Deer hunting BS thread

Cole and I went and got 5 sacs of deer corn from a friend. First 2020 bag on the ground!

 

Looks like my CO tag came in too. Going to be a great year of deer hunting!!!

 

Now do they have deer seasons like Elk with 1st 2nd and 3rd?

 

Yep. I'm 3rd rifle season.

 

Don’t guide the guide. If you did your homework and picked a reputable outfitter he is going to have your best interest in mind and will know the animals on the farm and how they move.
Go with only one expectation and that’s to have fun. 150” deer are not behind every tree even on the best farms. Just because it’s a guided hunt does not mean it’s a slam dunk to fill your tag.
Practice judging deer as much as your shooting. Some outfitters have substantial penalties for shooting a deer under their minimum qualifying size. For Whitetails many are 140” or greater to be a shooter.

 

Nice! Would you be comfortable saying what unit? I was not drawn...with the way point creep is going, I'm starting to wonder if I will be.

 

Unlike Elk though, there are no over the counter deer...all seasons are drawn. In many elk units, over the counter tags are available for 2nd and 3rd seasons.

 

Soy beans are coming up... I gotta get some cameras out... Running low on back straps too.

 

quit eatin and git yer shit together

 

My 20 gauge Browning BPS with Nikon Prostaff P3 2-7x32 Shotgun scope.

FINALLY figured how to post a pic from my phone!!!

 

I drew 35. Wasn’t looking for major trophy potential but rather a chance to get out and hunt. Even as out of state, the odds were like 95% to draw that zone with a single point.

I’m no longer trying to build up points everywhere like I was because of the creep you mentioned. I’d rather get to a spot I know I can draw and do my best to outwork other people that are road hunting. There are deer out there, just need to work for it.

 

I just moved to Mt. My point game is way behind than all others given my age. I will probably never draw a M S G tag. Maybe draw a decent elk tag.. There is an Unlimited sheep hunt that I'm probably going to do every year in order to fill a sheep tag.

 

Yeah, I'm not trying to pull a crazy trophy tag either, just would prefer to draw one in a unit I kind of know the lay of the land in. As a non-resident my time available to scout country I don't already know is limited, and I have to try and divvy it up as intelligently as I can. I've never been in 35, so unfortunately I don't have any good info, or waypoints to share.

 

I'm not sure how much you know about the Unlimiteds, but it's a hunt that you'll want to be ready for, as they are some of the toughest most grueling DIY hunts out there. The guys who actually punch those tags are pretty legendary in the hunting community. My brother and I are planning to start scouting for the Unlimiteds summer after this. We hope to put in 2 summer scouting trips before buying the tags.

Right now I'm hiking about 100 miles a month with a loaded pack...and from the research I've done, I don't believe I'm anywhere near fit enough to do an Unlimited without a good bit more work. It's one of those things I'm going to do, and hopefully do several times so that I have the experience of having done it, but for which I'll go into with very little expectations.

 

I’ve worked in the area and have friends who live in the zone so that certainly helps me out. Being in SoCal, I’m just glad to get out in some amazing areas this year with a chance at some good deer. Any day in the woods is good with me! Good luck this season.

 

To you as well! I know what you mean about the amazing country. When I leave the mountain, I spend a lot of time thinking about getting back to the mountain. It's only partly about what I'm hunting at this point.

 

I'm aware lol. I've been up in an unlimited area a few times doing some hiking. Its nice not being too far from the HD's. I don't think anyone is ever truly fit enough for a hunt like that. I've been training since January this year. Finally took about a 2 week rest. Need to get back on it. Bears were taking up all of my attention the past month so I started to slack on working out.

A friend of a friend actually shot an Unlimited sheep last year. I didn't get a chance to hold the skull but my buddy said it was the most surreal feeling. Said it recharged his drive to get back in there. Issue with scouting is those sheep don't stick around in one spot very long. My buddy chased a Ram about a 2 miles last year. Said he was hot on its tail but could never get in close enough for a shot.

Heard stories from guys who've been successful in the unlimited and they all say it was luck. They just happened to crest over a ridge and they were right there. But that's any type of hunting. Right place, Right time.

 

Yeah, I don't really summer scout with the expectation that I'll figure out where animals are going to be, it's more to just get boots on the ground and start trying to figure the country out a little. Google Earth and OnX are great, but boots on the ground understanding of an area makes all the difference for me.

There's always some luck that happens, but there are also a handful of guys who've punched their unlimited tag, waited the 7 year cool down period, and gone right back in and punched another one. I think there's even a guy who's gotten 3. I also know a couple of real hardcore guys who've been going several years now, and haven't chambered a round yet. They are real hunters, with real experience of the area, one even does some guide work in Alaska, and they keep going back just because it kicks their asses so bad. I can't wait to go.

 

Oh yeah. There’s a few families out there who have a few unlimiteds under their belt that’s for sure.

If you don’t mind me asking which HD are you planning on? Or have you picked one yet?

Either way. Sheep live in some crazy country. Google maps does not show the intensity or the sheer magnitude of those mountains. Especially the 500’s. I’m going out to do some fishing in one of the zones tomorrow.

 

I want to hunt the Beartooths, so 500 or 501, but I haven't screwed my research down tight yet. I'm not harboring any illusions of taking my Texas ass up there and packing a sheep out, I'm hunting the experience, and the country, anything else would be straight icing.