Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Spuddieselwwu on October 01, 2012, 08:44:38 AM

Title: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Spuddieselwwu on October 01, 2012, 08:44:38 AM: Wanted to throw out a quick question for you guys. Went out this past weekend scouting - came across a small pond with fresh scat/tracks all around... So I know they're there. Already put the game cams up, so didn't have one to throw up at the pond. Any help as to when these mulies like to take a break and grab a drink.

Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: fillthefreezer on October 01, 2012, 08:53:17 AM: im convinced but do not have sufficient evidence yet but mule deer dont drink water...
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Bean Counter on October 01, 2012, 09:02:31 AM: Wow, news to me. I watch mule deer drink water all the time. Where I hunt (hot and dry), most of the watering is done in the morning. They don't like to move around in the heat of the afternoon.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Alchase on October 01, 2012, 09:12:59 AM: They do drink, but they get the vast majority of the water they need from their food.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Gringo31 on October 01, 2012, 09:13:13 AM: I'm with fillthefreezer, I think they stock up in winter when they eat snow.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Biggerhammer on October 01, 2012, 11:53:48 AM: I have water a trough that is kept fresh and the Mulies visit it randomly. I've never been able to pattern them when it comes to water but I can set my watch by the times they visit a salt lick 300 yards away. I get 10 times the pictures of deer at the lick that I do at the trough.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Spuddieselwwu on October 01, 2012, 01:25:01 PM: Thanks for the info guys.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Atroxus on October 01, 2012, 03:05:57 PM: Quote from: Alchase on October 01, 2012, 09:12:59 AM
They do drink, but they get the vast majority of the water they need from their food.

What do they eat that could have sufficient water content to make up the bulk of their water intake?
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: fillthefreezer on October 01, 2012, 03:12:26 PM: alot of dew when they are feeding is all ive come up with
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Gringo31 on October 01, 2012, 04:05:24 PM: On multiple occations I've seen mule deer in a 100 yard radius in the snow that haven't moved in 3-4 days. You can drive around them and no tracks coming or going and no water source. There is a reason they live in some very tough areas. I think they see open water as a bonus but not a requirement.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: fillthefreezer on October 01, 2012, 04:13:28 PM: Quote from: Gringo31 on October 01, 2012, 04:05:24 PM
On multiple occations I've seen mule deer in a 100 yard radius in the snow that haven't moved in 3-4 days. You can drive around them and no tracks coming or going and no water source. There is a reason they live in some very tough areas. I think they see open water as a bonus but not a requirement.
add this to september when the only water sources is down some 1000-1500 across open basin and they are living in the saddles and krummholts near the greenest forage with no sign of them ever going all the way down..
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Maverick on October 01, 2012, 04:18:45 PM: I've been told that mule deer does not need to drink from a water source its whole life. And can get all the water it needs from its food.
Of course if there is a water source near then theyll obviously drink from it. But might not be every day. Might be just random times.
Title: Re: Mulies and watersource question
Post by: Spuddieselwwu on October 02, 2012, 09:27:30 AM: My thing is it's SO damn dry right now over there - everything is just fried. I'm thinking they'll be funneling down to hole.