Doug Withington

November 12, 2007 5 Pointer 208 lbs Ruger M77 Ultra Light 30-06 It was raining in the upper valley but I knew a mountain that would have snow. I had it set in my mind that the first big solo track I found I was going to fill my tag with. At 630 am I found just that such track with some light snow in it I figured they were a half hour old. I followed the track to his morning bed where he got up about 20 yards away not giving me a shot. I could not even see horns in the thick brush. I could see where the buck pissed and I new it was a buck you could smell him. The white flag was out the race is on. Now it is about 7:30 am. Every where he ran I ran every where he walked I walked. Three times I got a chance to see his rack with no shot. This deer took me for the longest walk of my life. He attempted to lose me four times doubling back in his tracks messing me up once for a half an hour. I kept pushing my self to keep going this deer is HUGE. By 12:02 pm I had snuck up on him about 35 yards away and sent the lead at him. Blood everywhere not positive of the shot location I followed on ward. I kept kicking him up out of beds and waiting 30 minutes hoping he would expire. He kept pushing me deeper and deeper into woods I have never been in. At 2:30 pm I stopped and checked my GPS for the first time and found out how far from the truck I was. I marked the spot with the GPS and headed for the truck. I was 5 plus miles from the truck and it was not an easy walk. I made a decision to call my wife about 3:30 pm because I was a long ways from the truck soaking wet and cold. My legs muscles were knotted up and killing me. I was in rough shape. I gave her my GPS coordinates and help found me before dark. The next day My Dad and I came in from another direction 2.5 miles from where we parked the truck dragging a Jet Sled with us thank God. The Buck was still alive after kicking him out of his bed I ran him down and finished him off. Thank God for the Jet Sled making this 208 lb Buck a nice drag. I want to thank my Dad for his help and support finding this whitetail.