Where Have All the Deer Gone?

[idmountaineer]

Been hunting over the past month and have come to the end with no success. Didn't even get off a shot.

How has everyone elses' hunting seasons been?
idmountaineer.blogspot.com/

[gregorio]

Cats here I think, Not many deer, Not like a few years ago, western Washington.

[idmountaineer]

I have seen cats in the canyon I have pictured, so maybe that's why I didn't see much. The only two deer I saw were on top of the canyon when I was in the bottom with no way out to get to them.

[TurkeyCreek]

Just finished ML season here in Oklahoma. The weather really stinks; hot and WINDY AS THE DICKENS!!! Could have filled both my buck an doe tags opening morning and decided to wait for "something better".  Boy was THAT a dumb mistake. We have regular season that opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving so I'm pinning my hopes on that. Good luck to the rest of you fellers.

[TurkeyCreek]

P.S. - I like the picture Matt.

[idmountaineer]

I guess though I should have said I'm done with deer season. There are still a few elk hunts so hopefully I can get some camp meat then.

[teakmtn]

Hey Matt, I did OK. got a smaller freezer buck after 3 weeks of tromping over, down, up and around. The unit I hunted use to be a top Mulie area. Tough to get to and hard to hunt, but worth the effort. At least it used to be. After almost 3 weeks and seeing nothing but Antelope, Rocky Mtn Sheep (all ewes), a few doe and fawn and lots of cows. I finally talked to a local cowboy, and he said "yep, they are all down on the home ranch, last count 137 deer in the alfalfa fields". Seems to find out, 2 years ago they put in the first pivot irrigation fields in the unit and the deer would rather be down there vs up on the mountain like they used to be. Anyway, I had some quality time solo in the mountains of North West Nevada. The Pine Forest Range, in the Knott Creek Wilderness Area. I think you may be familiar with the area, 25 miles south of Denio, NV, which is right on the Idaho border.

The only bad thing was on opening day, I fell off a peak and broke my flinter (54 cal Wheeler Trade rifle) and tore my MCL and Meniscus tendon in my left knee. Fortunately, I had a backup rifle (50 cal half stock percussion) and Ace bandages. It felt good to have a nip and hit the Buffalo Robe that night! So, after not seeing any horns at all, after 19 days, I shot the first buck I saw. Fortunately it got nice and cool in the evenings, meat is perfect! I learned some new things, reinforced some old lessons and had a ball. I did not know they have Tarantulas out there! And they liked to share my pillow with me!

I wish I had a camera as I had two pretty good camps, one in a pretty nice little basin and the other at the mouth of a deep and steep gorge which opened up into a beautiful green meadow surrounded by vast miles of Sage Brush vistas. Amazing Sunsets and serenaded by Coyote, Chucker and Quail every night. All and all a good trip.

Doug T.

[idmountaineer]

Glad to hear someone has had some success. Sorry about your flinter and knee. You are one tough fellow to stick it out, sure would admire sharing a camp with you someday. I'm not familiar with the country you were in; the farthest West I've been is the Jarbidge Wilderness. While working just East of there a few years ago I found a little scorpion but never any tarantulas. I think I'd squeal like a little girl if I found one in my bed. I remember once having a Mormon Cricket try to climb in my mouth at night, YIKES!

[TurkeyCreek]

That must've been a pretty nasty fall Doug!  Praying that your knee heals up real soon! And I sure hope you can repair that ole flinter too. At least you're blessed with some meat in the freezer. Sure wish I lived close to you fellers; I think we could have some real good times! Maybe someday I can get the family moved back up there. In the mean time just keep sharing your adventures with us.

[Duane]

Doug sorry to hear about your bad luck,I remember you telling me that you had bought the Wheeler,I hope your rifle can be fixed and that you knee heals well.

[Duane]

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