July 26th, 2022, I went high for the first time this year today. The Federal Subsistence Season opened on July 24th. The weather didn’t clear for a couple days. My close friend Robin Leatherman accompanied me up the mountain. It would be his first time in the alpine of Prince of Wales Island. Sophie Gilbert and I first hunted this area on August 1, 2012. Deer numbers were incredible, we must have seen over 50 deer that day and half of those were bucks. Deer numbers remained high through August of 2015 in this area. Beginning in 2016 deer numbers were down. Deer numbers continued to decline from 2016 to 2020. The habitat remained incredible; however, deer numbers were plummeting. Several trips in 2017 and 2018 I found no deer. By 2020, I camped a on top as to maximize the prime time at dawn, no more than 3-4 bucks and 5 does were seen per trip. 2021 was no different, 3 bucks and 4 does encountered. I let Robin know that we might not see any deer but we’d have a great time in a beautiful place. We rose at 0300. We made it to the alpine just before 0600. Glassing close and far showed no deer. We moved closer to the “killing fields”. As we edged over the margin of the basin, I spotted a lone fork horn. I asked Robin if he was interested in harvesting it. Robin moved ahead and quickly we had a buck on the ground. First meat of the year made. It was 6:30. I circled the basin before moving to Robin’s buck. I saw three does. He got set up to butcher and I knew I had maybe a half hour of time before all deer would be in the timber. Leaving Robin, I climbed higher using the shadows and wind. I knew of a pocket that was shaded by taller trees, I hurried towards it hoping deer would still be out feeding. The previous year I had taken a great buck in this basin. I crested a small ridge and could see the snag last seasons buck had bedded behind. I took a couple more steps and below me was a huge mature buck. I tried to take a knee for the shot but could not see over the rise. I cocked the Hawken and steadied for the 70 yard of hand shot. The buck seemed to be well hit as he left the cloud of smoke. I thought I saw him go down just over the adjacent ridge. I always start second guessing my shots. I reloaded, clamed myself and walked forward. I had never taken time to look at his antlers, I just knew he was a mature buck. He came to rest in a small creek. He was huge, a clean 4 x 4 without eye guards. I paid my respects. I butchered the buck, packed the meat into my backpack and secured the head and cape on the pack. I just can’t waste a great cape. Someone can use it. We would be coming out heavy, really heavy. I was over a mile beyond Robin, I hooked up with him and we started our trek out. I have noticed as I age that many of my routes are longer and uphill in both directions. It is a mystery how that happens. We are so blessed to have such places to hunt. Deer numbers however were still low, on the hike in and out we saw 4 bucks and 5 does. I’ll let it rest until next season. #publicland #tongassnationalforest #sitkablacktail #sitkablacktailcoalition #muledeerfoundation
