Well this weekend ended up being much more fun than I anticipated. We didn't bring home any ducks, but we got to watch them taunting us for four hours. A couple ponds over they were having WWIII. I had a great time just bs'ing in the blind with friends and watching ducks through my binos. I'd certainly go again, but not over a big game hunt.
From there it was a couple hours to the Kansas border for FireTiger's whitetail doe hunt. She's been trying a new one of these list "C" tags each year just to explore more of Colorado. We arrived at the public area right around 2:30pm and took stock of things. With the temperature pushing 80 degrees, I didn't have high expectations. The wind was pushing right down the valley, so we'd need to loop around, then work our way back up the bottom with the wind in our face.
I think we were out there about 10 minutes when I spotted the first deer working the opposite direction about 500 yards from us. It was a whitetail doe, and the game was on. We used a gully to hide our approach and got in position to intercept. 15 minutes passed and we started to wonder, based on her speed and the estimated distance, we should have seen her. FireTiger decided to drop all the way into the bottom.
With nearby turkeys making a ridiculous ruckus, we had made it about 100 yards when I caught a deer moving up the bottom 300 yards from us. We got in position and again lost the deer in the brush. Moving again, we finally were in the right spot but two new does busted us as the wind shifted. Damn! FireTiger decided we should go with the original plan and work up the bottom, even though we weren't nearly as far as we wanted to be.
We made it perhaps 200 yards when I spotted a doe staring at us. FireTiger could not find it. Its right in front of the pine. Still can't find it. I'm expecting the deer to blow any moment, but it just stared straight at us. Finally, FireTiger got the bipod set up, but couldn't get a shot over the tall grass. She readjusted while the deer watched. I was flabbergasted. FireTiger dropped the doe with one shot to the neck. Compared to the other "C" tags she'd had, this one was ridiculously easy.
It was an easy drag to the car from there. I now had the rest of afternoon to scout for my archery tag. We hadn't seen any bucks but I know with the does there, the bucks will be there come the rut, which should be heating up right about when I arrive next weekend. I'll have Saturday-Tuesday, and then should have Thanksgiving weekend to be out there.
Sunday, I took Hank off the leash for some small game. Unfortunately, quail isn't open yet. We flushed three coveys. The cottontails kept him busy and I brought two home for dinner tonight.
After Hank pleaded uncle on chasing rabbits, I set out to find a spot to hang a stand. I'm not certain how I want to approach this hunt. We saw three mule deer bucks nearby on the drive out Saturday night, and all the whitetail does in the bottom, so I think the chance for either is pretty good. I don't expect the mulies in the same terrain as the whitetails. I was unable to find a great chokepoint for hanging a stand, but we did find a scrape line. The best chokepoint was also choked with brush - I saw no way to hunt it. It was difficult to tell the difference between cattle and deer trails, but we think we found a spot with several deer trails intersecting. The best tree to set up in for that was too big around to hang my stand, so I had to settle for a less than optimal spot. Debating buying more chain before the weekend.
I wish I could scout the actual deer movement, but its just not feasible this time. I have more confidence in guessing whitetail movements, so I will probably start with them in mind.
From there it was a couple hours to the Kansas border for FireTiger's whitetail doe hunt. She's been trying a new one of these list "C" tags each year just to explore more of Colorado. We arrived at the public area right around 2:30pm and took stock of things. With the temperature pushing 80 degrees, I didn't have high expectations. The wind was pushing right down the valley, so we'd need to loop around, then work our way back up the bottom with the wind in our face.
I think we were out there about 10 minutes when I spotted the first deer working the opposite direction about 500 yards from us. It was a whitetail doe, and the game was on. We used a gully to hide our approach and got in position to intercept. 15 minutes passed and we started to wonder, based on her speed and the estimated distance, we should have seen her. FireTiger decided to drop all the way into the bottom.
With nearby turkeys making a ridiculous ruckus, we had made it about 100 yards when I caught a deer moving up the bottom 300 yards from us. We got in position and again lost the deer in the brush. Moving again, we finally were in the right spot but two new does busted us as the wind shifted. Damn! FireTiger decided we should go with the original plan and work up the bottom, even though we weren't nearly as far as we wanted to be.
We made it perhaps 200 yards when I spotted a doe staring at us. FireTiger could not find it. Its right in front of the pine. Still can't find it. I'm expecting the deer to blow any moment, but it just stared straight at us. Finally, FireTiger got the bipod set up, but couldn't get a shot over the tall grass. She readjusted while the deer watched. I was flabbergasted. FireTiger dropped the doe with one shot to the neck. Compared to the other "C" tags she'd had, this one was ridiculously easy.
It was an easy drag to the car from there. I now had the rest of afternoon to scout for my archery tag. We hadn't seen any bucks but I know with the does there, the bucks will be there come the rut, which should be heating up right about when I arrive next weekend. I'll have Saturday-Tuesday, and then should have Thanksgiving weekend to be out there.
Sunday, I took Hank off the leash for some small game. Unfortunately, quail isn't open yet. We flushed three coveys. The cottontails kept him busy and I brought two home for dinner tonight.
After Hank pleaded uncle on chasing rabbits, I set out to find a spot to hang a stand. I'm not certain how I want to approach this hunt. We saw three mule deer bucks nearby on the drive out Saturday night, and all the whitetail does in the bottom, so I think the chance for either is pretty good. I don't expect the mulies in the same terrain as the whitetails. I was unable to find a great chokepoint for hanging a stand, but we did find a scrape line. The best chokepoint was also choked with brush - I saw no way to hunt it. It was difficult to tell the difference between cattle and deer trails, but we think we found a spot with several deer trails intersecting. The best tree to set up in for that was too big around to hang my stand, so I had to settle for a less than optimal spot. Debating buying more chain before the weekend.
I wish I could scout the actual deer movement, but its just not feasible this time. I have more confidence in guessing whitetail movements, so I will probably start with them in mind.
