[Ronny]

My good friend Dean Titsworth asked me to come mule deer hunting on his place in Rankin Tx, and me being the friend I am I had to say YES. After a few emails the plan was set. I made the 467 mile drive on Wednesday, I arrived about 2pm and we were hunting by 2:20. Dean helped me unload my stuff and off we went to the ranch.
The first afternoon we just rode around doing some spot and stalk. As we drove and glassed we saw a good 3x4 buck and tryed a stalk on him and almost got it done twice, yes we found him again and were oh so close but he got away again. So off we go looking for another big mulie. Its not long before we find a big 4x4, he's in good stalking brush but the wind is so wrong and he gets away. No problem, we take off looking some more. Just be fore dark we find what we think is a 5x5 and the stalk is on again. we get on this big guy 2 or 3 times but he slips away also.
Day two starts with us sitting in blinds. I see a few does and a spike, I also see a big deer, but he's a couple hundred yards away. I'm not sure what he was but he looked pretty good. We sit til about 9:30 and then start the spot and stalk again. We can't find any bucks to stalk so we head in for a quick lunch. Were back after them by 2 and low and behold we find that same 3x4 again. This time he is bedded down. Dean finds a land mark and the stalk is on. We make it to our land mark and find the buck still there bedded. Dean ranges him at about 80 yards. New plan, if I can get to a dark green bush that between him and us I should be about 35 yards. Will I get to the bush just as he stands up, as he stands up he turns, I'm at full draw, his vitals are behind the bush. that son of a gun gets away again. Man was that fun and its not even 4 oclock yet. We decide to go sit the blinds for the rest of the afternoon. We run deer off to get in the blinds including a 3x3. Not long after Dean leaves the 3x3 comes back, I text Dean to ask what he thinks about shooting the 3x3. His reply was if he makes you happy shoot, but we have seen bigger. Man am I glad I didn't shoot, he was a nice deer though. About an hour later my buck came in to the blind. When I saw him I knew he was mine. I was not sure what he was but he was wide and mature. He got broadside and I came to full draw, picked a spot and touched the release. He jumped and kicked and hauled butt, I watched as he ran and was pretty sure I saw him fall.I was calm up until this point and at this point CALM left. I was shaking so bad It was hard to text Dean. Dean said meet him at the truck and we would go get my buck. When we got back to the stand we found my arrow and a good blood trail and a short one at that, he only went 50 yards. WOW what a great hunt and my FIRST TEXAS mule deer.
Dean and his wife are GREAT people, Thanks Dean for a great hunt.
He is a 4x4 about 22 inchs wide.