Question for Mule Deer Hunters in Region 3 fire burnt Elephant Hill -- ?

[Jelvis]

-- How are huge mule bucks going to hide in the November rut, now and where do you think they wil? Ridge tops? etc.l When they breed, will they be vulnerable to 400 yard shots or more?
- Now mules breed mostly at night but could be all night because of the open space. The mules will come back here this season also I think like always.
-- This could be the season to use Bino's more and spotting scopes here.
Jel -- I'm talking with Roddy and he knows about this but I want to know your thoughts and reasons. Thanks

[Bugle M In]

In the farmers fields!!! where it is says "No Trespassing/No hunting"....and "don't bother asking for permission".

[tipper]

In the farmers fields!!! where it is says "No Trespassing/No hunting"....and "don't bother asking for permission".
Are you serious?

[Bugle M In]

Are you serious?

Oops...that probably didn't come out right.
A long time ago, I came across an area, that was private property, and had "no shooting/no hunting sign"...but...
right below it was a sign that also said "don't bother asking for permission"
I didn't mean for it to sound like ..."disregard the sign postings and just go hunt it".
Hope I cleared that up!

As for Jellies question...
I think the deer will be where they would be normally....I guess a lot will depend on what type of winter we have...
snowfall wise that is.
I do honestly think you will see more deer down low in farmers fields....more then normal.
And lets face it, asks the locals in a place like Princeton "where the BIG bucks are"...and they will tell you..
"right in town"!
As for using spotting scopes...yup....good idea to use to ones advantage...although, how many people walk around with
bino's all day and never use them?....quite a few...
Many forget that deer bed down quite often, especially in open clearcuts etc...so you have to be pretty damn good at using bino/scopes and for a good length of time...not just 10 seconds.
Also, we hunters may have an advantage in "spotting more deer" due to the fires and that all the cover is now gone...but....
It also means deer will be able to spot us from a lot further off as well....not so easy to sneak up on them...
Which brings me to the "bigger concern"....
How many people will spot deer, now that the terrain is a lot more open......
And, attempt shots at a "much longer distance" then they normally would take, or even have had the opportunity like in the past....???
How many deer are going to end up not dead, but wounded only??
As for the impact on deer by the end of the season....I don't think "success" will be much different then before..
Maybe I'm wrong on that point.....

[browningboy]

They will be close to feed, at
loon lake area the ground is burnt bad with very limited areas of green, the deer have not been around like usual, so really who knows? But if I were a deer I would stick closer to farmers fields and food, once you are standing looking up hill at the blaze and just see black ground and burnt trees, you must have optimism. I for one will give my area a break this year, once you see it one would understand

[LuckyHorseshoe]

I think you will see a lot of road deactivation and closed areas throughout the elephant hill area this season. I know for a fact it is already on the ministry's radar. Hopefully that will alleviate some of the hunting pressure because the deer will be more vulnerable. Just like other large fire areas.... after forestry is done putting it out they deactivate access heavily.

[lakelander]

Glad to see you are back Jel. Were you taking a break for a while there buddy?

[ghost]

Just got back from morning hike.Pushed two 4 point bucks out of small poplar stand at 1000meters still green in the shaded coulees and drainages. The tenth cant come soon enough.

[Salty]

Glad to see you are back Jel. Were you taking a break for a while there buddy?

Jel gets busy at times with his Elvis impersonation obligations he also heads up to the mountains fairly regular to meditate and do some gardening. That's a bit that I've been able to gather over the years anyways ..

[Darksith]

I thought you knew everything Jelvis, why not start copy and pasting local areas to hunt and how to hunt the burns...or haven't you bought that book yet

[Darksith]

I think you will see a lot of road deactivation and closed areas throughout the elephant hill area this season. I know for a fact it is already on the ministry's radar. Hopefully that will alleviate some of the hunting pressure because the deer will be more vulnerable. Just like other large fire areas.... after forestry is done putting it out they deactivate access heavily.

or they will close some of the burn areas to hunting

[Trophyslayer]

A lot of mule Deer got burnt up..... they will be back like flies on shit in years to come and there is definitely deer left in green spaces but not enough to handle the usual pressure this area receives.

[Jelvis]

Tanks a zillion you muley mad people haha. Good stuff for sure.
Don't forget mules are brown, ash grey, tan and black color like the ground iz too.
If a mule stays still, it's hard to see, butt if it flicks it's ear or hoofs his ear for itch. Thar it iz.
Same with hunter, dead still hard to pick up until he or she coughs, moves fast etc.
-- In end of October to Dec I'd hunt and look for groups of antlerless mules, then you will see the bucks on the perimeter like prize fighters waiting to mix it up with any buck who try's to jump the harney does.
-- It's going to be a new decade in this area, all burnt out and thinned.
Jel - keep in touch mule hunters and the best to all on HBC - Mules Rule!

[Jelvis]

Mule deer are habitual, season after season, migrating and breeding.
-- No need to change now Eh!
- mule deer bucks get it on around the endo of Yocktober into November rut.
- mule does get harney around the end of October into November and the rut.
- Now the bucks are scraping the velvet off a bit, the big bucks not the lil ones yet.
This could be the year of the record mule buck, with some luck.
Jelly Tart -- use a C-meer deer and see the bucks respond in early Nov -- 1 - 2 buckle yer shoe

[skibum]

I thought you knew everything Jelvis, why not start copy and pasting local areas to hunt and how to hunt the burns...or haven't you bought that book yet

Hopefully he does, as those posts were interesting.

[Jelvis]

If the roads are closed to atv's and moto stuff, eh, ride bike back a bit then walk a ridge, BOOM!
-- don't go way back, just ride off the main onto a back and look hard in the rut early and late.
== walk in? Why not? Up a ridge and walk and look over Rover! BANG!
- when the first few snows hit the area closed to vee hic calls, walk in and look for four inch tracks.
follow very slowly, looking ahead in thee direction of thee monster buck.
Jel -- We got Buck Fever already Teddy! --

[shed-hunter1]

the fire zone is closed o all hunting till oct 31

[Jelvis]

November will be open eyes and open ears. The mule deer rut in full swing.
-- harney does and stud bucks make a tragic scene.
Male deer like to jump female deers for some reason?
in breeding season of course.
November in region 3
-- little snow and bambo, an all day hunt following a real nice mule track in fresh snow from the day before. Whoa!
Jell Belly -- From Elephant Hill thru Muley Buck Paradise -- get outta dah way it's time to play