Had a pretty funny experience while bowhunting for mule deer near San Mateo mountain in New Mexico last week.
I was slowly making my way up a canyon through light patchy snow; there was good sign on the ground and fresh tracks in the snow. The folage was pinon pine, juniper, mountain mahogany, live oak, etc., not so thick that it impeded my progress, but good enough to offer some cover.
I noticed the head of a doe looking at me maybe 50-60 yards away through the bushes, so I froze. The wind was in my favor, and I was also partially behind some bushes, so she didn't spook, but just kept staring at me without moving either. That Mexican standoff continued for several minutes, until she put her head down to graze, when I took the opportunity to move into a more comfortable position. I didn't break a twig or anything obvious, but just letting the weight of my foot settle on another spot disturbed enough gravel that her head popped up again, and we were back to another Mexican standoff.
Then two other does appeared, and they all did a sort of circle dance trying to get a look, staying about 50 yards away. Then a nice 3 X 3 buck appeared behind them. The lead doe decided to bolt back up the canyon at this point, the others followed, and I thought that was the end of that. So I slowly continued up the canyon, not really expecting to see anything more, but the group came into sight again after another 50 yards or so, and the whole show was repeated again. At this time I became aware that there were really 4 does, but I had only seen 3 at a time up to this point.
Then after dancing around for a while, the lead doe and another one bolted up the canyon again. This time the buck disappeared after them, and the other two does stayed around. The buck herded the two does who had bolted back by butting them in the butts with his antlers. It became clear to me at this point that the buck really wanted to go down the canyon. The does wanted to go back, or to the side, or anywhere but down the canyon toward me. It was as if the does were saying "bad things down the canyon!" and the buck was saying "there's nothing bad down there; you're just being a bunch of old women!"
This cat and mouse continued on for an unbelievably long time, an hour and a half I think. I was going to take a shot if the buck got within 40 yards, and it seemed at times that he might do that. Twice I begin to tension the bowstring, but relaxed when he danced away each time.
I was beginning to be really cramped from standing in one spot for so long, and wondered how accurately I could shoot even if I got the chance. It was cold, about 8 degrees in the morning which had heated up to about the mid 30's, which was fine for walking, but I was beginning to get cold again standing around for so long.
Finally the group disappeared back up the canyon again, and it was time to call my brother-in-law to check in on the walkie-talkie, so I did that and then just sat for 15-20 minutes to let things calm down before proceeding up the canyon. The canyon began to get steep, to the point that I couldn't move any more without making a lot of noise. The last thing I saw was the lead doe, none of the others, and she was waiting for me about 50-60 yards up the trail. She gave me a look of utter scorn, and disappeared up the canyon.
I never did get a deer, but that experience was almost worth it.
Topic: New Mexico Mule Deer Hunting (Read 500 times)
