I could only get out for a couple of day hunts closer to home for the next two weekends. Of course just after elk season ended I see a legal bull, I really nice 6x7. Not too far off a logging road where even being solo I would have shot him. I was glassing a steep meadow for mule deer when a herd of about 20 passed right below me and started feeding. The bull was only 75m away, broadside. Not a clue I was there. Not sure why that always to be my luck with elk. I saw one really nice white-tailed buck but he was already waving his flag at me by the time I realized he was there. Looked to be a wide tall 5 or 6 point.
Lots of mule deer does and a number of three point bucks. And one really wide heavy two point that when I first saw him I thought here we go. He was facing me at about 60m and he was out way past his ears both in width and in height. I was astounded when he turned and he was just a two point. I'm not sure my hands would have gone around his bases. I have pretty big hands. And a huge body, he was definitely a mature buck. Not legal though.
I did get up to my camp for one final overnight trip the last weekend of October. I felt sure it was going to happen then. The rut was just starting, there were dozens of does. Not a single legal buck, at least 12 bucks. Three points, two points, spikes, not a four point to be had. I hit the timber and went higher than I've ever been. I was finding big tracks, beds, rubs, just no mature bucks. I think if I could have taken the Friday and the Monday off and had four days up there I could have made it happen. As it was all I had was what left of Saturday after I'd hiked in and set up camp and part of Sunday. I felt rushed. That might go a long ways explaining why I wasn't seeing mature deer. I couldn't settle, my glassing seemed unfocused, I couldn't sit for long, I wasn't relaxed. Anyhow it was still a good trip, really wished I'd brought my little 20g/22wmr folding gun, I saw more blue grouse then I've ever seen in two days.
I took Friday November 5th off work and hiked in to the closure for a long day hunt, it had gotten really cold and I knew everything was going to freeze, solid frozen water bottles, filter. I need to get a small tipi tent with a stove for those late season hunts. My sleeping bag does it's job but solid water is difficult to deal with. While up there I bumped the biggest mule deer I have ever seen. I was doing everything right and he didn't spook he just got uncomfortable.
I saw the antlers above the regrowth from the side. Deep forks, he turned his head, really wide. And that's all saw of him as he slowly walked away, as in two steps and he disappeared over the knoll I was climbing. I followed his tracks all day. Very slowly and carefully. I'd find a bed, follow tracks find where he'd rubbed, follow tracks. All day. Until it was time to go. I really regretted not having my camp set up a couple of kilometers away.
Saturday the 6th finds me right back there again. I hate hiking up that mountain twice in one weekend. I know it's good for me, it keeps me healthy and alive. I'm 52 now though so I'm pretty sure one of these years it's going to kill me. I'm actually alright with that though, couldn't think of a better way to go.
I get up to the bottom of where I'm really going to start climbing and as I'm scanning the mountainside above me plotting my route, I see him. There can't be two deer that caliber on this hill, he's at the top 800m away disappearing into almost the exact same patch of timber. Very slowly I move up the mountain after him. Every couple of steps seems to reveal new folds and sightlines. It's slow going, I don't want to screw this up. About an hour and a half into this I get to the bottom of the big opening that I first saw him on. As I'm skirting the edge to west I decide to find a point where I can see the whole meadow and into the ridge where I think he is.
I had just gotten my pack off, and was just clearing a bit of snow from the base of the tree where I'd decided to dit and watch from when I saw quick movement coming down the mountain. It's a buck, a legal buck, 65m away. It's not him though. He's still up there. I have never been able to resist filling the freezer when the opportunity presents itself. It was the last weekend of the season, I had one more day to hunt. I couldn't pass.
My freezer was low. One day maybe I'll be able to pass on a legal buck, but that late in the season, it's hard to imagine. One shot and that was it, he skidded down the mountain about 50 or 60m. Now it was just a matter of getting him the 800m down to where I could get my cart to and 5 or 6km down to the truck. I swear it gets harder every year. Next year I can seen myself deboning him on the spot.
I get him gutted and skidded down to the trail where I break him partially down to make him easier to fit on my cart. Down the mountain I go. He's not a huge trophy antler wise, he is one of the heaviest deer I have ever shot. When I butchered him I got 103lbs of bonedvout meat, not including the liver, heart, and tongue. I worked hard for him, put in some miles, he's much appreciated in my freezer.
For those interested some of the gear used on this hunt included a Tikka T3 ss in 270win, Vortex range finding binoculars, Mec Spark 2 tent, Mec down sleeping bag, Havalon piranta knife, Scarpa Kinesis gtx boots, Primus ti stove, and my trusty old Serratus a 26year old Canadian made pack that is dire need of replacing. The game cart is from Cabellas with lots of mods by me. Game bags are just old cotton pillow cases I get cheap at the local thrift shop. Anyhow thanks for following along on this seasons adventures. Good luck out there and stay safe.
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Mountain Mule Deer Part 3
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