My first trek afield in search of alpine mule deer led me to a drainage in the Weminuche Wilderness Area of southwestern Colorado. Climbing the ridge above my camp, I soon attained an elevation of 13,000 feet… spread out before me was a sight such as I’ve never seen since. There were seven mature bucks, two of which were exceptional — one that was simply huge!
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The Absaroka-Washakie-Beartooth Wilderness areas of northwestern Wyoming are rugged, game-rich mountainous areas that are largely untrammeled by man. I was there to enjoy some backpack fishing in the many alpine lakes and streams in the region. I was in search of chunky, strong-fighting fish. I had a ball!
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I rolled into West Central Illinois in early November and immediately set about hunting my already prepared stand sites. Shortly after first light I pulled my rattling antlers out of my daypack and went through a short sequence. Immediately I spotted a big buck moving through the brush toward my location!
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After a few hours of hiking, I approached the ridgeline. Before I had a chance to put my bugle call to my lips, a growling bugle reached my ears. Ahead of me on the ridgeline was the object of my desires, “the boss.” Another elk appeared and the big boy chased the 6 x 6 down the hill toward me!
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One of my life-long fantasies has been to take a fishing trip to the wilds of Alaska. I’d tied a spoon on my line and cast into the most beautiful water in which I’d ever been privileged to wet a line. Immediately, I hooked a large fish … let the fun begin!
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Drawing from a lifetime of backcountry experience, I had the gear, knowledge, and desire to attempt a “do-it-yourself” caribou bowhunting adventure in Alaska. I ran into a couple of moose, had an up-close and personal encounter with a “grizz,” caught and ate salmon, trout, grayling, and char, and spotted and stalked numerous big, velvet-antlered caribou bulls. I was in paradise.
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Only as the need to breed begins to rule his life, will the mature whitetail buck spend much time interacting with the deer herd in general. It is during this short period of time that he commits the main error (drastically increased daytime movement) that puts him within our reach. Here are some tips to hunt the “middle ground” to get your buck.
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I caught a glimpse of big antlers moving through the brush. I could tell that he was wide, heavy, and definitely worthy of a try. The big fellow was very busy chasing his lady friends … I knew that if I could get near a couple of the “tag along” does, there was a good chance that the boss would come back to round them up. And I was right!
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As I rolled into northwestern Colorado in mid-August, I had a limited-draw antelope tag in my pocket and big dreams in my head. I was on a do-it-yourself waterhole hunt for a huge pronghorn.
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