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Author Topic: Mule deer.  (Read 1780 times)

Offline shankspony

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Mule deer.
« on: August 23, 2021, 10:03:47 PM »
Been watching online and from other side of world as new season Mule deer Bucks are taken. I have to say i think of all the trophy heads I would wish to take in the US, the Mule deer would be at the top!
They are pretty spectacular and not a lot else like them.
Anyone here had any luck this year?

Offline bowkill146

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2021, 08:49:36 AM »
Not yet!  We go out the beginning of October.  Getting pretty excited!

Online Tim Finley

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2021, 11:35:56 AM »
One of my favorite things to hunt . I love stalking them
and getting really close . The last one I shot which was in 2020 I shot at four yards ive also been so close to another big buck that I could have tapped his antlers with my longbow and I didnt get a shot.
  I stalked one to 8 yards and made my shot only to have the arrow bounce back as I hit the barb wire directly in front of me but he ran alittle then stopped and looked back and I got a second arrow off and killed him. They are fun to hunt and its very impressive to see the big racks on some of the bucks. Lots of long walks and 2 and 4 hour stalks I love it !

Offline ESP

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2021, 02:58:32 PM »
They are my jinxed animal.  I could write a book on how not to kill one.  A giant mule deer to me is more majestic than a giant elk.

Offline shankspony

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2021, 02:37:09 PM »
Yes! There is something very cool about them... and also pronghorn.

Ive only managed to get to the states once, and it was for a mule deer hunt. Over the counter tag and even had a shoot-able buck walk past us at 20 yards. But it was very young and I didn't not see the sense in shooting it when an American hunter would value the meat more than us who would have to give it all away.
I will get back one day when this current situation has settled down.

Offline possumtrot

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2021, 07:55:27 PM »
Season is Sept 1-24 for me this year in New Mexico.  Last year was a bust as it was the driest I have seen it in SE NM in over 30 years.  I will be hunting the higher elevations (Unit 34) and the weather has been great this monsoon season with plenty of rain. 

I have not been in this area for quite some time but expect to at least see some deer and do a little elk scouting ( did not draw out) for next year. My dad killed some monster deer in this area back in the 60's and believe there are still some opportunities since it is pretty rough country and the physical demands are high

By the way, my dream hunt has always been to go to New Zealand and hunt  the Red Stag!
possumtrot

Offline shankspony

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2021, 10:52:03 PM »
I guess we all dream of hunting foreign fields and species to some extent. if you ever do head this way, give me a yell.

Offline YosemiteSam

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2021, 01:25:25 PM »
Been chasing the mulie hybrids here in CA for a while.  Out here, a lot of us long for an opportunity to chase rutting whitetails.  There are certainly some big bucks around here.  But finding them on public land long before the rut is an exercise in frustration, if not futility.  It's a love/hate thing.
"A good hunter...that's somebody the animals COME to."
"Every animal knows way more than you do." -- by a Koyukon hunter, as quoted by R. Nelson.

Offline shankspony

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2021, 05:09:05 PM »
Are Hybrids valued? Over here we pretty much shoot red/sika hybrids on sight and more just to get rid of them than for any trophy value.

Offline IdahoCurt

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2021, 11:23:54 PM »
Here's an Idaho Mule deer that I was able to find but not get into range, it was a perfect day!


Offline shankspony

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2021, 04:35:56 AM »
Wow! Thanks for posting that. Fantastic sight!

Offline twitchstick

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2021, 01:06:49 PM »
I finally saw two good bucks this morning. They came within 50 yards but not close enough for a shot. Our deer population is down this season so it was nice to finally see a good buck. I had to get back to town for work tonight but maybe tomorrow I can get a shot. Here is a trail cam pic of one of the smaller ones in the group. No pic's of the good ones.

Offline ESP

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2021, 01:31:42 PM »
Twitch,  after eating 7 mule deer tags. I would be happy with that one.  Check that , ecstatic with that muley. 

Offline twitchstick

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2021, 01:55:12 PM »
ESP I'm not sure if I could pass on that one either. I just hope that the big one comes by first.

Offline shankspony

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2021, 04:36:53 PM »
Love the photos thanks guys! A big part of hunting travel for me is not just arriving somewhere and shooting something someone tells me too. I like to know what Im looking at and learn how to hunt a new species. So I dont see my previous trip where i came home empty handed as a loss. More first learning steps.
These photos and your comments all help me learn.

Offline Hud

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #15 on: September 12, 2021, 01:56:55 AM »
There are some excellent books, and DVD's on hunting mule deer.  Glenn St. Charles' book Bows on the Little Delta, has several chapters on hunting Mule deer in Washington (Chapters, 3, 4, 16,17, and 28.  One main difference between Mule Deer, and the others species is the Mule Deer migrate from their summer range (4000 ft or higher elevation) to lower elevations with heavy snow. The four hunters and their trophies on page 253, were taken in Nason Creek during the migration. I have hunted from the Chalet (p 32) without snow and few deer, but with snow they may be everywhere. In late winter, page 318 their may be 10 ft. of snow where the Chalet was once. The Chalet has been gone for awhile, the USFS demolished it. The deer still migrate out of the high country when snow becomes too deep. The point is Mule Deer, Whitetail, and Blacktail Deer frequently live in different habitat and learn to adapt to it and seasonal changes. Scouting is essential if your going after big Mule Deer. Whitetail will hang out in the same area year around, whereas Mule Deer travel long distances from their Summer range to Winter range.   
TGMM Family of the Bow

Online Tim Finley

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Re: Mule deer.
« Reply #16 on: September 12, 2021, 07:16:48 PM »
My son shot a nice mule buck yesterday the 11th . He shot it in the same pasture that I took two nice ones in 2018 and 20.

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