I can’t for the life of me figure why we haven’t hunted out west earlier in our lives, but we will making the trip an annual adventure from here on out. After seeing a fair number of deer the first few days, on the morning of 4th day we were able find a pair of bucks that we would be more than happy with. They were feeding together with 6 other does and a few forkhorns approximately 850 yards below us on the border of private and BLM. As the group feed across the sagebrush, the 2 bucks split off from the rest of the group and ran straight to our position to bed in the aspen thicket 400 yards away.
We weren’t quite ready for a shot when they ran our way, and in the excitement of trying to get ready we lost track of them as they entered the aspens. After spending some time glassing below us I was able to relocate the pair as they settled into their beds. We were in a great position for a shot and now it became a waiting game for them to get up and mill around. After about a half hour the bucks stood up and we prepared for our shots. We both agreed that the first person with an opportunity would fire the first shot. Shortly the buck I was targeting came into an opening offering a perfect broadside shot, the other buck was standing near him quartering too behind a little brush. I confirmed with my hunting partner that I had a clear shot and that he was ready. It was a go, I flicked off the safety, steadied the crosshairs, and squeezed the trigger. BOOM, BOOM. We both missed and at the sound of the shots, both bucks ran out of the aspens into the open and stood broadside again no more than 5 yards apart. We both took aim and fired our second shots and redeemed ourselves with perfectly placed hits and watched both deer fall within a short distance. After the high fives and hugs, we worked our way down to the deer and realized we have a lot of work ahead of us.
We made good time quartering and hanging the quarters, and made the first trip back to camp with backstraps, tenderloins, neckmeat and the heads.We returned the following morning, deboned the 4 quarters to reduce weight and made the final pack out. This trip gave us everything that we could ever imagine and more for our first hunt for mule deer. Now the planning for next year has begun.
We weren’t quite ready for a shot when they ran our way, and in the excitement of trying to get ready we lost track of them as they entered the aspens. After spending some time glassing below us I was able to relocate the pair as they settled into their beds. We were in a great position for a shot and now it became a waiting game for them to get up and mill around. After about a half hour the bucks stood up and we prepared for our shots. We both agreed that the first person with an opportunity would fire the first shot. Shortly the buck I was targeting came into an opening offering a perfect broadside shot, the other buck was standing near him quartering too behind a little brush. I confirmed with my hunting partner that I had a clear shot and that he was ready. It was a go, I flicked off the safety, steadied the crosshairs, and squeezed the trigger. BOOM, BOOM. We both missed and at the sound of the shots, both bucks ran out of the aspens into the open and stood broadside again no more than 5 yards apart. We both took aim and fired our second shots and redeemed ourselves with perfectly placed hits and watched both deer fall within a short distance. After the high fives and hugs, we worked our way down to the deer and realized we have a lot of work ahead of us.
We made good time quartering and hanging the quarters, and made the first trip back to camp with backstraps, tenderloins, neckmeat and the heads.We returned the following morning, deboned the 4 quarters to reduce weight and made the final pack out. This trip gave us everything that we could ever imagine and more for our first hunt for mule deer. Now the planning for next year has begun.
