It’s no secret that Saskatchewan is residence to massive bucks. The well-known “Hanson Buck,” the world report typical whitetail, hailed from Biggar, SK. The Pope and Younger world report nontypical mule deer got here from close to Arm River. The mixture of unimaginable habitat, decrease looking strain, and nice deer genetics give our neighbors to the North the chance to stack up some large racks.
Paul Martens is not any exception. The Maple Creek resident gave his 2022 mule deer hunt all the things he had, touchdown himself in a green-faced bout of warmth exhaustion by the top of the packout. However when it was throughout, Martens obtained an 11-point velvet buck with antlers so thick that they resembled moose paddles—incomes the buck the nickname “Massey.” The identify is a nod to each the deer’s large rack and to the tractor model that dominates ag fields of the world.
Martens was looking the identical mile-by-mile part southeast of Maple Creek that he harvested a giant mule deer buck from a number of years prior. He knew the world properly and went there for opening day this yr, hoping for related luck.
“I couldn’t discover a mature deer wherever this yr once I scouted round, so I went to the identical area I’d shot a superb velvet buck in three years in the past,” Martens tells Outside Life. “I went in there on opening morning and noticed a buck by himself, so I made a decision to sneak over and see if there have been every other bucks with him. I obtained busted on the way in which over there by some whitetails, so I believed it was over. I assumed all of the bucks had stood up and that was the top of that.”
Barely defeated, Martens meandered up over a hill to reposition, utterly unprepared for what he would discover 30 yards away from him.
“I really walked in on this buck and his sidekick. I obtained 30 yards from them with out even attempting. They busted me then, however I’d seen him up shut at that time and knew that was the one I wished. Quick ahead a number of days, I attempted a number of extra occasions and obtained busted once more.”
Lastly on Sept. 4, 4 days into the season, Martens noticed the distinct antlers from afar at about 7:00 a.m. The buck was bedded down within the wheat area. Martens took a closing sip of water and left his pack behind for a brilliant sluggish stalk via the wheat, which was prepared for harvest and deafeningly loud because the dry wheat rattled within the wind.
After creeping alongside and circling round to play the wind, Martens popped up and found to his pleasure that he was solely about 100 yards from the buck.
“He lifted his head and I simply crouched down within the dust, and he ended up strolling about 25 or 30 yards to the underside of just a little draw,” Martens says. “I don’t suppose I’d’ve gotten him in any other case. He initially was perched up increased trying straight again at me and I don’t suppose I might have gotten nearer than the 100 yards I used to be at. However then he stood up on his personal and walked down there.”
Martens paused for about quarter-hour earlier than creeping alongside after him.
“I had simply assumed he’d wandered off and gone grazing, so I snuck towards the ridge the place I noticed him go over, and I might see antler suggestions. He was bedded down proper there,” he says. “At that time, I used to be about 55 yards out and I used to be anxious that I didn’t have a clear shot due to the ridge between us. So it took me about an hour and a half to try this final 10 or 12 yards. It was so crunchy and the wind was not constant.”
Ultimately Martens obtained inside 40 yards of Massey, however as soon as he was there, he wanted the buck to face up so he might get a clear shot. Martens simply stood there, uncovered along with his arrow nocked, for about three and a half hours. Then the buck lastly stood up and seemed proper at Martens.
“I practiced taking rushed pictures all summer time, extra instinctive taking pictures, simply pull, purpose, shoot,” Martens says. “It completely paid off as a result of I didn’t have time to attract again sluggish and get all relaxed. I drew again, put the pin on his coronary heart and fired it proper in.”
It took Martens about an hour to seek out the buck, which dashed off for over 100 yards earlier than tipping over. The monotony of the sphere had him strolling in circles. It was properly over 90 levels Fahrenheit and he hadn’t taken a sip of water since 7 a.m. After strolling over a mile again to the place he dropped his pack, he was already exhausted, and he hadn’t even began the packout but.
“By the point I obtained to the buck my mouth was so dry, and I had a bit of warmth [exhaustion]. I didn’t really puke however each time I bent over I believed I used to be going to,” Martens remembers. He has since recovered in full.
Regardless of his situation on the time, Martens was past excited when he approached the buck. He threaded the needle on the buck’s ribcage and shot straight via the center. The velvet on the rack, which might find yourself rough-scoring round 194 inches, was nonetheless absolutely intact. After making a number of calls, just one particular person might come assist with the packout.
“I attempted calling some mates for assist, however everybody was both on the rodeo or working or away, so my spouse saved the day. She got here and helped me debone him and we backpacked him out. She saved my butt,” Martens says. “I informed her it was high quality bonding time. It was a enjoyable day, I’ll always remember it.”
