Economical Mule Deer Hunt

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a1412

Guest
This is my first post to Monster Muleys. My hunting partner and I are looking for a economical mule deer hunt out west next year. Neither one of us have ever been out west to hunt mule deer. We have not decided on what state and are open to any suggestions. We are willing to camp and to do our own scouting and guide service. If anyone would like to help out a few rookies please give your advice. Thanks ahead of time.
 
Colorado is the most economical out of state mule deer hunt. Never hunted there though. If you aren't getting a guide be sure to get good optics 8 or 10x is good for scanning; 20x is good for seeing any antlers within a mile. Good luck.
 
A great place to start is determining which state you want to hunt in. Next, I'd call the Dept. of Game and Fish in various areas of the state and pick their brains. We've only hunted out of state in Wyoming and its private. One year we were closer to the BLM land and it was not pretty. Sometimes you get yahoos running their ATVs up canyons to scare the deer out of the canyons. Not the way I like to hunt! Good luck- Im sure you"ll get the advice you need from this site. Usually everyone here is very helpful! Good luck
 
First off welcome to the site and most addicting animal to hunt on the planet!

Second... isn't it a little late to put in for out of state tags?

"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces
 
There are lots of choices. Drawing a quality license is a tough deal in the first year. I would look at applying for several states to build preference points and to gear up for the future. I live in Wyomng and like to hunt here. But I also apply for Colorado, Nevada and Idaho. I don't draw those states often, but I get a quality hunt when I do. And it's cheap and on public lands.

Another thing to consider is weapon choice. If you are willing to use a bow or muzzleloader, it really opens up your choices.

Good huinting and welcome to Monster Muleys. There are some good people here and you will get lots of help just by reading and participating.
 
Hi, and welcome to the west (almost). I'm a resident of Idaho. I'm not a guide. However, I've spent my whole life hunting. I've gotten more than a few animals and will be glad to "show you where". That being said, I should indicate a few of my assumptions, just to see if we are in the same book, if not the same page.

Since you are trying to do it yourself and do it economically, I assume it is not within the budget to hire a guide (me either). You said you're willing to scout and hike. I assume you're reasonably fit and enthusiastic. Hunting out here does not need to cost a fortune. The licenses and tags are not cheap ($430), and getting here is not cheap, but there really doesn't have to be much other expense, unless you need new equipment.

If you really expect some type of monster mule deer, I can make no promises. However, if you contact me, and go with me, or follow my advice, I can promise you will see deer and I can promise you will be on the same mountain where a mature buck (or multiple mature bucks) lives. I can almost promise you will see what I refer to as "incredibly generic 4-pts". That means a 4x4 mule deer, whose antlers are somewhere between 20" and 24" wide.

I can also promise you will physically work for it. Once we get to the mountains, walking is the mode of transportation, not 4 wheelers.

I don't have access to special private property. However, I live here and know where the deer live. If we get far enough from the road, we will find deer. The same goes for elk or bears.

Call me at my home (208) 233-4150 and we can talk. Special limited-entry tags are wonderful (I think, they never draw my name.), but there are lots of deer, elk and bears to be hunted with over-the-counter tags...and a little experience. I'll be hunting in the exact places I would send you; I will be looking for something larger than the "generic 4 pt" I described earlier and I will shoot a deer.

Grant
 
Be careful, I'm not sure if "GB22" has ever even seen a deer.

Actually, if you want to hunt Idaho you would be very foolish to not contact GB22.....I keep trying to get him to tell me all the things he promised you!

Non-residents can still buy deer (and elk) tags for Idaho. After August 15 they go on sale to residents as a second tag so no guarantees after that date. The SE tags are gone but there is plenty of good hunting in the other southern Idaho units. Its general season and there are lots of other hunters but Grant is right, there are deer to be had!
 
Buy a couple of Mule Deer Hunting DVDs, and sit in front of your TV with a suction cup gun. Make sure to have the rewind remote ready in case you miss.
Kidding. Good luck.

life IS good
 
Not too many people like gb22 around anymore. Thats a classy move to offer your hunting spots to another and then on top of that to give your phone #. Hell, if I wasnt planning on going to Wyoming Id give you a call! Classy, classy act gb22!
 
colorado has lots of opportunity. Even though all tags are by drawing there is a lot of leftover tags that provide good hunting. Heck you could hunt this fall if you wanted to. I would look at CDOW's website for harvest success rates to narrow your choices as well as decisions on where you want to hunt (high mountain timberline, sage flats, aspen, timber, p/j, etc.), what time of year (are you a cold weather person or fair weather?) and what method (rifle, bow, muzzleloader). CO seasons run from late august (bow) to the mid november (4th rifle) that can make a difference on your decision.
here is the website... wwww.wildlife.state.co.us
Jeff
 
Welcome to the site , its the best , most addicting hunt site that covers western big game hunting. I have hunted NM , NV, AZ and TX. I have never hunted CO, but have many friends that have and under very reasonable costs with good deer brought back.I'd also consider here in NM , there are some decent units with good muley numbers and when with a little work could do a pretty nice hunt...
Again welcome.....NMHUNTNUTT
 

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