BuzzH
Well-known member
Figured I'd post a short story and a few pics of the deer I took in MT this year.
It was pretty tough hunting this year, saw a good number of deer, but had to hunt my area much differently than in the past.
With near record temperatures and no snow, I found deer activity about zero in any kind of open country. Even real early and real late, deer were just not moving.
It didnt take long to find where the deer were, but it was a tough place to hunt. I hunted a very long heavily timbered ridge, and found deer activity better on the ridge in the morning than evening. Also the prevailing winds made it easier and smarter to hunt in the morning as well.
The tricky part was trying to be quiet in the heavy timber/brush and as visibility was about 70-100 yards at most...getting the drop on these deer still-hunting was pretty tough. I found a good number of bucks bedded, and could have shot a good number of them.
Finally, I found a place with lots of activity and heard some brush breaking below me. I slowly worked into the area and saw a doe running right toward me. She blazed past me and right behind her was a buck. It ran out and stopped behind a tree at about 60 yards. He walked out and I got a bit better look, and decided he was good enough. I shot off-hand at about 50 yards and hit him well, he ran about 40 yards and I heard him fall.
Pretty buck and was in excellent shape...very fat and good eating deer as well.
Another look:
It was pretty tough hunting this year, saw a good number of deer, but had to hunt my area much differently than in the past.
With near record temperatures and no snow, I found deer activity about zero in any kind of open country. Even real early and real late, deer were just not moving.
It didnt take long to find where the deer were, but it was a tough place to hunt. I hunted a very long heavily timbered ridge, and found deer activity better on the ridge in the morning than evening. Also the prevailing winds made it easier and smarter to hunt in the morning as well.
The tricky part was trying to be quiet in the heavy timber/brush and as visibility was about 70-100 yards at most...getting the drop on these deer still-hunting was pretty tough. I found a good number of bucks bedded, and could have shot a good number of them.
Finally, I found a place with lots of activity and heard some brush breaking below me. I slowly worked into the area and saw a doe running right toward me. She blazed past me and right behind her was a buck. It ran out and stopped behind a tree at about 60 yards. He walked out and I got a bit better look, and decided he was good enough. I shot off-hand at about 50 yards and hit him well, he ran about 40 yards and I heard him fall.
Pretty buck and was in excellent shape...very fat and good eating deer as well.
Another look:
