2018 Utah Archery Mule Deer

Life of PROSPECT: 219" High Country Mule Deer

The story of a buck with potential, let live and grew into a giant
By: Sean Morgan

Throughout the winter of 2016, I found myself looking over mule deer on their winter range in Utah with hopes I might be able to recognize some of the bucks from the prior hunting seasons. On one of these trips I distinctly remember seeing a buck I had never seen before. The deer showed great potential being that he was of a younger age class, had a unique set of non-typical antlers and matching cheater points on his rear forks. I later named this particular buck “Prospect” as I faced a difficult and character defining decision in the near future to let him live. I did this in faith he would continue to grow and reach the full stature I believed he could.

In the summer of 2017 I was determined to find where Prospect lived during the hunting season. I ventured into all of the high county surrounding his known winter range. Fortunately, I was already familiar with the majority of country and bucks in this area so I knew I should be able to narrow down my search to the inner-spaces that I wasn’t as knowledgeable with. In nearing the end of my list of areas to search, I was left with one of the most treacherous and remote basins in the area; one I had not been looking forward to scouting. Not surprisingly, it was here I was finally able to relocate Prospect. During subsequent trips, with the help of my friend, Ryan Iverson, we were able to evaluate Prospect’s antler and body size in comparison to other mature mule deer in the same basin and believed him to be in the 180-inch size class.

Although Prospect now sported  a more impressive set of antlers than he did the previous winter, with triple hook cheaters, it was apparent the previous year’s harsh winter and spring conditions affected his antler growth resulting in weak front forks. We came to the conclusion that Prospect needed another year of growth and was put on our list of potential bucks to hunt in the future.

We continued searching for other bucks in different areas we have hunted in the past with hopes something bigger would show up. However, it happened to be one of the worst years we’ve experienced for turning up giant bucks during preseason scouting. As opening weekend drew closer it was my Dad, Ken Morgan’s, year to make the decision where we would hunt and which buck we should pursue as he would be the first hunter in our group with an opportunity to hunt.

With Prospect being the most desirable buck we had found so far, Dad made the choice to spend his limited time learning the new and unfamiliar area where Prospect lived with hopes of harvesting him if the opportunity presented itself. After the first couple days of hunting with Dad doing the best he could, we came to the realization of exactly how difficult this area was going to be to achieve what he wanted.

The remainder of the season Dad was limited on time and wasn’t able to hunt much more due to family matters and other commitments. This left me with the opportunity to continue scouting other areas in search of a potential shooter buck for myself. Throughout the season I was tempted to go back and hunt Prospect but letting him live another year was the ultimate example of staying true to my commitment to let bucks live up to their full potential. I ended the 2017 season looking forward to hunting Prospect in the future.

The summer of 2018 had my friend, Mason Spencer and me hiking up into the same basin where I knew Prospect has summered the year prior. We were both excited, wondering if we would be rewarded with the return of a buck I had anticipated hunting for nearly two years. Well, not only did Prospect come back, but he had now grown into exactly what I had always hoped and dreamed he could; confirming I had made the right decision the year prior. It looked as if all of the right conditions had aligned for Prospect to flourish as he was now easily in the 200-inch size class.

We continued to make weekly scouting trips to track Prospect’s growth while also scouting all the other areas we hunt; eventually and confidently narrowed our focus to only watching Prospect. In the final weeks before the hunt, I was watching Prospect just about every morning and unexpectedly began to experience a new level of stress that I had never felt before. I was near my anxiety limit which was likely due to the amount of time I had spent visualizing and playing out every situation in my mind that might possibly happen when I got the opportunity to hunt this amazing buck.

In the early morning hours, the day before opening day, Dad and I packed our camping and hunting equipment into the area we planned to camp in order to have a full day of rest prior to the hunt. We were able to watch Prospect that first hour of light before he bedded down for the day and discussed our game plan. Later that evening, Mason and Ryan hiked in and joined us; and for the first time all four of us were able to watch Prospect through spotting scopes as the day came to an end.

There was calmness in the air, or at least for me, as I was positive we had done everything we could to prepare for the hunt of a lifetime and I was grateful to be in good company. Our plan was to have me in position and ready to hunt at first light the following morning with my Dad, Mason, and Ryan being my spotters. Depending on where Prospect was first located, we would act accordingly and use all of our previously attained knowledge towards harvesting this particular buck.

Prior opening morning, I had created a map with all of the likely areas Prospect might be in the morning.  This allowed us to communicate Prospect’s location effectively and clearly between the four of us. Our night concluded with a near torrential rain storm that almost spoke to us. Telling us it was time to reside to our shelters and sleep as our plan was solidified and to be set in motion in the morning.

I woke up a couple hours before sunrise with the weather now cleared and the ground soaking wet. This was to my benefit, as it would help conceal any noise I might create and made for ideal stalking conditions. I chose not to use my headlight in order to increase my odds of staying undetected and instead used what little moon light there was to cross the opposite side of the canyon; ultimately wrapping around the head of the basin, putting myself above the deer.

Reaching my predetermined destination where I stopped to prepare myself for the events to come; I took a scentless shower, wiping myself down and changing into fresh, clean scentless hunting clothes. Leaving my large backpack in place, I continued on, wearing my smaller scentless backpack with only the essentials I would need for the remainder of the day. I notified my spotters I was ready and shortly after the sun had risen they relayed they had located Prospect. He was feeding with the same group of bucks and in the same area we had seen him in numerous times before. With an idea of where Prospect might end up bedding, I made my way across the upper basin and waited where I felt I could ambush them later in the morning.

Momentarily, Prospect and the other bucks laid down out in the open underneath a cliff to soak in the warmth of the sun, but as the morning progressed they moved into a patch of pine trees where I was informed I should have an opportunity to move in. I made my way across the side hill closer to the bucks and stopped every time I began to sweat in order to minimize my odor. I also used the slight uphill breeze to mask the sound of my footsteps.

I was now a couple hundred yards directly above the bedded bucks and knew it was time to slow down. As I removed my boots, I immediately put them inside my small backpack to capture any scent they might put off. I wiped down my feet again with scentless wipes and wrapped the athletic tape I brought around the bottom of my feet to make the rocky ground ahead less torturous on my wool socked feet. I reapplied more scentless spray to eliminate any scent I might have created during the stalk so far and put my backpack on so I wouldn’t make the mistake of being separated from my boots later that day after the stalk had concluded.

The wind was still blowing slightly uphill in my favor so I began my descent and reached a point where I was within 100-yards of the bedded bucks.  I was able to analyze the terrain below me and figure out the best route that would keep me concealed by terrain and shade so I wasn’t sitting out in the sun sweating. Continuing down, I was now within 40-yards of the group of bedded bucks with Prospect being the closest to me. From my view I could see he was lying down in a position facing towards me and looking up my direction as if one of his senses knew something was above him, but not knowing exactly what.

Most of Prospect’s body was exposed to the sun and I knew it wouldn’t be long before he would stand up to readjust himself into a shadier part of his bed. What I didn’t know was how long it would be until that happened; so I remained patient as I was about to enter the most intense mind game of my life. I wanted to constantly watch Prospect and be in position, ready to strike when the opportunity presented itself, but I began to notice my muscles straining from the slightly uncomfortable stance I had put myself in. Despite being as strong minded and focused as I was, my relentless, subconscious shaking from excitement kept returning.

It became apparent that I needed to move as it wasn’t in my best interest to stay where I was, partially visible to the buck. I slowly leaned back behind the rock that was between Prospect and me in order to collect myself and stretch my aching legs and arms. Every so often I would slowly lean out to where I could check up on Prospect. It was shortly after one of the times I peeked over and returned behind the rock that I heard a commotion below that sounded like bucks busting. I peered over the rock and saw Prospect had falsely spooked and precariously bounced down to the other group of bucks, seeking reassurance. I held my position and didn’t panic as I was confident Prospect didn’t actually see me. My thoughts were confirmed by the reaction of the other bucks that seemed to be unaware of any danger. As Prospect walked around, it began to irritate the other bucks and led to a new experience that I haven’t witnessed.  The oldest buck in the group did a grunt-snort-wheeze at Prospect, expressing his annoyance and fear that Prospect was going to try and steal his bedding spot.

After all the drama settled down, Prospect eventually found a bed of his own and over the next couple hours would stand up and lay down multiple times but offered me only unfavorable shot opportunities; shots I didn’t feel were ethical, especially on a buck of his caliber.

Dad, Mason, and Ryan continued to watch the intense show unfold through their spotting scopes and I could only imagine how nervous they were for me as they had to sit and watch in anticipation. While I continued to wait I had a feeling I should reposition myself as it seemed that if Prospect stood up again I would not have a clear shot opportunity unless he moved quite a ways further out in the open. The angle of the sun had now moved to where it was casting shade into the rocky spine below the cliff outcropping I had been on all morning and it seemed I could gain a better angle if I was able to sneak quietly down the ridge.

Successfully making it down into the lower position I was optimistic I had made the right decision and the waiting game continued. In passing time, I needed to keep myself calm and not let buck fever set in.  I found it critical to distract my mind by doing all the little things I could in preparation for the shot. I quietly smoothed out level spots in the dirt where I would be kneeling or standing, gently moved small rocks to a more safe area so they wouldn’t potentially roll, creating unwanted noise. I also trimmed blades of grass or twigs that might be in my way and practiced aiming my bow to ensure I would have proper clearance in front and behind my position.

From the time I had spent watching the bucks from above I could tell they weren’t really comfortable in the area they chose to bed and it was now past mid-day. A total of four anguishing hours had lapsed since I was first positioned above the bucks ready to shoot when all of the bucks began to stand up to feed, one at a time. Fortunately, of all the directions they could have fed they chose to feed uphill bringing them closer to my new position.

It appeared the daunting game of raising and lowering my bow numerous times in response to potential shot opportunities earlier in the day was about to come to an end as Prospect continued to feed directly towards me. As he continued to follow the other bucks along the tree edge, disappointingly, he eventually walked out of sight. I waited momentarily, hoping he would walk back my direction but he never appeared, so I made the urgent choice to return to my original position to see if I could figure out where he went.

As soon as I looked over the rock I could see the other bucks feeding in an area I would be able shoot and I knew Prospect would soon follow. I used my rangefinder to determine how far the other bucks were and prepared myself for a steep downhill shot. Prospect did exactly what I expected and with him at 41-yards I pulled my bow back alerting him to my presence as he looked right at me up until the moment I released my arrow and watched it connect. I hit Prospect slightly lower and to the right of my point of aim but the arrow broke through his leg bone just above his elbow and penetrated through his heart, stopping in the opposite shoulder. All of the bucks scattered not knowing what just took place and I watched Prospect bound straight down the hillside, mortally wounded.  I continued to watch him until the moment he finally tipped over a couple hundred yards below me.

Cheers echoed across the basin as the hunt for Prospect ended and I made my way down to where he peacefully lay after his final moments of life. I sat with Prospect deeply thanking him for allowing me to harvest him and I became overwhelmed with emotions to the point I let myself have a moment to cry uncontrollably.

I was soon joined by Mason, Ryan, and my Dad where we all celebrated together and took in the moment that would be in our memories forever. I was able to do what I believe every hunter can accomplish if they are willing to challenge themselves and have the future in mind. This story also serves as an example of what patience and just how beneficial it can be if you allow a buck to live up to its full potential. Thank You to my father, Ken Morgan, and good friends, Mason Spencer and Ryan Iverson, for all their efforts over the years and for helping me take my largest buck to date!