For the last couple of years, I have been on a quest for big mule deer bucks. Now, living in the West as I do, mule deer are absolutely everywhere. On every pasture, in every wheat field, along just about every dirt road through open lands, you will find Odocoileus hemionus. But thus far, monster sized mule deer have always alluded me.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have been fortunate to have some incredible experiences chasing after this species each November. Crawling my way around the Wind River Range in four-wheel drive, hiking through the sagebrush of Grand Tetons National Park, or putting mile after mile under my tires cruising the endless labyrinth of dirt roads across Montana. There are still so many places left across Wyoming and Montana for me to search.
In the meantime, I found myself down in Denver picking up a 1991 fj80 Land Cruiser (AKA cool old truck) to bring back to Bozeman and decided to check out a place I have heard much fanfare about: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Situated along the eastern edge of Denver and the northern edge of Aurora, this National Wildlife Refuge is, well, a bit more urban of an experience than I am used to. Now that is not to say that it is in the middle of the city, but let it suffice to say that the Denver skyline sits as the backdrop to the west, and a sprawling sports complex to the south.
Upon entering the refuge, I was immediately greeted with a black tailed prairie dog town, complete with chunky rodents running all over the place. Per the refuge biologist, this prairie dog town is also home to a couple of black footed ferrets – one of the most endangered species of mammals on the planet.
At first I was a bit disappointed. This IS a National Wildlife Refuge we are talking about. This means expansive protected and exquisitely managed land for maximum wildlife. And complete with little white signs everywhere stating Unauthorized Entry Prohibited. But then the deer began to appear.