We got drawn as a group for antlered whitetail deer hunting.  Our area was 36B, right next to the Mexican border.  We saw quite a few deer, but none that we could should at.  It was my first hunt where I got drawn and I learned a lot, even though we didn't bring home a deer.  Oddly enough, our area contained a wildlife refuge, which we initially assumed that we could not hunt in.  We stopped at the refuge headquarters and talked to the ranger there and she said that we could hunt in the refuge if it was in our area.  That seemed a little strange to me.  If it's a refuge, what can take refuge there if hunting is allowed in most of it?  She also encouraged us to shoot any coyotes we see, which we would later take advantage of.  We weren't sure though which species of coyote she was referring to, human or canine :)

We could see the Mexican border a few miles away from the hills right next to our camp.  We didn't realize though what a hotspot we were in for border crossers.  There was trash everywhere, mostly in the form of water bottles and sweaters.  You couldn't hardy cross a ravine or wash without finding a trash pile from where the invaders had stopped.  It was saddening that they have turned the entire area into a landfill and that made me a little less sympathetic toward their struggle to find a better life.  We had border patrol agents flying up and down the dirt roads the whole time there.  With all the human scent everywhere from the trash and the border patrol guys stirring up the area, it's not a wonder that we struggled to find deer and didn't see a single buck.  When we woke before dawn on Friday to get into position before the deer started moving around at first light, we were hiking up the side of the hill with our headlamps on and three border patrol trucks came flying past our camp in our direction.  Our headlamps were easily visible from anywhere in the valley.  Alan spoke with some patrol agents on the trail and one was wearing a bulletproof vest.  What kind of firepower were these coyotes carrying!?  We asked if we were safe where we camped and they said "yea, but you might get some visitors."  Fortunately with the dip in the economy, they did say that the number of border jumpers had dropped.

So, we didn't shoot any deer, but we did shoot a coyote.  That was probably the most exciting part of that day...chasing that coyote.  Alan wounded its leg initially and we chased it down until Marc landed the killshot.  Later that day, Marc also shot a rabbit, which we roasted for dinner.  I spotted it, but all I had was a 30-06 and there would be nothing left of the rabbit :)

All in all, it was a fun camping experience.  I learned quite a bit and will be better prepared for the next time we go.  I think next time we may try an area a little further from the invader trails.

 Deer Hunting 2009 Pictures