It's about what I saw, lots of does up high on the mountain and down in the low sheltered spots too. Talked to a number of the road hunters, but they weren't seeing very much. Pointed out a few places where I have been seeing the bucks, but the mile hike from the end of the road didn't seem to inspire them to get out of the rig. Spotted one guy in a lawnchair in the back of the truck about 500 feet below, poised to shoot a monster buck waiting alongside the road should that ever happen. Roads weren't too bad. Mud wasn't too bad, roads slick, but I've seen worse.
Didn't get a buck, had two bucks just inside the pines about 100 yards down the hill. Ran along the opposite side of the ridge to see if I could head them off for an ambush, but it didn't turn out. Another doe and her fawn from this year came in there. Wind was right so they didn't know I was right above them. Just watched them browse for a while. End of the day, I hunted the mountain top, in a snow covered clear cut. More does up there. Snow was crusty and noisy, so easier to hear the deer moving. There are some big deer in there based on the tracks and fresh sign all over the place. Kind of fun just watching the does. Seems I was onto a new set of deer every other hour. The evening light was yellow and orange which reflected on the snow and made the pine needles glow in the snow-free areas. Two more does ahead of me on the way down the hill they were moving in the direction of my truck.
Someone got a buck higher on the mountain Friday afternoon. Didn't get to see it though.
