Obsessed, believe me, I know the difference between high country muleys and ranch deer. Almost all of the mule deer hunting I grew up with and do is in the Flattop Wilderness and Mt. Zirkel Wilderness areas in NW Colorado. Not to mention that my family outfitted in the Flattops and Silver Creek Wilderness areas for a long time. Basically, I grew up chasing high country muleys before the snow pushes them out and there is no convincing me that muleys in the velvet are the same as they are later in the season. I mentioned private land deer as the most basic example of what velvet deer are doing, ie., feeding up and growing antler. We've had plenty of big boys give us the slip in the high country early in the archery season but even on those deer, the fact that we actually saw them, and were able to at least stalk to within close range, if not shoot deer that essentially vanish once they have rubbed out, is what I am basing my opinion on. I'll admit from personal experience that if you mess up on a big velvet deer that the odds are you will never see him for the rest of the season. But, that is what happens when you mess up on big deer; push them too hard or give yourself away scouting and goodbye deer. And, the fact that you can even have as many legit close range chances on big deer while they are in velvet is what I'm speaking of. I've seen a lot of nice animals taken during my life, but the majority of big bucks I have seen and been close to have either been in velvet or glassed from a distance on their winter ranges. Neither of which are times that I am interested in hunting deer. I'm no all-star but I've taken bucks with a bow on public and private during early archery season, and even during rifle seasons. But as you put it, I don't find it interesting to hunt "dumb" animals. Some guys find it challenging to hunt muleys in velvet, and it can be, just not as challenging as hunting them later in the season.
If it's "dumb" velvet deer you are after maybe you should put in for our early season hunts and let me come up there and hunt those smart Utah muleys you guys are growing. Just kidding. Lots of people choose to hunt velvet deer because they love to bowhunt and because this is the best chance they will have at a big buck. However, I, like the majority of posts on this thread, don't like to but explained the reasons why. Power to the guys who like velvet deer and I guess I'm one less hunter you have to contend with in your pursuit. I'd actually give you some help on your 15 hunt but it is a unit that I am unfamiliar with.
Anyway, all differences aside, I have found this to be an interesting thread as to the opinions on the velvet side of the debate.
-Cody
