Hunting Velvet Mule Deer in the High Country has become my favorite hunt over the last couple years. The scenery is unbeatable and there is something special about the 1-1 battle you get while the big bucks are still in velvet and patterned up.
Unable to pull an archery tag I started looking for ways to go muzzleloader mule deer hunting. I pulled this mule deer tag off the leftover list and went in completely blind having never been to this area before. Friday before the season I climbed up into what looked like a great high country basin. I was happy to see it looked as good in person as it did on the map. I glassed until dark, but was unable to turn up a deer in either of the two basins I could see into.
I hiked up to a peak in the dark and as the sun came up on the opening morning I hiked a ridgeline glassing into six or seven different basins. I was amazed I didn't see any deer. The habitat was just too good, this was prime mule deer country i.e. I knew they were there. The only explanation was they had dropped into the treeline to start shedding their velvet.
5 minutes into the tree line and my eye caught fur through the trees. I stalked around and got within 75 yards, he had no idea I was there. I set up the camera, zoomed and I waited for his to turn broadside. When I fired the muzzleloader I saw him drop through the smoke cloud, but as the smoke cleared I saw him walking away. Turns out he only walked about 50 yards and tipped over.
This was one of the worst packouts I have ever experienced. I decided to take it all in one load so my pack was about 115 lbs and it was 3.5 miles of deadfall. 6 hours later I was back at the truck, out of water, exhausted and ready to let my legs recover. You have to love high country mule deer hunting!
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Here is a link to the Public Land Antelope Hunt I go on right after this with the same muzzleloader. The rut action on this hunt is insane so go check it out: [ Ссылка ]
Here is a link to the Holtz Outdoors Big Game Hunting Playlist: [ Ссылка ]
To follow this season's action check out my IG @HoltzOutdoors:
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