i was walking back to our motel room from down town cranbrook today when i noticed tracks through the snow in a clearing beside our motel. at first i thought someone's walked across here. being IN TOWN, it took a moment to relise that they could be nothing other than deer tracks. i asked the bloke in the motel office about it. he casually said, "oh, that's the mulies". being unable to get to sleep until about midnight each night, i thought i might grab my binos and poke my head around the back of the motel and see if i can see my 1st mule deer.well i went out at 1130pm and within less than 30 secs i saw 3 mulies walking into the clearing towards a couple of yellow pines that are in the middle. knowing where they were headed i ran to the pines and laid in wait. i looked up at the neighbouring motel. the direction that the steam from their heater was going told me that the deer were going to smell me. not long after i heard them walking through the snow. then suddenly there was a head looking at me under the pines. it wasn't greatly concerned just doing the little head bob thing. it was only 10m away.
they bounded away a little and went about their buisness while keeping an eye on me. i watched them for about 10 minutes at about 60m. then i made some movement and they walked away.
ended up being 2 does and a spike buck. WOW what an experience. just had to tell everyone.
You'll have to count mule deer until you fall asleep :jumper:
1, 2, 3.....1, 2, 3.... not working, to excited
Mule deer are getting to be as much of a pest in some western towns as the whitetails are back east. Check out Helena, MT.
Keep an eye over your shoulder for grizzly's! :scared:
also keep an eye out for wolves ,, sneeking around at nite you may feed the wolves! Good day Mate,,
Clint,
The mule deer bed in my parents front yard, in Kimberley.
As one fellow mentioned, these "resident" deer are becoming pests in many towns. There are also mule deer that live right in Redcliff, where I live.
And I wouldn't worry at all about wolves. The fact that there is a hunting season for them, makes them damned leery of humans.
And the gizzlies are mostly all asleep, by now.
Worry more about the two legged wolves!
If you drive east on Highway 3, (towards Fernie) about 16-20kms out, you have a nearly 100% chance of seeing elk, out in the "Rampart" area.
You could ask at the Fish and Wildlife offices about hunting coyotes. You may be able to hunt them without a guide, and they are all over, very high population around Koocanusa Lake.
Having good time are u Clint?????
Blueline
rw- i'll have to look into that.