Montana High-Line / Semi-live / DIY Archery Mule Deer Hunt

[JerseyJaysTaxidermy]

Looks amazing. I need to do this one day. Always assumed the locals would have the land locked down and my trip would be a bust.

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[deadonshot2]

Any updates? Suspense is killing me. Those were definitely some studs you located scouting.

[hammer4reel]

Good luck

[Yobuck293]

Good luck.  Really enjoying your pics.

[Integracingsr]

13 hours ago, JerseyJaysTaxidermy said:

Looks amazing. I need to do this one day. Always assumed the locals would have the land locked down and my trip would be a bust.

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I agree.  Not to mention, that terrain is so different from anything I’ve hunted before that I wouldn’t have the first clue as to where to start looking for them.  Seems like you have them pretty well dialed in though, Tater. Have you done a hunt like this before?  What are you looking for when selecting a general location and scouting a place on the other side of the country?  Best of luck and looking forward to more pics. 

[Tater1973]

Opening Day Archery 9/5 - AM hunt was awesome but frustrating!  Glassed a group of 4 bucks at first light and watched them for 2 1/2 hrs as they made there way up into the Badlands to bed.  One of the bucks was just what I’m looking for.  I took the round about way to try and locate them before they disappeared (see my truck way below).

And I mean disappeared!!!  They literally mine themselves beds in the sides of the badlands which they have used for 100’s of years to make their own shade.

3 .1 miles and I was lucky to catch one of the bucks feeding above a little  drainage.  

I tried 3 different stalks but couldn’t get closer than 92 yards because of how they were bedded.  Two of the bucks were so far back in the ground I could only see their legs.  Did the smart play and backed out defeated.  Felt great to have the stalkers on and bow in hand.  

Western hunting will test you but it’s about the Experience to me.  *Found a small seep with good water not far from where they were bedded.  It’s 92 degrees out so I’m hoping they hit water before dark.*.  

The wait begins...time is on my side with 20 more days to get it done and temps dropping at night into the upper 20’s by Monday!  JK

***There is more public land in Montana than the entire size of NJ.  I will cover how I chose this location and how I approach this type of hunting when I get home.***

 

 

[LPJR]

40 minutes ago, Tater1973 said:

Opening Day Archery 9/5 - AM hunt was awesome but frustrating!  Glassed a group of 4 bucks at first light and watched them for 2 1/2 hrs as they made there way up into the Badlands to bed.  One of the bucks was just what I’m looking for.  I took the round about way to try and locate them before they disappeared (see my truck way below).

And I mean disappeared!!!  They literally mine themselves beds in the sides of the badlands which they have used for 100’s of years to make their own shade.

3 .1 miles and I was lucky to catch one of the bucks feeding above a little  drainage.  

I tried 3 different stalks but couldn’t get closer than 92 yards because of how they were bedded.  Two of the bucks were so far back in the ground I could only see their legs.  Did the smart play and backed out defeated.  Felt great to have the stalkers on and bow in hand.  

Western hunting will test you but it’s about the Experience to me.  *Found a small seep with good water not far from where they were bedded.  It’s 92 degrees out so I’m hoping they hit water before dark.*.  

The wait begins...time is on my side with 20 more days to get it done and temps dropping at night into the upper 20’s by Monday!  JK

***There is more public land in Montana than the entire size of NJ.  I will cover how I chose this location and how I approach this type of hunting when I get home.***

 

 

LOVE everything about this thread Tater. Awesome pics, especially the close ups through the spotting scope. 

This is the real deal. Beautiful country. Be safe and shoot straight. Best of luck! 

[Njpddet]

Best of luck. Looking forward to more pictures of the trip.


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[Buck154]

So far looks like a great trip for you.  Have you seen any whitetails there yet?  Your tag covers either right?

Good luck

[Farmshine]

LOVE everything about this thread Tater. Awesome pics, especially the close ups through the spotting scope. 
This is the real deal. Beautiful country. Be safe and shoot straight. Best of luck! 

Agreed, Awesome thread!


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[tpr1921]

Enjoy your hunt.

[CatchinDeers243]

Good luck!!! Look forward to the next update

[Tater1973]

Day #2 of hunting was, let’s just say very humbling.  The big issue was too many deer at the wrong time.  I decided to hit the Badlands and see if I could locate and stalk a good buck.  Left the truck at first light with a 4 mile walk ahead of me.  My plan was as to hunt BLM and target drainages that had harvested fields near by.  The trick is to stay out of sight by walking down the middle of the table top separating two drainages.  Get to the upper portion and dive in undetected.  Deer 100 Me 0!  I was getting picked off left and right.  Had two stalks on great deer ruined by a spoiler I couldn’t see.  11 miles later I found my truck.   Some pics of today’s adventure.

Pronghorn on the walk in.

Badlands 101...finding deer is a real pain.

 

I stopped to glass from the rock ledge above and the doe in the following picture was bedded under me...The pic is after she ran out.

Below picture of two bucks after a blown stalk.  These two spoiled my approach.

All in all it was an awesome day.  Great sunrise and found an old shed.  Weather moving in tonight and cold temps.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by Tater1973
Pics

[tpr1921]

Best of luck on day three.

[_X7]

Stay with it