Deer hunting BS thread

Any of you do any muley hunting out here in Utah, specifically the Wasatch west unit. This is my first year hunting, anything besides squirrels, rabbits, grouse, etc. and I just was wondering if any of you all have some tips for me. I am hunting with a Marlin 336 with a 3x9 Simmons scope. I have seen an absolutely ludicrous amount of does in the past three days of hunting (30+) but I have not been fortunate enough to see a single buck. Every area I am currently hunting I am primarily driving to trailheads and hiking for ~1-3 mile loops back to the truck and then moving on to the next spot, I have been doing a little bit more sitting here and there I just havent been able to spot anything. I also have been hunting from sunrise (~6.45 is first light) to sunset (~7.00 is shooting light) all day the past two days just haven't seen one yet. I am not trophy hunting, I am hunting to fill the freezer so any suggestions you have to maybe help out would be greatly appreciated.

 

I cant say specifically for the mulies but typically where theres does the bucks are usually not too far away. They are probably getting closer to rut as well like the whitetails and then you will see them more. Id say find some water holes and skirt those from downwind couple hundred yards or find some cover near a good water hole. You might have to get a larger firearm also because from what Ive seen people take longer than 100-150yd shots.

 

Yeah, thats what I figure I just have been so successful seeing deer its just frustrating not seeing the right one haha. I am hunting with a friend who has a pretty nice savage 7mm with a simmons on it so me and him can reach out and touch something if it comes down to it. Thanks for the reply man

 

In general terms, hunt more with your binos and less with your legs. Dont look for whole deer. Often times you only see the tips of the horns, or an ear or butt, etc. from bedded bucks. Stay awhile in a good area and continue to glass. Bucks bed down and disappear in almost no cover at all. Look for places that give the buck good vision and a quick escape.

 

Good advice. And I'll add....spend you time hiking at 0'dark-thirty getting up to and getting to a glassing spot a good half hour before first crack of light. Enjoy the walk up in the dark, get to a spot and let things settle in around you, and then "watch the world wake up" with the first hint of light. My philosophy is this: If you're not hiking up to - or back down from - a glassing spot in the dark, you're either getting up there too late (morning), or leaving too early (evening). You've got to get comfortable with walking alone (or with someone else) in the dark. If you wait until first light to walk up, by the time you get to where you are going, most of the deer are already bedded, and you've missed out on a lot of opportunity. Too many guys are too lazy to get up early enough, or too afraid of walking in the dark to get to a good glassing point for prime times.

Glass until it feels like the binos are sucking your eyes out of their sockets...then settle in for a couple hours more glassing. Twelve hours a day with my face in the binos is about the norm for me. And is why I spend decent $$ on binos. Feels unproductive when you're not seeing anything, but not as unproductive as walking or still hunting through an area without a deer within a mile. And I can't tell you how many times I've glassed and watched guys for hours creeping through areas and doing just that.

Try to catch them heading into their bedding areas at first light, or coming out of them early evening.

I'm not a fan of sitting over water and waiting for something to come in. If there's water within 2 miles, you'll easily find deer moving to and from bedding areas easily a mile or more away from water if they are in the area.

 

Echoing the above. Glass, glass, glass for tips and then put on the stalk.

 

ya that's frustrating, I've had the same thing happen. But at the peak of the rut they must show up somewhere during the day. maybe lol

 

usually somewhere you arent...

 

I know right? I'm a master of finding doe families with a couple of spikes.

 

Well had a good plan for last day of Elk season...I spotted some elk in a clear cut and had enough time to get a good set up for about 200-250yd shot. Saw couple cows just out of range for my range finder and so I found a good log to hide behind. right at last 30 min of light some jackwad comes driving through in a ford ranger on the skid trail behind me...WTH! IDIOTS! then they try to do a wave at me...I almost flipped them off...

Then just a few minutes after getting home a friend calls says his dad is missing somewhere in the woods around here by me. So we spin up things and call sherrif I searched one side of the hill behind the house and on the way back I see a 4wheeler coming up the main road. So I call my wife on the radio and its the missing man. He had some medical issues/seizure or stroke and got lost for a little bit. They hadnt heard from him since 2pm. it was about 815 when he showed back up.

 

I got my doe processed. she wasnt that big but good tasting. Got 12 1.6ish lb bags of ground and some chopped steaks and backstraps. I had a sample of the chopped steak and backstrap and they are definitely worth the effort.

 

https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/articles/12-reasons-why-your-venison-tastes-like-hell

 

I dont know if this helped but seemed to be quite tender. Could be it was a young doe but I had a chopped steak and it was very tender.

 

Ended up ordering the Vortex Crossfire 10x42 binos. They will be here today. Tried out a co-workers pair and was immediately sold. Especially with their lifetime warranty.

 

I just got Vortex Vanquish 10x26 for smaller light weight needs and they are great. I have full size auto focusing Steiner's but they are big and heavier.

 

This is my hunting cabin. It was built on my friends farm with all the lumber from his farm. The only things that are not from the farm are the concrete floor and the roof shingles.
About 2 weeks ago was the day to spray the cabin with a 50/50 mix of off road diesel and hydraulic oil.
The cabin gets sprayed every other year.
This pic was taken when I went to lunch I finished the rest when I came back. You can see the difference.

 

Got some venison carne guisada in crock pot!

 

what muscle group you using?

 

I don’t usually separate and label other than loins or strap. Sometimes butt. I mainly label wtl strap or axis strap for example and date it.

 

But to answer your question idk. It was one pack of wtl and one pack axis. Dated only.