Devil Diver Down
Well-known member
I'm not a guy who kills big mule deer. I've blown some opportunities over the years, but generally speaking, I see some toads on my scouting trips and then on opening morning the area becomes forky and tiny 3-point heaven.
This summer brought a surprise, when my dad and I drew Kaibab mule deer tags with very few points. We were hoping for the late hunt, but beggars cannot be choosers. He was already on a conditioning problem to raise his cardio proficiency, while hopefully shedding some pounds and lending relief to his knees - replaced twice on the passenger's and once on the driver's side - which limits his ability to hunt deep off roads. I was a 3-time a weeker at the gym and taking night walks with my GSP. Dreams of a really big buck were forming in my head.
Late summer brought a bad surprise - a cough I couldn't shake, along with 5 straight weeks without a day off work (isn't owning your own company just the best?!?) and by August had developed into a lung infection. My gym routine and night walks were choked out. Plans for a scouting trip at 8000 feet, snuffed.
My dad has been on hunts to the Kaibab since he was a little kid, but neither of us had hunted it for 30 years. Junior 88 and AZ402 provided some great intel to give us starting spots for our 1 pre-hunt scouting day in the unit. A member here referred to me as Gimpy - my lung condition improved to a temporary asthma condition, plus I have a sprained right wrist and smashed toe that made putting boots on a real joy. In any case, we pressed on through some beautiful country.
This summer brought a surprise, when my dad and I drew Kaibab mule deer tags with very few points. We were hoping for the late hunt, but beggars cannot be choosers. He was already on a conditioning problem to raise his cardio proficiency, while hopefully shedding some pounds and lending relief to his knees - replaced twice on the passenger's and once on the driver's side - which limits his ability to hunt deep off roads. I was a 3-time a weeker at the gym and taking night walks with my GSP. Dreams of a really big buck were forming in my head.
Late summer brought a bad surprise - a cough I couldn't shake, along with 5 straight weeks without a day off work (isn't owning your own company just the best?!?) and by August had developed into a lung infection. My gym routine and night walks were choked out. Plans for a scouting trip at 8000 feet, snuffed.
My dad has been on hunts to the Kaibab since he was a little kid, but neither of us had hunted it for 30 years. Junior 88 and AZ402 provided some great intel to give us starting spots for our 1 pre-hunt scouting day in the unit. A member here referred to me as Gimpy - my lung condition improved to a temporary asthma condition, plus I have a sprained right wrist and smashed toe that made putting boots on a real joy. In any case, we pressed on through some beautiful country.
