Our 2022 Wyoming Mule Deer Hunt was the year of 170 inch bucks. On this hunt, Joe Rogan joins Steve for a late summer archery mule deer hunt in the mountains of Nevada. Jace Bauserman is a full-time freelance outdoor writer who has been working with Field & Stream since 2017. Whitetailer concepts like home range and security cover go out the window with muleys. A neat piece of country and fun to hunt since it went limited entry. I just chuckled. Nothing easy about it. Edibility Jace Bauserman Afton, WY 83110 If your wallet holds a western mule deer tag, youre in for some great hunting this month. This year did produce one of the heaviest horned bucks we have ever taken and with a spread just over 30 inches and a drop tine he was a very impressive deer. Bucks will be on the move, and they will be visible. We were lucky enough to connect on a few real nice bucks last fall. While much emphasis is placed on genetics, little can be done to alter the genetics of a herd. Old homesteads littered with weeds and tumble-weed-lined fence rows that seem to swallow old corrals are great places to find a buck or three. With the young bucks we saw on the mountain this fall and a mild winter so far this year we are optimistic for a good 2022 season. Whitetails are homebodies, often living their whole lives within one square mile. Last Chance at a Mountain Mule Deer On a backcountry mule deer hunt, second chances don't come easily. Yes, this is traditional whitetail dirt, but a waterway is a waterway, and any river, creek, ditch, or stream will funnel animal movement. Bighorn Sheep: At objective . These are the places where deer can grow old or get pushed into from the front country. The key to killing in these landscapes during November is to stay mobile. The Henrys certainly are the mule deer hunters dream. I dont love waiting in one spot. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Rifle seasons in the mountains take place in late October and the first half of November. Due to the remoteness of the area, colonization came slow to the Henrys and, even in present day, the Henrys remain a relative wilderness isolated from human activity. Hunters can pursue both mule deer and white-tailed deer, largely on public land. Our deer hunts are centered on quality. Here are the key tactics you need to know to put your tag on a great buck, By Idaho's over-the-counter tags and controlled hunts give hunters access to some of the best deer hunting in the West. There are three main factors that I focus on to maximize my glassing efforts: good vantage points, good optics, and patience. Long sage flats with a creek running through them, CRP fields, sage and cedar hillsides, and cut crop fields are some of my favorite places to find rutting mule deer. Age is the most significant factor contributing to great deer hunting in the Henrys. The herd enjoyed a much higher "nutritional plane," he said, than it had going into the winter of 2016-17, when average body fat in the Wyoming Range was nearer to 8%. The modern history of deer hunting in the Henrys begins with a closure of deer hunting in the unit in the late 1990s. You can call mule deer in close, and Ive done it multiple times successfully. Pay close attention to canyon cuts lined with buck brush. With warm dry temperatures and more hunting pressure in some areas than we are used to the season turned out average. Huge Bucks!! For instance, when I find a rocky knob that allows me to view two different alpine basins and three different mountain slopes, that location is pinned and will be a number one ranked glassing location. Regardless of where you still-hunt mule deer, always keep cover and terrain in mind to find the deer. November is one of my favorite time frames to hunt the muleys with a rifle or archery tackle. If you show up for your hunt and grain crops are still in, dont fret. Once I locate a buck I want to go after, I use the terrain to slip in close and hammer the horns together, and I only stop once the buck completely ignores me and moves off or starts coming. The reality of taking a big buck in todays hunting world is slim. You might sit on a glassing knob on October 20 and see two bucks, then return on November 20, peak rut and see 20. With super warm temperatures during much of the season combined with smoke from all the fires in other parts of the country, hunting conditions were tough. Hunters are often drawn to mule deer hunting because its a great Western experience that can be done on the cheap, at least relative to other Western big game. You can get more aggressive when stalking plains deer, especially as the rut cranks up, because deer dont stay in their beds as long. Mule deer can be hard to pick out from their surroundings, and good optics are an invaluable tool for finding them. The buck kept walking, thick necked and stiff legged, completely unaware of or unconcerned by the politeness party devolving nearby, until he was out of sight. Mule Deer Hunting in Wyoming. They typically eat relatively little grass, though they are often drawn to cropfields where available. During our scouting for the 2021 season, we had located several good bucks and a couple of slammers. Now, its rumored another record was broken by their neighbors to the south. They were all great guys. This fall we had only 1 deer hunter on our last week of the season. Wed barely walked a half mile from the trailhead on the first morning when a respectable, dark-horned 44 strode out into the icy breeze 100 yards ahead. During the hunting season, the highest deer densities can be found above the dense Pinyon/Juniper belt in higher elevation habitat types, from 8,000 feet to 10,000 feet. So after the hunter has watched the deer bed, he typically has a two to four hour window to perform a stalk with the wind in his face. Guided Mule Deer Hunting Trip in Utah and Wyoming So even when you feel like you completely blew an opportunity on a still-hunt, its smart to be prepared for a shot and to quickly move toward an area where you can see in the direction that the deer was headed. Greg Simons of San Angelo, Texas, shot a mule deer last week that seems likely to break the Texas non-typical record. These fires opened up vast swaths of land placing habitats back to an early successional stage that deer thrive on. Ultimate Predator Gears Mule Deer Stalker Decoy. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. Central Colorado has high numbers of my favorite big game animal and has long been known for producing trophy quality bucks that, despite some misinformed detractors, are very good table fare. management The last several winters have been mild and buck numbers are on the increase. Still-hunting mule deer is nearly a lost art, and though it appeals to rifle and muzzleloader hunters more than bowhunters, it still works and is a fun challenge. These big boys should be here for 2020. This makes your job much easier, as dark hides are easy to spot against a blanket of white dotted with silver-tipped sage brush. Mule deer often bed down on the leeward side of any roll in the topography, so keep this in mind as move across the land. And mule deer hunting is action-packed. What's in store for the devastated Wyoming Range deer herd? Rocky Mountain Hunting | Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope Open/Close Menu OUR MISSION Our mission here at Rocky Mountain Ranches, Ltd is to provide quality private land hunting opportunities." Our non-guided, private land hunts are offered at a fraction of the price of a fully guided hunt and provide relief from the crowds found on public land." He along with some of the other guides had found some huge deer and we were itching at the chance to have a go at them. Take a good look at the area via aerial imagery. Beware, though, because the deer will be highly sensitive to any noise that comes from its blind side. What makes it so special? Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Companies in Flensburg Big, mature bucks are generally an exception to this rule, as they have an annoying tendency to vanish almost immediately without ever looking back. The three-year average is 52 bucks per 100 does in the Henrys. I hunt a lot of mixed prairie, coulee, and breaks country for November mule deer, as well as some of my mountain elk areas. Large doe groups are easy to spot, and when you find the does, a good buck will be close by. To give hunters a better chance at having an opportunity on a big deer we offer a 10 day 1 on 1 guided deer hunt. Mule Deer Hunting Sin City Outdoors style. The season kicked off on the right foot when Matt LeClair bagged a 31-inch 911 buck on the second day of the season. To me, the best thing about chasing muleys isnt their impressive headgear or large bodies, both of which are very cool, especially if youre used to whitetails. As the 2017 season began it was as we thought, hunting was a lot tougher than the previous deer seasons. The snow, cold and wet weather made for some prime buck hunting conditions. Western Wyoming will always produce big deer every year. 1Minute. It seemed every eroded cut, dry creek, or cactus patch had animals living in them. We are looking forward to the 2023 season and trying for one of the big ones that got away. After having a banner season in 2016 for big mature bucks and high deer numbers we were a little worried what the 2017 hunting season would hold after going through the record snow winter of 2016-2017. Our scouting paid off and we were able to connect on several awesome bucks but it was also the year of the big one that got away. A glance through my binocular, though, showed that the stick was an antler, and after waiting for three hours for the buck to stand, I put a 160-grain bullet through his shoulder. If the crops are out, youre in the chips. Bar Room Banter A Guide to Hunting Mule Deer | MeatEater Hunting If you see a large collection of does, it might make sense to hang out and watch them for a bit. Dean Maser on the 5th day of his hunt pushed himself to the limit, but it all paid off with a 31-inch monster typical that he was able to put on the ground. Without the bright white rump showing, a whole herd of bedded deer can easily disappear in sagebrush no more than two feet tall. Colorado mule deer hunting has become one of the most sought after hunts we offer at Hooker Mountain Outfitters. Been snowed in and snowed out a couple of seasons, had bed liners blown out of pickups and down the east rim, and had rains make the roads near impassable. If you cant hunt the ag fields directly, concentrate on CRP fields with deep swells and pastures lined with dry creeks and spotty marshes. If you really want to find that mountain masher or breaks bruiser, youre going to have to target areas that dont get a lot of coverage with 10x42s. Bucks typically do not reach their maximum antler potential until 5.5 or 6.5 years of age or older. Theyll sometimes even stop to look back, presenting a shot. While there's no shortage of bucks around, daytime deer movement this time of year is limited to the first and last hour of daylight. The state's premium unit management plan dictates the Henrys be managed for 40 to 50 bucks per 100 does. Mule deer stand about 3.5 to 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder. How to Find Big Mule Deer Bucks During the Rut | MeatEater Hunting By starting the stalk above the deer, the hunter is at a huge advantage for this reason alone. Unit focus: What makes the Henry Mountain mule deer so famous? - GOHUNT Mule deer, particularly rut-crazed bucks, are not that hard to approach. I prefer spots that require a long walk across open prairie or a steep climb over a butte before you can see anything. A whopping 72% of the bucks harvested in the Henrys in the past three years have been five years of age or older. Dun & Bradstreet gathers Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting business information from trusted sources to help you understand company performance, growth potential, and competitive pressures. My favorite time to call mule deer is during the rut, which in most western locations kicks off around November 10 and runs through the first week of December. The state management plan for the Henrys dictates that the units deer herd is to be managed for a healthy population to provide a broad range of recreational opportunities, including hunting and viewing. Here, we will examine the state management plan regarding the following categories: age structure and herd composition, nutrition and habitat, and genetic variables. PDF Ungulate Status in relation to Lion Quotas June 6, 2023 - Montana FWP 2020 should be a good year and we cant wait to see how it plays out. Montana Mule Deer Hunts | Montana Deer Hunting - Swan Mountain Outfitters Significantly more deer and better hunting can be found . On opening day, we were able to connect on a big typical, 30 plus inch buck, super heavy, and the type of deer everyone dreams about. Once we all held it, we were all surprised wed let it walk. Drivers dont need to yell or run through the woods. Find the does during October, November, and December, and youll find a quality buck to stalk. If youre looking for a mule deer buck, especially a big one, its highly advisable that you hunt all day long during the rut. A light winter and early spring gave western Wyoming bucks a huge jump on horn growth and it showed this fall. Bobcats, coyotes, wolverines, black bears, grizzlies, and golden eagles all prey on mule deer as well, usually targeting fawns. Be sure to pin any terrain or cover like a patches of heavy sage, cactus, a dry creek, a willow-lined pond, an eroded bank in a hillside, and the list goes on. Often, your stink will be enough to move the deer. . Use digital and hands-on scouting to locate areas with good cover, at least one water source, and plenty of food. These places can become mule deer magnets. The big key to mountain mule deer hunting in Novembergun or bowis to spend time behind quality glass. The problem: Its big, vast, and many of the cedar pockets are ultra-thick. Early in the month, grain crops can throw you a curveball. GMU 444 Mule Deer Hunting . And the smaller body size of mule deer means that one hunter can manage packing the carcass out of a backcountry location without needing to enlist pack stock or an army of buddies. During the rut, mule deer tend to stay active until very late into the morning and they are often up and moving in the early afternoon. Here, mule deer bucks are gathered together in bachelor groups on vast expanses of public BLM lands. We had 2 bucks that were both as big a deer as we have ever had the privilege of hunting get away. BC REGION 8 | MOUNTAIN MULE DEER HUNTING - YouTube Yes, the hunting on this parcel is that good. Big Game Hunting with Mule Shoe Outfitting, Wyoming Even novice hunters can expect to see loads of mule deer if they do an adequate job of pre-hunt research. At Table Mountain Outfitters, our mule deer hunts offer an enjoyable and unique experience. Rifle opportunities do exist for these hunts, though the best units require a few bonus points in order to draw them. Deer Hunting Home Hunting Every fall hunters eagerly look forward to the annual deer hunt. The Time and the Temp Orand Ive had excellent success with thisyou can find a lone, isolated tree in the middle of a sage flat, and hang a stand. Mule Deer Hunting 101: An Essential Guide | Field & Stream Thus, a 250-pound buck needs 1.25 gallons of water on a daily basis. If there dont seem to be many deer around, get the hell out of there and go somewhere else. The idea is to locate an area where you believe or know mule deer to be holding. But the reality is someone has to draw them, so even if you arent in the running for the maximum point pool, applying annually is your only shot. The 2015 deer season showed again that mule deer in western Wyoming are making a comeback. Youre looking for five to seven glassing points that allow you to see vast amounts of the country above the treeline. What exactly is the special sauce? Because, to me, its the least amount of fun. And when you find youre after, dont be afraid to pull off an aggressive stalk. Bucks may return to these habits a bit at the end of November with a strong second estrus cycle, which is harder to predict, but many a monster muley has been killed at the bitter end of November. Below are the five most effective mule deer hunting tactics and how to use them to get your . This hunt will be with a crossbow and will take place early September. But, when you find that sweet spot, theyll often be running around in the wide open playing grab-ass, fighting, or just following the wind into the great unknown. Double C Guides - Mule Deer Hunting - Book Cliffs, Henry Mountains Either way, use extreme caution when hunting high-country basins. Given the remoteness of the Henrys, predation is another factor that could one day play into an overall decline of the unit. Mule deer need around half a gallon of water each day per 100 pounds of body weight. I once watched a really big one pick off a buddy and me sneaking across a low saddle at 1,000 yards on our way over to stalk him. On the other hand, if youre new to mule deer hunting, and arent so choosy, this is a great way to put a tag on your first mule deer. Its very difficult to stalk into Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. Mind the Migration With large amounts of winter range habitat, the impact of large snowfall and winter kill is not as likely as in other units. Beginning in mid-October, scrappier bucks will start harassing does, and the gaggers, though they usually wont be with a herd yet, are close by. Last year we decided to offer another deer hunt. Dustin Child It is time for my weekly spring Chinook Salmon update (6/6/2023). To date, the state has taken on the habitat projects listed below in an effort to improve mule deer habitat across the unit. Just $1 per month , Planning to chase muleys this coming fall? NAICS CODES: 11. My favorite still-hunting happens on mountain ridges in October and early November (before the rut) in areas of thick timber. !HUNTING PRODUCTS USED----------------------------------------------*Bow - http://amzn.to/2w8ZDvp*Broadhead - https://amzn.to/2McesG1*Optics - http://amzn.to/2vGOFKO*Single Pin Bow Site - http://amzn.to/2vHg1QM*Camo - https://www.wonrategear.com*Camping Gear - https://amzn.to/2B96AAhCAMERAS, EDITING SOFTWARE AND MUSIC------------------------------------------------------------------------*Camera - http://amzn.to/2hh4zb7*Wind Mic - http://amzn.to/2uNSD5f*GoPro 4 Silver- http://amzn.to/2vZcblN*GoPro 6 Black - http://amzn.to/2FZ0q7B*GoPro Accessories - http://amzn.to/2f1OMMs*Carrying Case - http://amzn.to/2f1nIxf*Editing Software - http://amzn.to/2f1wHhNSEND FAN MAIL HERE--------------------------------------Sin City Outdoors1445 American Pacific Dr. STE 110-217Henderson, NV 89074FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA----------------------------------------------Subscribe Here - http://www.youtube.com/c/SinCityOutdoorsWebsite. Good shots were made and positive attitudes were kept even while riding and hiking through rain, snow, mud and sleet. Step Slowly We did take a few nice bucks and were able to connect on a 200-inch slammer opening week. Mule deer in open country tend to funnel toward solitary trees or a stand of trees, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.If you plan to ambush deer with a rifle, there is little to it. Secondly, high country basins have a fairly predictable mid-to late-morning thermal which causes the wind to move up the hillsides. Edding-Jagd in Flensburg, reviews by real people. Why are the Henrys so good? Hunting Opportunities Here, mule deer bucks are gathered together in bachelor groups on vast expanses of public BLM lands. Simply said, we are "muley crazy". If you have permission to hunt ag fields, this is a no-brainer. Failing that, watch for that signature mule deer look-back as he crests the next ridge and pauses before vanishing. Thats the season of the year when bucks are most visible and vulnerable. There are few other regions in the country that can claim this sort of harvest age class. Most of our ranches are located in Region K along the 1-80 corridor south of the Uintah mountain range, which most consider to be some of the best . Spot and stalk hunting is one of the most productive and thrilling ways to pursue mule deer. Once suitable terrain is located, look for water. E-Scouting: Use online mapping tools or satellite imagery to get a virtual view of the area. Hunting the Rut Gray ghosts can be shockingly difficult to notice against a gray mountainside. Nor does every hunter have the chance to tread the deer trails in mid to late November when the rut ramps up over most mule deer habitat in the United States. I always have hunters calling looking for big deer. Ive also had great success by sitting off of a waterway with a good spotter, observing mule deer movement, and then hanging a tree stand and playing the sit-and-wait game. You can expect to see and harvest 140 to 180 class mule deer bucks. Luckily for you, after reaching relative safety, the mule deer will often stop and take a look at its pursuer, sometimes providing a shot opportunity. At this time of year, the tactic is fairly straightforward, find the does and wait. "We would have lost almost everything . Theres nothing mule deer hunters love better than a rut hunt, and for good reason. Swan Mountain Outfitters offers guided hunting trips for mountain mule deer, hunts are in combination with elk, whitetail and bear or exclusively mule deer. Insider LMU 100 (Deer -Elk HD 100): Ungulate focal area . Nutrition is, of course, all about habitat. It is the hope of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) that bucks harvested on this hunt are three and a half years of age or older. Durning the season we also saw lots of young bucks that are up and comers and will be some great bucks in the next year or two. Before going full-time freelance, Bauserman was the editor-in-chief of Bowhunting World and Archery Business magazines. Each step can reveal swaths of new country you havent seen yet. Whether you are a resident or a nonresident, the odds are tough! I like to spend several days scouting before my hunt, dropping pins on my Hunt Stand app and then glassing from each locale for hours on end is how you will find a shooter buck. Spot-and-stalk hunting is the most popular, most effective, and generally most fun way to hunt mule deer. With this winter of 2021 as mild as we have had and hardly any snow on the winter range we are expecting a great year in 2021. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. I dont blind call to mule deer, like I may for whitetails, and I use my optics to find rutting bucks. Table Mountain Outfitters | Wyoming Outfitters | Deer, Elk, Antelope The majority of big deer seemed to have disappeared into thin air, or gave us the slip and were never seen again. But, mother nature and an increase in people in the backcountry had other plans. Pair age with quality habitat and the results can be spectacular. Much of the West is sprinkled with cedar-dotted hills and craggy canyons. If the weather doesnt hit the mountains in your hunt region, dont panic. There is one word that best describes the odds of ever drawing a coveted Henrys mountain deer tag: slim. And when those big antlers and gray body suddenly materialize in these places, its your move. And even when they bolt, theres a good chance that theyll stop before vanishing in order to assess whether or not theyre being followed. Muleys, on the other hand, are far more nomadic. The West is home to millions of acres of National Grassland and BLM ground that doesnt look like it could hide a flea. How to Kill a Mule Deer Buck Before the Rut | MeatEater Hunting Maintaining and carefully managing these summer range habitats will continue to be a priority.
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