Joe2Kool
Very Active Member
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We started out hunting in the same area we hunted in 2020 (about 7000 feet) because we had seen some 4x4s then. In 2020, colder temps had probably forced a few down from the high elevations, but not this year, with daytime temps in the upper 70s.
Game biologist had told us that the area was missing 2-3 yr old deer. That was consistent with our observations as we saw lots of does, yearlings, and forkhorns. We made one excursion into the higher elevations (11,000 feet) but didn't really have time to learn the area. Live and learn, we shoulda started there. But, we went where we had previously seen deer, and it was hard to leave deer to go find deer.
Below are a few pics, along with a cast of characters. From left to right:
Hat Stomper (AKA Dan)
Zach Mule (AKA Zach)
The Rain Man (AKA Joe)
Ole Goat (AKA Larry)
And believe me, those radio handles are well-earned!
Zach Mule broke a 7 year deer killing drought by shooting a forkhorn with the same Weatherby 7mm that Ole Goat, Hat Stomper, and Wes (not in pic) had killed with. That made it 3 generations of successful deer hunters with the same gun.
An observation, a lot more hunters than in 2020. About 2/3rds were residents.
Game wardens at checking station told us they hadn't seen anything big come thru. Mostly forkhorns, with some 3X3s.
Anyway, we had a good time. Good food. And good memories.
Game biologist had told us that the area was missing 2-3 yr old deer. That was consistent with our observations as we saw lots of does, yearlings, and forkhorns. We made one excursion into the higher elevations (11,000 feet) but didn't really have time to learn the area. Live and learn, we shoulda started there. But, we went where we had previously seen deer, and it was hard to leave deer to go find deer.
Below are a few pics, along with a cast of characters. From left to right:
Hat Stomper (AKA Dan)
Zach Mule (AKA Zach)
The Rain Man (AKA Joe)
Ole Goat (AKA Larry)
And believe me, those radio handles are well-earned!
Zach Mule broke a 7 year deer killing drought by shooting a forkhorn with the same Weatherby 7mm that Ole Goat, Hat Stomper, and Wes (not in pic) had killed with. That made it 3 generations of successful deer hunters with the same gun.
An observation, a lot more hunters than in 2020. About 2/3rds were residents.
Game wardens at checking station told us they hadn't seen anything big come thru. Mostly forkhorns, with some 3X3s.
Anyway, we had a good time. Good food. And good memories.
