As the archery season drew close it appeared I'd be hunting alone, as my son Kody had to work. Arriving early the day before the hunt, I set up camp and started searching for bucks. I found two close to camp that would go over 30 in. Laying out my game plan I waited for morning. As usual it was a long night. I was up before daylight moving to where the two large bucks were. I spotted one of buck's 150 yds. Across a meadow moving away. 

My stalk was unsuccessful. The other buck could not be found. Working my way back to camp I spotted movement ahead. Three bucks were moving my way. I set up and waited. As they moved to within about 30 yds. I noticed one was a tall heavy horned four point. I held off taking the shot. I wanted something wider. Stocks on several other bucks failed. Returning to camp the tall four point was on my mind, had I made a mistake not shooting? After lunch I made plans to try to find him again. Robert Bess and his son Blake stopped by to see how things were going. They were on vacation before school started. Robert helps out with a guide service in Alatomt, Ut., Rough Riders Guide and Outfitters in Unita Basin. They guide for moose and antelope in northeast Utah. 

I told him of the tall four point and I was going to try to find him that evening. Searching the area I found the buck. He was feeding with two deer. I got to within about 40 yds. But could not get a shot. They detected me and moved off at a fast pace. I noted their direction, then dropped into a creek, and tried to head them off. 

It worked. The buck was at the edge of the pines. I took aim and hit him. He ran full out and circled to my right. I could see the lit was lower than I'd thought. I watched as he entered the pines again. Moving to the spot I found very little blood. It was getting dark now. I decided to wait until morning to track him. 

Another long night! As I was preparing to leave camp in the morning, Robert and Blake showed up and offered to help track the buck. Arriving at the spot I'd marked, we started our search. It was slow going in the pines, at one point we jumped a group of does. As they scattered they tore the trail up pretty bad. Robert is an excellent tracker, and soon was on the trail again. 

We reached a point when the trail seemed to end. At this point we made plans to start circling the area to try to locate the trail again… I told Robert if he wanted to give up I'd understand. I would keep searching until I found the buck either way. Robert said he and Blake was with me to the end. 

Looking to my right I spotted the buck laying dead about 20 yards away. With much hand shaking and backslapping we prepared the buck for transport back to camp. My 12 year old PSE Nova, Easton game getter arrows and Muzzy Broadheads had done their job! He had been hit in the liver, the reason for so little blood. He had traveled only about 200 yards, but with the pine needles and all, it had taken us about an hour and a half. So don't give up your search for wounded game. The rewards of knowing you gave it your all is part of the hunting game. Had we not tried so hard, this buck might have been lost.

The buck was scored after the 60-day drying period. His gross score is 197 & 5/8; his net score is 192 & 1/8. The outside spread is 26 & ½ with 26-in. main beams. He has a lot of mass with no extra points. A buck such as this comes along only once in a lifetime. No only had I taken a trophy buck on opening weekend I had met a sportsman who was the sportsman's' ethics and love of hunting equal to none.

Terry Sanslow

P.S. I have been using the Muzzy three blade 125-gr. broadheads for several years now. They work very well for me. The broadhead broke a rib going in, passed through the liver and broke a rib on the opposite side. The shot was about 50 yards. Don't know what more you could ask of a broadhead.

If you need a photo and not the copy, let me know and I'll get one to you.

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