This was my fifth season hunting deer. I haven't had a mentor or a hunting partner through out this process, as my dad only hunts small game, and had a bad experience (with the people that took him) the only time he ever tried deer hunting. So I've been at it alone. I haven't had a big game hunt go smoothly yet. There is always something. This year I chose not to go to my number one spot, since I would have to pack in about 5 miles, and wasn't confident that I could keep my water from freezing. I'm glad I didn't because from the sounds of it, the storm that came through was much colder than my gear would've supported me for. Anyway, I went to my number 2 spot. The good hunting was accessible by a ohv trail. My ATV would not start. Couldn't even get it off the trailer. It ran fine the day before. Lol this is how things go for me. I hunted near the trail head for a day and a half, but as you can expect so was everyone else along with their brother. So, I went home. We replaced the battery on the ATV, reset my mind and attitude, and headed back up to my number three spot. This spot was also accessible by ohv trail. I headed up the mountain, and found a camp site. I hunted this area last year and there were a lot of people, but this year, no one. One other couple, and me, that's it. I sat that evening close to camp and had 4 does within a hundred yards for almost 45 minutes. The next morning I went to the other side of camp where the deer went the night prior. Just as the sun was about to crest the ridge 2 does came bounding out of the trees and didn't stop for nothing. I don't think it was me, since my wind was perfect and I hadn't made a peep in an hour. Anyway as I was trying to figure out why they were running I caught movement in the area that they had come out from. That's a buck! Slow-mo shuffle for position, verify, BOOM. It all happened so fast. I'm still trying to unpack it all in my mind, but ya my first big game animal. A forky mule deer buck.
I'd like to thank the folks on this forum that replied to my post before I left. That little bit of confidence you guys gave me helped immensely so, Thank you.
I'd like to thank the folks on this forum that replied to my post before I left. That little bit of confidence you guys gave me helped immensely so, Thank you.
