Big or Bust

Don't forget to get there way earlier than you need to in order to suffer through a safety video... I was on and off mine sites for years. Good luck.

There are a few bucks still cruising around but it's been done for a bit down south from what I've seen.

In my area the rut has been better than the last 2-3 years... I missed a buck in his bed yesterday at 51 yards that clipped a little twig a few yards in front of him that flew the arrow way left. Heartbreaking... 61 yards again this AM from a 6+ year old heavy 180+" 4X4 but the little bucks wouldn't keep screwing with his does and I got in the middle of a revolving rut fest which is never good. I crawled 300 yards I bet but only moved 80...lol

All of the 36's....

Obviously not a complete blanket statement by me but in multiple units on bucks 90+" I've been watching all summer, they are still in groups of 3-6 including a group of 6 just this morning who busted me as I was about the fling an arrow at a 95" buck. Feel free to nit pick a bit more. Lol

The coues down south are still bachelored up. Areas I'm glassing have both. Haven't seen a single buck with mule deer does either...

Where are you located? I have a 2019 Ranger with one I don't use much anymore. It's the lock kind on the top of the bed rails. Not sure if it fits. I'm in Tucson area.

Lol. About right...

Sorry for hijack. Target Buck #1- Dead buck #2 - Sheds of target buck and damaged cape- I wasn't even looking for his sheds and stumbled upon them later that year. It was an unreal find and closed the chapter into what happened.

Two years ago my target buck was intact a week before opener. Opener comes, glass him up, he's missing his right side from his brow up. Devastated. Thought it was shot off, etc. Three days later I killed my #2 buck in same basin. My #2 buck had stab wounds and marks on his neck that looked like antler scrapes. I got suspicious they had a tussle. I verified that was the case when I found my #1 bucks sheds. Antler was not shot off but was a very irregularly broken with no bullet evidence. Break was up and down, not from a shearing bullet. Buck #2 is on wall, with buck #1's sheds next to him. Buck #2 was mounted as he was with cape damage from antler. For some reason they got into it. This is my long winded version of it can happen this early because I've seen it. Combined with this year's conditions and I bet it wouldn't take much this year for breakage. Bunch if ways he could have gotten broke including a bullet.

Great job man...

Sounds like bad data in or out or a unit of measure issue. 2 different scopes doing same thing doesn't sound mechanical. Sure you somehow didn't zero stop a full revolution of elevation dial off somehow after last range session?

What scope?

Just FYI - these guys just opened up and are fully permitted. In the Three Points area. Thought some folks would want to know about it due to the WGP log jam at times. https://www.facebook.com/CouesRidgeCustom/

It's been a rough week. I've been out doing the same thing you are. It just takes one opportunity, but you know this. These desert bucks are fickle, days too hot they feeding at 430. Days perfect, in a wash all day. It's a grind any desert flats deer hunt prior to January, on average....

Is that the EMP bed cover? If so, how'd it do with dust. GLWS. Nice ride.

Good luck bro. Those desert bucks will test how bad you want to be out there for sure. But rewards can be big.....

There are a bunch of water and food drops for them around those hills. I've seen them..

Saw 15 tonight in 36a right below me...

Umm, yeah they are out here. They'll always be out here ...

Just FYI - headed south on IH 19 and smoke plume halfway up the mountain in upper Madera Canyon. Thought it might save some folks some time...

I can tell you this, the fawn crop is extremely poor this year, for coues and mule deer in southern Arizona at least. Very few. I've been out 43 days thus far. How does the mid part of the state look?

Great job...I ran into you last summer at the Three Points range and you were talking to me about your tag. Glad you had such a great hunt...

Good news...