Badlands Scouting Trip - Aug. 2011

[Buschy]

I was out in the Badlands this weekend scouting for the upcoming bow season in ND. I wasn’t expecting much, as we have had three brutal winters in a row and it has taken a toll on the animals. I wasn’t disappointed either. I found numbers, especially mulies, down SIGNIFICANTLY!! I hope some of this was due to a full moon with less activity and lots of vegetation. We have had more rain than normal this summer and there is extremely tall grass everywhere. I might also mention I didn’t see a single mulie fawn all weekend. I’m no biologist, but that doesn’t seem good for the next few years.

No shortage of coyotes


Definitely more whitetails than normal


Fog made glassing difficult Saturday morning, but……




I did find this guy. By far the best deer I found over the weekend. He is on the top of the hit list!




Good number of antelope,considering this is the 2nd year with not goat season.


Remind you of anything?


A nice buck, but missing back forks


Pretty country




I predict a tough year for trying to arrow a good buck in the Badlands this year. I will still be out there chasing them and am optimistic there are a few bruisers hiding somewhere. We really need an easy winter this year.

 

[JCS]

Good pictures. I have been out a few times around here as well. No fawns to speak of and havent seen very many antelope either.

What is the name of that outcropping? It has to be boob rock or something like that. Too funny.

 

[Oak]

That's a nice buck. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[Dinkshooter]

That is why it is called the "Badlands".

 

[Randy49er]

For a good time, go to the Badlands?

 

[noharleyyet]

Dink, that is photo quality even you should aspire to emulate.

Good stuff Buschy....must've been nippy temps.

 

[DavidKeenan]

Good stuff Buschy....must've been nippy temps.

:hump:

Nice pics Buschy.. That is a real nice buck, worthy of a tag.... Good Luck!!!

 

[Dinkshooter]

Dink, that is photo quality even you should aspire to emulate.

 

[Buschy]

Like usual, I feel inferior to DS.

 

[Dinkshooter]

You want GPS Coords to that rock?

 

[Buschy]

You want GPS Coords to that rock?

Salt in a wound DS.

Are you going to make me say it? Fine. You're a stud. I bet you were a bully in high school too.

 

[Dinkshooter]

You are accusing the wrong person of packing a mule!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do wonder if said rock in my picture can see said soil structure in your picture?

 

[smalls]

Awesome stuff buschy.

I spent time out there last weekend it seemed like deer numbers were down as well, however most of the deer I saw were does with fawns and very few sporting head gear. I couldn't believe how green everything was, especially up out of the drainage bottoms that are usually nothing more than tinder this year. One of the ranchers I talked to said that about 30% of the crop land got prevent planted this year.

I did see one elk grazing on some public ground but other than that it was a bit discouraging. No real amount of sign to indicate they've been hanging out very heavily outside of the park or farm ground. I guess I'll see what happens when the season opens.

I wish I could have gotten a (good) picture of the small blue warbler size bird I saw hiking on Saturday. It wasn't a mountain or western bluebird and it appeared to have a crest of some sort.

These probably look a bit different than the snowcovered lunar landscape that dink and fin have gotten used to late season in the badlands. Water was everywhere, seeping out of sidehills and pooled in the drains deep in the bottoms.

 

[Don K]

Thanks for sharing the pictures!!!!

 

[Big luke1981]

Nice pics guys. Couple nice bucks there buschy and a great shot of the yote!!

 

[huntbux]

hey all great pics looks like a beautiful area, never been there myself.

 

[hardscrabble]

You are accusing the wrong person of packing a mule!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do wonder if said rock in my picture can see said soil structure in your picture?

Are you wondering if your rock can B it's L on Buschy's T?

 

[hardscrabble]

Buschy,
You found a couple good looking bucks. The one with the cheater has every reason for being at the top of your list. Best of luck!

 

[Dinkshooter]

Now that is dirty.