Tips for Desert Mulies

AZStickman · Oct 31, 2008

Well I came up empty in the tag lottery this year so I'm gearing up for a serious effort on desert Mulies here in AZ...... What are some of the tips and tricks you guys have found successful for scouting,locating,and hunting what is arguably considered one of the toughest Deer to hunt?..... Terry

tx270 · Oct 31, 2008

After hunting desert muleys every year for the last 20 yrs minus one missed year, I would say glass,glass,glass,glass. When you think you've glassed enough, glass some more.

See if you can find the water source for the area, concentrate within a couple miles of it first. I've killed mature bucks in the bare ass flats and 3000 ft up on the side of a mountain in the scrub brush so on a good yr (rain, food) they can be found about anywhere.

Did I mention glassing?

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Good Luck!

Bill

AZStickman · Oct 31, 2008

Good info Bill.... How do you approach a new area you are going to glass... Start high and glass low? Start low and glass high?... North slope South slope?.... Do you have a system that works for you i.e. griding or do you look for terrain features you have found more likely than another for bedding?..... Terry

Moondog · Oct 31, 2008

Second what tx270 says. You cannot overlook anything in the desert. Deer can be anywhere.
Also, pay special attention to any terrain features that look different from their surrounding area no matter how small they may seem. Desert deer will lay in the open, next to a small bush, next to a rock.... anything. Glass, glass, glass.

Good luck.

hunter1 · Oct 31, 2008

welcome to the desert as said above glass,glass and glass some more. i always start low and later glass higher. most of these deer will avoid mountains and stay to the flats. which is the reason they get so big and go into the hunt knowing you may or may not find a deer. in a good week you can see 20 deer. i spend alot of time out there and have went 2 weeks with out finding one. just have to be persistant. good luck and dont forget your water.