Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: firehawk87 on August 08, 2011, 10:21:57 PM

Title: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: firehawk87 on August 08, 2011, 10:21:57 PM: Hey everyone I'm relatively new to hunting. Have hunted modern the last two years and am bowhunting this year because what happened last year(some idiot put a bullet in my trucks windshield while I was still in it ) Anyone have any tips on hunting mule deer??? Since I am new to this any veteran advice would be great. Oh and I am hunting gmu 388 this year if that helps. Thanks.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: haugenna on August 08, 2011, 10:26:35 PM: Walk with the wind in your face.

Walk like a cat- not a dog

Practice shooting your bow every day or a few times a week. Shoot at steep angles from different positions.

That about sums it up.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 09, 2011, 12:51:39 AM: Spot and stalk..... Make it quiet.... Wind in your favor... Doesn't have to be in your face.... Just in your favor..... :archery_smiley: Good luck!!!!
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: spookgus on August 09, 2011, 02:09:54 AM: Do not change what you do because of an idiot!!!!!!!!! Hunt with what ever weapon you enjoy and block out the idiots!!!!!!! You control your own happiness not the idiots!!!!! Wind in your face sun at your back ya-ha, ya-ha, ya-ha until the deer does what their not supposed to. Experience will teach you what you need. If you have timber good. If you can get access to private property, better. Opening day of archery you will need timber, limited access or private property. The legal bucks on open areas for hunting visible from the road will have had a dozen hunters watching them for 4 weeks and telling a dozen friends. I go through this every year as we have a half dozen or so legal mullies within a half mile of the house. All county roads, next tree is the neighbors apple at 3 miles and feel free to hunt except my 40, so everybody that drives these roads have seen these bucks bedded in the false summer security of 16 inch CRP. While you scout you need to get off the road. Find a bachelor group that can't be seen by the Schwan man, Ups driver, county grater, mail man, PUD meter reader, schoolbus driver, garbage man or even the neighbors. It sucks to hunt according to what people do,but this is Washington not Montana.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Bean Counter on August 09, 2011, 03:58:40 AM: Get up before dawn. Hike in 3 miles. Get up high, use your quality optics. Opening morning: boom.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 09, 2011, 05:48:25 AM: Walk like a cat, eat like a dog, and sing like a bird!!! Then go do some scouting and locate some deer. Put in the time to reap the rewards.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Armadillo on August 09, 2011, 07:34:15 AM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on August 09, 2011, 05:48:25 AM
Put in the time to reap the rewards.

what he said
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: firehawk87 on August 10, 2011, 10:07:20 PM: Thanks guys. I really appreciate the advice and wisdom. :tup:. I sure wish I had private land for deer like I do for elk in packwood, things would be much easier and I wouldn't have to deal with some of the other yahoos in the woods. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: predatorpro on August 10, 2011, 10:11:13 PM: Quote from: firehawk87 on August 10, 2011, 10:07:20 PM
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the advice and wisdom. :tup:. I sure wish I had private land for deer like I do for elk in packwood, things would be much easier and I wouldn't have to deal with some of the other yahoos in the woods. Thanks again.
who said you had to go into the woods for mule deer? just a thought....hint hint
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: halflife65 on August 11, 2011, 08:23:45 AM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on August 09, 2011, 05:48:25 AM
Walk like a cat, eat like a dog, and sing like a bird!!!

The other part of what he said.

Actually, what would do you a ton of good is some scouting trips to likely areas. You may not see many deer at this time of year unless the weather isn't particularly good (a possibility this year) or you are there at first light. However, look for tracks and fresh sign (poop) to let you know you are in the right area. If you do see deer, just let them alone and don't act like you're going after them. In one of the places that I'll hunt close to home if I don't have much time to get anywhere I was just up shooting my broadheads at my target and a small buck walked right behind it. I stopped shooting and let him go by and he just fed on the uphill side of the road I was on. I shot for about 45 minutes and he hung out. I ranged him at 42 yards before I got in the truck and left. Point is, I stayed relaxed, made no effort to act like I was looking at him or certainly that I was thinking about hunting him and he just kept an eye on me and did his thing. Won't work with a big buck, probably, but just act like you're ignoring them this time of year and don't stare too hard or they'll leave if they see you.

"Not in the woods" is good advice. Depending on where you plan on going, sage and some other types of terrain will hold mulies, too. If you're going to archery hunt, remember to play the wind.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Miles on August 11, 2011, 12:45:11 PM: Go where no one else is willing to go, and I'm not talking about buying a bigger 4x4 either. ;)
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: high country on August 11, 2011, 01:07:04 PM: be patient! some days there is no way you can make a stalk. deer will typically not go far if unpressured. it is fa better to observe till the last light then to blow a stalk because you are impatient. I have put bucks to bed because it just would not work and the next day the conditions were right and I scored. learn about thermal effects, keep to shadows, never skylight, wind is in your face or else it better be, know your gear, know how to take shots from crap positions, always be ready, don't shoot little bucks, watch for flankers of the herd.....have fun

that should cover it.

and be in good area.....look above my tent, lol
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz16%2Fgyonemura%2FP1010074.jpg&hash=15b9b0fd138a0a9a0ba6ed44e821472439c32655)
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Pathfinder101 on August 11, 2011, 01:19:47 PM: That's a cool pic highcountry. Did that deer survive his stroll...?
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: firehawk87 on August 11, 2011, 01:41:23 PM: WOW!!! I can't believe he just walked into your camp like that. You must smell like strawberries or something.lol.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Pathfinder101 on August 11, 2011, 01:47:20 PM: Quote from: firehawk87 on August 11, 2011, 01:41:23 PM
WOW!!! I can't believe he just walked into your camp like that. You must smell like strawberries or something.lol.

looking at the swell of his neck and the determined look in his eye, I wouldn't say strawberries.
I used to look like that from time to time when I was a single young man... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: h20hunter on August 11, 2011, 01:56:49 PM: I want to know what he is doing in the tree?
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Skillet on August 11, 2011, 02:14:45 PM: That's Highcountry's "DUM DUM" buck, if I recall correctly?
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Pathfinder101 on August 11, 2011, 02:22:53 PM: Quote from: Skillet on August 11, 2011, 02:14:45 PM
That's Highcountry's "DUM DUM" buck, if I recall correctly?

So, he killed it?
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Skillet on August 11, 2011, 02:39:11 PM: Not sure, but I don't think so- camp mascot :dunno:
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: high country on August 11, 2011, 02:48:51 PM: i would not risk eating a dumb deer......he is still alive.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2011, 03:02:54 PM: Bait the dumb deer off of your porch. Deer Acres block ( think that's the name ), cracked corn and alfalfa. Start feeding them right now. They'll show up. Well, at least at my house....
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: KopperBuck on August 11, 2011, 03:25:34 PM: Some weird looking mulies :chuckle:
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2011, 06:32:06 PM: Yes, the right one is still here.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: halflife65 on August 11, 2011, 06:40:24 PM: Where's the left one? In your freezer? Actually, might be in your stomach, by now. Are you planning on having the right one follow the left one?
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2011, 07:19:27 PM: Quote from: halflife65 on August 11, 2011, 06:40:24 PM
Where's the left one? In your freezer? Actually, might be in your stomach, by now. Are you planning on having the right one follow the left one?

They are both still here. I saw them 2 weeks ago fishin' in the creek.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Ridgeratt on August 11, 2011, 07:27:10 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2011, 07:19:27 PM
Quote from: halflife65 on August 11, 2011, 06:40:24 PM
Where's the left one? In your freezer? Actually, might be in your stomach, by now. Are you planning on having the right one follow the left one?

They are both still here. I saw them 2 weeks ago fishin' in the creek.

Ok so what were they fishin for? :chuckle: :tinfoil: :stirthepot:
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2011, 08:07:35 PM: Quote from: Ridgeratt on August 11, 2011, 07:27:10 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on August 11, 2011, 07:19:27 PM
Quote from: halflife65 on August 11, 2011, 06:40:24 PM
Where's the left one? In your freezer? Actually, might be in your stomach, by now. Are you planning on having the right one follow the left one?

They are both still here. I saw them 2 weeks ago fishin' in the creek.

Ok so what were they fishin for? :chuckle: :tinfoil: :stirthepot:

Zipper Kipper, Trouser Trout, Hairy Danglers from what I could tell.
Title: Re: Best way to hunt mule deer
Post by: Seatown5 on August 13, 2011, 09:39:46 AM: This may only apply if you are hunting more of a desert mulie, rather than a mountain muley. But on those long hot days, instead of hunting deer, hunt shade. If you are in an area that doesnt have much, those deer are going to find it midday and bed down. You can almost be guaranteed they will be nowhere near that hot sunlight :twocents: