Rizzy
WKR
I would like to hear some thoughts and experiences on busting mature Bucks (4+) out of their beds while scouting in the summer in high elevation OTC units.
Here's the recent scenario:
I went into an area I'm familiar with and have seen nice Bucks on a particular hillside while glassing from across the canyon for the last 3 seasons. I hike up onto the ridge the same way each time I go into the area, spend the night, and glass the hillside that evening and the next morning. This time as I was hiking out I spotted a Buck looking back at me about 50 yards away, it turned out to be a small 4 point that was with the biggest buck in the area that I usually see on the other mountain about half way up. I was going out the same way I came in the previous day and the Bucks were bedded on the bottom third of the mountain. For sure one of those unexpected situations that just happen.
My Opinion on it:
I'm pretty sure the big Buck will hide out for the rest season, but if I have time I will still give it a try anyway. Maybe he will "escape" to the bigger mountain that they are usually on. My past experiences with this have been mixed. I busted the bucks off the trail last year in June and found them in August out in the open in the usual location. However during the rifle season, I never saw the big one just the two smaller ones. I attempted a stalk on the big one 2 seasons ago and never saw him again the rest of that season. In fact he seems to have since avoided that particular rock slide altogether.
Here's the recent scenario:
I went into an area I'm familiar with and have seen nice Bucks on a particular hillside while glassing from across the canyon for the last 3 seasons. I hike up onto the ridge the same way each time I go into the area, spend the night, and glass the hillside that evening and the next morning. This time as I was hiking out I spotted a Buck looking back at me about 50 yards away, it turned out to be a small 4 point that was with the biggest buck in the area that I usually see on the other mountain about half way up. I was going out the same way I came in the previous day and the Bucks were bedded on the bottom third of the mountain. For sure one of those unexpected situations that just happen.
My Opinion on it:
I'm pretty sure the big Buck will hide out for the rest season, but if I have time I will still give it a try anyway. Maybe he will "escape" to the bigger mountain that they are usually on. My past experiences with this have been mixed. I busted the bucks off the trail last year in June and found them in August out in the open in the usual location. However during the rifle season, I never saw the big one just the two smaller ones. I attempted a stalk on the big one 2 seasons ago and never saw him again the rest of that season. In fact he seems to have since avoided that particular rock slide altogether.