Book Cliffs round #2

honkerdwn

Active Member
Messages
136
hey fella's,
first let me say im not looking for anyone secret spot nor am i asking for someone to directly take me to the deer, i can handle that. im just asking for a little info on the area because its not just down the road for me to go look at. i've been hunting for years and know that with work, dedication and patience it will pay off.

now with that said i started this little venture last year when i drew this tag (rifle deer). planning had started, maps were being looked at and even made contact with some great folks here on MM that helped out. but about a month before my hunt started i was sent over seas with the military, it was a short notice, no nothing i could do about it. it was a hard day when i had to hand that tag back to the lady at the service counter at the division. ten years it took me to get this tag and in one short phone call i had to give it back. the plus side was that i did get my points back and low and behold i have it again this year.

so here's my question i guess guys, i've have some areas picked i would like to start looking in to. kinda high and low, middle of the road i guess you could say. i've seen some posts talking about where the deer are now compared to where they will be come the rifle hunt. i know they will be on the move by then but im i watch the MM forums off and on soaking in some of the great info others have and im very willing to share what i have as well. im looking around McCook ridge, rat hole, big park ect.

any info would be greatly appreciated!! going to get my first scouting trip in this weekend, finally.

thank guys
 
You'll be looking in some good spots when your Hunt/Season Rolls around!

Don't expect to see them there this weekend though!

Head to higher ground & do lots of Glassing!

Good Luck!

For GAWDS Sakes Guys,We Got Kids on this Site,Some of them are 65 years Old!:D

I don't care if they're big or small!
If they throw lead I like em all!
:p
 
You won't be alone in those areas! If you work at it you'll be fine. Let us know how your scouting trip went. 1+ on what Bop said.
 
I will help you all that I can. I have the archery hunt and head out to hunt next week. Will let you know what I see, but like others said, they be moving by the time your hunt comes.

Good luck to you.

I too am far away from the unit, any info you find in your scouting would be appreciated.
 
like everyone says,look high this early. when the rifle hunt comes, they are gone from the top and are congregated lower, when i hunted there in 2000 they were as low as you could get. we were near hay canyon, and did not find anything on top. i think if you do look hard on top, anything you find will be a stud.
 
honkerdwn,
You have a great tag if you are into seeing lots, and I mean lots, of animals. As has been posted before there are many 150 class bucks and a few 180 bucks and I am sure some larger. I hunted this Unit last year. Some of the best advice came from this board. You need to drive around untill you are seeing deer and then hunt at that elevation. They will not be on top, at least very few of them will be. We found them to be at 7000 down to 5500 feet last year. McCook is good, Indian Ridge Canyon is good particullarly the head of it. We hunted in the Big Park area for only one day and while there were deer in there we did not see as many as on McCook. We did not hunt Rat Hole Ridge but our guess was that it was too high. You will have lots of company the first half of the season and then it starts to thin out. Most people road hunt so be prepared for that. The country is easy so you need to be prepared to see a quad about everywhere except for the steepest canyons. The number of quads was probably the only negative that I can come up with. Our experience was that the best bucks were showing up in the last few days. Good luck and have a great hunt.

And last but not least thank you for your service!

Jim
 
Thanks for all the good info guys. i did make it down there this past weekend kind of a fast trip but well worth the expirience. didn't get to scout around in certain areas as much as i would have liked but thats just how it goes. did get a good lay of the land and the roads though. wished i could have seen a few more critters as well but i know they are out there. we did see some decent bucks and a toad of a 2X3. quite a few elk as well. so all in all it was a good trip!! the plan is to get one more trip down there before the hunt so that will be good.

thanks again for the info!! if any one has more to add i'm all ears!
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom