Mule deer buck (photo nps.gov)

I purchased my first hunting license in 22 years today.  I got a small game permit so that I could be eligible to draw out a tag for the general deer hunt in October.  Still not 100% positive that I will go, but if I didn’t at least enter before the deadline at the end of this week, I definitely would not be going.  So I guess if I draw out a permit, that will help me make my decision and I will be looking for input from followers of this blog as to how to prepare for the hunt.  I think I can line up a gun to use and I may have a hunting buddy lined up that is a seasoned veteran, but obviously there is a lot more to it than that.  So I will post again about this topic when I find out if I got a permit or not.  Until then…wish me luck.

Winter mule deer herd

Yesterday my family and I returned home from a weekend vacation to southern Utah to watch my oldest son play in a soccer tournament.  The weather was fantastic and we had a great time.  The drive home was full of great wildlife sightings.  We had one stretch where I spotted 3 bald eagles and 2 golden eagles in about 8-miles of road.  The other highlight was a huge group of mule deer around Mona, UT that consisted of about 100-150 head and there were numerous other groups of deer along the entire drive.  It is fun for the kids to see those animals (well and for me too).

This year I am considering, applying for a deer tag and going deer hunting for the first time in 22 years.  I was really young on my early hunts and never once fired a shot (well at a deer anyway).  I have been thinking that I need to get out and give it a try.  One thing that will likely help is if I can get hooked up with someone who knows what they are doing to help me learn how to clean the thing assuming I can actually get a tag and shot one. I thought it might make a fun running story for the blog to chronicle my foray into hunting.  I need an adventure.

Anyone care to offer an opinion on deer hunting?  Is it worth it?