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Hunting in the Elk Valley

Fernie Rod and Gun Club member Shawn Earl practised shooting his Mathews Monster Bow all summer and it paid off as he arrowed a huge 4x4 mule deer on Sept. 3 in Alberta.
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Shawn Earl with his 4x4 mule deer

Fernie Rod and Gun Club member Shawn Earl practised shooting his Mathews Monster Bow all summer and it paid off as he arrowed a huge 4x4 mule deer on Sept. 3 in Alberta.

 

Shawn and his dad, Blake, headed over to Willow Valley and joined their friend and host hunter Quincy to look for some early season mule deer. Any BC resident that wants to hunt in Alberta must hunt with a host hunter.  Previously Shawn has harvested a couple whitetail bucks with his bow and was pumped to harvest a big mule deer.  The three hunters headed out early Sept. 3 morning to look for some deer.  They didn’t have to go far before seeing a large group of nice mule deer bucks. Shawn saw the big deer and wanted to try for him.  After getting fairly close to the deer he noticed them spooking and heading into a small drainage.  Soon afterwards they saw two other hunters close to where the deer were and figured the deer got wind of them.  The other hunters were heading away from where the deer went so Shawn and Quincy decided to try to stock them again.  After an hours walk Shawn came over a little ridge and looked into a canola field.  He could see the tips of the big deer’s antlers and was figuring out a way to get close to him.  The guys decided to try to belly crawl within shooting distance of the big buck. It took nearly half an hour to get within fifty yards of the buck without spooking it.  Now they had to wait for the deer to stand up and give him a good shot. It wasn’t long before the monster stood up broadside and Shawn made no mistake. Shawn’s Carbon Express arrow penetrated well and the deer ended up only going fifteen feet before it fell over.  Blake, watching through a spotting scope, was just as excited as Shawn and couldn’t wait to see the big mule deer  up close.  The big 4x4 Velvet Mule deer is by far the largest mule deer Shawn has ever harvested and is looking forward to it being mounted and on display in his house. Now Shawn is hunting elk with his hunting partners and wife Malorie and hopes to connect with his bow.  He is also eagerly waiting to get his “Sweet Marie Pepperoni” sausage from Back Country Meats and Sausage, by far his favourite treat from his deer.  Great job Shawn on an awesome deer!!!

 

By Kevin Marasco

For The Free Press