Idaho Mule Deer Hunt with David Long

[belly-deep]

Good luck David

 

[david long]

Just spotted a small four point in his bed. Not sure if you can see him or not but his muzzle is center of photo.

 

[dreamingbig]

How cool. Thanks for sharing from the mountain!

 

[david long]

The far patch of trees is where he is at.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sweet, glad to be able to get the real time updates.

 

[david long]

Way too many does and fawns in this area. Elevation of this mountain ranges from 8000-9000'. Bailed off mountain. Headed to a different area that ranges between 9000-10,000'. There will be fewer deer but better odds of finding a good buck.

 

[Foldem]

Sweet. Good luck, shoot a big one!

 

[belly-deep]

Way too many does and fawns in this area. Elevation of this mountain ranges from 8000-9000'. Bailed off mountain. Headed to a different area that ranges between 9000-10,000'. There will be fewer deer but better odds of finding a good buck.

Do you mind explaining that a little more when you get a chance?

 

[david long]

Belly deep, don't get me wrong, obviously there could still be good bucks in the area with all the does and fawns, but I have killed all of my bigger bucks in areas where there are very few deer. If I am finding lots of does and fawns, I keep moving higher in elevation until i get away from them. That is generally where I tend to find the bigger bucks.

Now if it was November, that would be a different story

 

[belly-deep]

Belly deep, don't get me wrong, obviously there could still be good bucks in the area with all the does and fawns, but I have killed all of my bigger bucks in areas where there are very few deer. If I am finding lots of does and fawns, I keep moving higher in elevation until i get away from them. That is generally where I tend to find the bigger bucks.

Now if it was November, that would be a different story

Do you think that is because of the country itself (does and fawns don't like it) or is it that big bucks try to get away from other deer?


And at what date does that rule no longer apply? I know at some point, before the rut hits hard, the bucks do move closer.

 

[david long]

It is not necessarily the elevation, it is that 200" class bucks are extremely solitary animals. They don't like lots of activity going on around them. I simply prefer to go higher in elevation rather than trying to find that isolated little basin at lower elevations where a buck might be hanging out. The higher elevation also allows be to make better use of my optics because I can see a lot more country.

 

[david long]

I would hardly call it a rule but starting the first week of November is when I typically start looking for the large bucks to start showing up in the areas with does.

 

[david long]

As stated earlier, I wanted to check out the country between 9000 & 10000' in elevation. But, rather than hiking up a mountain and hoping that I find a buck, I found a vantage point that literally allows me to glass several miles of mountainside. This is something I do frequently and it greatly increases my odds of finding a good buck. Here is a partial view from my vantage point. I will sit here until dark.

 

[2rocky]

David, How Far are you glassing? 1/2 mile, mile?

 

[david long]

From 1-3 miles away. Just spotted two deer. Doe and dawn.

 

[david long]

Here's a mountain goat approximately four miles away

Can't even see him with binoculars. Found him with spotter

 

[Hardstalk]

What do you use for optics?

 

[robby denning]

We can all learn a lot from this thread! My new favorite thread, too.

We can see the goat. He looks a little light-horned, though.

 

[david long]

Yes, kind of what I was thinking Robby. Lol.

Swarovski 10x32 EL
Swarovski 20-60x HD 65mm spotter

 

[BuckSnort]

Good luck... The updates are great... Wish I had cell service in the mountains around here...