Photographing mulies in July?
Coyote LJ
1/19/12 2:12pm
Hey Guys,
Noob here :) .
For deer, I'm mostly a bowhunter, and for the last 20 years or so have done that mainly in the La Sals, where I've mostly taken freezer buck and not worried too much about big antlers. After putting in forever (12 years I think it took?), I drew a Books rifle tag for '11 though, so took a buck with a rifle for the first time in a lot of years. Was a really, really fun hunt. But, shot my points wad to get it. Which means, I can't even put in for anothe LE deer tag for a couple years, and at my age, I'm not sure I'm ever going to draw another LE tag in Utah. Heck, with the new regs, I'm just hoping I get to go back to my regular camp in the La Sals to bowhunt this year.
But I got a new camera and kinda took up photography as a new hobby this past year. I'm a die hard coyote hunter, so I tried getting some coyote pictures this fall and got some pretty good ones I think. And scouting for my Books rifle hunt, I tried getting some mule deer pictures and that was a lot of fun too.
So... I'm going to try and take a three or four day trip in mid July this year to try and get some good mulie in velvet pictures. Not looking to sell the pictures or anything, I'm a beginning amateur with the camera, just taking them for my own pleasure and to share with friends and post online for others to hopefully enjoy. I'll post the pictures here, if you guys want to see 'em. Just curious, where in your opinion would be the best place in the state for pictures in mid July? Not worried about hunting the area, or properly scouting, I'm sure I'll end up taking pictures in a LE unit I'll never be able to draw out anyway. Haven't decided which one yet though. A place to haunt the meadows mornings and evenings and see lots of photogenic animals? Where would YOU go for that? All opinions welcomed, and please feel free to shoot me a PM if you'd rather not even say such a thing out loud on an open forum - I can certainly understand that.
Oh, guess I ought to post a pic of my '11 Books buck to keep things on topic :)) . Here he is:
http://photos.imageevent.com/daffleck/biggame/IMG_5314%20%20W.JPG " alt="" />
I'm pretty happy with him. After all the scouting I did out there, I said I'd take the first 24" 4x4 I saw. Ended up taking him opening morning, which kind of sucked - I was looking forward to hunting all week. But, from what I had been seeing, I felt like I might not do better. And, as it turned out, I stayed out there for a few more days and saw dozens and dozens more buck and none of them were even as nice, let alone nicer, so, glad I didn't pass this one up.
And a couple pictures I took after I tagged out. This one was feeding out in front of the tent the last morning, had started to boogie by the time I got the camera out of the truck - pretty typical of the buck I was seeing out on McCook Ridge this year:
http://photos.imageevent.com/daffleck/biggame/IMG_5657%20W.JPG " alt="" />
Walked up on this one, looks like he has potential, to me?
http://photos.imageevent.com/daffleck/biggame/IMG_5300%20%20W.JPG " alt="" />
Couple I saw up on top the week before my season opened:
http://photos.imageevent.com/daffleck/biggame/IMG_5278W.JPG " alt="" />
And just for grins, one of the better coyote pictures I got this fall:
http://photos.imageevent.com/daffleck/coyotes/large/IMG_4403%20W.JPG " alt="" />
Anyway, where would you go just to take pictures this summer?
Thanks!
- Dave
Noob here :) .
For deer, I'm mostly a bowhunter, and for the last 20 years or so have done that mainly in the La Sals, where I've mostly taken freezer buck and not worried too much about big antlers. After putting in forever (12 years I think it took?), I drew a Books rifle tag for '11 though, so took a buck with a rifle for the first time in a lot of years. Was a really, really fun hunt. But, shot my points wad to get it. Which means, I can't even put in for anothe LE deer tag for a couple years, and at my age, I'm not sure I'm ever going to draw another LE tag in Utah. Heck, with the new regs, I'm just hoping I get to go back to my regular camp in the La Sals to bowhunt this year.
But I got a new camera and kinda took up photography as a new hobby this past year. I'm a die hard coyote hunter, so I tried getting some coyote pictures this fall and got some pretty good ones I think. And scouting for my Books rifle hunt, I tried getting some mule deer pictures and that was a lot of fun too.
So... I'm going to try and take a three or four day trip in mid July this year to try and get some good mulie in velvet pictures. Not looking to sell the pictures or anything, I'm a beginning amateur with the camera, just taking them for my own pleasure and to share with friends and post online for others to hopefully enjoy. I'll post the pictures here, if you guys want to see 'em. Just curious, where in your opinion would be the best place in the state for pictures in mid July? Not worried about hunting the area, or properly scouting, I'm sure I'll end up taking pictures in a LE unit I'll never be able to draw out anyway. Haven't decided which one yet though. A place to haunt the meadows mornings and evenings and see lots of photogenic animals? Where would YOU go for that? All opinions welcomed, and please feel free to shoot me a PM if you'd rather not even say such a thing out loud on an open forum - I can certainly understand that.
Oh, guess I ought to post a pic of my '11 Books buck to keep things on topic :)) . Here he is:
I'm pretty happy with him. After all the scouting I did out there, I said I'd take the first 24" 4x4 I saw. Ended up taking him opening morning, which kind of sucked - I was looking forward to hunting all week. But, from what I had been seeing, I felt like I might not do better. And, as it turned out, I stayed out there for a few more days and saw dozens and dozens more buck and none of them were even as nice, let alone nicer, so, glad I didn't pass this one up.
And a couple pictures I took after I tagged out. This one was feeding out in front of the tent the last morning, had started to boogie by the time I got the camera out of the truck - pretty typical of the buck I was seeing out on McCook Ridge this year:
Walked up on this one, looks like he has potential, to me?
Couple I saw up on top the week before my season opened:
And just for grins, one of the better coyote pictures I got this fall:
Anyway, where would you go just to take pictures this summer?
Thanks!
- Dave
5,355
Cool very post, you have some great pics here with a dandy buck. Congrats! :thumb
That coyote pic is definitely above average IMO.
Lots of good spots to photography Mule Deer in July, big bucks are easy to find on the Henries, other LE units are fun I'm sure also. I spend time on the Paunsaugunt with good and bad days. :) I need to branch out and expand my horizons myself though and try more areas.
Great Book Cliffs buck... don't overlook the Book Cliffs either to go take some photographs. You're already familiar with the area plus there are other opportunities out there like elk, bear, etc. if you're looking for variety as well.
Glad to hear a lot of you talking Henries. That was where I was leaning as a first choice, with the Pauns probably being second. And, on the Books, I'm kinda hoping I can swing a long weekend out there too, in addition to the trip I'm talking about here.
I just got back last night from two days coyote hunting within sight of the Henries and have them on the brain in a big way already. But I think I just decided - mule deer photo trip in July is going to be there. I spent most of a week bowhunting them once before it became a LE unit, but have not been up in them since. I thive on long drives over bad two track so that's a plus for me :thumb . The drive over Soldier Summit last night at 10pm was BRUTAL though, by the way :)) ! Freakin' white out from hades, couple hours of staring at the hyper drive scene from the first Star Wars and not being able to see the road.
Oh, and no pictures of the coyotes killed this trip, my NEW camera took a dump yesterday. Still under warranty, so headed back to Canon this week I reckon...
- Dave