Hunters and anglers love to brag about getting the Big One. We dream about a Buck with a huge rack or a fish that won’t fit into the cooler, net, or boat.
Years ago, I was hunting Mule Deer in SW Montana. I had seen a monster buck several times but could never get a shot. During one hunt, he was within a few hundred yards, but it was raining, the scope was fogged and wet, and you know the rest.
Anyway, one evening I was sitting next to an old cedar tree on a ridgetop. Above me I could see a small opening in some thick pines. Several times I thought I saw movement. I was glassing the kill zone when I was finally able to make out antlers. The big buck was hiding in the pines.
My sight picture was small, but the buck seemed big. My rifle was a single shot 30-06 Ruger and lined up for the shot. I pulled the trigger and reloaded. The pine forest was silent.
When I walked to the opening, there lay a Big Mullie 5×4. His rack was big, but his body was “huger”. Even after dressing him, I could barely move him up hill. It was getting dark, and I needed help. I walked back to my wheeler and got as close as I could. Then I tied a rope to the buck. My added horsepower was able to drag the buck uphill to the wheat fields edge.
Once in the field, I needed to somehow load the big boy onto the wheeler. Mt. Grant is a Big Boy but… I considered quartering the critter on the spot. I then remembered how to use Science to help me out. I tied a rope to the nearby fence post and one around the buck. With a little throttle, I slowly dragged the buck up onto the wheeler. I folded up the legs and tied down the buck.
My next problem was balancing the load, which was rear heavy, especially when I got onto the wheeler. I had all my gear on the front, but the weight was not enough. I next loaded a big rock onto the front deck. It wasn’t pretty but I was not going to be in a parade.
Once on the dirt road, I was able to travel several miles back to my house. A hoist in my garage was attached and the buck was hung up. The weighing scale read 305 lbs., dressed. The big rock became a garden decoration.
Working smarter can help keep you from getting hurt.
Montana Grant
