Quest for Titan ? by Sean Morgan

bugleboy

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LAST EDITED ON Jun-05-10 AT 04:15PM (MST) by Founder (admin)[p][p align=right]Thread Views Counter....[/p]

The King is Dead. Long Live the King. Hopefully I will be able to live this saying later this season. I first laid my eyes on this magnificent mule deer on September 14th, 2009 on a scouting trip up this unknown canyon. I returned to hunt him on the 17th and the 25th of that month, but was unsuccessful. Ever since that day, I cannot stop thinking about him. I later now, title him Titan?

I hope to complete this story if I'm able to harvest Titan in the coming season! I will post updates through the summer scouting and fall hunting season.

These are some of the original photos I took of Titan in September 2009 from over a mile away. He is with two other bucks, an average 3x4 and a nice 4x4. As you see, he dwarfs them in every aspect. If you notice they seem to be in a hurry to get down to those trees. I watched them feed gracefully along that hillside until the sun started to peak over the mountain. Once they saw that, they hastily moved faster downhill to their bedding area.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/bugleboy/09-14-09-01-1.jpg

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All this anticipation in hopes that he is still alive from the previous season! I'm fairly sure he will return, but if not there should be a couple other good size 4-points up there. I just have to stay hopeful and I shall be rewarded. Please baby please?

After watching the new movie Robin Hood, I'm really pumped to hunt Titan with my bow and arrow! It was a great show and a fantastic example of archers in medieval times! Again, as in the movie, ?The King is Dead. Long Live the King?, Titan will fall and one of his bachelor herd bucks will take his spot.[/img]
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-05-10 AT 05:17PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jun-05-10 AT 05:17?PM (MST)

I made many shed hunting trips onto the surrounding mountains for his shed antlers or any of his bachelor group buddies. Unfortunately I only found a couple small sheds over a 4 mile base mountain range that I covered. I've concluded that either they shed their antlers up higher or on the completely opposite side on the mountain. It was a bummer to not be able to find any decent sheds knowing the quality of the deer higher up the mountain in the fall.

Since the previous seasons, I realized the advantage and necessity of quality optics. I was using my dad's old pair of Pentax 10x50 binoculars and his Bushnell 20-45 spotting scope that both were ridiculously heavy, oversized, and outdated!!! I saved up for a couple months and was able to purchase some new, quality, light weight optics from Vortex! I bought the Viper 10x42 binoculars, Nomad 20-60x60 spotting scope, High Country Tripod, and Digiscope Adapter. Well worth the money!!! Thank you Vortex Optics!
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As you see, I did some custom camouflage?n on my tripod. I also did most of my accessories on my bow. This product is from Camoclad Camouflage Systems in Advantage Max-1.

Whole setup?
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Sight housing?
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Stabilizer?
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Side view?
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Quiver and custom hip quiver?
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Also do my own custom fletching on my arrows?
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I made the first hike today back into the high country to see what was going on up there. I've been so antsy over the long winter to get up there again! It was a 2.5 mile hike and a gain of 2,000 vertical feet. I set a goal to get to my spot in 2 hours; I was happily surprised when I accomplished it in 1 hour and 45 minutes! I carried a 20 lb. pack today and will gradually work up to a 50 lb. pack as the training continues. And that's only half way to my spotting scope spot. The total voyage to my area is 4-5 hours, 5 miles, and 4,000 vertical feet of gain.

Me and Ally? (Don?t ask her where this area is, she won't tell you haha)
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New improved spotting scope spot...double as a temporary base camp if needed.
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This is the spot where I am going to seal the deal with a red arrow sticking in Titan. As you see this time of year it is still mostly covered by snow?
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To keep practice as realistic as possible, my dad, friend Lance, and myself have created a course to help us practice those steep uphill and downhill shots. We dug a zigzag trail up the hillside and setup 4 block targets, 2 Glendale bucks, and 1 Rinehart 18-1 target in all directions. Uphill, downhill, and sidehills.

It's amazing the "degree" of difficulty and sheer angle compensation you have to shoot for to connect accurately. We?ve seen differences of -9 yards so far actual angled distance.

Here is some photos of tonights outing...enjoy!

First shot of the day, uphill! 47 yards ranged, 43 actual distance...
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Another look...
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50 yards ranged, 46 actual distance.
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Myself...
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Smoke'd him...
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Sidehill shot. 58 yards ranged, 54 actual distance.
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Smoke'd him...
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Downhill shot. 70 yards ranged, 64 actual distance.
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Downhill shot in action...
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Smoke'd him...
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Uphill shot over the flowers...
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58 yards ranged, 54 actual distance.
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Dad...
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84 yards ranged, 75 actual distance!!!
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One thing I noticed from the photos we took, is how my stance and posture needs some fixing! I need to lean into the hill and correct my form. And not just lower or raise my arm. Foot placement is another key in shooting consistently up there! I am feeling more and more comfortable and my groups are becoming better.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!
 
Birthday Hike! Woo!

Put on a 35 lb. pack today and hoofed it!!! A new good friend recommended to me to use trekking poles..wow they work great! Always a good time up in the high country! I am at home up there!

It was quite windy, then a storm moved in quickly so i moved fast back down the mountain. Good thing too, it snowed!

Good morning sunrise...
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Lots of snow still high up on the peaks...
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My hikin buddy...
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The feeling of total exhaustion is somewhat soothing! Sweat equity...
 
Completed the same hike as on the 16th, but packed 42 lbs. Great hike with my Father and Ally! Few deer wandering higher and higher, as the vegetation continues to green up in the alpine.
 
Another fun hike today! I learned a ton about the area and am working hard to prepare myself!

Deadhead found at 9,000 ft...
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Ally knows where to lay! Nice and cool...
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Love the trekking poles!!!...
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50 lb pack on the 22nd!!! I really felt the burn that day, but I made it to the top and back down. I'm developing quite the tan lines, embarassing.

More to come! I never knew preseason scouting could be this fun!!!

Saturday's hike will be with my new good friend Midnight! Can't wait! Quest to find water!!!
 
Practice Practice Practice!...

Myself...
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Lance...
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Sidehill shot 50 yards...good grouping!...
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76 yards downhill shot!...
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It's amazing how just stepping up and shooting these far distances has increased my confidence! Not only at the far ranges, but the close ranges!

Makes me not want to practice on flat ground again! Because, depeding on your area, 9/10 shots are not flat level ground.

We started shooting at 6AM and finished up at 10AM. The heat is brutal later in the morning!
 
I've been finding lots of these lately...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/bugleboy/06-26-10-01.jpg

9 mile hike today, 30lb pack. Great fun!

Man that oak brush is NASTY!!! My legs are so scratched up! And them darned mosquitos were RELENTLESS!!! If the scratches weren't bad enough, I ran into some poison ivy on the way down and that STUNG!!!

All in all, it was a good morning on the mountain! I've never done this much pre-pre-season scouting before. We are still 2 months out and im pumped! Can't wait!!!
 
The actual story boys...

Here is Gary "holding" the shovel...
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Here is Me "digging" with the shovel...
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Haha...in all honestly, Gary did most of the work!

I sure appreciated the company and help up in my area! It was nice to share all of my thoughts on my area with someone who understands the craziness!

Those flies are NASTY!!! Wow!...the mosquitos were the least of our worries! The horse flies, black flies, and small flies were horrible with all the biting.

Thanks again Midnight, It was a great day!
 
Well...I exceeded my goal weight of being able to pack a 50 lb. pack. I lugged an extra 10 lbs and made its 60 lbs!!! I made it to my destination in 2 hours, instead of 3 like i had planned for. I do hustle when i hike, but i want to get in the best shape possible!

I definately could feel it in my legs, but I handled it much better then i expected. I've really noticed the strength I've gained and endurance. Especially my recovery time after has improved greatly!

SNOW!!! In July! Oh my...

The last of the snow cave...
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So so nice...
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Saw a few bucks, still growing up here. Big ole' 12" bats coming out each side! I haven't got any photos because all these hikes have been work days, and not purely scouting days.

Stay tuned...
 
I've been weighing myself each day and I range from 140-147 depending on the day. I'm still amazed on how much weight, properly balanced in my pack, that I can carry! I've been carrying 1/3rd of my total weight on most days!

That post-exercise eating is probably one of the harder things that I have to force myself to do. I just want to come home, take a shower, and go to bed! Nooo...I come home, take a shower, eat a full meal, nap a bit, then sleep a full nights rest.

I've noticed that I'm a bottomless pit the next day after when eating. I have next to zero fat to burn on my body as a reserve tank, so I have to replenish all the energy I've burned fast after exhaustion.

Sleep time!
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-10 AT 11:43PM (MST)[p]More practice on The Mountain!

Check it out!...



I video'd all this with my Nikon D90 on a tripod all by myself! Then 2 hours later on the video editing program, wala! Hope you enjoy!

One thing that I've noticed from taking photos and video of my archery practice is my form and how I'm shooting. I didn't realize I swayed my back so far back while pulling drawing my bow. That adds a lot of unnecessary movement and is bad form for the most part. Now that I know what I'm doing I can conciously work on it and correct my form to perfection.

Also...in regards to the long distance practicing. I am practicing out to ridiculously long yardages for the sheer experiance and fun. I would most likely never take a shot at a big game animal over 60 yards.

Got to get as much practice in before Bowcast at the Bird 2010 this weekend!!!
 
Update time!...sry, few days late.

July 8th. I invited two of my "very trust worthy" friends to hike into my area, scout, and for them to learn the new terrain. I have been very hesitant to take or tell anyone, and I mean anyone to my area. But it's nice to have someone to talk "fully" about my area and all my findings. Hopefully this way they can help me pack out my deer if I need them without me returning down to the bottom to guide them! Also good spotters from below! Anyways...we saw about 18 total deer, 15 were bucks, one definate big buck from his frame so far. We didn't spend a lot of time glassing or looking at them, because I wanted to cover a lot of ground and get some work done before it heated up. All in all, it was a very good time, glad to have shared it with them. Although I feel they were VERY spoiled to have learned in 1 day what took me over 1 1/2 year.

The bucks in my area seem to be about 2-3 weeks late on their antler growth then other places. Compared to most photos i've seen of other deer this time of year. So who knows, every deer is different. From growing their antlers, stripping their velvet off, to shedding their antlers. It was definately reassuring to see deer returning to the high country!!!
 
BOWCAST AT THE BIRD 2010!!!

Here is some photos first...write-up coming shortly!

Saturday's photos.

Bedded Elk downhill...
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Anyone who kept their arrows on this target is skilled!!!...
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Standing Dall Sheep...
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Standing mountain goat...
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View from the target looking uphill...
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Smoke'd him...200" buck!...
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Sundays photos.

Pair of Pronghorns...
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Bedded Elk again...
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Me shooting uphill at the standing bear...
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Dad...
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Phew!...4 guys, 7 arrows...
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Another good set of arrows...
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Another hike into the high country this morning resulted in seeing 7 bucks and 2 does. 3 of the bucks being small 4-points and still growing! I got up there well before sunlight, setup the spotting scope, and waited overlooking the basin we saw them in a few days ago. To my surprise I saw nothing for over 20 minutes until I moved higher up the canyon and glassed a higher basin and there they were! They were all fairly spread out and wandering about. Once the sun was up for a bit, they hurried up and returned to the trees to bed. It has sure been fun to watch them return to the high country, higher and higher each day!

I now have a second tool in my hiking arsenal...trail running low gaiters! I wear light weight breathable hiking shoes most all year and was sick of all the dirt and debris that would collect inside. I purchased these gaiters from REI.

Well worth the money...
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I will never go hiking again without my gaiters and trekking poles! Best $50 I've spent on hiking equiptment!

I do more hiking in the dark then in the light!...
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It has been 4 days since I've been up into the high country...and im having some serious withdrawls!

My dad, Lance, and his dad left on friday to scout the Henry Mountains...and I have stay here and work ugh. Although in two weeks, trip number 2 down there I will be joining in! Can't wait to see that Premium Limited Entry area and the trophy bucks it has.

It will be another 4 days til I am able to get on another hike into my area...so I have plenty of down time to sit here and drive myself crazy thinking about whats going on up there.

Here is a very important tool that I use constantly throughout the season. The national weather center has weather stations at various locations, one of which is in the general area where I hunt. So I have accurate hourly temp's. Very useful information.

It has been blazing hot up there lately...
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You know your a true hardcore hiker when you have "uphill" and "downhill" watch wrist band tan lines!!!
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At work we threw around an idea last year of having a "Big Buck Contest" but somehow it fell through. This year is different, game on! Nothing like some friendly competition with all the other archers, muzzeloaders, and rifle hunters in the store. And yeah, its an employees only contest and roughly 17+ people want in. Wish me luck!
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LAST EDITED ON Jul-26-10 AT 10:12PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jul-24-10 AT 10:26?PM (MST)

Here are some photos from Friday and Saturday, July 23-24th.

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We decided to plan a pre-season trip down to a fairly new area that we hunted the previous season, unfortunately a 4 hour drive away. We figured we would spot for the first couple hours in the morning and evening then hike around and cut some treestands.

There is two very awful things about July down there...the brutal heat and the curse word flies, mosquitos, bugs. The temperature was close to 80 degrees on the top of the mountain and made from 10am-6pm absolutely unbareable. And if that wasn't hard enough, the flies would pester the heck out of you, never stopping.

We got a lot of what we wanted to get done, well done and headed home a half day early to escape that dreaded heat wave. It was a invigorating trip that if we work hard, the big bucks are there and possible to harvest.

Good morning buck! This was the first deer we saw on our trip, how lucky...
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The first buck we saw on the second morning!...Even luckier!...
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We hiked into this high basin from above and glassed this great buck at first light. He only fed for the first 60 minutes or so of daylight before bedding down. He is now named the "Gillette" buck, in honor of my friend Cody who introduced me to the area...
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He originally bedded down below a large boulder, then the sun hit him so he relocated up higher underneath the pine tree. After the sun had risen higher, he then again moved off and re-bedded down.
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And now for the best part, the video!...
 
Good Morning high country! What do you have to offer today!?

We have a new contestant in the hunt! He weighs in at a normal mature buck weight, hailing from the high alpine slopes of northern utah, measuring out to be approx. 28" wide, massive, good tine length, 3x4...Traaaaaaaaaaaace! (Trace/Tres)

After glassing for a bit with no luck, Andy spotted a nice group of bucks high up on the mountain. We immediately put both our spotting scopes on them from below. It was raining continually and was hard to keep on them. We watched them feed and then move down to their bedding area.

Glassing high up on the mountain into a few nice bowls over a mile away...
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Andy...
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Bachelor group of bucks...
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We were down the mountain and home by 9:30am. Great start to the day and now off to work!

Video coming shortly! The video is much much better then the photos I took. Stay tuned!...
 
Here is the video! I was using a Canon point-n-shoot camera, through a Vortex Nomad spotting scope from over a mile away. So the quality isn't the best, but you can see "Trace" fairly well in some scenes.

 
Disclaimer...this is a Limited Entry Unit. The following photos may make you nauscious and or want to faint. This unit is absolutely ridiculous with mule deer buck numbers. I'm still in awe!...so enjoy the photos!

Lance "utahmulies" in the mornings sunrise...
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Jeffrey...
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Found a shed without even looking, in a very unusually high location...
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Damper on the last morning, uh oh good time to get outa dodge!...
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Lazy deer when it's hot...
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And finally!...Lance's BRUNO!!! and SIDEKICK.
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Absolute monster...
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Here is what we had to go through to get off this mountain...when it rains, it RAINS!!! And the water comes right down and washes everything out in its path...

Video footage of the deer coming soon as soon as I can edit it down! Stay tuned...
 
Here is the awesome video footage I got through my digiscope! Again, these are Limited Entry mule deer. So all for the looking until you draw a tag. Hope you enjoy!

 
Update...08-02-10

Overnight scouting trip showed a few bucks in my area, no shooters unfortunately. I did see Trace again, but only for a few seconds before he disappeared into the scrub oak again.

BEST hunting partner ever!!!...Now how do I get her to be scent-free!?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/bugleboy/08-02-10-01.jpg

(I know I probably talk about my dog Ally too much, but honestly I wouldn't be doing a lot of the stuff I do without her reassurance. She gives me so much confidence and is one heck of a partner!)

It was miserably hot hiking up there in 80 degree weather. The night was a little spooky with all the high wind and lightning around. The morning was still windy with a front moving through. One thing I did notice that was unusual that I still don't quite understand is that every single buck only stood up for a quick moment, moved, and re-bedded down. And it was even close to dark and just after sunrise. Is it that the high level of heat is causing them to be only active during the night?

Here is a video of two bucks. The first one was on the move to beat the sunset, and the second shows him feeding then immediately bedding back down...hmmm...

My next report is going to take me a bit to write. I almost didn't make it back down the mountain last night to write about this experience. Write up coming shortly...
 
Update...this is going to be lengthy for I haven't posted in a while.

August 5th, 2010 was a day I will never forget.

It all started late on the 4th as I began my hike into the high country. I was probably carrying way too much weight then I should have, (guessing 60lbs) but I'm full of ambition and persistence. As I almost reached my destination, I planted my trekking poles to to step over this large rock. I didn't quite lift my foot high enough and began to fall forward. I made the mistake of holding my poles tight against the base of the rock and fell face first with all that weight pushing me down. Yup...face planted it and my poles bent, rendering them useless.

Where all my problems started...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/bugleboy/08-05-10-01.jpg

I was pretty upset with myself and after a few curse words in the darkness, I broke them off where they bent and continued on.

Best pack in the world! Badlands 2200 Max-1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/bugleboy/08-04-10-01.jpg

15 minutes later I was there and began to unload my pack and retrieved my trail camera. If ya haven't figured out by now, I am building a treestand. I was to finish construction this night, but something terrible happened.

Darkness all around me, music playing in my ear, faithful black lab waiting patiently below, I began working up in my pine trees. Again, I made another mistake and didn't secure one of my support bars properly. I layed a floor board ontop of it, not screwed down, to clear limbs...BAD MISTAKE!!!

This is where it gets fuzzy and sketchy. I have the hardest time remembering exactly what happened because it happened so fast. I'm shaking a bit right now writing this...

I feel the support bar bend the brackets and fold...causing the floor board I was standing on to slip out from under me. One leg falling through the treestand support bars, causing me to flip upside down and fall! Miraculously I caught myself halfway down on some pine limbs. In the horrific fall, I lost my glasses, hat, headlamp, ipod, and cutter. Hanging there only by my two arms, I scrambled and found a footing. Shaking and scared as ever that I cheated serious injury, I climbed down and tried to locate everything I lost with blurry vision. I looked up high in the pine tree and there was my headlamp hanging there. Using my headlamp in complete darkness, I next found my cutter about 15' downhill on the ground and then my glasses thankfully! Scratched, bruised, and scared as heck, I said screw it and packed up to get out of there. I'm glad everything made it back into my pack because I wasn't thinking that clearly.

It wasn't worth risking my life to build this. I'm so thankful that somehow I caught myself and didn't fall the whole 30' to the bottom. I gathered my wits and began my long hike out. The one time I REALLY REALLY needed my trekking poles, I didn't have them! I made my midget poles work as much as possible.

I still have a few sore muscles in my arms and back. Mostly just shocked, terrified, and scared. But it was a learning experience and I need to be better prepared next time.

I'm very thankful for good friends that were very worried about me in the morning. Thankfully I made it off the mountain and back down to civilization. Thanks agian Gary and Lance, I do appreciate your concern. Thank you guys...
 
I have had my trail camera setup on this area in N.Utah for a few weeks now. First batch of photos resulted in pretty much nothing. Second batch was somewhat more successful.

All the activity in this area was during the night hours which was interesting. Maybe this location is too close to the timber and their bedding area? I've watched them during the morning and evening at sunlight and sundown hours wandering about 200-600 yards away from here on the open hillside. This set is right on the edge of the timber, between bedding and feeding/water areas. I assume they have multiple beds and only use this area for late travel back the deep timber.

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Nothing but small bucks...
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Last month I recieved an email from Photobucket.com telling me I was about to exceed my bandwidth limit! Woa!!! In all my years of posting waterfowl photos on other various sites I've never run into this problem. I've been a member since 03/27/2004, which takes me back to my high school days! All this activity from monstermuleys.info since May has been impressive!
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Still no sign of Titan :(

I didn't see Titan until later in the season in September, but im still ever hopeful for this year! I've seen a total of 15 bucks a month ago down lower, and only 6 or so are accounted for as of now. Almost every trip I make back in there I see a new buck.

So...this is definitely a learning season. It's nice spending so much time scouting and watching clueless mule deer from a distance.

Opening morning will find me in Southern Utah for a 10 day hunt. I'm holding out for a trophy, well "my trophy". If unsuccessful I have another 10 day hunt planned mid-september for whichever area I decide.

The Utah Archery Mule Deer season is almost upon us!

Stay tuned...
 
August 10th, 2010 found Myself, Andy, and my new lady friend Ari, along with Ally and Avery (black labs) overlooking my area bright and early from the spottig scope spot.

I was very impressed with Ari and being a trooper and hiking that far with us. She definitely scored some points! It's amazing how you forget how hard a hike is when you've hiked it a million times, compared to a average hiker. The average hiker would hike this hike once, then never return because of the high level of difficulty.

After a couple hours of glassing we located about 10 deer in various draws. There was Trace!!! (HUGE 3x4) With 2 other smaller bucks. A new buck showed up, good size 4x4, along with a small buck and a couple does. We watched them for a while then made the hike back down the mountain.

Trace is definitely a shooter buck this year. I will gladly try to harvest him on the second 10-day trip if he presents himself. I was unable to get video or photos this morning, maybe tomorrow!
 
Been packing and preping for a week now and still a little flustered with everything going on. We leave Thursday evening! WooHoo!

Me and Lance did one last practice session on the mountain this morning before we both leave for our own hunts. This years hardcore practice on the mountain was incredible and has strengthened us both mentally and physically. We practiced with field tips, practice broadheads, and actual broadheads. Now we are prepared!!!

All loaded up...before the sunrise...
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Myself...
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Lance...
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This will be my last post for a while. I leave the 19th and off til the 30th, so I will have plenty of time to be picky and try and harvest a "trophy mule deer" in my mind. I've done most everything that I can think of to prepare myself for this hunting season, so wish me luck! Hopefully all the stars line up and I will be coming back with a monster muley buck!

If I don't have any luck this trip, I will be back up here hunting Sept.8th-17th. And if that fails...Extended season for me! Whichever works is fine with me, just want my trophy!

Good Luck to all the archers!
 
"Nightmare Opening Weekend"

Oh man, I don't know where to start. The opening weekend of the 2010 Archery Deer season was an absolutely horrible time. We arrived to the top of the mountain early friday morning to find most all the camp sites were taken, including the one we figured nobody would take that we pull into and make work. There was people camped all over the place, in natural deer crossing areas, next to the road, and worst right at the top of the bowl we were going to hunt.

First two arrows of the trip, 80 yards...nice!...
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We setup camp and put the treestands on our back and headed down into our canyon mid-dayish. To our surprise we were being followed by two guys, so we stopped and all they wanted to do was chit-chat about this canyon to hunt in the morning. Great! Last thing I want to do...

As we approached our preset treestand area, we spooked a whole herd of 20+ elk out. From the looks of it, the elk had found this "honey hole" and sat there for the past few weeks and totally demolished the lush green vegetation and my mineral lick. I've had cattle ruin deer areas, but never elk ruin deer areas.

That first time in I noticed my mineral lick was gone! So I thought they completely ate it all. Wrong...It looks like, from the foot prints, somebody threw the mineral lick down the hill a ways. What jerks! So I found it, put it back and the next morning I hunted over it. The following morning I returned about noonish to find that this time my mineral lick was gone. That a-hole stole my rock!!! Who does that!?

And here is the jerk's footprint who stole my mineral rock...if only I had my trail camera up...
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We returned to camp that night in high hopes for tomorrow that maybe with all the ridiculous amounts of hunters that some deer would be pushed to me and under my treestand. Nope, nothing all opening day.

My view under my treestand...
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Ranging my distances...
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View from the top, miserable hot evening...
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Since the stand wasn't producing, I decided it was best to go and find the deer since they weren't coming to me. I headed into the deepest darkest timber I could find and began sneaking. I make it a few hundred yards and all the sudden I slipped. It happened so quick and I made the mistake of planting my bow into the hillside and drug it down with me. This absolutely perfect placed razor sharp rock was right under my bow and sliced both my cable and main string. EFFFFFFF!!! I sat in the timber cusing and yelling I was so pissed. There goes my hunt for a good 2-3 weeks. Yuck, that was the worst sound in the world!!! Twang, snap, twang. I was so dishearted in what happened, I collected myself and hiked back to the truck.

This is the rock that sliced my strings in pieces...@!*# rock...
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I texted dad and told him what happened. We met back up at camp and with nothing else to do, no way I could continue hunting, we packed up camp and headed home :( A 12 day trip turned into a 3 day trip that fast!

Worst sound/feeling in the world...
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I'm an archer without a bow! :(
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So...too many other hunters, too many elk, very few deer, and bad weather conditions made for a poor weekend. The full moon and the blasted 80 degree heat didn't help any.

So here is my story and im sticking to it haha. I wasn't ment to go down south and hunt, thats why all this happened. Instead I am supposed to come back up here north and hunt in my backyard that I have been scouting all summer long. Yes yes that sound right.

I just need to find a new bowstring, probably unavailable for a couple weeks, and head back up the mountain for redemption! I'm trying to stay positive, but it is hard with all that happened over the weekend. But, yes positive thinking! Here I come Trace!
 
Well without a bow, and my season open. I've decided to still go out and do the next best thing...scout! More scouting, more hiking, more time behind the glass.

This morning found me and Andy in our nook glassing the beautiful N. Utah mountains. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Trace or his buddies. But we saw a new 26" wide 4x4 and an assortment of smaller bucks and does. Once again, new deer every scouting trip!

Here is the video, again remember the poor quality for the distance, but it's worth it to be able to watch the video over and over again.

Enjoy!


Oh oh! I dialed 911, oops I mean Winners Choice Bowstrings and my new string will be here by Friday! WooHoo!!! Hopefully I will be shooting consistently accurate by the weekend or mid-week.
 
Thank You Winners Choice Strings and your rush delivery!!! It arrived 2 days early on wednesday!!! I rushed to work and began reconstructing my bow in the shop. After 2 hours of restringing, tieing everything back in, and shooting in the lane, we are back in business!!!

Flo Green/Tan...
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Paper tested perfectly...
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Took some valuable PTO time at work and headed up to our mountain course to see where I was hitting and gain some trust back in my bow. Had some minor issues with my sight tape being off due to the tightness of the new string. But that's all settled now and spot on.

Group at 63 yards...
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After being out of the game for a few precious days, I had the following day off, so I knew I had to get right back at it. I loaded up my pack and headed up the mountain!

Plenty early enough...
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Half way up the mountain I realized I had too much weight and was kicking my butt. 70 lbs is not fun I will tell you that! Especially when 70 lbs is half my weight and at that it was not loaded the best. Most of the weight was right on my lower back and not spread out evenly. I won't make that mistake again; I just had a ton of stuff that I wanted to take, and my Badlands 2200 was not large enough. So I impovised and made things work.

Pack(s)...
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I will probably never be doing that pack setup again...the day after I had some pretty sore muscles. I just need the Badlands 4500!...or my Badlands Sacrifice should be coming soon!!! Darn back-order ugh...

Here is what my pack consisted of...
Kelty Pack
Badlands 2200 Pack
100 oz. Water + Gatorade
Food
Sleeping Bag + Pad + Pillow
Bow + Accessories
Spotting Scope + Tripod
Digiscope Adapter
Binoculars + Rangefinder
Large SLR Camera + Small Camera
Rain Gear
Hunting Clothes + Shoes
Scentless Wash + Spray
Knive + Survival Stuff
Probably forgetting a few things...anyways, a ton of gear.

When I reached the top, I stripped down and took a bitter cold shower! I can honestly say I did not enjoy that shower, but it was worth it getting all that sweat off me and becoming scentless again. Brrrr......I still can feel those shivers everytime I think about them.

First kill with the new string...
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Awesome sleeping platform...
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That day I didn't see any shooters, just a small 3x4 and plenty of 2-points. Once again, I would watch them stand up for a minute, move, then bed back down. It was ridiculously hot again, approx. 80 degrees, and that was most likely the reason.
 
08-30-10 was a "weather" eventful day. I was almost to my area at about 6am and after hiking through wind and lightning I looked up the mountain and I couldn't believe what was coming. A torrential storm just crested the peak and was heading my way quickly. I immediately ran to the cover of the timber and put my rain gear on. It began to rain, then hail until it turned to snow!!! After waiting there for a couple hours I decided enough was enough and hiked down, trudging through an inch of snow. I was sure glad I was prepared for the worst and made it back to the truck.

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Mother nature and the deer gods are sure making me work hard this season! In some sense it knocks me down and breaks me down, but then I realize how much I want to make this work and it all becomes alright. It wouldn't be so rewarding if it wasn't difficult!

Not so thrilled at the start of the storm...
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Looking up the current weather conditions online I find out it dropped way down to 35 degrees! Wow! No wonder I was cold with only shorts on underneath my rain pants.

Yeah and I was up in that...
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Here is a video of the storm clouds moving by...

All my gear is dried out now and I will once again be making the long voyage up the mountain in hopes of locating a shooter buck in the morning.

Here we go again...good night to all, I will be awake in 3 hours.
 
Was right on time this morning, took my bitter cold shower once again, and started glassing from high a top the ridge. I kept moving and glassing different bowls and valleys, and located a few deer. Small bucks and does only though. Some of the bucks had rubbed all their velvet off and some still had theirs on. I layered up, knowing it would be about 50 degrees or so and I was sure glad I did...cuz it was windy and freezing.

I'm a little frustrated with the low number of deer in this area; I expected great things from this little secluded nook but so far it has been hit and miss. So I sat and glassed til 10am and then packed up and left. I could go stalk through all the timber and scrub oak, but I want to play it safe and be patient. I'm confident this area will produce, just a matter of time! I hope...

Squirrel #2...I was fortunate enought to find my arrow after! These squirrels up high in the wilderness aren't as fat and husky as the local camp ground squirrels and my arrow zips right through them and keeps going...
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Now time to catch up on some sleep that I didn't get last night!
 
If this doesn't get them big nocturnal bucks moving...I don't know what will...
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Amazing how the temperatures can vary from day to day! Wow!

I'm scouting tomorrow morning! Hopefully there will be some deer out and about for me to glass...we will see.
 
More bad weather...Wish I could be reporting some success, but none so far :/

Well...I now know that if its predicted to be bad weather, I should not head up into the high country. When it rains, it pours!!! Especially on top of a major mountain range the weather can get nasty fast. Lightning strikes all around me, gusty winds over the ridge tops, and sideways rain and snow.

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I'm glad I was prepared! No matter what, I always take my rain gear regardless. I was hiking out yesterday morning and it was raining, so I sinched my hood down over my head and just looked down at my feet. Until WAM!!! A log was sticking out just perfectly and clunk! I have a nice goose egg on my forehead now and a good scratch. I felt stupid after...

I felt bad for frowning last photo, but don't let the smile fool you...these "clouds" not fog was no fun.
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I decided to take friday morning off because of the bad weather again and sleep in with the lady. I'm glad I did! I spent the day doing scentless laundry and drying out my gear. After that, I hit the mountain archery course this evening and boosted my confidence a bit! Once the season starts its hard to keep practicing because all my time goes to scouting and hunting. But practice needs to be done!

Hopefully I have better luck tomorrow! Looks to be good weather conditions!
 
Well the 11th was a pretty good day! Probably one of the better days I've had up there for a while now!

Hit the trail with a 55lb pack, made it up to the top, and got setup. I only got halfway through my glassing session and I spotted a group of three bucks working their way down into the timber. Every chance I got I snuck further and further down the mountain towards them. I was able to get within 200 yards before they disappeared into the timber. I was stuck at a small patch of pines and decided to get the spotting scope out and get some video.

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Here is the video!!!

I made my way down to where they entered the timber and began stalking quietly. Unfortunately I was unable to locate them, but I was glad I didn't spook them either. So I backed out silently and made my way back up and around to the top again.

One thing I didn't notice until I reviewed the video back here at home...Is that I've seen this buck before. He was all alone the previous time and in a different area. Pretty cool to recognize the same deer! This buck is the 3rd largest I've seen in this area this year. He is a shooter buck for me and if he presents himself, I will take it.

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I decided to take a shortcut, well a dangerous shortcut, and strapped my bow to my pack and went up this shoot through some cliffs. I about reached the peak when all the sudden I hear rocks rolling down from above and see three mountain goats staring down at me. They busted so I continued up the way. I found them again down the other side about 100 yards or so below me. I also took some video!

Babies!...
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Stud...
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After watching the mountain goats for a while, I headed back for camp. I've been waiting for this day for a bit now and grouse season was here! I sure hit the jackpot of grouse and made quick order of my limit! All with my bow! I could have had my limit much easier and in half the time, but archery equiptment is so much more challenging. Love them Judo's!!!

One of the Blues I shot flew off down the mountain and I was unable to retrieve it...but I counted it towards my limit anyways...
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I hunted the evening and I offically decided that "Evening hunts are no good up there". I'm pretty sure the sunlight is most of the reason why I don't see much activity in the evenings in this area. So from now on, I will only be hunting the mornings! Need less to say I didn't see much of anything the rest of that day.

Hope your enjoying my story so far! I'm sure trying hard and putting in my time and money into my archery hunt! Hard work will pay off and hopefully I will have a big buck down soon!!!
 
Well...I've been out (3) times since my last post. One being a scouting trip to the glassing spot into my area one last time before I moved onto a new area. That resulted in not seeing much of anything other than a few deer and some moose.

Since my area isn't producing what I would like it to and haven't seen the bucks where I expected them to be...It's time to go to Plan B. I've never been into this new area, but I decided now was better than never. So I invited two of my friends to join me and we hit the road, then trail a couple hours before sunrise. It was a complete guess on where to go and where to glass. I spent hours the previous night on Google Earth trying to familarize with this new area.

Not so bright, but early!!!...
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It was an adventure hiking out there in the complete darkness, but as soon as we reached our spot we planned to glass from the sun rose and things were looking promising. First bowl we glassed we spotted a good size 26" 4x4, velvet 3x4, and a 2x2. We watched them bed and I made my move. Wasn't able to locate the big buck, and accidently bumped the 3x4. I quickly ranged the brush he was going to walk up through, 70 yards, set my pin and nocked an arrow. He walked up, turned broadside and stared me down. I pulled back and released. My shot felt good, but unfortunately my arrow fell short...underneath his belly and he ran away. After he spooked, I didn't see the other two bucks he was with and have no clue where they went. First arrow has officially been launched.

Hiking out...hot hot during the day...
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I returned by myself a couple days later to find that same velvet 3x4 right where I first saw him in that bowl. I watched him for a while until I started seeing a few other bucks join in. Bam! there is that same 4x4 and 2x2 again!!! I was worried I spooked them enough they wouldn't be around, but I guess not. Glassing them, a NEW deer walked into my view and my jaw dropped! Here walks in out of the timber a deer with extra points and stickers! I immediately focused all my attention on this deer, and now finding out he is a 5x6. His g-3's split and off his g-2 has a nice sticker.

I watched them move into the timber and towards their bedding area. I moved farther down ridge to get a different vantage point to see exactly where these bucks were bedding. I was bummed for the first little while that I couldn't locate them. Glassing through this short timber, I spot the 4x4 just laying there, could barely see him. It was funny to watch him dozing off, bobbing his heavy head trying to sleep. I sat there and glassed for a half hour longer searching for the others and contemplating what to do. I decided it was worth a stalk onto that 4x4 and see what happens.

I snuck in there and within 40 yards of that 4x4 but could not get a shot it was so thick. The buck knew something wasn't quite right and all the sudden he stood up and trotted off down the hill. He didn't smell me, didn't see me...must have heard me somehow and figured it was a good time to move out. As I watched him trot around the bowl he kept stopping and looking back in confusion trying to locate what exactly the threat was. 87 yards, 156 yards, 215 yards, then finally rebedding down in this patch of pines 350 yards away. I knew the stalk wasn't do able where he was now bedded so I cut my loses and slipped out of there.

Another thing! That 5x6 and 2x2 wasn't with that 4x4 which was really confusing. I have no clue where these other bucks go to bed and why they split up. I'm glad in a way they weren't with him, but who knows.

This is the 26" 4x4 I've been watching...
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Zoomed in...
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All in all, im getting closer and closer to harvesting a trophy high country mule deer! And this new area has tons of potential and I will definately keep an eye on it from now on.

Hitting the trail again in the morning, will probably be my last day to hunt for a week or so. I'm very tired and still recovering from my hunt yesterday, but I need to get up there and keep at it!
 
Accompanying me on thursdays hunt was my good friend Lance, and I mean GOOD friend! Most all my hunting friends can't go with me for one reason or another or simply will not go because of the level of difficulty. Lance already smoked a monster muley on the Henry Mountains this year and was to be my spotter that morning.

We made it to where we wanted to glass from before sunrise so we kicked back in the pines for a bit. I took that time to get out of my hiking clothes, wash down with a scentless wipe, deoderize, and put on fresh new scentless hunting clothes.

FOUNDER!!! Scent control is critical! I know we talked a bit on the phone, but man oh man you don't work that hard to blow it by having them deer smell you!!! I'm very proud, and humble, to say that I haven't been smelled by a single deer this season. Even after sweating buckets getting into the areas I go.

Peaking up over the edge and into the bowl, Lance spotted a buck over yonder. We put the glass to him as I spotted that same 26" 4x4 again a bit lower moving swiftly along his usual route to his bedding area.

We made a quick plan and parted, him staying high and glassing, while I made my way down into an ambush spot. We kept radio contact the whole way and tried to keep tabs on where that buck was. I finally made it into position and sat there for a while. Sitting there, I watched a new 4x4 that I've never seen move up the draw 200 yards away and bed down in some small quackie trees. Lance spotted a 2x2 working his way to me, so I layed back and watched this buck follow the trail not 5 yards away! It was awesome to be invisible and sooo close to that buck. If only he was a larger buck I would have sent an arrow through him.

That 26" 4x4 never made his way past me on his usual path...once again, big bucks are smart and unpredictable. So I took off my shoes and put on some wool socks and snuck in over to that new bedded buck. I took my time and was having a hard time locating this buck because I had no clue exactly where he bedded. As I made my way up and around the trees I immediately recognized antlers sticking up out of the brush! I already had my pin set to 20 yards and I drew back...okay okay I was a little excited, so after standing there with no shot because the brush was so thick I slowly let down. I tried and tried to get a clear shot, but it wasn't happening. I finally drew back again and figured I would try one last lane; as I did that he bolted and in vengence...I released my arrow through the brush. I missed to say the least and sat there in his bed in disgust.

After sulking for a minute, I got out of there and began glassing again because I was only a few hundred yards away from where that other buck likes to bed. Somehow that 26" 4x4 had snuck around my first setup and bedded down in his original bed where I've seen him time and time again. I was tempted to not even put the "impossible" stalk on him, but I figured why not. Once again, I heard boing boing boing after getting within 20 yards of him. Too thick, didn't see me, didn't smell me, must have heard me or knew something was up.

Those old wise bucks know exactly where to bed to be totally concealed! I'm blown away with their tactics and how smart they really are. I'm doing most everything right, just need to get lucky now!!!

I packed up my gear, and headed back up the mountain and out. I'm glad I cut it short and only hunted the morning!...a nasty rain storm blew in and soaked the place just as I made it back to my vehicle.

Off-trail scrub oak is brutal...
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(I would wear pants, but it's ridiculously hot and not an option)

- - - > Thanks to all the positive feedback and views I've been recieving! I do appreciate it and am glad to post my story. I wish I could post all the many other photos I have, but I can't reveal all my secrets! I might be some punk-ace kid, but I mean well I promise haha!!!

Well anyways, I've written enough for tonight...

Waterfowl season starts Oct.2nd, but mule deer are well on my brain and I will put forth equal attention to each. I will be out chasing them mule deer one more time before saturday so hopefully I can get it done then!
 
I finally got some video of that 5x6!!! I now have proof that I wasn't crazy and actually saw what I saw!

Tuesday was a pretty good of hunting, getting better atleast. I setup in my glassing area at 7am and glassed, glassed, and glassed some more until finally at 8:30 I located the first deer of the morning. Cha ching!...that 26" 4x4 was back in his usual bed once again! Except this time I noticed he was facing uphill in his bed and seemed paranoid. Hmmm...I wonder why, must be waiting for that mysterious thing that spooked him the last couple times. I then spotted that velvet 3x4 about 50 yards up the hill in that short timber bedded as well.

I decided that there was no possible way to put a stalk on these bucks so I returned back to camp and grabbed my digi-scoping equiptment and made my way back to get some video. As I got back and looked through my scope, I noticed a buck had either stood up or moved...To my surprise it was that 5x6!

I sat there and took some good video of them while they thought they were being sneaky. I can't believe they weren't in their feeding area, but already back into their beds by sunlight. Once again they prove to me to be unpredictable and way too smart. I wanted to put a stalk on them so bad, but I knew it was impossible and had to be patient and wait.

Here is the video link...

I left them laying in their beds and went back to camp to wait out the mid-day heat wave. I recently purchased a ultralight hammock and put it to use. It worked out really well for the most part, takes some getting used to.

New hammock...
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Here is 5x6...
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I made a game plan while back at camp to get into an ambush spot and wait for them to come to me and back to their feeding area. At 5pm I made my way down and within 100 yards of the bucks on the opposite side of the hill in a perfect funnel area. I was able to see quite a bit and figured I would most likely see them if they didn't make their way passed me on the trail 30 yards below me.

Ugh...I stood there for 2 1/2 hours! And again, I have been out smarted and they never came by me! I had the perfect setup, did everything right, but the one thing I can't control is getting lucky. I thought I had them figured out and it was going to happen that night, but no. Once you think you have figured them out, think again. I was pretty bummed I didn't see any of the bucks I had bedded down and still can't figure out where or what they did. My guess is they either stayed in their beds til dark or they did the unlikely and moved down the mountain. I had the up, left, and right covered and never saw them.

I was to stay the night on the mountain in my hammock, glass in the morning, hike out, and see if or how many muzzleloader hunters were in the area. But I let my loneliness and nerves get to and got myself spooked. Loaded up my pack and headed home was the decision I made after sitting their contemplating what to do in the pitch black darkness. On my way out I did however run into three muzzleloader hunters hiking out. They were definately a bit odd, all full of imaginary ambition and "big" bucks on the brain. We talked for a bit, and went on our own way.

I hate reporting the "unsuccessful story" but I guess its what hunting is. From what I can conclude, I am doing everything right except the luck part.
 
It has been a few weeks since I've posted last so here is an update!

I've been out (3) times since my last post. The first two I was rained out both times by torrential sideways rain. The third time I was out was during the "buck/bull combo" rifle hunters hunt. From the dry cracky leaves to the frosty frozen ground, it was next to impossible to sneak around even in socks. I put forth my best effort that day and resulted in another unsuccessful day.

With these cold temperatures, not even reaching 50 degrees during the middle of the day, I've taken a break and pursued one of my other passions. Waterfowl hunting has been one of my favorite pursuits for many years, next to archery mule deer hunting now.

Ally is sure happy she gets to get out of the house...
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Food!...
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Sucks being wet...
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I hope to get back up in the mountains if the temperature rises a bit and the frost melts. If not, bring on the snow! And into November where the bucks come down low!
 
It has been almost a month since I have posted here, and its time for a update!

I will try to keep this as Big Game oriented as possible! But I have a few "other" photos to share that I think you all would like to see. Lately I've taken some time off from the mule deer hunting since the rifle deer hunt took place and all the crazy snowy weather hit us on top of the mountain. Figuring the big bucks would stay up high initially to try and brute the weather til later on when they start getting hungry and move down lower. I've been gambling by not concentrating on mule deer for the past weeks, but I think my patience will pay off here before the month is over. Bring on the rut!!!

Meanwhile...enjoy!...
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Some predator control with the shotgun!...
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Yesterday's waterfowl hunt...
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The weather on top of the mountain lately...BRRR!!!
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Newly refletched snow white killing arrows!...
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I have 10 days total scheduled off in the next 3 weeks to harvest my mule deer before the season closes on Nov.30th. Hopefully I can seal the deal with a trophy!
 
Here is the last of the waterfowl I will post up! Myself and friends Gregg and Dallin were able to harvest all three of our swans on the same morning! Gorgeous birds and a rarity!

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About 5 hours ago, my 2010 Utah Big Game season came to a end...this is very bittersweet, but it was coming. It was one heck of a season and I loved every minute of it! Even all the blood and sweat that was exerted! I've never spent this much time in pursuit of big game with archery equiptment but came out of it with a greater appreciation for the animals. I was on some true trophy bucks and bulls but just wasn't lucky enough to get an arrow in them!

"Titan" is still a mystery on to what actually happened to him. I searched for 6 months and was unable to locate him this year. Unfortunately I now believe he died from the winter, but is a possibility some other harvested him. He was an impressive buck and I did get a glimpse of some genetics he passed on to "Trace". I hope to find Trace again, he should be a solid 190" 4x4 this coming fall.

I leave you with a few photos from the last month of my season. I hope you enjoy and I want to say thank you to everyone who has been reading my HAC here on MM!!!

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The snow was waist deep in areas...and the deer kept going up!...
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This worth chasing into waist deep snow!?...
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After chasing that 4x4 all morning, I returned back down to the bottom and glassed some more from the comfort of my warm vehicle. That evening, I relocated that buck coming back down that mountain in chase of hot does. I was amazed how far he came in a short amount of time. The next morning I knew I had to get in between him and his does and try to ambush them moving up or down.

The morning was a bust so I decided put all my cards into one last ditch effort for the evening hunt.

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He was back in the area and searchin for does!...
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This was one of the first true deer fights I got to watch through the scope. I was a couple miles away down in the bottom and I was able to hear their clashing of antlers! The big 4x4 layed the smack down on this heavy 5x5.

4x4 chasing the 5x5 off...
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Heavy 5x5...
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Me and my friend Codee Raymond setup on one of the three ridges that these bucks have been frequenting on their way down to chase does. We both sat on the middle ridge with high hopes! The plan was set and we had does all around us until another hunter from above came barging in and spooked the 4x4 off our ridge. About dusk I had the 5x5 at 150 yards downhill and pushin his doe towards us. But somehow that 6th sense in his mind told him to do otherwise. Once again!...fooled by a wise old buck!

That night was tough to muster knowing that was the end of my deer hunt...and only had 2 weeks left to try and stick an elk. But I'm very happy in how my season went! I was on some monster mule deer early in the season and late in the season. Couldn't ask for more opportunities; the Wasatch Front is a very hard range to hunt!
 
Spent the next couple weeks chasing elk.

Another spectacular view...
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Video of the first group of bulls I was on all alone back in this snowy canyon. I'm glad Gary was below glassing for me! I was setup again in a ambush spot to where the want to feed in the evening. As the elk begain to move, they weren't following my educated guess and were coming directly to me. I had 2 cows walk by me at 5 yards, then had 3 raghorn 5x5's at 15 yards feeding and wouldn't stop staring in my direction. After a bit, they moved off and my plan was spoiled. I backed out of there and didn't spook them further. Here is a video of the 6x6 that was in-line to walk past me but diverted above with his cows.


Next couple mornings found myself and Gary on some monster bulls! But they were very smart and always stayed on the shady snowy side of the mountain for protection. We tried a couple tactics, but nothing worked...not even waiting in their feeding area with nice yellow grass until dark!

Sleepy sleepy...BIG 5x5
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Big 6...
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I hope you enjoy the video! It shows them much better...

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Thanks again Gary...
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I started this adventure and June 2010 and ending it in December 2010! I've been pursueing big game for 6 months now! This coming 6 months will be long but I can't wait to start back up! I hope I didn't leave anything out, but I believe I've covered it all without giving away too many secrets!

And with all that being said...that is the end! Thanks again for reading! Hope to make it back next year and begin my quest again!

See ya!!!
 
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