Hey everybody, Im a second year hunter and still have a lot to learn. Got my first muley (a doe) last year near Lander. This year I have a general tag and am living in Jackson. I have been out and about in the snake river range and the Gros Ventres since the season opened. However, I have only seen does and no bucks. This year the general tag is antlered only in this area. So what my question boils down to is how to early season hunt for bucks. I am in no need of a trophy, just a deer with antlers that will fill the freezer. In reading online, it sounds like bucks are hanging out way up high until bad weather or the rut. How high do I need to go? Ive read stories about people finding large muleys hanging out in alpine bowls. For some reason it is hard to imagine finding deer in places I would normally go to bag peaks. Anyways, it sounds like a much more intensive hunt (carrying gear in and deer out much further distances). However I am in good shape and will go wherever necessary to find some bucks. Itd be great to hear some suggestions of places that might hold deer in the area. Also, I have been getting out and in position before first light. I've read that bucks are pretty much headed to their bed site around that time and wont do much after. Does this mean that I pretty much have a 1/2 to full hr of good hunting when it begins lighting up or before getting dark, and then I will have to hope to stumble upon something, or kick up a deer from where its bedded down? Especially if I am gonna be way in the backcountry, I want to know if I absolutely need to be there before light, and if I am wasting my time after. In living in Wyoming the last two years I have seen many bucks, and I am sure they will start heading down soon, but I am eager to get out now and try and get a muley before elk season opens up. Any help, ideas, or spots to hunt would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jake
Yes, there are deer up in the alpine stuff. But it sounds like that's more than you want to tackle. Besides, that's more of a trophy hunt. Focus on the foothill country a little bit later in the season when the bucks start coming down in late October.
Welcome to the site, and welcome to the sport of hunting!
Listen to ExBio. He's full of knowledge and good advice! And, stick around the site awhile, and make sure to throw up some stories and photos of your hunts!!!
My first buck. I was pretty stoked. Kinda bummed deer season is over now, but I guess its time to work on my elk
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That's a fine looking buck to me, especially for a first one. My first you could hide his spikes in my back pocket and several more little ones would follow before I got one as good as yours.
It always hurts to see the season come to an end but at least Wyoming has far more tags than most western states and you can usually get some doe tags for an area not too far away. Especially if you like to hunt antelope as well.
Looks like your getting it figured out now but every year will bring new lessons and experiences.
Btw welcome to BGH adn I look forward to reading about your next hunts as well.
he easiest thing to do is to find a major creek drainage and work your way up the creek to the summit of the mountain. look at all of the little feeder streams, travel up and down them while remembering the basics of hunting (follow the fresh sign) where you find fresh rubs, big tracks and deer trails, these are the places to watch. you will cover a lot of ground, but you have to in order to learn the spot and learn how to hunt the bucks.
don't be afraid to push yourself, and get as far from the roads as you can. this time of year, in wyoming, i've found most of the bucks in the pines during the day, and feeding atalpine meadows in the afternoon.
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