Heading to the Bab'

Taking the wife and kids on a scouting/camping trip in the morning to the North Kaibab. Thinking of heading back there next year depending on what I see there this year and it gives me a great excuse to get out of this desert heat for a few days. Hopefully I'll have some video and/or photos of some decent deer. I'm sort of excited to check my some of my ol' haunts to see if those big velvet clad mule deer are still around.......chat at you boys in about 6 days.
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dahlmer
Good luck and have fun. I'm headed down to the Book Cliffs tomorrow for a little scouting/camping.
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AZ_BOWHNTR
Can't wait to hear what it is like this year! Scout 'em up and let us know if the almighty BOHNTR likes what he sees...

I'll be there on the archery hunt and I'm hoping they are REAL BIG!!!!

Good luck!
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Default Avatar
Goodluck getting video of the big one. :thumb
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oakbrush
Roy,
Hope you see something worth while. It will still be a nice trip even if you don't. You'll be traveling through my town to get there and back. I'll wave as you go by.

oakbrush
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BOHNTR
Oak:

I was thinking the same thing as I rolled through your town......actually made diesel there ($3.89).

The scouting trip went okay......great weather, afternoon showers/downpurs, LOTS of feed, especially in the burn area, which is where most of the deer numbers were at. I didn't see the caliber of bucks I was hoping for, as the deer numbers are really down. I saw three bucks that would go over 180".....two about 180-185" in a spot I've hunted for years and one giant non-typical. That's not very good considering I covered A LOT of area at prime time over five days of hard scouting. The non-typical was in the low country (6000' elevation) and I was actually shocked to see him down there. I used to hunt this area years ago when there was 25,000 deer on the plateau. There always used to be a few big ones that summer down there.....apparently some still do. But I was told the estimated deer herd is about 8,000 now.

Saw no turkeys and no buffalo this trip........which is different from last year. Perhaps the winter was tough on the birds. I'll post a few photos of some dinks later.......saw a lot of bucks in the 130-140" range......but nothing I would be all fired up to burn points on. It's still a fun hunt up there......just wish the herd was back where it should be.
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dahlmer
Sounds like you had a good trip. Sorry to hear the deer numbers weren't where you had hoped, but maybe some day they will recover. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. Looking forward to some pictures.
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gcox98
Sorry to hear about the low numbers. I'd like to try the archery hunt there, did a rifle a few years back. Once I get my desert hunt out of the way ,I'm thinking of getting the archery tag whenever I can. BOHNTR, Have had pretty good luck on the archery tag?
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MuleyMadness
Thanks for the report Roy, bummer on the size of the heard for sure. Stinks.

Glad you saw at least one BIG bruiser to get the blood pumping. :thumb
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BOHNTR
BOHNTR, Have had pretty good luck on the archery tag?
 I've bowhunted the Kaibab for over 25 years.......I've left it the last few seasons trying to see if it would get better and focused more on CO wilderness hunts. I've been very lucky over the years (when it was better) and arrowed a few nice bucks up there.......that was when it was OTC.
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BOHNTR
Here's a few photos of some small bucks I was able to photograph. I saw quite a few deer in this range......if they make it through a few seasons there will be hope up there. The bigger bucks I saw I wasn't able to get any good photos. I was able to video a few, but since I'm computer illiterate I won't even try to download video. Hope you enjoy.

Here's a future Kaibab monster......in about 6 years:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/015.jpg?t=1312337993" alt="" />

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/095.jpg?t=1312343424" alt="" />

Feeding on the lupine:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/065.jpg?t=1312343480" alt="" />

Couple of small 4x4's feeding in the new growth from the fire:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/059.jpg?t=1312343563" alt="" />

Small 4x4 peeking at me from a top a ridge:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/009.jpg?t=1312343705" alt="" />
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hound_hunter
I've been waitin' for some pics - nice young deer and some great looking forest. Thanks for the update.
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BOHNTR
Here's another photo.....the rear buck is a 150" class buck (can't tell in this photo) while the front buck is a 140" class 4x4. Saw quite a few deer this size.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/005.jpg?t=1312377414" alt="" />

Another small 3x4:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/BOHNTR/003.jpg" alt="" />
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AZ_BOWHNTR
Great looking photos, thanks for posting them up.
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Default Avatar
Bowhuntr,

Thanks for sharing the story my friend. I really appreciate you sharing.
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oakbrush
Roy,
Nice looking pics. I bet the feed was awesome up there. Now we just need it to grow some deer. I have been out a little bit on the Utah side(general season) and have seen a couple decent bucks, but nothing to exciting yet.

I've been talking to our buddy Jeff and I guess you and I have tags for the same unit in Colorado. I will be going with the ole smokepole though. I hope you find some dandys.

oakbrush.
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