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Mule deer experts?? Pics of hunt #6351937
10/19/18 10:56 PM
10/19/18 10:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas
Leaving in 4 days on a Western Kansas muley hunt. The country we'll be hunting is a mixture of High plains agriculture, CRP, and pasture with some broken canyon areas. Hunted this area last year and harvested a 170 class buck because of not giving up and luck. Wish I had a better handle on their daily behaviors and with that I have a couple questions for you more experienced hunters. First off will they get on their feet and browse periodically throughout the day or once bedded are they down for the day? I plan on hunting daylight till dark and want to know the best way to locate them though out the day. My next question is about what type of terrain to hunt. Last year we stayed close to the ag land where pasture and CRP met fields. Most of the corn and Milo wasn't cut and we seen a lot of deer going into standing crops to bed and coming out of crops in evening but, we also have access to some rougher broken country back a mile or two off roads and away from fields. This broken country is deeper cuts and canyons that's mostly grass and yucca plants. These deer haven't seen much
Hunting pressure yet. Will most of the deer be near crops or will we stand a better chance to find a mature buck back in the hills? Any advise is appreciated and thanks in advance.

Last edited by Yes sir; 10/26/18 02:24 AM.
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6351968
10/19/18 11:31 PM
10/19/18 11:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
S
snowy Offline
trapper
snowy  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
I wish you the best and I'm not an expert but have taken many mule deer in my time. I can say if it is cold look for them in the sun and out of the wind. If it is very warm look for them in deep cuts. They stay on their feet longer in the morning most of the time. Late morning and through late noon hours glass from the highest point you can find. Glass and glass some more and if there is a wind direction change they will move to get out of the wind. Sunny sides and wind protection is as good as any place to start your search. If crop land is in the muley range you are hunting it is a perfect for morning and evening spotting.


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6351973
10/19/18 11:40 PM
10/19/18 11:40 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,822
Nevada
N
nvwrangler Offline
trapper
nvwrangler  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,822
Nevada
Best glassing advice I ever got was to count squirrels. Meaning if you are looking that close you'll see the deer. Talk to the locals if you can they will tell you where to start glassing. I glass from down low and look up cantons and draws but here in Nevada most roads run the bottom of the valleys. Good luck and if you got a 170 buck do what you did to get it as it worked before.

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6351975
10/19/18 11:43 PM
10/19/18 11:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
T
Tactical.20 Offline
trapper
Tactical.20  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
What snowy said

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352087
10/20/18 08:19 AM
10/20/18 08:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Pawnee Offline
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Pawnee  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
I’m no expert either, but in our area I spend a lot of time on where big tracks of milo and CRP converge. The most important thing to look for in my opinion has nothing to do with cover or food sources. Try and find an area where the section line skips for a mile or two. Meaning there are no county roads for a few miles. I’ve taken 4, 175-185 bucks in areas like that. No roads no lazy road hunters shooting the younger bucks. In places like this it’s not uncommon to find a couple big bucks. Thanks Other than that what the others said above. Good luck. Have a good one and a safe one!!


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352115
10/20/18 08:59 AM
10/20/18 08:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 402
South Central, MN
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Blindsniper Offline
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Blindsniper  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 402
South Central, MN
I haven't hunted Kansas, but what you're describing sounds at least somewhat similar to what I hunted in Alberta for mule deer. First light, be at a vantage point that you can glass as much ag land as possible or be in a truck and mobile hitting as many different fields as you can. Generally the bigger bucks are heading off for bedding the moment it starts cracking dawn. If they aren't overly pressured, they may stick around for you to find them topping off with feed in daylight, but in my experience the BIG boys don't let this happen often. At least not from easily visible locations. They have no problems going a couple of miles to bed, but they also have no problems bedding a couple hundred feet/yards from food and water if hunting pressure is light. Glass or do drive byes of ag fields at first light and then find a high glassing spot over looking the coulee system within the hour after sunrise. You'll hopefully see the bucks making their way to their bedding locations. If you locate the buck you're looking for, watch him. Hopefully, he'll show you where he's bedding. It would seem a bit early for the rut to fired up at this time, so the bucks should still be somewhat patternable. There's a good chance he'll use that same path again in the coming days. But if you bump a big buck or if the rut is kicking in, they can be miles away within the hour. Good luck!

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352154
10/20/18 09:43 AM
10/20/18 09:43 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
A
adam m Offline
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adam m  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
Never hunted Kansas.
Try to be at your vantage point by legal hunting time. While driving slow to said location have your head out the window looking for fresh tracks. If you find fresh tracks change plans and start your hunt once legal time hits. You might find hunting lunch time to be your advantage as most people will be back at camp eating and resting, the deer will be up for a quick bite or drink or changing locations.

Good luck. Have fun

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Pawnee] #6352168
10/20/18 09:52 AM
10/20/18 09:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,781
Mi, Mecosta
A
ambush32 Offline
trapper
ambush32  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,781
Mi, Mecosta
Originally Posted By: Pawnee
I’m no expert either, but in our area I spend a lot of time on where big tracks of milo and CRP converge. The most important thing to look for in my opinion has nothing to do with cover or food sources. Try and find an area where the section line skips for a mile or two. Meaning there are no county roads for a few miles. I’ve taken 4, 175-185 bucks in areas like that. No roads no lazy road hunters shooting the younger bucks. In places like this it’s not uncommon to find a couple big bucks. Thanks Other than that what the others said above. Good luck. Have a good one and a safe one!!


Sounds like some good advise here....


Thought I was a good trapper until I started trapping coyotes......
Thought I was a good bowhunter until I targeted mature bucks....
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352171
10/20/18 09:54 AM
10/20/18 09:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
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Osky Offline
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Osky  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
Not many years back we were on a trophy buck in an area with lots of breaks and cuts and plenty of big hay fields. Took him last night of the season at sundown when he stood up out in one of those uncut hay fields. We must have driven past that field at least 3 times that day. Not even knee hi grass can hide those big boys.

As said above, if it were pretty flat I would be on the highest point listening to coyotes LONG before sunup letting things calm down then ready at first light to use a spotting scope, or good binocs for a couple hours. Patience. Note the does too. I’d apply the same in the evening somewhat as well.

Not a expert but that’s how I would do it.

Osky


"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it"

Jabless in Minnesota

www.SureDockusa.com
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352219
10/20/18 10:54 AM
10/20/18 10:54 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,355
SD
Boone Liane Offline
trapper
Boone Liane  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,355
SD
October is the toughest time to hunt mulie (with a bow at least).

The 3 year old plus bucks turn into absolute ghosts around here this time of year. I think they shapeshift and turn into jackrabbits ornsomething.

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352227
10/20/18 11:10 AM
10/20/18 11:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
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Tactical.20 Offline
trapper
Tactical.20  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
I've heard they really get illusive after the velvet comes off

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Boone Liane] #6352266
10/20/18 12:25 PM
10/20/18 12:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
S
snowy Offline
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snowy  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
Originally Posted By: Boone Liane
October is the toughest time to hunt mulie (with a bow at least).

The 3 year old plus bucks turn into absolute ghosts around here this time of year. I think they shapeshift and turn into jackrabbits ornsomething.


This is the absolute truth. They just disappear and just like today we looked up and down and I know there is some good bucks but in the last few weeks they have went missing. LOL

Last edited by snowy; 10/20/18 12:30 PM.

Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352288
10/20/18 12:57 PM
10/20/18 12:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas
Thank you guys for all the great advise! We went out last year to the same area at this same time. Never had been out there before. We seen five different bucks in 3 and a half days that went at least 150. And that was with about 3/4th of the corn and milo uncut. Hoping maybe more of the crop will b out of the fields this yr. Last yr most of the bucks were with does when we found them and even one herding a doe that appeared to being close to coming into heat. Would of preferred to go a week later but schedule wouldn't allow it and two weeks later is opening weekend for Pheasants and there are hunters everywhere that weekend. Thanks again guys.

Last edited by Yes sir; 10/20/18 12:58 PM.
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6352313
10/20/18 01:43 PM
10/20/18 01:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 119
Nevada
M
murderspolywog Offline
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murderspolywog  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 119
Nevada
I am no expert on mule deer, but I have hunted them almost every year for the past 20+ years. After they lose velvet my dad always said they become nocturnal. I have been elk hunting and watched hunters walk within 50 yards of big bucks and never see him. The moon dose not look like it will be good, I don't know if there are any storms headed your way. I have found they like to bed down for a storm and usually the day after a storm they stay bedded down. You can catch them moving around at sun rise and see were they bed down for the day then do a stock to were there at and try to get them. There also active in the last 45 min to 30 of the day. I hunt the middle part of the day beating aspin groves and brush trying to push one or find him in bed. Or go fishing and catch up on sleep😉. We are starting to see rut like activity here in the last week, my wife and I counted 100+ does and fawns. And 15 bucks between 3 and 4 points some with big heavy racks in the alfalfa fields in the last 3 days, not really chasing hard yet but getting ready.
So with all that my advise is if the rut has started go wear the does are and wait for a big buck to get stupid. If the rut has not started and the deer have already been hunted I would go hunt the canyons and try my luck there those bucks will head to were there is no pressure or less pressure. Remember what ever you or I think a buck will bo he probably wont do, he did not get big by being stupid. Best of luck and I hope that helps.


Dyslexics of the world Untie
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6356939
10/26/18 02:21 AM
10/26/18 02:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas

Buddies deer first day

Last edited by Yes sir; 10/26/18 02:25 AM.
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6356940
10/26/18 02:21 AM
10/26/18 02:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content OP
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,057
Marion Kansas

My deer second day

Last edited by Yes sir; 10/26/18 02:25 AM.
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6356942
10/26/18 02:57 AM
10/26/18 02:57 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
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Scout1 Offline
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Scout1  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
Good mulies.

Last edited by Scout1; 10/26/18 02:58 AM.

-------------------------------------
DJT & MTG in 2024!
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6357004
10/26/18 07:19 AM
10/26/18 07:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
S
snowy Offline
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snowy  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
Nice job and great bucks. Not an easy hunt for mule deer, like some may think. LOL I'm skunked so far this year had some opportunities but just wasn't to be.

You guys did good.


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6357025
10/26/18 08:12 AM
10/26/18 08:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 318
Chillicothe.Il
Trapper Dan2 Offline
trapper
Trapper Dan2  Offline
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Posts: 318
Chillicothe.Il
Nice deer.


Dan

Re: Mule deer experts?? [Re: Yes sir] #6357028
10/26/18 08:16 AM
10/26/18 08:16 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,801
Mn
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Whopper Stopper Offline
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Whopper Stopper  Offline
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Posts: 2,801
Mn
Very nice!

WS

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