trophymuley
Active Member
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-12 AT 03:23PM (MST)[p]
I have been reading alot of posts here and on other websites talking about all the big deer shot here in Utah. let me assure you that this year was definitely an above average year. it was not because of the management plan set in motion this year. and it is most certainly not because there are just monsters wandering the hills here. with a little wildlife research you will find some important information that could help you.
i have been a pretty avid muley hunter since i was old enough to walk. (those who know me would agree) there are multiple reasons why the deer were so big this year in utah. first off, spring of 2011 was one of the wettest springs regionally in a long while. Wet spring equals lots of vegetation growth meaning plenty of good feed for the wildlife. second factor; winter of 2011 (dec 2011-feb 2012)was one of the mildest winters we had in a long time. less snow equals more access to vegetation growth from the previous spring, which in this case was in abundance. overall meaning the deer had one of the easiest winters to date. easy winter=healthy deer. healthy deer = good antler growth for the upcoming year. We may have had a solid drought year but. the time of year deer are scrounging for vegetation is when its covered in snow during the winter. they will find vegetation during the spring and summer of drought years just fine. its the following winter range that is effected by a drought. Another major factor to this being an amazing year for hunting was the plethora of snowfall during the actual hunt. lots of snow will push deer out of their normal patterns and bring them down lower in elevation where there are more hunters. as well as the combination of cold and snow that triggers pre rut doe chasing. this causes alot of bucks to go into "rutting mode" rather than there normal hide and be safe sitting. in short. God couldn't have planned out the seasons better to provide us with such an optimal year for big deer. Now, due to the harsh drought, if we do end up having a bad winter this year, antler growth will suffer and we will be seeing alot less growth next year. the real secret. follow weather patterns from the previous year and you will see a greater average in deer size in light winter areas
last years harvested deer are not a good comparison on where to hunt the following year. I have heard multiple people talking about going hunting next year in the areas they have seen pictures of a big buck shot. this makes me giggle. every year is different. you wont find the same huge buck in the same draw year after year. many of you already know this. others who see pictures of big deer and plan on hunting that same spot the following year, save yourself the hassle, he wont be there he's already dead.
"I've hunted almost every day of my life, The rest have been wasted"
I have been reading alot of posts here and on other websites talking about all the big deer shot here in Utah. let me assure you that this year was definitely an above average year. it was not because of the management plan set in motion this year. and it is most certainly not because there are just monsters wandering the hills here. with a little wildlife research you will find some important information that could help you.
i have been a pretty avid muley hunter since i was old enough to walk. (those who know me would agree) there are multiple reasons why the deer were so big this year in utah. first off, spring of 2011 was one of the wettest springs regionally in a long while. Wet spring equals lots of vegetation growth meaning plenty of good feed for the wildlife. second factor; winter of 2011 (dec 2011-feb 2012)was one of the mildest winters we had in a long time. less snow equals more access to vegetation growth from the previous spring, which in this case was in abundance. overall meaning the deer had one of the easiest winters to date. easy winter=healthy deer. healthy deer = good antler growth for the upcoming year. We may have had a solid drought year but. the time of year deer are scrounging for vegetation is when its covered in snow during the winter. they will find vegetation during the spring and summer of drought years just fine. its the following winter range that is effected by a drought. Another major factor to this being an amazing year for hunting was the plethora of snowfall during the actual hunt. lots of snow will push deer out of their normal patterns and bring them down lower in elevation where there are more hunters. as well as the combination of cold and snow that triggers pre rut doe chasing. this causes alot of bucks to go into "rutting mode" rather than there normal hide and be safe sitting. in short. God couldn't have planned out the seasons better to provide us with such an optimal year for big deer. Now, due to the harsh drought, if we do end up having a bad winter this year, antler growth will suffer and we will be seeing alot less growth next year. the real secret. follow weather patterns from the previous year and you will see a greater average in deer size in light winter areas
last years harvested deer are not a good comparison on where to hunt the following year. I have heard multiple people talking about going hunting next year in the areas they have seen pictures of a big buck shot. this makes me giggle. every year is different. you wont find the same huge buck in the same draw year after year. many of you already know this. others who see pictures of big deer and plan on hunting that same spot the following year, save yourself the hassle, he wont be there he's already dead.
"I've hunted almost every day of my life, The rest have been wasted"
