2010 Idaho Mule Deer

[Vees]

My favorite part of this site is reading everyone’s success stories, so I thought I’d share the story on my 2010 buck to help get everyone through these slow winter months!  Because my hunting partner, my old man, lives in Salt Lake City, UT we had to decide which state we wanted to hunt together.  Being from Wyoming, we of course applied for our favorite units and didn’t get drawn.  After being unsuccessful in the regular draw and alternate list in Montana (where my whole family is from) we thought we’d give Idaho a shot.  We decided to hunt up around Salmon, ID.  Although we were elk hunting, we figured we should get a deer tag as well to double our chances.

We had 6 ½ days to hunt an area we knew very little about.  We did our research, poured over the maps and made phone calls…but there is no substitute for actually getting out and seeing the country for yourself.  Although we were optimistic, we knew realistically this would be more of a learning experience with little chance of taking an animal.  One thing about that country, no matter what you hear and how well you prepare yourself, it’s amazing how BIG that country is…you better be in shape!

The first few days of the trip we saw ONE elk from a distance and a handful of mule deer (including a couple small bucks).  The weather was BEAUTIFUL (which is terrible for the elk hunting!) with a full moon at night.  You could almost glass the hillsides at night with all the moonlight. We decided that the elk were still too high and scattered (relatively inaccessible without horses) and decided to check out a new area.

The new area proved to be more productive.  The first day there we jumped a few mule deer up high and decided to check out some areas down lower...other hunters we talked to said some of the elk were staying REALLY low due to the wolf pressure (who really knows though).  By the next day, we were nearing the end of our trip and my standards were starting to drop pretty quick!  The next bull elk or muley buck I saw wasn’t gonna have much of a chance   On our way into one of the spots we wanted to check out I spotted my buck!  Didn’t take me long to decide he was the one.  I’ll be the first to admit I got lucky…but after 5 days of hiking my a** off, I felt like I earned him.  Even when hunting a new area, patience and persistence pays off. 

He is a 4x4 with a good spread (25 ½ inches).  He doesn’t have great mass or tine length, but a trophy in my book.  He also had quite a bit of velvet left, which was impressive considering I tagged him near the end of October. 

The elk hunting also picked up right after I shot my deer.  I was literally getting ready to clean out my buck when we spotted a herd of elk on the timberline 300-400 yards away!  Unfortunately no bulls in the group, but just crazy how it all happens at once! We spotted a few more cows before the trip was over, but never ended up tagging an elk.

Well, I think I’ve blabbed enough.  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the pictures!  One last thing, I took my orange off for the pictures…

-Vees

[Black Ghost]

very respectable buck! 

[Pathfinder101]

Very cool Vees!  That's a great buck in my book.  25 1/2" is nothing to snort at!

[ribka]

Nice one! Should be very happy

[Skyvalhunter]

Very nice job there Vees, congrats on your buck. what time of the year did you get him as it looks like he is sporting some velvet.

[Vees]

Thanks guys!  Skyvalhunter, I shot this buck near the end of October.  He definitely had quite a bit of velvet left hangin' on.  I was pretty surprised to to see that!

[Skyvalhunter]

well you should be proud of that buck!! I once shot a buck that had a small piece of velvet hanging off the antler and when I had it mounted I had the taxidermist leave it on. Congrats

[bowhunterforever]

Congrats getting a nice buck

[400out]

Very nice buck! Sorry to hear you didn't tag a elk but you did just fine in my book  Thanks for sharing

[blacktail luv]

I wonder if people even read all of these stories it clearly says when he shot it.  . That is a great buck and props to you for taking on the challenge of hunting a new area.

[PacificNWhunter]

Great buck.

[bearpaw]

sounds like a great hunt....

[Pathfinder101]

I wonder if people even read all of these stories it clearly says when he shot it.  . That is a great buck and props to you for taking on the challenge of hunting a new area.

...sometimes the ADHD kicks in and it's hard to concentrate longer than it takes to look at a picture...

[vandeman17]

We are heading to Idaho on a mule deer hunt this fall and I have told myself that I am holding out for a decent buck but I have to be honest, if I saw your buck opening morning I am pretty sure I would dump him.  At least then i could play guide for the other guys and be ok with drinking beer every night.