Gray Face.......... The Mike P Buck

radio2operate · Post by **radio2operate** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:04 pm

Congratulations he sure is a nice buck. Enjoyed you story on the hunt.The photo's are fine.

Fishn-Hunter · Post by **Fishn-Hunter** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:15 pm

Congrats on finding your beauty buck Mike, his neck is huge, physically he looks like he was in his prime. What would he weigh field dressed if you had to guess? Let us know his gross and net score.
Fishn-Hunter

FredBear · Post by **FredBear** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:47 pm

Mike hats off on a job well done! Beautiful buck, will he be making a appearence in Columbus in March?

I really enjoyed the way you used your maps, and photo's with your story. Your words always great, but you added a new aspect to your story this time photos! I think you are way to hard on yourself your photo's tell a great story, and after all that is what a photo is supposed to do right? Now onto the next buck

Have you ever considered running a camera behind your little viking? Videoing a hunt is a very interesting experience!

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:02 pm

Wonderful Mike .. Congrats again

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:11 pm

Yes that was a JOB well done Mike!

He is a Great Buck. Good story and pics.
He is almost as heavy as Canadian Bucks.

maple · Post by **maple** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:19 pm

I just LOVE a surprise ending!!! The Swede is going to hunt for you!!???
I never would have guessed that Mike. Dang, you know how to add suspense to a continuing saga. Can't wait to hear the next installment from Annika.

You gettem' girl.

Maple

TNXBow · Post by **TNXBow** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:39 pm

Mike, congrats on your Monster Buck. You clearly paint the best picture story of anyone on the forum. No need to apologize on your pictures. I would like to know your estimates on the B&C score and weight of that exceptional animal.

I hunt in an area with very steep ridges and hollows. The solution I have is a battery powered winch attached to device built to move a boat trailer. I went to Harbor Freight Tools and purchased a Heavy Duty Trailer Dolly and a winch with a 50 ft cable. Then got battery designed to power a scooter/wheel chair. I pull everything up the ridge in 50 ft sections. I almost have to repell down the ridge and winch back up. I keep the battery charged and take the Trailer Dolly with me when I hunt in this area. I took some practice, but at times it comes in handy.

Mike P, you are the best!

Kenton · Post by **Kenton** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:44 pm

Awesome buck Mike, and an even better story. Congrats.

VixChix · Post by **VixChix** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:15 am

How about a regular boat winch (hand crank) strapped to a tree? Would be very portable and inexpensive.

I know some guys use them for hanging deer up.

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:09 am

TNXBow wrote:I would like to know your estimates on the B&C score and weight of that exceptional animal.

I stopped at the feed mill on the way to the check station (have to go right by it) and we weighed the two halves. The combined weight was 287 ¾ lbs without his innards. So it depends on how much you estimate the weight of the internal organs, stomach contents, etc. as to the final weight. Most at the check station figured the innards to weigh about 40 lbs. on a buck this size and that would give an estimated on the hoof weight of 327 lbs.

As far as how he will score I think he will do well. He will have two small deductions as he has two kickers that are hard to see but are both about an inch and a half long. Points and overall tine length rule the day when using B&C or P&Y scoring guidelines and gray face really shines in this area. His G3 and G4 on his left antler are over a foot long and his G3 on his right antler is fourteen inches in length and that will really help the cause. He has very good overall length and his base measurements are close to seven and a half inches on the left and eight inches on the right. When all is said and done I hope he makes it into the mid 160's with an outside chance of the low 170's but that might be a stretch. The outright physical size of gray face makes it hard to see just how large his rack really is. In the one picture you should use me for some sake of scale. I am 6'1" and a robust 240 lbs.

If you remember the Palmated buck from last year he dwarfs gray face in mass and width and he officially scored 172 and some change. But he does not have near the tine length of gray face. The Palmated buck is also now being mounted as we found a suitable large cape to use. Both the Palmated buck and gray face should be done in early spring. Should make for some cool pictures.

Unfortunately Aaron (FredBear), neither I suspect will be ready for Columbus in March but if they are, they are going.

TNXBow wrote:
I almost have to repell down the ridge and winch back up.

That is exactly the conditions for this retrieve. You could not stand up where you see the picture of the buck up against the little trees, it was that steep.

VixChix wrote:How about a regular boat winch (hand crank) strapped to a tree? Would be very portable and inexpensive.

I like that idea Vix! I also see in the Harbor Freight catalog that they have a portable winch with a strap instead of a cable and the winch hooks onto the racks on the front or back of the ATV.

I am pretty sure I am going to install a winch on the Foreman in the near future.

I am going to take a hard look at all possible means available to retrieve large deer from the bottoms of these hollows. I will not do what I had to do on Tuesday ever again!

Kenton · Post by **Kenton** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:11 pm

Mike P wrote: I am going to take a hard look at all possible means available to retrieve large deer from the bottoms of these hollows. I will not do what I had to do on Tuesday ever again!

I have the perfect solution Mike. I can be a complicated process so I'll give you a step by step.

Step 1. Purchase one (1) Butt-Out tool from Hunter's Specialties.

Step 2. Purchase nine (9) rocket engines from nearest hobby shop.

Step 3. Attach rocket engines to Butt-Out tool using various types of adhesive tapes (duct, scotch, electrical, ect.).

Step 4. Insert Butt-Out tool as packaging directs.

Step 5. Orient deer so that its head is pointing in the general direction you wish to move said deer.

Step 6. Light rocket engines.

Step 7. Run like hell (preferrebly away from said deer).

There is also a version of this method where the deer can be processed mid-flight by using industrial grade fireworks instead of rocket engines.

killshot · Post by **killshot** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:20 pm

Congrats on your great buck. A great story as usaual Mike. Wonunderful pics aswell. Thanks for sharing.

Tar Heel · Post by **Tar Heel** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:32 pm

Congrats Mike great buck, story and pictures.

Tar Heel

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:32 pm

very nice Mike...good story.. I wish I could put them together as good as you...Nice buck..