First Muley – Go Big or Play It Smart?

[guitarpreston]

Last year I went on my first western archery hunt. Didn’t punch a tag but laid eyes on a few solid bucks. I'm a flatlander from Texas, so the altitude was a gut check. One morning, I started out at 10,500', hiked half a mile down the ridge, and honestly wasn’t sure I’d make it back to the truck. Moved down to 7,500’ and was able to function, but I was limited. Still had a great time and soaked up a ton of lessons.

Since then, I’ve been hammering my aerobic base to avoid a repeat this season.

Fast forward to now: drew the same unit, but for muzzleloader. Word is there’s a significant buck in the area—maybe a ghost, maybe not. I’ve got a general idea of where he summers, but no time to scout due to work and family obligations. No chance to acclimate either. I’d be going in blind on a rough pack in, and there’s no guarantee he even made it through the winter.

So here's the question: I’ve never killed a muley. Do I roll the dice and go all-in on a maybe, or play it smart and hunt the area I know has bucks (170-class, not dinks)? I could spend a couple days swinging for the fences and then fall back, or just focus on consistent country and maximize time in deer.

If you were me, how would you play it?

 

[Pafarm]

Hunt the big fellas. My reasoning is the tag may be hard to get so why fill it on a dink. However id do what makes you happy.

 

[guitarpreston]

Hunt the big fellas. My reasoning is the tag may be hard to get so why fill it on a dink. However id do what makes you happy.

No dinks allowed. The lower bucks were 165-170 4x4s. The high mystery buck I’m not going to put a number to but big

 

[WeiserBucks]

If you know for a fact the big buck is there alive, hunt him. If he's just a rumor then it may be a complete waste of time. If 10 people know about the buck they'll be hunting him too.

 

[TaperPin]

You can’t shoot a big one if you shoot a small one first. If you dream of a big deer and anything less is a let down then it’s a no brainer, and likewise, nothing wrong with being more of a fan of the hunting experience with little regard to antler size, but only you can say which fits.

 

[guitarpreston]

If I had not seen deer last year, or only saw fork horns etc. this post wouldn’t be relevant. The ones I saw would 100% make me happy. The one I heard about, would make me have a stroke.

Not a good pic (lost my digiscope adapter and had to hand hold) but this is what I was seeing last year

 

[McCrapper]

I always assume there is a monster out there and that's what I am going after. When the right buck walks out I always seem to react accordingly. Hunt where the 'monster' is and you might find his buddy that you will be happy with.

What state are you hunting? What are the real odds you will pull a tag again to shoot a 170? Something to think about....

 

[BrownTroutGuy]

If you haven’t killed a mule deer before, won’t be able to scout, and are happy with what you were seeing last year.. I’d go shoot the bucks you know are there. How far is big buck from the other bucks?

 

[guitarpreston]

If you haven’t killed a mule deer before, won’t be able to scout, and are happy with what you were seeing last year.. I’d go shoot the bucks you know are there. How far is big buck from the other bucks?

About 40 miles. Not a bad trip but assuming it will be super slow for me to get back to where he is, give it a day or two, and if I can’t find him bail and go to plan B it will eat up 2-3 days I would assume

 

[BrownTroutGuy]

About 40 miles. Not a bad trip but assuming it will be super slow for me to get back to where he is, give it a day or two, and if I can’t find him bail and go to plan B it will eat up 2-3 days I would assume

Can you get up there a few days before the hunt? I’d try to find big buck before the hunt if that’s an option. He’s big for a reason, thinking you’ll go in blind and find him a few days into the season may not be realistic, unless your intel is pretty accurate. I guess it comes down to how good you feel about the source of info.

If I got a tip like that I’d be scouting my butt off and up there several days before the hunt going after big buck. But your situation sounds different than that.

 

[guitarpreston]

Can you get up there a few days before the hunt? I’d try to find big buck before the hunt if that’s an option. He’s big for a reason, thinking you’ll go in blind and find him a few days into the season may not be realistic, unless your intel is pretty accurate. I guess it comes down to how good you feel about the source of info.

If I got a tip like that I’d be scouting my butt off and up there several days before the hunt going after big buck. But your situation sounds different than that.

Season is 9/13-21. I can’t leave Texas until 9/13 and head back this direction 9/20. Time constrains are what they are. Trying to coordinate work, and a toddler have me at my limit With that time frame. If I could go early and have time to acclimate that would be a different conversation.

Intel came from a guy on GH that saw him last year. It’s obviously not fresh from a local etc. so take that as you will. If I had not seen pics I would think it was a fishing story…

 

[Pafarm]

Cant shoot a greta buck if you kill a good one but like someone else said don't hunt a "rumor". A 170" buck is still a hammer!

 

[Hnthrdr]

A 170 type buck in Co is nothing to turn your nose up at. The picture you have is a solid buck hard to say what he would go but I would bet he is at least around 150, 150 is a pretty nice buck. That said, places with big bucks tend to hold big bucks year after year, even if it’s not the same exact one… good luck man and have fun! Let us know how it turns out for you!

Remember shoot whatever tips your trigger! It’s your hunt!

 

[guitarpreston]

A 170 type buck in Co is nothing to turn your nose up at. The picture you have is a solid buck hard to say what he would go but I would bet he is at least around 150, 150 is a pretty nice buck. That said, places with big bucks tend to hold big bucks year after year, even if it’s not the same exact one… good luck man and have fun! Let us know how it turns out for you!

Remember shoot whatever tips your trigger! It’s your hunt!

He had pretty good width but 170 may be a stretch, from the back he looked like he wouldnt fit in my camper shell ha! Regardless its substantially larger than the sub 130 East Texas whitetails I have been hunting (unsuccessfully mostly lol)

 

[Hnthrdr]

Oh for sure! They always look bigger from behind, remember that. That said for “score” big main beams matter most, I’m not necessarily a score hunter but I go for bigger frame older looking bucks, the last buck I killed had great eye guards and a good frame and a giant body, but only went 146, super short forks

Buck on the left is about 150, Buck on the right is 146

 

[guitarpreston]

Regardless of number, I had planned since I got home to try and go back to the exact same place and chase those same deer (hoping they made it and some of the smaller ones grew obviously) but with a muzzy, and not sleep in my truck. Been training and acquiring gear accordingly. The new big buck just kinda came about randomly.

 

[voltage]

Don't try to be happier than happy.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Here's my approach, with something that happened last year on some property I own. The second evening, I saw the biggest WT in 50 years of hunting (no shot opportunity). I let a number of smaller, legal bucks walk waiting for this fella, but hadn't seen him. On the evening of day 6, a very nice 4X4 walked up 15 yards from my stand and I couldn't help myself. He died. The big 5X4 is still alive. Buddy of mine has pics of him.

Hold out as long as you can for Mr. Big.

 

[Bubblehide]

What I don't see anyone addressing is that it v ery much sounds like you had altitude sickness. Some people are simply prone to it. If that is the case, you are much better off staying at altitudes that you don't get ill at. But, to avoid altitude sickness, you may need to acclimate to it. At the least, you may want to spend your first day-night at your truck and keep exertion to a minimum, until the following day.

Best of luck!

 

[guitarpreston]

What I don't see anyone addressing is that it v ery much sounds like you had altitude sickness. Some people are simply prone to it. If that is the case, you are much better off staying at altitudes that you don't get ill at. But, to avoid altitude sickness, you may need to acclimate to it. At the least, you may want to spend your first day-night at your truck and keep exertion to a minimum, until the following day.

Best of luck!

Went on Diamonx and have it again for this year, didn't have AMS too bad but there was some pretty serious fatigue, no splitting headache or nausea etc. Definitely suffering from aerobic deficiency syndrome and working on that. Started running pretty serious a few months ago and when I started I could not go far at all, it was bad.