Question re Sonoran Mule Deer

[neariz]

Why don't the desert muleys in AZ and NM grow as big as the ones just south a ways. You think its the age, genetics, or both? Can't find any BC record book entries from the US deserts, yet the couple years(and recent posts) from MEX tell the story!

Maybe they're there, just on the Military reservations....

 

[bullwidgeon]

They get overharvested here. Just my opinion. There are still a few HUGE deer in some really overlooked desert areas here in AZ(not the Strip or Kaibab either).

I found these one spring and tryed to kill this deer the year after. I saw him before the season and he was bigger than the sheds I found that year. The sheds score 180 net with a 26 inch spread credit even with the weak beams and crappy front forks. I never saw him during the hunt. I have since seen 2 bucks that are substantially bigger in the same area. They just turn into ghosts during the season and live in impenetrable mesquite thickets out in flats miles from the nearest glassable hills. Any of those deer would rival most of the muleys killed in Mexico. They are out there but I just have not figured out how to kill them yet, I am too busy chasing mice (coues) deer around in places that are glassable ;-).

Bret M.

 

[huntsonora]

We hunt them in the rut in Sonora. That is one of the main reasons you see so many good deer coming out of Mexico. There are desert deer here in the US that would blow your mind if you know where to look.

Drum

 

[HullinPhx]

I totally agree with Drum here, the rut has everything to do with it. I know people are saying that AZ has Archery Tags during the rut but there are a few deer each year taken with a bow tha are decent in size but Archery hunting in the desert is about the toughest thing I have ever tried to do. Alot more people hunting in the states as well as development of houses takes up a lot of good deer country as well

 

[nmtaxi]

The rut, and good management. Good genetics are never realized if all the bucks are being killed when they're forks.

 

[neariz]

>They get overharvested here. Just
>my opinion. There are
>still a few HUGE deer
>in some really overlooked desert
>areas here in AZ(not the
>Strip or Kaibab either).
>
>

>
>

>
>I found these one spring and
>tryed to kill this deer
>the year after. I
>saw him before the season
>and he was bigger than
>the sheds I found that
>year. The sheds score
>180 net with a 26
>inch spread credit even with
>the weak beams and crappy
>front forks. I never
>saw him during the hunt.
> I have since seen
>2 bucks that are substantially
>bigger in the same area.
> They just turn into
>ghosts during the season and
>live in impenetrable mesquite thickets
>out in flats miles from
>the nearest glassable hills. Any
>of those deer would rival
>most of the muleys killed
>in Mexico. They are
>out there but I just
>have not figured out how
>to kill them yet, I
>am too busy chasing mice
>(coues) deer around in places
>that are glassable ;-).
>
>Bret M.


appreciate the post. Those are nice sheds...much bigger than any deserts I've found. I agree with you, 30 miles of flat is tough. Best pickup head I've found was only perhaps 175net, though I've a friend with a 185 net from S&W of Tucson. I've scouted and hunted down in Kofa's...but again no easy deer to "glass".....miles of flat. thx.....