Mulie Folks

[cougforester]

Just bumped a group of does. 10-15ish. No bucks. And immediately glassed up another group of does across the canyon from me that don't know I'm here. No bucks there either. What am I missing? 

[MtnMuley]

Bucks

[Dan-o]

Sounds like you're missing a buck.


Keep at it.     

[cougforester]

Found a spike in a saddle between the two doe groups. Hm. Wonder if the bucks are cruising between the two groups.

[boneaddict]

Most of the doe are bred and the bucks will be either checking out for the season, or out cold trailing.

[cougforester]

A couple does across the way had their tails sticking straight out. I interpret that as meaning they're ready to breed. At least that's what I've seen with blacktail at least. Ugh I was hoping there would be a lovesick buck close to all these ladies hoping for one last hurrah.

[mossback91]

Sleepy bucks.....

[Karl Blanchard]

Most of the doe are bred and the bucks will be either checking out for the season, or out cold trailing.

this.  I rattled in two different bucks this morning that were no doubt cruisers

[Calvin Rayborn]

Wolves and cats killed em all

[Transka]

Ya coug it’s been a bad year for sure.

[blindluck]

You're not missing a thing, many does without bucks this year buck numbers are way down. I spent 23 days in the mule deer woods and never seen it so bad.

[jrebel]

Look above the does.....lots of times the bucks will bed above the does to keep an eye out.  I too watched multiple groups of does and thought the same thing......until all of a sudden the glimmer of antlers gave away their location.  Bucks will often stay laying while the does feed.....especially mid day. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Look above the does.....lots of times the bucks will bed above the does to keep an eye out.  I too watched multiple groups of does and thought the same thing......until all of a sudden the glimmer of antlers gave away their location.  Bucks will often stay laying while the does feed.....especially mid day. 

Best piece of advice IMHO.  When you find significant does groups during the rut, with no stupid young bucks in their midst - start glassing and gridding looking for that bedded breeder.  I've found them as far away as 400 yards form the does, and usually in some cover so you're looking for antler, leg, ear, nose, eye ...  That spike avoiding getting too close to the does increases the odds a breeder is in the vicinity.

[Karl Blanchard]

Look above the does.....lots of times the bucks will bed above the does to keep an eye out.  I too watched multiple groups of does and thought the same thing......until all of a sudden the glimmer of antlers gave away their location.  Bucks will often stay laying while the does feed.....especially mid day. 

Best piece of advice IMHO.  When you find significant does groups during the rut, with no stupid young bucks in their midst - start glassing and gridding looking for that bedded breeder.  I've found them as far away as 400 yards form the does, and usually in some cover so you're looking for antler, leg, ear, nose, eye ...  That spike avoiding getting too close to the does increases the odds a breeder is in the vicinity.

    to add further to this, mature deer didnt get that way by being completely stupid.  There's a difference between doe groups and secure doe groups.  Doe's that are 500 yards up the hill from the county road are far less likely to have a tending buck than a secure doe group 3 miles back up a canyon away from people.  Those older bucks know where it is safe and where it is not.

[BULLBLASTER]

Look above the does.....lots of times the bucks will bed above the does to keep an eye out.  I too watched multiple groups of does and thought the same thing......until all of a sudden the glimmer of antlers gave away their location.  Bucks will often stay laying while the does feed.....especially mid day. 

Best piece of advice IMHO.  When you find significant does groups during the rut, with no stupid young bucks in their midst - start glassing and gridding looking for that bedded breeder.  I've found them as far away as 400 yards form the does, and usually in some cover so you're looking for antler, leg, ear, nose, eye ...  That spike avoiding getting too close to the does increases the odds a breeder is in the vicinity.

    to add further to this, mature deer didnt get that way by being completely stupid.  There's a difference between doe groups and secure doe groups.  Doe's that are 500 yards up the hill from the county road are far less likely to have a tending buck than a secure doe group 3 miles back up a canyon away from people.  Those older bucks know where it is safe and where it is not.

But sometimes mature bucks are 258 yards from the county road