Unit 45 Muzzy Deer - I need a pep talk

whuppinstick · Sep 25, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Sep-25-16 AT 01:24PM (MST)[p]I've been scouting this hunt, which opens Oct 1, for the last six days. Last night I saw my first two deer - a doe and a fawn. (I'm not counting deer in an alfalfa field.) I had high expectations for this hunt and I KNOW there are big deer here somewhere, but I'm just not having any luck finding them. I've scouted around Bennett Mtn Road, West Dempsey Meadows, a lot around Mormon Reservoir, and driven much of the rest of the unit during mornings and evenings, but to no avail. Sometimes I get up on a point where I can see for miles and pick everything apart with glass, other times I hike and glass along the way, but all I'm seeing are elk.

Does anybody have any ideas or secrets? If you don't want to post publicly feel free to send a PM.

I'll be here this next week and most of the 14 days of season. I'm willing to put my time in and cover ground, I just feel like I'm making all the wrong choices so far.

Idahoron · Sep 25, 2016

I wish I had a hole to send you too but I don't in fact I had that tag a couple years ago. They open I think 300 elk tags the same day. I had a couple bucks picked out and on opening day me and a super tag holder were after the same bucks. I sneaked in as close as I could and waited for enough light so I didn't bump them. 10 elk hunters smoking cigarettes came walking and coughing up the hill. The deer were gone. I didn't see the next semi decent buck until the 13th if I remember right. That elk hunt has ruined that hunt.

judkins1 · Sep 25, 2016

I hunted the unit for cow elk with the muzzy. I saw more bucks on the East half. They were grouped up from 5 to 18.

HayZeus · Sep 25, 2016

This has turned into a very tough hunt like Ron said. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll eventually turn up some nice bucks. Before all the elk tags they put in this unit it was one of the best tags in the state to have. Now its decent at best. Hopefully all the tags will eventually reduce the elk population which is needed badly. Good luck on a tough hunt.

Murdoc34 · Sep 25, 2016

I have some experience in the unit. I'd be happy to help. PM sent.

swanpig · Sep 28, 2016

PM sent

whuppinstick · Sep 29, 2016

Thanks for the ideas, everybody. I have now seen 10 deer! Two were bucks and one was definitely one I would shoot, so I am going to spend the first week trying to find him again. I have talked to a lot of people and I'm hoping that the cooler weather coming will make a difference. It's been pretty warm so I think the bucks have been bedding down all day, every day. Maybe next week the resident bucks will be up and out a little more during daylight hours and maybe that big migration will begin and make the second week of season better?

Kinda wish I had an elk tag! I've seen 16 bulls, including 4-6 in the 300" range.

judkins1 · Oct 11, 2016

whuppinstick, how is the hunt going?

gb22 · Oct 20, 2016

>whuppinstick, how is the hunt going?
>
Wondering the same thing

Within the shadows, go quietly.

Idahoron · Oct 20, 2016

Deer have been crossing the highway. I hope you are on them.

whuppinstick · Nov 20, 2016

Hey everybody, sorry for the silence. Immediately after Idaho I went to South Dakota for pheasants then back to Montana for elk then into the Selway for elk.

The 45 hunt went.. okay. I saw two 'big' bucks during season and both at the end. It did seem like deer were starting to move in at the very end so I am sure the rifle hunt was superb. I am not sure if I would put in for the muzzy tag again.

Here is my buck, which is 29":

Here was my MT bull:

And my Selway buck (26"):