Another muzz deer season has come to a close…last night at dark.  365 days (or so) to go until next season.

Speaking of next season, there are some major changes with the deer hunts for next year.  First off, they have broken the state up into 30 sub-units and we will have to put in for the draw.  They are also cutting the total number of deer tags by 7,000 across the state.

Why are they doing this?  The word on the street is they wish to increase the buck to doe ratio from what it is today to 18/100.  After hunting this year and seeing 4 buck deer in 9 days of hunting (actually I took 2 days off), there really needs to be something done to increase the number of bucks.  The entire herd could use some help because in those same days we only saw “maybe” 100 does and who knows how many of those we saw day after day.

The DWR has discussed the health of the herds state wide and considered all of the things that has made the herd what it is today:  Vehicle deaths, Depredation from Coyotes and Cougars, Poor wintering grounds and loss of habitat (homes), Severe drought and tough winters (fawn and older deer starvation).  And the end result is the need to cut tags, manage the herds in smaller areas and increase awareness on the depredation and vehicle accident issues.

I ask myself, why not issue more cougar tags?  There seems to be a lot more cougars than we are used to seeing and each one of them require a deer a week to survive.  This question has also been addressed to the Wildlife Board and the bottom line affects more than just what we each think about.  There are the recreational groups and houndsmen who also enjoy seeing and chasing cougars in the wild.  If all of the cougars were wiped out, their interests would be destroyed.  We may see more “take em out” tags issued and less “run em for fun” tags in the future.  But whatever the decisions are in the future we have to consider everyone who enjoys the wild life in Utah and not just our own enjoyment of hunting.

So, how will breaking the state up into 30 sub-units affect our hunt?  As I see it our camp of 30 plus people may end up being half that number, or less.  Unless of course you are just going for the camping and not the hunting.  We will have to draw a tag first and the dark side of it all is we won’t know how many tags will be issued for our unit until after the deadline for applying has passed.  Instead of applying individually, we might want to consider applying as groups and I believe there is a 10 person limit on applying as a group.  One win, all win.  OR  10 of us don’t get to have a tag.  Something to consider.

At any rate the future will be different and hopefully this strategy will boost the total number of deer and increase the number of bucks.  By the way, the 18 to 100 number is supposed to be the “after the hunts are over” number.  How in the world are they going to be able to determine that?  Again in my opinion, they are just guessing right now and they will continue to guess in the future.

Are you happy with the way things are today?  Whatever your answer to that question is your answer.  If you want your voice to be heard, go to the RAC meeting or two and let them know your concerns.  RAC folks are supposed to talk to the people on the ground (you and I) and they take their recommendations to the Wildlife Board who discuss these issues and then TELL the Utah DWR what they are going to be doing and how they will enforce it.  So, don’t blame the DWR, blame the Wildlife Board and those member on that board if you don’t like what is coming down.

This season is over.  Next year is coming!  Let’s make it a great hunting season next year, just like this one was.  Only one buck killed among all of us tag holders and only two other shots fired at two different bucks.  We only saw one or two other bucks killed in our area and very few bucks overall seen.  Who cares.  It was a very fun outing and loads of laughter had by all.  In my opinion it was the best hunt we have ever had!!!

Bears Butt

Oct. 2011

And so it goes.  2011 muzzleload deer season ends today.  It’s sort of a sad deal, but then it’s one day closer to the 2012 season.  It is also “the last day” which means we have until dark to fill our tags.  Just like on day one, we had till dark.  And so, it’s brothers and their sons heading out once again to see if a buck will show it’s face (and antlers)!  Would it not be a wonderful thing to see four bucks strapped to the top of the rig as we pulled into the back yard tonight?

Wish us luck!  Snow in the high country!  Tire chains in the back of the rig in case we need them!  High spirits, hot coffee and maybe we will even stop and pick up a “power ring” from the convenience store on the way.

Power Ring?  You ask!  Our good friend who is a part of the sheriffs department calls donuts, power rings.

Power to the hunters!  Let’s go!

Bears Butt

Oct. 2011

Yesterdays hunt had us in position at first light.  It had rained during the night and all the dust was settled really nice.  Deer were not everywhere, but enough to keep us from “bobble heading”.  We saw a total of 34 deer, all does and fawns.  No bucks were seen anywhere.

Most of the camps that were in the area when we were camped and hunting were gone.  It is hard to imagine the deer were held up so tightly while we were up there as long as we were, but they sure seemed to be out and about yesterday.  Just goes to show you, they are where you find them.

We hit a new area to reconnoiter it for future hunting, but it proved disappointing.  The area is full of tall sage, which leads me to believe there are deer there, but we did not see much sign.  Lots of antelope were in the area and we did see one doe deer and two different coyotes.  The coyotes eluded us, but we were trying to gun them both.  The area had a very long and well maintained dirt road and some day I will get back on it and see where it leads.

Today is a rest up day after yesterdays 3:15 a.m. to 10 p.m. day.  Maybe another hunting day tomorrow….after all it is the last day of the 2011 muzz season.  My little puppy has to go if I go.  He gets too frustrated not having me around a few hours each day…and mom goes crazy trying to fend him off with his craziness.  It is not a good thing to come home to after a long day in the forest.

Bears Butt

Oct. 2011

Midway through the 2011 muzzleloader deer hunt here in Utah.  The weather was very hot for this time of year and the dust was almost unbearable.  Few deer seemed to be bouncing around the mountains the past week, but we did see some of them.  Mostly does and fawns, but we did see a few bucks in the mix.  Only three shots were fired from our group and one of the three connected.  Hunter took a fine 3X3 mulie.  Not a monster, but monster enough to win the camp contest hands down.  Congrats Hunter on a fine buck!

Hunter went the “extra mile” to get this buck and had to quarter it to get it out.  Baby Boy went with him for the final pack out and once back at camp he swore he would never do that again.  Nasty blisters on both feet and a memory he won’t soon forget.

L-Rod had a fair shot at a 2 point and missed.  Cost him an extra dollar on the big buck contest and his name went down on the Boobin Baby Board.  Brek, was coming up to camp after school on Friday and happened to run into four bucks just up on the hill side.  He hit the skids, got legal, and took a shot.  MISS!!!!  That was his first shot at a buck with a muzzleloader…..buck fever?  We will never know and he is not up to confessing much.  His name adorns the Boobin Baby Board as well.

A hearty thank you to everyone who got deep into the bushes to help flush out some of the deer we did see.  It is always tough to get into that thick stuff and try and force the animals out.  Every push got out deer and one of these times they will be bucks.  The other tough part about trying to force the deer to move out into the open is figuring out what they are most likely going to do.  I have come to the conclusion, you can’t figure them out.  They will do what they do and if the circles are crossing and you are a part of that crossing event, you might get a shot.  I was about 100 yards from the crossing circles when the 2 point L-Rod shot at and  missed  at  came out.  Oh well, maybe next time.

The camp was wonderful, the camaraderie was likewise very fun.  We were safe and everyone made it home in one piece.

Now it’s time for some morning and afternoon hunts closer to home and I wish everyone good luck in tagging out.

Bears Butt

Oct. 2011

For hundreds and perhaps thousands of years, native tribes across America would converge upon the vast herds of buffalo that lived in the plains of what we call Montana, The Dakotas and throughout the midwest.  These tribes would set aside any differences each tribe may have felt toward the other because they knew they needed each others help to capture and kill enough buffalo for each tribe to survive through the winter.

They would gather on the banks of the rivers and at the foot of the hills each fall at the same time and would enjoy their large encampments and share stories of the past years events with each and plan out the hunt for the next day.  Each man in the group had their assignment and each would do their best to make sure buffalo was acquired.

They spent upwards of a full month killing and butchering buffalo and would continue to do so until each tribe had enough to sustain all of the people in their tribe through the winter.  Some men would ride around the buffalo hurd and gather them up in large numbers and then drive them fast and hard toward and over the cliff of a large plateau.  Others would wait in ambush as riders would slowly drive the hurd toward a narrowing in the terrain and then the hiding men would unleash hundreds of arrows into the herd as it walked past their hideouts.  And still others would ride into the herd with bows and arrows or spears and take the large beasts down.

These traditions continue today.  And tomorrow me and my tribe will gather in the hills of the Rocky Mountains for our annual ritual of hunting the beasts of the forest.  And we too will ride and surround and ambush.  We too will tell the tales of the years past events and relive the memories of past hunting adventures.

Our goal is not to harvest enough of the beasts so as to sustain our families through the winter.  Our goal is to continue this tradition of hunting and gathering and enjoying the out of doors and having fun.  Far be it for anyone to put pen and ink to the cost of a pound of wild beast flesh.  And least of all share that number with the spouse of one of the hunters.

As for tomorrow.  I shall see each of you at the “hunting grounds”!  Drive safely.

Bears Butt

Sept. 2011

The “Deputy” came through with some very fine drinking stuff for the kill jug this year (2011) and I have it in my possession.  Of course the label conceals its real identity as is usual for our large camp.  I’ll guarantee the seal has not been broken and assorted types of drink poured in to replace the liquid from the distiller.  It is what it came to me as, with only the label changed to protect the innocent.   I thank you Deputy!  He said he could not find it locally and had to import it.  Of course it was imported using legal means, a fine upstanding Deputy would not do it any other way.

This muzz hunt is shaping up nicely to be one of our most famous.  We have a new kill jug, a new “Magpie Express”, a new and improved “Rack”…and I’m sure a lot of hidden and waiting surprises in the wings.  Will the camp see the famous “Twinkie Man”?  Time will tell!

This hoss is really looking forward to the hunt, the camp, the fun.  If my plans come together I will venture into the Crawford range with the famous amung us, “The Chosen ONE”!  If my plans come together I will ride in the “Blue Goose”, my first time ever riding in the Magpie Express, with Magpie at the helm.  If my plans comes together I will win the coveted “Big Buck Contest”!

One thing we all can be reassured should not happen and that is our good old retriever Dry Dog will not be swimming out to retrieve any bucks from Jo B this season.

Memories will be brought up and more will be made on this trip.  One goal we all should be putting in our own plans is to be safe.  And we know how to do that and still have more fun than any other camp on the mountain.  I hope the old codger that yelled at me last year finds another spot to hunt.  He has an attitude!

Bears Butt

Sept. 2011