SDBugler
Very Active Member
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- 1,156
I am looking to take my 16 year old son on a good mule deer hunt before he graduates and heads off to college. He currently has 4 preference points and we have two seasons left before he graduates.
I have been looking at unit 30 2nd season and unit 40 3rd season. He should be guaranteed to draw the unit 40 tag this year and about a 30% chance at the unit 30 tag but almost guaranteed next year. I only have 2 points so I won't apply with him to drag down his opportunity, plus I want to focus on him getting a good quality buck.
From my research, I have found several people state that unit 40 has limited public land to hunt and that all the deer are on private. However, when I look at the maps, it appears that there is a bunch of BLM land around the perimeter of the unit. Is the BLM land not very good habitat? I have looked on Google earth and it appears like it would be good country, but in reality it may be different. Can someone with some on the ground experience help me out?
We have hunted a lot here in our home state of South Dakota for mule deer both rifle and archery and are pretty proficient in spot & stalk style of hunting. Are these two units good for this type of hunting?
We are not afraid to backpack in if necessary or hunt some rugged terrain. My son took a week off from school last year and did the NM youth ibex hunt and also accompanied me on my Unit G-17 backpack mountain goat hunt so he is not afraid to work hard.
We would appreciate any comments on either of these units or suggestions for other units. Please PM me if you don't want to respond on the open forum.
Thanks
Brian & Spencer
Here is his best buck to date from last year in SD. We are hoping to find him something better.
I have been looking at unit 30 2nd season and unit 40 3rd season. He should be guaranteed to draw the unit 40 tag this year and about a 30% chance at the unit 30 tag but almost guaranteed next year. I only have 2 points so I won't apply with him to drag down his opportunity, plus I want to focus on him getting a good quality buck.
From my research, I have found several people state that unit 40 has limited public land to hunt and that all the deer are on private. However, when I look at the maps, it appears that there is a bunch of BLM land around the perimeter of the unit. Is the BLM land not very good habitat? I have looked on Google earth and it appears like it would be good country, but in reality it may be different. Can someone with some on the ground experience help me out?
We have hunted a lot here in our home state of South Dakota for mule deer both rifle and archery and are pretty proficient in spot & stalk style of hunting. Are these two units good for this type of hunting?
We are not afraid to backpack in if necessary or hunt some rugged terrain. My son took a week off from school last year and did the NM youth ibex hunt and also accompanied me on my Unit G-17 backpack mountain goat hunt so he is not afraid to work hard.
We would appreciate any comments on either of these units or suggestions for other units. Please PM me if you don't want to respond on the open forum.
Thanks
Brian & Spencer
Here is his best buck to date from last year in SD. We are hoping to find him something better.
