Don’t rush headlong into a low-percentage stalk just because you’re excited. If spot-and-stalk hunting isn’t for you and you’d rather play the sit-and-wait game, treestand or ground blinds may be set up on a food or water source, or in a pinch-point where the deer are naturally funneling through. There are specific areas reserved for hunting during the season. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. “Muleys” can be found along the Pacific coast from the islands of Alaska to Baja California, and inland from northern Mexico to southern Yukon Territory. Do not hunt mule deer or any game without a hunting license in the state in which you are hunting. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Some of the best states for mule deer have hunting seasons that only last a few weeks, which even after a lifetime of hunting isn’t nearly enough time to become an expert. Animals indeed change their patterns according to the moon but it’s not like they disappear entirely, they’re still there. If you are hunting mule deer bucks, the definition of “antlered” may be as simple as “having an antler fully erupted through the skin and capable of being shed.” Meanwhile, the big prize for serious hunters is a “muley” that is over 200 inches (500 cm) in length and has a antler spread of at least 30 inches (76 cm). These deer can be found in the South American deserts and all across the US. Nothing can foil a stock like an unassuming feeding mule deer doe. Fear not; sheds can be found for free in your own hunting area or on public land if you're willing to implement a few shed hunting tips. With shed hunting is growing in popularity throughout the U.S., many states have rolled out regulations and laws specific to when, where and how you can shed … Once the deer is confirmed dead, you will need to field dress it. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. If you’re a real mule deer fanatic, you’ll likely get as fired-up over shed hunting season as you will for the actual hunt. But one of the most difficult aspects of shooting a big buck is finding him in the first place. Camouflage patterns like KUIU Vias and Verde are designed to fool ungulate eyes—having the right pattern helps, but more importantly, keeping out of sight in the first place is the best practice. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Moreover, bucks are rarely alone. Nevertheless, since these majestic creatures share their inhabitants with coyotes and mountain lions, they are not easy to take down. He’s a man of solid consistency on taking mature bucks with a bow. The reason being, this is when most deer shed their antlers. Also, once again, the target area is small. Whether it be a ridge, bluff, gully or tree line—drop out of view from your target buck—by going out-and-around, you can cover a lot of ground fast without the fear of being seen, heard or smelled. “A mature mule deer buck beds with a great deal of care and forethought. This makes their foraging areas more limited (and therefore easier to identify). Know Where to Look. Every spring the pile grew as I searched for mule deer and elk antlers of trophy proportions. If there’s one person to learn from, it’s Randy Ulmer (AZ). A lot of hunters only hunt or glass in the early mornings and evenings. For example, if you’re hunting in the mountains in late fall/early winter, you’ll need lots of cold weather gear and clothing layers to help you stay warm. % of people told us that this article helped them. Mule Deer Shed Hunting Tips The 243 Winchester has been around for a long time. Here are a few tips that can help increase your odds of bagging a trophy buck or just putting a bit more meat in your freezer this winter. Be ready to glass all day. November 8, 2019. This article has been viewed 36,681 times. The sun bleached it. Most often I see them bed in the shade, looking downslope on the lee side of some structure such as rimrock, a clump of trees, or a ridge. Research source At 25, he gave up the pursuit of all other big-game to focus on taking the best bucks possible. Trail cams or game cameras are an excellent hobby and tool to observe mule deer habits. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Don't Miss: 5 Shed Hunting Myths You Should Avoid. “If I have a buddy helping me or if I’m helping a friend, the hunter will stalk in and the helper will stay back to guide the hunter using hand signals. Guides, Outfitters, Hunts, Tags. A miss may paralyze but not kill the deer, or cause a wound that will cause a slow, painful death if the deer escapes. While it is always helpful to get as close as possible to improve the accuracy of your shot, the heightened sensitivity of mule deer to sounds and smells mean that you may not want to encroach closer than you need to. Keep another set of eyes on the opposite hillside. Extend your deer season by scouting before and after the hunt. Mule deer need to have access to water every day, so a creek, stream, pond, spring, or other water source can make a good starting point for your search. Remember, patience and persistence are key to hunting mule deer. He began hunting the West on a DIY budget hunting an average of 30 days a year for mule deer. The deer you can find during the summer months are typically in the same area during the hunt. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. So, when shed hunters inadvertently push or spook animals, that energy expenditure might be enough to push deer over the edge. My Shed Hunting Post on Bowhunting.com. Hunting a big ol’ cagey mule deer starts to get a little easier now. Remember, mule deer have excellent hearing. For more shed hunting tips, check out a few of our other shed hunting posts! Do not hunt off-season. Editor's Note: This was originally published on March 3, 2005. Memorize the terrain your animal is located. https://muledeer.org/hunting/mule-deer-facts/, http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/hunting/tips-and-tactics-how-hunt-mule-deer, http://bowsite.com/BOWSITE/features/articles/muledeer/stalkingmuledeer/, http://www.huntingtipsandtricks.com/a/Mule_Deer_Hunting_Tips_and_Tricks, http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hunting/2007/09/fall-mule-deer-tactics, http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/big-buck-zone/2012/09/where-aim-kill-deer-one-shot, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We sat down with expert mule deer hunting veterans, AJ Kissell and Randy Ulmer, as well as our in-house team of hunters for some mule deer hunting tips. I hope that these points have encouraged you to give a DIY mule deer shed hunting trip a try and that you won’t spend too much time making the same mistakes I did this year. Shed Hunting 101 Webinar from Deer & Deer Hunting 3. There are numerous online resources and phone apps that highlight the ideal days to be in the field, but don’t let a less-than-ideal day stop you from hunting. The good news is that once a buck has bedded for the day and has committed to a general bedding area, he will rarely move far until evening. Get into your glassing position early. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Hunt-Mule-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Hunt-Mule-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Hunt-Mule-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1485395-v4-728px-Hunt-Mule-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"