Mule Deer Hunting Tips
I grew up in Nevada and hunting Mule Deer was an annual event. I will try to relate to you what I have learned about hunting the, crafty old bucks.
First let me say that Mule Deer can be found over the western half of the US, southwest Saskatchewan and some say they have been seen in Minnesota and Missouri. Mule Deer are very adaptable to most kinds of terrain. They can be found at low elevations to above timberline. Some of the most arrid of lands don’t provide enough nutrition or water so these are, for the most part, devoid of Mule Deer.
They are called Mule Deer because of their very large ears. They range in color from dark grey to ash grey. Their rump has a large patch of white and a white patch on the throat. The tail is white but ends in a black tuft of hair.
They have excellent binocular type vision, but seem to be unable to detect you if you stay motionless.
Their large ears give them extremely good hearing.
Mule Deer will forage in the valleys or fields but will also feed on ridge tops. They will return to their beds as do most animals. Once they have fed and watered they will bed on ridge slopes, next to rocky outcroppings, in small patches of timbered or brushy areas. It seems the key to their selection of a bedding area is to have something to their back and up high enough to have a good view of approaching predators. In Nevada, the main predators are Mountain Lion and Coyotes. In other areas the predators would be Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Wolves and of course man. They seem to like bedding on the north sides of ridges and in the shade. This makes it more difficult to locate them.
You will find bucks in bachelor groups until the beginning of the rut, in Nevada it is generally late November, then they will break off from the groups and start gathering their harem of does. Keep in mind that pre-rut, if you see one buck there are probably more to follow. If you are hunting during the rut then if you see a group of does there will almost always be a buck with them. If you bump a group of does stay still and be patient, the bucks will show themselves last. If no buck appears then you may have to make a plan to bump him out of hiding, but he will almost always be there. If you come in on them very close they will sit tight hoping the threat will leave. If you are a fair distance away when you bump the does, a lot of the time they will leave with, but behind, the does.
If your are a bow hunter, spot and stalk hunting is possible but difficult. You will need quality optics, preferrable a spotting scope and binoculars. Scan the high ridges, brush pockets and rock outcroppings. Once you locate a buck your interested in, work your plan. You will need to use breaks in the terrain, gullies, brush, rocks what ever is available to put on the stalk. It is best if you can find your way around the buck and surprise him from the top. If your stalk is successful you will have your best shot opportunity. We all want a nice clean kill shot. If your buck is running, wait until he stops or follow a fair distance back and try the stalk again. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Persistence pays
If you are after a true trophy Mulie, try hunting above the timberline, but you need to be in excellent physical shape to hunt the high elevations. Try to do some pre-season scouting. That will help get you in shape and also help you learn the terrain. Look for heavily used trails. Get a plan of attack. Trophy mulies need to water too, so look for the source of water. You may be able to save a lot of climbing and you may also be able to set an ambush point. I can’t say enough about know where you are going to hunt, scout it and have a plan! Sure you might get lucky and catch one out in the open, broadside and unaware you are there…..but don’t count on it.
If you can’t pre-season scout, get to where you are going to hunt a day or so early and scout it. Knowing where they water, bed and travel is to your advantage.
If your goal is to just harvest a buck…that can be a little easier. You can find them in lower elevations, not quite as crafty and a little curious. Those big trophy bucks didn’t get big by accident…they learn to be suspicious, crafty and out of the way.
At any rate, enjoy your hunt and may success be with you.