The boys from New York flew down on Tuesday and what a week it was. With a warmer week than last it didn't  slow anything down at the Mellon all 6 hunters harvested some great management bucks. What a great group of guys, im not sure who had more fun them or us. Great companionship and lots of laughs it really dosent get any better than that. Thanks a lot guys and we are all looking forward to next year. 


                              
 

 Opening morning hunter Tom Oneal & guide Dustin Mueller took this fine buck. The hunt began early Tom and Dustin set up on an area of the ranch Dustin had been scouting for some time. Shortly after setting, up Dustin, began rattling , 2minutes into it they got there first look at the buck Tom would eventually harvest. At 500yrds it was to long of a shot and Tom didn't want to take the chance . Dustin hit the horns together a few more times and the monster came closer 120yrds, Tom took the shot and the buck was down. We all want to thank Tom for making us look good and cant wait to have him back next year. Great job Tom


     

Mellon Creek's first trophy hunt for the 2010/11 season started this morning. After almost two months of scouting I had found several trophy bucks. One of those bucks was a main frame ten point with huge palmated brow tines that split. I have been watching this buck since the end of September and pretty much know what he's doing at any given time of the day. When the clients arrived yesterday at lunch I showed them the video I had taken of the this buck. He liked him and I decided that we would start hunting him at daylight.
 We left the lodge around a quarter to seven and drove to the area where this buck likes to feed. The area where the buck lives is difficult because it almost surrounded by houses and a huge horse barn. I knew finding the buck wouldn't be a problem but, there were only a couple a places he could be where we could safely shoot. As daylight advanced there were at least twenty deer feeding in the field in front of me. Eighteen doe and two bucks to be exact; with neither of the bucks being the one we wanted. There are two fields south of the one we were looking in and I could see deer in them as well. As the light got better I finally found the buck in the field farthest to the south. No matter what we did he always positioned himself in a way that it was impossible to take a safe shot. I decided that we would let him walk and try again in the afternoon. Another guide had seen a main frame ten a few miles east of there; I would go and see if I could find him. A fresh norther had blown in and the wind was howling out of the northwest at around 25MPH. After talking with my client we decided that we would set up and rattle near a food plot and see what happened. We walked about a hundred yards and set up. With the client ready on my shooting sticks I sat down under a mesquite bush and started rattling. Less the two minutes later I saw a buck moving in the brush about a hundred yards away. I could see his legs, his chest, his shoulder, but never his head. Finally he stepped out into the food plot at forty-seven yards. Immediately, I knew he was big enough but, was he old enough. Thinking he would turn and head for the hills at any minute I gave the green light to shoot. It seemed like an eternity before the rifle roared but, when it did I knew he had made a great shot. The buck turned and ran about twenty-five yards and fell. Twenty inch spread, fourteen point, and three kickers. Even better, all of that was done by 8:30AM
 This evening we are going to for a management buck and a big hog. We will be rattling again so hopefully this story continues. Also, we still have the split brow tine buck which I hope will a page on this blog as well in the not so distant future