Early October Bucks

[Brad1974]

Man, it's been a whirlwind draw season for me so far. I've spent the past few years gearing up for an early september high country buck hunt in CO, and felt pretty ready for the hunt that I thought was a sure thing for me to draw... then a larger than expected point creep ruined that. I shifted my focus to WY, where I at first was planning to bow hunt early september, but the more I looked at the maps the more I realized that the high country terrain I have been focusing on was to be slim pickins with non-residents unable to hunt wilderness without a guide. So I went for an October 1st general season rifle hunt in a WY region that has been a 100% draw with the 1 point I've got. Now I'm feeling a little like a fish out of the water looking through these WY maps. The units I plan to hunt will have some higher elevation up to around 10k, as well as the option to go out to the high desert in the 6500-75000 elevation range. It seems quite a bit different than the high elevation Colorado hunting I've done and studied over the past 3 years. I am looking for advise regarding map scouting and tactics for the first week of October in WY. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pafarm]

First off have you hunted mule deer before? From my experience early season rifle like that the larger bucks tend to hangout higher in avalanche chutes. I’d find some good areas with the chutes that have southeast facing slopes nearby that they will feed on. The bucks are really timbered up that time of year so you need to glass all day and IMO have a spotter to pick apart areas all day. They don’t move much and first and last light are the best chance. I’d also say if possible do some scouting, that will at least find you a buck you knows in the area. Also try to find areas that may be overlooked in that unit. Hope this helps, I’m not expert but have got my butt beaten enough I’ve learned.

 

[Brad1974]

First off have you hunted mule deer before? From my experience early season rifle like that the larger bucks tend to hangout higher in avalanche chutes. I’d find some good areas with the chutes that have southeast facing slopes nearby that they will feed on. The bucks are really timbered up that time of year so you need to glass all day and IMO have a spotter to pick apart areas all day. They don’t move much and first and last light are the best chance. I’d also say if possible do some scouting, that will at least find you a buck you knows in the area. Also try to find areas that may be overlooked in that unit. Hope this helps, I’m not expert but have got my butt beaten enough I’ve learned.

I have personally been involved in two mule deer hunts. Two years ago I had an elk tag & my brother had a mule deer tag. Last year my brother had a mule deer tag and I was assisting his hunt, glassing, and planning stalks with him. Had he followed my directions he would have come home with a good buck... but that's a different stary.. ha! But both of those hunts were Early September above timberline in CO. We decided to alternate tags, so this is my year to hunt, & he will assist. Like I mentioned, I had planned to do a early september high country riflr hunt in CO this september, but point creep ruined that plan. This early October hunting below timber line in WY is a new experience for me. I appreciate your advise. I definitely plan to spend as much time as necessary behind the glass, but it's alot harder to find areas that can be glassed in in the type of country I see in WY compared to the stuff I was looking at in CO.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

Early October is all about cover in my experience with these early October mulies. The mature bucks will move as a little as possible so focus on areas where you think they can achieve all they need: cover/shade, water, and feed. Right at first and last light your best bet will be parking near those transition areas and trying to catch them coming or going from one of those different needs. I know this is pretty general advice, but for me personally the biggest progression I made was thinking this way and not just thinking where are the deer? Best of luck out there man!

 

[huntnful]

If you can go scout in August, I would highly suggest that. If not, make a VERY mobile hunting plan until you find where the bucks are actually populating. They just don't run around a whole lot in early October so they're harder to find. If you find them in August, you can hunt those areas more confidently knowing they're there, just less mobile.

Going in blind in October can be a grind just to figure out where they're tucking away at.

 

[willfrye027]

I would recommend hunting the last few days of archery season and the first few days of rifle season. I’ve done this quite a few times in similar or possibly even the same unit you are planning. There were few to no guys out there archery hunting in that time, and I’ve got on some really solid bucks. Rifle opener will be a zoo but you will know exactly where to be and hopefully get your buck opener or shortly after that.

Also I’ve had better success in the more glassable sage stuff than the higher timber country for whatever reason. Using onX and some scouting to try to identify harder to access areas and definitely be mobile until you identify the better deer country.

 

[Pafarm]

As some others said, be Mobile if you can’t locate bucks before season. I made a mistake last year packing way in to find little to no deer. Once you find them you can just wait till you get them in a good spot to kill them. Hunt smart but hunt hard. Pick things apart and take your time. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Have a lot of spots ready to go to. You don’t want to waste hunting time looking for them. I usually try to have 7-10 areas I’d like to checkout just incase I need them. Start with what you think is the best and keep crossing them off

 

[ianpadron]

In early October, the big boys will still be way up top, first line of timber beneath tree-line.

There are resident deer at all elevations that time of year, but if you're looking for a stomper, I'd start high and work low.

I've found early October green-up once the rains come to hold deer a lot longer than most guys would think given how brown the high country can be in September.

 

[Brad1974]

I would recommend hunting the last few days of archery season and the first few days of rifle season. I’ve done this quite a few times in similar or possibly even the same unit you are planning. There were few to no guys out there archery hunting in that time, and I’ve got on some really solid bucks. Rifle opener will be a zoo but you will know exactly where to be and hopefully get your buck opener or shortly after that.

Also I’ve had better success in the more glassable sage stuff than the higher timber country for whatever reason. Using onX and some scouting to try to identify harder to access areas and definitely be mobile until you identify the better deer country.

If we don't get drawn for the very low odds antelope hunt my brother and I put in for as a group, we should have anywhere from 4 to 7 days prior to the rifle opener that we could scout to try to spot some bucks. The high desert stuff is very foreign to me as well, but I will have both options in the region I plan to hunt. I was thinking we'd spend the first half of our time out there in the higher areas, then head to the desert to look for bucks in an entirely new terrain. My thought was if I can't find bucks, at least I'll get in to some terrain I've never seen before. Unfortunately the rifle season is only 6 days long...

 

[Brad1974]

In early October, the big boys will still be way up top, first line of timber beneath tree-line.

There are resident deer at all elevations that time of year, but if you're looking for a stomper, I'd start high and work low.

I've found early October green-up once the rains come to hold deer a lot longer than most guys would think given how brown the high country can be in September.

Good to know. I would love to find a great buck, but I wouldn't pass up a decent buck, considering I have yet to tag my first. Would you say the bucks that move down to just below timber line stay just below the timber line on the same ridges where there is more high country above timberline? or do they seem to spread out to other surrounding areas? Again, the non-res wilderness rule could still create a dilemma for me if they don't spread out. I will be able to hunt ridges fairly close to wilderness, but not in it.

 

[ianpadron]

Good to know. I would love to find a great buck, but I wouldn't pass up a decent buck, considering I have yet to tag my first. Would you say the bucks that move down to just below timber line stay just below the timber line on the same ridges where there is more high country above timberline? or do they seem to spread out to other surrounding areas? Again, the non-res wilderness rule could still create a dilemma for me if they don't spread out. I will be able to hunt ridges fairly close to wilderness, but not in it.

They will still be in the same bachelor herds as the summer, only difference is the mature bucks will be less likely to use open terrain to feed. Glass the shadows when you see smaller bucks in the open, the big bucks are still there. DO NOT go into the timber unless you're willing to blow a spot, you want to be looking down into the good stuff.

Early October hunting is all about glassing and patience. Be into your perch before first light, locate deer as they're feeding. Put them to bed and either go kill them if you're close enough or get into position for when they inevitably get up to re-bed as the sun is higher or when they're up to feed in evening. Cat n mouse

 

[Brad1974]

They will still be in the same bachelor herds as the summer, only difference is the mature bucks will be less likely to use open terrain to feed. Glass the shadows when you see smaller bucks in the open, the big bucks are still there. DO NOT go into the timber unless you're willing to blow a spot, you want to be looking down into the good stuff.

Early October hunting is all about glassing and patience. Be into your perch before first light, locate deer as they're feeding. Put them to bed and either go kill them if you're close enough or get into position for when they inevitably get up to re-bed as the sun is higher or when they're up to feed in evening. Cat n mouse

Very interesting. That sounds exactly like my plan for the early september high country in CO, except glassing into the lower areas with more cover.
Do you know if a non-resident in WY can glass from wilderness if they are going after deer that are outside of wilderness? Most of the higher points seem to be on wilderness.

 

[ianpadron]

Very interesting. That sounds exactly like my plan for the early september high country in CO, except glassing into the lower areas with more cover.
Do you know if a non-resident in WY can glass from wilderness if they are going after deer that are outside of wilderness? Most of the higher points seem to be on wilderness.

That would be a question for Mr. Greenpants and likely open to interpretation lol