There's snow across the West. I've been there and done that. It's snowing in Wyoming as I'm typing. I just returned from Colorado after hunting with Elkhorn Outfitters. The weather was brutal, but began to settle enough to spark rutting activity, especially at dawn and dusk. We used mules and horses to access backcountry. They are quiet, and you can even ride up to the elk and deer for a face-to-face view of the critters.

With the rut just starting, we stayed high and glassed as much country as possible to locate any buck in a good position for a stalk. It was difficult because the muleys could dive into oak brush at any moment. Optics were key, and my Nikon EDG binos performed as advertised. We finally spotted a buck at dawn and decided to try for him, but he gave us the slip. That afternoon we slipped back where we last spotted him, and surprisingly found him again. Unbelievably, he gave us the slip a second time when we moved into shooting range.

Light was fading when I spotted a white muley butt in the brush. It turned out to be our boy, so I grabbed the cameraman and set up for the shot. I ranged the buck with my Nikon Riflehunter at 300 yards, and another TV buck went down!

The key to this buck was patience, and the hunch that the buck hadn't left the neighborhood. I truly believed he was hiding nearby, and the waiting paid off. Thanks to guide Colt Gray for all his hard work in the backcountry.