Discouraging but Successful Muzzy Hunt 1 for 3, with a 4x 1
NotEnufTags
9/28/09 10:46am
I'm back from my 2009 Utah general season public land muzzleloader hunt. I hunted the southern region. Same canyon that we've hunted for 18 years. I have to say that it was very discouraging to pull in (got a late start) and find a large group of people in "my" camp spot. We typically see about 8 tags in the canyon. This year there were 23 with 17 coming in later in the week. 40 tags!!!! I was so disappointed. I had to make a new fire ring and find a flat spot for a tent. It was 1:00 am before I hit the sack. 5:30 am came early on the opener. I hiked the trail that was so successful for me last year. I ran into hunter after hunter. I hiked farther out more hunters.
I put in the miles on the opener. Around 10 miles trying to find some solitude, but to no avail. I saw several yearling to 2 1/2 year old bucks but no shooters. The next day my brother and friend Dan came in. I had heard several shots opening day but didn't hear of anyone taking a buck. No one we talked to had seen any good bucks. Lots of small deer but nothing to get excited about.
The three of us hunted hard on Thursday morning. More of the same. Saw more hunters than deer and the deer that we saw were small. Thursday afternoon my brother said he was going to stay in camp and study for a test that he was worried about. I told him to take his book and gun and go study by Kendall Rock (a rock from which we've shot 5 deer over the years). He took his book out there and as he was getting it out of his pack this small but very unique buck showed up. Here he is with his 4x1.
This was an old buck. It had some good mass and brow tines with signs of age around the bases. It's teeth were well worn. I'm very suprised that he was as small as he was.
No buck for me but a fun hunt.
I put in the miles on the opener. Around 10 miles trying to find some solitude, but to no avail. I saw several yearling to 2 1/2 year old bucks but no shooters. The next day my brother and friend Dan came in. I had heard several shots opening day but didn't hear of anyone taking a buck. No one we talked to had seen any good bucks. Lots of small deer but nothing to get excited about.
The three of us hunted hard on Thursday morning. More of the same. Saw more hunters than deer and the deer that we saw were small. Thursday afternoon my brother said he was going to stay in camp and study for a test that he was worried about. I told him to take his book and gun and go study by Kendall Rock (a rock from which we've shot 5 deer over the years). He took his book out there and as he was getting it out of his pack this small but very unique buck showed up. Here he is with his 4x1.
This was an old buck. It had some good mass and brow tines with signs of age around the bases. It's teeth were well worn. I'm very suprised that he was as small as he was.
No buck for me but a fun hunt.
3,151
sneekeepete
9/28/09 10:53am
Congrats to the succesful hunters and to you for being able to make it out. Sorry to hear about the crowding sittuation but it happens to the best of us. Thanks a bunch for sharing the story and pics that is definatly a unique 4x1 :thumb
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Loafer
9/28/09 2:08pm
It sucks to be crowded out! Thats definitly a unique buck, probably won't ever see another.
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AGCHAWK
9/28/09 5:48pm
Well, at least you all got one in the freezer! CONGRATS on a very unique buck too.
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Springville Shooter
9/28/09 5:55pm
Sounds like the same scenario that I've run into. Hard to keep a positive outlook, but it sounds like you guys had a lot of fun anyway and that's what it's all about. I may need someone to remind me of that after the Utah general rifle opener.-----shooter
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primal215
9/28/09 7:11pm
:>/ I have the same problem in my spot but my spots got ruined by the dept. of fish and game. I had two great spots that I could hunt and only have a few others to contend with, but a year or two back the published my two spots as the areas to hunt in my zone. They really screwed me out of the spots I grew up hunting with my dad and was going to hunt with my boys. From now on I will spend my money in other states and take my boys on out of state doe hunts
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MuleyMadness
9/28/09 7:33pm
Sounds jam packed for sure. Cool 4x1 though, I chase a big 4x1 or stump around this summer also.
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BOHNTR
9/29/09 7:21am
Congrats on a unique and cool looking buck!
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