First Human Encounter

sonofthesouth · Oct 15, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-08 AT 12:36PM (MST)[p]I believe that some of the deer that we are hunting here in NM (in this particular unit) seldom if ever have run-ins with people.

Long and short of it, I believe that we have killed deer where we have been the bucks first human encounter.

Anyone else think this happens and where, I'm curious about states not so much about units.

I'm sure this would have been a common thing back in the good ole days but with all of the people taking to the woods for hunting camping shed hunting etc I bet there are only a handful of places that this could even be possible. Love to hear about them!

Son

mtnmayhem · Oct 15, 2008

I have been backpacking in all but I think 2 of Colorado's wilderness areas. I would venture to say that only 2, maybe 3 of them would have deer that had never seen, heard, or smelled a human. I could be wrong though. In fact I know I am wrong, that is just my guess.

never_catch · Oct 15, 2008

Anywhere there's a deer that's never seen a human in it's life I would love to hunt!! But just so you're aware...deer like that don't exist in Utah!!

In case you didn't know we have a slight problem with our deer herd here...lol

~Z~

Christian · Oct 15, 2008

There are probably deer in Idaho's Frank Church Wilderness that haven't seen a human as there is winter range in there unlike many wilderness areas, where deer have to migrate out to winter. Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming have areas where deer can summer without ever seeing a person, however, most of these deer have to migrate to winter range which is always populated.
I've learned that no matter if a buck is hunted or not, he's hard to kill during fall hunting seasons. I've seen this on private land with virtually no hunting pressure and resident bucks. Come October before rut, good bucks get very hard to find and it has nothing to do with hunting pressure.

The Christian

BUCKSPY · Oct 15, 2008

Southwest deserts and possibly Canadian wilderness. I know one state where it doesn't occur because thousands of dink bucks hit the dirt for their first "human experience" every fall.

AZMIGHTYMULIES · Oct 15, 2008

I do believe parts of the northern arizona seldom get touched if not at all. Though over the past couple years these areas are getting more pressure.

Randy11 · Oct 15, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-08 AT 03:18PM (MST)[p]I hunt an area where i almost guarantee im the only human the deer ever see. Its not a wilderness area but is public land that has VERY limited access into.
I go into this area roughly 30 times a year, throughout the year and have never seen another person in there unless theyre with me. The country's too steep to travel through except for the old logging roads, and year around i find sheds lying in the middle of these roads in plain view. I usually find quite a few still during rifle season, its just a matter of whenever i get up there.

sonofthesouth · Oct 15, 2008

Once a few years ago on this ranch in central western NM my uncle found the skeleton of a man a horse and a large steer. All of the skeletons were bleached out and had all been there the same number of years, which were many. Only a few items were still recognizable in the mess; the pistol, rifle and knife the cowboy was carrying, the wooden tree and the metal parts of the saddle were there and that was about it. In talking to my uncle about it he said that what he thought happened was that that cowboy had roped the steer and they had gotten tangled up and fell and all died right there. He said that he had ridden by that little stand of trees several times in his life but this time he ?just went a little different? He still has the rifle pistol and knife and I have been to the now marked grave.

It wasn?t long ago that some of this country was still pretty wild and things like this happened more than one might think. I have been to half a dozen unmarked graves on this ranch and never cease to be humbled or amazed by the thought of these people and what life may have been like for them in such an unaccommodating country. I have asked my uncle if they ever figured out who the cowboy could have been; he just shrugged his shoulders and said that there would have been no way to do that, that ?the country was settled during the great depression and then the dust bowl under the Homestead act and that people just came and went, all that they left was little rock and log homes and a few lost loved ones?

I know that on one occasion there was a PBS special that was focused on the area and the Homesteaders act and referred to it as ?the most remote area in the continental US.? I know when I read stories on here about how many hunts are spoiled by other hunters or that someone ?hit the dirt and got the bi-pod out? or guys are hoping to be able to beat someone else up the hill after a single buck they have been watching or complaints about ?wheelers?, I cant relate, I NEVER see anyone else out there during season. I'm starting to get the idea that I'm more blessed than I thought!

FYI: Nearly all of those Homesteaders are gone now and the country is as empty as it has ever been but every two years they a reunion for the families that did try and carve out a life there and I have have seen nearly 1000 people show up at the little schoolhouse and remeber those folks, but those to are starting to fade away-that part IS too bad.

Son

never_catch · Oct 15, 2008

That's a badass story dude, thanks for sharing and yes you sound luckier than most hunters to know of and be able to hunt an area like that!! Keep killin the big ones buddy!!

~Z~

pokydeerhunter · Oct 15, 2008

Son - I love your country down there. I spent my summers there when I was a kid. My dad is from there and knows your dad well. I have many relative that still live there. I have seen your dad's buck in person and I dropped and lost Wyley's pocketknife in Jerry's pond about 25 years ago and he is still pissed about it. I would live down there in heartbeat if I could make a decent living. That area is in my blood and the history of the old-timers is amazing.

BCBOY · Oct 15, 2008

Son,
Up here in the great white north, I know for certain there are bucks that never encounter humans their entire lives. There is a lot of remote country here with zero access between summer and winter ranges. On top of that, heavy timber with thick understory of rhodo, devil's club and alder make for a great big buck fortress. Even if a human ventures into that thick crap, the chances of actually seeing a critter are slim to none. I am positive that true World Class giants live and die in this province and are never ever are seen by a human eye. You've seen the sheds I find, the rodents are vicious up here, the majority of tine is eaten up and all traces are gone forever.

AZMIGHTYMULIES · Oct 16, 2008

SON, WHAT HAPPEND TO THE THE "LIVING LEGEND" PICS. OF THAT
IMMACULATE BUCK. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS TO SHARE? I GOT A BUDDY THAT LIVES W/N YOUR VICINITY THAT HAS BEEN WATCHING AN AWESOME BUCK AS WELL, HE AND I ESTIMATE THIS MONSTER BEING 42-43' WIDE
AND SCORING IN THE 275' TO 280' RANGE. THAT COUNTRY OUT THERE
IS DEFINITELY SOME OF THE UTMOST REMOTE COUNTRY THAT I HAVE BEEN
TO.

BomberBlackies · Oct 16, 2008

AZ, dont know why or how the post was removed, but I was sent the pic nearly two years ago and ofcourse I kept it. Truly a gagger buck. Do you know anything about the buck except it is from NM? I cant believe the pic and post were taken dowm when the pic was 2 years old and there is a chance the buck is dead...one way or another.

Roy · Oct 16, 2008

I would really like to believe that is true! It is good to know we still live in a great big world! But, I think animals have more human interaction than we realize. Also, what counts as human interaction? Have they ever heard planes flying overhead, even flying low? Have they heard vehicles or smelled human scent? I would almost guarantee that they have had at least ONE of these things and thought hey haven't seen a human close up to know what it is - they still associate it with danger and that is why some of those big old boys are never seen! They KNOW what to hide from. Also just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they haven't seen you!

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

nmelktrout · Oct 16, 2008

Son, great story man. Pretty incredible. I have only been one place in the lower 48 where I have been around animals that were so wild that they seemed "tame." Sadly, it is a 200 thousand + acre ranch (that will go unnamed) covered in petroglyphs, ruins, wild burros, elk, deer, antelope, and a ton of other wildlife also here in NM. I go with the family members who still hunt it every couple of years and am always amazed when we call in bulls or walk up to old stock tanks surrounded by elk that simply stand and stare at us. Bulls that will come to calls and stand at 15 yards despite the fact that we are standing in the open. I've smacked a couple of bulls with rocks at close distance just to get them to stop coming and frankly, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. The bigger bulls are a bit more wise and the big muleys act like ghosts when we do see them. The big bucks are the only critters that seem to know to stay away from us which is interesting to me as they are not legally hunted but once or twice every few years. We will often see herds of burros and elk mixed in with each other and it is these mixed herds that are the hardest to stalk. The burros are wiley and spook easily, taking the elk with them. But, spook a burro in the thick stuff up close and you had better look out because they start acting nasty. We believe that the critters mix on the ranch due to a substantial cat problem and the fact that the burros can be so spooky and nasty? Calling early in the morning is a site to behold as the bulls will start screaming but are immediately drowned out by the braying of the burros.

It seems as if we only manage to hunt a small portion of the property every time as we typically harvest pretty quickly. But the times I've hiked into the "hell holes" I've found animals that I am positive have never before seen a human as they are so wild that they act tame, or even curious. Like your spot Son, this place is fairly mild climate wise, and has great winter and summer habitat. The animals are born, raised and die here. The biggest racks we have found were deadheads and were either lion kills or died of old age deep in the thick scrub oak or juniper graveyards that we have come across. I can't imagine the place ever being sold or developed...

CHARLIE404 · Oct 16, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Oct-16-08 AT 03:57PM (MST)[p]the country sounds cool. love the story

arliss · Oct 16, 2008

I've always been on the sidelines but I broke down and had to post on this subject-Its nice to know that there are some pieces of ground out there that are still that remote. kinda gives a guy some hope. Thanks for the post.