Archery hunting mulies

[Branden]

So I bought my first bow this spring and was planning on hunting bear and elk with it this year. Well I decided to take most of September off so I also decided to get an archery deer tag since I am going to be up in the hills scouting anyway. I might as well be hunting.

I am just looking for any pointers or info that I won't think of as a noob archer.

I will be hunting high country mulies for about a week starting Sept. 1st. Just kinda looking for any tips on stalking and stuff like that. Thanks in advance, Branden

[GoldTip]

Biggest trick for high country mulie hunting with a bow is figuring out your uphill/downhill angles as far as distance goes.  Otherwise, hunt them from above (if the wind is correct) when you can as mule deer have less of a tendency to look uphill.  Spot them early in the morning and watch them go to bed, then put the stalk on.

[MichaelJ]

Yep that sounds about right!  I won't be able to head in with you guys on the 1st as my shoulder muscles still aren't back to where they should be...

Michael

[Branden]

Thanks for the replies guys.

The angle is the biggest thing that has me worried right now. I have the  Leica 1200 but it does not do angles. I was looking at possibly getting the Leupold but after looking through them it is really hard to read the display. At least the one that I looked through was like that.

Goldtip, have you ever watched a buck for a couple days to try and pattern it, or as soon as you see it bed you close in for the stalk?

Also how close do you get before you remove your boots? Or do you stalk all the way in boots?

Thanks again, Branden

[GoldTip]

I go stocking footed from about 100 yards out from the bedded buck.  Also, I have never had any luck trying to pattern them in the mountains.  They will use the same general area, but may walk 40 yards one way or the other from where they were the day before.  If there was some sort of natural funnel they passed through then I imagine it would work just fine.  The angle thing you just have to practice.

[Shadow Cat]

Branden... Go to the Cabela's site and look at this....
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/purchase/products-found.jsp?_requestid=85132

They are Baers Feet and do a great job!! They have two kinds: one with and without Scent-Lok. Without is $29.95, with is $39.95. I quit taking my boots off when I ended up with 12 stitches in my foot because of a sharp rock.
A 100 yards is a good distance to start going into ultra stealth mode. GoldTip is right: they may walk 40 yards away from where you saw them the day before. Practicing up and down hill shots is very important. Learn how your arrows perform at known distances up and down hill. I don't know if the new range finders take into account the WEIGHT of your arrow when they calculate the angle / yardage, but you NEED to know how your arrows perform.

[Branden]

The only problem with I have with shooting angles is how steep is the hill? I figured it out on a calculator the other day at work, the yardage difference if it is a 45 degree angle or a 30 degree angle. So I have been practicing. I just don't know how steep of an angle the hill is going to be. I am praying that If I get to let an arrow fly it is a side hill shot.

Also one last thing. Do I need to be wearing a long sleeve camo shirt or will short sleeve work. Same with my face. Face paint or face mask, or does it even matter. Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it. Branden

[DOUBLELUNG]

Branden, I strongly recommend holding yourself to about 35 yards.  If you are shooting a modern compound, the trajectory difference exists, but is not very significant with all the other variables in play (wind, adrenaline, strange body angles, a reactive rather than static target, long periods of time at full draw ...).  Or, go out and try shooting up and down steep slopes with your rangefinder at known ranges, better to bust up a few arrows than wound and lose a deer.  I'm pretty concerned - for you - that you are praying that the conditions are favorable if you get to let an arrow fly.  There's no place for optimism, or faith, when you are shooting at an animal; if you aren't very confident about where you are going to hit that animal, don't release the projectile.  This goes doubly so for archery.  Save the faith for the stalk, and what happens after you release. 

I don't want to be harsh, but it kind of sounds like you aren't prepared enough to hunt in the high steep open stuff, where angles can be extreme, and shot distances average on the long side.  I'd
suggest you consider hunting more forested areas, deer are there too, just can't glass them up, have to still hunt for them.  On the plus side, though, the shots tend to be less technically challenging. 

I firmly believe in covering up every inch of your shiny skin.  Even if you are fortunate enough to have dark skin, it still shines.  I carry a light pair of slip-on leather moccasins for the final approach, and typically put on the headnet and light cotton camo gloves at the same time.

Best of luck this fall, I can tell you from 20+ years bowhunting a variety of species, a season end with an intact tag is WAY better than a wounded and lost animal.  I am a self-taught bowhunter, not trying to be pompous, trying to save you some of the emotional distress I experienced my first several years. 

[Shadow Cat]

I put up a post a while back that may help some Branden... 
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,829.0.html

Doublelung is 100% correct. I would have the same concerns about you hunting open country as well. If you have ANY concern about a shot, then DO NOT TAKE THE SHOT! After 33 years of bowhunting, I have passed on a lot of shots that I was not 100% sure about. My suggestion is hunt both wooded areas and open areas. My reasoning behind this is simple: experiance. If you don't spend time hunting both, then you don't learn, BUT keep your shots short in open country where you have to deal with steep angle shots. It is all a learning curve but don't take it at an animals expense.
Deer have great eye sight and see best in early morning and evening and pick detail up the best during these hours. Every bit of cammo that you have will be a help to you. Here is some info on camo...

http://www.azod.com/Hunting/Archive/2001/Camouflage.htm

http://www.29thdivision.com/training/Personal%20camouflage.doc

[boneaddict]

DITTO both of these guys.  I put off bowhunting for many years even though I shot with one often, just because I wasn't confident to make a kill shot every time.  This Tred Barta thing where you fling a dozen arrows and by seasons end, maybe one has connected is for the birds.  Enough preaching from me.....

I am a bit less dependent, or have less emphasis on camo than these fellows.  Not saying it isn't important, but movement, outline, smell and noise are more important to me than camo.

High country hunting is a thrill ENJOY!   Best bit of advice I can give you is BE PATIENT!  Remember, you are in their house and they only have three things to do, eat, drink and stay alive.

[bobcat]

I have a book by Dwight Schuh titled Hunting Open-Country Mule Deer that I would highly recommend for a new bow hunter. He prefers open country for mule deer hunting with a bow, in fact, if there are any trees at all he won't hunt it. His theory is that it is much easier to spot the deer from afar, in the morning, and watch them until they bed down for the day, and then begin your stalk (from above.) The book is only $11 on amazon.com. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Open-Country-Mule-Dwight-Schuh/dp/0912299231

[Branden]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will try to udate you guys in a week and a half when I get out. Branden

[Shadow Cat]

Looking forward to a great hunt story!!! 

[Branden]

Figured I have a few minutes so I will update this like I said.

We saw about 20 different bucks, 48 bears and 4 goats. My buddy Rob was the only one to try stalking a deer and he rolled a big rock right as we were sneaking over the top. It was an awesome time in the high country, I was just a little bit bummed not to be able to find the buck I was looking for. We ended up doing a 72 mile loop and about half of it was in country I had never seen before so it was pretty sweet. Now I am just going to wait for next year. Thanks again for all the advice. Branden

[Muleyslyr]

Never too late for an update.  Were in the heck were you that you saw 48 Bear and only 20 Bucks?  Must've found some good Blueberry fields up in that high country.    Got any pics?