Went on my first mule deer hunt. Picked what I thought was the best unit for a non-res with 2-pts and went after it solo. Had a blast, passed up lots of forkies in several days of hunting, then the snow hit and everything changed. Saw this fella while heading down to the truck. Spent the morning hiking and glassing in earnest. Finally finished grinding/packaging meat yesterday. Some good eats, for sure. 270 with 129 LRX, the streamlined profile definitely aided on the 40 yd shot ๐
Went on my first mule deer hunt. Picked what I thought was the best unit for a non-res with 2-pts and went after it solo. Had a blast, passed up lots of forkies in several days of hunting, then the snow hit and everything changed. Saw this fella while heading down to the truck. Spent the morning hiking and glassing in earnest. Finally finished grinding/packaging meat yesterday. Some good eats, for sure. 270 with 129 LRX, the streamlined profile definitely aided on the 40 yd shot ๐
Went on my first mule deer hunt. Picked what I thought was the best unit for a non-res with 2-pts and went after it solo. Had a blast, passed up lots of forkies in several days of hunting, then the snow hit and everything changed. Saw this fella while heading down to the truck. Spent the morning hiking and glassing in earnest. Finally finished grinding/packaging meat yesterday. Some good eats, for sure. 270 with 129 LRX, the streamlined profile definitely aided on the 40 yd shot ๐
Thats excellent for your first mule deer!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
I got drawn out for a tag on a refuge here in OK this year. Since Iโd taken 2 bucks with my bow this is the only way I could hunt anything antlered in OK for the rest of the season. I spoke to the ranger who gave me some very vague tips but decided that I may be willing to hint a little harder than most of the folks that come here. He told me about a spot that you had to do some real walking to get to, but it was secluded and no one really hunted there. Well, I packed for an all day sit but at 10:00, and after watching about 10 deer, this big 8 point rolled by at about 30 yards. I was hunting on the ground and a little button bucks that had been right next to me saw me move to get on the bigger buck. He huffed and that locked big boy up. As soon as he started trying to sneak around a clomp of trees I have him one in the shoulder. He was quartering to me so I knew he should be good, but he reared up on took off so I levered another round into the 30-30 and gave him a shot of insurance. He went down hard as that one took out the other shoulder.
I was extremely pleased and surprised at the quality of bucks Iโd managed to take, but then it sunk in that thereโs no access and Iโd have a long pack out. I used the gutless method and got all the meat off and laid on a poncho Iโd packed in case of rain. Then stuffed it all in my backpack, attached everything else I initially brought, and headed out. The pack was far past overloaded, but I didnโt want to make 2 trips. The rough estimate was 130 pounds for the pack.
I finally made it back to the truck and got the meat on ice. Made a few calls, and cleaned up the parking area as it looked like someone decided to turn it into a dumping ground. I had a hell of a good time and Iโm planning on applying to bring my son on a youth hunt here next year. Iโll be applying for me, too.