Idaho Mule Deer Hunt with David Long

[david long]

This might be a good time to write up an equipment and clothing list to share. I will do that this afternoon (providing I don't take that nap)

 

[Steve O]

Been on hunting forums for over a decade, and this is one of my favorite threads for sure.

David, do you ever start a warming fire? My biggest issue with long term glassing is staying warm and comfortable...

I am no David Long, but when I plan on glassing for long periods of time, I have a Sitka Kelvin jacket in my pack to put on along with an extra warm hat and loose fitting gloves. That Primaloft is incredibly warm yet compact stuff.

 

[david long]

HellsCanyon, how did you do this weekend?

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

When the glassing is going to be long and cold I always bring:

Spare wool socks
Kings Hoody that fits underneath my Kuiu Attack Jacket
Spare upper base layer(Kuiu or First Lite)
And also bring along the Woobie-makes a big difference when it gets really cold.

 

[HellsCanyon]

HellsCanyon, how did you do this weekend?

Passed up 7 bucks. Didn't see a single doe which was surprising! We were at about 8k'. We packed in a few miles Thursday night and got to where we wanted to camp at 2am. Friday saw two bucks and had a 3.5 year old 155-160" buck in my cross hairs but passed. Saturday woke up to snow and soaked in fog. We were expecting from the forecast the storm to stick around for a few days. So we elected to hike back out and hunt lower below the fog line. 1/2 mile from the trail head storm blew out to crystal clear conditions! :banghead:

Hunted up high and found a group of bachelor bucks but nothing worth shooting.

Headed in to hunt the snake.river breaks this next weekend from the jet boat. Calling for snow up high every day this week so hoping the rut will kick in and the snow to push them bucks down or at least have them up and moving!!

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

This is hard reading about deer hunting when mine is over and it's strictly elk!

 

[HellsCanyon]

This is hard reading about deer hunting when mine is over and it's strictly elk!

Its harder to not be hunting when the season is still open and you have an unfilled tag but have to work during the week!

Mike

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

Its harder to not be hunting when the season is still open and you have an unfilled tag but have to work during the week!

Mike

Agreed.

 

[david long]

Weather just got real UGLY! Thunder, dark clouds followed by a massive hailstorm.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

Our weather here in northern Nevada is similar, WINDY!

 

[Travis Bertrand]

Great thread btw.... Very Informative.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Wow, the baby could knock you out!

 

[david long]

I am at a standstill right now. Can't do anything. It is flat getting with it. Figured I would use this downtime to type up my clothing list for this hunt. Here it is:

Base layers: Sitka, Smartwool & First Lite

Insulation layers: Cabelas wool shirt and Marmot Zeus 800 fill down vest

Pants: Sitka Timberline

Jacket: Sitka Jetstream

Rain Gear: Sitka Dewpoint

Danner heavyweight wool socks

Boots: Kenetrek Mountain Extremes uninsulated

Three pairs of gloves: Sitka Shooter, Sitka Mountain and heavy wool gloves

Sitka beanie

Gaiters: Outdoor Research Crocodiles

 

[david long]

Thanks Dr.

Yes Ryan, that one definitely would have hurt!

 

[david long]

Good luck this weekend Hellscanyon....sounds like a fun trip hunting from the jet boat!

 

[david long]

Sitting here going through photos on my phone killing time. Here's a photo of the 190 buck that I mentioned earlier in the thread. I chased this buck around for 14 days. Finally got him in a stalkable position and missed him at under 40 yards. Rangefinder died on me during the stalk. I guessed 40 yards and my arrow sailed right over his back. The extremely steep angle didn't help either. I was crushed!

 

[david long]

Also. Here is a cool scenery photo I took while on that hunt. I have always liked this photo. If you look close, you can see the shadow of Sasquatch on the left of the photo

 

[david long]

Here is a shot from my last trip I made after that buck. No, it's not Sasquatch

 

[david long]

Here's a shot of my Wyoming buck four days before I shot him this year.

 

[david long]

Mansor decided he had had enough. He packed up and headed out. Still raining heavily with no visibility. Highly doubtful I will get in any hunting this afternoon. Time to kickback and relax.