With all the negative things happening throughout the world one positive thing happened when the opportunity to apply for my mule deer draw tag presented itself alongside a friend of ours that had been building priority for the same area, and the fact that they live 20 minutes away was a bonus. So, for the two of us to hunt together was very exciting. Nine years of building priority and the last four of them raising two young boys made applying for the draw almost impossible. But this was the year to go for it and I couldn’t have been more excited when I finally got the draw results back, saying I was awarded the tag in the same area we have had history in when my husband shot a fantastic buck a few years prior. From there we touched base with our friends and penciled in a date on the calendar.

November 11th couldn’t have come soon enough but we were finally off and running making the six-hour drive to our close friend’s place, who without them, this mule deer hunt wasn’t possible. Unfortunately, my friend Kelly shot a great buck on opening day of rifle season so her tag was filled but I couldn’t have been happier for her. Fortunately, all four of us could still hunt together and look for one more mature buck to close out the season. We arrived without a hitch, spent the next little while getting gear ready and after a few welcome beverages and a good meal, the stage was set to get after it first thing in the morning.