guitarpreston
WKR
- Joined
- May 18, 2021
- Messages
- 519
Last year I went on my first western archery hunt. Didn’t punch a tag but laid eyes on a few solid bucks. I'm a flatlander from Texas, so the altitude was a gut check. One morning, I started out at 10,500', hiked half a mile down the ridge, and honestly wasn’t sure I’d make it back to the truck. Moved down to 7,500’ and was able to function, but I was limited. Still had a great time and soaked up a ton of lessons.
Since then, I’ve been hammering my aerobic base to avoid a repeat this season.
Fast forward to now: drew the same unit, but for muzzleloader. Word is there’s a significant buck in the area—maybe a ghost, maybe not. I’ve got a general idea of where he summers, but no time to scout due to work and family obligations. No chance to acclimate either. I’d be going in blind on a rough pack in, and there’s no guarantee he even made it through the winter.
So here's the question: I’ve never killed a muley. Do I roll the dice and go all-in on a maybe, or play it smart and hunt the area I know has bucks (170-class, not dinks)? I could spend a couple days swinging for the fences and then fall back, or just focus on consistent country and maximize time in deer.
If you were me, how would you play it?
Since then, I’ve been hammering my aerobic base to avoid a repeat this season.
Fast forward to now: drew the same unit, but for muzzleloader. Word is there’s a significant buck in the area—maybe a ghost, maybe not. I’ve got a general idea of where he summers, but no time to scout due to work and family obligations. No chance to acclimate either. I’d be going in blind on a rough pack in, and there’s no guarantee he even made it through the winter.
So here's the question: I’ve never killed a muley. Do I roll the dice and go all-in on a maybe, or play it smart and hunt the area I know has bucks (170-class, not dinks)? I could spend a couple days swinging for the fences and then fall back, or just focus on consistent country and maximize time in deer.
If you were me, how would you play it?