Hunting Big Mule Deer Migration Style

[robby denning]

Congratulations on a great buck along with your horse, Charlie. Not many more fun ways to hunt big game than with a horse or mule. Those mule deer when they get that size are amazing animals.

Only have been around one full scale mule deer migration. Was outside of Pocatello,ID a couple hours ,into WY. We saw about 50-60 deer on the move in a migration corridor , in a short two hour period. All mule deer heading in the same direction down out of the mountains .Within hours we were in a full blown blizzard and our road back to Pocatello was closed by the storm. We ended up spending the night in a hotel until the next morning when the storm ended and the highway department reopened the road. Traveling for work in western WY, over the years I have seen some smaller mule deer migrations of deer all moving in the same direction in one of the well known migration corridors. Unfortunately there was also a pretty good number of road killed dead mule deer along this stretch of secondary highway.

Hey thanks!

Migrations are everywhere. I used to only think of the big ones but now that all this data coming out on collared deer, we got deer migrating a few miles to hundreds of miles, big migrations, little migrations and lots in between.

Glad to see all these states stepping up thier protection and enhancement of these areas. If we lose them, we effectively lose those deer or at least some of their productivity

you mention Pocatello...I've heard one of the old biologists in that region say the the construction of I-15 in the (60s? maybe) really impacted migrating deer from all the units on both sides of the interstate. Now that these studies show all these deer mixing from unit-to-unit & state-to-state, I'll bet he was beyond right.

But I guess we gotta have interstates, just need to know where the bulk of deer cross and fix those areas and add overpasses when we can. Idaho's been late on the overpasses, but they're finally doing a few.

 

[Buglebrush]

What a masher! Congratulations!

 

[Ryan Avery]

Congrats Robby!
How long was the buck on its feet after you fired 3 more rounds? I’m thinking I like that 270 WSM!

He gives up nothing but recoil.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Thanks for sharing the story! Incredible story and buck…

I actually listened to the podcast this morning on the way to look for a bull. I finished it up as I moved areas. Few times… ended up getting a bull about 10 am.

Thanks for the luck!

 

[MeatInTheFreezer]

Great podcast. I was dying when you talked about how many bullets you would put in a grizz. Oh yeah, awesome buck.

 

[robby denning]

Thanks for sharing the story! Incredible story and buck…

I actually listened to the podcast this morning on the way to look for a bull. I finished it up as I moved areas. Few times… ended up getting a bull about 10 am.
…

Bull down!

 

[robby denning]

Great podcast. I was dying when you talked about how many bullets you would put in a grizz. Oh yeah, awesome buck.

got thinking I should probably just put 25 in the Grizz and save one for me.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Let us know what that buck scores… I happen to agree with your commentary on the podcast about the buck’s score, doesn’t really matter… But with that one, it’s worth putting a tape on….

My bull scored well, 10/10

 

[robby denning]

Let us know what that buck scores… I happen to agree with your commentary on the podcast about the buck’s score, doesn’t really matter… But with that one, it’s worth putting a tape on….

My bull scored well, 10/10

will do. He's at taxi getting Euro'd so as soon as I can....

exciting for your bull score

 

[Alanders]

Sweet buck! Mass all the way out.

 

[LONE HUNTER]

Awesome Buck
Awesome Rifle
Awesome Horse
Awesome Podcast
OK Hunter

Didn't you nickname him the legend? lol

 

[LONE HUNTER]

maybe 30 seconds.

But to be fair, I’ve had to shoot multiple shots on some bucks with all the calibers (7mm mag & 270WSM) I've hunted big deer with. It all depends on the quality of that first shot.

Yeah man. I shot a 2 point at 200 yads and center punched the shoulder with 168 Berger VLD from a 7mm RM......I have no idea how, but the bullet did not go through. Shot him again to kill him. I know it's just superstition but so many dudes ignore when their 300 winny takes a follow up shot but are like "see! see! it's not enough gun" when someone shoots something with a 6mm or 6.5 mm cartridge and it requires a follow up.

I've killed bucks between 200 and 700 with the trusty 6.5 CM. Many have died in like 3 steps. And I don't know about you but the deer bigger bucks are always in such a nasty place I just shoot until they fall out of habit nowadays. Tracking in 25-35 degree slopes and cliffy rocky crap isn't for me!


All that said Smoker buck man! Very happy for you and glad you didn't have to find out if you can "skin Grizz, pilgrim"