A Different Season
As we wrap up winter and head into spring in the Carolinas, many folks are excited to chase turkeys or enjoy spring fishing. While I am excited for both, we are also in the middle of an important season: application season. For those of us venturing out west in pursuit of big game, this time represents the planning phase of the hunt—researching draw odds, checking point trackers, scouring GIS and satellite maps, and, most importantly, securing PTO and getting wives' approval.
2023 was good to us, drawing a Barbary sheep tag in January and a mule deer tag in November. Both made memorable trips even though my wife and I came home empty-handed. This leads me to my first piece of advice: sacrificing hunt quality for opportunity can be worth it. It's easy to get caught up in wanting to harvest the biggest critter in the best unit, but doing so overlooks many opportunities. Both hunts in 2023 had lower success rates but were easier to draw tags. The sheep hunt was a solo trip into the Chihuahuan desert of New Mexico, where I spent countless days and miles glassing steep limestone cliffs. I never got a sheep but encountered mule deer, elk, and javelina, returning home with some cool fossils and stories. I made great connections with local game wardens and found a unit to apply for mule deer or javelina if the urge strikes. The experience gained can propel you forward for the following years.
In the fall, my wife and I returned with a mule deer tag in the Sacramento Mountains, southwest of where I was in January. Hunting at 6000'-9000' elevation is a big change from the coast, bringing me to my second piece of advice: always arrive early. Having driven across the country countless times, I find it takes a day or so for my body to adjust to elevation. That extra time allows boots on the ground and eyes behind the glass. In our case, the extra time let us navigate treacherous mountain roads in a snowstorm. We spent days hiking and glassing, hoping for a nice buck; some days we glassed up to 50 deer.
On day 3, we spotted a group of mule deer about a mile away. There seemed to be a few bucks, prompting us to pack up and attempt a stalk. At 500 yards, we refound the group, locating a nice 4x4 buck. Setting up the rifle, I made calculations, adjusted my scope, got in position, and slowly squeezed the trigger. Bang! As I looked through my scope, I saw the mule deer stotting away into the ravine and thick brush. I missed, and the reality of what had transpired started to set in. A shot I had made hundreds of times before and I came up short. Reflecting on this, I've come to my final piece of advice: don't judge your hunt by meat or antlers but by the time spent in God's creation. In this country, we're fortunate to be able to pursue wild critters in the most untamed places. The week spent with my wife in the Sacramento Mountains stands out as the most enjoyable and memorable hunting experience in my life, and that to me is a SUCCESSFUL hunt. Best wishes to everyone for a bountiful spring, and good luck in the upcoming draws!
