Muzzleloader Mule Deer Hunt Film Premiere

Outlaw99

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Great video, and great job self filming. I gotta say, I feel like that skunk needed another year for real trophy potential...just sayin. Enjoyed the heck out of the video and footage. Thanks Robby
 
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robby denning

robby denning

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Great video, and great job self filming. I gotta say, I feel like that skunk needed another year for real trophy potential...just sayin. Enjoyed the heck out of the video and footage. Thanks Robby

unfortunately he was the only blood I drew on this hunt, so there was no way I was gonna let him get a year older


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robby denning

robby denning

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Man, mystery solved on how you have been able to kill those giant deer. I don't think I could ever pass up some of those bucks. Pretty awesome to see it.

Hey thanks man. That really is the one thing that helps me get big deer is knowing what is around, and hold out for it. But unfortunately it makes for a pretty anti-climatic films.

I really don’t know what happened to that buck, I was surprised that he did not show up with the little bit of hunting pressure that was right where he had been and all the new bucks that I kept finding.

Great is the mystery of big buck hunting.

Thanks for watching.


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I’m glad I listened to the podcast you did with Snyder before watching this. It gave me good context for the outcome of your hunt. As for taking something from it that will help get a good mule deer, I think you showed me a great example of being committed to the buck you chose. I’m not sure if was impressed or simply stunned at the command you have over yourself, because there were some very nice bucks. Then again I’ve only killed 7 or 8 bucks so who the heck am I? Haha.

The midday glassing example was awesome. Thanks for that. I’ve often sat in the noon hours looking at bitter brush and mahogany trying to look into the shadows. It was cool to see what it really looks like. Thank you thank you.

Just my simple opinion - keeping in mind what Snyder says - I’m piss ant in the grand scheme of things, I think hunter like me need to just shut the mouth and open the ears and eyes. We can learn a lot from committed gentlemen like yourself. I’m sincerely impressed with your resolve, patience, and control over your trigger finger!


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gelton

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Great video Robby...you guys are upping your game from a content perspective. I am a bit like you, in that I despise having people ask me questions because I am a terrible liar. My conscience won't let me do it and even when I try, it's pretty obvious.
 

SteveCNJ

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Incredible self control of the biggest or nothing. I'm leaving in 12 days with elk and muley tags for a Colorado DIY. So far 0/2 on elk and this is my first muley tag. Suffice it to say I'm not holding out for the king of the hill.

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Really missed to opportunity for some great cover scent Robby.


I'm curious how you determine to hunt that single deer. I understand holding out for a single deer, but how do you know he is still alive when you don't glass him for so long? Experience? Was that the biggest deer you found in that unit all summer? I know personally doubt starts to creep in for me. It doesn't mean I would settle for a small one, but I would probably be changing areas looking for something else, maybe that is the difference in our success. Maybe you answer these things in your book, I have been meaning to order it.

Great film. I'm ADD and it kept me watching for almost 30 minutes, that's impressive.
 
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robby denning

robby denning

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I’m glad I listened to the podcast you did with Snyder before watching this. It gave me good context for the outcome of your hunt. As for taking something from it that will help get a good mule deer, I think you showed me a great example of being committed to the buck you chose. I’m not sure if was impressed or simply stunned at the command you have over yourself, because there were some very nice bucks. Then again I’ve only killed 7 or 8 bucks so who the heck am I? Haha.

The midday glassing example was awesome. Thanks for that. I’ve often sat in the noon hours looking at bitter brush and mahogany trying to look into the shadows. It was cool to see what it really looks like. Thank you thank you.

Just my simple opinion - keeping in mind what Snyder says - I’m piss ant in the grand scheme of things, I think hunter like me need to just shut the mouth and open the ears and eyes. We can learn a lot from committed gentlemen like yourself. I’m sincerely impressed with your resolve, patience, and control over your trigger finger!


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Thank you! And yes that podcast does give some context, especially the empty/full freezer analogy

Even if my freezer was empty, I don’t think I’d have shot any of the bucks in the film simply because it’s early enough in the fall I’ve got other hunts. However, if this was my last hunt, I’d have gone after that typical near the very end after the sponsor credits rolled. He was a real tempter.

That 4x5 at very end that stayed on that hillside for three weeks was probably the oldest buck I saw, save the target buck in the opening scene—he was prolly about that age.

Thanks again


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Thank you! And yes that podcast does give some context, especially the empty/full freezer analogy

Even if my freezer was empty, I don’t think I’d have shot any of the bucks in the film simply because it’s early enough in the fall I’ve got other hunts. However, if this was my last hunt, I’d have gone after that typical near the very end after the sponsor credits rolled. He was a real tempter.

That 4x5 at very end that stayed on that hillside for three weeks was probably the oldest buck I saw, save the target buck in the opening scene—he was prolly about that age.

Thanks again


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Well brother none of us can argue with your tactics. Frankly, I wish I could tag along and learn. I’ve taken advantage of older guys in my little spot in CA and I’ve found many notions I had were basically BS after I spent time with the men who’d been there before me. Sadly, lots of guys in my generation are too fueled by ego and social media to understand the process of doing what you do year after year actually takes years. I enjoy your perspective Robby. You didn’t shoot and you have your reasons that should be good enough for any of us.


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robby denning

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...

but how do you know he is still alive when you don't glass him for so long?”

Hey man, I don’t know if hes still alive, it’s all on faith.

However unless it’s a famous buck that has a name, I find they don’t usually die from hunters.

You hear about it on the Web all the time “someone shot my target buck”, but I find if it’s a five-year old or older but, that’s not usually the case.

They just hide.

Now I can’t definitively say that that buck is still alive and walking around, but if I had a bet on it, I’ll put my money on the deer.

And it also goes to show, that even when you scout (yes he was by far the best buck I scouted, that’s why I didnt give up, I’ve never pulled a unicorn out of my but—when it comes to big deer—by moving outside the rut. Not once. ).

Scouting doesn’t mean you found their “core“ area. Obviously I found part of his “home” area. But I’m pretty confident he wasn’t on the mountain I was hunting. . But there’s so much Country in the sage/ Aspen zone that can just swallow them up. He could’ve moved a mile and I wouldn’t of seen him.

It’s hard to tell in the video, but I probably looked at 3 to 5 mi.² of country. There’s so many hidey holes though, and you can’t be everywhere when the deer on their feet, that it’s pretty easy for the older bucks to hide.

At least that’s my opinion.

Thanks for watching what is really a sorta boring film. as people hear me say, big buck hunting really is kind of boring 97% of the time. It’s the 3% I’m holding on for!


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robby denning

robby denning

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Great video Robby...you guys are upping your game from a content perspective. I am a bit like you, in that I despise having people ask me questions because I am a terrible liar. My conscience won't let me do it and even when I try, it's pretty obvious.

You understand! Hahaha. I hate lying so I hide.


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robby denning

robby denning

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Well brother none of us can argue with your tactics. Frankly, I wish I could tag along and learn. I’ve taken advantage of older guys in my little spot in CA and I’ve found many notions I had were basically BS after I spent time with the men who’d been there before me. Sadly, lots of guys in my generation are too fueled by ego and social media to understand the process of doing what you do year after year actually takes years. I enjoy your perspective Robby. You didn’t shoot and you have your reasons that should be good enough for any of us.


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Hey man, I don’t know if hes still alive, it’s all on faith.

However unless it’s a famous buck that has a name, I find they don’t usually die from hunters.

You hear about it on the Web all the time “someone shot my target buck”, but I find if it’s a five-year old or older but, that’s not usually the case.

They just hide.

Now I can’t definitively say that that buck is still alive and walking around, but if I had a bet on it, I’ll put my money on the deer.

And it also goes to show, that even when you scout (yes he was by far the best buck I scouted, that’s why I didnt give up, I’ve never pulled a unicorn out of my but—when it comes to big deer—by moving outside the rut. Not once. ).

Scouting doesn’t mean you found their “core“ area. Obviously I found part of his “home” area. But I’m pretty confident he wasn’t on the mountain I was hunting. . But there’s so much Country in the sage/ Aspen zone that can just swallow them up. He could’ve moved a mile and I wouldn’t of seen him.

It’s hard to tell in the video, but I probably looked at 3 to 5 mi.² of country. There’s so many hidey holes though, and you can’t be everywhere when the deer on their feet, that it’s pretty easy for the older bucks to hide.

At least that’s my opinion.

Thanks for watching what is really a sorta boring film. as people hear me say, big buck hunting really is kind of boring 97% of the time. It’s the 3% I’m holding on for!


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Man I knew you would say faith! It's true too.

I definitely think you are correct, they don't get that old by slipping up, it's just hard to fight that thought. Granted I hunt in the east, however I have had whitetail completely disappear on me. They show back up. Difference is we have a lot of poaching, easy to create doubt. Unfortunately I only get to spend 10-14 days usually in the west hunting, so a lot of my knowledge is in eastern animal behavior that I transfer to western, as much as is possible.

Thanks for the time on the answer, and good luck the rest of the fall. I'm sure you will close on one yet.
 

KClark

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Ditto to all the comments above, enjoyed the video.

One off topic question though, where did you place the bullet in that skunk so he didn't release the nose bomb from hell inside your tent? I've tried different spots and the result is always eye watering.
 
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