Colorado above timberline

[jmh]

Wanting to hunt above timberline, possibly Colorado, for mule deer.  I imagine the shots would be longer than average?  Anyone done this successfully?  Thanks

[SpencerL]

I've been looking for a good resource on high country mule deer as well. I've seen a lot of pictures of decent mule deer shot by a trad hunter but was still wondering if I needed to be good out to 30-40 yds. for it to work. This quote from Marv seems to have eased my fears....

"Shot distance(s)?
Never over 30 (once in a while I will get wild and shoot 31 yards). Like them 20 yards or under. That's what bowhunting is all about- getting close, and beating the animal at their own game. A lot of bowhunters these days go just for the kill and not the hunt. Hunting! That's what it's supposed to be. Hunting is fun if one just lets it be fun. We all want a kill, but if that doesn't happen it isn't the end of the world. If you have to kill every time out, take a smoke-pole!"

I've been debating whether to completely forget about the compound this year and go traditional or, as it is my first mule deer hunt, stay with what I am most confident in. I guess only practice can tell.....

[Ragnarok Forge]

If you going to shoot under 30 yards, there is no reason to use a compound that I can see.  You won't find many Mulies above tree line.  You will find lots of them right at and just below it eating and living in the high meadows.

[SpencerL]

Originally posted by Ragnarok Forge:
If you going to shoot under 30 yards, there is no reason to use a compound that I can see.  You won't find many Mulies above tree line.  You will find lots of them right at and just below it eating and living in the high meadows.

I guess I'm just worried about choking when a good shot presents itself. With sight's I've always had a positive point of aim for me to concentrate on. I'm hoping as I get out in the field more I'll get more confident.

[Duckbutt]

Dwight Schuh wrote a good book on the topic.  Order it.  I've never seen much advice given on line that didn't rehash what was covered pretty well in that book.

[e alexander]

any idea where you can get the Schuh book. I'm hoping to do a high country mulie hunt in the next couple of years also.

[Duckbutt]

http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Open-Country-Mule-Dwight-Schuh/dp/0912299231

[Matty]

I'm No Authority but From My experience that high up,  theres LOTS of wind even during the nice days, Shooting is difficult.  Much less Stalking in that type of environment, Here in CO, we have a low growing shrub called (and I know I'm spelling this wrong) Crummoles, that the deer love to bed in It's chest to shoulder height for man and roughly head height for Deer They Always see/wind me before I see them.  I'll say it's a beautiful environment but really hard to hunt in...

[snag]

I think that this type of hunting is the most challenging hunting there is. It would be a great accomplishment to kill a muley at or above timberline. Hope you get a chance.

[Overspined]

You sound like a reasonable guy with expectations of just getting an opportunity or two, so just take the plunge and ditch the wheels. Sell it on the aution sites! The minute you get one with wheels you will be thinking that you should have gone traditional. It is more rewarding and I sense you feel that. It is just a deer and the experience is what you are after, as most of us here are. I had a local trad-shop dealer locally just flat out tell me to get rid of my wheels and it was the best decision for hunting I have made. I shot the biggest whitetail I have ever killed with a stickbow and missed others as well. I am glad that I don't look back and wish I had gone with a stickbow instead. It is the thrill  of the hunt, and the reward of doing it with YOUR skill that makes it so rewarding!  

Good luck!

[HornHunter]

They do live above timberline, this ol boy was at 13,000
yes they are very difficult to hunt, old muleys are smarter then any other hoofed critter,

you take one, on his terms and it is very rewarding

[cacciatore]

Congrats Scott nice muley.

[snag]

Awesome animal Scott. Great photo too. Out witting a wise old boy like that is quite an accomplishment!

[SpencerL]

Looks like good times! That looks alot like the area I would like to hunt. Did you try a spot and stalk?

[HornHunter]

spot and stalk is the only way you can make this kind of hunting work, you have to watch them bed then go after them, its an all day affair at the least, a few years back I located a giant buck big as I have ever seen, I spent a total of 17 back packing  days watching him -waiting for him to bed in a good area, when he did I made a good stalk, was about 25 yds above him just to his left, waited 4 hours for him to stand up, when he did he was quartering away slighty, I rose and shot, the arrow went between his front legs from his left rear, shaved hair and that was that.
the great thing is they will take you to school everytime, the best hunters learn from that

[steadman]

Great buck Scott! WOW!!!!

[Pat B.]

And great story on the one that got away..
I used to love the high country in Colorado.

[rappstar]

That is awesome Scott!  High country mule deer will be next on my list after I score on my elk!

[pete p]

i know i am probably butchering his name but marve clinke (s/p?)had several articles in TBM on hunting big muleys above timberline...guy seemed like an authority on the subject.

Scott, great deer! to say one hoofed animal has more gray matter than another is like saying one bow is better than another...setting yourself up for an endless debate.

[HornHunter]

pete-"setting yourself up for an endless debate"  only if you have never hunted them

I have as much respect for a big whitetail as any animal out there, but time is usally on your side