November Dreamin'

[grundy53]

Wow. Those are some dandy bucks!

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[7mmfan]

Seems bucks 4 and 5 are the same buck? A little hard to tell because the one video is foggy and the other he moves through quickly, but they sure look the same. Where in proximity to each other were those cameras?

[PacificNWhunter]

Thanks for sharing Mike.

[salt n sage90]

Terrific!
Appreciate you sharing

[nwalpineguide]

Seems bucks 4 and 5 are the same buck? A little hard to tell because the one video is foggy and the other he moves through quickly, but they sure look the same. Where in proximity to each other were those cameras?

Astute observation Rory. They are the same buck separated by about 50 yards, and along the same trail/migration route. I also caught this buck at another stand/camera station about 100 feet higher on the very top of the ridge. What's odd is that there are days that go by before these type bucks "swing" back into the area and get caught by the camera unit. They must be chasing does and checking for them far and wide before they (for whatever reason) come past an area they have already visited. But, they are in the rut. So it stands to reason they are breeding does in areas that they can easily access them. To wit; ages old, high use migration routes coming out of the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

I've tended to notice over the past 10-12 years that just in the last 3 years or so non typical bucks are now showing up in addition to the typical frame deer. It used to be that all I captured on camera were typical frame bucks, now these non typical bucks have appeared. Don't know what to make  of that.

I'm no biologist. And don't have any theories to explain it. Sure, age, genetics and feed (good minerals) play a part but what occurs in the life history of one of these bucks for it to sport non typical antlers? Injury? Search me I just don't know.

[7mmfan]

Non-typical antlers are fairly common in Mule Deer that are allowed to reach maturity. It would seem that if you are seeing an increase in non-typical bucks on your cameras, that would anecdotally signify an increase in mature deer on those routes. If you were to tally numbers of bucks on camera over the last few years, would that jive?

[nwalpineguide]

Non-typical antlers are fairly common in Mule Deer that are allowed to reach maturity. It would seem that if you are seeing an increase in non-typical bucks on your cameras, that would anecdotally signify an increase in mature deer on those routes. If you were to tally numbers of bucks on camera over the last few years, would that jive?

Hm. You may be onto something.

In the past it has been just one or two fantastic bucks each year, And that's it for piss walloper bucks. Period the end! And we know those type bucks are just plain RARE wherever we find them. That's reality. And I accept that.

Furthermore, my camera units would pick up several; 7 or 8 very nice bucks, some of 'em mature others approaching maturity. I'd take any one of the mature bucks towards the end of the general hunt like I did that buck last year in October. In addition the cameras would pick up plenty of fork horns and 2x3's or smallish 3x3's like the one in the  attached video. So, there is no lack of bucks. In fact a good crop of future mature bucks. It's just chance and the realities of being a buck in an environment full of predators that any of these bucks live the necessary 5 or 6 years to grow large antlers. Quite remarkable really.

[WildBear]

I miss hunting the Chiwawa unit.

[Pathfinder101]

I was going to say "I'll take the #5 please", but on second thought... as long as I'm dreamin'....

[jstone]

Snow doesn’t look very deep. Any does on your picture coming out late?

[nwalpineguide]

Snow doesn’t look very deep. Any does on your picture coming out late?

Yes. plenty of does migrating through. Most if not all were accompanied by fawns of the year. The last doe with fawns exited on or about December 11th. Which is a typical exit date for this area and does.

Winter made an appearance on or about the 19th of December and it was lights out until May 6, 2022 that migrating deer headed for the GPW re appeared at this site.

[JakeLand]

If or when I draw a late tag I know who I’m messaging !!!

[nwalpineguide]

If or when I draw a late tag I know who I’m messaging !!!

"After that last set of rapids Ed I don't remember nothin'... NOTHIN" (grin).

[hunter399]

If or when I draw a late tag I know who I’m messaging !!!

Ain't that the truth.
I've downloaded more video today then I will download all year.
He must have a pretty big GB card to have his cam on vid all the time.

[nwalpineguide]

Thanks for sharing, definitely helps to keep the dream alive while we wait for the late draw results to see those big migratory bucks.

Ridgerunner- here's the video example I mentioned of that buck already locked onto a doe on October 27th. Of course I don't know how long or far he had been following her but I suspect he intercepted her along the way and continued with her for some miles until he bred her. Without radio collar/GPS tracking data it's impossible to know!