Early Season Muley Question

[bluegill]

I am heading to South Dakota for a bowhunt Sept. 24-Oct. 8. It has been years since I have killed a muley and have never hunted them this early.

I am assuming bachelor groups will still be the norm? Planning on sitting stand in the am and maybe spot and stalk in the mid-morning/afternoon then back to the stand.

Ideas?


Thanks Sean

[Blackhawk]

You will find Mule Deer somewhat different that the Whitetail.  Mule deer are wanderers and tough to pattern unless you find some food plots (alfalfa fields, etc).  They will usually move down from above to feed and water near sundown and head back up to bed during the day.

Otherwise, use the binoculars or spotting scope a lot in the early morning to locate.  In my experience, sitting on stand early and late is of little use unless there are food plots.

Be prepared for animals who love open country and use their eyes a lot.  Practice for those long shots (30 yds and more) that may be required in filling your tag.  Good luck.

[bluegill]

Thanks Lon,

I been on them in the past just never tried this early.

Sean

[JimB]

Bachelor groups normally break up within a week of them shedding velvet.That would be roughly the first week of September.Not to say you couldn't see a couple together but things change after they shed velvet.

I wouldn't do too much sitting unless my glassing showed a regular pattern like coming into a field or waterhole.Often,they have no regular pattern.

Where I hunt,elevations run from 5,000' on the prairie to 9,500'at the top of the mountain.Most bucks will stay very high till mid to late Oct.All areas may not be that way though.

I would spend a lot of time glassing from vantage points but don't skyline yourself.When the deer is spotted and you let it settle in to bed,the hunting starts.Remember that once you start a stalk on a bedded mule deer,he may get up,stretch and move a few yards and bed again and often you can't see that happen.

Keep in mind when animals move back up the mountain in the mornings,the mountain thermals are drifting down right in their face.It is impossible to ambush them like that.That's why I say,glass,glass,glass and when you get one bedded,figure the wind and come in sidehill,from above or whatever works.

I see a specific buck leave a field headed up the mountain on a certain trail.That evening,he comes back to the field by another trail a quarter mile away.That is the norm.Keep an open mind but for the most part,forget sitting whitetail tactics.They can eat up a lot of time with no results.Mule deer will be where you find them and that's what the glasses are for.

[Eric S]

Don't overlook water sources

[PaddyMac]

Ditto what Lon said. Mule deer don't follow rules. But basically, yeah, the bucks will tend to be together... except when they're not. I've had a nice 4x4 in my garden the last few days, eating peppers. He's brought in a spike, where he found him, who knows. Despite being pelted with rocks by my wife, he hasn't left yet. It is very likely neither of them will be within 5 miles of my house on Sept. 1.

I typically see strings of bucks moving up country a bit after the ranchers stop irrigating alfalfa, and they've just stopped this week.

I've killed two out of stands, which I consider blind luck. (yuk-yuk)

Mostly I spot them, try and guess where they're going and try to get there ahead of them. Sometimes I'm right and able to and mostly I'm not.

I'm seeing bucks every day now. After Sept. 1 they will be a rare sight.

[Roadkill]

My son was up in the Black Rock desert looking for goats, but he found deer!  He expected to fond them as the water was there.  This is antelope country, not normally deer habitat at this time of year He had to go up to find high to find the goats. Must be the burning man crew out on the playa. Look up burning man for a special look at our humanity.  You will be amazed. Please look up "burning man". Let me know if you have ever seen anything like it