X7A hunter info

[applejackrick]

Well, it happened, my brother finally drew X7A after 7 yrs....whew! we drew in our group last year and did very well as I have always loved the X7A and 7B areas for those mule deer with big caliber antlers. we headed out 1-1/2 months ago to scout out multiple areas to decide on the opening day hunt and found an area that we saw few bucks of decent size....no monsters, but then again we didn't get to scout the top of ridges.
This last weekend was finally X7A opener as I went to help spot for my brother in an area known for alot of deer. we hiked top of ridges, trees, brush, in the flats, and saw VERY little sign...... what a disappointment.
we heard few shots opening day and most hunters had no luck with some minor exceptions in one of the camps below the mountain we were hunting. we saw 3 bucks hanging. of medium to small size
after 4 days of hunting, we decided to pull out of camp and headed home with no buck, however, we ended up those last couple days seeing approx 30 deer, mostly does and only 3 little fork horns in seperate places.
not sure how the rest of you did, seen a few stories on this zone, with some success stories.

X7A deer info; all of the deer we seen were blacktail except one...... kinda wonder what happened to all those mulies we saw last year.....very strange! last year nothing but mulies and very few blacktails, this year was the opposite. Hunted Treasure mountain, one fork, 2 does. hunted dog valley where there was multiple deer along the Kyburz flat rd going towards stampede....one side X7A....one side X7B.
we hunted other areas..... crystal peak, Babbit peak, antelope valley, white rock lake, dog valley, bear valley road area, long valley,lemon canon, cottonwood, and sardine peak.
We gave it a good shot boys and girls, but not much out there. anyone else like to comment and add to the post will be much appreciated.
good luck to all who have drawn this zone and keep us posted.

thanks for your time,
Rick B. atiotic-wavin-flag:wavin hello:

 

[applejackrick]

btw....we had to leave as the weather started moving in and as of today..... i believe they had about a foot of snow on the peaks above 6500ft.

 

[6x7]

one thing i have learnd is to not bounce around from spot to spot,souds like you went to a new sopt everytime you went out,If we see a buck while scouting and we dont see it opening day we dont move to a new spot we come back the next mourning and if we dont see it again we come back the next day.If its a big buck and worth takeing you have to hunt them that way or you wont get them,they willl all most all ways show back up.

 

[loner]

one thing i have learnd is to not bounce around from spot to spot,souds like you went to a new sopt everytime you went out,If we see a buck while scouting and we dont see it opening day we dont move to a new spot we come back the next mourning and if we dont see it again we come back the next day.If its a big buck and worth takeing you have to hunt them that way or you wont get them,they willl all most all ways show back up.

Good advice

 

[applejackrick]

Absolutely good advice, I have done that so many years hunting..... i know that country almost like the back of my hand and found out that if there is very little sign, continue scouting other areas until sign looks fairly well.
yes we saw a couple bucks during pre-hunt season, this year is different in that the time frame we scouted was late july instead of august. due to the late winter snow, the deer did not migrate back up to their normal season stomping grounds. Talking with other hunters in the area produced information that held true in that the there were deer/bucks far and few between in that area this year. just giving you my 40 years of experience and as always we need to give each other advice, and info on the herds to get success.

keep the thoughts coming and advice....... we all benefit from this!
p.s.
6x7...... my brother informed me that you are Ray's kid????
nice to hear from you.

 

[6x7]

It is a weird year this year,the grass was still green on the high moutain grass and I have never been out in october and seen green skunk cabbage still around.

 

[applejackrick]

yep...2 weekends ago was D3 opener and hunted around cisco grove, seemed like spring instead of fall with everything soooo green and wild flowers, berries and cabbage patch flowers poping out everywhere.

 

[Mr. Luckypants]

Mule ears are still green on certain slopes. They should be completely brown by bow opener. It's friggin October!

 

[applejackrick]

haven't heard that term "mule ears" in ages!

 

[db 183]

X7A deer info; all of the deer we seen were blacktail except one...... kinda wonder what happened to all those mulies we saw last year.....very strange! last year nothing but mulies and very few blacktails, this year was the opposite. Hunted Treasure mountain, one fork, 2 does. hunted dog valley where there was multiple deer along the Kyburz flat rd going towards stampede....one side X7A....one side X7B.
we hunted other areas..... crystal peak, Babbit peak, antelope valley, white rock lake, dog valley, bear valley road area, long valley,lemon canon, cottonwood, and sardine peak.

I am sorry you aren't seeing the deer. Not sure what to say. In X7b we were into them very thick. All mulies, never saw a single black tail. My neighbors are camping in Bear Valley and they have one in the tree hanging and a BRUISER that they shot not far from camp that they were tracking when I met up with them today. Other hunters in camp also had deer hanging. I hunted Kyburz Flat during opening weekend and well inside the X7b border we got on some nice deer everyday. All mulies, mostly does and 4 very nice bucks (I spotted one just as it busted me and my kid got a shot at three of them that she found on her own but missed clean). We just couldn't close the deal on them. I also got on some nice bucks around Boca but couldn't stalk close enough without getting winded.

I don't know a whole lot about the X7a zone but do know that Bear Valley and Sardine areas have been pretty thick with deer this year. Try glassing the northern sides of the mountain, you will find them. Go over every area 2 and 3 times, you will be surprised what you find.

 

[applejackrick]

thanks for the advise, and yes we hunted the Bear valley rd area, sardine peak/ridge, Babbit peak, Crystal peak, dog valley, white rock lake. We glassed for hours with binoculars and spotting scope...... like I say, "right place at the right time".
BTW, we saw that small fork horn on kyburz flat near the property sign posting with 7 does.
glad to hear you were seeing them..... we just couldn't put bucks in front of us.