Where are the bucks?

[Victor1Echo]

Does and fawns everywhere, but no bucks. I set up a cool blind that gets me 25 yards with in does and their cute children, but no bucks. Are they all at a stag party or something?

 

[wyohome]

If you can keep the does around, the bucks will be there

 

[Perfesser]

Where are they ?

In my front yard...

 

[jrdolall]

10,000 buck lures out there and none of them work nearly as well as a couple of does in your area. I hunt does until late December and then hunt bedding areas.

 

[Snag]

Are they all at a stag party or something?

Yes, they are. Bucks are extremely punctual, and their party starts every August 18th and lasts till the end of October. At least here in California anyway.

 

[Victor1Echo]

I am having a great time anyway.

 

[tarosean]

How long ago did you set up the blind? Is it out in the open? They may be leery if a new house popped up out of the blue.

 

[josiewales]

Perfesser, I'm jealous!

 

[Flintknapper]

Depending upon where you live, Bucks are still in bachelor groups and on summer 'patterns'.

Does are NOT an attraction for them yet...as none are in estrous or even approaching it.

Summer pattern bucks can be found leaving bedding areas in the early morning and at food sources in late evening right now.

 

[Victor1Echo]

I am on to one! And he's huge--so I have been told. I have been hunting near a camping ground, and the camp host saw me. He said all the other hunters he saw just got out of their trucks and looked around with binoculars. Since I was doing legwork, he would tell me where he saw a big buck, with about 5 points. He thought it might be an elk, or Wapati as he called it. I didnt find any elk droppings, but I did find some big tracks. It will be tough tracking him with my limited skill, but it rained this afternoon!! I will be still hunting the hillside working my way up it.

 

[splattergun]

I am on to one! And he's huge--so I have been told. I have been hunting near a camping ground, and the camp host saw me. He said all the other hunters he saw just got out of their trucks and looked around with binoculars. Since I was doing legwork, he would tell me where he saw a big buck, with about 5 points. He thought it might be an elk, or Wapati as he called it. I didnt find any elk droppings, but I did find some big tracks. It will be tough tracking him with my limited skill, but it rained this afternoon!! I will be still hunting the hillside working my way up it.

What species are you hunting? Elk, aka Wapiti, are a deer species, but are not commonly referred to as 'deer'. If you have a tag for 'deer', you may not kill elk. If you do have an elk tag, Git 'im!

 

[peete]

they are still in groups,have not split up yet,still in velvet

 

[Victor1Echo]

And high up in the mountains where I live.

 

[Victor1Echo]

What species are you hunting?

Mule deer. I just mentioned what the campground manager refereed to it as Wapiti, and not elk. He is not fully knowledgeable about game. When he called it an wapiti, it made me think it was a big mule deer. I saw the tracks and they do not look as large as the elk tracks I've seen. I am going to hike up and see if I can't get him this evening.

 

[splattergun]

Mule deer. I just mentioned what the campground manager refereed to it as Wapiti, and not elk. He is not fully knowledgeable about game. When he called it an wapiti, it made me think it was a big mule deer. I saw the tracks and they do not look as large as the elk tracks I've seen. I am going to hike up and see if I can't get him this evening.

My misread. Godo luck on finding him.

 

[Viper225]

I saw a group of 6 bucks together a few weeks ago. Two were Thumpers.
I saw a small 4 to 6 point with some does coming out of my neighbors yard last week. I would not have expected to see the buck with the does and fawns at this time of year.
I have also been seeing Single Bucks alone.

 

[Bwana John]

The big deer are still high, near the crest of the Sierra Nevada.

I would recommend right on the east side of Taboose, Sawmill, Shepard's, or Baxter.

Or Shingle Mill Bench.

Or Armstrong Canyon, take the old closed mine road. The road terminates at the old Rex Montis mine on the north face of Kearsarge Mountain above 11,000 feet in elevation.

Or above Golden Trout Lakes towards N. Dragon out of Onion Valley.

The REALLY BIG deer (desert mulies) are across the valley and on the east side of the Inyos (X9C)

 

[Hunterdad]

Saw a monster 10pt behind a local hospital a couple nights ago. Saw him on the other side of the fence when I drove by swung the jeep around to get a better look at him. Got out and walked within about 10ft of him and he just walked slowly away. Antlers were clean too.

 

[Kachok]

Tell you where the bucks are all at, my hunting camp, we have not seen a doe in almost a year, but young (spike-6 point) bucks are everywhere. I have no idea what causes them to split up like that but I have seen it plenty of times. My friends farm has nothing but does, I have never once seen a buck there amongst the hundreds of deer.

 

[Davek1977]

Every once in awhile, the "eastern count" vs "western count" really confuses me. I grew up thinking a 4 point was "4 points on EACH side" and an odd number of points was described as, for example, a "4x5". Then,I realized that the deer really weren't unnaturally huge in the east, and that those "8 and 10 points" that seem so common were really just the average "4 and 5 points" around here. Leave it to people to make something easy confusing!
and more on topic....the bucks I've seen as of late are either solo or in small bachelor groups

 

[Victor1Echo]

Bwana John,

I know those places well, but they are hell to get to and out of.

I would recommend right on the east side of Taboose, Sawmill, Shepard's, or Baxter.

Or Shingle Mill Bench.

I see it all the time driving by and know it holds deer, but it looks so brutal getting up to it.
Or Armstrong Canyon, take the old closed mine road. The road terminates at the old Rex Montis mine on the north face of Kearsarge Mountain above 11,000 feet in elevation.

I think you mean little Onion Valley, Armstrong canyon is north of Sawmill pass. A local told me to forget about it for archery hunting due lack of cover and rocks.
Or above Golden Trout Lakes towards N. Dragon out of Onion Valley.

Oh, my god. Hiked to Golden Trout Lakes three times, and I cannot imagine myself getting a deer out of there. You have to climb talus boulder scree in two areas, and most of the trail is along a granite ridge. I can see myself falling with the deer and impaling myself on his antlers.

The REALLY BIG deer (desert mulies) are across the valley and on the east side of the Inyos (X9C)

I hunted there last year on the West side. You basically need a 4 wheel drive to get down saline valley.
All those places are some of the steepest, sandiest trails on the Eastern Sierras, except for the mine road. And x9c, the east side of the Inyos? Tough country, also the forest service has been busy closing down many roads that made access much easier. The roads to barrel springs and side hill spring have been closed down.

So all the deer are up high, where it is nearly impossible to sneak up on them due to the hard, rocky soil. And if I could get one, it would be more like trophy hunting because getting my harvest out of there, even in quarters would be difficult. It's also really hot! It was 65 degrees at 5 in the AM on opening day, and later up into the high 70's. I am going take a look at shingle mill bench today, and maybe scope out the Big Pine area. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Bwana John]

V1E,
You Are correct about Armstrong Canyon I was thinking about the Ruby, Glacier, and Pinnicle Mines, but the Rex Montis mine road is a good way to get high easily. ~I left that area 13 years ago, and miss it everyday.

And yes you need to quarter them to get them out, and you might have to drag downhill just to find a tree tall enough to hold them up while you work on them. I let Wiley and Yogi have the necks, flanks, and shanks, hide and skull minus the antlers, and hike out with just the 4 quarters and 2 backstraps and slice of skull holding the antlers in my pack and usually go back for my camp later.

They were closing down roads in the Inyos ~15 years ago. Try Sidehill across to Seaphole down to Barrel, or Sidehill down to Wacoba springs. Easy access to east side of Wacoba Mountian out of Wipperwill flats off North Pass Saline Rd and DVNP is cool with it. Is the old road to the Inyo crest on the way to Winnedumah Paiute Monument still open? (above and to the south of Barrel Springs)

I can see myself falling with the deer and impaling myself on his antlers.

That almost happened to me as I was trying to get a deer down to Nydiver Lakes in the Minarets, sliding down steep talus with the deer behind me, got out of control and ended up with the antlers hitting me at about kidney level, HARD!

Do you know you can get a On-Demand D-7 tag (or 2!) and hike ~ 6 miles out of Devils Postpile to the west side of the Minarets (You need to declare your bow or rifle at DPNM, but the ranger is cool about walking thru the monument with weapon or dead deer and he will countersign your tag if successful) I think 2nd on demand tag opens up for D-7 around Sept 15.

So all the deer are up high, where it is nearly impossible to sneak up on them due to the hard, rocky soil

Aint no "soil" up there, just rocks and some ice! But it is where the big deer are right now.

 

[Bwana John]

PS- There is an old trail going up to Shingle Mill Bench on south side of the triangular facet.

 

[Victor1Echo]

Is the old road to the Inyo crest on the way to Winnedumah Paiute Monument still open? (above and to the south of Barrel Springs)

The one that goes to Betty Jumbo Mine? It is open, but you need a 4x4 as it pretty washed out last I saw.

 

[Victor1Echo]

above and to the south of Barrel Springs
The road to Barrel springs was illegally closed by the Friends of the Inyos. They went out and rolled a bunch or rocks into the road. They did this to several of the roads off of Mazourka Canyon. I ran for County Supervisor and part of my platform was to reopen some of these roads especially to Barrel springs. Supposed to be a great place for Chukar, deer, and quail, and lions.