Glassing tips/patterns for Mule Deer in New Mexico

Joined
Aug 4, 2025
Messages
5
Hey y’all.
I’m currently on my first DIY early season archery mule deer hunt in New Mexico. We’ve been out here since Friday hiking through the southern most part of the Gila wilderness in Unit 24 and have since moved spots to just 3 miles east of Redstone.
We’ve located 2 bucks and 8 doe at our first spot, but that was over a 4 day period. Our new spot has only produced 1 doe.
My question is, am I doing this whole glassing thing wrong? We face west or north in the AM and east and north in the PM. We have high vantage points where we glass across canyons or down into lower elevation areas. Where do you start looking at a ridge? Do the mule deer travel out of bottoms up to opening's in the morning? Do they do the opposite in the evenings? Nothing where we are at is flat. Any advice is greatly appreciated for this newbie as this unit is kicking our butts.
 
I think only looking in two directions is a major hindrance. You're giving up 180 degrees of vision where there could be deer. Get somewhere with as close to a 360 degree view as possible. I've glassed up deer north, south, east and west of me at all different times of day. Deer are where you find them.
 
Back
Top