Book Cliffs

bigfoot llamas

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Heading out to the area tomorrow. Has anyone been out in the last few days? Just wondering about conditions? The news says it has been raining out there for the last few days? I drew the rifle tag, so I am just doing a get to know the area trip.

meatinthepot
 
Lots of rain hitting the ground out there. Some muddy roads for sure. Thunderstorms are patchy though, some spots have been hit more than others. Animals are looking good, bring a good water-tight tent and have a good time.

Dax
 
Depends on which way you go in. I've only ever gone in from teh South... Some of the roads in from the south, like Hay Canyon, would be a bit treacherous if wet and muddy. I would not go in on most of the southern roads I've been on in muddy conditions...
COngrats on the tag. I hope I can finally draw it next year...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
If it's your first time, you'll be amazed. My first time... We saw bucks galore, everywhere. Lots of good looking 150" bucks. And you will see a few that are 170"... We saw about 3 my first trip that were 180" and they were the biggest deer I had seen at such close range... literally 20 yards.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
Just try to remember that where you find deer now......won't be at all where they are during the rifle hunt. Good luck its a neat area. I'm sure its a little greasy, but one thing about the Books....give it 30 minutes and it will be dusty :)
 
Willow creek has been dry for the last month, now its running pretty high. Plan on not being able to tell what color your truck is when you get out.

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Here are some pics of what the truck looks like now. I will take some pics and post when I get back.

I am planning on coming through the north end of seeps ridge and just covering some country on the wheelers and seeing some country.

Thanks again,

Thad
 
that truck won't be hard to find. I'd hate to clean it. Good luck with your scouting trip, and nice truck!
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-10 AT 04:50PM (MST)[p]http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/6077truck_wrap_front.jpg

Thanks. Here is a pic of the hood.

All packed and ready to go.
 
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Returned late Saturday night. Was going to stay through Sunday but was really running low on fuel. Poor planning on my part I thought there would be a gas station in Ouray and there obviously is not. Great country, great deer. Should have had more pics of bigger bucks but they were alittle picture shy and did not hang around for their photo shots. I know that I wont be hunting this high during my hunt but it was nice to see the caliber of animals. We did see a few that would give me some thought on pulling the trigger. Cant wait for October. We did get some weather on Saturday night on the way out so I posted some pics of mudded up truck. Thanks to everyone for giving me ideas on where to look and where to go on my hunt.

Thad
meatinthepot
 
I passed you guys coming in as I was on my way out on Friday mid-day on Seep Ridge. I wondered what the heck was on that truck?! Glad you guys saw some good bucks. Next time bring extra gas, extra water, and maybe an extra spare tire. Going to be a great hunt on the rifle this year with the dates as late as they are. I almost wish I could trade my muzzy tag for a rifle.

Dax
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-14-10 AT 12:39PM (MST)[p]Taking the trailer out on the south end for the weekend and checking it out. Havent been to the south end of the unit before so I thought we would give it a shot. Left the trailer at Dads house in Salina after taking the kids out on the muzzleloader so we'll just swing by and grab it and the wheelers and hit the road.

Anyone know if they have been getting any weather out there? If you are out and see the truck stop by we are hard to miss with the graphics.

Any suggestions on a good place to drop the trailer would be much appreciated. Will probably leave the trailer so I dont have to drag it out again.

Meatinthepot
 
Thad, Keep us updated on how the hunt goes. I would like to talk to you after your hunt and what you think about the Books.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-17-10 AT 09:43AM (MST)[p]Went to the BC yesterday and only seen one doe. Lots of nothing.
 
You were to high, is my guess. We started high because thats where we seen them in August, but they are there no more! Hit the low country. I'll post more later when I have some time.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-17-10 AT 05:46PM (MST)[p]>You were to high, is my
>guess. We started high
>because thats where we seen
>them in August, but they
>are there no more!
>Hit the low country.
>I'll post more later when
>I have some time.

My guess is, he probably was high, and I don't mean elevation!..
 
I was in the low area on the south end, nash wash area the deer must be in transition. Wasn't high this time...
 
I was out there this morning. Good storms in the past few days. Water everywhere. Saw 15+ bucks in 3 hrs. Nothing big, saw 3 4x4s all under 22". Did see one that was probably bigger but only got a quick look. They are moving down.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-10 AT 10:59AM (MST)[p]I took this buck on Monday after the snow blew through. He was the nicest buck that I had seen. There was one similar in width and mass a 3x3 and he was already in someones camp.

We put in our time over opening weekend trying to get a feel for the area and where the deer were. On Sunday morning there was a nice 4x4 that 5 trucks were looking over that eventually fed over the draw. He had decent backs but crab claws in the front good height and probably 20 inches wide. I couldnt believe knowone was taking him. We drove around the corner and the truck that was behind us decide to take a shot at him. I assume they got him but didnt hang around to see if they pulled him out.

After Sunday morning I met my wife in Duschene to drop off my son who had to be back to school on Monday. I headed back up that night and went for a drive to a different area and only seen some does.

Monday morning I headed back to the area that we had seen the crab claw buck and decided to do some hiking around to see what was hanging around that couldnt be seen from the road. About a mile in I seen 6 does and fawns feeding around and couldnt believe I wasnt seeing more. The snow started easing up and the sun came out as I was glassing. Checking out the ridges I came to an opening of red and yellow sandstone and there he was basking in the sun. I watched him for about 5 minutes as he laid at about 350 yds. I estimated him to be about 27 wide but couldnt make out his forks that well. The backs looked good but I questioned the fronts. Just as I was making a plan to try and get closer he stood up and fed over the ridge. I decided to get on the same ridge he was on and work my way down toward him to see if he was a taker. I worked my way down the ridge with the wind in my face and got within what I thought would be about 100 yds from where I seen him last. I couldnt see him and thought that maybe he had somehow winded me or heard me walking down the shale rock that popped with every step. I decided to try and work in alittle closer. I got within what I thought was about 50 yds from where I had seen him go over the ridge and there he was feeding up out of the draw. He was looking down the draw and I was above him now at 50 yds. I put the gun on him looking at his rack and questioned whether I should take him or not. I put the gun down and put the glasses on him. When I seen the fronts on him I didnt think I could pass on him. Again I put the gun on him and this time put him down. As I walked up on him I was shocked he only had one antler? Had I shot a one horned buck? As I looked around his left antler laid about 3yds away. I had not adjusted for him being so close and had placed the shot right behind his ear and exit out the other side taking that antler clean off. My heart sank and my thoughts turned to thinking how I was going to get this pig bodied deer out of the canyon that I am sure is the only one in the bookcliffs without a 4 wheeler trail coming right up the bottom.

I returned to the truck about a mile or so away emptied the pack and returned for the meat and antlers that I wasnt sure I wanted. I went through the gammet of thougts from he's a decent buck and did I just waste the tag. I got him deboned and head detached and back to the truck. All in all about a 3 hour haul out. I could feel the back tweaking with each step knowing that if I pinch my back nerve again I could very well be laying out in the middle of a sagebrush flat with a load of meat and rack on my back.

Still not sure what I had done I got back to camp and did my best to put the rack together. As I did and started taking some pics I was surprised. He is a great buck and I couldnt be happier. Good mass, length and age.

I want to thank everyone who gave me areas to check out since the time that I found out that I got that expo tag.

I am definately getting him mounted so know my attention turns to a taxidermist. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I am in West Haven, Ut which is around the Ogden area. As you know from my previous posts I own a sign business and would like to find a taxidermist that would like to do some trade for some signage either full or part. I should probably post this is the taxidermist section as well.

A special thanks to my wife for putting up with my obsession.

Thanks again.

meatinthepot


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What a great night. Dropped off the buck at the taxidermist. Cut up the deer with UFC unleashed runnin on the big screen. Does it get any better?
 
Nice!

Did you get your Truck dirty?
Pics?

God is Great!
Life is Good!
And People are Crazy!
I love not acting my age,
Damn I love my NASCAR race,
And Hell yes I love my Truck!
 
Thanks everyone.

I didnt really get any pics of the truck on the trip it ended up kinda self cleaning with the snow and rain on the way home. It is beggin for a detailing though.

Ended up going with Cooks Taxidermy in South Weber. Talked with the neighbor who has Cook doing his and has done a few other bucks for his family. I am conflicted this morning though, I chose the sneak mount but am second guessing myself and thinking I want to go the the alert mount?
 
What's the biggest buck anyones seen on the ground on the books typical and non~typical???
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-28-10 AT 07:54PM (MST)[p]The biggest that I saw was the weekend before the hunt a 30" 3x4. Definately an older buck maybe even regressing because the mass was not great but you could see his age. I even questioned whether he could hear or not as he walked right in front of the 4 wheeler and as we tried to get him to stop for a pic he just kept walking a steady pace as we made just about every sound in the book to get his attention. Either that or he just knew it was time to get out of the area.
 

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