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In decades of hunting for big mule deer, I’ve learned that once a buck reaches four years of age his temperament begins to change. He becomes much more cautious, deliberate in action, and seems to lose his affinity for the wide open (in hunted populations).  He’ll react to every disturbance in his environment—always choosing the side of caution—even if his cohorts stand and stare.  In short, he won’t let you get away with much…

Also, it’s not too late to get entered for the First Lite Uncompahgre Puffy Jacket giveaway.  Here are the rules again…

There are three easy steps to enter:

1) If you’re not already a Rok Blog subscriber, click on “Subscribe to blog” top right of page under Fitness/Other

2) If you haven’t already, “Like” First Lite’s FB page here

3) Post in the comments section below on any day of this hunt (use first and last name or Rokslide forum screen name) .  Not a Rokslide member? click here 

I’ll draw from those lists within about a week of the last post of this hunt (only Ryan Avery and me know how long this hunt goes, so don’t wait too long to enter.)

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Robby Denning
Robby Denning
Robby Denning started hunting mule deer in the late 1970’s, only missing one season in 35 years. At 25, he gave up the pursuit of all other big-game to focus on taking the best bucks possible. He began hunting the West on a DIY budget hunting an average of 30 days a year for mule deer. Robby loves the hunt as much as the kill and the entire process from research to scouting to hunting. He’s killed four bucks over 200 inches in the last 15 seasons, mostly on easily-obtained tags. He owns a public-land scouting service and runs a private-land outfitting business helping other hunters in their pursuit of deer and elk. Robby has scouted and hunted literally thousands of square miles of mule deer country and brings a wealth of knowledge about these experiences with him. To him, the weapon of choice is just a means-to-an-end and will hunt with bow, rifle, or muzzleloader – whatever it takes to create an opportunity to take a great mule deer. He is also the author of "Hunting Big Mule Deer" available on Amazon. Robby believes all of creation is from God for man to manage, respect, and through which to know its Creator

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31 COMMENTS

  4. Great hunting so far, cant wait to see what day 6 brings! How far do you normally travel from camp to hunt?

  5. Robby, Bruce Cooper here. Keep up the blogging. I always enjoy reading them and watching your videos. I’ll be headed down to unit 46 for a wounded warrior LAP cow elk hunt. Wish me luck, and pray that God uses me as he sees fit. Pray that I 1 John 1:7 it.

  7. Hi Joel, I usually try to camp within 1-3 miles of my hunting areas so I’m not burning too much time and energy traveling each day. No matter what, you have to camp where you won’t spook the deer.

    Bruce, take good care of our wounded soldier and yes, 1-John-1:7 it!

  8. Keep at it Robby. Late season solo hunts in my opinion are some of the hardest mentally but it seems like you have it dialed in.
    Adam Cadagrande

  18. Flat footed is a boot I’ve wore well this year too.. 🙂 Love these hunts just like looking over your shoulder.

  20. That fog will eat up hunting like no other!
    Was that Buck by himself? Maybe traveling to another Doe group?

  21. Well my prediction was off slightly due to the dang fog. Day 6 is the one!

    Your on the back half of the hunt and sleeping in a pup tent in 18 degree weather…I’m expecting a more aggressive Robby tomorrow.

    Nice job man, this is fun to watch!

  22. Ron, the buck was bedded alone, but there were lots of doe/fawn tracks in the area. My guess was he’d been resting up for the day in the timber after chasing does all night but let his guard down and fed out into the open and lay down. He’s almost impossible to see in that four seconds, but he’s the dark spot lower right at 3:41. You can see he was really only a few yards out of the timber.

  30. Robby,

    I noticed that you are usually not glassing in the evenings on this hunt. Is this due to the fact that even if you glassed them up you would not be able to get to them in time? Love the videos and always learning from them!

  31. John, you got it. This is big big country and glassing in the evening isn’t as important as the mornings when I have all day to watch a buck and plan a stalk. It’s not that I don’t glass in the evening, I just try to shrink my circle so that if I do find a buck, I’m have time to get within range. A lot of days I’ll still-hunt in the evening in areas I know bucks are frequenting. They stick close to the cover and to kill one, you have to be close too. I have only killed a few big deer in the evening.

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