SD Black Hills Muleys?

NDBadlandsbucks · Sep 8, 2005

Just wondering if anyone on here has ever hunted the Black Hills of SD for muleys, and if so, how was it - Few deer, lots of deer, Fair size bucks, small bucks - what? I think I'd like to try a hunt down there sometime and I'm just looking for some info and/or advice. Thanks

Keep the Sun at Your Back and the Wind in Your Face

2_Point · Sep 8, 2005

I hunted Black Hills and was disappointed. The mule deer population is small and the public lands do not have a good mature population of bucks. There are some private lands within the Black Hills that hold some decent mule deer (22-26"), but I couldn't find them, nor could the 2 other groups from my state, nor the biologist I talked with, nor the 25+ local hutners who I talked to. It is dense country, and you will see whitetails.

mountingman · Sep 8, 2005

I haven't hunted the SD side but have hunted the wyoming side near devils tower and back around the grasslands area. on public land. I have seen mixed results one winter we had 3 feet of snow since its a late hunt in that area (nov. 1-30) the rut was cominmg in and the deer were in a late winter feeding pattern that concetrated the deer. We saw lots of nice deer both WT and Mule deer including the largest Mule deer i have ever seen anywhere!(somewhere around 30" atleast- having mounted over 30, 29-36 inch mule deer in my taxidermy career)! Although i never could get a shot at the deer i wanted and went home empty handed. The snow kept lots of hunters away but made travel and hunting harder. the next year i went it was 70's and full moon and we saw far less deer. A buddy did take a 4x4 that was 23" inside but not real heavey( they were suffering some on the mass due to ongoing drought. It can be a fun hunt and i probably will do it again. I think SD and WY seasons run close together because several guys i know hunt both states on the same trip. maximizing huunting time verse driving time.

Texas_Hunter · Sep 8, 2005

One of my first Muley hunts (about 10 years ago) was in NE Wyoming and SD and it was fun hunt - lots of animals, but nothing big. We saw alot of 18" to 24" 4pts and I think the biggest was a 25" buck. I am sure there are some toads around, but the bucks I found in Colorado, New Mexico, and NW Montana were far superior in body size and antler growth.

I hunt much differently now than then, I look for big, mature bodied animals first and then judge their antlers second.