Beauty, flat tire, and more Beauty !

I AM A LADIES MAN 2, !!!

I went muzzle loader deer hunting in Washington county several days. I went to the north near Central and Pine Valley and saw no deer. I hunted in areas where we have harvested deer before and really expected to see something. NO WAY.

I later went several more days with my rifle and found the deer more or less. I found 28 head one afternoon. 26 were does and 2 were little spike bucks. The spikes had antlers long enough to be legal for harvest but they still had milk around their mouth from sucking their mothers. I just couldn’t shoot the little buggers. I think they need 3 more years to mature. Next time out I went to a "for sure" spot I discovered years ago. I got there and found deer "for sure" but they were 10 does the first day and 12 does the second day. I saw one little spike buck with the does the first day and his antlers were small enough that he wasn’t legal for harvest. He too had milk around his milk from sucking his mother.

I hiked some and took photos. I really enjoyed my time in nature. It is so calming and the air is just that much more clean. I got a bit sunburned and that’s great for deer hunt time. I have pals up north that put up with rain, mud, and snow. I put up with no sunscreen. {Actually, I didn’t want the scent to alert the deer so I didn’t use any sunscreen.}

Yes, I am a Ladies Man. I can really attract the female deer and elk. Guess what? I have a cow elk tag for December. I hope I still have the animal attraction factor when I go to fill that tag. I’ll let you know. {I must have had lots of fun as I had 3 flat tires while deer hunting. Two stones through the tread and one sidewall slice. You know what I mean? Even the Super Trooper got a flat tire!}

LADIES MAN !!!

I AM A LADIES MAN !!!

The first week in October I went elk hunting in the Unitah mountains and really looked forward to seeing at least one little spike. I really believe the spikes cook up the best on the "barbie" but alas I all I could get within eyeball range of was 7 fine looking cow elk. They came into a high mountain meadow just around sundown and I was hidden in the trees completely upwind from them. They didn’t even know I was in the county. I watched them for 45 minutes or so as they grazed on the grasses within 150 yards of me. I just knew at any minute a little cousin bull or even a brute macho bull elk would come out to join the girls as they bulked up munching grass for the upcoming winter. No way amigo. The girls came and mowed the grass with four legged combine efficiency then wandered back into the forest timbers and never even bothered to wave or casually snort at me. It was amazing to be that close to 7 fine animals. I just wish I could have seen a bull with them.

I was camping with my son for the first night and we had a great time together. He helped me find likely spots to look for elk. He had to go back to work so I stayed on alone. Guess what, it was the Unitah mountains at 9,700 + and it snowed. Not a light pretty snow, not a mere dusting of white powder, it was a real snow storm. I am a desert guy and the white stuff scared me to think I might be up there for the entire winter. I was worried I would not be able to get my camper out of the mountains so I packed up and came home. Yes, I was in 4-wheel drive most of the way out of the mountains.

I returned to Washington County and home. I went camping again looking for elk on the Utah - Nevada boarder in northwest Washington county. I saw tracks, sign, and lots of coyotes but no elk. I think they are in the area but hang around later in the year.

All in all, I had a great time hunting elk. I camped with my son, saw my daughter-in-law and the grandkids in Roosevelt. I camped in the mountains and the desert and hiked around some looking for the bull elk. No I didn’t harvest but I had a great time.