Teaching Choral Concepts

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     Stand hunting. Still hunting. Driving. Platoon brushing. Rattling. The loop method. These are among the strategies described in this book that produce successful mule deer trophies. The wily mule deer's keen sense of hearing, nerves of steel, and unpredictability make it one of nature's true survivors. It has become one of the hardest North American game animals to bag, and its remarkable ability to adapt gives it a decided edge over the average hunter.

   Stalking Trophy Mule Deer is packed with field-tested advice, fascinating data on mule deer behavior, and a wealth of first-person hunting stories.

     Learn the mule deer's instincts and habits, its wide range, and its preferred foods. Learn also the best ways of tracking it, how to judge trophy deer in the field, the importance of adapting hunting strategies to changing situations, and why hunter conservation of natural resources is critical to the future of sport hunting. Odd facts such as the importance of the "edge effect" (where two contrasting types of habitat meet) on mule deer population, and the desirable effect limestone soils have on mule deer antler development, fill the pages. Be prepared for mule deer that outsmart hunters, too, in colorful accounts that will make you chuckle.

     This book shows the novice hunter how to become a good hunter, and offers good hunters many valuable suggestions which will help them bag bigger bucks next season. Written as the serious deer-hunter's guidebook, it is also fine fireside entertainment for all who enjoy the lure of the wilderness. The author is a well-known hunting writer and authority on deer behavior and ecology. His hunting techniques developed over 30 exciting years and many successful hunting treks. Much of the material in this book has been adapted from his articles originally published in Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments, 5

Dedication, 6

Foreward, 7

1. Behavior, Ecology And The Trophy Buck, 15
Behavior And Ecology, 15
The Trophy Buck, 20

2. Six Methods For Mule Deer Hunting, 27
Stand-Hunting, 28
Stillhunting, 29
Driving, 30
Brushing, 32
Tracking, 33
Rattling, 34

3. "Run" And "Hide" Muleys, 36
Runners, 36
Hiders, 38

4. Big Bucks I've Hunted, 43
The Sheepherd Buck, 43
A Buck In Nevada's Ruby Range, 45
Hunting At Utah's Causey Reservoir, 46
The Buck With The Sheep, 47
The Buck From The Hidden Hollow, 48

5. Combing A Canyon For Mule Deer, 50
Pushing, 50
Stillhunting And Tracking, 53
Ambushing, 53

6. Bucks At The Edge, 56

7. Muleys In Timber, 62

8. Watch A Trail To Take A Trophy, 68
Feeding And Bedding Trails, 69
Escape And Cover Trails, 70
Crossing Trails, 71
Migration Trails, 71
Bedding And Feeding Areas, 73

9. On The Right Track For Muleys, 75
Strides And Tracks, 75
Techniques And Tactics, 78

10. Those Huge Mule Deer, 83
Hunt On The Edge, 84
Bucks-Where You Least Expect Them, 86
Hunt Where Hunters Don't Go, 87

11. Bucks In Any Weather, 91
Hot Weather, 91
Wind, 92
Heavy Rain Or Snow, 93
Light Rain Or Mist, 93
Fog, 93
Approaching Storm, 94
Heavy Snow, 94
Clear, 94
Extreme Cold, 95
Moonlit Nights, 95

12. Stop, Pause, And Start, 97
Stop, 99
Pause, 99
Start, 99

13. Stalking During The Rut, 101
The Old Myth, 101
Moving Closer To Does, 102
Rattling, 102
Look For "Sign", 103

14. The Art Of Tracking, 106
Looping, 107
Old And New Tracks, 109
Interpreting "Sign", 110
Know Behavior, 112
Meandering or Circling Tracks, 112

15. Rattlin' Muley Bucks, 115
Prerut, 116
Rut, 118
Postrut, 119

16. Trophy Buck Cover, 120
Protection, 120
Escape, 121

17. Return For A Trophy, 123
Too Many Hunters, 124
Environmental Change, 124
High Buck-to-doe Ratio, 125
"Sign", 125

18. Hunting Down Wind, 128
Scent Driving In Timber, 128
Scent Driving In Canyons, 131

19. Floating For River-Bottom Bucks, 133
Peninsulas, 133
Canyons, 135
Islands, 135
Crossings And Watering Sites, 136
Early And Late Floating, 137
Float Facts, 137

20. Home On The Range, 139
Home Range, 139
Scouting, 141
Tactics, 143
Feed Plants, 144

21. Stalking Alpine Muleys, 148
Basin Bucks, 148
Timber Bucks, 149

22. Stories In The Snow, 151
Sheepherd Canyon, Utah, (Late December), 151
Owl Creek, Wyoming, (January), 153

23. The Mule Deer Gun, 155
"Get A 270", 155
Bullet Placement, 159
Determine Where You Hit, 159

24. Cape Care And Taxidermy, 162
Cutting Tips, 162
Salting, 164
Avoid Drag Scars, 165
Seek Qualified Taxidermy, 166

25. Deer Camps, Gear And Miscellaneous, 167
Tents, 167
Bedding, 169
Clothing, 170
Packs, 170
Camp Miscellaneous, 171

26. Guides And Outfitters, 174

Index, 179

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