Wow this was a tough year for deer. Went over to Colfax for the late season and it was super warm and rainy and foggy. The Whitetails stopped rutting because of the high temps and the rain, and with the super fog in the area all I saw in four days was some flashing white tails. Usually we see multiple bucks a day.
As a last resort on the last day I went out to area 379 which I have never been to. Hiked in about three or four miles and got away from the sea of hunters. Finally saw some does and because there was a fire that burned all the sage brush there was very little cover. The closest I could get was 200 yds. I messed up on a stalk and they ran off. Said the hell with it and chased after them. Did another stalk on some other deer and again could only get within 200 yds. I low crawled another 40 yds and in the prone with a good hasty sling took a 165 yd shot right through the boiler room and the doe only went 15 yds before going dying. It was a two mile drag to the high way where my brother picked me up. That was by far the hardest I have ever had to work for a deer. Plus even though it was Dec 6th, it was almost 60 degrees. What a weird hunting season.
