High Country Mule Deer Hunting

V

VTRAIN

Guest
I am wanting to do go on a mule deer hunt in 2013, or later if i have to wait and draw tags. I was wanting to go on one of those high country type hunts. I am getting close to 40 and
i want to do it before i start getting over the hill and out of shape. I am a accountant, and the time frame for those hunts fit good around my schedule also.

I have been doing google searches like crazy, and have found alot of different outfitters that do these type of hunts, but i am really having a tough time finding people that hunted with them. I was wondering if any of you guys have been on any of these type hunts, and if so, what was it like. I was trying to get a jump on trying to get a tag, cause it might take several years to get enough points.

I was wanting to hunt with a gun on this trip, cause i wanted to try and get a big one. It might be the only time i ever get to go, so i want to have the best chance i can. I was kind of looking at colorado and wyoming, but if there others out there, i am all ears.

I have seen several that run high country hunts close to jackson hole, wyoming.I was wondering if any of you have ever been with one of them, or had any info.

-MULE CREEK OUTFITTING
-TROPHY MOUTAIN OUTFITTERS
-NON-TYPICAL OUTFITTERS
-JACKSON HOLE OUTFITTERS

They hunt in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Is this a good place for muley's. I was mainly interested in the high country type hunt, cause it would be a horseback /hiking / hunting trip.
 
Sorry, but I had to LOL when I read you're not even 40 yet and worrying about getting too old and out of shape to do those hunts!!! If you aren't on any type of an exercise program, GET ON ONE, stay active and you'll be able to do stuff like that when you're well into your 60s! Cripes, I'm 64 and still hoping to get on a sheep and goat hunt with my buddy when he draws the tags. If he draws them within the next 10 years, you can bet your azz I'll be ready to go help glass, etc.!!!
 
You still have a few good years left. I am 58 and have two hunts in H and G Wyoming the last 4 years hunting at 8-10000 feet and I am a desk jockey. It gets harder each year but you just need to keep in some shape and do some hiking.

I used Bear Basin Outfitters in H a few years back and they have a great camp and good people. Some good deer in area even though we didn't see any monsters.
 
Read the thread titled "Magnum," that buck was killed by one of Non-Typical Outfitters' hunters. That doesn't go to say that you will kill a buck like the Magnum, but its not easy to keep track of an old smart deer like they did. Keep doing some research and you will end up with someone good I am sure.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.
 
Because of the poor and declining condition of the Wy. deer herds I would look more at Colorado. Can't advise on a particular outfitter but I think you have a better chance at a trophy buck there. The outfitter can secure a landowner tag for you.
 
I am 58 yrs old and plan on a hunt in wyoming high country this year.I hunted their in 2003,I never think about my age.
 
I agree with muleycrazytwo. I would lean toward Colorado.

As for nearing "over the hill" age - you have MANY years ahead of you. I'm a 46 year old desk jockey and last fall did a solo mt goat hunt in colorado and packed out my goat, full hide, and all my gear in two trips. I also did a solo elk hunt in NM and packed out my bull elk meat, cape, and head in 4 trips, also packed out my son's ibex head, cape and meat in one trip. I'm not claiming to be a super athlete but I just get into the best shape possible before the hunting season and try to "stay" in shape during the winter. Yes it gets harder and hurts a little more as each year passes but it is still doable. I plan to do these types of hunts for SEVERAL more years. I have way to much time and $$ invested in preference points throughout the west to quit now!

You can do anything that you set your mind to and prepare your body for!!

Good luck on your dream.

PS Welcome to Monstermuleys. There is lots of good people and good information here.
 
Western wyomings deer are in sad sad shape. Those are some great outfitters.

I agree, you'd be a lot better off looking at Colorado. The central part of the state around Eagle produces the best bucks.

"Dear MacGuyver, Enclosed is a rubber band, a paper clip, and a drinking straw. Please save my dog." Peter Griffin aka The Family Guy
 
I would look to hunt Colorado i have lived in western wyoming my entire life and I dont even hunt there anymore and I can get over the counter tags. I spend my time in colorado hunting muleys now, western and south western wyomings deer herd is in the worst shape it has ever been bucks over 3 or 4 years old are few and far between and mature bucks are a thing of the past right now.
 
I have went with trophy mountain twice. They would be my number one choice for a deer or an elk hunt. Both times I went with another person and we both got nice bucks and seen plenty more. Go opening day for sure. Also they book about a year in advance maybe more. Good luck. Pm me if you would like any other info.
 
>Sorry, but I had to LOL
>when I read you're not
>even 40 yet and worrying
>about getting too old and
>out of shape to do
>those hunts!!! If you
>aren't on any type of
>an exercise program, GET ON
>ONE, stay active and you'll
>be able to do stuff
>like that when you're well
>into your 60s! Cripes,
>I'm 64 and still hoping
>to get on a sheep
>and goat hunt with my
>buddy when he draws the
>tags. If he draws
>them within the next 10
>years, you can bet your
>azz I'll be ready to
>go help glass, etc.!!!


i know, it sounds silly, i am in pretty good shape, but tax season kills me. the work is not bad, it is sitting in one place for 10 to 14 hours a day for 2.5 months. i eat healthy,
but i still put on weight during that time of year, lol

i just am kind of wanting to do it cause both of my dads
partners of 30 plus years had to retire cause they are both batteling cancer. kind of got in my head the whole life is short thing i guess.
 
>Read the thread titled "Magnum," that
>buck was killed by one
>of Non-Typical Outfitters' hunters. That
>doesn't go to say that
>you will kill a buck
>like the Magnum, but its
>not easy to keep track
>of an old smart deer
>like they did. Keep doing
>some research and you will
>end up with someone good
>I am sure.
>
>Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean.
>Apologize to No One.


yea, i saw that, but that is about all i could find out about
that outfitter.
 
>I would look to hunt Colorado
>i have lived in western
>wyoming my entire life and
>I dont even hunt there
>anymore and I can get
>over the counter tags. I
>spend my time in colorado
>hunting muleys now, western and
>south western wyomings deer herd
>is in the worst shape
>it has ever been bucks
>over 3 or 4 years
>old are few and far
>between and mature bucks are
>a thing of the past
>right now.

this is my first time on this site. i spend alot of time
on archerytalk.com, colorado seems to be the favorite there also. i guess i will just go ahead and start buying points
for there, and maybe wyoming also.
 
Colorado is the place to look, if interested in getting a tag here in the near future look at there muzzy hunts.
 
>I have went with trophy mountain
>twice. They would be
>my number one choice for
>a deer or an elk
>hunt. Both times I went
>with another person and we
>both got nice bucks and
>seen plenty more. Go opening
>day for sure. Also they
>book about a year in
>advance maybe more. Good luck.
>Pm me if you would
>like any other info.


of the four that i listed, them and mule creek were about the
only 2 that i could find much on. i found one thread somewhere
that trophy mountain actually once owened mule creek outfitters, but sold them in 2009. it seemed like there were several people that liked both of them alot.
 
Yes they were the same at one time then sold two years ago. Trophy mountain ran or helped there camp in 2010 and mule creek went on there own in 2011. I have not hunted with mule creek thou. Mule creek has milder terrian. But with that I feel you generally find smaller deer. But they still get some good bucks. Get in the best shape you can were ever you go. And I promise when you get done you will wish you were in better shape. The horses can only go so far up the mountain.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-06-12 AT 11:16AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-06-12 AT 11:15?AM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Jan-06-12 AT 11:15?AM (MST)

>Yes they were the same at
>one time then sold two
>years ago. Trophy mountain
>ran or helped there camp
>in 2010 and mule creek
>went on there own in
>2011. I have not hunted
>with mule creek thou. Mule
>creek has milder terrian. But
>with that I feel you
>generally find smaller deer. But
>they still get some good
>bucks. Get in the
>best shape you can were
>ever you go. And I
>promise when you get done
>you will wish you were
>in better shape. The horses
>can only go so far
>up the mountain.


lol, ok i will. i saw where they have combo hunts for elk
and mule deer. if you wait until later for the combo hunt,
is that going to hurt your chances at mule deer ? are they mainly above the tree line just for the first few weeks only, depending on the weather of course ?
 
Always wanted to hunt with Jackson hole outfitters, but never did. Have heard good things. Worry what the wolves have done in their area though.

That said, there are pockets in Colorado that are in pretty sad shape too, central Colorado (around Eagle county) to name one. In unit 44, the "trophy" unit in Eagle county, the deer herd has dropped from 10,000 to 1900 in the last 4 years. There are certainly bruisers still there, but getting one in a season you could draw anytime soon is probably not going to happen.

I second looking at blackpowder seasons. Can usually be drawn for low points (0-2) and you can still hunt the high country (timberline bucks!). Otherwise archery is about your only choice. The only rifle seasons in September take lots of years of points to draw (usually 10+ years)

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Give a call to Mike Scott of White Cloud Outfitters in central ID. The tags are over the counter and he kills some nice bucks in beautiful country. I've spent some time on his horses and in his wall tents and I can't wait to go back.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom