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‘Rona deer hunt
My deer hunt starts tomorrow morning. It’s a muzzleloader buck hunt in the desert mountains near where I live. Muzzleloader was my third choice, and that’s what I drew, making a tough hunt a bit tougher.
Last weekend, my hunting buddy and I went out scouting. We were first searching for a new spot to set up camp. We’ve found areas we want to spend more time in, so we wanted to camp closer to those areas than years past. And I bought a small 5th wheel trailer a few months ago, so we found a spot I can get my trailer into.
Aside from a unseasonal snow storm here last week, it’s been much drier than normal. Knowing where the water tanks are out there could be the key. We’ve got that down.
Yesterday, I got word from my buddy that he has the Rona... interesting news, since we were out cruising around in my Jeep together a few days earlier. That ended up with me being sent home from work for contact precaution, and my buddy out of the hunt. My test results are still pending, but I have no symptoms. As long as symptoms don’t start, I’ll be going out by myself, leaving my house early in the morning and returning home in the evenings. It will take a few spots out, being by myself. I won’t go too far into the rough mountains alone, with no cell service. For one, an injury out there by myself could turn into a problem. Second, if I shot a deer up on one of those rough mountains, it’d be fun getting it out of there and quickly enough in 75-80 degree weather. So, I’ll stick to the lower ground and water tanks.
Its gonna be fun....
Last weekend, my hunting buddy and I went out scouting. We were first searching for a new spot to set up camp. We’ve found areas we want to spend more time in, so we wanted to camp closer to those areas than years past. And I bought a small 5th wheel trailer a few months ago, so we found a spot I can get my trailer into.
Aside from a unseasonal snow storm here last week, it’s been much drier than normal. Knowing where the water tanks are out there could be the key. We’ve got that down.
Yesterday, I got word from my buddy that he has the Rona... interesting news, since we were out cruising around in my Jeep together a few days earlier. That ended up with me being sent home from work for contact precaution, and my buddy out of the hunt. My test results are still pending, but I have no symptoms. As long as symptoms don’t start, I’ll be going out by myself, leaving my house early in the morning and returning home in the evenings. It will take a few spots out, being by myself. I won’t go too far into the rough mountains alone, with no cell service. For one, an injury out there by myself could turn into a problem. Second, if I shot a deer up on one of those rough mountains, it’d be fun getting it out of there and quickly enough in 75-80 degree weather. So, I’ll stick to the lower ground and water tanks.
Its gonna be fun....
Replies
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
We had the same thing, direct contact and home for 14 days but tested negative and back to work monday.
Still no test results, and still no symptoms. Pretty sure I’m good. My buddy is struggling a bit. It’s hitting him pretty hard now. But he’s working on it. He’ll kick its butt...
Headed out about 545, got to my first hunting spot almost an hour later, just before sunup. No water in the tank, but sign there. Set up on the side of a hill overlooking what would be the tank, of it had water in it. I was just about to head out and hit the next spot, when a coyote trotted up to about 35 yards from me. Upwind and looking away from me. I didn’t want to waste my muzzleloader shot on it, so I moved it to my left hand and drew my Glock 17C. That’ll make your ears ring with no hearing protection... one handed shot, attempting to hit the back of the head.. I missed. But I cracked up laughing when it jumped 3 feet straight up at the shot. 🤣 It had no idea I was there or that it was going to get shot at... so much for that spot.
Next spot I had scouted before. There was water there and I had a spot picked out. Just as I got to my spot on the side of a hill to look around, a truck pulls right up to the water and two “hunters” get out and start walking around the tank. ‘Cause that’s how you hunt, apparently... didn’t know I was doing it wrong... again, so much for that spot.
The rest of the day, a lot of driving and a LOT of walking and hiking. 106 dirt road miles on the Jeep and a lot of miles on my legs in between. Next post, some scenery pics of some of the areas I’m hunting.
Final note, a lot of traffic out there. Public land, virus, people going out cruising and riding ATVs... difficult to hunt.
I was amazed at the amount of life is in the desert. Hope you get one next time out.
Edit, on second thought and after comparing, I’m fairly sure it’s mountain lion.
Unfortunately, I had some things come up and wasn’t able to go out the last two days of the hunt. So this year is over and no deer. I enjoyed the time I did get to spend out there. It was a good chance to get away from everything and recharge, so to speak.
I never got results back on my Rona test, so I had to go do another one at work. No results back on that one yet. Still no symptoms, so I’m either asymptotic or didn’t get it, I guess. I just have to have a test so I can go back to work.
Anyhow, here’s a few more scenery pics..
Lots of javelina sign in this area.
for reference, in the right-center of this pic from the west edge of the lava flows is Cox peak, probably around 10 miles away. The elevation at that peak is 5936 ft and is 1541ft above the desert. If one was to climb that peak, I believe it’s over 2 miles from where you can get a vehicle to the base. From there, it’s almost a mile to the top, going up over 1100 feet in elevation in a mile...
Any way, glad you had a good time. It always amazes me how country that seems so barren and ugly can grow on you. Thanks for sharing.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.