Show b First week of buck hunt now n what By Merit Wixom Vernal Express Outdoors Writer Utah's deer quest moves into week two with one of the strangest contrasts in local hunting history Weather was decidedly better for the opener than greeted elk hunters But the aftermath of that early autumn storm left up to nearly four feet of snow on the likes of ManU Mountain and some other areas including the south slope of the Access is now poor because of it into higher elevations Yet warm weather has had sn snow w melting melling with muddy roads also excellent soft and silent to stalk deer Tough weather drove bucks down off the top Dry and warmer climes have allowed them to creep higher again Even more than ever Beehive State slayers should plan on every type of conditions Leaves are off most of the middling high aspens and oak allow allow- allowing allowing ing the nimrod to glass slopes well ahead That is still the best bet Recently I checked aspen and conifer hillsides around saw only a few does and decided decided ed to remain until dusk In the evening I figured whatever deer were about might show since the pressure in the region had not been particularly heavy Sure enough several antlers showed as late afternoon shadows lengthened The buck I took browsed right along the trail Id I'd used to get in ml I That ended my hunt for 1982 but the bucks will wUl undoubtedly be tougher to come by now that the surprise element is gone I w would uld not waste time from here out foraying a short distance from roads or camp I would get way back In Forecasts from the utah Div Wildlife Resources for this year before the Nov 2 regular shoot finale are for a tally less than last year Poor fawn crop and heavy winter kill in northern and central Utah were given as reasons In southern Utah the young deer are coming on but still sUlI down due to rough winters and few fawns from several years a ago o However it was predicted that since 81 1980 deer made it through basically unscathed there ought to be some three pointers out there in ad ad- addition to the few mossy horns which seem to survive somehow each season To get them I would take to wheel four drives horses backpack or dedicated hiking to get far back In Unless th the storms return I would also go about thre three fourths fourths high There has been a two thirds theory in vogue among timers old wl which ch says go third one from the top and you'll find deer If you can find a road to take you w Ak Mr t tI ti oi 1 I if Jt I LI a a kiI I Ia II Ia 1 ter b 4 x k- k rt r iJ VERNAL HUNTER LaVeen Oaks stands by two point bucks which were taken on Diamond Mountain Oaks gained one buck and her sister Rhea Blanchard nabbed the other buck that two thirds up fine but otherwise you may have to walk I would now make it three fourths up the which mountain everyone every one you choose to hunt if weather remains warm As mentioned there are some exceptions such as Manti with snow preventing ting tang topside access But obviously when most of the traffic is on top as on the ManU Manti and some Wasatch ridges deer get pushed down as far as the middle Elevation is the key from here on out so make sure to make plans to be as rugg rugg- rugged rugged ed as you'll have to be Watch in par par- titular for middle slopes between roads which hunters seeking convenience convenience tend to skip Try the backside of mountains in- in including including areas away from civilization On the that would be the west side on the Wasatch the east and on the the side away from bottom roads If you are packing a long distance out and using horses here is a simple way to tie place the bracket bricket side where you cleaned the deer toward the saddle saddlehorn saddlehorn horn Distribute weight The head will turn naturally back away from saddle but tie antlers first to prevent gouging horse orse Cut off all legs at knees and make B a slit in tendon area to tie Make all ties to metal rings not leather which can give giveand giveand and lose tension |