affordable mule deer hunt or moose

[Jesse Minish]

Originally posted by nhbuck1:
now where do u go to find over the counter tags?

Idaho has lots of non-res. over the counter tags.

[nhbuck1]

like where can i find them online, thanks for all the help and time guys

[wingnut]

Go to the dept of wildlife website for the states you are looking at and check out the tags.

Mike

[Cory Mattson]

Agree on doing it yourself. Agree on 2 weeks - 3 weeks is better - and on that point we have settled on doing a scout trip (instead of that 3rd week)  even when hunting out west - yes a week just for scouting.

Essential: Bowhunting Open Country Mule Deer by Dwight Schuh - read it - study it - apply the skills.

And if hunting Elk get Dwights book Bugling for Elk

We consider both books required reading for anyone wanting to expand their hunting to the west from the east.

Also it is important that a bowhunter be a basically capable woodsman - meaning if you can plan a hunt - then set up and run your own camp - and bag game - then return home ready to put up meat - near home or a neighboring state - then you are ready to add 1800 miles to your drive.

We hunted Mule Deer in the 80s many successful trips and then many elk hunts in the 90s all successful. It got to the point tag availability is the hard part.
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[Tim Finley]

ND is on a draw with very limited license for non resident muledeer license and in most places bucks only. An outfitter wont do you any better than a diy hunt once you get to know the area you are going to hunt and you find a place with a good population. I prefer more open country, less trees.I shot a 4x4 muley in Oct. and there wasn't a tree within 4 miles, I spent my time glassing dry washes and stalking over the banks on them . They like to lay out of the wind and in the shade . Tim

[YosemiteSam]

You can rule out CA.  There are some nice mulies around here but most all of them are on private ranches or national parks.  Add in the cost of about $500 just for your license and tag and you're better off elsewhere.

Definitely agree on the time frame others have mentioned.  I've been able to spend 3 or 4 days at a time and I usually feel like I'm just starting to get to know a place just before I have to leave.  And these are usually areas I've hiked or backpacked in the past.  Learning about it from a hunting perspective is different and much more intensive.  I have a neighbor (former trad archer before health issue) who spends almost the entire season (1 month) in the mountains.  He got 1 shot this year & botched the recovery.  Give yourself at least 2 weeks if you're doing a DIY.

[MnFn]

X2 on Michaels post.
 Twice while elk hunting I saw really nice mule deer bucks in close proximity. The biggest one (and he was really something) came by me while I was posting near a wallow, he came by at about 10 yards.

I did practice my stalking on two bucks one year. I was able to get within easy shooting range.

[lt-m-grow]

Originally posted by Irish Archer:
He's my suggestion on the subject, at least for easterners heading out west. Do whatever you have to do to slot TWO weeks for a trip like that. THREE would be better if you can work that out. Most working type people usually can't.

You can chew the heck out of ONE week just driving out, and back, setting up a good camp, and getting a decent understanding of the lay of the land you're going to hunt.

You'll already have bought your tag, the cost of gas will already be covered, and another weeks food will be your only extra cost.

One week just is not long enough, in my opinion, but if that's all you have, that's all you have. But you're gonna want that extra week when you see how fast it goes.

Read this one and read this one and read this one.  There is a lot to learn gong DYI.   This is the first lesson IMO.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

With a budget of about $1000, you can forget a moose hunt.  Tags alone in the Rockies, which are hard to draw, are going for close to $2000.  Your Best bet for that hunt is in your very own state, or nearby VT and ME.