E-scouting for high country early season Bucks

[Brad1974]

I've been reading this forum for quite some time, but this is my first time posting. I am fairly new to hunting mule deer bucks, so assume I know nothing.. which is pretty close to true. This september will be my third season taking a trip to CO with my brother, but so far no tags filled. We have spotted a few bucks, and last year I spotted one & sent my brother on an unsuccessful stalk (he didn't follow my foolproof plan.. ha!) This season I will likely be hunting a unit I have not been in enough to know much about. My question is.... When e-scouting, and looking for highest potential areas to find bucks, what are the things I should be focusing on for an early september hunt? The unit is high country 9000-13000+ feet elevation, with a good number of high basins, which is where I assumed would be best to focus on, but please let me know your opinions. Would I be better off glassing the more West facing areas for morning feeding and north facing areas of the basins for bedding? or do you often find bucks on South or East facing slopes as well? When looking for potential camp and glassing spots, how close to hunting areas do you think I can get away with? I would love to find a big one, but I'm really just looking for a fairly decent buck, since I have not taken one yet. Are there any specific features I would be better off focusing on to find spots the bucks are likely to be? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mikeafeagin22]

Buy this book and read it 10 times. Every time I finish it I just start it over and learn multiple things I missed the previous read.

The Edge, by David Long & Mike Duplan

The evolution of the modern mule deer hunter has taken place. No longer is deer hunting an annual event involving roadside camping, flannel shirts and beer drinking. The modern mule deer hunter must be willing to outwork, outthink and outhunt both his competition and the highly educated mountain...

westernhunter.net

Basically every question you’ve got is answered in detail. There’s quite a few other great books out there for learning about mule deer hunting but for high country archery specific info, this is your ticket!

 

[Brad1974]

Buy this book and read it 10 times. Every time I finish it I just start it over and learn multiple things I missed the previous read.

The Edge, by David Long & Mike Duplan

The evolution of the modern mule deer hunter has taken place. No longer is deer hunting an annual event involving roadside camping, flannel shirts and beer drinking. The modern mule deer hunter must be willing to outwork, outthink and outhunt both his competition and the highly educated mountain...

westernhunter.net

Basically every question you’ve got is answered in detail. There’s quite a few other great books out there for learning about mule deer hunting but for high country archery specific info, this is your ticket!

I actually bought that book for my brother last year before our hunt & I did read it. I borrowed it from him a few weeks ago to read it again.... I just haven't started yet.

 

[Macintosh]

@mikeafeagin22 Is that also a good resource for later season/rifle hunter?

 

[mikeafeagin22]

@mikeafeagin22 Is that also a good resource for later season/rifle hunter?

100%. Both of Robby’s books are great for rifle hunting as well. Public land mulies is another one by David Long that’s worth buying

 

[Brad1974]

I have actually read both of the David Long books... well all chapters that didn't appear to be irrelevant to me. I would say the first book Public Land Mulies went into great detail on his glassing techniques, which was really good. After that I found the Edge to be more informative overall.

Those are the only books about mule deer hunting that I have read, so I am open to any other suggestions if they are really informative and well worth the time to read. I am always looking for good resources to learn from, and have listened to every episode of the Remi Warren Live Wild podcast, and have found that to be very informative as well. I'd welcome any suggestions regarding other podcasts, and especially specific episodes, that would help.

That's exactly why I am on this forum, to learn from those who have more first hand experience than I do. I feel like learning from others experience is vital when you don't have the opportunity to get as much personal experience. I only get to spend up to around 10 days max out in CO, and I can't take other trips out there to scout. If I could, I certainly would. At 50 years old, I don't have the time to build up years of experience, so I'm just doing the best I can to build the knowledge, network with those who know more than I, and prepare myself physically, to give me the best opportunity to fill my tag.

 

[mikeafeagin22]

Thread 'Mule deer reading'

Apr 2, 2023

I listened to a podcast a while back that @robby denning was a guest on where he listed off a bunch of great books to read on mule deer. I wrote down a list from his suggestions but I can’t find it to save my life and I don’t remember the podcast. I’ve got both of his books, the edge, and hunting open country mule deer by Dwight Schuh so far. Does anybody happen to know what podcast I’m talking about or any good reading suggestions? I enjoy reading a book rather than scrolling through stuff on my phone if I can. Thanks in advance for any help!

• mikeafeagin22
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Mule Deer

• 

There’s some great books in here. I haven’t checked it out but Brian Barney and Dan Pickar have a mule deer course on Eastman’s. I can’t say for sure but I’d think if Brian Barney is a part of it then it’s got to have some good info in there

 

[hydroyeti]

Brian Barney's Eastmans Elevated is my go to hunting podcast, you can listen to it on youtube. Such a humble guy and provides so much first hand information in his show. Here's a good one on back pack hunting, but this is just one example Backpack hunting the backcountry.

 

[TaperPin]

…, I don't have the time to build up years of experience, so I'm just doing the best I can to build the knowledge,...

If you were a young relative wanting to get the accelerated on the job training before a first mule deer hunt I’d suggest you’ve probably read enough books and articles - you need boots on the ground to connect what you’ve read with the real world, and another book isn’t going to add much. If you have ten whole days, definitely get there a few days before the season to glass and get a feel for mulies. Go to the far edges of where you will be hunting and walk a few ridges during the day - you’ll learn more from deer you kick up then an entire chapter on it.

While you’re hunting, be alert and ready for a quick shot all day every day. Deer will get kicked up by others, or you may stumble on a buck and need to get a shot off quickly. I’ve been on a saddle with a shootable deer running full speed our way - have a plan for the unexpected. Don’t get sloppy and loud. I’ve sat down for a quiet glassing lunch, got up and an old big buck was also enjoying the day bedded 50 yards away the whole time. Hunt every minute possible - early and late are worth twice as much as midday hours. The most effective hunting is a grind and requires good time management and optimism. Don’t keep hunting a big bowl or ridge without deer - deer may get kicked into the area, but many guys waste a week hunting deer-less areas that might look like a postcard of magical high country that should have huge bucks with glitter shooting out their asses, but for whatever reason are low success time sucking dead zones. Scan them for new deer every day, but look for where deer are - actual hooves are a better indicator of where to hunt. Personally I don’t count does, fawns or forkies as deer, but some do - I totally ignore them and don’t ever make plans to get closer in case a buck is with them - older bucks in early seasons don’t hang out with young deer or does, or if they are seen together it’s a fluke. In many areas young deer are a sure sign old deer won’t be there.

Best of luck - should be a nice trip.

 

[Brad1974]

If you were a young relative wanting to get the accelerated on the job training before a first mule deer hunt I’d suggest you’ve probably read enough books and articles - you need boots on the ground to connect what you’ve read with the real world, and another book isn’t going to add much. If you have ten whole days, definitely get there a few days before the season to glass and get a feel for mulies. Go to the far edges of where you will be hunting and walk a few ridges during the day - you’ll learn more from deer you kick up then an entire chapter on it.

While you’re hunting, be alert and ready for a quick shot all day every day. Deer will get kicked up by others, or you may stumble on a buck and need to get a shot off quickly. I’ve been on a saddle with a shootable deer running full speed our way - have a plan for the unexpected. Don’t get sloppy and loud. I’ve sat down for a quiet glassing lunch, got up and an old big buck was also enjoying the day bedded 50 yards away the whole time. Hunt every minute possible - early and late are worth twice as much as midday hours. The most effective hunting is a grind and requires good time management and optimism. Don’t keep hunting a big bowl or ridge without deer - deer may get kicked into the area, but many guys waste a week hunting deer-less areas that might look like a postcard of magical high country that should have huge bucks with glitter shooting out their asses, but for whatever reason are low success time sucking dead zones. Scan them for new deer every day, but look for where deer are - actual hooves are a better indicator of where to hunt. Personally I don’t count does, fawns or forkies as deer, but some do - I totally ignore them and don’t ever make plans to get closer in case a buck is with them - older bucks in early seasons don’t hang out with young deer or does, or if they are seen together it’s a fluke. In many areas young deer are a sure sign old deer won’t be there.

Best of luck - should be a nice trip.

I appreciate the insight. You made some really good points. Unfortunately for me, I am not a young man. I am a 50 year old late onset hunter, and have been obsessively hunting whitetails and turkeys in my home state for the past 6 seasons, and have been pretty successful with both (at least what I call success) This will be my third season heading to CO, but the first time I will be the one with a mule deer tag in my pocket. Last season I was able to spot several shooter bucks during muzzleloader season, and put together a great plan for my brother to make his stalk. Had he followed my advise more closely, I have no doubt at all he would have come home with the buck in my profile pic. I am not set on a B&C trophy buck, just any decent adult buck. I'd be beyond happy to tag a 150" 4x4 or decent sized mature 3x3, but certainly won't be shooting a young forky. As a general rule I would likely move on from a spot if I can't find anything I'm looking for in two morning glassing sessions, which likely would include two evenings as well.

 

[Brad1974]

Brian Barney's Eastmans Elevated is my go to hunting podcast, you can listen to it on youtube. Such a humble guy and provides so much first hand information in his show. Here's a good one on back pack hunting, but this is just one example Backpack hunting the backcountry.

Thanks! I found that podcast, and it looks like it has some good topics. I'll definitely be taking a listen. Do the youtube video podcasts have visuals that would be beneficial, or would I get just as much from the audio podcasts?

 

[hydroyeti]

No, only some of the pod casts have video, and it's just Brian talking into the camera if its a solo podcast, or a side by side if he has a guest. I strictly listen to them.