Mule Deer Wilderness Hunt - Help Needed

[ThePushArchery]

So I posted a couple weeks ago, trying to find some information on equipment and other things about Backpack hunting.

Now it is time to start planning the areas, licenses for the 2012 season, etc.

Me and my partner are planning a hunt in the South Dakota, Wyoming area for mule deer in 2012. The game commission offices have sent me on a string of phone calls, 4 to 5 offices deep, with noone wanting to sit down and help a first time non-resident back pack hunter find a good area.

I guess I'll start here: Where is a good area / state for Mule Deer Hunting, that allows backpack hunting, and open fire camping wherever your hunting day ends?

Thanks guys!

[FerretWYO]

Wyoming Wilderness is not a good choice. To hunt a wilderness area here as a non-resident you must have a resident guide. Look into Colorado, Montana utah.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

I have only ever hunted in my home state Montana. Are you just looking to kill any old mule deer? Or do you have a certain size buck in mind? Montana has mule deer and lots of mountains to climb. Idaho and Wyoming are the same way. I cannot guarantee any of these states will allow a campfire that time of year though. The fire season is just hitting peak at the end of August and most areas will have restrictions on fires. I don't know anything about South Dakota so I cannot help you there.

Good luck!

[steadman]

Utah is not a very good state for backpacking. There are some areas, but not a lot. Lots of roads here. A lot of guys here go to CO. That should say something. As far as fires, it depends on the year, you never know until just before the hunt. It depends on weather. Good luck!

[centaur]

'Wilderness' can be relative. Are you looking to hunt in a designated wilderness, or just public land back country? There are lots of places in Wyoming that aren't officially wilderness areas, but are plenty wild. As Ferret says, if you are looking to hunt a designated wilderness in Wyoming, you would have to hire a guide. If, for instance, you were lucky enough to draw Wyoming area 87 (not likely, by the way), you would hunt some tremendous wild country and probably not see another hunter during September, but it is not designated wilderness. Something to consider.

[LKH]

I've hunted SD and I can't figure out where you would possibly need to do a backpack hunt??

There is just no real need to camp away from the road.  In fact you would probably screw up more country with your camp scent than you would gain.

[Tater]

If you are wanting a quality area in CO you better start with a couple prefrence points application dead line this year is April 5th.
    If you just want the Wilderness experience pick an area and get in touch with the local DWM for that area.
    All kinds of statistics on the CO Div.of Wildlife site.
 http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/

[LKH]

As far as the "open fire", many areas of the west just aren't reasonable for open fires in Sep/Oct.  They can be open, have high winds, and no water to fight an escaped fire.

We hunt the Missouri Breaks and most of the time just the thought of a fire is scary.

[Mike Theis]

A good portion of Colorado is having problems with snow this winter. That effects the deer more than the elk. Some of the areas are having big problems, others not as much. Considering this could up your odds some. Just a thought concerning your planning. Lots of things to think about.

Good luck in your search.

 ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Snow/snow/watershed/daily/co_update_snow.pdf

[Montanawidower]

In Montana, the mountain mule deer hunting with a stick bow is pretty tough.  Most guys hunt the eastern part of the state where the terrain is more conducive to spot and stalk.  Not to say some deer aren't taken in western MT, but its few and far between (mostly they are ambush hunts in hayfields adjacent to foothills or forest).
 LKH mentioned the Missouri breaks which is popular, but its scrub country.  If you're imagining the Eastman journal type of hunts it more of a Wyoming or Colorado thing.  The alpine basins this far north just don't hold the deer like they do down south.   My two cents.

[LKH]

Montanawidower if right on with muleys and eastern MT.  I have taken several, no giants, and I have access to some decent private ground.  

You will have difficulty with license draw in MT since deer tags have been harder to get than elk/deer combos and with the removal of outfitter tags, anything people tell you about drawing is pure speculation and opinion. Plus the cost has hit the rediculous.

[neargeezer]

Open fires are not allowed in the area's in South Dakota that would be the better backpack areas. This would be in the Black Hills fire protection district. Many of the other areas are private land leased for "Walk in Areas" and you cannot camp on these properties.

Campfires and backpacking would be very doubtful in South Dakota.

[chanumpa]

Check out Idaho and Oregon.Youll have a chance to get a big bull or cow elk at the same time.Might have to get you a good mtn climber type cook stove and not have a fire if it dry as usual in general archery season,but youll have a good hunt,lots of public wilderness hunting to those whom have the salt to take it on.Good Luck.Good job bringing this up.I wasnt aware that Wyo. was requiring you to have a guide now for out of staters.Parts of Washington are awesome and over looked for wilderness hunting as well.Have no idea on price/drawing anymore though.Also if you have the time I would see what up in B.C.

[ThePushArchery]

Thanks for all the input guys. This is getting tough! I never thought there was so many things to consider when trying to walk into the wilderness with a backpack and bow!

Now I'm all kinds of confused!

I'm going to take all the above info to heart, and i'm sure this won't be the last time I post on this subject. I have a lot to learn.

[Tater 2]

A whole lot of things to consider and your area is is only a small part of the equasion.

   Backpacking / Hunting in the Mountains requires some thought, you need good woodsmanship skills, you are going to be miles from help if needed, weather can go to extremes in the Mountains pretty quick, heat, snow, lightning,wind.
   Mother Nature is not very forgiving I have no idea how much experience you have in the mountains but do your homework here as well.