Smokepole
Active Member
- Messages
- 797
Just returned from the Book Cliffs and had to great time with my brother Ron. We first hiked into an area of no roads and spent a couple days where we did not see a single other hunter. While in this more remote location we did see some bucks but, nothing he was willing to shoot. One buck was a big bodied old 3x4, about 22" wide and was very tall. We seen some bull elk and we're treated to a show of two bulls locking antlers and pushing each other around. The deer had been in this area and the majority of them must have just recently moved out. It was amazing the trails we came across of deer tracks headed down, all going in the same direction. We packed up camp and moved north where the more traditional rifle hunting takes place. Obviously, we did see significantly more deer after the move and this did make it more enjoyable to see more deer.
Again, we spent more time hiking the rims of canyons, glassing and seeing deer that all the road hunters would not see. We talked to a few hunters and a DNR officer and everyone had been seeing little bucks and most hunters were getting discouraged. We told them to hike off the road and they would see more deer.
We spent Tuesday afternoon hiking the fringe areas where there were alot of roads and alot of deer and stock ponds full of water. Again, we picked up a couple bucks that were decent size and one that we didn't get a very good look at that we wished he'd of given us a better view of him. The sun was setting and we were actually getting back pretty close to the truck when we came across this wild horse. He let me get within 20 yards and take his picture.
We were on the ridge above the truck and Ron turned to head towards the truck. I said "let's just walk out on this point and see what could be there". He said, "what buck in his right mind would still be around here". I started walking out to the point and Ron followed. Just as I cleared the trees and began glassing I spotted this buck on the other side of the draw. I motioned to Ron to check it out but, before he could get his binos up the buck moved behind some trees. After a few minutes the buck stepped out and gave Ron a good look. Ron liked what he seen and decided that this was going to be the one. I was off to the side of Ron and with my binos on the buck I didn't realize he was going to take this buck. Ron shot and the buck dropped. I said, "we'll your hunt's over and you just shot a buck that wasn't in his right mind". We walked over the 150 yards to the buck, took a few pics and got to work cleaning him out before it got dark.
Here's a pic of how close we were to the truck.
This buck was the best we had seen to this point. He's probably a little better than the average buck that will be taken off the book cliffs. He's a 4x5 plus eye guards and tapes out about 25" wide. He's got alot more black coloring around his nose and under his jaw compared to any other buck I've ever seen. He'll make for a real pretty mount when done.
Thanks to all those MM'rs who I talked too and got advice and suggestions for this hunt!
Smokepole
Again, we spent more time hiking the rims of canyons, glassing and seeing deer that all the road hunters would not see. We talked to a few hunters and a DNR officer and everyone had been seeing little bucks and most hunters were getting discouraged. We told them to hike off the road and they would see more deer.
We spent Tuesday afternoon hiking the fringe areas where there were alot of roads and alot of deer and stock ponds full of water. Again, we picked up a couple bucks that were decent size and one that we didn't get a very good look at that we wished he'd of given us a better view of him. The sun was setting and we were actually getting back pretty close to the truck when we came across this wild horse. He let me get within 20 yards and take his picture.
We were on the ridge above the truck and Ron turned to head towards the truck. I said "let's just walk out on this point and see what could be there". He said, "what buck in his right mind would still be around here". I started walking out to the point and Ron followed. Just as I cleared the trees and began glassing I spotted this buck on the other side of the draw. I motioned to Ron to check it out but, before he could get his binos up the buck moved behind some trees. After a few minutes the buck stepped out and gave Ron a good look. Ron liked what he seen and decided that this was going to be the one. I was off to the side of Ron and with my binos on the buck I didn't realize he was going to take this buck. Ron shot and the buck dropped. I said, "we'll your hunt's over and you just shot a buck that wasn't in his right mind". We walked over the 150 yards to the buck, took a few pics and got to work cleaning him out before it got dark.
Here's a pic of how close we were to the truck.
This buck was the best we had seen to this point. He's probably a little better than the average buck that will be taken off the book cliffs. He's a 4x5 plus eye guards and tapes out about 25" wide. He's got alot more black coloring around his nose and under his jaw compared to any other buck I've ever seen. He'll make for a real pretty mount when done.
Thanks to all those MM'rs who I talked too and got advice and suggestions for this hunt!
Smokepole
