MIKE'S OUTFITTING
2001 MULE DEER AND ANTELOPE BOWHUNT REPORT

Year 2001 was a great year bow hunting for mule deer and antelope. We got a couple of our biggest bucks ever and the antelope populations were the highest we've seen in several years. Almost everybody had a good close shot or several shots at a nice antelope and mule deer. We did have some tough hunting though with constantly shifting and calm winds for the first 3 weeks when 14 out of the 18 hunters came. Normal weather is warm and windy which is perfect for stalking. We persevered though and ended up with 6 bucks killed for 18 hunters which is a much lower than normal 33% kill success. Some long time repeat hunters were also passing up decent bucks which lowers the average but helps put some huge bucks on the ground.

One of those giant bucks was an incredible 33 inches wide outside and scored a clean 183. It is our biggest ever typical killed by a bow hunter. Aaron Arnell from New Jersey on his 2nd deer hunt with us was guided by Blaine Walburger and made the tough 16 yard shot while the buck was beating a bush. Last year I also videoed this buck at 50 yards while scouting and I had a rifle hunter miss him 5 times. Aaron also shot a huge 76" antelope in 2000. The next best muley was a 180 inch slightly non-typical, typical killed by Mike Van Dorfy also on his 2nd deer hunt with us. Mike shot a 155 buck in 2000 with a 55 yard shot and this buck was killed with a slightly easier 8 yard shot out of a tripod stand. Buck Horn from North Carolina was on his 5th hunt with us but his first deer hunt and took a nice 160 buck on the last hour of the last day of his hunt. A heavy 155 muley was taken at 30 yards by Bud Smedley of Ohio. Jim Wondzell of Wisconsin took the next best deer a 150 incher in one of our new areas. Ron Martin from Massachusetts took his 2nd good buck in 2 hunts, a 145 score deer.

The antelope hunting was very good with 5 bucks killed by 6 hunters for a 84% kill success. The biggest buck was 16 inches long, scoring 73 with a broken horn, shot by Rich Mowry of New Jersey. The next best was 5 time hunter Carl Miller's 70 score buck. Three other nice antelope were shot by John Carber from Maryland on his 5th hunt, John Pitcher of Michigan, and Alex Maven from Pennsylvania.

Thanks to everybody who came antelope and mule deer hunting with us and made it a enjoyable and rewarding season. The hunts would also not be so successful without dedicated bow hunting guides like Blaine Walburger, Jan Allen and Jim Schnell who work hard to give a good hunt. They also appreciate your generosity.

I am booking for 2002 and 2003 bow hunts so call right away if you want to reserve a spot and receive the 2001 prices. We also have a few bear hunts open for spring 2002 and 2003. We hope to see you up here soon.

Mike Ukrainetz