Favorite Hunting Terrain

soupcreek · Jan 3, 2005

There are a lot of people on this site from different areas. I'm curious what most people's favorite terrain is to hunt mule deer. I've hunted them in the dense timber of NW Montana, the rolling hills/mountians of central Montana, the scrub oak of central and northern Utah, and above timberline in south eastern Utah (12000+ ft). I've seen the most big bucks above timberline, but that is some HARD work with no oxygen. There are some real studs that come out of the dense timber, but I don't have the patience when I can't see anything. I've seen scrub oak crawling with deer, but its near impossible to go in after them.
My favorite place to hunt mule deer is in the relatively open rolling hills (i.e. Ponderosa pines, rock outcroppings, and minimal Californians).

If anybody knows the area, I like the country between Wolf Creek and Great Falls, Montana. It's beautiful and that's my favorite.
So what terrain do you love best for hunting muleys?
Post pics of mountains, deer, or whatever you got if you want.

hntnnut · Jan 3, 2005

My favorite terrain would have to be where ever the deer are at the time. lol!
But on to a more serious note, I would say my favorite terrain would have to be the high deserts with sage, pinion, and juniper stands like you would find in eastern cali. zones like x12, x9a,b,or c, and d17. good hunt'n to ya.

fatrooster · Jan 3, 2005

I like it all but would have to lean to the areas above timberline. But I'm happy just to be outside. Many people ask me why in the hell do I love to hike or ride horses way up high in the mountains when there is a lot of great hunting on the road? I answer to them "Because I can, one day I'll be too old to do it so I wanna see all that I can." Of course I don't have to explain that to you people here at MM. Later, fatrooster.

traks · Jan 3, 2005

I love hunting high open ridges glassing for miles on end. I also love the smell of the sage brush opening morning of deer season.

saminwy · Jan 3, 2005

pictures worth a thousand words they say. shouldn't have looked at that though, now next fall seems a LONG ways away.

sam

ridgerunner · Jan 3, 2005

I'd have to lean towards the high country, although the price is steep. Anywhere I can set up and glass is great, I don't care too much for the real thick timber.

ICMDEER · Jan 4, 2005

I like to hunt places that are not dominated by trees. IMO there are WAY too many trees in the western U.S. I prefer the country above timberline, the sagebrush country or the great plains. Any of those three will do; it's just getting a license in one of those places that's sometimes the tough part.

chambero · Jan 4, 2005

I really like the open country and plains also. It isn't necessarily where I spend most of my time hunting, but I like the wide open spaces.

sneakem · Jan 4, 2005

I love to hunt anywhere I can get a tag and can place my shoes upon. More seriously, I live in Colorado and we have a mix of about everything. It would be like asking a person which finger you would keep if you could keep just one. I love them all and won't pick one over the other. They each represent a unique quality and function. Let fate determine the outcome!
sneakem

Muleyslyr · Jan 4, 2005

I like the high country spots here in Wa. but have to say I love huntin' Montana!! If this ain't Muley country then....

Both places are public land....and have some nice nice bucks livin' there!

NeMont · Jan 4, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Jan-04-05 AT 11:22AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-04-05 AT 11:20?AM (MST)

I like the Missouri River Breaks.

Nemont

huntercameron · Jan 4, 2005

Im all about the oak brush where i hunt in northern Utah its best when its late fall , and all the leaves are off very good stuff. I like it steep to . Big deer can grow to .

later , hunter cameron

RuttCrazed · Jan 4, 2005

I'm a quakie man! I just love sneaking into those big quakie bowls before the sun comes up and waiting for everything to start waking up.

Rut

need2hunt · Jan 4, 2005

High desert type terrain is what I like is an area mixed with open type grassland, tall sage or bitterbrush, juniper....the deer love the tall sage and bitterbrush. If some of the public land folks are prescribing some burning in your areas....make sure they don't torch vast areas of these brush types........the deer numbers will be sure to drop!