What is the standard for Muleys?

B

BoneJunkie

Guest
What is the newest standard for a mule deer? Do you hold out for a 200 incher? 190? 30 inch wide? What do you shoot?
 
I dont knpw if there is a standard...everybody's different...if you hold out for a 30" you may never even see one in your life time! There is alot of guys claim they seen a 30" when they actually seen a nice heavy tall 26" so its up to each individual what their standard is.
 
Seems like a silly question to me. Shoot whatever makes you happy. My brother will shoot anything with antlers. As for me, it depends on the hunt(general, limited entry, certain area, out of state, etc). Typically a good mid 20's four point or better works for me.
 
I try to do better then my past years. bigger than the year before. It has worked well the first 10 years but the last few years its getting tough.

This year in colorado its 180+ or bust.
 
A mature buck is my standard.

I have never tried to add up any kind of scoring system before I shoot. If he is a mature animal and has some mass and 4 points, I shoot.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
If it makes you happy at the time pull the trigger and don't second guess yourself. Also depends on if it is a limited unit or a general season hunt.
 
This year I've got my sights set for 220+ but if a 200 inch dink presents a good shot opportunity, I might be tempted. ;)
 
>This year I've got my sights
>set for 220+ but if
>a 200 inch dink presents
>a good shot opportunity, I
>might be tempted. ;)


LOL......yep
 
I feel kinda like manny. I have killed a handful of 170-200 inch deer and I have set my sights on a 30 incher or anything over 190 from now on. I have hunted 2 years now and have passed up some 170-185 deer wanting a 190 only to go empty handed. I just wondered if that is unrealistic on a general unit.
 
I think the question is what is the new standard-to me that implies that "THE" standard may be new -not necessarily your individual standard which is always up to that specific trigger puller. That is a really great point because it does seem "THE" standard may have raised over the last decade-where it always used to be a true 180+. Now it sure seems to be more toward 200+ or more for some hunters getting modern. Good luck to all for maybe accomplishing you new standard this year!!!
 
I shot quite a few deer...then some big ones (even made the book). For 15 years, I wasn't going to shoot anything "except the new world record". During that time, I did shoot one that made the book...obviously NOT the world record.

About 6 years ago, I decided I wanted to shoot one again. I lowered my expectations......mature buck that strikes my fancy.

I enjoyed hunting EVERY year.....so I must have had the right expectation; even if it changed.


Within the shadows, go quietly.
 
Though i have more than most what i'd call "good" bucks, about 40 of them are Blacktails and a few crosses. I have had to travel on out of state hunts for the majority of my Muleys and have a half dozen or more in the 170+ range. This year i'll be holding out for a very mature, heavy or high horned buck. Not really into score, a big old Roman nosed 3 pointer would qualify. I do know that until the last couple days of the hunt at least, 3 year old 160-170ish 4X4's are going to walk!

Joey
 
My standards start out high on opening day, then slowly start to taper down. Now, that's after my back starts hurting like HE..! I'm dehyderated to the max, my feet have blisters all over them and I'm just not seeing the quality of bucks I came there for. Oh and not to mention the cost of my tag ($300.00) & then of course there's gas, food etc... So round about the fifth day of hunting my standards have dropped considerbly and I'm ready to bring home some venison for the little wife. Right about then, just about any 20in 4x4 will do:9

Quest
 
>My standards start out high on
>opening day, then slowly start
>to taper down.

That's pretty much my M.O. depending on the area I'm hunting and how full my freezer is. Sometimes it's 'go big or go home'.
Maturity, mass and character are the main things I look for. I have no idea what the new standard for Mulies is.
 
I was always set on taking a big typical. I just liked the look of a big, clean 4 point. I was fortunate enough to take a good, clean 4 in 2007. So, personally, I want a big non-typical. That could be 30+, 190+, 200+.

A lot of folks have said it, the standard is what YOU want.

JB
 
I know that everyones opinions are different thats why I asked the questions. I was trying to see if I was just dreaming of killing big muleys or if it really could be done year after year.
 
While I'd be the first one in line looking for a B&C buck, the score isn't always the best judge of a rack. I'll take a heavy horned (old age) short tined deer any day of the week over a thin horned high scoring buck.
 
I quit shooting small deer many years ago.

I have several trophy quality deer and I don't eat them, so it has been big racks or nothing for me for about 20 years.....mostly nothing.

I take pictures of ones I passed on, just to piss off my friends.....I get lot's of giggles out of doing that

If a buck has extra crap or is a BIG forky, I'll shoot it......otherwise.

This year, probably my last out of state, I am going with venison fanatics, so I am going to shoot some meat, eat the liver and give the rest to my in laws.

Oh, by the way, it better be REAL close to a trail or road.
 
Seems like the original question has to do with what is the "standard" for this day and age.

In the old days it was weight. How heavy was your buck? Seems like anything over 200lbs field dressed was good, and 230+lbs was huge.

That sort of changed to 30 inches sometime around the 80's when I was getting started. If it was 30" or close to it it was good enough. I remember passing some tall narrow bucks with an inline or two so I could shoot a 30" 3x4.

Then the score craze took over sometime between now and then. at first it was 190". Now it seems to me that everyone is talking 200" this and 200" that.


I think it's a fad, or a passing trend that will change with the quality of bucks that are available around the mule deer world. If the management gets worse, and the deer get fewer and smaller, then I think you'll see the "standard" go back down a notch. If things get better, you may see it go up a notch.

The bottom line is that everyone hunts for different reasons. Some hunt purely for their own satisfaction, others hunt to impress their peers, and others hunt to stroke their own egos.

All I can say is decide why you hunt, and then pick your "standard" and have fun! I personally don't enjoy killing small animals. They don't do anything for me. Therefore, I try to hunt for the best bucks in the areas I hunt. If 180" is the best the unit has to offer, then that's good enough. If 200" bucks are possible, I try to get one of them. Most hunts I do are areas where a 190" gross buck is possible, and a 190" buck is still a buck of my dreams. The only two areas I wouldn't shoot a 190" gross buck would be 13b, and the Henries. I would hold for something over 200" on both those. Everywhere else, 190" bites the dust!
 
I don't know how much experience you have with mule deer, but in most hunts now days, I think a mature buck is a reasonable goal, and a general rule of thumb I follow as a harvest guideline are eyeguards. Muleys generally don't get them untill they acquire some age, so that's my guideline at least.
 
I dont talk numbers like you guys do. I also don't try and kill a buck better then the ones I already have.

I scout out several areas and in those areas I have a very good sample of what is in the area. I probably have seen every buck in the areas I have looked. So when opening morning comes and I see a buck I know if it is better than average for that year or I am setteling. I try and take a buck that is better than average in the areas I hunt but sometimes I settle for a smaller buck!


Archery is a year round commitment!!
 
200 to 220 is the goal every year, but a 190 (185) with mass (tons of mass) blades, bumps, and large eye guards will do just fine. Must be a mature buck to grow like this! Width is over rated but nice. It must give me a shot of adrenaline during the stalk or it's probably not big enough!

Steve
www.muledeercountry.com
 
I like the deep forks and long tines on a nice typical buck. I don't usually like the looks of a non-typical, but I've seen some that were nice. I once passed on a huge buck with a big rack because he had big long ugly double drop tines; just didn't look natural to me. I just enjoy the hunt, so it doesn't bother me to pass something up. Doesn't bother me to end up with a meat buck, or pass completely if I've already got something in the freezer.
-- Bob
 
I laugh at some of the internet expectations. People think if you draw a premium Colorado tag, there will be 190 bucks behind every tree!

I drew a crappy 2nd choice tag this year. If I see a decent 160+ framed buck, he is getting hammered. Especially if he has a nice cape. And I have killed a couple 200+ inchers. Score means nothing to me, it is only a reference point.
 
Seems like a relevant question to me? After all, this IS MonsterMuleys.com, right?

I'll be archery hunting mule deer for the first time ever this year. Will be hunting Colorado Unit 61 the first ten days of archery season.

That said, I have no idea what to expect. Going to arrive a few days early and look around. Hopefully will be able to narrow down my expectations from there. Been told by several not to shoot less than 170" early in the hunt. Been studying alot of photos in order to understand exactly what 170" means on a muley. Won't have any trouble passing the little ones mind you....but not sure about holding out for 170" either?

Guess it is all relative...as it sounds like 170" is considered a little one by some the more experienced guys.

Number one goal: Have fun enjoying the mountains (while feeling just a bit sorry for all the poor souls I leave behind at the office!)
 
I want a "good for the area" deer. My favorite deer is a 175" public land buck..but I've shot bigger deer on LE hunts, I just didn't have to work as hard for them.

I still am haunted by a huge 3x3 on public land that I couldn't get. I would probably give up my other bucks for that dang deer. He was too smart though. And lucky.

This year...190".

Grizzly
 
Most of the time I don't say to my self 180, 190, or nothing.
The times I did I was disapointed with the season.
If the deer does something for me I shoot.
Steve is the same as me. He said " It must give me a shot of adrenaline during the stalk or it's probably not big enough!"
I agree, BUT some years I lower my standards for a special type of hunt. Last year I wanted to do a hunt that was short range weapons only and use my ML. I also set the amount of gas I would use to hunt an open season deer to one tank. Last years deer was only a 2 point but it was a fun hunt. I was willing to take a doe on that hunt but got a buck. If I don't have a good tag to hunt a trophy animal I don't want to waste my time or money looking for a 190 in an area that does not have them. To be honest much of Idaho just does not have them now. So if I have a good tag I will know the buck when I see it. Ron
 
if he looks good to me at that time he in a world of hurt.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
if your sporting a Utah general season deer tag a 170 buck would be a real trophy, but than again it would depend on what my preseason scouting had turned up.I personally think a 180+ buck is tough to pass up, and IMO is a trophy no matter where you are hunting.If you are passing 200+ inch bucks you either have a ton of them on the wall or you need your head checked.I think the latter may be the issue.In short, if you like what you see......shoot!

Mike
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-15-09 AT 06:05PM (MST)[p]Cabinfever,
Could be a bit of both. Having a 3 month GOS with a 3 deer baglimit helps too. Not to mention filling the freezer with moose in Oct. Really how many 200 inch dinks do I need to shoot? If I don't pass them up, I'll miss the joy of eating tag soup for supper on Dec the 10th.
 
I think it depends on the area. I always try to take a good mature buck regardless of score. Some areas don't have the potential for a 200 class buck or 30 inch wide plus type bucks. Take whatever makes you happy. I hunt one area where I have passed up those 30 inch and 200 B&C bucks because the potential for that once in a lifetime buck exists (the dream). I don't need to shoot a buck every year and I'm very picky about the ones I do shoot. I do like to eat them so sometimes it's tough. I'll go years without shooting one (last was 2004). Always looking for "the once in a lifetime" buck. Go for the WOW ! factor ! Moose
 
First of all, don't set any particular standard!All that does is put extra pressure on yourself! Then you won't have to come home and make some excuse like we've all heard like " I shot him cause it was the last day" or "he has neat looking eye gaurds" or "the wife expects me to bring home some meat" and other hunters, even expierenced hunters can say hold out for a 170" or better but they're not you!Talk is cheap! 170" bucks are tough to get most anywhere! I've hunted with many guys that set a minimum standard that was unrealistic and after a few years they've quit hunting! The important thing on any hunt is to enjoy it, have fun! I've been deer hunting for 40 years, I've killed a few good bucks and a lot of guys have killed many more and bigger bucks and bulls but no one has enjoyed the ride any more than I have!
If you arrive a few days early, look around and see what you see! If you spot a giant then you have something you may want to hold out for, if not get an idea what to expect and do your best to get what appeals to you! Score is way over rated! Take the best units in any state, pour 200-400 hunters over the given seasons and see how many 190" plus bucks are taken! Probably less than 5%, is that for you?
Yes.... some veteran hunters won't settle for anything less than a 180" buck and many of those hunters get them quite regularly but I promise you this, they are hunting areas that produce big bucks annually and they are either very restricted or very difficult to access and those hunters just won't give up! They know what they're doing, they've already taken their share of lesser bucks but I'll bet they still come home empty more often than not! That is... if they really won't settle for less than 180".
 
Ok my turn at a long'n...

Extra pressure on yourself is a bad thing?? Sorry but I've always been an adrenaline junky with everything in life and that extra pressure and mental rush is what hunting is all about for me...they don't call it 3 seconds of magic for no reason!! You may get the rack mounted and have it to remember the hunt the rest of your life but that feeling is only with you a short period of time and is far more rewarding...

IMO this is the most retarded topic in the world to talk about with a large number of people on a site like this!! Opinions vary too much to have a so called standard!! One guy might consider a true absolute monster once-in-a-lifetime buck 180" where as I would consider one at or over 250"...have I ever killed anything even close to that big?? Hell no and neither have 99.9% of hunters out there BUT that's what makes a deer like that exactly what it is...A TRUE GIANT!!

Olin I hope you don't mind me putting you're name out there but dude the best advice anyone has given me on hunting is "if you want to shoot a 225" deer, learn how to score them accurately on the hoof and don't shoot anything less!! Is it hard, hell yes it's hard!! Is it worth it, hell yes it's worth it!!" That can be said for any high scoring animal of any species...that's up to the hunter and what he or she considers a trophy animal to be!!

Last year was the first year I settled for a buck that wasn't what I really wanted and I've spent the past 10 1/2 months thinking about it EVERY SINGLE DAY because a few hours after the kill, the buck I really wanted stepped in front of me at less than 50 yards!! THAT SCENARIO WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN...but that's just me...

No two people are the same when it comes to this stuff though and like I said a second ago, opinions vary way too much for there to be any kind of a standard so why ask the question...

IMO...SHOOT WHATEVER GETS YOUR ADRENALINE PUMPING, KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SHOOTING BEFORE TAKING THE SHOT, AND YOU'LL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED!!

Best of luck to everyone this year, the hunts are almost here!!

~Z~
 
I know of some pretty die hard hunters that consistently kill really big deer every year. Their standard is set only after they find a buck or bucks during the scouting season.They train, are in good shape,and have the time and resources to dedicate to finding and killing a buck of giagantic proportions. They hunt as long as it takes and as hard as it takes to achieve their standards.These guys usually expect to kill the big buck they have scouted.....and you know what? They usually do.

In contrast, many hunters go afield with no scouting knowledge, crappy glass, and no ambition. I guess their is nothing wrong with that, especially if your having fun, but I wouldn't set my standards too high. A meat buck at best! Of course, their is always the element of luck.
 

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