D-12 Mule Deer

Hiker of the Woods · Dec 28, 2017

So I'm new to CA and hunting desert mule deer with most my hunting being blacktails in western Oregon. Does anyone know if mule deer in D-12 usually stay within the same home range year round or is there any kind of migration? Could I expect to find a mule deer buck in July on tcam in the same location come archery season in Oct?

BOHNTR · Dec 28, 2017

There is no migration, per se. They follow the 'green belt'......where monsoon storms green up portions of the desert. They also rely on water (natural of man-made) D-12 has some of the best bucks in the state......but it is also the most difficult to hunt, boasting the lowest success rate. Deer die of old age in this desert.

BOHNTR )))---------->

3x2 · Dec 30, 2017

PM Sent

Hiker of the Woods · Dec 30, 2017

>There is no migration, per se.
> They follow the 'green
>belt'......where monsoon storms green up
>portions of the desert.
>They also rely on water
>(natural of man-made) D-12
>has some of the best
>bucks in the state......but it
>is also the most difficult
>to hunt, boasting the lowest
>success rate. Deer die
>of old age in this
>desert.
>
>BOHNTR )))---------->

Ya I saw success rates and number of deer being very low. I live right next to the zone/unit now so thought it would be a good place to hunt with a chance to easily scout throughout the year.

BOHNTR · Dec 30, 2017

Yeah, I've lived in the unit for the past 30 years now. I've measured some good rifle bucks from there and seen some good ones while out and about.

BOHNTR )))---------->

Hiker of the Woods · Dec 30, 2017

>Yeah, I've lived in the unit
>for the past 30 years
>now. I've measured some
>good rifle bucks from there
>and seen some good ones
>while out and about.
>
>BOHNTR )))---------->

No luck from archery hunters there when it comes to older mature bucks?

BOHNTR · Dec 31, 2017

A few from over the years. The state archery record typical is from this unit arrowed in the 80's......but the success rate for archery is often 0-1%.

BOHNTR )))---------->

6x7 · Jan 1, 2018

Sitting on water in the desert is a proven method,but man does it take patients.A buck one day may not hit that water hole again for weeks or he could be back the next day,you never know.

Bwht4x4 · Jan 11, 2018

>Sitting on water in the desert
>is a proven method,but man
>does it take patients.A buck
>one day may not hit
>that water hole again for
>weeks or he could be
>back the next day,you never
>know.

I never even thought of taking "a person who is under medical care or treatment" with me on a hunt! Maybe that's why I struggle on all my hunts.

Sorry Ken!