The energy was high as we attached the trailer to the back of Dylans Chevrolet. Hopping in, we shiver the winter chill off, as visions of deer danced in our imaginations.
The GPS told us it was just 8.5 hours to Payson, Arizona, but as we headed west, the snow hypnotized us with each quarter sized flake, and we braced ourselves for the long, white knuckle, heart racing night of driving.
I'm certain the adrenaline from this road trip kept us awake and no joke at 7am sharp we walked through the front doors of Walmart with red sleepy eyes, we head straight to the outdoor section to buy our deer tags.
The waypoint we had made on OnX maps brought us right to the middle of a wet, heavy snow storm. The locals informed us that this storm was to last till late tomorrow. So, we headed South to the desert to look for deer. But, before I continue on I'd like to give a huge shout out to Ryan with @Hunt_AZ to steering us in the right direction. Come to find out Ryan knows where all the deer are in Southern AZ.
The slight dusting of snow made glassing for these small, tan deer a lot easier and as the morning went on we spotted several does, and a few even ran past us, too quick for us to even notch an arrow. As the bitter wind blew, my eyes water and my belly rumbles. We head back to camp for a quick breakfast and then off to learn some new land, fingers crossed we see some deer...
Upon arriving to our next glassing spot we start seeing deer right off the bat. At first, we thought they were doe's, but as we watched these deer go about feeding, the sun pops out from behind the dark clouds and the shine of a small antler glows bright among the pines. Without hesitation I grab my bow and take off to attempt a stalk on the deer. Cues deer (aka whitetail deer) are quite small, so I wanted to get closer to get a better look at their racks. I snuck within 100 yards of these skittish deer, deciding to pass as they were only a couple years old.
Endless hours were spent looking through our binoculars scanning one ridge line at a time.
In these quiet moments jokes are made and stories are told between the three of us.
The places your mind wanders to in these moments brings you peace as the real world fades away allowing you the space to be present in the moment and focus on the task at hand.
As the five day hunt crept closer to its end we couldn't help but feel the pressure to fill our tags, and we questioned whether we've been making the right decisions or not. That evening Dylan and Nathan split off to a new area to look for mule deer and I headed out with Ryan from Hunt AZ to look for a cues. Parking the truck Ryan and I head out to a spot he's always seen deer and just like that we find some feeding down low in the ravines, out of the wind. We continue to scan the hillsides as the sun sets over the Galleria's mountains creating a glowing bright orange and pink backdrop. Just then Ryan spots a small cues buck with a couple doe's. Watching them it's apparent the rut is still on, as the buck chases his doe's up and down the hill and I take advantage of his distraction and attempt to sneak in for a shot. In Arizona the use of communication, whether its walk-talkies, or phones is legal, unlike in other states. I feel my phone buzz in my bono harness, answering, Ryan informs me the deer are right below me. Just 60 yards or so. Finding a spot among the patchy desert foliage I knock and arrow and wait, and just as I do so, I feel the slightest breeze on the back of my neck. Just a moment later I see the deer below me heading up the opposite hillside. I make the trek back up the hill I just ran down hoping Dylan and Nathan had better luck.
Returning to camp the energy was electric as Natan pulled out his camera showing us a video of a big mule deer buck they had seen that evening! The plan for tomorrow's hunt is made as we drank cold beers around the crackling fie.
Checking our Onx maps we head towards the direction of where the buck was seen last night, and we instantly start seeing doe's. As we crest every ridge we glass the country in front of us, searching for a big rack among the cactus but have no luck. Hope brings us back later that evening but the buck never shows himself.
January 29th we scarf down birthday pancakes and once again turn the truck towards new country. Upon climbing a rocky hill covered in cactus we start to pick apart the land in front of us and spook a cues buck and his doe's. I waste no time dropping my pack as I try and tail these deer, all meanwhile trying to be quiet and not get attacked by the cactus. Seeing Nathan working the opposite ridge I follow the fresh tracks in the desert sand and locate the deer just two ridges away from me. I use the landscape to help hide me as I move in closer. My heart is racing with excitement as I play out my plan in my head. I knew I needed to get to the next ridge and relocate the deer and then reassess. So I do, and they are still in the same spot. In doing so I notice Dylan and Nathan are slowly working the ridge above the deer and I could tell the deer were onto them. I kick it into gear dropping down into the ravine, out of sight of the deer, working quickly through the relentless terrain. I reach the ridge I last seen the buck on, and tell myself, breathe, and slow it down, this is go time. I somehow managed to maneuver over big boulders and around cactus without lookin down. My eyes are up as I know it can happen any second, and then I see them. A beautiful 3x3 buck is busy chasing his doe's around just 100 yards away and they have no idea I'm there. With the wind in my face I decide to wait a bit as he may push his does right to me. Thinking back I wish I wouldn't have made that decision because as Dylan walks the ridge above he's unaware of these deer below him and when they see him, their big fluffy tails stand up and they take off over the hill into the next valley.
Also, is there a better way to start the year 30?!
As the days came and went many conversations were had about how this is what we were born to do, and how it's all we want to do. Despite not being successful in filling our tags and freezers we were happy to support the Arizona Game and Fish, to learn and walk new country, and simply being away from the chaotic ways of life. Luckily we have a year to fill our tag's and we'll definitely be back in December. Chasing these animals with a bow and arrow is no easy task, if we were rifle hunting we would have been tagged out on our first day! This hunt give me the mental space to process year 29, the lesson's I learned, the relationships, the adventures, the challenges, goals I worked towards, and manifested. And as I hiked through the desert, my boot tracks left behind stories that I'll always cherish. Stories of a woman chasing her dreams one step at a time.
Below are more photo's from the hunt.
What's Your Wild?
As always, thanks for following along!
Love, Draya
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