It Begins!!! A Mule Deer Vacation 2015

[Jerry Jeffer]

Always enjoy this thread the past couple years. Good luck this morning.

[Tim]

Nothing like a good climax to finish off a story!

The morning was just the same as every other, coffee at 6:00, followed by three slices of raisin bread and a glass of cranberry juice.  The only thing that we needed to set this day apart was a well placed arrow and a short drag.  

I settled into my stand with temps right around 45 and a brisk wind out of the east.  Not a great wind by any means for either of or locations, but it's all we had left to go on.

150 yards is all that separated Mark and I.  The field in front of us was endless but for some reason, every morning the deer venture across the field and somehow end up within shooting range of Mark's stand.  Something just draws them to the spot, as if they were hooked in the lip with an elk hair caddis.  

The morning started off rather quiet.  A doe here and there in the field but nothing earth shattering.  I took a few pictures of my bow to pass the time, smiling at the beauty of the juniper limbs.

 

[Tim]

The first group of bucks we saw were way off in the distance.
 
 

[Tim]

Not long after 5 does came hopping over the hill.  They'd stop and than scatter.  They were around 250 yards away when I first saw them.....as was he.  I could see his rack clearly but what I could really see was the size difference.  This was one big mule deer.

The field consists of mostly high grass with a couple green fields here and there.  The grass is high enough that you can't see the does and smaller bucks, but with the big boys, all you can see is antlers.  This was one of those cases.  

He walked into the green field proud and full of himself!

[Tim]

The spot I was in was ok....it was kind of a what if spot.  What if they get spooked and cross the fence lower in the field?  What if Mark spooks them or they wind him and happen to come my way?  It wasn't a good spot but Mark's stand only 150 yards north of me was a totally different story.

I helped Mark hang a stand in that spot 2 years ago.  I didn't have a mule deer tag but came along to half heartidly chase elk and spend some time with a good friend.  We walked that area for a good hour bouncing what if's off each other and why here's.  For some reason this tree just spoke to me.  We hung a stand that evening and I told Mark he'd kill a deer there first thing in the morning.  An hour or two into his sit a nice 4x4 hit the ground.  What an awesome day that was!

[Whip]

This has been a great read Tim, thanks for taking us along again this year.  
Now let's have that climax we've all been praying for!

[Doc Nock]

What an incredible VACATION and journey you have had so far!!!

Going to make hunting ole PA seem sorta BLAH, brother...  

[Tim]

Hello Joe....just waiting for someone to ask!          

As if on cue the handful of doe's, two small bucks and the big guy walked north, jumped the field fence and bee lined it to Mark.  I can't see Mark since several junipers and pines separate each of us visibly.  What I do know is exactly where he is in the field and that the deer are walking directly to him.

 

For a good 30 minutes nothing happened.  No spooked deer, not sounds that come with a shot and no movement of the fence.  Just silence and wind.

At one point I couldn't take it any more so I sent Mark a text message.  All I typed was this.....  ?   .......   ten minutes later he sent back.  Small buck under me, does behind me and big guy locked up at 25 yards.  No Shot!!!

I'm not sure how much time passed but I was stressing out trying to decide how Mark should mount this big guy.  If the does had spooked at least I would have know something happened.  I even had my camera in hand set on video to capture something for you guys.  But so far nothing....

[Tim]

Than it happened!  

No big explosion of deer, not doe snorts or twangs of a string.  All I saw was this....

 

The entire group of deer just walking back the way the came.   Followed by a text message.  "Game over, I'm out"!


.

[Tim]

Ten minutes later I heard Mark walking by my stand heading towards the house.  The big guy and his buddies were now 200 yards away slowly fading back into the high grass.

I pulled my stand, gathered my stuff and headed home, just shaking my head.  We both had opportunities this week,  "one of us" had more than others.  But no arrows where shot and no tags where punched.  Just another trip filled with good times and the pursuit of critters much better at this than us.  

Mark came out of the house as I came up the drive.  He just shook his head.  He went onto to tell me that the does and small bucks walked right up to the fence at 10 yards, jumped over and hung out.  One doe wasn't too happy with anything that was going on.  The big guy keyed in on her stood his ground for 30 minutes.  Facing head on watching every move she made.  Just as quickly as it began, it was over the doe had enough and started back the way she had came.  The buck followed,  as you can see in the picture above just as they came back into view.

What a week, what a hunt and what fantastic memories for all involved.  Thanks to those who offered encouragement along the way.  It was a grand time!

[elkken]

Great time following this vacation/hunt ... what a wonderful week of adventure and excitement shared with friends and enjoying the great outdoors.

Thanks so much for taking us along ... the excitement is always in the hunt not the kill and this has been exciting            

[Kopper1013]

Great thread, thanks for taking us along. Better luck next time the memories are def. what this game is all about

[snakebit40]

         thanks Tim! I enjoyed every second of this thread. But man, I really thought you guys were going to get a couple good bucks. Oh well, see you in 2 months!

[Homey88]

Great thread! Thanks for the pictures and taking us along! A lot of great memories!

[Hopewell Tom]

Just read all 9 pages and thanking you for taking the time to share with us.
Lots of memories and future hope...?

[Jayrod]

Thanks for taking me along Tim and what a heck of a job taking pictures and keeping us tuned in on the thread I really enjoyed every minute of it almost like I was there!!  

[David Mitchell]

Yes indeed.  Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to include all of us in your adventure.  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sounds to me like a great week.  

Thank you for sharing your trip with us Tim.

[Doc Nock]

Class Act. Classy people...great time for all us "lurkers".

Gracias!

[ranger 3]

Thanks for taking me along Tim and what a heck of a job taking pictures and keeping us tuned in on the thread I really enjoyed every minute of it almost like I was there!      
X2