Black Friday Shopping Pays Off with a 200-inch Mule Deer!

by
posted on December 11, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

For some, shopping on Black Friday means hitting the malls. For bowhunters like my husband, Phil, and me, it means hitting the sandhills to try and close the deal on a good buck. The plan came together for Phil that morning when he dropped this 200-inch muley.

While seeing one monster mule deer can be a once-in a lifetime experience, we saw two on his Kansas lease that week so whichever buck he got close to first would be the one. Easier said than done. He actually held off on stalking them until his Mathews No Cam HTR bow arrived. Would I be as patient, I wondered? Evidently, Phil knew that new bow would give him the edge.

Phil and his cameraman had several encounters and got great footage of both bucks for his TV show before he finally caught this one trailing a doe. But what were the odds because he was actually sitting with me in my blind as I waited on the whitetail buck I was chasing. Both whitetails and muleys were leaving the crop circle and heading for the sandhills when the heavy buck walked right past our blind. Our HECS Stealthscreen suit and Ozonics likely had something to do with our going undetected--considering they came from downwind. An Easton Deep Six FMJ arrow topped with a Grave Digger broadhead did the trick and the rest, as they say, is history.

Latest

LEDE Western Grill Bundle
LEDE Western Grill Bundle

Independence Day Deal: Hi Mountain Seasonings' Western Grill Bundle

This Independence Day, Hi Mountain Seasonings is helping outdoor cooks elevate their holiday menus with the Western Grill Bundle, available for just $54.39.

Range Review: Rossi R95 Triple Black Pistol .454 Casull

Hold on tight because this lever-action pistol is an adventure to shoot! Check out the Rossi R95 Triple Black Pistol, chambered in .454 Casull.

Forest Service Signs MOU Advancing Wildlife-based Access

The U.S. Forest Service and the Boone and Crockett Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in late May that underscores the importance of sustaining outdoor recreation opportunities.

Henry Honors America's 250th with Collector-Grade Rifles

Henry Repeating Arms is now shipping the America's 250th Anniversary Tribute Edition Collection: three collector-grade lever-action rifles to mark the nation's 250th anniversary of independence.

Behind the Bullet: The .500-416 Nitro Express

When discussing the Nitro Express cartridges, my mind is immediately drawn to East Africa in the first few decades of the 20th century, but there are modern developments which fill a niche. One such is the .500/416 3 ¼-inch Nitro Express developed by Kreighoff at the end of the 20th century. Let's look at the history and characteristics of the .500-416 Nitro Express.

New for 2026: Bear Creek Arsenal .30-30 Uppers

Bear Creek Arsenal is expanding its lineup with new .30-30 Winchester rifle and upper options, bringing one of America's most recognized hunting calibers into modern sporting rifle configurations.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.