High Country Mule Deer Hunt Unit 36 Colorado!

mickeyelk

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Well, my hunt in unit 36 for mule deer this year was a bust. Even though, I didn't get a mule deer, I did experience a great hunt. Before the season I went to all of the outdoor forums to get information about the area, and thanks to all for the info they provided. I called the Terrestrial bioligists for the area and they provided what info they had and off on my hunt I went. Before the season started I had broken my big toe, so preparing for the hunt was a little harder. Instead of stairstepping I was on my bike riding. Not as effective, but it worked. I'm no young hunter so I needed allot of time preparing for this hunt. I backpacked in two days before the season to set up camp and look at the area. The hike in was tough and I told myself that next time I wasn't going to bring so much stuff. I pre scouted the area and almost left because I wasn't seeing any deer. But decided to wait til after opening day. I tried a newer and higher elevated area and saw a magnificent buck. He was at 12500 feet. At first I thought it was a sheep, but after closer viewing thru the spotting scope I saw a nice 25 inch wide frame and when he turned sideways his horn tips were out past the end of his nose. I took some photo's thru the spotting scope and decided if I can get a shot I would try and get after him. Only problem was is where he was at. I couldn't get at him til he went over the hill he was laying on. I waited all day for that chance and he just stayed there. Just at night fall he got up and went over the hill. It was too late to put a stalk on so I decided to try the next morning early. I got there and up ontop of the hill he still was. But this time I had moved allot closer in the dark. I crawled up the hill towards him but could only get to within 450 yards. I can't shoot that far and I didn't want to wound him, so I waited, again. Sometime in the afternoon after I had fell asleep he had went over the hill. When I awoke and he wasn't there (I saw it was 2pm) I would make the rest of the stalk now before dark to try and get him. The climb up the hill was super hard. To go that 450 yards it took me 1 1/2 hours. It didn't matter, the buck of a lifetime was very close. I snuck over the hill and he wasn't there. So I waited. I saw other bucks, and a few nice ones, but it was't him. As night fell I decided to stay the evening and get right on him the next morning. I have a emergency sleeping bag that I take and have never used. They aren't all that bad and it kept me quite warm during the night. It was trash the next day. The next morning I awoke and the buck is 500 yards below me with some other bucks. I figurered he is mine now. I got to within 300 yards, and my first chance to shoot, but, figured I could get closer by going around a treeline that was next to him. My guess was, at that treeline, I would be about 150 yards from him. I continued down the hill towards the treeline and made it to the corner. I started my preparations to shoot, when in shock, I heard the shot before I saw the deer cartwheeling down the mountain. I was horrorified. If I had only shot when I was at 300 yards he could have been mine. As any hunters know this is the worst feeling a person can experience. I was heartsick. I was so upset I didn't even go down and see the deer. I just walked back to camp. I spent the next 7 days of my 9 day hunt trying to find something that was as large as that buck. I went up two other draws, saw so some nice deer, but no shooters, and finally went home empty handed, but with the everlasting memory of that buck. I wish I could draw that tag again before I get to much older. It was also my first experience of seeing it lightning, thundering and snowing all at the same time. A great hunt with allot of memories. Later
 
Man, that is a heartbreaker... and I know how that feels.

I think it was about '99, the first year I ever started scouting/watching big bucks. I had been watching a deer for 3 months, roughly 28" wide and good mass. Saw him time and again, including the last day of the muzzleloader season (I had a rifle tag that year.). So, opening morning I left my base camp and headed up the ridge to where he always was... and low and behold, he was right where I knew he would be. But, some other hunters had gotten into the area as well and pushed him... I got a shot but it wasn't good enough. He escaped into the deep pines... that afternoon, I was still in the same canyon. It was me and 2 guys about 200 yards from me. All of a sudden, I heard 1 guy yell, hand me my gun... he stood, aimed and shot. Then a yell... "YEAH, YEAH!". I was like SH**... and sure enough, one little stand of quakies in between us and he wandered up their side of it. I went back down the mountain, loaded up my camp and was on my way. On my way down... I ran into them and took pics of the buck. I didn't hunt for another 3 days...

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But best of luck in the future... I'm sure if you keep at it, the opportunity will arise again. And it will surely make you work that much harder and appreciate it more.

-Lucas :)~

http://www.monstermuleys.com/cgi-bin/stories/site.pl?page=lucasdavis10103
 
You sure put in the effort for that deer and it all came together with some smart maneuvering on your part. You can take comfort in that at least. Too bad you didn't get the deer. Darn those hunters anyway. :)

Mark
 

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