unit 23 2011

[huntfish714]

Anybody been in 23 this year, been seein anything? This year has not gone well for me at all LOL and haven't been able to scout at all and will only be home and be up hunting for the first three days of archery season. Will probably be in my usual spot for those who know and will try to keep a running log as usual to on this thread. Anyone else gunna be up there opening day? Also thanks for everyone who helped with antelope, unfortunately I will not be home during any part of the season... maby next year...: (

 

[Waterdogs]

I think that 23 had a pretty good winter kill from what I have heard from biologists.

 

[huntfish714]

Bummer, that's a shame there were tons and tons of young ones last year and a lot of two pointers that would have been fun to see again this year. Hopefully a few got in to the salmon winter drainage before it was to late.

 

[Waterdogs]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-11 AT 01:56PM (MST)[p]I grew up hunting that unit my dad has some bucks on the wall that are huge from their. That unit use to have so many deer. When I was younger you could see deer on every ridge it was unreal. I remember the first year the F&G decided to open it for either sex it was the craziest thing I had ever witnessed. Deer dead on every corner people dragging them off the hill shooting them from the road it was nuts. does,fawns anything. It ruined what once was an amazing area in a few years with F&G management the deer numbers had dropped and you no longer saw the crazy numbers their use to be. They even had some great whitetail in that unit. One of the saddest things growing up was watching that first year I thought what the hell were they thinking. It was sad to say the least. We have some toads on the wall from the glory days and no doubt their are a few nice bucks still that can be found but not like the good old days.

 

[huntfish714]

Unfortunately I was not in the area during those days but can only imagine how it used to be based on what I see on a good year. Every year I see a couple toads and a handful of 140-150 class opportunities. I currently have an arch rival, my "ghost" Buck. He has alluded me his entire life, as I grow in hunting he grows in Witt's and size. No matter how simplistic close or soffisticated and far I have missed a shot at him every year since he was a two pointer and now estimated a fairly mature and 180+. I am hoping he survived and has returned for another goround and I pray this is the year LOL he acquired the name "scar face" due to one year on one day he was fine and a week later (an unnormal amount of time) his face was pretty banged up as if he had a disagreement with a bobcat or badger scoffing to trail can footage. As of last year it looks as if all of his hair was returning to normal. I am prepared to spend the better of the three days in his backyard. Yesterday there was increased whitetail which I was pleased to see and good genes to, one solid brute last year and some smaller bucks, but who knows with this past winter. Glad to hear that you have some good memories hanging on the wall though.

 

[Waterdogs]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-11 AT 05:16PM (MST)[p]Good luck and I hope you get him and he is bigger yet. He would be easier to kill if that season would stay open a little later. We use to have one monster we called Mossy Moe. My brother could have shot him one time but he passed because the only shot he had was a head shot. I remember one hunt we watched a meadow with does in it and two big bucks came out and we watched as they fed with the does. As we drove back to camp. I asked my dad why didn't we shoot them. Neither of us could figure it out. It was like we were put in a trance. Both were great bucks but still to this day one of my fondest memories of hunting with my father. I always saw quit a few whitetail up Boulder Creek in the low ground. We had one place we use to do a drive hunt and we always shot either a big mule deer or a big Whitetail for some reason the big bucks liked that place.

 

[huntfish714]

Thanks! Ya 23 is odd like that, not typical muley behavior and I think that's a big reason why I'm so drawn to the unit. Such as why do only the monster bucks take the shade and east slope but all the rest sun bath on the west during heat peak all afternoon LOL a cool morning will be in sun which is good but on a cold day they stay in the shadows, yes trees put off heat but not as much as UV sun LOL and why is it every time it rains they head toward a highway. These are the things that puzzle the hell out of me LOL. Unlike every other muley spot I've seen. I can count on one whitetail doe every year across from camp, every night at dusk she comes down the hill and feeds not 100 yards from camp then bout midnight she heads back up the hill. Every year every night its good to see her : )

 

[huntfish714]

Sorry no logs this year phone was broken. Report: not as many deer as regular but some nice bucks. Only saw a handful of does and fawns and half of all deer seen were whitetails. Only saw one buck under a three point. Seemed IF you saw a buck it was half way decent. Saw a nice herd of elk about thirty strong and half were small bulls and plenty of calves. Three big big bucks. Opening morning: short version- got into hunting spot at dawn and worked my way across a ridge and spooked up a bachelor herd of five bucks a 3 point, two 4 points, a 5 and a giant 6. After staying right on there heels for a couple miles in some pretty thick under growth I knew right were they were going. Worked my way down the hill and trucked it over to the far side of the mountain to head them off. Got over there packed it in and cut them off but not before they winded me and they were gone for good. Hiked a few other spots and came across a 3 pointer and a 4 pointer bedded at 60 yards, stalked to 40 yards and waited for them to stand up, when they did I shot the 4. He went bout 200 yards And bedded and expired. While in search for him I came across a herd of about 30 elk half small bulls, the closest of them coming within 50 yards. Was VERY hard but elected not to shoot since I already had one animal down in the field and didn't want to risk loosing an animal. After packing out the deer and getting it properly cared for I set out for elk. That day and two days after I never saw or heard another elk. Saw one big big buck at 80 yards and got a couple pics. All bucks seen were still in velvet including mine before I rubbed him out. Very dry and noisy. Not many hunters. Was sad when my three days of the year for hunting were up. Will post pics when I can, GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[huntfish714]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-11 AT 00:56AM (MST)[p]http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/5753wp_000009.jpg this is it after I rubbed him out with some tree branches, small basket buck scenary, after kill pics, and big buck pix will have to wait till I'm around a computer.

 

[bigcreekmetal]

Thats awesome man. Sounds like you had a radical hunt. Frick ya thats cool. Get those others pics posted up!!!

 

[huntfish714]

Thanks!!! Ya had a blast, I'm a truck driver and sold laptop so other pix willnt probably be posted till end of the month, try before rifle season starts on my next home time.