Mule deer question.....your advice.

Topehaw · Jan 18, 2009

I've been on this site for a while and love the posts. My question is this...when i see these pictures of guys pack'n out a muley on thier back i'm envious as well as a bit freaked out. The mule deer i've taken have been hauled out whole and have yet to get an opportunity to get into a back country hunt. When the deer is in the truck or hanging in the garage the head is litterally crawling with ticks. The thought of strapping the head to my back is exciting in one perspective and creeping me out in another. is there a trick to getting the ticks off before? I've sprayed the last one at home with deet /spray and that seemed to make some bail, but i would like to get more information. I love this site, keep it up

Todd

slamdunk · Jan 18, 2009

Anyone that has hauled a cape out has undoubtedly had a tick or two, it's just that chance we choose to take i guess.

The good thing that comes out of it is getting home after a week in the hills and getting "The Wood Tick Check" ;-)

bobcatbess · Jan 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Jan-18-09 AT 05:44PM (MST)[p]PUNK IS RIGHT!!!

"I'D LIKE TO CHECK YOU FOR TICKS"!!!

NOT YOU!!!

"YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE ONE MIGHT BE"!!!

((( }> }> }> }> }> !!! )))

"I'M NOT COMPLAINING,I'M TELLING IT THE WAY IT IS,SOME OF YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT,THATS O.K.,SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS & YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT IT,OR YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE FACTS ARE,STAND UP & VOICE YOUR OWN OPINION,THIS IS STILL AMERICA THE LAST TIME I CHECKED"!!!

REMEMBER!!!

THERE'S ONLY ONE bobcat!!!

one_dryboot · Jan 18, 2009

Ticks dont bother me! there is alot worse things i can think of. I have had them on me but never in me. maybe after a week in the hills they cant stand the smell?

COLO3D · Jan 18, 2009

I usually wrap the cape and head in a game bag and that has bought me enough time to get it home with out any ticks on me.

sageadvice · Jan 18, 2009

Learning the trade in Calif where a 110-120 dressed out buck was a good one, i packed many bucks back to the ranch house over my shoulders. I later learned to make a pack out of looping the front leg through the rear hock, each side, slip yer arms through each side and stand up with the deers head hanging over against your chest. This way is better for long hauls, i find my neck takes less abuse.

The one that concerns me is the modern method of the meat in the pack and the head tied facing the rear, horns sticking out the sides. I've seen many pic's of hauling bucks out this way and feel it's only a matter of time before somebody hauling a buck out this way gets drilled by some rookie or nervous guy for a mistaken moving buck. Scares me anyway, people been shot looking a lot less like a buck than that.

As for ticks and fleas, goes with the program. Once all said and done, take a good long hot shower. Gets 99% of them and you'll eventually get the rest. Dad said, "they don't eat much" BTW, You don't have to handle a deer to get ticks and fleas on you, they're everywhere in the woods.

Joey

Topehaw · Jan 18, 2009

What about some form of spray that would killem? Would wrapping the head in a plastic bag retain enough heat to make um stay, atleast for the pack out? I also share the same concern of the rack on your back during rifle season...what would be the end result of mistaken identity... reminds me of the out of state hunter bagg'n the Llama...or the lady tagg'n the guys horse...could happen and it would be a terrible sight.

Rackcrawler · Jan 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-09 AT 01:06AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-09 AT 00:32?AM (MST)

I'm kinda with you on the ticks, they creep me out a little too.
My main concern is when you bone out a deer or an elk. You have to leave the head or nuts on the meat. At least in WA & ID you do. I don't think the problem is carrying it out, it's the game check or a Game Warden walking into camp. I've boned out a couple of each but never saw a Warden.
The law says you must leave evidence of sex, and I'm pretty sure they're not talking about leaving the rubber in. LOL
Some people I was hunting near got a visit from a warden after boning the deer and 2 of them got written up and the deer confiscated. If it was possible to find a Warden with common sense, and explain it to him that would be good thing, but what are those chances?

west · Jan 18, 2009

I've been lucky so for with the ticks. The deer i get in the high country don't usually have to many. Its the ones around river bottoms that the hair moves on.

As for packing the head on your back. I don't trust my mule to other hunters. I use orange saddle bags and orange tape throughout the main and tail. I do the same thing with my deer. 5 or 6 strands of orange tape hanging off the head go a long way. At the very least they can charge the guy that shoots you for being the idiot that shot the guy who was the deer with orange tape all over it.

HunterHarry · Jan 18, 2009

Ditto, Ditto & Ditto!

As soon as the photo shoot is over the blaze orange flagging tape covers anything that might be possibly mistaken for an animal.

Though ticks might possibly cause a problem, I've been covered with them.
I think I'm more likley to die from the Lime disease that comes from the muzzle of a Corona bottle.

HH

OutdoorWriter · Jan 19, 2009

I once contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite while on a Missouri turkey hunt. Fortunately, I noticed the telltale red ring within a couple days and went to the doc's where he provided the necessary antibiotic right then and sent some blood in for testing. It came back 2 weeks later with a positive result.

If ticks are a concern -- and they should be -- you need to use a permethrin spray product. I use it all the time now when I hunt in areas with lots of ticks. Although it's made to use on clothing, it will KILL ticks on a deer, too. Just don't spray it on any edible meat.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___56624?CS_003=2477120&CS_010=56624

TONY MANDILE

How To Hunt Coues Deer

Topehaw · Jan 19, 2009

That's what i'm talking about. I'm glad i'm not alone in how i feel. Thanks to everyone for your input.

Todd

schmalts · Jan 19, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-09 AT 03:53PM (MST)[p]

Well the good thing is Mule deer are usually in areas where Lyme disease isn't common. I have had it twice now in WI, and it sucks to say the least.
But, hate to freak you out but I have got ticks just while caping them out as well. But if you are really worried, take a small bottle of permethrin out there with you and spray your pant legs and shirt sleeves if it freaks you out that much. Permethrin repels and actually kills them in minutes.
or you can learn to cape an animal, then put the cape in a plastic garbage bag and tie it shut and that would help. I think everyone should learn to cape a head out anyway in case you do not want to mount the head you will carry less weight, besides, a euro mount requires caping the head as well. You will not get ticks carrying a pack like mine below but may get one getting it ready I guess. The bags in this picture was only meat game bags but I have hauled the cape inside the game bag in a garbage bag and it keeps the hair off the meat