dryflyelk
Active Member
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OK guys, my preseason scouting turned up a dandy buck the other night. I am exited about this big guy and I'm looking for tips on closing the deal come opening morning or evening of archery season. he's about a 28" deer with great fronts and tall but weak forks in back. He's definitely a wall hanger in my book.
I found him glassing a high mountain basin above timberline. I positioned myself on one of the ridges looking down into the bowl. The bowl is a typical high mountain, above timberline area. The steeper parts are covered in rock and toward the bottom, there is a lot of brush and a few smallish quakies. Not a real bowl, I guess, but a high mountain valley, as it empties into a valley below. I first spotted several does and a fawn playing in the bottom of the basin. I watched them for a bit and then a few smaller bucks showed themselves. They were nervous and bouncing around like something was bugging them. They ended up feeding over the other side of the basin. I was about to leave, but hiked down the ridge a bit, and ended up spotting a the big guy bedded toward the bottom of the basin. He was in the open, or so it appeared from above, and was relaxed and watching down the mountain. I watched him until dark, and he didn't budge.
I'm definitely going to try and get up there and check him out a few more times before the hunt, but I'd like to see if any of you guys have any experience putting the sneak on deer like this. It will be very difficult, but I don't think impossible. I could also have a friend spot for me. What would you do? Come from the bottom, more wooded, areas, or from the top, more wide open and rocky? Any tips?
I found him glassing a high mountain basin above timberline. I positioned myself on one of the ridges looking down into the bowl. The bowl is a typical high mountain, above timberline area. The steeper parts are covered in rock and toward the bottom, there is a lot of brush and a few smallish quakies. Not a real bowl, I guess, but a high mountain valley, as it empties into a valley below. I first spotted several does and a fawn playing in the bottom of the basin. I watched them for a bit and then a few smaller bucks showed themselves. They were nervous and bouncing around like something was bugging them. They ended up feeding over the other side of the basin. I was about to leave, but hiked down the ridge a bit, and ended up spotting a the big guy bedded toward the bottom of the basin. He was in the open, or so it appeared from above, and was relaxed and watching down the mountain. I watched him until dark, and he didn't budge.
I'm definitely going to try and get up there and check him out a few more times before the hunt, but I'd like to see if any of you guys have any experience putting the sneak on deer like this. It will be very difficult, but I don't think impossible. I could also have a friend spot for me. What would you do? Come from the bottom, more wooded, areas, or from the top, more wide open and rocky? Any tips?