Wyoming Mule Deer Region F Current Conditions

[Bows4bulls]

Hey all, I'm heading up to Region F this week. I was hoping I could get an update on snow conditions from a few of you in the area. I've been watching the weather closely, but it's hard to determine how much snow has actually fallen. Has there been enough to start moving the deer down yet?
We're planning on backpacking in for a week or so, so it'd be great to know which elevations we may focus on. We're new to the region, but I have 3 or 4 areas that look really promising. We're non residents, DIY, so we'lol be avoiding the wilderness areas. We can also base camp at a campground if that turns out to be the best option. We plan to start west of Cody, but have another area or two just north of Cody we may check also if we strike out on our first places.
We can't wait! Looking forward to the adventure of a new area, and hopefully a couple mature bucks. Thanks in advance for any report or advice.

 

[mnhoundman]

Just got back from there last night. There talking more snow now, we had snow one day and melted the next. Rain and wind too. Saw quite a few deer but nothing really good. Sounds like it's been snowing alot in the park so hopefully they will be moving in for you. If you are back packing in be careful for the grizzlies! Especially up north fork where you are going, lots of them everywhere.
And welcome to the forum!
Oh and look high!!

 

[Bows4bulls]

Thanks a ton for the update mnhoundman! Hopefully we're prepared for the bears. We're packing spray, 44 mags, and have an electric fence to go around our camp! I know a clean camp will go a long ways too. Any other advice as far as that goes will be much appreciated!

 

[WEST RIVER]

On dry years the deer move up to 2 weeks early. This year was the biggest fire season in Yellowstone since 1988 so they have been on the move since the middle of September it doesn't matter if there is snow or not they still move. My best guess is that by this weekend 75%+ of the deer will be well on there way to the breeding grounds winter range areas East of Yellowstone Park. This past weekend it appeared that 50% of the deer that winter in or around the subdivisions of the North and South forks of the Shoshone river have arrived.

PS You are going to see Grizzly Bears the Game and Fish have trapped a bunch of them from in and around peoples houses in the last month. Just a Warning proceed with caution and good luck.

 

[Bows4bulls]

Great info West River, thanks for the reply. Sounds like we may need to focus our efforts a little lower than anticipated.

 

[brianboh]

I was up the northfork Sunday. We saw over 50 piles of grizz chit in a mile. Got back to the truck had our packs in the truck. We were boiling some water on the tail gate and my buddy wife said Bear Bear Bear. I look over my shoulder and there was a Grizz 20 yards behind me. Scared the chit out of me. If she would have not said something I would have never seen it as my back was to him. Be careful

 

[Matthoek21]

Damn Brian! That is close. I bet it did scare ya. Have to change britches? I would of. Good luck bows4bulls, stay safe.

 

[brianboh]

Damn Brian! That is close. I bet it did scare ya. Have to change britches? I would of. Good luck bows4bulls, stay safe.

Um yea you could say that. That is my second run in this year. Matt you gonna knock a GA giant down this weekend?

 

[Bonecollector]

I was up the northfork Sunday. We saw over 50 piles of grizz chit in a mile. Got back to the truck had our packs in the truck. We were boiling some water on the tail gate and my buddy wife said Bear Bear Bear. I look over my shoulder and there was a Grizz 20 yards behind me. Scared the chit out of me. If she would have not said something I would have never seen it as my back was to him. Be careful

I may have involuntarily messed myself! WOW Brian. Glad it was non-confrontational.

 

[brianboh]

I may have involuntarily messed myself! WOW Brian. Glad it was non-confrontational.

I am pretty good about keeping bear spray and a gun on me. However it was in the truck this time. Got to be extremely careful ALL the time. It was the last place I thought I would see one.

 

[Brianh]

I was up the northfork Sunday. We saw over 50 piles of grizz chit in a mile. Got back to the truck had our packs in the truck. We were boiling some water on the tail gate and my buddy wife said Bear Bear Bear. I look over my shoulder and there was a Grizz 20 yards behind me. Scared the chit out of me. If she would have not said something I would have never seen it as my back was to him. Be careful

Dam....great story.

 

[Bows4bulls]

Well, we backpacked up and camped in the Jim Mtn creek and Trout peak area for the past several days. We only saw two sets of grizzly tracks and one pile of scat. We hunted mainly between 7,500 & 9,500 ft. Deer everywhere, but all does and fawns. We only saw 2 small 2 yr old type bucks and one young 3x3. Literally saw 50+ does a day spread out in small groups. We tried to focus higher in more secluded spots above the does, but still no bucks. We're not sure if that are sees a ton of pressure, or if the bucks are just hiding that well. After hours and hours of glassing great looking spots and covering ground, you'd think we'd turn up a few bucks. So, we packed out today, and we're going to head up to Sunlight basin area. We love the looks of it on the map, but hopefully it's not covered up with other hunters. We have to be on the road home Wednesday morning, so we need to find some bucks soon! Thanks again to everyone for the advice and especially the grizzly warnings!

 

[Vikingload]

Well, we backpacked up and camped in the Jim Mtn creek and Trout peak area for the past several days. We only saw two sets of grizzly tracks and one pile of scat. We hunted mainly between 7,500 & 9,500 ft. Deer everywhere, but all does and fawns. We only saw 2 small 2 yr old type bucks and one young 3x3. Literally saw 50+ does a day spread out in small groups. We tried to focus higher in more secluded spots above the does, but still no bucks. We're not sure if that are sees a ton of pressure, or if the bucks are just hiding that well. After hours and hours of glassing great looking spots and covering ground, you'd think we'd turn up a few bucks. So, we packed out today, and we're going to head up to Sunlight basin area. We love the looks of it on the map, but hopefully it's not covered up with other hunters. We have to be on the road home Wednesday morning, so we need to find some bucks soon! Thanks again to everyone for the advice and especially the grizzly warnings!

Did you see any elk while you were up there? I went up there looking for some cow elk, but didn't see anything. Good luck up sunlight basin, you should be good if you hike in a ways.


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[mnhoundman]

Well, we backpacked up and camped in the Jim Mtn creek and Trout peak area for the past several days. We only saw two sets of grizzly tracks and one pile of scat. We hunted mainly between 7,500 & 9,500 ft. Deer everywhere, but all does and fawns. We only saw 2 small 2 yr old type bucks and one young 3x3. Literally saw 50+ does a day spread out in small groups. We tried to focus higher in more secluded spots above the does, but still no bucks. We're not sure if that are sees a ton of pressure, or if the bucks are just hiding that well. After hours and hours of glassing great looking spots and covering ground, you'd think we'd turn up a few bucks. So, we packed out today, and we're going to head up to Sunlight basin area. We love the looks of it on the map, but hopefully it's not covered up with other hunters. We have to be on the road home Wednesday morning, so we need to find some bucks soon! Thanks again to everyone for the advice and especially the grizzly warnings!

Same problem we had in sunlight, tons of deer, but nothing good. Guessing they haven't came down yet.
Oh yeah and just so you know you won't have cell service in sunlight if you have Verizon, and painters outpost just to the north is open fri-sun, 9 am,- 7 pm. If you need anything, alot closer than Cooke city

 

[brianboh]

Did you see any elk while you were up there? I went up there looking for some cow elk, but didn't see anything. Good luck up sunlight basin, you should be good if you hike in a ways.


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i found some more up in 56 viking. i know that does you zero good.

 

[Matthoek21]

Um yea you could say that. That is my second run in this year. Matt you gonna knock a GA giant down this weekend?

Haven't hunted GA yet. I only bow hunt so I wasn't in the mad dash for opening day rifle this weekend. I have 3 boys that play multiple sports and that takes up my weekends so I don't go as much as I used to. Need to get out as they are starting to get rutty. My freezer is full right now with the elk. If I were to get a deer to I would be good for awhile. I'll keep ya posted if I get out. Good luck out there and watch your back. Dont need any bears tasting southern boys. Lol.

 

[Bows4bulls]

Viking, we saw 2 cow elk very low above the Jim mtn trailhead, but that was it. We also saw another group of 6 cows up Sunlight a ways. As far as our deer hunt went, we ended up harvesting one nice narrow 4x4 on our trip. What a beautiful area, we couldn't have asked for better scenery! Deer numbers were definitely fewer up Sunlight, but that could've just been the particular area we were in. No grizz sightings up there either, but saw fresh tracks several mornings that weren't there the night before, so I know they were around.
Thanks a million to all of you guys' info, recommendations, and especially for the bear warnings! The bear warnings sure kept us on our toes... I'd be lying if I said I didn't sit straight up in my bag more than once at 2 am on the trip because of noises at night! It was actually kind of fun to be on edge like that again. It seems like the older we get, the more it takes to actually get that nervous scared feeling in your gut! I can't imagine if we'd come face to face with one, that feeling may have been running out of my shorts!

 

[brianboh]

Viking, we saw 2 cow elk very low above the Jim mtn trailhead, but that was it. We also saw another group of 6 cows up Sunlight a ways. As far as our deer hunt went, we ended up harvesting one nice narrow 4x4 on our trip. What a beautiful area, we couldn't have asked for better scenery! Deer numbers were definitely fewer up Sunlight, but that could've just been the particular area we were in. No grizz sightings up there either, but saw fresh tracks several mornings that weren't there the night before, so I know they were around.
Thanks a million to all of you guys' info, recommendations, and especially for the bear warnings! The bear warnings sure kept us on our toes... I'd be lying if I said I didn't sit straight up in my bag more than once at 2 am on the trip because of noises at night! It was actually kind of fun to be on edge like that again. It seems like the older we get, the more it takes to actually get that nervous scared feeling in your gut! I can't imagine if we'd come face to face with one, that feeling may have been running out of my shorts!

Your lucky you didn't see any. I saw another boar on Sat but he was a little ways away. I packed another deer out that afternoon in the dark. Walked 6 miles in the dark. Now that keeps you on your toes

 

[lostriverproductions]

Seems like the bucks are off schedule along with the weather, glad you didn't run into any bears.

 

[ScottR]

Your lucky you didn't see any. I saw another boar on Sat but he was a little ways away. I packed another deer out that afternoon in the dark. Walked 6 miles in the dark. Now that keeps you on your toes

Been there done that. It's no fun.


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