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Show 1 f --t-.r r 'i. r -V i i i i- , - - . " Ion r 7 . - -M I J I A ' . - - , ' 1 .- 1 T- ' V : X' i ;-,V' i ? r- v. V , ' -- - , . . . . - v - I - , ' J . r v k . i 5 - . ' ? , , - i - s- t : , J -I v . - I ' " ?--'"), . . . 'x - v n ; , : i - : THIS IS WHAT it is all about. Depicted by artist Dave Wade, deer hunters will jam the roads and mountains looking for a prize trophy pictured in Successful deer E?urrt requires uljusfrnerrt positive fhinfcing By Hartt Wixom Vernal Express Outdoors Writer Hlh Utah's deer season running Oct. ;n you will have 11 days to outwit taoileus hemionous. However, past statistics indicate m best chances will come the first iree days. I'd gear my approach at prising a buck in making as certain 3 possible you're in the right elevation, ill slick my neck out, and predict 8,500 t as about right if weather remains iil has been. Ill course, last weekend's rain, with w on valley-visible peaks, could be ipeated, pushing smaller bucks with its and fawns to slightly lower . Nations. Then, too, some deer tJlry just doesn't get that high, such s middle Book Cliffs, and the big buck ailiwick between Sanpete Valley and anarea ridges. You could also Act the wrong sage flat or saddle, "sehad that happen to me and made fitments late into Monday. to, on the third day, I discovered fdtwn too low. If you guess low, you s'mightnotseedeeratall. If you are !ule high, then just wait: they'll get you as pressure mounts from When I did find them that . '""day, north of Duchesne, a buddy :i 1 bagged our bucks in the lower judges at 9,500 feet. Another day might have been in the upper Ss. 'Me aspens and conifers harbor ;ts. especially with some open their minds like this one, but few will find one and will settle for a smaller buck. terrain holding favorite foods bit-terbrush, bit-terbrush, mahogany, and sage, bucks have and do hide out in steep, rocky rims and ridges above heavy timber. Under such conditions, most other things being equal, you are much better off to come in on them from above. Visibility is better, and they least expect ex-pect you there. Don't just watch for fleeing animals. Check closely for stationary creatures holding tight in the edges of cover. Never begin walking through any opening without looking meticuously where timber merges with low shrub or sagebrush. By now hunters should have gathered everything they'll need, ever aware that the scene of two years ago could repeat itself: waking up to a foot of new snow, and more coming down. It stopped snowing that day in early afternoon, af-ternoon, and I took my son with me up the highest ridge above camp. As we descended two hours later, we did so slowly, watching every aspen draw. Then, I saw a high-antlered 3-pointer with eight does. He thought I would not spot his "frozen" patience. That was a successful conclusion to that quest, while all around us hunters not equipped with chains, shovels, warm clothing, extra everything had already cleared out of the deer country. Another hunter and myself tied on our tags, more because we were prepared for any eventuality than that we knew where our rifles fired. As with many days when storms subside, deer move out to feed When they did, wedid. As they say, mule deer chasing is an "equipment hunt." There are times when your best laid plans will go awry. Last season I sat and watched over 40 does browsing just below me in Tooele County's desert ranges on two occasions. I was so frustrated watching them I missed seeing two bucks (which had crossed over from the ridge notch to my right) until they were nearly out of sight. But, I affixed tag to venison by paying more attention the next time it happened. If you make a mistake, shake it off, and learn something from it. The fact I'd seen bucks here during the offseason off-season kept me at them. I knew they were there, and my positive thinking finally paid off. From that scouting foray I also found the right elevation, well off the bottom rung of the range one half to two-thirds. I've found "two-thirds" "two-thirds" to be a magic number. Try it where you hunt. In fact, adjustments is the name of the game. I've missed out on many opening mornings and located bucks by that day's dusk, or at least by the third day. A respectable rack of antlers plus venison steaks may require work. But you can do it if you think you can ! |