Back to the Books

After a hunt ends often one of the thoughts that often crosses my mind is "I wish I could do that again knowing what I know now".  Typically with a hard to draw tag a "do over" isn't usually an option, at least not without a looooong wait to draw the tag again.  Luckily for me I am getting the chance to try the Book Cliffs muzzleloader deer hunt over again this year!  I had the tag in 2010 and while I enjoyed some success, there were a lot of things that just didn't quite go right (read about my 2010 hunt here).  I learned a lot and feel like if I had it to do over I would do some things differently.

Well, the draw is done, my credit card has been charged and I am getting my chance to try again! I have had some time to reflect and plan what I would do differently, but not so much time that my memories of the hunt and knowledge of the animals and area aren't still fresh.  I am ready to gear up and go for it again. 

My lovely wife gave me a new muzzleloader for Christmas after my 2010 blackpowder frustrations.  Last fall I verified it works by putting the hammer down on a nice little general season meat buck.  Thanks Tristie! 

I have a hunting buddy that drew with me this time around, and I am going to do the horse thing completely different. This September I will be back in the highest part of the Book Cliffs hoping to maybe find one of the bucks that eluded me in 2010.

Based on what I saw after the 2011 hunt I know there are still a few good ones running around out there.

Some hard lessons have been learned and the future looks bright.  It is a brand new day and the sun is just rising on my 2012 hunt.