The 2021 mule deer season certainly tested us here at NTO. For the first time since our founding in 2001 we started the season without having located a single buck over 190 inches. I believe that many factors played a roll in the lack of high scoring bucks but the two biggest factors were the missing age class due to the 2016-17 winter and the number of trophy hunters that were concentrated in the areas that hold mature bucks. I have noticed a trend recently of a growing number hunters in these key areas. I have also witnessed many of the high scoring, young and old bucks getting killed yearly. Some clear evidence of a lack of these high scoring bucks can be witnessed on the winter ranges. My belief is that our current hunting pressure is unsustainable for keeping western Wyoming’s buck numbers healthy and on par for what we have considered normal. In my personal opinion it’s time for the Wyoming Wildlife Task Force, the Wyoming Game and Fish, Outfitters, WY residents and nonresident hunters to make some hard decisions to put this herd back on solid ground. Shortening the seasons does not seem to be working as this management strategy only concentrates and increases hunter numbers and hunting pressure. We have been given the task of stewarding this amazing herd, it can certainly recover if the pressure is pulled back.  This over pressure does not seem to be unique to the areas NTO hunts. Most outfitters and locals I talk with around the region are seeing the same spike in pressure. I do believe that cabin fever from Covid may have played a roll in the increased hunter numbers for 2021. It’s going to be very interesting to see if this added hunting pressure is the new normal or an anomaly.

In spite of our challenging scouting season this year our crew stepped up gave our clients a high kill and opportunity rate. The monstrous effort from clients and guides brought home some amazing trophy bucks. Some bucks were missed and others were lost to other hunters. We harvested a couple of iconic old bucks that we have been hunting for several seasons. We began hunting one of these amazing 2021 bucks in 2017. We call him “King”. King still carried a 31 inch bruiser frame, though over the years he lost most of his extras. He was still a crazy amazing buck that would not have been killed without a dropped coffee cup and a ton of faith (a great story for the blog). Another big typical, “Sundown”, was over 30 inches and made it into camp only because of the huge team effort from our hard working guides. Our 2021 crew was literally one of the best we have ever assembled, great job! Three other amazing non-typical bucks came into our camps as a direct answer to prayers. One buck named “Kickstand “ had double drops. Certainly, Kickstand was a direct descendant of a buck we call Snag! Call me crazy, but the victory belongs to the Lord on this one. You can’t make these stories up! Just giving credit where it’s due. 

We are looking forward to continuing to work hard and persevere to help each and every one of our future clients in a hunt in this great country for one of the most elusive animals on the planet, the trophy mule deer.