The last 3-4 days of 3rd can bring some really good rutting action. Taking into account the 9 day season length, most (but not all) of the hunters are either filled or burned out and went home.
Something else to think about, are the units your looking at OTC bull tags during 3rd and limited...
I hunted with Pinnacle a few years ago. We trees 3 cats during my hunt. Great dogs, they’re amazing to watch work. Give Alan a call, he’s a good dude, him and his team work hard to get you a cat.
https://pinnacleoutfitters.com/
This is the Tom I ended up getting.
I think it’s worth mentioning, that archery hunting the thick rolling country is tough. But if a guy can get good at it, it’s makes him an incredibly deadly gun hunter.
For quite a few years I carried around a land cannon with the mindset of bigger was better. One year I was hunting a really good Colorado buck in some thick, rolling country. Although I never killed that buck, there was a very quick moment during that hunt where a smaller buck in the same area...
One of the bucks I killed this year had the same thing. He also had a drooping ear, I’m not sure if the mites were the cause of it.
Having those things in your ear canal would be enough to drive a guy bonkers. They sure are some tough critters!
There’s a few outfits on the eastern plains of Colorado that consistently put out 200” deer. But from what I’ve gathered the wait list is pretty long.
A super high quality landowner tag in Colorado can still produce. To me it seems Mexico and Canada have slowly declined in top end bucks.
I’m guessing the kids hands are about 4 1/2” as he grips the antlers. His G4’s really put him into that top end category.
Low 190’s gross.
Excellent buck.
My 2024 Wyoming bull. I went out after a fresh snow and cut his tracks. Followed them for about 1 1/2 miles. After cresting a small rise, he was laying in his bed and I figured he’d work!
God is great-All the time.
I still have most but not all of them in a zip up binder. My truck still has a CD player and I use it.
My 16 year old daughter has a CD player in her car and has raided my wife’s and my binders a few times.
Go knock on some doors or even better try to line up something in advance. Nebraska is cattle country, keeping predators in check is import to most ranchers.
Be responsible and respectful. One bad apple could ruin the whole bunch.
We went to vote early yesterday and the line was wrapped halfway around the block. Came back today and it still took an hour. I’d be surprised if it’s not a record amount of votes cast this election.
10-25 Central Wyoming. I watched 2 different smaller bucks in with does for the first couple hours. One of them was chasing a bit and constantly licking his nose and smelling the air. It’s about right on time according to memory and my journal.
I’ve been pretty blessed to be able to hunt rutting mule deer for over 25 years. I spent some time a couple years ago, looking at old (filled) tags. Most, but not all of our mature bucks come from November 16-22.
Early September on pre-scouted summer bucks would be a very close second.
I was scouting bucks one morning and had this coyote across the drainage from me. I always carry a pistol on my side, so I decided to see how close he would come. Lipped squeaked him into 22 yards before he started to get nervous.
If you’re able to get a quality picture with a birdseye view of his farm and have it printed in HD. You could then make a wooden frame with his last name engraved or the trust his farm is in engraved as a personal touch.
My wife’s granddad had a picture of the original farm he grew up on with...