Overview
Male mule deer fall into two
categories. Super dumb and super
smart. When a mule deer buck is younger,
say below three years of age, they can be incredibly easy to hunt. If they make it past their early, stupid
years, it’s almost like they flip a switch and become super smart. This article is about the super smart ones.
Ambushing
In previous articles we have
discussed ambushing elk and antelope. I
am sure there are places that an ambush is possible, however generally speaking
ambushing large mule deer is not feasible.
Calling
We have also discussed calling as a
method of hunting elk and antelope, however calling doesn’t really work with
large mule deer. I have successfully
stopped a mule deer from walking using a honking sound that mimics their alarm
honk. Honking can work well if you need
a buck to stop walking away from you to present a shot, but I would not really
label honking as calling.
Stalking
So that leaves a hunter with
stalking as the only available method of hunting large mule deer. When we discussed methods of bow hunting elk
I wrote about slow stalking elk in dense timber. Elk can be discovered in dense timber and
stalked upon. However, large bucks will
sneak away long before you get close to them.
In most cases you will never see them or know they were there at all.
Glassing
In order to stalk large bucks you
have to see them first. The only way you
will see them first is to get yourself in a position before daylight to
overlook a large expanse of mule deer infested countryside. Get up high, hide yourself, and plan on
spending the day glassing.
Large mule deer bucks are mainly
nocturnal. They will spend all night
feeding and all day hiding and sleeping.
Bucks will always hid in place that has multiple escape routes and
allows them a vantage point to scan the surrounding terrain. That is why you can’t hope to spot a large
buck while walking.
Many times while glassing for large
bucks I have seen a buck get up from a place I had no idea was hiding a buck, walk
10 paces, relieve himself, and then return to their bed. Even after seeing exactly where the buck laid
down it is nearly impossible to find it.
Proper Gear
If your going to spend all day
glassing be sure to bring proper clothing that will allow you to remain
immobile. The morning hours can be very
cold. If you get up and walk around to
warm up you will alert every buck within a couple mile radius. I generally pack a sleeping bag covered with
a bivey sack for just this occasion. The
bivey sack is simply a water-proof shell that surrounds your sleeping bag to
keep it dry and clean. I will generally
take my boots off and climb in the bag for the morning to stay warm while I am
glassing.
Be sure to hide in place that will
allow for convenient bathroom breaks.
Remember you will need to remain hidden all day.
Glass your area by working in a grid
pattern to make sure you cover all of the terrain. Look for ears or sections of horn. Pay special attention to bases of trees and
rocky areas.
I will be honest. Glassing is not very fun. It gets very old,
very fast. If your not doing a good job
you are wasting your time. Glass for 5
minutes and then take a small break. You
will have to glass over the same terrain many times. As the sun shifts in the
sky shadows may disappear, the buck may move it’s head just enough to be
visible, that odd looking branch may turn out to be part of a huge rack. Keep glassing.
Plan Your Stalking Route
Once you have spotted a buck, spend
some time figuring out your route to sneak up on the buck. Stay hidden by terrain as long as
possible. Try to find landmarks that
will give you guidance when you get closer to the buck.
Keep spotting the area once you have
found your target buck. Large mule deer
bucks will often bed with other large bucks.
You have to find them all before you start your stalk. Assume there is another buck with your target
buck until you can prove with more glassing that there is only one buck.
When you get within a hundred yards
from the buck you will really have to slow down. Get on you knees and start crawling. Move slowly and quietly. The last 100 yards could take hours to
cover.
Of course the wind has to be in your
favor. If the wind shifts you have to
abort the stalk immediately. If the buck
winds you, you are done.
In Bow Range
When you get within bow range of
your target buck you will need to have the buck standup to take a shot. This can be a tricky procedure because you
want the buck alarmed enough to standup, but not too alarmed or he will race
off without giving you a shot.
Before you get close to your buck
put a few small stones in your pocket.
When you get within bow range, toss a stone over the buck if possible,
or in a direction that will make the buck focus away from you. Often times the
clatter of small stone will alarm the buck enough to standup without running
away.
Conclusion
Every hunt is different. Often times the difference between failure
and success is the ability to improvise.
Think about each situation and do your best to put yourself within bow
range.
Harvesting a large, mule deer buck
with a bow is extremely challenging.
However, with a lot, and I mean a lot of patience it is possible.
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