Last Trip of the Year (or first of the next?)

[Whip]

A few days after Christmas I hooked the trailer on to my partners truck and three of us hit the road for New Mexico.  Good friends Bob Daigle, Jeff Frazer and I had all drawn late season mule deer tags in New Mexico, and had plans to ease the pains of withdrawal from the Wisconsin bow season which was winding down.

We had great driving weather all the way down, right up until we got within a couple hours of our destination.  Then the snow and wind hit.  By the time we reached our campsite we were in the middle of a full blown blizzard.  But a little work with the snow shovel to clear a site, and we got the tent set up and the wood stove cooking.  The snow finally let up as we got done.  But the wind was still howling, and the temperature was falling fast.
 

 

[ranger 3]

We want more

[lpcjon2]

your such a tease!

[Whip]

The mule deer in this part of the country rut toward the end of December.  We would be catching the tail end of the action, and sure enough, while scouting the day before season we witnessed groups of does with bucks hounding their every step.  Things were looking good!


Season opened on New Years day, and as I eased my way down a ridge behind camp I tried my best to keep quiet in the squeeking snow.  Rounding a spruce tree brought me face to face with a nice 4x4 buck, and behind him were a group of does and another smaller 3x3.  Things were definately looking good!  

While I couldn't close the distance for a shot at one of these bucks, tracks in the snow indicated pretty good activity on this ridge, so that afternoon I was back with a tree stand and a commitment to give it some time.  

The following morning I sat the stand until 11:15am without seeing a single deer.  I took a practice shot before getting down, and then walked over to retreave my arrow.  Just as I reached it I looked up to see a good buck heading across the ridge right toward me!  

I knelt down and waited - and on he came.  Right down the trail I was crouched on.  At 20 yards he either saw me move my bow slightly, or caught a whiff on a swirling wind.  Either way, he had had enough, and turned slowly and left me kicking myself.  Ten more minutes in the stand would have produced a 10 yard shot.              

[Cocklebur]

Good Luck. Looks like fun, but cold.

[Tim Fishell]

Looks like a lot of fun Joe!!  Keep it coming.  

[Whip]

The first couple of days were REALLY cold!  Overnight temps dropped to single digits. And the winds were 30-35 with gusts to 55+ according to the weather.com site.  I had no reason to doubt the accuracy of the reports.    

The wood stove in the tent was fed a constant supply of wood, and we survived.  Within a couple of days the temperature moderated and the winds died down.  

The snow on the ground sure made scouting easier, and we quickly figured out where the activity seemed best.  Bob in particular was getting into deer regularly, and one morning alone he counted 41 deer.  They were here, now it was up to us to figure out what to do about it.

There were plenty of other hunters around, but the vast majority liked the comfort of their vehicles.  Road hunting is apparantly the preferred method for the locals as they constantly cruised up and down the road past camp.  Back and forth they went - snd with their long range weaponry they actually were taking some deer.  

But we basically had anything more than 100 yards from the roads to ourselves.  Although I did see some boot tracks in places, during the entire time we were their I never once saw another hunter off the road.

The mountains were beautiful, and as always, I loved every minute I got to spend in them.
 

 

Jeff Frazer

 

 

 

[lpcjon2]

What a moment that must have been.

[Whip]

I sat the stand on the ridge for three days, and never had another opportunity.  Directly across the road from camp seemed to have as much deer activity as anywhere, so on Tuesday afternoon I explored over there a bit.

Following the spine of a ridge down from the top I found a spot to sit on the ground.  I hadn't brought my stool with me, so I just nestled in against a juniper to watch for the last hour or so.  I hadn't been there 20 minutes when a small racked buck sauntered out directly downhill from me.  

I was afraid to move to my knees, so tried to draw my bow from a sitting position.  It didn't work very well, and my arrow sliced air directly under his chest. ARRGGHHHH!!!      

[Jack Denbow]

Oh boy this is getting good.
Jack

[Whip]

Shooting hours in New Mexico end at sunset, and I headed back to camp.  As I got to within 100 yards of the road I ran into a group of does.  One of them was being followed everywhere by a nice sized buck.  And a decent 3x3 stood watching me from 25 yards away.  

Too late to shoot tonight.  But I had a new plan for the morning.  Although it was close to the road, the deer didn't seem to care.  If they don't care, why should I?  The next morning found me back with a tree stand, and I would sit here for a couple of days to see if they would return.

At about 9:30 I saw movement in the trees 40 yards in front of me.  Two bucks were messing around, and before long one of them was headed my way, but circling back behind me.  Out in front I had placed a Montana whitetail doe decoy that I had doctored up with some spray paint to look a little more like a mule deer.

 

As the buck walked behind my tree he offered a breif shot at about 20 yards, but I was certain that he would circle around and come in closer to check out the decoy.  I hit the can call to draw his attention, but apparantly he wasn't interested in girls.  He wandered away without a glance, and also without offering another shot.

I turned my attention back to where I had originally seen the deer, and couldn't see the second buck.  Not sure where he had gone, I contiuned my vigil until shortly before noon.

When it came time to climb down and head to camp for lunch I walked slowly over to the spot I had originally seen the deer.  I thought maybe I should move my stand a bit, and was looking for a new tree.  Suddenly, just 25 yards away, I found myself in a stare down with the second buck!  He apparantly had bedded down in the last spot I had seen him and had been laying there all along.

He lost the stare down, and started to feed.  I couldn't believe it!  He thought I was a tree!  Gradually he continued to feed in my direction. It looked like he might come broadside at 20 yards, and I prepared for a shot.  But instead, he turned toward me.  And walked closer.  And closer.  He's getting too close!!

I've always liked my Predator camoflauge.  But this is crazy!  At four yards I finally had a shot, and off he went, carrying my arrow with him.  A relatively short tracking job found him still alive, and a follow up shot quickly ended it.  

 

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

way to go Whip!! what a fun trip!

[ti-guy]

Nice story,I love it! Congrats

[ksbowman]

Good job! I've never shot a muley, but would like to.

[Whip]

I refinished this bow and have been carrying it all fall.  1968 Bear Super Kodiak.  I guess it still has what it takes!
 

I cleaned up the skull for a european mount.  Inside the nasel cavity I found a suprise.
 

 

Of course my hunting partners picked right up on this and determined that is why the buck walked right up to me.  Couldn't smell, and the bugs in his nose caused him to want to commit suicide.    
Does anyone know what these things are??  :confused:

[Whip]

Bob has been building knives for awhile now, and presented Jeff and I each with a personalized custom made knife for the trip.  I put mine to good use  :D  
 

This was a great trip, and comes at a great time of year for an out of state get away.  Here are a few other random pictures.

We did go through some wood during the week!

 

Jeff shows off his form.

 

All cleaned up and ready for some bleach.

 

In spite of the weather this week, spring isn't far away down here.

 

 

[rastaman]

Great story and pictures Joe! Can't help you with the bugs other than they look like maggots. Was his nasal cavity infected?

[Kip]

Good job Joe.Hope I can enjoy retirement half as much as you and I will be happy.Is that a Super K bow I see.      

[lpcjon2]

I hate not being able to see pics on my work pc. Sounds like it was an adventurous hunt and exciting up close moment.

[Green]

Thanks for taking us along......