128 Late Hunt pics

Blank · Nov 12, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Nov-12-17 AT 06:42PM (MST)[p]Got to spend a few days with friends on the late Dubois hunt in 128, chasing WT's this past week. Thought folks would enjoy seeing a few photos of game there on the winter range. Lots of average 20-25" bucks chasing and sowing their genes. Sheep and deer mixed in all the fields together.

Took a couple great WT's and posted them in another post.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID31/640.html

Here's one of the reasons they are so much tougher than MD; even when they are out, they stay in the thick stuff!!!

A week ago we had 8" of new snow, this week temps were in the 40's and everything melted. Put a little heat on the ground and the prairie dogs popped up all over on the upper benches. It was fun to watch them scurry around for last minute groceries.

The reason old mature muley bucks survive, masters of hiding in plain sight. First one about 20X, second at 60X magnification.

The view coming back over Togwotee Pass on clear days is spectacular.

Hope you enjoyed them. I love getting the opportunity to hunt western WY every once in a while.

TOPGUN · Nov 12, 2017

Thanks for the neat pictures, especially that last one that is absolutely awesome!

OchocoKid · Nov 12, 2017

Fantastic place , the scenery varies from great to unbelievable. I've hunted 128 twice and with max points I will again soon I hope.

I'm glad to see a few bucks made it through the winter it was a tough one.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Blank · Nov 12, 2017

I think everyone with max points in any state dreams of a hunt with as many mature bucks as are on display here. WY 101/102/128/130, the Pauns or Henries in Utah, northern Nevada, late rifle in the Owhees of Idaho, or NW Colorado. Best of luck to anyone in those draws.

Here's a couple more pics for the sheep addicts here on MM. I think this is the most impressive ram that I have ever seen in Wyoming, especially from the badlands. Appears to be about 10 years old, and was clearly the boss hog on the totem pole. The smaller ones gave him a wide berth as he cruised around and checked his harem.

I wish i had a much better camera setup, as these were taken at about 1000 yards distance. You still get the general idea tho.

PleaseDear · Nov 12, 2017

Thanks for sharing Blank

Damn nice Ram right there.

Robb

TOPGUN · Nov 13, 2017

Yep, that is one big mother in both horn and body size!

OchocoKid · Nov 13, 2017

That's a very nice ram, far above average for the badlands he must have moved in from somewhere. his bases don't look that big but he sure carries it out well.

The first time I had the 128 tag in 1997 on the area 9 side I saw dozens of great rams as close as 25 yards away. it was fantastic . now there are few sheep in there it's a shame.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Onelegwonder · Nov 15, 2017

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

JakeSwensen · Nov 15, 2017

Cool pictures, thanks for sharing.[font face="verdana" color="green"]
Jake Swensen

LIK2HNT · Nov 19, 2017

Nice pictures.
That big buck laying down in the trees looks like it could be on private property. I would love to have that tag again.

Thanks
Bill

Blank · Nov 19, 2017

L2H: Funny you should say that. He was a goofy buck and he liked to spend all morning and afternoon in the BLM, and then from 1000 until 1400 he would lay down right on the fence line. Watched him for 4 days and everybody just looked at him and went on. There are so many of that average size 4x4 that you just know a monster will appear soon. Here's a couple more to look at. One is a pig and hasn't missed any meals, that hay and oats in the bottoms really puts on the pounds.... The other buck has some of the largest front forks we saw over there.

Seeing these deer on Nov. 1st just makes you wonder if you could find these guys on the earlier Region tag??? I think it closes on Oct. 15th. How far out from the winter range would you have to be looking???

Hunt_the_West · Nov 19, 2017

?Seeing these deer on Nov. 1st just makes you wonder if you could find these guys on the earlier Region tag??? I think it closes on Oct. 15th. How far out from the winter range would you have to be looking????

Probly not very far because I don't think that fat bastard could walk very far! Seriously though that is one of the largest bodied mule deer I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing the photos.

goldhunter · Nov 22, 2017

Blank,

How did thing compare to last year? I was just wondering how the winter affected the herd.

IdaMatt · Nov 22, 2017

Awesome, thanks for sharing...

IdaMatt · Nov 22, 2017

I say "dang"...that's one fat deer, belly about hits the ground!!

N_Corey · Nov 22, 2017

That buck on the fence line is one fat SOB.

Joe2Kool · Nov 22, 2017

First of all, kool pics. Thanks for sharing.

Second, I dabble in photography. From a thousand yards, those are good pics!

And third, I'd say that tub of lard hasn't moved very far. There has to be the MD equivalent of a Shoney's buffet within a couple hundred yards!

Blank · Nov 22, 2017

Comments on the hunt, and differences from last year. Overall, I think that there was probably 60-70% as many deer this year, as compared to last year. Whether winter mortality or just timing, I couldn't say but I believe there were quite a few more last year. WT numbers appeared to be about the same (if you have a bad enough winter to kill WT's in the bottoms you will lose a majority of your mule deer). It will be interesting to compare the harvest reports next year to see if anything changed. Both the Type 1 and 3 hunts are very successful here.

There seemed to be a lot more sheep on the fields this year than last. I went up to Ring and Torrey Lakes and never saw a sheep, so don't know what is changing in that area. Used to see a lot on the back hayfields by the Conservation Camp. This year there were only deer there, and not a lot. Stopped into the Hatchery and looked at all the fish. Most tanks had been emptied already and the fish planted, but there were still a few full ones..

In the East Fork, there were about 3 or 4 herds of antelope still, maybe totaling 150 animals. All looked to be healthy and doing well. Saw 3 different moose in the area, and watched them both weeks we were over there. WGFD is doing a good job with the hayfields. They have installed a new center pivot in one field, and have kept the irrigation systems in good shape. Still planting some oats/barley to supplement the grass hay. This is all certified weed-free hay which supplies many of the other feed grounds in the State. A couple of the fields had been turned under already, so there were no deer in them. They closed or re-routed a couple roads to the river bottom. Because of the nice weather, the Dept. was spending more time working on cleaning ditches and head gates than in the past, maybe that moved some of the deer to nocturnal mode. Didn't see as many Mom/Pop trucks driving the roads looking for an easy buck. Seems like every truck had a 4 wheeler in the back, which is funny cause you can't drive off-road in the WMA. There were still a lot of deer up on the big hills in draws, tucked out of sight.

All in all, another outstanding year to be in Western Wyoming.

sjhgraysage · Nov 22, 2017

my friend who is a life long resident there told me that last winter there was more snow at one time than he had ever seen in a lifetime of living there and he is almost 70 years young. he live on the east fork and said Dubois had lots of snow in town too. I'm sure there was at least some higher than normal winter mortality

DoubleDropMuley · Nov 22, 2017

Cool pics and read on last year vs this year!!!!! Thanks

ByeByeObamas · Dec 16, 2017

I have 8 NR points and hope to someday draw that tag. Beatiful country.

marburg · Dec 17, 2017

I would guess there is about 2000 people in front of you preference point wise that are after that hunt. With the 8 total NR tags they give out in the regular and special combined, your best bet is to win the lotto and hope to draw it random, or you are in for a long wait. About 250 years worth.

OchocoKid · Dec 19, 2017

I was through there 10 days go and back again Monday, no sheep in thee fields, zero both days. not a lot of deer lower down the lawyer ranch road, didn't go clear up. none out towards Whiskey Basin.

Not sure where everything is, but life is pretty easy there right now they may have moved back up a ways. easy winter so far.

Stay Thirsty My Friends