Day 5. Got 2-4 inches of white stuff.
NY guy went back to the public from night before but had a flat and was assisted by 2 locals before he could help himself.
I went into an area of canyon and draws near some ag. Tested a property boundary and covered juniper hillsides and brushy draws without cutting a single deer track.
Back to camp grabbed a nap and NY guy shows. We decided to hit the public near the ag again. Had doe fawn and small 2x2 as close as 20 yards. Hoped that passing the 2nd legal buck was the right thing to do...
This is the cold night. Was 5 or 7 degrees (temp gauge couldn’t make up its mind) when we got back to the tent.
Day 6
What a miserable night. Even with buddy heater on high. Got up and headed out to glass, nothing but a coyote. Grabbed dad and off to hotel for him – he was worn out by the continued cold and endless wind.
Then back to hunt. Needed gas so stopped and this time asked a local lady which field was which. The one adjacent to the public was the one we had access to!
Had a debate over what time to arrive and I won. 4 pm there and heading in. I played wind and he went in upwind. Could see each other. Wave. Sit down and there are 6 does in field already, more deer in grass on other side of road, heading this way.
I'm watching 20+ deer and 1 visibly racked buck at about 600 yds trying to decide if it is time to belly crawl the field but sit tight and hope. They might work into the wind and closer to me.
Truck comes by on a nearby road, all the deer run 200 yds closer to me when truck stops. Then truck goes and the deer run to leave field 215 yards down wind of me. 3 antlered bucks, does everywhere.
Then the biggest buck stops. I've got elbows on knees and rifle in shooting stick, put tight on shoulder and touch off. He tucks up front leg and starts peg legging towards property boundary. Stops after 25 yards or so, I aim a little further back and he drops at the shot.
Deer are running in every direction, the place is in pandemonium.
Walk over to buck and am awed more by his body size than rack. Man he is big.
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Buddy shows and we try dragging it. Gave up and got truck. Brought deer to nearby public land and cleaned/quartered it there, took to cwd test station and to show dad.