I
Idahobuckskin
Guest
Hey fellas,
First off, I'm going to come right out and say in the past two years I've been one of the majority who loves to glean information from this site (and I've been fascinated with some of the knowledgeable folks here) but who has rarely posted. Well, shame on me. I'd like to change that. This is a great site and it seems like the more people contribute the more we learn and have a good time. So for discussion (and to help me improve as a dyed in the wool southern Idaho muley hunter) I was wondering if anyone could tell me a couple of things:
First off, sometimes when I see a deer heading over the ridge, or hear or see it moving through the trees, or turning into thin air (you get the picture) my first reaction is to either run after it to get a shot off, or try to head it off thinking I can outsmart it, etc... (I feel I'm in good physical condition) but I don't know if this is the best approach. Does anybody else experience this? Does anyone know of the best approach to a deer once it's alerted of you and moving away? Keep in mind most of the time I'm hunting general season rifle so they usually have their minds made up and are moving at a good clip.
Second question- For those of you who set out in the darkness with a flashlight/headlamp (and I'm not talking starting to hike up when it's starting to get light- I mean darkness)- have you had trouble as far as pushing the deer before you can legally shoot? I'd like to get into this habit more but am afraid I'd either alert the deer too early to shoot or somehow see a buck I'd like to shoot and perhaps now he's taken off into the dark.
Anyway, this post is way too long and I don't know that I'd read it myself but would love any ideas on these questions. Thanks!
First off, I'm going to come right out and say in the past two years I've been one of the majority who loves to glean information from this site (and I've been fascinated with some of the knowledgeable folks here) but who has rarely posted. Well, shame on me. I'd like to change that. This is a great site and it seems like the more people contribute the more we learn and have a good time. So for discussion (and to help me improve as a dyed in the wool southern Idaho muley hunter) I was wondering if anyone could tell me a couple of things:
First off, sometimes when I see a deer heading over the ridge, or hear or see it moving through the trees, or turning into thin air (you get the picture) my first reaction is to either run after it to get a shot off, or try to head it off thinking I can outsmart it, etc... (I feel I'm in good physical condition) but I don't know if this is the best approach. Does anybody else experience this? Does anyone know of the best approach to a deer once it's alerted of you and moving away? Keep in mind most of the time I'm hunting general season rifle so they usually have their minds made up and are moving at a good clip.
Second question- For those of you who set out in the darkness with a flashlight/headlamp (and I'm not talking starting to hike up when it's starting to get light- I mean darkness)- have you had trouble as far as pushing the deer before you can legally shoot? I'd like to get into this habit more but am afraid I'd either alert the deer too early to shoot or somehow see a buck I'd like to shoot and perhaps now he's taken off into the dark.
Anyway, this post is way too long and I don't know that I'd read it myself but would love any ideas on these questions. Thanks!