Started out with a WY cow hunt.
I was hoping to punch this tag quick so I would have a few days to scout before my CO 4th season tag. I hired an outfitter and we were on the elk in no time.
I ended up having 2 1/2 days to scout mule deer in CO. I dropped off the elk at a processor in town. The first day I found a buck that I would target for the rest of my hunt.
Day 1 I located him with a group of does at first light. He quickly disappeared. I kept tabs on the does all day and didn’t see him again until last light. No time for a stalk.
Day 2. I found him with his girls first thing 1000 yards away. I closed the distance to 150 yards. I had the buck in my crosshairs for a second. He was trotting after a doe. No ethical shot opportunity. I stayed with the does and a 3x came out and bedded 150 yards from me. Ended getting some dry fire practice on him.
Day 3. Only saw a few deer(does). I only had one more day to hunt and I’m starting to worry. I talk to a buddy that evening to give him an update. He pumps me up and I’m confident for tomorrow.
Day 4. I find my target at first light a little over a mile away and 1000’ below. I get moving right away. There was a hill about 300 yards away from the buck. I made it to the backside of the hill get my gun ready and start sneaking in to shooting position. I’m in a good spot then all of a sudden two does blow out. WTF… then I hear a commotion to my right. I look and there’s two hunters 200 yards to my right walking towards the deer. I could hear snow crunching as they walked. I glassed the deer. The buck is still bedded. I range 310 yards. Put the gun on my tripod and the buck takes off with the does. Busted.
As I’m hiking back up the mountain to my truck in 6” of snow for 1 1/2 miles. I’m staying optimistic. Telling myself it happened for a reason. I head in to town a pick up the elk meat from the processor.
I decide to try a new area for my last evening. I get there around 2pm and start still hunting to where I want to set up. I was about 200 yards from my truck and I see a doe in the trees… then a buck. I get my gun up and wait for him to walk in to a shooting lane. I shoot offhand (60yards). He takes off running but, doesn’t go far.
I eventually get back to the truck and an elk hunter drives by and stops. He tells me he has pictures of my buck from while he was elk hunting the area. I asked for them.
I was hoping to punch this tag quick so I would have a few days to scout before my CO 4th season tag. I hired an outfitter and we were on the elk in no time.
I ended up having 2 1/2 days to scout mule deer in CO. I dropped off the elk at a processor in town. The first day I found a buck that I would target for the rest of my hunt.
Day 1 I located him with a group of does at first light. He quickly disappeared. I kept tabs on the does all day and didn’t see him again until last light. No time for a stalk.
Day 2. I found him with his girls first thing 1000 yards away. I closed the distance to 150 yards. I had the buck in my crosshairs for a second. He was trotting after a doe. No ethical shot opportunity. I stayed with the does and a 3x came out and bedded 150 yards from me. Ended getting some dry fire practice on him.
Day 3. Only saw a few deer(does). I only had one more day to hunt and I’m starting to worry. I talk to a buddy that evening to give him an update. He pumps me up and I’m confident for tomorrow.
Day 4. I find my target at first light a little over a mile away and 1000’ below. I get moving right away. There was a hill about 300 yards away from the buck. I made it to the backside of the hill get my gun ready and start sneaking in to shooting position. I’m in a good spot then all of a sudden two does blow out. WTF… then I hear a commotion to my right. I look and there’s two hunters 200 yards to my right walking towards the deer. I could hear snow crunching as they walked. I glassed the deer. The buck is still bedded. I range 310 yards. Put the gun on my tripod and the buck takes off with the does. Busted.
As I’m hiking back up the mountain to my truck in 6” of snow for 1 1/2 miles. I’m staying optimistic. Telling myself it happened for a reason. I head in to town a pick up the elk meat from the processor.
I decide to try a new area for my last evening. I get there around 2pm and start still hunting to where I want to set up. I was about 200 yards from my truck and I see a doe in the trees… then a buck. I get my gun up and wait for him to walk in to a shooting lane. I shoot offhand (60yards). He takes off running but, doesn’t go far.
I eventually get back to the truck and an elk hunter drives by and stops. He tells me he has pictures of my buck from while he was elk hunting the area. I asked for them.
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