IdyllwildArcher - Oct-29 Mobile live hunt from Ca
Mule Deer
6:23 AM LIVE from Ca*
Legal shooting light starts in 10 minutes. I'm in my climber on a ridge line with a nice 100 yd bench that sits between two springs about a 1/2 mile apart which are the only water holes within a mile.
6:28 AM LIVE from Ca*
I've wanted to hunt this spot for a few yrs, but it's such a PIA to get here.
The main ridge line comes off the mt from the north so most everything is south facing, but there's a drainage that heads west providing the only north facing slope in the area. I'm sitting on the very top of that north facing slope, but my tree is on the south side due to wind.
6:33 AM LIVE from Ca*
My favorite spots have been over run with loose dogs, hikers, joggers, etc, so yesterday I came up and Gerbered a couple trees. The one I'm in required a 15ft path be cleared to it. Took 2 hrs with the Gerber.
6:35 AM LIVE from Ca*
Legal shooting light, but still too dark for pics.
Get em, Ike! You still planning on NE whitetails this year?
6:41 AM LIVE from Ca*
This tree like pretty much every tree in the area is way too big for a climber. There's no commercial logging of standing timber in SoCal and these stands are designed with eastern hunters in mind. The tree I'm in is close to 4 ft at the base.
I had to stack logs at the base, attach the bottom above my head, pull myself up, then attach the top. At that point, the bark was too gnarly and the tree still to big to pull the bottom up so I had to sit on the top part, disconnect the bottom, reattach it to the tree above me, then repeat with the top of the stand.
I know this is not safe, but I was tied on and I had no other options here as all the trees are huge and they're all Coulter pines so the smaller ones would require a chainsaw to use a climber.
6:44 AM LIVE from Ca*
6:45 AM LIVE from Ca*
6:48 AM LIVE from Ca*
Yeah Will, probably leaving on Monday.
6:52 AM LIVE from Ca*
6:53 AM LIVE from Ca*
6:55 AM LIVE from Ca*
When I say 2 o'clock, what I mean is 10 o'clock. Good thing I'm not a fighter pilot.
6:57 AM LIVE from Ca*
Better pic of the valley to my right which is 1500 ft below me.
6:59 AM LIVE from Ca*
Wind is perfect from left to right as it's taking my scent down away from both trails. Gonna rattle.
7:03 AM LIVE from Ca*
Don't you hate it when you stab yourself in the knuckle while rattling?
7:13 AM LIVE from Ca*
good luck ike! looks like a good spot!
7:18 AM LIVE from Ca*
Dunno if you can make out that cone as it's about 50 yds away, but Coulter cones are the heaviest pine cone. When wet with sap, they can weigh 8 lbs and are also called "widow maker cones."
I once had one land 3 ft behind me while hunting from the ground, having fallen 40ish ft. Scared the crap out of me.
Good luck Ike!
And I thought I had it tough clearing shooting lanes and cutting a path through the swamp jungles of SC. ;) Dave
7:30 AM LIVE from Ca*
I haven't seen a single deer since getting back from Alaska on Sunday which is really unusual. It's usually peak rut this time of yr around here and usually there's at least doe activity, but it's been unseasonably warm.
Last yr, we went through 1.5 cords of wood in October. This yr we haven't lit a single fire.
It's supposed to snow on Saturday which outta get then moving, but my brother and I are going in a few miles into the high country tomorrow for one night since there's not too much going on down lower.
My current stand is around 6k ft. We'll go up above 7 tomorrow and see if they're moving up there.
I probably have another 60-90 minutes on this stand before it gets too sunny and hot.
Good luck Ike. I'm pulling for ya brother.
7:39 AM LIVE from Ca*
The resident blue jay is not too happy with my rattling sequences.
Heard a twig snap to my 1:30 a couple minutes ago just beyond my field of view bout 70 yds away.
Good luck Ike!!
Weather sucks, if you're a deer hunter! (otherwise it's nice).
Sounds like a great setup, Ike.
I hope you can get a buck's attention!
Best of Luck, Jeff
8:19 AM LIVE from Ca*
After spending the last couple days in a hang on stand with a small seat and no back, you realize how comfortable a summit viper really is. It's really nice to climb quickly and quietly into the hang on stand, but the Summit is like a lounge chair. I could sit in this thing all day.
8:42 AM LIVE from Ca*
Sun's starting to peek through. Probably gonna hang it up here in another 20 mins or so
Sure it's comfortable after you do your Amazing Walendas act to get into your mongo tree. Why not bring some climbing sticks with oversized ratchet straps to get to where you can attach the climber?
Be safe. Your brother and your dad probably want to hunt with you for some time to come. Don't roll an ankle on those logs.
9:26 AM LIVE from Ca*
Because that would be the smart thing to do, that's why I don't do it.
Wind just started swirling. Time to get down.
9:51 AM LIVE from Ca*
Reassessing this tree at the bottom, it's only about 34 inches in diameter.
Down safe. Don't have to do the switcheroo going down, just up.
Time to take off a few layers of clothes and walk home.
Hope you shoot one on the way out, Ike!
Good luck, Ike! Starting my muley hunt in a week.
thanks for keeping us up to date on your hunt !!
