Opening Day Mule Deer ??'s

[Fatrack]

Trying to come up with a plan here and thought I'd see how some of you would handle it and learn from some of your experiences.

Ok. Say you found a buck that you really wanted to go after. The first (and only) time you saw him he was hanging out in a high country basin with a few buddies early August. Since the wife is due in Sept., packing back into the highcountry to go after him with bow really isn't an option this year.

Rifle season opens on Oct. 22nd I will be hunting opening weekend. My question is, do you think this buck will still be in the basin where I spotted him in August? I know the area gets very little pressure due to its remoteness so that makes me feel a little better about him being around.

Later in the season (rut) is a risky option due weather (snow) situations. Also, if they move down off the mountain tops there is a good chance he'll be on private ground.

But what do you guys think? What is your experience with opening day (rifle) mule deer?

 

[2pointslayr]

just bow hunt ur wife will forgive you

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

My experience is that if it's a high mtn deer, unless it's a pissant small mtn range like the bridgers, you better get after him before about the 3rd week in sept when they strip their velvet.

 

[dainer]

+1 In my experience once they strip that velvet they live in the trees and become ghosts or move out of the summer hangout.

 

[Fatrack]

This buck lives in some really big country, a wilderness area that doesn't get much hunting pressure so I think he'll be in the area but I just don't know if he'll be visible come mid October....might have to just go and give it a try

 

[belly-deep]

He probably won't move far in October, but he'll move far enough to make finding him very hard. Your chances are better earlier, and if he's big enough you should go for it. If he's just a really nice buck, then keep the wife happy and look for one another year. You never know, if he makes it through the winter, you could find him again next year.

 

[putm2sleep]

Keep tabs on him, and hold off. The wife may forgive, better not to be sorry. And if its not this year, it might be next year when he is bigger! Or there will be another big one to take his place.

 

[sweetnectar]

Remember wife and child first, buck second. But make sure she is really going to calve the first week of September. It sounds like all you need is a day or two any you'd have the buck.