David Long's Colorado Mule Deer

Rob

Active Member
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119
anyone know the whereabouts or unit of David Long's Colorado mule deer hunt that was featured on Eastman's? That hunt was awesome.
 
This topic was posted last year with a lot of guessing by the members. I don't think anyone really knew. That was the second buck in two years that David took in that unit. It has got to be a easy draw to get it twice in a year so that should narrow things down a bit.

JR
 
Was this a high country hunt? They had an archery hunt of his on the website for a while that was a high country hunt, some rain and fog throughout it, is that the one?
 
That would be the one.

I've tried narrowing it down using the same logic, but can't figure it out.
 
Ok guys I know......38,26,161,89,69,22,161,51,61,86,33 LOL, Ok just kidding, what I do know is there are a lot of good units in CO that you can find that quality of a Mule Deer with an Archery Tag. There are alot of units with that style of terrain in CO. The questions is whether or not you want to hang at high altitude's for 7-14 days and be willing to do the research and scout and put the time in to locate those 180 plus bucks or go home empty handed which is what he does from time to time. There are quite a few great units you can draw first choice and even second choice with an archery tag. I hunt CO and I will say I see alot of bucks every year and some good ones. Usually in areas where it takes 5 hours plus to hump in and then UP to the 40th floor!
 
I haven't put much thought into this, but could it possibly be 53 or 63? I've got some other info that I'm basing this guess off of.
 
If you are able to get an Eastmans BHJ ,May/June 2009,you will be able to figure out some of the question being asked.The fact he is hunting in an area of 12,000' + should help narrow it down .
 
"Not sure I really care!"

+1

I really enjoyed that hunt in particular and those kind hunts in general but finding out exactly where he hunted thru means like this and then going to that exact spot expecting to get the same kinda hunt...i don't know. Something about this line of questioning seems wrong to me!

It's like the guys that post pic's of sheds and then those here that are digging for clues to find out their spots... Buzzards on a limb.

Joey
 
+2

The deal is that there are so many high basins and huge towering peaks in many Colo units that it could be almost any 0 point or leftover tag unit to hunt yearly.

Robb
 
IMHO pretty much every western state that offers mule deer tags has terrain similar to what he was hunting, with bucks similar to what he shot. No doubt Colorado has more than any other because they have more terrain and deer than any other. So if I were up to that kind of hunt, I would look close to home and not worry about "zeroing in" on his particular unit.
 
I guess it could be taken both ways - I was just curious to know the unit, not because I'm going to try and do that and go there myself, more because I was just curious. When you live far away, and you hear of all these great units for hunting, you wonder what it is really like there and what it really looks like. Let's say it was unit 53 - then, I would have a visualization of what the high country of 53 really looked like. Probably won't ever do that hunt; just curious of what different units look like.

Living where I do, I don't get the exposure to various units like lots of you guys do. So, I usually take 1 out of state hunt a year; which basically lets me know what it's really like in 1 unit, in 1 state, per year.
 
MuleyM, Ok, say you guys had been able to figure out which unit, then you go on Google earth and narrow it down further to the particular drainage and discuss that as well. Do these guys who have already been there, did the work, and probably plan to return, deserve to have their hunting spot discussed on a major muley hunting blog?

I'm a lot easier about the areas that i found and hunt. Ask me, i'll likely tell you unless i have friends headed that way. But these Eastman guys didn't tell us right out and i gotta believe that there was some film editing done to not further help divulge their hunting spot.

No big deal, my comment was off the cuff not ment to offend...my $.02

Joey
 
Great units/hunts are like stock tips, by the time you get the info it is to late unless you have inside information. Just like the stock prices get driven up by the publicity the points it takes to draw tags shoot up because of the hype. If they said what unit it was even a 0 pt unit would shoot up in one year even if there are 10 other units just as good. Becoming a better hunter will get you more game than chasing units. Just about any unit in Western Colorado that has not had bad winter kill will have many nice bucks in the high country in September.
 
I agree with what has been said above - CO has so many high basins and backcountry he could be about anywhere on the west slope and I'm sure David hunts / scouts many different areas. With that said, I know the unit and exact bowl he killed his latest deer for the Eastman BH4 video, but such info is of no real value to me because as Romulus hinted to, if I know the area, then a dozen or so other guys also know the area. To be consistently successful in the backcountry, one needs to scout and find huntable areas that hold deer from year to year and that takes one thing that no one else can do for you - work!
 
I know David and he's a great guy who works hard to find and take the big bucks he has. I actually own the Mathews Switchback XT bow that he used to kill his CO buck and can't wait to see if it still has a little luck left in it! :)

"To be consistently successful in the backcountry, one needs to scout and find huntable areas that hold deer from year to year and that takes one thing that no one else can do for you - work!"

That's a fact! The buck Long shot is dead now. Where he hunted him doesn't do anyone much good. The question is really where will the next BIG buck be hanging out? Figure that out and you'll have something!

Good luck,

NvrEnuf
 
I think its down by Silverton. I've been looking on google earth and it is almost impossible to find. I've narrowed it down to the high country around silverton in southern colorado.
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-04-10 AT 05:36PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-04-10 AT 05:30?PM (MST)

Muahahahahaha!! I figured out what unit it is and the location but that will remain a mystery for th rest of you.

4afddbfa2842588e.jpg
 
b2h, of course you know where it is - you were the guy that messed up one of his stalks early in the hunt :) With a little research it wasn't that hard to find the spot, was it?
 
Actually I've never hunted it nor do I know where its at. Im Just messin around. I dont really even care to find it.


4afddbfa2842588e.jpg
 
>I actually own the Mathews
>Switchback XT bow that he
>used to kill his CO
>buck

NvrEnuf,

What draw weight did you have that XT set at? I thought David was going to hurt himself pulling that thing back. :)
 
You know fellas, It really doesnt matter what unit David Long happens to be hunting, some guys are hunters and some are killers! David Long is a killer, I think that guy could find a stockable buck in the high country and get it DONE! I have friends I hunt with that are that way, everyone else isnt seeing much yet they come back to camp with a dandy, some guys just got alittle more luck than others, and have a knack for picking the right routes to cutoff those big bucks. I just hope David Long doesent SELL OUT like Cameron Hanes did, Ya I said it.
 
I haven't seen this buck that you guys are talking about but I do know David is an amazing hunter and knows how to get er done. Like others have said, who cares what unit or even what state, the buck is dead. I chuckle when people get so carried away with trying to find out where others hunt that they miss the hunt themselves. I've personally watched guys so stuck on hunting me that they miss the deer right in front them. Had one guy pull up behind me while I was glassin from my truck. He was tickled pink that he had me busted. I guess the Monster Muley.com stickers in my window were a dead give away. ;) For several years he'd see my truck parked somewhere so he'd jump out right there and start hunting thinking he was going to beat me to the big bucks. Funny thing is he never even saw a big buck the entire time he chased me. Meanwhile my buddies and I hammered cranker after cranker. The guy finally got discouraged and came to the conclusion that Dana's crew have shot the place out. The moral of the story, you are either a Player or a Wannabe. The sad reality is the guys chasing the elusive Honey Hole, bouncing from one so-called hotspot to the other, are nothing but Wannabes and they will never be Players.
 
I love this crap, remember when all the idiots found out the unit David and our resident poster BUCKSPY was hunting 6-7 years ago? How did that help you all out back then? LMAO.. It did however make it impossible to draw that unit anymore.
 
Just post whatever unit you DON'T want to hunt and just claim it this unit and clear the path for your unit it will have a lot less hunters in it anf be easier to draw..
I love when they all post a new unit and everyone and his uncle puts in for it, moves the pressure of some of the other good unit.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
I don't think it was so much that David could not draw back the bow but he said he was trying to stay bent back enough to use the terrain to hide his movement from the buck as he was drawing.

Yes others are hunters and David is a Killer! I've always been told and I believe it is true that 10% of hunters kill 90% of all game killed.
 
rradams, the bow is and I would assume was at the time set at the maximum 70lb draw weight. I agree that he was trying to use the terrain to hide his movement and that made it appear he had a hard time drawing. I'm sure he's fully capable of pulling more weight. Heck if it took drawing a 150lb bow in order to kill a big buck I'm sure he would make it happen. I guess maybe that's the difference between a hunter and a killer. Some sit and hope, wish, wonder and wait for it to happen and others do what it takes to make it happen.

NvrEnuf
 
Geezzz you guys are sensitive. Regardless of why he did it, the draw looked very uncomfortable and unnatural.

My thought was that after 4 days of chasing bucks around at high altitude, sleeping on the ground, and eating out of a pouch he might be a little tired.
 
I hope he comes on this site and tells us what kind of underwear he was wearing! Geez - I will stick with I don't really care where DL hunts or any of the other Eastman's Staff!
 
I didn't mean to ruffle so many feathers with my question. I wasn't expecting for anyone to give me a specific answer such the exact drainage or anything. I myself am looking to do a DIY hunt like that if everything falls into place for me this year. I've barely seen much of Colorado living 1000 miles away. Much of it was driving through at night. So I don't know what one side of the state looks like from the other. I'm trying to do my homework to figure out where to put in. Checking DOW website, google earth, reading forums, etc. So I guess my underlying question to the original is "where could one chance to have a similar type of hunt?" I can tell you where it's not, here in California. I think from the responses to this thread I got the answer to my question. Pick a basin away from the crowd and hunt your ass off. Right now I'm sitting on one point and I'm leaning towards a hunt in southwest colorado. My plan is to backpack in somewhere and try Mr. Longs tactics. Without being able to physically scout any areas prior to the draw deadline or even prior to my hunt I'm just gonna have to hope that my homework pays off.

BTW, I don't care how he looked pulling that bow back, that was an awesome hunt. I'd like to see more of his hunts.
 
I'm not all that familiar with the ranching for wildlife tags but couldn't David be paying a landowner for the tags each year? I've read his book Public Land Mulies & watched him hunt for a few years now & i have a lot of respect for his dedication to hunting the backcountry.

7 Mag
 
Rob,you might also get some mileage calling the bio for the area. They can tell you about deer numbers and basins to try. You have it right, find an area up high and away from the road that hold deer and hunt your ass off. This is much easier said that done, of course, as a week in that country chasing deer is some of the toughest hunting around.
 
NrvEnuf, Just to clarify you purchased the Switchback XT from David he still owns the DXT he shot the buck with on the TV show. His poundage on the DXT is set at 70lbs.
 
Dallpaint you beat me to it! I'm looking at the ebj with the story on his hunt. Mathews DXT.

Wow we really can bicker about nothing here huh.

NO GUTS, NO STORY!!


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I understand what Rob meant by asking his question. I'll see video like that and think "thats neat looking country, I'd like to hunt country like that" No desire to find out exactly where but a general idea so that you would have a chance to hunt similar terrain. Not living in that area, you have no idea what the terrain looks like. I've asked a similar question about the Destination Mule Deer video. Don't know that i would ever hunt it, just curious about where that terrain is.

The rest of you are right though. A follower always gets there last. The best spots are ones you find yourself
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-04-10 AT 02:24PM (MST)[p]I'm with Rob too. I was recently stricken with the overwhelming desire to bow hunt a velvet muley above timberline. I've been buying books, poring through forums and all the archives of those forums, etc.

I'm looking for information to have a similar type of hunt. I'm with Rob, knowing the exact unit doesn't mean I would hunt there.

I live in Missouri and could probably get a summer scouting trip or two in if I drew a tag. However, I don't have the time away from work to scout several units before applying for them

My dream is a backpack hunt (I did a backpack hunt for elk in CO last year, so I think I can hack it), above timberline, and miles away from the nearest trailhead.

My problem, I have no idea where to start. I don't even know what units have above timberline areas where you can get 3-5 miles away from a trailhead.

I'm in the same boat in Nevada. Really want to hunt Nevada high country similar to the hunts Cameron Hanes wrote about in his book, but absolutely no idea where to look for high country in Nevada. (well maybe some ideas, but I'm having trouble finding good info)

My ambitious goal is this. . . Go on a backcountry archery elk hunt with my good hunting buddy every year (our first hunt was last year and I fell in love with the hunting). Besides that, try to draw a Nevada tag every year I can and go on a muley hunt there. Then try to draw a decent unit on a first or second choice in CO every year for muleys. That way I can learn areas and don't have to start teh learning curve over again all the dang time

And I'm not after monsters. I just want to find good areas I stand a decent chance of drawing every year or every other year or every 3 years, with some decent numbers of animals, and the opportunities to put some stalks together and learn. This isn't a passing fancy. I wanna do it every year I possibly can and have decent chances at decent animals

Bake
 
Maybe a better way to ask that would be

"What units/wilderness areas in colorado could provide similar terrain/hunting experience?" humongous deer not necessarily included
 
Not trying to be a jerk but open up Google Earth, and look at the areas with high mountains and no trees. Find out what unit it is and start your research. Look for the basins you want to hunt, then call the biologist for the unit and start talking to people. It's that simple.
 
I agree with you HighCountryfoldem and also I found by networking with everyone possible via internet, sporting shows etc helps alot as long as you ask the right questions not GPS coordinates. Look for guidance not the persons particular honey hole. Yes, you will get good responses and some BS as well. If you find you have a passion for areas above timeberline you will want to search out your own honey holes eventually, which you will find will be much more rewarding. Networking is about getting a start for a particular Unit that's all IMO. WHEN you find a place that holds respectable bucks do NOT give that area to anyone, even your mother!!! Units that have HC areas are big and vast with a tons of basins, bowls, drainages etc. You will only be able to cover and pick apart in detail and learn a 2-4 basins a year on a 5-7 day hunt depending on the size of the basins and drainages. It has been written in books and many magazines that learning a certain area in detail could take a few years. I am from PA and do one scouting trip a year for 3 days either in the area I hunted the previous year or just to check out a couple of new basins or back bowls. I am always on Goggle Earth Scouting. I have just as much fun scouting on my yearly 3 day trip (almost) as I do on the hunt. IMO the High Country is heaven and hell all in one package and if its for you I promise you will return year after year. Yeah well just wanted to add my opinion.
 
DALLPAINT, Strange that you had to do so much "networking" when up on post #27 you clearly thanked MM for, what we both saw, deleting a person with knowledge of Davids hunt location, answer to the original question and the beginning direction of this thread. No matter i guess and not just you DP but i still believe that if Mr. Long wanted us to know where he was hunting, he would have told us.

The argument that it doesn't matter because that big buck has been taken or that the basin won't be good this year, good basins change from year to year, doesn't hold water with me as well. Clearly there were several, at least, young trophy shooter bucks in that same basin and they will only be bigger this coming fall and they will certainly try to utilize the same location, at the same time, which now can be pinpointed easy enough with Google earth. The fact that there was a "game played" to find out where this hunt took place is not as innocent as some here profess and that it happened, i myself saw the answer long before it was deleted, fairly disgusts me.

To those that needed to know, find your own spots!

Joey
 
Sageadvice I thanked MM for deleting that post because I am one of the guys he took in last year. Needless to say I will not use his packing services again. Sage I do agree with some of your points.
 
DallPaint, Interesting, that makes sense now. Thanks! When i saw what was said, i felt very disappointed and again, i'm one that is known to having shared his spots a bit too much and though i didn't post up like you did, i too thanks MM for the deletion, which i rarely do.

My pard killed a 200" mainframe, +220" velvet buck last season in a early season high country hunt this past year. Toad buck that beats my best by plenty. I know where he hunts. He knows he's gonna do it again this coming year or come close cause he's done it before so many times, and i just think it would be a travesty for someone to follow his rig to the trail head and broadcast his hunting spot take off point to all on the web. That's not exactly what happened here but the original question clearly asked, even if innocently, if we knew where David does these hunts.

Heck of a show by the way!! Truly and again, one of the very best outdoor hunt episodes shown on TV this season IMO.

Joey
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-05-10 AT 06:38PM (MST)[p]Sage,
Did you ever see that map posted up here of one of my hidey holes. Some guys posted it up here several times a few years back. It has been on other BC sites as well. Had exact locations where my buddies and I kill our bucks. Am I pissed? Nope, cause I was the one that orginally released it. ;) It is amazing what some people on the internet believe. :)
 
So what's your point BCB and how does that relate to this thread?

I just had a knee jerk reaction as to where this thread was headed and made my opinion known. As it turned out, the asked for info was posted, for awhile anyway, which i think a shame as i've said. If i get your drift, you're saying that the poster who spilled the beans on David's location, was David himself as a red herring...anything is possible is suppose but i doubt that very much.

Joey
 
It isnt too difficult to figure out where a person hunts if you want to know. Ive learned where a lot of hunts have taken place that I watched and its never changed where I go, I just wanted to know. If I really cared where he hunted I could figure it out real quick like.
 
Not saying David posted up a red herring, just saying don't believe everything you read on the internet. In my case, I had a good buddy do up the map for me. ;) When I was a kid my ol man had a t-shirt that said, "Honest hunters Bull$hit, good hunters lie."
 
I know what unit it is.

But all I am willing to say is that it is a very easy tag to draw with the bow. And whats funny is, that I know of at least 2 people on this site who ran into David on his hunt, the first year he hunted this unit with a bow.


The fact that the tag is easy to draw is one thing.

The fact that David is a great mule deer hunter and works his but off is the reason for his success.

IMO David could hunt just about any High country unit in Colorado and kill a good buck thats just David Long.

THE LORD IS MY ROCK
Colorado, U.S.A
NRA LIFE MEMBER
www.ElkHunterSports.com
 
IMO David could hunt just about any High country unit in Colorado and kill a good buck thats just David Long.
That's exactly it........... When your really good at something like David and crave the excitement and adventure that make up the whole hunt from scouting to hunting you'll accomplish it just about anywhere. I'm sure going back to the same area is always on the docket but I'm sure he has many other areas prescouted as well.
 
Anyone that hunts a hunter instead of putting the time in themselves is a loser as far as I am concerned.
Then again 99.9% even if they knew where some hardcore hunters hunt would take one look at the country and give up all hope before they took one step.
Only people that scout and spend alot of time in the hills are usually in shape enough to make the journey.
My opinion.
44f4e09309b4a917.jpg
 
I still don't think it was the original posters intent to find out exactly where he was hunting. I took it to be more of a curious general question.

I'd really be ticked to have someone follow me to my favorite hunting spot. Where is your pride in yourself?
 
I dont know nor do I care where David Long hunts here in CO. But what I can tell you is that as a Colorado resident I did draw a CO archery high country tag last year as a second choice. Did I see lots of bucks? Well define lots? Did I see big bucks? Define big deer, but I can tell you I say several 170+ mule deer. It also needs to be stated that I scouted all summer and put forth as much effort as possible considering Im a full time nursing student. In the 6 days I hunted over the first two weekends I hiked a total of 25,000 feet of elevation difference. Just one stalk on a 185" deer I had 9,000 of elevation change.
 
>Congradulations! Your my new hero! Can
>I get your autograph?
>
>
4afddbfa2842588e.jpg



WOW no need to be an a$$. I'm just saying that with some effort on paper and on foot that you can find some nice honey holes.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-13-10 AT 09:38PM (MST)[p]Elkliver - he didn't - he is just a non-resident looking to do a backpack hunt in CO for elk and deer. I have exchanged a few PMs with the guy and he is sincere and no different than a lot of guys looking to get into backcountry hunts. Unfortunately for him, he referenced the DL hunt and the rest is history and drama. In fact, the areas he has asked me about are a long, long ways from the unit David killed his buck. In my opinion, the guy is sincere and is doing his research the right way - pouring over Google Earth, topo maps, and gleaning info wherever he can from others. I am more than happy to give him some info when I can because I have had others on this and various other sites do the same for me. What is great about CO is that if your willing to do your homework and make boot tracks you can find your own honey hole - no need hunting an area exposed on the tube!
 
>
>
>WOW no need to be an
>a$$. I'm just saying that
>with some effort on paper
>and on foot that you
>can find some nice honey
>holes.

I'm just passin the time dont take it personally. Homework is definately key.
4afddbfa2842588e.jpg
 

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