Education for Hunting Mule Deer

BigDaddyL

Active Member
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161
I am a military guy originally from the east coast. My teenage son drew an Archery tag for Unit 34 here in New Mexico January 1-15 2018. Neither of us have ever hunted Mule Deer.

If anyone could educate me on what I need to know in order to hopefully have a successful hunt for my son, I would appreciate it. If anyone has first hand knowledge of the area and could recommend where to start, that would be appreciated as well. Any and all information will gladly be received. Thanks
 
I can't tell you about New Mexico or that unit, but if you want to learn about hunting mule deer, there is a lot to read.

Hunting Big Mule Deer: How to Take the Best Buck of Your Life, Robby Denning
(Robby hunts high country, but he also addresses ways to find and kill big deer without having to have a high ridge and spotting scope)

Public Land Mulies: The Bottom Line, David Long
(A great read on how to glass and hunt for deer)

Mule Deer Quest: Thirty-Five Years of Observation and Hunting Mule Deer from Sonora to Saskatchewan, Walt Prothero
(Really good old school hunting approaches that again teach alternatives to sitting on ridges with glass)

Hunting High Country Mule Deer, Mike Eastman
(Pretty self explanatory. A good read.)

Hunting Open-Country Mule Deer, Dwight Schuh
(This is one of the rarer books that addresses open country, low lands and sage hunting)

Mule Deer: Hunting Today's Trophies, Jim Vannorman & Tom Carpenter
(A good read on how to pick deer out of the background)

Mastering Mule Deer, Wayne VanZwoll (used available)
(An older book, covers varied approaches)

Backcountry Bowhunting: A Guide to the Wild Side, Cameron Haynes
(Focused on back pack hunting and more on elk, but still a great read. Addresses a broad range of topics that hunters should address: fitness, first aid, safety, fear, loneliness, etc. I don't backpack hunt, but found this a great read.)


I'd say the first three are a must for the novice, but I'v learned plenty from all of them. For backpack hunters, Cameron Hane's book is a must.
 
BigDaddyL, congratulations on drawing ALL those tags in N M? Might want to post this on the N M forum as well as you have in the past for all your other tags and all the help MMers have provided you there to date! What is your secret for drawing all those tags? Congrats.
 
>I can't tell you about New
>Mexico or that unit, but
>if you want to learn
>about hunting mule deer, there
>is a lot to read.
>
>
>Hunting Big Mule Deer: How to
>Take the Best Buck of
>Your Life, Robby Denning
>(Robby hunts high country, but he
>also addresses ways to find
>and kill big deer without
>having to have a high
>ridge and spotting scope)
>
>Public Land Mulies: The Bottom Line,
>David Long
>(A great read on how to
>glass and hunt for deer)
>
>
>Mule Deer Quest: Thirty-Five Years of
>Observation and Hunting Mule Deer
>from Sonora to Saskatchewan, Walt
>Prothero
>(Really good old school hunting approaches
>that again teach alternatives to
>sitting on ridges with glass)
>
>
>Hunting High Country Mule Deer, Mike
>Eastman
>(Pretty self explanatory. A good
>read.)
>
>Hunting Open-Country Mule Deer, Dwight Schuh
>
>(This is one of the rarer
>books that addresses open country,
>low lands and sage hunting)
>
>
>Mule Deer: Hunting Today's Trophies, Jim
>Vannorman & Tom Carpenter
>(A good read on how to
>pick deer out of the
>background)
>
>Mastering Mule Deer, Wayne VanZwoll (used
>available)
>(An older book, covers varied approaches)
>
>
>Backcountry Bowhunting: A Guide to the
>Wild Side, Cameron Haynes
> (Focused on back pack hunting
>and more on elk, but
>still a great read. Addresses
>a broad range of topics
>that hunters should address: fitness,
>first aid, safety, fear, loneliness,
>etc. I don't backpack hunt,
>but found this a great
>read.)
>
>
>I'd say the first three are
>a must for the novice,
>but I'v learned plenty from
>all of them. For backpack
>hunters, Cameron Hane's book
>is a must.

Have you been peeking in my library?!

Great books.
 
Well archery is tough for even veteran bow hunters. The good thing is that they should be in the rut. Next is have you ever gutted or seen wthe gutless method. That would be my biggest concern. If you can go in a couple weeks before your sons season to get an idea where they are. Look for doe's because bucks won't be far, kinda feel weird saying this try rattling antlers.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-02-17 AT 08:30AM (MST)[p]Toklat, Lol, it helps having 4 teenage sons that I put in for everything. We have definitely been very fortunate. I am having a lot of fun with them.

So, I guess the secret is get some kids to put in for hunts. They are the ones drawing everything. I was extremely fortunate that I drew the Bighorn ram this year and an Oryx herd reduction hunt last year. I also bought an OTC BEAR TAG and filled it. Everything else has been my boys.
 
BDL, hear you, done that however, stars have not aligned, Glad you got your BH! Enjoyed your story on the hunt. Did you take your RV and park it at the Rio Grande National Monument RV park along the river as recommended? Were you successful at the north end of the unit by John Dunn or below the gorge bridge? Either way, great hunt! Good luck on your boy' s hunt and keep us posted.
 
If you're used to hunting whitetails, then be sure to read Prothero's book. There is a section on mule deer scrapes.
 
We did take our 37.5 foot Toy hauler and parked it right above the John Dunn Bridge on the west side of the gorge. My ram was taken about 2 miles to north of the bridge and on the west side of the gorge as well.
 

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