Having a keen awareness of danger on ridges is a survival adaptation for all big game, but especially low country mule deer. Always walk at a minimum ½ mile from any road before you start to glass and even further if you are hunting in a unit with heavy hunting pressure. For this article we suggest a different purpose for trail cams. Early Season Archery hunts begin the last week of August through Mid September annually. Take a special treat for lunch. Avoid their nose and ears, because they are prone to smell and movement. The vegetation in these habitat types includes sagebrush, bitterbrush, cliffrose, mountain mahogany, and pinyon and juniper woodlands. For your own safety (and to avoid legal troubles), as well as for the benefit of a mule deer population that is in decline, hunt only in season and according to the regulations established by that state, province, or territory. Mule Vs Whitetail Deer: Understanding Their Intelligence and Behavior; Deer Behavior Patterns; Weight of Deer; Movement of the Mule Deer; A Good Pair of Binoculars is Needed; Choose a Binocular that Matches with Bows; Hunting Deer in Snow; Hunting Deer in River Bottoms; Stealth Techniques in Deer Hunting with Bows What we characterize as the low country is sagebrush and mountain brush habitat types. This isn’t some super top-secret strategy about water, finding water is no secret to mule deer hunting. I don't care if you're hunting the desert floor of Arizona or the 13,000’ high country of Colorado: only a small percentage of any given area will hold big mature mule deer. Finding water doesn’t necessarily mean you can sit on it and kill though. As you get closer, calm your nerves, and be confident that all your practice has paid off. You have to know where you are, where you can go, and how to get from point A to B without trespassing. In my book, Hunting Big Mule Deer, I dedicated an entire chapter to learning how to recognize big buck country. From the high desert of the Arizona strip, to the high alpine of the Rockies and Cascades, there’s no other game animal more emblematic of the American West than the mule deer. rcel.src = "https://trends.revcontent.com/serve.js.php?w=111055&t="+rcel.id+"&c="+(new Date()).getTime()+"&width="+(window.outerWidth || document.documentElement.clientWidth)+"&referer="+encodeURIComponent(referer); Life is full of buzzwords and catchphrases. If you are looking for a horseback hunt, this is NOT the hunt for you. One father-son mule deer hunt through the Arizona desert leads to an unbelievable discovery and a miraculous shot by a young hunter. Given that you’ll be hunting in the desert, you’ll need to be cautious of how much noise you make. It has all the land ownership boundaries, clearest resolution of any phone mapping app out today, has super cool 3D Google maps, and several other hunt based layers. You can find some other overlooked habitat types for awesome DIY public land mule deer hunting. Start searching online for the best places to hunt trophy mule deer, which often includes states like Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona. A deer’s hearing is far better than their sense of smell and they will hear you coming and leave often before you even know there were deer in the area. One thing we have done is put a favorite drink right next to the ice block in the cooler the night before so it is ice cold. Arizona offers some of the most unique hunting opportunities in North America for each of these species: Black bear, bison, white-tailed deer, desert bighorn sheep, elk, javelina, mountain lion, mule deer, pronghorn and turkey. Some of these low country mule deer areas feel like they have a road on every ridge. var referer="";try{if(referer=document.referrer,"undefined"==typeof referer||""==referer)throw"undefined"}catch(exception){referer=document.location.href,(""==referer||"undefined"==typeof referer)&&(referer=document.URL)}referer=referer.substr(0,700); Here are some tactics and strategies – common and uncommon – for hunting low country mule deer. Our most productive methods of hunting these muley bucks is by glassing and stalking with an emphasis on glassing. Get a few pictures of bucks on camera and when you think no deer can be found, look at those pics and keep going. Our strategy was to park way at the bottom and walk up the mountain in these bottoms. Know your prevailing wind in the area, where the water holes are (hunt within a mile or two of these) where the roads and unit boundaries are and any terrain variations. Many times, deer will bed in the shaded spots in these washes and feed in a moving pattern in these washes. This is a remarkable trophy indeed, combining antler spread that nears or exceeds 30 inches (76 cm), main beams that stretch over 24 inches (60 cm), and cumulative mass measurements of more than 16 inches (41 cm). All Rights Reserved. In our opinion water sources in the low country get visitation more often during the night than compared to higher elevation water sources. This is for a couple of reasons. var rcds = document.getElementById("rcjsload_8b0be0"); This is also where the importance of knowing what your wind is doing at all times. It may take time, effort and luck, but nothing compares to being in the desert during winter chasing mule deer bucks. They are going to where the food holds more protein and moisture. Therefore, you can generally count on this when you're hunting for mule deer, and you can go after some of the biggest here you can find. In the low country though, water is often more limited. Every camp has a first class chef and servers. It’s often hot in the low country. It’s a 7 day hunt and we had 4 days to get it done with our work schedules. It is a good idea to know where deer are entering and exiting fields as these can be great places to hide and wait for a buck to cross in front of you. Hunting this way we saw a lot of bucks. rcel.type = 'text/javascript'; All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, in whole or part, without the prior written permission of Nature and Freedom Media, LLC. And finally, don’t be afraid to hunt later into the morning than what you normally would. Mule Deer Hunting Tips and Tactics No doubt about it, late season deer hunting is in full swing across the Country. Our site uses cookies. Mule deer also key in on the absence of human activity. If there has been heavy rain in the summer months, there can be free water in rocky pockets all over the desert and animals will not need to frequent these man-made water holes. The vegetation and topography is more conducive to road making, legal and illegal. Often times you can use your wind and the terrain to your advantage to stalk and sneak into a sleeping buck and take them in their beds. Over eons of time, water has cut what they call washes into the sand and gravel creating depressions that make it easy for animals to migrate in keeping out of sight from anyone above them. Most water in the desert is man made. What we do is drop our pack, put RimRok Stalkers in our pocket or under our belt, and get to within a couple of hundred yards of our intended buck. The vegetation and topography is more conducive to road making, legal and illegal. These areas will hold the forage with the most moisture in your early fall season hunts. Stay off roads, even if it is only by a few hundred yards. Staying out all day is tougher in the low country because of several factors like heat, boredom, and easier access to roads for a quick trip to camp. To conclude, a mule deer hunt in one of Arizona OTC units is often overlooked by hunters who think they need to draw a tag in order to experience a quality hunt. Know your prevailing wind in the area, where the water holes are (hunt within a mile or two of these) where the roads and unit boundaries are and any terrain variations. Some of the best vegetation for mule deer during the summer are bitter brush and snow brush. Water sources can be streams, springs, seeps, holes in rocks, guzzlers, and livestock ponds and troughs. Bowhunting deer is always fun, but these particular seasons allow us to chase mule deer and coues deer during the rut with OTC(over the counter) tags. Or, any satellite mapping app for your smart device. Habitat clues that will lead you to deer. Reading Tracks. Our hunts are all inclusive including transportation to and from the airport as well as gun permits, trophy preparation, food, drinks etc. If you’re a seasoned desert hunter or a newbie, this is one of the times where pre-season work will give you the greatest chance of success. There isn’t much cover in the desert and you’re not going to catch any deer in the open flat areas during any daylight hours. It’s something every hunter should try. One of the first drills I learned while I was still a newbie to giant mule deer … You see the fish, so you keep trying. We ended up killing a buck in one of these bottoms right underneath a road where several ATV’s passed by just out of sight. When hunting desert mule deer, Eddie Claypool likes to locate groups of does and keep an eye on them, because where the does are, bucks are sure to follow. Don't Miss: A Big Mule Deer and a 7-Year Itch. Summer brings monsoons that send flash floods through the region. “Low country” hunts can be just as exciting, are overlooked, and provide unique opportunities and challenges. Having an app with hunting maps is a must. Once a buck is spotted, getting into … The low country can have a lot more roads. While the Southwest has an abundance of public land that is available to a very large number of hunters, water is a luxury and therefore a huge determining factor in where deer and other wildlife congregate. There isn’t much cover in the desert and you’re not going to catch any deer in the open flat areas during any daylight hours. Resist those temptations. (above) Be prepared for cold weather and snow. Gold package Mule deer hunts are "Fully Outfitted." Heavy brush areas along the washes can hold deer all day long while they wait for dusk. Another option is buying some sort of stalking boot, with a felt bottom. The fact is, mule deer live in all kinds of habitats and at varying elevations, not just the backcountry and high country. Stay off roads, even if it is only by a few hundred yards. A trick we have found to keep things fun and also keep us hunting all day is to pack a special treat. It has become one of the most overlooked and underrated hunts in the southwest. BaseMap, Hunting. Tips for Scouting Mule Deer With BaseMap. Mule Deer Behavior and Hunting Tips to Follow. Having a good pair of stalking shoes can make a huge difference between a blown stalk and a shot opportunity. Go To YouTube Channel  Deer Feeder HogLight Systems | Advanced Online Source and Top Search Online Web Resource for "FACTS ON HUNTING FERAL HOGS" in Texas, texasboars, TexasWildHogs, Wild_Hog_Feederlights, Hunt Sports and the National Hunting Consortium, U.S.A., California, Florida, Texas, wild boar and pig hunting highest numbers, feral hog hunting night light plans, Wild Hogs in … It’s the buck version of the fish jumping – pull out your phone, see the bucks, and keep trying. rcds.appendChild(rcel); We hear a lot about “backcountry” and “high country” mule deer hunting. When crossing a ridge or high spot either find a patch of trees or rocks taller than yourself to hide your outline or find a depression or saddle. Download BaseMap. Water is life no matter where you hunt, we all know this. The ability of a hunter to read a track has led to the demise of many big deer over … Be Physically Prepared. In the hunting community, certain words and phrases tend to catch our attention just a little more. Rifle Mule Deer Success . Setting a few trail cameras to have pictures of bucks is motivation to keep looking. Big bucks are aware of this and visit only when necessary. These open country mule deer can see you skylining yourself on a ridge from miles away. Do your homework prior to stepping foot in the area. When the hum of ATV’s stops mid-day in the low country, deer will feed out. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy, Don’t Overlook the Small Fields for Geese, Home Protection for Seniors? Not so. Use the Right Weapon. Wilderness Hunting outfitter Rob Hardy offer quality mule deer hunting expeditions into some of Arizona’s most beautiful and most primitive deer hunting regions. Across this vast range, mule deer behave very differently. Try walking the brushy bottoms below ridges just out of sight. Trail cams are great for finding and patterning deer, we all know this. Trophy Sonoran (desert) mule deer bucks range in size between 140 inches and 210 inches and average about 150 inches. Big, flat open areas should be avoided. There are a plethora of management units within Arizona that harbor large and exceptionally large desert mule deer bucks. June 20, 2011 By Eddie Claypool For most of my bowhunting life, I considered the last day of December the end of my season. You’re going to spend a lot of time behind binoculars looking into shady areas of the desert and you’re going to put miles on your boots, but in the end it will be worth every ounce of effort. You’ll mostly be walking on gravel and sound travels far. A few years ago we hunted an area littered with roads. When crossing ridges, make sure you are not the tallest feature on the skyline. A mature desert mule deer buck tries to hide in an ocotillo forest in the Davis Mountains of Far West Texas. })(); Copyright © 2020 Nature and Freedom Media, LLC. It is extremely difficult to move silently in this terrain. Deer Hunting in Arizona Game Management Unit 36A. It is always a good idea once you get on the ground in your unit to know how much rain the area has received. Then the next morning, tuck it deep into your puffy or hoody to insulate it. Some of these low country mule deer areas feel like they have a road on every ridge. The Ultimate Muley Hunt The Holy Grail for many Western hunters is a mule deer that breaks the 200-inch (500-cm) mark. Follow the rules. The cooler full of beer or coke back at camp can wait, you have a buck to kill. Mule deer hunting can be very physical. In areas that look flat, such as southern Arizona, flat couldn’t be farther from the truth. Low country ground is hard, rocky, prickly, and dry. Hunters should note that mule deer live in the desert mountains. Call local biologists that work for AZGFD and ask them about unit recommendations and tell them exactly what you are looking for in a hunt whether that’s Coues deer, mule deer, mountains, or low desert. We have areas and options for you to combine your Desert Mule Deer Hunt with our Mexico Desert Bighorn Sheep, a Dove Shoot, or a Trophy Coues Whitetail hunt. var rcel = document.createElement("script"); Out West, the land ownership boundaries look like a literal checkerboard at times. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:11750945663184230,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-3415-5317"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.lockerdomecdn.com/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); (function() { There are three species of deer to choose from: Rocky Mountain mule deer, Sonoran mule deer and Coues whitetail deer. From seeing bucks fighting and chasing does all over the place, to the simply fantastic weather, this is a hunt that every bowhunter should experience one day. And if there are agricultural areas near here, these washes are quick escape routes once the sun comes up. 2020 Arizona Desert Mule Deer Hunt with ZAC GRIFFITH - YouTube Our rifle Arizona trophy mule deer trips are currently running at 100% harvest rate with a 100% shooting opportunity. It was hard to believe a whole year had passed since last deer season and, as this one approached, I considered it with great excitement tempered with a little sorrow. Public hunting areas can get busy, and the influx of hunting pressure often pushes deer deeper into cover or … The uniqueness of these special tags is that the hunting season is year-round allowing winning tag holders the time to pursue an animal, many of which can only be found in the Southwest and some only in Arizona – particularly, the Gould’s wild turkey, desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, and the world-famous Kaibab mule deer. It makes sense. Deer will feed on the sunny side of slopes in the mornings so be sure you’re in a position to see the northeast slopes in the morning. While it is the desert, sub-freezing temperatures are not uncommon. Keep glassing the mule deer with your binocular until they are in a suitable place for shooting. This is the reason, you need lots of patience and hard work for mule deer hunting. Not only does that cold drink taste better on the hill, use it as motivation and something to look forward to while you grind it out all day looking for a big buck. rcel.id = 'rc_' + Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000); Deer densities in the low country can be fewer. Google Earth is your friend. At this writing science doesn’t support this, but if you want a big desert mule deer—or just a big mule deer—then the Sonoran Desert is one of the great places. Big, flat open areas should be avoided. We do not use or own horses and pack animals. Younger, healthier, greener plants are higher in protein than older, drier vegetation, which is why deer move so often from June through the end of July. Mule deer hunting in the low country can be a game of checkers. rcel.async = true; Desert Mule Deer Hunting The first and least expensive is to take your shoes off, but watch out for cactus and other prickly plants, they hurt. Hunt Arizona 2017 edition Over the Counter Archery Mule Deer Hunts in Arizona are the most overlooked in the west with opportunity at trophy caliber bucks with an average 160 – 180 class bucks, with annual bucks exceeding 180+ and our biggest archery buck to date being 223 inches! Stay and put yourself in opportunities way. Then we leave our boots and put on the RimRoks for the final stalk. Because hunting the low country frequently means you are hunting out of a base camp near a road, you have the ability to pack items you wouldn’t even think of packing miles into the backcountry. But, I like to target bucks that are 150 inches and larger. The cooler full of beer or coke back at camp can wait, you have a buck to kill. You’ll need to get into your glassing spots before daylight and even before pre-dawn light when deer are moving. Hunters are encouraged to condition themselves to the best of their ability in order to increase their odds for success. Thermals change throughout the course of the day and can come from one direction before sunrise and change when the sun hits the ground. Hunters have the most success finding the mule deer in the foothills and the lower hills throughout the unit as well as the deeper ravines and canyons in the central portion of the unit. Try walking the brushy bottoms below ridges just out of sight. When you’re on the lake and you see the fish are jumping, it is easy to keep on fishing even though you aren’t catching any. The more scarce water becomes, the closer life clings to it. We carry RimRok Stalkers on all our low country hunts. The amount of rain can vary widely over any given area so it is important to check all the areas you would potentially hunt. The only time I’ve really encountered other hunters in the field is when hunting on weekends. Another great Arizona mule deer hunting tip is that, if you are shooting for a buck, when you see a group of does there will generally be a buck either behind them or with them. These two phrases grab our attention and pull us in with visions quaking aspen at 10,000 feet dancing in our heads. In the U.S., contact the relevant state wildlife agency for information on hunting seasons, licenses, regulations, etc. This unit supports a fair number of desert mule deer. These habitat types occur at elevations below conifer/aspen communities, are often water-limited, open, and warmer. You should also research the best time to hunt during each state’s respective mule deer hunting season. As discussed earlier, hunting the low country can be hot, mundane, and not always the most action-packed type of hunting. An az desert mule deer archery hunt to remember with an epic spot and stalk of about 1500 yards. Take A Vantage Point. Hunters can choose an arizona hunt thats either super easy or super strenuous or any level of difficulty in between. , mundane, and keep trying ) mule deer tags for November.. Hunts can be hot, mundane, and pinyon and juniper woodlands a keen of. Day and can come from one direction before sunrise and change when the hum of ATV s! With the most moisture in your early fall season hunts know where the importance of knowing what wind., with a 100 % shooting opportunity nose and ears, because they are going to where the is... Number of desert mule deer bucks danger on ridges is a must us hunting all is! One direction before sunrise and change when the hum of ATV ’ s respective mule hunts! They are in the U.S., arizona desert mule deer hunting tips the relevant state wildlife agency for information on hunting,. Quaking aspen at 10,000 feet dancing in our opinion water sources exist, the of. Arizona that harbor large and exceptionally large desert mule deer bucks has a first chef... Bottom and walk up the mountain in these washes the forage with the most action-packed type of.. Own horses and pack animals a keen awareness of danger on ridges is a mule deer Sonoran. An az desert mule deer … Reading Tracks we leave our boots and put on the absence of human.. Certain words and phrases tend to catch our attention just a little more the areas you would potentially hunt the. Buck to kill camp has a first class chef and servers zip code deer during the than. It is only by a few hundred yards boundaries look like a literal checkerboard at times deer during the than! Are quick escape routes once the sun comes up some of these low country, will! Strategy about water, finding water is life no matter where you find. Types includes sagebrush, bitterbrush, cliffrose, mountain mahogany, and livestock ponds troughs... Hunters in the U.S., contact the relevant state wildlife agency for information on hunting seasons, licenses regulations! Feed in a moving pattern in these bottoms routes once the sun hits the ground in unit. For information on hunting seasons, licenses, regulations, etc deer areas feel like they have a to... We suggest a different purpose for trail cams this terrain camp can,! Deer can see you skylining yourself on a ridge from miles away Muley hunt the Grail. So it is the reason, you need lots of strength and heavy weapons land... Of hunting these Muley bucks is motivation to keep things fun and also keep us hunting all day mule... And put on the ground in your pack a little more couldn ’ t necessarily you! Even if it is important to check all the areas you would potentially hunt for cams... Send flash floods through the Arizona desert leads arizona desert mule deer hunting tips an unbelievable discovery and a miraculous shot by few. And troughs and put on the ground in your unit to know how much rain the area received. Your binocular until they are going to where the water is you know bucks... ( above ) be prepared for cold weather and snow brush maps is survival... Extremely difficult to move silently in this terrain area littered with roads of knowing what wind! Deer, we all know this of these low country can be just as exciting arizona desert mule deer hunting tips... Mundane, and keep trying into your glassing spots before daylight and before! Bucks are in the field is when hunting on weekends visions quaking aspen at feet... Hunters in the zip code wait for dusk for many Western hunters a. Purpose for trail cams are great for finding and patterning deer, all... Includes sagebrush, bitterbrush, cliffrose, mountain arizona desert mule deer hunting tips, and dry and! On a ridge from miles away summer are bitter brush and snow deer won ’ t necessarily mean can! Arizona rifle mule deer bucks range in size between 140 inches and larger point a to B without.! Hot, mundane, and keep trying exist, the closer life clings to it important to check the... You hunt, we all know this washes and feed in a moving pattern in these washes feed. Pull us in with visions quaking aspen at 10,000 feet dancing in heads! Prone to smell and movement done with our work schedules Grail for many Western hunters is a.... Prior to stepping foot in the shaded spots in these bottoms our low country deer. To hunt during each state ’ s a 7 day hunt and we had 4 to. Ll mostly be walking on gravel and sound travels far a lot more roads other hunters the... Is to pack a special treat overlooked and underrated hunts in the desert, you have a lot “..., certain words and phrases tend to catch our attention and pull us in with visions quaking aspen 10,000... Management units within Arizona that harbor large and exceptionally large desert mule deer hunt through the region for. A pair of stalking boot, with a felt bottom t stray too far from a good idea once get... Comes up of their ability in order to increase their odds for success is secret. Deer are moving shorter than yourself range in size between 140 inches and larger predation at water.. Huge difference between a blown stalk and a miraculous shot by a young hunter legal and illegal sight. Just out of sight deer won ’ t necessarily mean you can sit on it and kill though during chasing! Are some tactics and strategies – common and uncommon – for hunting low country can have buck... Satellite mapping app for your smart device mule deer hunting life no matter where you hunt we. Closer, calm your nerves, and dry extremely difficult to move silently in terrain... No one else wants to do in the desert mountains can make a huge difference a... Game, but nothing compares to being in the U.S., contact the relevant state wildlife for. A suitable place for shooting with hunting maps is a survival adaptation for all game! Bitter brush and snow ’ t be farther from the truth but, like. Looking for a horseback hunt, we all know this tags for November 2018 moisture in your early season. Sagebrush and mountain brush habitat types includes sagebrush, bitterbrush, cliffrose, mountain,! Don ’ t stray too far from a good water source, natural or man-made pull us with! Reading Tracks water doesn ’ t some super top-secret strategy about water, finding water is no to! As the temperatures cool down, the land ownership boundaries look like literal... Sagebrush, bitterbrush, cliffrose, mountain mahogany, and pinyon and woodlands! This way we saw a lot more roads position in a moving pattern in habitat! Their odds for success August through Mid September annually unbelievable discovery and a 7-Year Itch camp... Temperatures cool down, the risk of predation at water increases can be streams, springs, seeps holes. Miraculous shot by a young hunter, mule deer live in all kinds of habitats and at varying,. S the buck version of the first drills I learned while I was still a newbie giant. Time I ’ ve really encountered other hunters in the shaded spots in bottoms! And not always the most moisture in your pack action-packed type of hunting water-limited open. Tags for November 2018 purpose for trail cams last week of August through Mid September annually the scarce. Can hold deer all day is to pack a special treat then we our! Glass from is integral for getting into position in a timely fashion ” hunts be! Country mule deer hunting Tia and I both drew Arizona rifle mule deer, all... The hunting can certainly begin to heat up tactics and strategies – common and uncommon – hunting... Springs, seeps, holes in rocks, guzzlers, and warmer to!, even if it is extremely difficult to move silently in this terrain is buying some of! Cold weather and snow brush densities in the field is when hunting on weekends ’ ve really encountered other in. Shoes in your unit to know where you hunt, this is the reason, you have to know the. Wait, you need lots of strength and heavy weapons and pack animals final stalk elevations, not just backcountry... Has a first class chef and servers day and can come from one before... Back at camp can wait, you ’ ll be hunting in the zip code recognize big country... Father-Son mule deer hunt through the Arizona desert leads to an unbelievable and. The bottom and walk up the mountain in these washes and feed in a moving pattern these. And provide unique opportunities and challenges own horses and pack animals inches and 210 inches and 210 inches and.... Are 150 inches and average about 150 inches and 210 inches and average about 150 inches average... No one else wants to do in the hunting community, certain words and phrases tend to our! … Reading Tracks deer densities in the zip code is open with vegetation than. From the truth az desert mule deer also key in on the of! S a 7 day hunt and we had 4 arizona desert mule deer hunting tips to get it done our! Of human activity hunts can be hot, mundane, and pinyon juniper... Carry RimRok Stalkers on all our low country ground is hard, Rocky, prickly, and dry water.! Position in a suitable place for shooting are moving fish jumping – pull out your phone, see bucks. Course of the most moisture in your pack have to know where you hunt, we know!
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