I'll make this as live as possible but it will likely be more of a semi-live hunt where I'll update in the evenings due to poor cell service. I'll be heading out with my truck loaded early tomorrow morning and hunting until Thursday next week. My primary focus is rutting deer, but I'm bringing Kassie (one of my griffons) since I'm on my own this year. I'll hunt hard, but this is typically a laid-back hunt that I look forward to and I like the company on the drive. I'll be roughing it from a hotel room.
I'll start off by hunting pheasants a little Saturday afternoon and glassing for deer. I'll do the same on Sunday. Kassie will go to a kennel afterwards and I'll hunt full days Monday through Thursday for deer. If I'm lucky enough to kill a buck early, I'll pick up the dog and finish up hunting with her.
The region can produce some really nice bucks, but with a general season open during the rut, "really nice" is relative. I won't hesitate on any mule deer that looks close to 150ish or up. I may not hold out for that if the deer is framed well enough and the mood strikes me. I found a couple of really good whitetails not too far from this location about a month ago so I may start off glassing for them. I'm originally from IL and haven't shot a whitetail in a while.
My gear isn't anything special (I'm not much of a gear head) but it will suffice. I'll be shooting my same Remington 700 in 7 mm rem mag. I did upgrade to a Timney trigger and an inexpensive Stocky's Accublock stock this year. I'm not a long range shooter so shots will have to be within reason.
I've posted these photos in years past, but these are the bucks taken on this hunt the last few years.
2016, my first mule deer (not even close to 150)
2017 (almost 150)
2018, my buddy's first mule deer (not 150, but I screwed up a chance on what I think was a solid 150ish 4 point)
Remington 700 with this year's improvements.
I'll start off by hunting pheasants a little Saturday afternoon and glassing for deer. I'll do the same on Sunday. Kassie will go to a kennel afterwards and I'll hunt full days Monday through Thursday for deer. If I'm lucky enough to kill a buck early, I'll pick up the dog and finish up hunting with her.
The region can produce some really nice bucks, but with a general season open during the rut, "really nice" is relative. I won't hesitate on any mule deer that looks close to 150ish or up. I may not hold out for that if the deer is framed well enough and the mood strikes me. I found a couple of really good whitetails not too far from this location about a month ago so I may start off glassing for them. I'm originally from IL and haven't shot a whitetail in a while.
My gear isn't anything special (I'm not much of a gear head) but it will suffice. I'll be shooting my same Remington 700 in 7 mm rem mag. I did upgrade to a Timney trigger and an inexpensive Stocky's Accublock stock this year. I'm not a long range shooter so shots will have to be within reason.
I've posted these photos in years past, but these are the bucks taken on this hunt the last few years.
2016, my first mule deer (not even close to 150)
2017 (almost 150)
2018, my buddy's first mule deer (not 150, but I screwed up a chance on what I think was a solid 150ish 4 point)
Remington 700 with this year's improvements.
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