The following text was forwarded as part of a newsletter I get from a guide named Jonesy (jackson hole outfitters)
http://www.JacksonHoleOutfitters.com . He does a good job for his clients and always kills nice bucks. Thoguht I'd share his take on the season......
"Hi all,
We finished our mule deer hunt and I have been so incredibly busy I haven't had time to write a report.
Brief summary is that we killed 24 bucks by the 37 hunters. Some were really good bucks, some were just bucks. Average size was less than normal. We killed one 30 incher and several 28+ inchers, some of them really good ones.
We only saw 4 whopper bucks in the whole season, whereas we usually see 4 per week between the bunch of hunters. I have only heard of two really big bucks coming out of the whole Greys River area this year.
Why the smaller size overall? Two factors, in my opinion. One, we had a rather severe winter on the winter range this past winter. About 30% of the adult deer died, about 70% of the fawns. Those who didn't die were stressed, so it took them a while to repair and then begin to grow antlers. Stress in winter means smaller antlers in the fall.
Second, we had a wet summer. I have seen it before, that a wet summer seems to produce smaller antlers in the fall. My speculation is that the vegetation grows faster, therefore there are fewer nutrients per bite than when the vegetation grows slower. Slow growth has more concentrated
nutrients. I was talking with a cattleman the other day and he confirmed that where cattle are concerned. With lush green fast-growing vegetation they don't put on weight as fast as when the vegetation grows slower.
Anyway, we did see a number of good bucks that will be trophy class for next year, so here's hoping for a mild winter and a dryer summer in 2005.
I will write my success report as soon as I can get some time and will send you a copy and also post it on my website.
Jonesy
?America is a great country, the harder you work the luckier you get.?
five_point_buck
AKA Larry Pasero Jr.