High country mule deer hunting is something that I have really grown a love for over the last handful of years. It speaks my language. Steep and deep backcountry, glassing for bucks, and then playing the chess match that is sneaking in close to bow range. From Utah to Colorado I slept in the dirt and tried my hand at putting the moves on big velvet mule deer. What started as a hunt for a deer, soon turned to a hunt for Perspective. Which is the title of this new film and you can watch the teaser below.
This past Fall hunting season was no doubt an incredible one. From trekking high into the alpine to calling for black bears in the dense timber. My time spent living in the dirt and out of my backpack was time well spent. One hunt in particular though really stole my heart. And that was hunting mule deer bucks during October in the Idaho Backcountry.
Each turn of the calendar I have grown to look forward to a few certain times of year. One of those times that has stolen a piece of my heart is early season high country mule deer hunting with a bow. The views are nothing short of breathtaking, as is the country beneath my feet. It steals my breath in more ways than one. And the sight of big velvet bucks feeding in what resembles a golf course and bedding in what resembles Mordor is addictive beyond measure. This past August I found myself on a solo backcountry bowhunting trip to Utah in search of such things. Along with what I’ve mentioned, I found something else. Something that will hold its weight throughout my days. Perspective.
In the last episode of Dialed in Diaries, you watched my brother and I backpack into the Colorado backcountry in search of mule deer. No deer were harmed in the making of that film, but my brother was unfortunately. This caused us to pull the plug and head home 5 days early. It was a bummer all the way around, but necessary. He was in no shape to trek into the area we were planning on going. 2 weeks later, I’d head back to Colorado with a good buddy and try my luck again, which lands us here, episode 4.
Alright! Hope you all liked the first chapter of Dialed in Diaries “Bear.” I had such a blast filming and putting all of that together. The fact that it all came together in the end after a slow hunt was icing on the cake for me. While I wish all of the great friends that were in camp were by my side helping me pack out that bear, it was still a hunt I’ll cherish. Plus, you all know how much I love bear hunting. I’ve got a big year planned for the bruins for 2021, hint hint…
At the close of one chapter there is an opening of the next. This next chapter is called “High Country Mule Deer.” I drew a tag in Colorado and was joined by my brother on the first half of the trip. High Country Mule Deer will be a 2 episode chapter and finds me in two different backcountry camps throughout it. Colorado is an incredible place, and while this hunt was a struggle, I had a blast.
I hope you enjoy the episode above as well as the ones to come. If you have not yet, please SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube Channel and blog to stay up to date with future posts! Thanks again and good luck out there!
Another year, another gear list! I was lucky enough to draw another high country mule deer tag in Colorado this year. This will be a backcountry archery hunt for 10 days above treeline! Last year was the first year that I had ever done a high country mule deer hunt and I got absolutely hooked on it. So, the fact that I get to return this year is causing anticipation to shoot through the roof.
This story starts a few years back. I never really had the urge to hunt mule deer above timberline. Elk were always the animal that grabbed my attention, and the reason I went on my first out of state hunt to begin with. That hunt brought me to Colorado. A 10 day backpack hunt that was filled with some potent memories. Some of them were pretty hard to swallow. During that hunt we saw multiple big velvet mule deer and I think that’s when they caught my attention. On top of having to backpack for these high country bucks to get above timberline, there was something magical about seeing those velvet antlers float across a bed of wildflowers. It was entrancing and screamed adventure hunting. After a few years drooling over watching others success, I decided 2019 was the year of high country mule deer.
I was so fortunate to have, not one, but two high country archery mule deer tags this year. This is a hunt that I’ve dreamed about doing for years and finally pulled the trigger on. The first took place in Utah and the second was in Colorado. Both of these hunts were backpack style hunts and both of them tested my limits. We were packed into the Utah backcountry for 6 days and also 6 days in Colorado. My brother and I made some incredible memories on these adventure hunts and I cannot wait to do it again. There is just something about being above treeline and glassing up big high country mule deer.
After just getting back from my high country mule deer hunt in Colorado, I thought it would be cool to put together a video of the gear that I brought with me on this hunt. I did this before leaving actually and the only item that I switched out from the photo is the spotting scope. Instead of the 11-33×50 Vortex Razor, I went with the 22-48×65 Vortex Razor. That extra reach with the glass was much appreciated in the big high country that is Colorado. In the video, I also forgot to mention my Garmin Inreach Explorer+. That is something that I never leave home without as far as hunting is concerned. Other than that, I hope you enjoy! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to drop them below! High country mule deer is definitely something that I am now addicted to! Good luck to those still out there in the field!
Just a few items that I want to mention after being in the field with them were the Argali Carbon Knife, Exo Mountain Gear 4800 Pack, and the Nemo x First Lite Recurve 2p Tent. Each one of these items stood out to me after vigorous in the field testing. The Argali Carbon Knife has proved its weight in gold after going through 2 bears and a mule deer. Feels fantastic in the hand and holds an edge like a champ. The new Exo Mountain Gear 4800 did not disappoint in the least bit. We packed out my buck and camp through the dark. That was the easiest 80-90 pounds I have ever carried. Can’t wait to load it up again! Lastly, the Nemo x First Lite Recurve 2p tent was something I was worried about it. I even mention that in the video. After spending almost a week in it, my worries cease to exist. This shelter is as light as light can get for a 2p tent and offers plenty of room inside for livability. That won’t be the last time I use it.
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The past few years I have spent a good portion of late August/early September chasing elk around with my bow. Along the way, I’ve made some incredible memories and harnessed a potent love for archery elk hunting. While that love has not faded, this year is going to be a little bit different for me. This year, I was fortunate enough to draw not one, but two early archery mule deer tags. One is in Utah and the other is in Colorado. A high country mule deer hunt is something I’ve wanted to do for quite a few years now, but never have because of elk season. I decided to finally pull the trigger and try to make it happen. Looks like it worked…..double! Both of these hunts will be backpack hunts lasting from 7-10 days each. As you can imagine, my head has been racing trying to figure out what I’ll be bringing with me gear wise and all. So, with this post, I wanted to lay out just that. What I will be packing with me along the way for the 17 in total days of backcountry hunting for velvet mule deer!
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