The four of us left Wisconsin with temps in the mid-20s and the second day in our Montana deer camp the temps reached balmy mid 50s and according to weather on the radio winds to gust up to 35 mph. Mule deer were laying low.
I spent the morning glassing some of the breaks that lead into the Missouri River and spotted a nice 4x4 about 600 yards out. I was familiar with a couple of the game trails in that coulee that led into some ranch land and decided to set up there. Wind direction was going to be a challenge figuring out because of the gusty conditions, but do the best I can While working my way into position I took one more look to make sure the buck was still there and noticed some movement off to his left and above him. Two Bighorn rams came up on him and spooked him, sending him deeper into the breaks.
This morning I was set up before light on a switchback and one respectable 4x4 came near but crossed out of range. Later the winds picked up and there was some pretty good gusts by noon. I hiked down into a coulee to get out of the wind and sat down on the south side to eat a snack. It was tempting to take a nap. I checked my little thermometer and it was 60-62 degrees.
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When I talked to my wife last night in Wisconsin she said places in Wisconsin set record low temperatures the last couple of days. I was thinking that would be nice here in Montana to get the deer up and moving.
Moved out of the coulee and started glassing and within a half hour spotted a shooter three quarters of the way up on the north side of a coulee out of the sun. Looked things over and figured I could get close by staying on the other side then come up over the high ground and put a sneak on him. When I topped out the wind was in my face and the gusts were blowing dust and noisy. This proved to be to my advantage as I crawled hands and knees, then on my belly thru the spotty cover. When I spotted the small rock outcropping that I lasered previously next to the buck, I knew I was within 50 yards of the buck. I moved another 10 yards or so, nocked an arrow and slowly rose to my knees, went to full draw. MEH! He was up and my arrow was on its way.
Instead of running down hill he went straight up. I found him about 70 paces on the flat.
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![[Linked Image from i617.photobucket.com]](https://s617.photobucket.com/user/jackpine44/media/thermometermontana_zpsufizgct8.jpg.html)
![[Linked Image from i617.photobucket.com]](https://s617.photobucket.com/user/jackpine44/media/muledeerbow2_zps7pwhi6qo.jpg.html)
Congrats on a dandy buck!
