Late muzzy hunt in 114,115?

hunter · May 31, 2015

I drew the late muzzeloader hunt for unit 114,115. Great dates but I have heard that this unit is not like it used to be. Just like everywhere else I guess. I am curious to see what people think of this unit for the late hunt? It looks like 70 total tags. 5 for the nonresidents. But in the success odds it looks like none of the nonresidents took a buck? I would Just like to get an idea of what to expect? Thanks for any help.

scab · Jun 1, 2015

I drew this tag as a NR back in 2005 so I'm not sure how helpful I can be but if you want more information, give me a call @ (608) 617-2297. Here's the buck I harvested on day 4.

Bryan-Wisconsin

scab · Jun 1, 2015

Oops, here's the picture.

azbiggame · Jun 1, 2015

very good Late deer hunt.Best if snow comes,it will push the deer down ... Good Luck,
Bruce & SilverGrand

hunter · Jun 1, 2015

Thanks for your input.
Scab, I will take you up on your offer. Thanks

mlycrzy · Jun 1, 2015

I took this buck in unit 115 in 2011 on the rifle hunt! I tried to post some pics of my wife's late muzzy buck but it wont let me for some reason. From my experience on the late hunt most of the does had a buck or two with them. We never did see that "monster" muley we hoped for but it still was a lot of fun watching the bucks chasing the does around. Pray for early snow and lots of it as mentioned above. Good luck

hunter · Jun 2, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jun-02-15 AT 08:52PM (MST)[p]Wow, those are great looking bucks. I think its going to be a long summer.

FireGuy · Jun 3, 2015

I drew 114 early rifle for mule deer. Would be happy to let you know what I see.

StripBuckHunter · Jun 3, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jun-03-15 AT 08:29PM (MST)[p]>I drew the late muzzeloader hunt
>for unit 114,115. Great dates
>but I have heard that
>this unit is not like
>it used to be.
>Just like everywhere else I
>guess. I am curious
>to see what people think
>of this unit for the
>late hunt? It looks
>like 70 total tags. 5
>for the nonresidents. But in
>the success odds it looks
>like none of the nonresidents
>took a buck? I
>would Just like to get
>an idea of what to
>expect? Thanks for any help.
>

Hunter,

What did it used to be in your opinion?

What are your skills in finding and whacking a big muley?

What is a big muley to you?

Can you hike like a marathon runner?

Can you glass and just what do you use?

Give us some honest info to work with if you truly want us to help you.

That is a super tag......but only for a super big muley hunter.

hunter · Jun 3, 2015

Well, StripBuckHunter. Those are some very good questions. I really had to sit back and think for a minute. Here are my honest answers. in order:

What did it used to be in your opinion?
From what I have heard there were multiple opportunities at
180" + bucks during a hunt.

What are your skills in finding and whacking a big muley?
My skills at finding big muley's? They kind of suck. I have hunted several states in pretty good units and came home with smaller bucks, but with a big smile on my face. Go figure.
Wacking them, pretty good. When I do see one I want I can do pretty good getting it done.

What is a big muley to you?
I guess it depends on the unit. I spent my younger years hunting general deer in Utah, if you saw a deer with HORNS you took it, or went home with an unfilled tag. Now, to me 150" and up is hard for me to pass. In a good unit I can hold out as I don't feel the urge to fill my tag like I used to. But I still love to punch a tag. From what I have heard for this unit I don't think I would shoot anything under 160". BUT I have hunted with a muzzeloader many times before and I know it can be very hard.

Can you hike like a marathon runner?
Nope.
But I am in good shape, hunt all day if I don't bring my family, ( but I do if possible). I give it my all given the circumstances.

Can you glass and just what do you use?
This is my worst area. I can get in a couple of hours and then I lose interest. I hunt because I enjoy hunting. If it takes 10 hours a day of glassing to kill a 190" buck? Most likely I will be shooting a 160" buck if he is within range.
I look through a pair of $600.00 vortex binos. That's what I can afford and I love them.

I hope this helps. It's honest.

I love to hunt, hunt where I can, and do the best I can, and come home with a smile and some damn good meat.
If you can give me some help? That would be great.
Thanks, Hunter
Those were some awesome questions. Thanks

PIOCHE2014 · Jun 7, 2015

Good answer hunter I have hunted that unit and that hunt a lot if you need some more input pm your # I will give you call

hunter · Jun 8, 2015

PIOCHE2014. I sent you a PM. Thanks

StripBuckHunter · Jun 8, 2015

Hunter,

What are the dates of your hunt?

GhostWhisperer · Jun 8, 2015

I actually have the same hunt-dates are November 10-30

hunter · Jun 8, 2015

Ya, those are the dates. November 10 to the 30th. I will be going the last 11 days of the season.

GhostWhisperer · Jun 9, 2015

Good morning Bryan,

I would definitely be curious to here how your hunt played out in 114-115. A friend and I both drew the late muzzy season this year and it would definitely be beneficial to get your take on the area that time of year.

We are residents and will probably scout 4-5 times but having a head start on such a big wilderness area would be huge.

Jonathan

scab · Jun 9, 2015

Good choice. I hunted opening day because of my work schedule---had unseasonably warm weather until I tagged out---I am talking 60 degree weather. Not good when you're waiting for weather to push deer out of GBN. Pray for snow and cold weather. Good luck.

StripBuckHunter · Jun 9, 2015

hunter,

I don't have any specific knowledge about areas within the unit to give you. Knew a guy that hunted it years ago and saw and passed on a 185" buck hoping for something bigger. I almost bought a LO tag there one year.

Some winter migrations are due to time of the year while some are due to snow. Either way, you've got it covered with your chosen dates. The rut will be well underway when you get there.

Check the NDOW website write-up for this unit for specific areas. Definitely call the biologist.

HUNT DOES! Checking doe groups every day that have either a small/mediocre buck or none may have a big buck suddenly show up. Many big bucks have been whacked this way. Just keep checking and checking.

I wouldn't spend this tag on a 150" or 160" buck if I were you. You can shoot those elsewhere on easy to draw tags. I would hold out for a biggun or go home empty. There are some in there for sure. Just not a lot of them. By this I mean a 30" 180" class of buck. The area isn't known for 200" deer like some of the neighboring units are, but one is always a possibility.

Good luck on what will likely be a pretty exciting hunt.

tenaciousC · Jun 9, 2015

Hunter, I don't think you give yourself enough credit, you get after it. I agree with strip hunter on this one, hold out or go home empty... If it will help Youre more then welcome to take my spotter for your hunt. We both know I'm not lucky enough to draw a tag that time of year so it will be of no use to me!

hunter · Jun 9, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-15 AT 08:48PM (MST)[p]I will definitely be holding out for a good one. I would really like to hunt all 11 days. I should have a couple of guys to help so we will be able to cover some ground.
I cant wait to get out there and have a look around. I will keep some updates on this thread as the summer goes by.
Thanks for everyone's help.

hunter · Jun 28, 2015

I Just got back from a scouting trip. HOT and a lot of flies driving you crazy all day. I was Lucky enough to find a few good bull elk and a few good antelope. But very little deer sigh, I didn't expect to see any deer, but after 8 miles of hiking I only found 3 pies of deer droppings. Its some big rough country. Looks like it should be a fun hunt.

hunter · Nov 9, 2015

scab. I sent you a message.

hunter · Nov 9, 2015

scab, I sent you a PM.

fatrooster · Nov 16, 2015

Can't wait to see how this turns out. Keep us posted hunter. fatrooster.

hunter · Nov 16, 2015

I am headed out after a couple more days of work. The weather looks like it will be pretty cold and some snow. It is a rare chance to hunt during the rut. I will be able to stay until the 30th if needed. I hope to see a few bucks to pick through, I really don't know a whole lot about this unit. But then again that's part of the fun. I will let you know how it turns out, good or bad.
Thanks again to you guy's willing to give me some information on this hunt.

hunter · Nov 30, 2015

I just got back a few days ago, We had a good time and got pretty lucky. Here is a brief description of the hunt.
Weather:
It had snowed a week or two before we arrived but the snow was mostly gone when we got there. More melted during the week we were there. Some mornings were 18* and others were 35* for a low. Days got up to 52*. The days were sunny and clear and to warm.
Deer numbers:
Pretty low, but we did see enough to make it a fun hunt. We only saw 3 shooters in the 7 days. The one I took was the biggest one we found.
Pressure:
You just cant beat Nevada for low hunter numbers. There were a couple of camps by us, one left the day after we arrived and the others left for the Holiday and I had the mountain all to my self for a couple of days.
It was a pretty tough hunt, deer were bedded before the sun came up on the warm mornings. There were bucks with all the does at first. I stayed a couple of days to look around after I took my buck and the does were alone on the last couple of days? Not sure why.
I think the key to this unit is to be there soon as it gets the weather. With no weather don't count on seeing many deer. If you vision hunting lots of big bucks on the winter range in this unit, it was nothing like that. Deer were miles apart and I took my buck around 8500' in some pretty steep country.
My buck was a pretty old , just over 30" wide with good mass. Thanks again to you guys that gave me some help. I hope the other guys that had tags will let us know how their hunts went?