X7B archery

I should have an archery tag here soon, never been there other than looking up those big nasty canyons off Hwy 80 and thinking "there has to be something good up there". Any info would be appreciated, will trade info for Nevada Utah Colorado if interested. Not looking for a monster, would like to target a few 22" plus type bucks. Will be taking a look around this weekend 6/18.
Thanks and good luck in the draw!

I like the east side of the unit. Its open, and you can glass up a bedded buck and perhaps make a stalk. That said, I think you will be hard pressed to find many bucks in the 22+ range even though deer numbers look pretty good this year. Good luck.

Spent this morning scouting, and figuring out the unit. Found plenty of bucks at first light down low around the reservoirs, all close and two steps from cover. Not how I'd like to archery hunt them. Hiked to a saddle between Boca and Verdi peak where I could glass a ton of great looking country that I was hopeing to hunt in August, but only found old sign. Surprised not to find deer in the higher elevations, is this normal for the unit? Not disappointed with what I saw down low, it just doesn't lend itself to bedding a buck for a stalk.
Any input appreciated!

Hunted the rifle tag a few years back, saw bucks every day. We had the best campsite in our very full campground. Lots of loud partiers and drunks that left loads of trash.
Yeah, you will see loads of dinks and does down by the reservoirs early and late but we saw most of the quality bucks out in the sage or in the transition zone between the sage and dark timber higher up. I shot a nice 25" 4x4 out in the sage, and he had been in a bachelor group of seven bucks(the biggest was a 28" 4x4 which I searched for every day)which I never saw together again after the original scouting trip. We talked with a bow hunter who did get a nice 28" 3x3 along the 7A and 7B border. He came back to help a fellow rifle hunter and shared a bunch of good local info with us. Thanks to you guys...
There are loads of OHV and ATV roads some posted closed/no entry and some are wide open. The motorcycle and ATV boys just ride in around the barriers and run the deer ragged. There are also lots of private property that is not posted, especially around the ATV park and the golf course homes. Saw good bucks every day, but they are untouchable, we just took lots of photos...
Look for areas that have "no" road access, that are steep and brushy with cover. There was good water and feed everywhere, in fact there are many guzzlers.
One spot which does not get much attention is around Floriston, but be forewarned it is very steep, rocky and there is little legal access. The area along the Verdi to Dog Valley has great cover,water yet does allow access to ATVs. Look at the ridge running east west along the north edge of Stampede reservoir, lots of good cover, food and habitat with little road access.
Good luck,



Stop Global Whining

Not sure what your calling the higher elevation but I don't think the deer have moved up all the way up yet. At least not on the west slopes, still a lot of snow above 7k and lots of good feed still down lower.

Hunted that exact ridge for a couple days last year, as my son had the tag. Didn't see anything, but it was dry and very hot.
Lots of forks around the lakes area, along with gads of does.
I've seen many good bucks up there over the years, and my party has been very lucky to harvest some toads every so often.
In the last 5 years we've harvested four bucks between 26 and 34", last year being the end of a good streak, as my son had tag soup. Gotta hand it to a 19yo boy to pass up numerous bucks just waiting for Mr Big.
Hunt the tops, N facing slopes, and the East side.
Two years ago I followed 2 big bucks all summer long, and killed the bigger of the 2 on the opener, so there is one big buck still roaming those hills. At the time he was a 26" 3X with daggers to die for. I'd sure like to see him now!
I'd scout every weekend you get a chance.

Thanks for the pointers, unfortunately I spent Sunday AM in the fog. Bummer when you only have two mornings, and a five hour drive. Hope to get back July 9th, looking forward to it.

LAST EDITED ON Jul-13-16 AT 12:50PM (MST)[p]From what we saw 4 years ago, it was very dry and the "bucks" were not out in the open much. I did get a nice 4x4 but the really big buck I saw scouting was never to be seen again.
One of the guys I met up there had a nice buck on his trailer(3x3) being processed, and he showed us a whopper (over 30 inches)that was photographed in 7A just across hwy 89...
My advice is to hunt the east slope of the Verdi range. It has not many roads and lots of food and water. Around Floriston is also excellent but brutally steep and not much access, be careful where you park...
Some of the smaller fire areas (like Boca Mt.)looked very good and we did see bucks but nothing I would have shot.
If you just want to take photos, drive by the golf course and ATV track areas just before dark. All off limits and they hang out there for that very reason...

Stop Global Whining