5 total days of hunting. On the 4th day we were about 6 miles from camp up about a mile. Parked in a big hollow that has a trail that cuts thru the mountains to the river valley on the far side. Started glassing and waw 3 does and a buck about 1/2 way up the mountain. Got the scope out and he looked like a good buck (average size). We started climbing.
They were moving from right to left and up the mountain. We had to cross two ravines and then the steady incline. As we neared the first plateau, they buck disappeared behind a rocky outcrop about 2/3 the way up the mountain. We had to back track a bit to keep from pushing the does. We moved further left and got a view to the backside of the outcrop. The buck was pushing left and up. We moved up to the next plateau...at that point we had to set up. There was nothing but open ground between us and him.
The does were lagging about 150 yds and to his right...he was now about 95% of the way up the mountain now. The distance to him was ~200 yds at this point. I was huffing and puffing and wiping my glasses from the climb trying to settle my heart down. He stopped climbing and just moved right to left about 20 yds below the ridgeline...he finally stopped to mill about. He was a long way from where we had originally seem him.
Was using their Sako Mark IV, 30.06, 155 grain Winchester ammo and a rickety set of shooting sticks. He moved up a little more and stopped...he was quartered to the left. I wasn't going to wait on him to go higher at this point.
If you squinch the 1st photo you can see the truck below down the hollow. We had to drop down off the plateau we were on and go up and get him. We were at around 6,000 feet.
8 point...a little bigger than average for a Carmen Mtn WT.