Three weekends, three friends, one giant buck

Hunt for the biggest buck of my life

Jordan Perkins
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Close up photo of mule deer antlers in velvet
Close up photo of mule deer antlers in velvet

Opening morning finally arrived and anticipation was very high on what was about to go down on the bigger buck, but like a hunt normally goes, they were spooked by another hunter and took off. Later that night we had our number three buck at 65 yards but there was no shot opportunity. I went home after that first weekend a little discouraged but was right back at it the next weekend.

Archery hunting for elk in utah

Driving to a mule deer hunt

On our hike out to glass on the final evening, my brother spotted some deer in the distance and just then my buddy turned and noticed that it was one of the bigger bucks we found this summer. We instantly stopped, took our packs and boots off and started stalking them in our socks. After about a hundred yard belly crawl/duck walk, we finally made it to a point where we could walk without being picked off.

Continued Below.

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As we came up a hill we went around a bush and my buddy says they are right in front of us! By now my blood is starting to boil and my blood pressure is rising. He whispers that they are 30 yards away. I started to get ready to draw back my bow when the 3 point that was with the big buck looked right at us. I thought it was over. Luckily he turned his head and started feeding again. I carefully inched back to 32 yards so I’d have a better view of the bucks vitals and peeked around the bush and drew.

Arrow after a successful shot on a deer

I sat at full draw for almost a minute as I waited for him to feed out into the open for a clear broadside shot. Finally he went a few more steps and I let the arrow fly. I hit him a little farther back than I'd like, but either way I knew he wouldn't make it far. We watched him bed down after about 40 yards.

Jordan perkins above view of his archery mule deer

Jordan perkins with his utah archery mule deer

Large utah mule deer in the back of a truck

Jordan perkins with his utah archery cow elk

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