So much catching up to do here…let me see, where did we leave off. Ahhh yes, the Wyoming high country mule deer hunt. Where do I start…it was the 22nd of September and the snow was coming down at a blinding pace, covering the high country wilderness of Western Wyoming. Thankfully, due to my father’s advice I was in my living room watching it on my computer instead from beneath my hat. You see, when you grow up in that area you learn real fast to WATCH THE WEATHER REPORTS! Nate my camera man and I decided to wait out the storm and head back into the wilderness once the weather cleared. I have been reading some hard-core mountaineering books as of lately and the one thing they preach constantly, is to watch the weather reports.

Nate and I had planned on heading back into some remote country that was very rough, too rough for elk. Our trek would take us back almost 13 miles into some gorgeous rugged granite peaked country to hunt the most elusive of all western quarry, the high mountain mule deer. This particular area does not have exceptional quantities of mule deer, but it does have the potential to produce some huge bucks.

Our original plan was to make a loop, up one creek drainage over an 11,000 foot mountain pass and down into the next creek drainage. All the while hunting for big bucks during the “early season.”

The problem was, with almost two feet of fresh snow on the ridges and a monster 15 foot snow drift cresting the mountain pass, our “early season” hunt was looking more like October and less like September. So we changed our plan of attack and headed up the second drainage with our packs loaded down with over 50 pounds of gear and high hopes in our minds.

We spent five days up there in a snow bank at almost 10,000 feet. The snow made for gorgeous scenery and the blue skies were a very welcome sight. Not to mention the buck that we found and took on the third day of the hunt. It was a the kind of hunt that is good for your soul. Tough, very tough, but rewarding. The type of rewarding that makes you sleep better for the rest of the winter, knowing you bucked the odds. You tackled the statistics and the crowds and eked out a win. There is no feeling like it, no cell phones, no ATVs, no crowds. Just you and the elements matching your grit against Mother Nature’s best. Hunting mule deer in the high country, just like Mike says in his book, “it gets in your blood.” And like my renditions says, it gets in your blood and stays there! At least until the next hunting season, Thank God!

Keep watch out for this episode on the Outdoor Channel. There are very few shows like this one on the channel and you won’t want to miss it.

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