I first encountered a Two Mile buck shortly after moving to Malad.

    Deer season was in full swing as I watched from the sidelines waiting to fulfill my residency requirements. A friend shot a nice four-point buck and invited me to stop by to see it. As I admired the wide, heavy horns I asked the question few outdoorsmen like to answer…

    “So, where did you get him?”

    My friend cautiously looked over his shoulder then whispered, “I was told to tell everyone I got him up Two Mile, but it was really out West in Arbon Valley.”

    I laughed at his response. First of all, we were alone at his house. Why the secrecy? Next, Two Mile is a canyon South of town that is mostly used for off-roading and target shooting. I’ve never seen a buck up there. Then I realized it’s the perfect place you would want to send someone to keep them away from where you really go and hunt.

    A couple of years later a neighbor was showing off photos of another big buck to several guys. When asked where he got it by someone in the group, his reply was simply, “Up Two Mile.” I gave him a big grin when he looked at me because I was beginning to understand the local culture. I was in on the secret.

    Despite my new found wisdom, my third Two Mile buck completely caught me off guard. Two years ago, I was hunting the last day of the season and harvested a small buck. As I was returning home, I called a dear friend to let him know of my success. His luck was even better as he told me about the huge buck he found just driving up the road in Two Mile! I couldn’t believe his good fortunes. Who would have guessed?!

    I recounted his story numerous times as people would ask me about his buck. It was just crazy to think he could only have a couple hours to hunt on the last day of the season and then take a 29” wide buck that was just sitting on a hillside a short distance from the side of the road up Two Mile.

    Then last year, he and I got to hunt together in one of his favorite spots. As we descended a ridge, he stopped and pointed to an open hillside and said: “Right there’s where that big buck was last year. Can you believe he was just sitting out in the open like that?”

    I had been duped! I had completely fallen for the Two Mile buck! I didn’t realize the rules of the game even applied to close friends. Rather than expose my gullibility, I just swallowed my pride and reaffirmed how fortunate he was.

    So, since deer season is less than three months away, I know a lot of hunters are wondering where they can find a big buck. After several years of research I’ve found one place that routinely produces the biggest ones. Just south of Malad is a little canyon called Two Mile.

    If you decide to come, don’t forget your pillowcase and flashlight. I understand the snipe hunting is also world class.