Secret Spots?

Prism · Jul 26, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jul-26-05 AT 10:43PM (MST)[p]This is not an asking for secret spots post.

I'm just curious if you think there are any secret spots left anymore for Mule Deer?

With the advent of the Internet, publications, DVDs, TV shows, etc, and the overall ease of getting information these days it seems that there is little mystery left out there.

The odds of drawing tags in any Western state continue to decline for the best areas, and even the some of the so called "sleepers" are once in a lifetime tags.

What exactly constitutes a "sleeper" unit anyways? I met a guy this weekend that told me Utah was a sleeper state for elk. HAHAHAHAHA

For me one of the greates pleasures of this whole game is finding new areas, looking at new country, and the dream that there is a better unit out there somewhere. Maybe even one that is a true secret.

Hope that this doesn't turn into the kind of post I know it could. Would just like to know if you think there are any secerets left in the mule deer world.

Not asking where they are!

YukonDall · Jul 26, 2005

YOU BET, SPOTS GUYS WILL TAKE TO THERE GRAVE. YD.

Kirby · Jul 26, 2005

Yes

Kirby

When in doubt, floor it.

Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggy" until you find a big stick.

cabinfever · Jul 26, 2005

Yes, I believe there are a few secret spots left, but I'd wager there are very few. Most guys that kill a good buck or bull in an area are either seen packing it out or end up spilling the beans to a friend, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mike

longrifle · Jul 26, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jul-26-05 AT 11:45PM (MST)[p]Never tell anyone your "Secret Spot." I overheard some locals in Wyoming talking in a bar one night and they mentioned a secret spot known only to the locals as "south pocket." This area is reported to hold 600 lb. bucks with 400" racks!

I waited a couple of days and asked some local "friendlies" about the "south pocket" area and they looked at each other like they were going to kill me and bury me on the spot. I took the hint and moved on without any further questions. The moral of the story, mind your own bees wax and find your own secret spot!!

Longrifle

YukonDall · Jul 26, 2005

LONGRIFLE, SO DID YOU GET A BIGGIN?????? YD.

jakstr · Jul 26, 2005

secret spot today,played out tomorrow... kaibab,steens,ohwyee,strip,etc.... constent evolution. The guy ahead of the ball finds the spot today... the deer are were they are at! A guy spends 6 to 12 years to get drawn for the spot to find a legend , only to see alot of 24" bucks... expirence yes ,but what he real dreams of ? thats what keeps us going. To find a legend, for some maybe once a lifetime and others once a decade and the lucky few... alot! Hopes, dreams and a whole lot of "keep your mouth shut" they didn't find gold in california til 1849... played out by 1859, but there's still "gold in them hills " where ? some guy is keeping his mouth shut. work hard and out think the crowd... and maybe alittle luck.

Founder · Jul 26, 2005

Prism, keep a lid on it. Don't tell anyone about Utah elk or Colorado deer. And really keep the Strip a secret, that's just between you, I and a few others. LOL

I doubt there are many secret units, but I do believe there are still spots where a guy can find big deer that don't get much pressure. Those spots are really few a far between, but they do exist in general season areas.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

AZBuckSnort · Jul 26, 2005

Absolutely!

NVHUNTERER · Jul 26, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jul-27-05 AT 01:46AM (MST)[p]ABSOLUTELY,
There are still many "secret spots" left, they are not only secret for the area but for the time they are hunted the weather during the hunt and how they are hunted. One hunters secret spot may be one of the most known areas, just knowing how and when to hunt it makes the difference.
I have had a "secret" spot for years but have never been drawn for it. My son was drawn for it last year and it became his secret spot also. He passed on 8 bucks on the last day before he took a 30" buck @4pm. He just knew he would find a "bigger" one over the next ridge or around the next corner. His buck was only a 3x3 but it is wider than any I have ever taken.
Now he and my daughter have drawn tags for "our secret" area and she says she will bag a bigger one than him. What more can a dad ask for?
And the only other hunters within many many many miles were lookin for arrowheads.
NVHUNTERER

DeerKing · Jul 26, 2005

Without a doubt

AntlerQuest Hunt Consulting and Scouting

YELUM · Jul 26, 2005

No doubt! I still haven't found DK'S.

I don't think there are any secret units but lots of secret spots. People might find the areas but not the bucks. Look at the buck(295) Tory Brock found for the Gov Tag last year on the strip. They watched a couple hunters come within a few hundred yards and yet those hunters never knew what was there.

And all those huge bucks that show up on the winter ranges. They have a secret spots that many hunters are still trying to locate.

I believe there are many a honey holes just waiting to be discovered.

Even shed hunting secret spots. Thats a whole nother story.

Yelum

kingfish · Jul 27, 2005

yup!!!

ridgerunner · Jul 27, 2005

I second all the above, secret spots but not necessarily units, I am still on my search for my ultimate secret spot, where the bucks are big, the hunters are few.

ICMDEER · Jul 27, 2005

You bet there are secret spots. But they may vary from year-to-year. The public land secret spots get discovered, so you need to stay mobile and find a new one. DK is a good example. He will take a good buck EVERY YEAR (no pressure, Jeff) but it may not come from the same spot. It will be the result of spending countless hours scouting, glassing and hiking all over to find a trophy in a low pressure area.

There are also secret spots on private ground. I know a few ranchers that only let a select few hunt their property. The result is quality bucks, but it's awful hard to get to hunt those private secret spots. Money is not always the issue with those landowners; they often place a greater value on friendship and ethics.

But a definite YES - there are secret spots.

sniper101 · Jul 27, 2005

you just have to know the migrating patterns of muleys to spot and track them

longrifle · Jul 27, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jul-27-05 AT 02:14PM (MST)[p]I don't know about you guys, but I only have one little secret spot in the National Forest, Bighorns, Wyoming. I haven't taken a monster out of there yet, but that's what keeps the dream alive. The largest buck I've taken barely tapes out at 145" 4x4. I've found good sheds and somebody has to be makin' all of those fawns!

I keep hearing rumors and UFO sightings of huge bucks with crazy trash points. I love those non-typicals. I'll take a non-typical over a perfect typical buck any day! I think I'm on to something with my secret spot. It has taken me 10 years to really learn the general patterns,travel corridors, water holes, and bedding areas.

Honestly, I'm a little jealous of the lucky kid or first timer that road hunts and nails a monster on their first trip. I'm still waiting for the lotto.

P.S. Sniper101, were you in the hundred and worst?

82'nd ALL AMERICAN, WHOOOAAAAHHHH (HeHe)

Longrifle

sniper101 · Jul 27, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jul-27-05 AT 02:17PM (MST)[p]the muley that was taken with a bow at the sweet spot that i know of was 210 3/8 4x4 with velvet

YukonDall · Jul 27, 2005

I KNOW OF A GROUP OF FIVE GUYS WHO HAVE TAKEN 30 PLUS BUCKS OVER THE YEARS IN A HONEY HOLE. ALL GOOD BUCKS 27-32 INCHES,AND NO ONE BLABS. IT CAN BE DONE, BUT EASIER DONE IN CANADA. YD.

BCBOY · Jul 27, 2005

Secret spots? I'd have to say "Yes" they do exist. Sometimes right under the noses of tons of other hunters. Found that most "BIG BUCK" spots are what other hunters pass over cause there ain't no deer there.

tufferthandug · Jul 27, 2005

I find the best secret spots by asking people that don't hunt where they've seen the most big bucks. Well mostly people that live out of town and are always covering lots of ground to get to work. Since they don't usually know what "big" is, I ask if there was lots of points or did it look like an elk...

horseshoe · Jul 27, 2005

Who really wants to know where BCBoy's secret spots are? Cause I can liberate that knowledge for the right price. Ask him if you don't believe me. Offer stands as is.

BCBOY · Jul 27, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jul-27-05 AT 11:15PM (MST)[p]And for those of you who are longing to whack a monster putty tat this winter, I'm sure I can point ya in the right direction. I'm sure Horshoe wouldn't mind having some competition in his little honey holes. He likes to sleep in, so I betcha we can beat him up the mountain too.

eelgrass · Jul 28, 2005

Speaking from experience with blacktails only.....I've found several secret spots over the years. Just when you think you've got it made something changes and the deer move out. I don't know if it's predators or a change in feed or what. Secret spots, for me anyway, is always a work in progress.

Any spot that consistantly holds good numbers of deer is no secret for very long, at least where I hunt.

Steve

couesbitten · Jul 28, 2005

Speaking for myself, I don't tell anyone anything that I think may give any indication of where I am hunting for any type of game. I mostly hunt alone, and the few hunting partners I do have know that their absolute secrecy, is a condition of our continued friendship. I don't even tell my wife! When I leave to scout or hunt, I write down where I'll be, and seal it in an envelope with clear instructions not to open it unless I am 24 hrs. late coming home. Even dad and brothers often don't know where I am. Scott/couesbitten