Stillwater165
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If you only had one chance to scout for an end of October mule deer hunt when would you go ??? Drew an area we’ve never set foot in and my son and I seem to disagree when to go look !
This??Week before the season
Yep, or even the state and season you are hunting. Way to many variables to really give a good answerIt would probably help guys give advice if we knew the unit you were referring to. If you’ve never been there, what makes you believe the deer will be in the same spot at the end of October as they are in at the first of August? That’s pretty rare in my opinion.
I’d come out a few days early scouting and hope you find the place you wanna be opening morning. And I’m guessing a guy or 2 with knowledge of the unit will give a place or 2 to get started. Good luck and have fun.Well I’m guessing it’s a useless tag to a lot of people but it’s my sons senior year and he really wanted to try Utah. I do NOT want be like some on here that get crucified for asking specifics so I’m NOT going to but it’s the Nebo……???
Don't know anything about the nebo, but if it was me I would focus on the week before to learn the area and possibly see some bucks to hunt.Well I’m guessing it’s a useless tag to a lot of people but it’s my sons senior year and he really wanted to try Utah. I do NOT want be like some on here that get crucified for asking specifics so I’m NOT going to but it’s the Nebo……???
Yes the October rifle tag, I’ll be likely coming from my sisters just east of Sundance Wyoming.@Stillwater165 where are you coming from, and is it the late October rifle tag?
I'd do my scouting at the end of July, that's when the bucks will be most visible and before they get buggered too much. Learn the access points, roads, see what caliber of bucks are around, etc.If you only had one chance to scout for an end of October mule deer hunt when would you go ??? Drew an area we’ve never set foot in and my son and I seem to disagree when to go look !
Geez 2Lumpy there's probably a Walmart parking lot now where you hunted in 1970.I’ve hunted the unit once, it was 1970. ?
Ha……. the country has grown but not like some areas off the State. Nephi is the county seat and it’s grow from about 4,000 to 6,500 I think. Mt. Nebo rises up at a fairly steep angle, about 1/3 of a mile from the edge of town, on the east side of Mormon 500 race track. The only parking lot that’s taken any deer habitat would be a new Church next to the race track. Other than that, it’s still pretty much off the grid.Geez 2Lumpy there's probably a Walmart parking lot now where you hunted in 1970.
Just kidding. Great post and I too hope Stillwater gets some help.
Great info, I’m sure going to try and make a trip here sooner and also go early before the hunt. I have a plan to take my better half to arches park……. and scout north of there in the same trip ! Of course I’d be thrilled if my son or I could take a giant, but I’m okay with whatever it has in store for us. We’ve both ate Wyoming and a few Nebraska tags in the past so if that’s what happens so be it ! One thing that’s for sure is we will both make the most of it !I'd do my scouting at the end of July, that's when the bucks will be most visible and before they get buggered too much. Learn the access points, roads, see what caliber of bucks are around, etc.
I've done my fair share of both summer scouting and showing up early and the summer scouting has always been the better option. Scouting for bucks in October is very tough. Mature bucks are not going to be very visible after having hunters walking through their homes for the previous 2 months.
Also, I think much of it depends on how long you intend to scout and hunt. If you're thinking 4-5 days of scouting and hunting the entire hunt, and you combine the two, that's a long time in the hills. Plus you could possibly wear yourself out hiking before the hunt even begins. I've shown up 4 days early for a hunt, and then spent 9 days of hunting and it can be a looooong trip, especially if it sucks.
However, if your plan is to just hunt a few days, you're not all that picky about the caliber of bucks in the unit, then just showing up early to learn access points and roads may be the best option.
The big benefit of summer scouting is that's when you'll get the best feel for what caliber of bucks are in the unit. And of course the weather is usually more pleasant in the summer.
I’m kinda thinking I can sure make that work ! I have the time, great advice !If your goal is to get an idea of the size and numbers of the bucks in the area, I would scout in late July or early August. If you would like to kill a buck opening morning, scout it a week before the season. Personally I would do a summer scouting trip and then get there at least a couple days before the hunt opens.
I sure do appreciate it !!! I’m no expert on anything but I’ve carried a rifle in eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota since I was 9 years old. I’m glad to help out if I can ! Thanks againI’ve hunted the unit once, it was 1970. ?. In those days there was usually snow by the third week of October. It snowed heavy the night before the start of the hunt. It was a wild crazy week getting all the high country camps off the unit.
The following info is 53 years old, so it should definitely be checked with more recent hunters. It’s 11,900 feet at the peek and it’s steep, but huntable. Lots of horse hunters. They hunt at and above the timber line when the snow allows them to. The foot hunters hike high and camp at the timberline. That year the bucks were at or above the timberline until the snow came the morning of the opener…… between the snow and hunting pressure they were moving lower all weekend. (However, I’m guessing but I would estimate there were 10,000 to 15,000 more mule deer on the Unit in 1970. Deer numbers are way down from then but so too are hunter numbers, by the thousands also.
Stillwater, you have been very good to help hunters who have questions about eastern Wyoming and South Dakota for many years, here on MM. I’ve read your posts for many years. If I had more to share I would definitely share it with you.
Enlight of your willingness to help many others, I hope a few of the MM folks that hunt the Nebo on a regular basis will step up and give you as much help as they can. You have certainly earned it.
Come on boys, Stillwater has earned all we can give him this time. It’s his turn, so to speak. PM him, if you’d rather, but let’s make this hunt work for him and his son.