Calendar

“[[EventsCalendarLarge]]”

Studies

Studies of different states…

WAFWA   The mule deer working group

Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 

http://www.createstrat.com/muledeerinthewest/index2.html

NORTH AMERICAN

MULE DEER CONSERVATION

“This is a must read!  I’ve read it a number of times and find myself referring back to it often!”

 Steve Alderman, Founder MULE DEER COUNTRY.com

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/3794570C-A7C2-42A2-B12F-A045B9EA0608/0/NAMuleDeerConsPlanFinal.pdf

State Studies

IDAHO

IDAHO MULE DEER SURVEY 

“What Idahoans want as far as hunting is concerned”

The Mule Deer Initiative
Mule Deer for the Future

“Deer and Elk Interactions”

ISU/IDFG study Tex Creek elk-deer interactions

          

Tex Creek deer

Idaho State University and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are joining forces on a research project at the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area east of Idaho Falls to try to better understand how deer and elk populations affect one another.

Mule deer and elk populations in the Tex Creek WMA are mirroring what is happening to the populations of these species on a larger scale in many areas of the Rocky Mountain Region: Mule deer numbers are declining dramatically, while elk numbers are increasing.

While plenty of studies have documented that mule deer tend to avoid high densities of elk, the ISU/IDFG study is unique because it is attempting to answer the “so what?” questions, such as does this avoidance by the mule deer affect their overall productivity or survival. The answers will help biologists understand how to better manage big-game herds. The ISU researchers are biological sciences research professor Dr. John G. Kie and his biological sciences master’s student Paul Atwood.

I think the study is important because it looks at elk-deer competition here in eastern Idaho,” said Toby Boudreau, IDFG wildlife biologist and coordinator of the IDFG’s Mule Deer Initiative Program. “Over the past 15 years we’ve seen a marked increase in the number of elk and overall decrease in deer numbers at Tex Creek, and we don’t know exactly what the dynamics of that relationship is.”

          

Tex Creek elk herd

This winter,=2 0ISU researchers and IDFG biologists and technicians will start rounding up mule deer and elk in the WMA. They will be putting radio/global positioning system collars on 20 female mule deer and 18 female elk. Putting collars on animals this size, particularly the elk, is not an easy task. The animals will be herded by helicopter and driven into nets, be captured in nets shot out from helicopters or darted with a sedative, and then radio-collared. Biologists are radio-collaring the big-game animals to help them collect data on the animals’ behaviors for the next two years.

Over the last 15 to 20 years, wintering mule deer wintering on the Tex Creek WMA have fallen by about 50 percent to about 1,500 animals, while elk numbers have about doubled to around 5,000 animals, according to Atwood.

The radio/GPS collars on the deer record 12 locations per day. The collars are programmed to drop off the deer in about one year, and biologists will collect the collars and download the data. Then another 20 mule deer will be collared and the process will be repeated. The ISU researchers will also begin conducting monthly aerial surveys and will track the animals’ movements.

Elk are larger animals and can wear larger, heavier collars. The GPS collars on the elk will record six locations a day, and the collars will drop off in two years.

The biologists will be using the data downloaded from the collars to plot areas of high use by mule deer and elk on th e winter range. The ISU researchers also will be studying the juvenile survival rates of deer, and the physical condition of elk and deer. They will track the animals on their summer range, to study a number of other factors, such as to see if mule deer displaced by elk are more or less likely to raise single or twin fawns.

          

Wintering elk

“There’s good evidence that mule deer will avoid big concentrations of elk, but we’re looking at what effects that displacement cau ses,” Kie said. “There is direct and indirect competition between deer and elk. Elk can physically displace deer, but the elk may also be modifying the habitat the deer are using. We’ll be looking at the survival rates of the displaced deer, and we hope to continue with studies of competition on summer range.”

Deer/elk interactions are complex, and so is the management of both species. With more information, biologists will have more options available for effective management. For example, an obvious way to reduce elk numbers is to increase the number of hunting tags, the length of hunting seasons and access to hunting areas. However, this can have detrimental side effects, such as a negative perception of hunting by a portion of the public. If, for example, biologists found elk were pushing deer out of wintering areas at lower elevations, extended hunting seasons for elk at lower elevations could be implemented. An action such as this could potentially push elk out of the lower elevations. This would allow deer access to winter feed, and perhaps have elk take refuge at higher elevations.

Dr. Kie currently is serving as an ISU research professor as part of a long-term personnel assignment from the U. S. Forest Service.  His research interests include land-scape ecology and the ecology and management of large mammals such as elk, deer and moose. He has a particular interest in modeling animal movements as a way to explore their effects on ecosystems. He has won a=2 0number of professional awards, including the prestigious Olof C. Wallmo Award from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in recognition of outstanding contributions to knowledge and improved management of mule and black-tailed deer.

Atwood has conducted mule deer, elk and moose research for the IDFG for the last three years, including a winter at Tex Creek.

OREGON

Responses of Elk and Mule Deer to Habitat Grazed by Livestock 

COLORADO

  

FAWN LOCATING DEVICE

Left: The device’s wings hold it inside a doe’s birth canal until she goes into labor. Then the transmitter is expelled and broadcasts a signal that pinpoints the fawn’s location. Photo courtesy of Colorado Division of wildlife

MIKE WEEKS 2006

I’v asked Mike to write a story twice now and he finally told me to go ahead and write it.  Actually, he said he was to busy bone collecting to write the story!  So I will do my part.

I met Mike Weeks In the fall of 2006 when he was hunting the famed 45 unit in Idaho.  He was hunting with another guy that came from Texas as well.  His so called help who knew the area, weighed about 350lbs and after the first day of hunting couldn’t go any further due to the silver dollar sized blisters on his feet.  

Feeling sorry for Mike, I invited him to tag along with us for the rest of the season.  I mean you would feel sorry for this guy if you met him also!  He’s a red head and talks with a funny accent.  Mike is used to hunting whitetails, he’s out of shape because he sits in a blind and the list goes on and on.  You see, you would feel sorry for him too.  That is where this story begins.

OK mike,  you have one week to finish the story or I will!

YOU CAN SEE THIS HUNT ON THE NEW VIDEO BY CREEKSIDE MEDIA GROUP CALLED…                                                               ”’MULE DEER COUTRY’ KARMA.”    You can find here in the store

IDAHO SUPER TAG! Ross Rackliff

My Idaho Superhunt

(Luck has everything to do with it.) By Ross Rackliff

Lucky Hunter, Ross Rackliff!

Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good.

While this old adage applies to every kind of hunting, it’s perhaps even truer when it comes to big mule deer. 

It seemed that the more research I did on where – and how – to hunt big mule deer, the tougher it appeared to be. The complicated draw systems and preference points put in place by most western states made it difficult, if not impossible, to hunt a quality mule deer area. 

So when I read about the opportunity to apply for an Idaho Superhunt tag, I figured it was worth a shot. I have to confess that I had no idea what an Idaho Superhunt tag was until three days before the deadline. But I was looking for an opportunity to hunt big mule deer, and I figured a chance at this tag was worth rolling dice for.  So I sent in six tickets (yes, just six tickets!) and forgot about it. 

I was in for a surprise several weeks later when I got home to a message on my answering machine from Idaho Fish and Game. “Congratulations…” it began. I had to listen to the message three times before it finally started to sink in. I’d pulled a tag for an Idaho Superhunt for mule deer!

Doing my homework

As excited as I was to win this once in a lifetime opportunity, I knew I’d have to get busy trying to figure out how to put together a hunt in Idaho from my home in Massachusetts. 

First, I combed through every magazine article I could get my hands on about mule deer hunting in Idaho. I sifted through all the information available on the Idaho Fish and Game website. And I started making calls, beginning with a few Idaho game biologists. They were very helpful, and I learned a lot about different units, and what to expect. 

I’d heard a lot about the quality of bucks in Unit 45, and in speaking to one biologist about it, he recommended that I call Steve Alderman. “Steve pulled a Superhunt tag, too,” he said. “He might talk to you about Unit 45. Then again, he might not.”

I thought, what the heck, I don’t have anything to lose. So I picked up the phone. 

Turns out that Steve would talk to me about hunting mule deer. His passion and enthusiasm was contagious, and I think he took pity on me being from Massachusetts. When he invited me to come out and scout with him in late July, I jumped at the chance.  So far, my luck was holding.

Opening day success!

 Scouting mission.

I flew out to Idaho for three days of scouting with Steve, and we were joined by Les Gargan and Joe Pennington. For three days we glassed for deer both morning and late afternoon. And I learned pretty quickly the importance of good optics when it comes to glassing out west. My small spotting scope, or as Steve put it, my “pocket scope” wasn’t quite up to the task of spotting game at longer distances. And Steve never passed up an opportunity to give me a hard time about it.   However, “pocket scope” or not, we saw more bucks than I could keep track of, a few over 200 inches, and several more over 180. 

I was excited about the opportunity to come back out during hunting season and look for one of these tremendous bucks. Steve must have taken pity on me and my tiny spotting scope, because he told me that whenever I was ready to come back out and hunt, I was welcome to join him.

My Dad, getting in on the action.

The hunt

I decided to hunt the rifle season in unit 45, and planned to spend as much time hunting with Steve in Idaho as it took to connect on a big mule deer. I flew in on the Tuesday before the rifle opener, and met Steve, Les, and Joe for dinner. 

We talked about the next day’s hunt, and planned to spend just a few hours the first morning of the hunt glassing for deer. Then we’d take the time to sight in our rifles, have some lunch and get back out in the afternoon. I didn’t know it then, but that plan wasn’t going to hold.

We rode the four-wheeler to the top of a canyon, and started glassing. Right away, we spotted several does, as well as a 4 x 3 buck. The deer were well over 800 yards away, and we kept scouring the canyon for other deer.

We were about ready to pick up and move on when Les exclaimed, “There he is! There he is! There he is!” Apparently, Les had a spotted a buck, and he was a pretty good one.

It took Steve and I just a few moments to find the buck in our spotting scopes, (I bought a new 20-60 x 80 just so I wouldn’t look like a dork from the East).  Even from 600-plus yards, and bedded in the shade, he looked like a very good buck. No wonder Les sounded so excited. The question was, just how good was he? 

Steve and I talked about it, and we decided that in order to find out how good this buck really was, we’d have to get around him and come in for a closer look. 

We circled wide to get around the buck and find a better vantage point, but couldn’t see where he was bedded under the rim of the canyon. Steve crept back along the rim, and peered over and around several outcroppings, trying to find the buck. As we watched through binos, Steve suddenly squatted down and backed off. The hand signals he was sending weren’t hard to figure out. “He wants you to kill this buck.” Les said.

Shoot. And keep shooting.  

As Steve backed off from the buck (he was almost on top of it when he saw it) the buck got up from his bed and started bouncing down into the bottom of the canyon. All I saw was a high, wide rack at first. And then the buck; big-bodied, high-racked, and… moving. I didn’t want to risk a shot at him then, and knew (prayed?) that he would stop at the bottom of the canyon. It would be a long shot, but doable. I don’t know what Les was telling me to do (we were all pretty excited at this point) but I lay on the ground and tried to get as steady as I could.

The buck did stop at the bottom of the canyon, and I found him in my scope. I asked Les how far he was. “Three fifty.” Was his reply. A little farther than I’d wanted to shoot, but I felt confident in my rest, and in my rifle. I held the 300-yard crosshairs high on his chest and slowly squeezed the trigger. 

The gun went off, and I saw the deer react as though he’d been hit hard. Les and Steve also thought the hit was good, and the deer looked like he was going to go down. We were waiting for him to topple over, but he didn’t. I found him in my scope again, and tried to put another bullet in his vitals. And kept trying as he slowly worked his way out of that canyon. It was obvious the buck was hit very hard, but I was extremely disappointed that the shot wasn’t as good as we’d first thought. 

Steve wouldn’t be discouraged, though. “We’ll find this buck.” he told me.

(Confession time: Steve had to drive me back to my motel room for more ammo. How many times did I shoot at the buck? More than once, but less than a dozen. I’ll leave it at that.)

We drove around to the other side of the canyon, and found his blood trail pretty quickly. It was encouraging, but I still wasn’t confident we’d find him. We’d find blood, follow it, and lose it again. 

We kept going to the head of the canyon, and it kept narrowing down until it was nothing but a steep ravine less than a hundred yards across. Steve started going back down the along the edge of the ravine, peeking over the edge. I followed, hoping against hope that we’d find this buck.

Finally, two does bounced up out of the ravine. Could the buck be close by? I thought so, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Then Steve ducked down and motioned to me. He was pointing over the edge of the ravine, and I knew he’d found the buck. Now all I had to do was close the deal.

The end to a great hunt!

I laid down and steadied the crosshairs behind the buck’s shoulder. At the shot, the buck lunged out of his bed and toppled over. An incredible feeling of relief washed over me as I stood up to look down at the buck. We all made it down to the buck and marveled at the height and mass of this great buck. He was a true toad, with backs over 21 inches long, really good mass, and several abnormal points on both sides. In my mind, this buck had it all. (He grossed scored 197.)

Regardless of what the buck scored, I felt lucky — no, blessed — to have been able to take this buck. And lucky to have found Steve, Les, and Joe who were gracious enough to share this beautiful mule deer country with me. Their passion for mule deer, and sheer enjoyment in seeing me take this “super” buck, made this experience one I’ll never forget.

I plan on being back, with a Superhunt tag in my pocket and my big spotting scope in my pack . I mean, how tough can it be to pull a Superhunt tag?

“Culling out the Herd”

Culling out the herd!

I moved here from Texas in 1997, and have been hunting in the mountains of Idaho for the past 11years. The transition of hunting in box stands, on flat lands, to the rugged country in this awesome state was very BRUTAL in the beginning years. It didn’t take me long to hear of the bucks in the famed Unit 45. After applying for the controlled hunt for 10 consecutive years, my lotto number was finally drawn in 2008. I may not have won millions of dollars, but this hunt was the next best thing!

It was a 14 day muzzleloader hunt that took place during the beginning of October. This was my first muzzleloader hunt ever, and my good friend Les Gargan was kind enough to let me use his .45 cal. Markesbury. After begging for time off from work, I had the entire 2 weeks off to play. The first few days of the hunt were incredible. I saw many great bucks during the beginning of my hunt, but after hearing what lurks about in those hills, and seeing the great footage in the Lowland Mulies videos, I knew that I needed to set my standards higher than normal. Not to mention, it took so dang long to get a tag!

After 9 days of trekking through the high dessert rocky canyons, I must have passed up on 50+ bucks. Some cold spells came through that brought in a little snow, and a lot more selection. Exaggeration? Not even! Some Texans may be known to tell big ole campfire stories, but that’s no bull! That was probably the hardest part of my hunt. It wasn’t that it was hard to find nice bucks, the stressor was deciding on when to pull the trigger. My days were getting numbered. I only had 5 more days to seal the deal, and I had already passed on some great bucks. Some met my standards, but things just didn’t work out for me and I missed the opportunity. It was tough sleeping at night with the thoughts of the one that got away, and should I have pulled the trigger nightmares.

It was time to use my “Life Line”. My good bud Les Gargan arrived at camp on the night of day 9. He is more familiar with the area and joined up with me to help me scout out a different location. We started off bright and early on the 10th day. The quad ride from camp to the start of our journey was cold and dusty. We hiked through several miles of hard, frozen, rock beds before daylight started creeping up on the horizon. Not wanting to spook off too many animals before light, we headed for higher ground. We chose a spot high up on a bluff over-looking a lot of wide open spaces. Spotting scopes and bino’s out, the search began. We glassed our surroundings for about 2 hours. During that time we spotted a couple of potential prospects. Although Les didn’t want to settle for the first thing we saw, I had my heart set on a mature buck that appeared to be a huge 4×3. He had a whitetail-like frame on his left antler, great height, good width, and very nice mass. There was something protruding out the side of the right antler. I tried to grow a kicker on that side, but I just wasn’t sure. After looking him over for about an hour, I decided that we should take a closer look. There was a smaller buck tagging along side of him, and a couple of doe. We patiently waited for them to bed down in some rocks, and then planned our route to take a peek.

Crawling on our bellies, we got close enough into range to view the old buck through the bino’s, but at a safe distance. It didn’t take me long to decide that I was satisfied with what was handed to me. It’s show time!
We got into shooting range of where the buck was bedded in some rocks. Although he was not into view yet, we sat behind some sage brush to go over the playbook. That’s when we came up with…THE PLAN! I moved into a good shooting position, slightly elevated from where the buck was bedded. I was close enough that I could see the top of his antlers but his head and body were out of sight. I was ready. Breathing…CHECK. Hammer cocked…CHECK. Calm…HECK NO, but good as it gets! Les ready with a big rock…CHECK! What…a rock? That’s where the PLAN comes in. Les throws the rock to jump the buck off of his bed. I envisioned the buck to jump up, trot out into the open to take a peek around to see what just woke him up, then he’s mine. The rock flew, noise sounded, the buck jumped up, and went into open just like I had dreamed he would. Only one problem with the plan. It was the wrong buck! During our stalk, the smaller buck had swapped positions with the larger buck. The larger buck busted shortly after, but at a distance that was out of range. I got to watch him trot over the hill and vanish. Camera still rolling, and me sprinting over to the hills edge, he was gone just as quickly as he appeared!

Head hanging low, and time still ticking, we spent the rest of the day searching for a bigger buck. We came across many bucks that I would have taken in a heartbeat in a general hunt, but after what I saw that morning I wasn’t going to settle for anything less. It was getting late, about 5pm, and it would be getting dark soon. We started our journey back to the quads. When we got back to the area where I had lost the buck, we decided to sit down and take one last look around. My mind kept drifting back to how I had blew it, and what I could have done better. Still determined, we continued to glass the area. Far off in the distance below the cliffs, I spotted a buck bedded down up against a big rock cluster. Nothing was visible but his head. He was tucked in nicely behind some sage. I busted out the spotting scope and took a closer look. IT WAS HIM! The buck that got away. That was the sign that I needed to confirm that he was the buck that was meant to be. Except this time, no mistakes!
We had to move fast. Only an hour and a half of daylight left. We closed in, Les set up the video cam, and I started crawling. No rock throwing this time. I crawled into position. After laying there for several minutes, the buck got nervous and busted out of his bed. He ran about 30 yards uphill, turned broad side, and gave me the look that I had been waiting for all day. Ka-boom! It wasn’t the prettiest shot I’ve ever made, but it got the job done! It was a dream come true!

Les and I hiked back to the quads in the dark and got a good nights sleep. We made a quick call to Steve Alderman, and he was eager to join in on the pack the next morning. Steve helped with photos and performed a gross score on the buck in the field. The width measured in at 27 1/4in. Typical 4×3 with a whitetail-like frame that measured 25in on the main beams, and the bases measured at 7 inches. Gross score on this buck was ~188in. I remember Steve’s words after we finished the photo shoot. He looked up at me and said, “Beautiful buck, Thanks for Culling out the herd!” Ha. Well, call it what you will, I was ecstatic with my new trophy and I can only dream that I’ll draw the tag again someday. It was the greatest hunt that I have even been on. Thanks to Steve and Les for helping me with the pack on that cold, rainy day! I hope to return the favor of pack mule someday.

BROADHEADS

WAC’EM  

Broadhead company

4-8-2009

I remember buying two or three different types of three bladed broadheads when I first started archery hunting and trying to find one that I could be confident shooting. It was frustrating because I just never knew if that broadhead was going to fly true or not. I shot two bladed broadheads for years because I couldn’t find a three blade head that wouldn’t plain out and that I could  shoot with confidence. The family owned and operated company WAC’EM ARCHERY BROADHEADS have really done their homework designing a top notch product. WAC’EM was designed by a person who was tired of not being confident with the broadheads he was shooting. Just think how many hours you hunt and it all comes down to that particular second when you release that arrow.  It’s nice knowing that you can count on your broadhead.  The Triton is the broadhead that I have been hunting with for Deer, Elk, Antelope and Bear for the last few years. I can’t say enough positive things about the quality of this broadhead.  I can shoot the WAC’ EM broadhead better than I can shoot my field tips and that’s no guff. The penetration is incredible and the blades are extremely durable. I have shot these broadheads for the last couple of years multiple times into my Morrell Yellow Jacket Broadhead target and I haven’t had any problems with the blades breaking off.  If any of you have used the Morrell broadhead target you know how hard these targets are. The blades are easily replaceable.  I keep practice blades around and when its time to go hunting,  I replace the blades with Tritons that are new or sharpened. The broadhead’s tip have never failed me when shooting game and the blades have never broken off or folded when penetrating into or through game. Most importantly, my confidence has never been better.  I know if I can make the shot, the WAC’ EM broadhead will be exactly where I place my pin when I release that arrow. I haven’t tried the Triton XL yet but can’t wait for the opportunity.  It is the same design as the Triton with just a little bigger and thicker blade for a better cutting diameter.  Check out the WAC’EM web site at WWW.WACEMARCHERY.COM and find a dealer near you.  You have to give these a try.  You’ll be happy you did.  The WAC’EM web site is put together well and easy to use. Keep up the excellent job at WAC’EM and good luck hunting.  You have made my favorite sport even better.… 

Thanks, Jake Shea

WAC’EM ARCHERY PRODUCTS
1473 South 350 West
Payson, Utah 84651

The Wac’em Triton

Available in 85, 100, & 125 grain
1 1/32″ Cut Diameter
.027″ Replaceable Blades
100% Hardened Stainless Steel
Cut on Impact Head
Sharpens on Any Flat Stone
Unmatched Penetration

The Wac’em Triton XL

Available in 100 & 125 grain
1 1/4″ Cut Diameter
.030″ Replaceable Blades
100% Hardened Stainless Steel
3 Blade Cut on Impact Head
Sharpens on Any Flat Stone
Unmatched Penetration

The Wac’em Exit

Available in 85, 100 & 125 grain
1 1/16″ Cut Diameter
.027″ Replaceable Blades
100% Hardened Stainless Steel
4 Blade Cut on Impact Head
Sharpens on Any Flat Stone
Unmatched Penetration
True Field Tip Accuracy
 

Conservation

Mule Deer Conservation coming here soon…

Hunting Articles

IS TROPHY HUNTING

DRAINING OUR GENE POOL?

BY JIM HEFFELFINGER

Hunters in the U.S. and Canada are the driving force behind the most amazing system of wildlife conservation ever developed. Because of its resounding success, this North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is now being applied in other countries. Unfortunately, this is a largely untold story as most of the public thinks their government takes care of wildlife using their tax dollars. There is a serious lack of understanding and appreciation for the true history of wildlife conservation. Even after learning about this fantastic story, some cannot reconcile the benefits of this system with their emotional qualms about wildlife being killed. Not everyone needs to be a hunter, but the superiority of this conservation model is undeniable. 

With emotions come criticisms. Critics of hunting try desperately to find any information that can be played to their favor. A single action of an inconsiderate or unethical hunter is portrayed as the norm. Likewise, any scientific finding that shows any negative effect of hunting is paraded in the popular press with all sorts of far-reaching generalizations and poetic license. Trophy hunting is one of their most frequent targets. Let’s explore the charge that hunters are negatively affecting the gene pool of the very species they strive to conserve.

Three factors are necessary to produce animals with qualities (such as antler size) far above average for their species. Age, nutrition, and genetics all work together to determine whether an animal is a trophy.  Age is the most obvious and easily understood portion of the equation; we learned long ago that antler, tusk, and horn size increases with age. Likewise, the European game keepers in the 14th century were already writing about the importance of goodnutrition to antler size. These are not new ideas. But the third factor, genetics, is where our knowledge has increased exponentially in recent decades. Read more

Fish & Game Websites

Click Links for Fish and Game Websites

Idaho

IDAHO FISH AND GAME REGULATIONS FOR 2009  (Click link below)

  http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/rules/bg/

IDAHO FISH AND GAME PROPSALS FOR 2009 (click link below)

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/public/

IDAHO AND MONTANA TO HUNT WOLVES THIS FALL (clink link below)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/689440.html

Colorado

COLORADO CUTS DEER AND ELK TAGS!  (Clink link below)

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/05/07/050809_2a_elk_deer_licenses.html

Oregon

Wyoming

Montana

Nevada

Nevada deer numbers down this year!    (click link)

 http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12339147?nclick_check=1

Utah

New Mexico

Arizona

Kansas

The Amazing Hunt

The Amazing Hunt

By Zack Braiser

The day of my hunt was Sunday.  I woke up early at my dad’s house at about five a.m.  I ate a snack and then we packed up and went to go get gas in the truck.  By the time we left the gas station I was pumped up and ready to hunt my first doe.  We arrived in Glenn’s Ferry at about six thirty a.m. and I met Steve Alderman, the producer for Mule Deer Country and one of his videographers, Joe Pennington.  We headed out to King Hill where I planned to hunt my first deer.  When we got up there, we put on our jackets and hopped in the Polaris ranger.  We drove up the two track road for a mile or so to a great spot Steve knew held a number of mule deer.  We spotted some nice does and bucks. Next we saw a herd of  does coming down a small hill.  We hunkered down and waited for the deer to cross over to us but then as we looked to the left we saw a kid  and his dad get out of their car and take a couple of shots at the deer we were watching.  The kid missed the shots and then he and his dad left the area along with all the deer he spooked.  Next, we gathered up our gear to try and cut off the frightened deer.  We walked up the side of the mountain and as soon as we walked around the corner of the hill we saw some bucks and few does.  We looked over all of the deer and chose a dry old doe that was perfect for me.  I laid my gun on the tripod and got ready to take my shot.  I fired and the first shot went over her.  I guess she didn’t see that first shot and it a few more to take down my first deer.  We all took a minute to celebrate and then we walked up the hill to get the first look at this great doe. Joe filmed me as I approached the deer and we took some pictures and video.  The guys taught me how to field dress a deer and then hauled her back to the truck in the Polaris Ranger.  We went back to town for breakfast and then we went to Steve’s dads house to finish taking care of the doe.  Me and my dad headed back to Boise and made plans to take the deer to the butcher the next morning.  What an amazing hunt.     

The end

 

Next Page »