I bet that you could count them on | | | | Cabela's and one of my friends went there to get |
| one hand. Now by a trophy mule deer I mean | | | | his book signed and asked Chuck what the most |
| one that scores over 200 inches. Now a lot of | | | | difficult animal is to hunt and he responded by |
| people say that a trophy is in the eye of | | | | saying "a trophy mule deer". |
| beholder. While I agree for young hunters or | | | | A buck that reaches 200 inches is either one of |
| hunters new to the sport it's all about harvesting | | | | the luckiest bucks on the mountain or very smart. |
| an animal rather than trophy hunting. For those of | | | | I'd lean towards very smart. Unlike younger mule |
| us who have been hunting for more than 15 | | | | deer that tend to do the "look back" as they're |
| years our expectations tend get higher each year | | | | running away a trophy mule deer has learned to |
| or are measured by the biggest buck that we've | | | | flat out run and never look back. This is one |
| taken up to that point. | | | | reason they're very hard to hunt and another is |
| I've been hunting deer for 15 years and have yet | | | | they pick the best vantage points to bed and at |
| to harvest a deer that would score or 180 let | | | | the first sign of trouble they're off like a horse in |
| alone 200. Granted I've had chances to harvest | | | | the Kentucky Derby and they won't stop until |
| the big one but I wasn't able to close the deal. | | | | they reach the next county. |
| Also ask yourselves this question, how many true | | | | So are trophy mule deer the most difficult big |
| 200 inch mule deer have I actually seen in my | | | | game to hunt? You be the judge. The archery |
| life? Again I bet you could count them all on one | | | | hunt starts this week in Utah so you can bet |
| hand. Hunting trophy mule deer on public land in | | | | there's a few thousand hunters who aren't going |
| my opinion is one of the hardest animals to hunt | | | | to be able to sleep much this week. |
| in the world. My theory was actually backed up | | | | Go out, hunt hard, have fun and be safe. |
| by the legendary bow hunter Chuck Adams. | | | | |