VAspeedgoat
Well-known member
I wanted to thank all of the hunt talkers that helped me with my first mule deer hunt. I have started many different threads over the last year with all sorts of gear and planning questions. Many of you replied and the advise was certainly appreciated and put to good use. I would like to especially thank topgun30-06 and backcountry muleys who both answered my p.m. to help finalize my hunt plans. Also unrelated to the forum I would like to thank Al Langston with Wyoming game and fish, for all of his patience with what had to be stupid questions.
The trip went just as expected. My buddy and I left after work on Friday and 2300 miles later we made it to our hunting area Sunday afternoon. A quick look around for a descent spot and we had the pop-up and camp set up by 4:30. We quickly threw stuff in the truck and took off to figure out where we were going the next morning. We quickly saw two small bucks feeding along a strip of timber. My buddy spotted them and jumped out to close the distance and possibly fill a tag. I stayed put for a few minutes and watched him and looked at the map. I realized I was near a long draw that I had noticed on google earth. So I took off to explore. As I cleared the top of the ridge the wind was at my back and I jumped a doe and two little ones. As I was sidehilling to see if she stopped or if there were any other deer I noticed another group heading up the other ridge. They most likely winded me too. I glassed the group, with my theron questa 8X42, and didn't see the two bucks at the back of the group. I sat down and happened to notice that two of the deer were bigger than the others. Binos again but this time I saw horns and one of them forked. Ranged at 245. The .270 did its job on the first shot but I didn't wait to watch and put another in before he fell. An hour and a half and I was done. All of my camo and baselayers that I got and I shot him in the clothes I had been traveling in. It is quite possibly the biggest feeling of relief I have ever had. Getting away from the farm during harvest and putting extra work on my family gets to me after a while. Having something to show for the time may not be the most important but it sure does help. It took us a while to get him out and dinner came at about 10:00 but it was worth it. My buddy tagged out two days later. He may not be a trophy to some but for a first timer I thought a 3x2 was ok. I saw the one fork and didn't check the other side but it would not have mattered. On a trip like this if its good enough on the last day its good enough on the first.
Again thanks to everyone for your help.
The trip went just as expected. My buddy and I left after work on Friday and 2300 miles later we made it to our hunting area Sunday afternoon. A quick look around for a descent spot and we had the pop-up and camp set up by 4:30. We quickly threw stuff in the truck and took off to figure out where we were going the next morning. We quickly saw two small bucks feeding along a strip of timber. My buddy spotted them and jumped out to close the distance and possibly fill a tag. I stayed put for a few minutes and watched him and looked at the map. I realized I was near a long draw that I had noticed on google earth. So I took off to explore. As I cleared the top of the ridge the wind was at my back and I jumped a doe and two little ones. As I was sidehilling to see if she stopped or if there were any other deer I noticed another group heading up the other ridge. They most likely winded me too. I glassed the group, with my theron questa 8X42, and didn't see the two bucks at the back of the group. I sat down and happened to notice that two of the deer were bigger than the others. Binos again but this time I saw horns and one of them forked. Ranged at 245. The .270 did its job on the first shot but I didn't wait to watch and put another in before he fell. An hour and a half and I was done. All of my camo and baselayers that I got and I shot him in the clothes I had been traveling in. It is quite possibly the biggest feeling of relief I have ever had. Getting away from the farm during harvest and putting extra work on my family gets to me after a while. Having something to show for the time may not be the most important but it sure does help. It took us a while to get him out and dinner came at about 10:00 but it was worth it. My buddy tagged out two days later. He may not be a trophy to some but for a first timer I thought a 3x2 was ok. I saw the one fork and didn't check the other side but it would not have mattered. On a trip like this if its good enough on the last day its good enough on the first.
Again thanks to everyone for your help.
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