Preface
We’ve all experienced feast and famine during deer hunting trips, which usually results in either bounty or bust. But it is almost always a great adventure. In the fall of 2024, my hunting group and I experienced some of both. And today I’ll share the story with you about Mule deer dualism, or the contrast between what is and what can be while hunting them.
Fall 2024
Its been a rough few years hunting here in my home state of Utah, after some very significant winters our deer population has suffered. Utah is an interesting state, filled with natural beauty and wild lands. And every fall it is filled with thousands of excited hunters looking to shoot a Mule deer buck. Even under normal conditions, it can be challenging to hunt these public lands with so many others. But when the deer population dwindles to something like forty-percent of normal, it can be downright depressing for hunting fanatics like me.
I’ve been hunting the same mountains and canyons for my entire adult life, the same mountains my father, grandfather and great-grandfather hunted before me. So I am pretty familiar with the habits of the game animals that share this mountain home. Even so, it isn’t uncommon for them to be always there except for the times you want them to be.
With some optimism, my friends and family started the annual deer hunt hoping for the best. Knowing that the numbers were against us, but also with the knowledge of how quickly things can change.
First Light
As the sun came up the first day of the hunt, two of my kids and I, in a hurried crouch made our way to the edge of a ridge. We’d spotted a pair of bucks feeding on the frosted brush. Later that day I would be astonished with how few deer we would see compared to normal. But at that moment I was too focused to think about anything else.
We snuck into a shooting position, and my son Leo rested his rifle on my field tripod to keep the line of sight over the brush. We waited for the two bucks to separate enough to shoot, and he cracked a perfect shot through the boiler room. The buck left a blood trail even Stevie Wonder could have followed, leading us to the first prize of the week. We celebrated our success for a while as the warm sunlight brought sensation back to our faces and fingers.
More than a day later I returned to the same area with a friend and his sons. Now several days into hunting season, we had all become quite aware of the reduction in deer presence. In fact, it was downright depressing how few deer we were seeing compared to normal years. With little opportunity that morning, I was considering going back home. But things would change quickly for us.
The Developing Duo
We had seen a few scattered groups of does, but nothing promising any bones or trophies. Just as I was about to throw in the towel, a fresh deer was spotted. And a cursory look at it suggested he was worth more investigation. I wasn’t thrilled with his location, as it would surely mean hours of grueling work to extricate him after an equally grueling hike to get close. After closing the distance some, we found that the buck wasn’t alone. And the two of them stood in the open begging for our attention.
We hastily made our way from one point to another, before nearly running down a trail to close the distance to 500 yards. Our pace was required as the two deer were slowly working over the ridge into a deep canyon where we’d never see or find them again. With little time to spare, we approached a rock that would offer and ideal shooting position. The sun had just reached the deer, which gave us an even better view of them. As we all peered through binoculars I suggested the left one was the bigger buck, to which the others confirmed. I again confirmed the distance at right around 500 yards, and dialed the 1.7 MRAD into the scope of my PVA Modus 6.5 PRC rifle.
The two bucks stood a few yards from each other, looking into the morning sun. Perhaps satisfied with having given some other hunters the slip, but not knowing the heat that was currently pointed their way.
Time to Shoot
I ran the bolt in my rifle to chamber a round, my custom handloads using 129 grain PVA Cayuga solid copper bullets. And I settled the crosshair on the distant grey shape, adjusting the scope for perfect clarity.
Everything felt just right, so I decided to pull the trigger, sending the sizzle of the 6.5 PRC. The bullet impacted just behind the left shoulder, and exited on the opposite side of the deer. He dropped immediately and sprawled his way uncontrolled down the steep slope. Watching him for a a few seconds it was clear that he was done, my friend Nate pointed out that the second buck simply stood there watching as his partner succumb to the shot. I was surprised as I looked back through the scope and saw the second buck still standing there looking confused.
I slid out from behind the rifle, and motioned one of the boys to get behind it. Carson shouldered the rifle and we chambered another round, as he located the buck through the scope. Once he steadied the rifle on the buck, we all went back to our binoculars. The next shot broke and hit the second buck square behind the shoulder as well, his entire body rippling with the impact. He jumped forward bouncing into thick brush over the hill.
The excitement had consumed us all at this point and we exchanged hugs and shoulder punches. After which we hurried down the mountain towards our prize. As we hiked, we discussed the incredible improbability that with so few deer, and almost nothing of any size, we were profoundly lucky to be there.
Recovery
Our excitement continued to peak as we walked up on the downed bucks. While they might not make the cover of a magazine, they were for sure the best two bucks we had or would see during the hunt.
We gave them the reverence they deserved, and admired their beauty. We of course snapped some photos to save the memory, before starting into the hard work. With a long ways to go back to the road, we decided to bone out the deer. Cutting all the flesh from the bones to save wasted effort, then hanging the meat in the cold breeze to cool it off as quick as possible.
It took most of the morning and afternoon to get everything done and make our way back to the vehicle. It was an exhausting effort that felt fantastic once I was sitting in my truck.
The Duality
Every year I am surprised by how mule deer can seem to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. How they can stand out flagrantly at one moment, then shift into the shadows and disappear when they choose.
And yet despite the massive reduction in our deer population, we were still able to have great success. During the week I saw very few hunters besides ourselves, and of the ones I saw nobody seemed to have brought home anything.
The glaring disparity between my expectations and results are as significant as the silence in these mountains. While I am thankful for our success, I am concerned for the future. I hope the reduction in permits helps improve our deer population.
Final Thoughts
There are many contrasting phenomenon when it comes to hunting Mule deer, I think I like most of them. As I rest my weary legs here at home, I am incredibly thankful for our opportunities. Doubling up on a duo like these two as part of a successful week of deer hunting makes it an even sweeter success. I can’t wait for our next hunting adventure.