Sugar and friends opening of the season

[SugarCreek]

Got drawn for Mule deer this year....wasn't sure if I would have a chance to get out but took a day and a half on Nov 1-2, 2012 to get out with my two hunting partners.

It is very refreshing to get out and spend some time outdoors and enjoy some of natures finest experiences. Opening day was windy and had a freezing wet mist coming down which limited visibility significantly especially when trying to look into the river canyons. Late in the day the wind shifted to a NW from a SE and the mist stopped and the river bottoms came alive. What a sight to see upwards to 150 mule deer that day. Herds of does of up to 16 animals and bucks starting to test the does receptiveness. It is great to hunker down in the breaks and watch larger bucks chase smaller insubordinate bucks and then herd the does. With the exception of two bucks in the 120-130 range, we ran out of day light to make a play on any of the larger bucks.

November 2, 2012, the wind was calmer and no mist was falling although there still was significant fog around making hunting more challenging. Shortly after legal light a small herd of does came across the upper flats with a large bodied buck running hard behind them heading for the safety of the river bottoms. At 300 yards they stopped and milled around for a brief moment before the does continued on their quest. Just as the buck was turning to follow, I was able to connect on him.

He is not the largest deer but the memories of spending the day and a half with my hunting partners and the beauty of the animal was worth everything to me. This great mulie will be a fine addition to my show room down the road.

This morning one of my hunting partners tagged out on his mulie. His words to me was that he was shaking like a leave and his heart felt like it was pounding out of his chest. If that isn't the essence of the hunt, I'm not sure what is.

Enjoy....and if I am lucky, I'll be able to post a part 2 to this adventure if we get out for some whitetails.

Marco

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp10/SugarCreekTaxidermyStudio/P1020055.jpg

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp10/SugarCreekTaxidermyStudio/P1020066.jpg

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp10/SugarCreekTaxidermyStudio/P1020075.jpg

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp10/SugarCreekTaxidermyStudio/Muledeer2012-2.png

[TheLegend]

Awesome animals and pics!! Congrats!!

[Rackmastr]

Some amazing lookin country behind ya there!! Congrats on what looks like a great trip!

[pottymouth]

Congrats, great first pic, nice muley!

[sakogreywolf]

Congrats! That looks like a great place to hunt.

[biggmac]

Congrats Marco. Beautiful 1st picture

[bezner]

Those are nice deer all around .....congrats Marco....you deserve it

[albertadeer]

Congrats on a fine hunt!

Beautiful chocolate antlers on your buck, 3x3's missing the front fork have awesome style.

Job well done!

[IR_mike]

Beautiful mulies and awesome pics!!

Well done, congratulations!!

[Double Shovel]

congrats Marco, nice field photos.

[thumper]

Nice deer with good friends in beautiful country - but knocking them down at the TOP of those coulees instead of having to haul them up out of the bottom ... priceless!

[TreeGuy]

^^^^ :lol:


Great pics, Sugar. Love the dark antlers. Cool mulie. Congrats man.

[Hagalaz]

Congrats. :)

[NayNay]

Congrats to you and Rollin on your deer Marco!

[trapshooter]

Great buck! Nice Pics too, looks like beautiful country!

[snortwheez]

Congrats Marco, great buck!!

[BigRackLover]

great pics! Nice going Marco

[harv3589]

Congrat Marco! And super nice field photos...good examples for others to look at when doing their own photos.

[huntin]

Congrats Marco. Good on you for making the time. I bet that's the hardest part of being a taxidermist.

[Alberta Bigbore]

Congrats on a successful hunt.

[Jimboy]

Nice deer with good friends in beautiful country - but knocking them down at the TOP of those coulees instead of having to haul them up out of the bottom ... priceless!

NO NO NO , them old boys hauled them up from the very bottom:sHa_sarcasticlol:

[Donny Bear]

Great Pic's Marco glad you snuck out for a few hours !!!!

Very nice looking Deer.:sHa_shakeshout:

[CLB]

Awesome, congrats. Great looking country and great field photos.

[The Bit Runner.]

Nice mule deer Marco. Congrats!

[Artistic Taxidermy]

nice mule deer marco and very nice photo!

[caver77]

Beauty! Great pics too!

[SugarCreek]

NO NO NO , them old boys hauled them up from the very bottom:sHa_sarcasticlol:

We did look into the valleys and would have gone after a good one down there but with a knee in stage 4 degeneration and the only thing left that they can do is a knee replacement from a fall in the mountains 8 years ago.......well, looking for one up top is........priceless:sHa_shakeshout:

Marco

[Walleyes]

Couple dandys there boys,, good job..

Pics are awesome as well.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Great buck Marco! Good pictures too.... That country looks like mule deer heaven.

[Drop_Tine]

Great bucks Gents ... Some great photos !!!!

[Sakoman]

Great hunt and nice pics!

[Blanka]

Nice Muley!! Thanks for sharing

[Rocks]

Nice mulie Marco, congrats! Your pictures are amazing, great job!

[livinthedream]

Great pics.! Congrats.

[stickflicker]

Love those big bodied mulie bucks!! Congratulations.:sign0087:

[Shaggy]

Nice animals!! Looks like you guys had a great time.

PM me if you want a tip on a good taxidermist!!:sHa_shakeshout::sHa_shakeshout:

[rog]

WOW! beatifull, nice story, thanks for sharing. nice buck too!

[Springer]

Good on ya First of all for getting out for a couple days..Secondly , What a Great Looking Buck Marco , you Boys know how to get er done..

Well done to all of you some Great looking Mulies Fella's

[hunterbyheart]

Nice animals, Marco! Can't wait to see the buck when you have him done up!

How's the hand coming along?

[getasheep]

Congrats Marco. Looks like a great time was had!

[NIKON]

Nice buck

Gotta love the scenery there , made for some awsome pictures

Congrats
Nikon

[roger]

that veiw is awesome!
good times had by all!
how is the hand healing up?
roger

[shorthair ptr.]

Way to go Marco, noth'n wrong with that buck. He's a dandy.

[fish freak]

Very nice!!! way to go!!!

[Duk Dog]

Congrats on the hunt as well as the excellent field photos. Quite the back drop with that valley behind you.

[SugarCreek]

Thanks for the comments.

Regarding my hand.....it is healing really nicely......still some discomfort in the thumb and on the other side of the hand in the palm area. The mobility is coming back nicely....just in time too.

The country we hunted in is spectacular in every sense of the word and I don't think a guy would tire looking at it every day.

Marco

[Who Da Fisherman]

When I was back home in Sask. seen a Sugar Creek truck, was that you? If so how'd you make out?

[Snm]

Some fine deer there. Thanks for sharing!

[finsnfeathers]

Superb photos! Wonderful critters! Well done.:happy0034:

[Ryry4]

Great looking deer.

[pikeslayer22]

Nice! Congrats on a nice buck!

[alpineguy]

I must have been away when this thread was originally posted!!

Great buck Marco, thanks for posting!

[Elkhunt]

Congrates on the deer Gents...but the landscape in the background makes me drool. Wow love the thought of what adventure lies there.

[SugarCreek]

When I was back home in Sask. seen a Sugar Creek truck, was that you? If so how'd you make out?

Not me but my hunting partners.....too busy at this time of year to get out to Sask to hunt although they were pushing pretty hard for me to join them. Cody Robbins wants me to come out for a father/daughter hunt aswell but it is just not the most ideal time of the year for a taxidermist....unless you have someone else skinning back at the shop....which I don't.

My partners did well taking two really nice bucks.....I can't get my photo bucket account to let me do anything so I am unable to post any pics of the rest of our season here in Alberta and the fellas in Sask.

Marco