Mule Deer

[Labs07]

So I have never killed or even hunted Mule Deer before.  Not looking for places to hunt but would like some tips of the trade that you Mule Deer hunters have used to connect.

[vandeman17]

That is a very broad question. I think it might help to clarify what weapon, time of year, proposed area you would want to go etc. Hunting mulies in the sage flats in September with a bow is much different then hunting them way up in the hills in December with a muzzy. 

[uplandhunter870]

with the info youve provided so far best i can say is spot and stalk. like vandeman said the advice is going to be season and weapon specific, early archery is completely different than late rifle and even late archery. trying to pin one down in a wide open wheat stubble field is not only extremely hard with a bow but worlds different from trying to chase one through the timber.

general advice; id start with figuring out where you think youll be hunting this fall and start watching that piece of land and hiking around on it if thats possible figure out where the deer like to hang out in the early spring and summer and early fall leading up to your season. mule deer arent nearly as predictable as whitetails but mulies will tend to hang around the same general areas for each part of the year

come general rifle season all bets are off as far as deer predictability goes once the orange army invades, but the better you can get to know a piece of ground and where the deer like to hang out and where they dont youll have a better chance of finding them once the umpaloompa invasion ensues.

[huntnphool]

So I have never killed or even hunted Mule Deer before.  Not looking for places to hunt but would like some tips of the trade that you Mule Deer hunters have used to connect.

If on a budget, spend the majority of your allotted funds on "quality" optics.

[DeerThug]

Here is my advise.

buy  some gas and drive through central washington.  when you see sage brush and rock cliffs - stop and glass.  not just a few minutes but a long time.  Move and glass again.  then do it again and then again and keep it up all day  long.  You will be surprised at the deer that move at 2 in the afternoon.    when you spot deer they will be there in hunting season.

We have killed a ton of bucks within sight of I82 and I90 and most times have the place to ourselves.    Take a county road and just pull off.  it aint complicated.   a lot of guys dont scout when they are driving. 

You dont need a big area

Think small - hunt small - kill big bucks

[Bigshooter]

So I have never killed or even hunted Mule Deer before.  Not looking for places to hunt but would like some tips of the trade that you Mule Deer hunters have used to connect.

If on a budget, spend the majority of your allotted funds on "quality" optics.

[sakoshooter]

Good optics are a must but even more so is to honestly use them.
Everyone's got a pair in their truck or around their neck. Hike to vantage points and spend time picking apart every bit of good looking terrain. don't move to the next glassing spot till you're sure this one is vacant.
Also, look far. Even from a mile, country can be looked at pretty good with a good pair of binos.
Mule deer like an elevation advantage over their enemys and a lot of distance.
I love spot and stalk mule deer hunting.

[Labs07]

Thanks for the advise!  I will be using a smoke pole and plan to be around the Coulee Dam area.

[vandeman17]

Thanks for the advise!  I will be using a smoke pole and plan to be around the Coulee Dam area.

That should be pretty fun. I love hunting mulies though I haven't had a bunch of success on big bucks, it is my favorite type of hunting. Love spotting them from far away and trying to get close.

[Guy]

Good optics are a must but even more so is to honestly use them.
Everyone's got a pair in their truck or around their neck. Hike to vantage points and spend time picking apart every bit of good looking terrain. don't move to the next glassing spot till you're sure this one is vacant.
Also, look far. Even from a mile, country can be looked at pretty good with a good pair of binos.
Mule deer like an elevation advantage over their enemys and a lot of distance.
I love spot and stalk mule deer hunting.

Yes. Absolutely.

[crazysccrmd]

If I'm looking for mule's in more mountainous terrain during the modern season (mid October) what elevations should I concentrate on?

[Bean Counter]

Good optics are a must but even more so is to honestly use them.
Everyone's got a pair in their truck or around their neck. Hike to vantage points and spend time picking apart every bit of good looking terrain. don't move to the next glassing spot till you're sure this one is vacant.
Also, look far. Even from a mile, country can be looked at pretty good with a good pair of binos.
Mule deer like an elevation advantage over their enemys and a lot of distance.
I love spot and stalk mule deer hunting.

Last mule deer I put the stalk on with my bow I was probably 1.5 to 2 miles away.  So far that I was able to hike down from my mountain, drive closer to him, then put the stalk on from there. I stalked the herd about ten times and let an arrow fly, but I missed (completely). What a day.

[JM]

If I'm looking for mule's in more mountainous terrain during the modern season (mid October) what elevations should I concentrate on?

Some of the bucks, especially the bigger ones will stay up in chest deep snow till they can't take it anymore or the rut starts really pickin up. I couldn't give you a specific elevation, but I'm sure that there are some seasoned hunters on here that know.

[crazysccrmd]

If I'm looking for mule's in more mountainous terrain during the modern season (mid October) what elevations should I concentrate on?

Some of the bucks, especially the bigger ones will stay up in chest deep snow till they can't take it anymore or the rut starts really pickin up. I couldn't give you a specific elevation, but I'm sure that there are some seasoned hunters on here that know.

What's the snow level at on the east slopes usually at during the season (12-20 oct)?

[BiggLuke]

Mule deer really aren't too hard to find. Just go over the mountians to the east side, and they are every where there is crops.
Find wheat country, that's a good start.
Now, finding a shooter buck? during open season?
That's a different story.

My only advise is to get some good optics.

[billdo5]

Mule deer really aren't too hard to find. Just go over the mountians to the east side, and they are every where there is crops.
Find wheat country, that's a good start.
Now, finding a shooter buck? during open season?
That's a different story.

My only advise is to get some good optics.

Crops.... i recommend just going over east scouting in areas known for mule deer... high buck hunts tend to have big mules...

[buglebuster]

Mule deer really aren't too hard to find. Just go over the mountians to the east side, and they are every where there is crops.
Find wheat country, that's a good start.
Now, finding a shooter buck? during open season?
That's a different story.

My only advise is to get some good optics.

Crops.... i recommend just going over east scouting in areas known for mule deer... high buck hunts tend to have big mules...

Ive seen alot more nice muley bucks in wheat country than the high country 

[billdo5]

most of the wheat country is private... good luck getting permission

[3nails]

So I have never killed or even hunted Mule Deer before.  Not looking for places to hunt but would like some tips of the trade that you Mule Deer hunters have used to connect.

If on a budget, spend the majority of your allotted funds on "quality" optics.

  And "quality" means "$$$$". Count the $'s. 

[wilsongideon]

good optics are whats going to find the deer for you thats for sure. There is a mule deer behind/under every tree in the wheat fields

[splitshot]

  do lots of scouting and contact farmers.  summer farmers are busy , but winter they are not busy and then they will bs with you.  mike w