Good or Bad

[NStevens35]

Hello all. I’ll try to make this quick, I know people are busy and I’m no author. After listening to entirely too many podcasts, I now have an uncontrollable itch to chase mule deer. Problem is, I live in east Texas. Luckily I’ve been building points the past few years, and I cashed some of those in and should ( extremely heavy should) draw a tag this year out of state. My question is: would any experienced deer hunter be willing to look at my hunt plan and basically say “good enough” or “you’re an idiot”? I’m not asking for any kind of fixes, though I will gladly take advice and constructive criticism.

Just a foot note, I’m not being lazy. I’ve got a scouting trip in May and July for the area. Mainly to evaluate access and terrain, as my wife and 9 month old baby will be with me but we will hike/camp in areas I have on my plan.

Anyways if someone doesn’t mind giving me their opinion on what I’m doing, I’d be super thankful. If I’m way out of line, I apologize! I’m just trying to learn to be good at something for the first time in my life

 

[street]

If you're heading to CO I'm willing to help ya out. PM me

 

[Fan5]

Same as above. Let’s see what ya got!

 

[guitarpreston]

Also in east Texas. Your biggest issue will be altitude

 

[NStevens35]

Also in east Texas. Your biggest issue will be altitude

I’ve been hunting out west a few years. Elevation isn’t what’s holding me back, it’s just lack of knowledge and experience of the species. Where at in etx are you?

 

[guitarpreston]

Tyler.

 

[NStevens35]

Tyler.

lol no way I’m in canton

 

[JREG19]

Amazon.com

 

[JREG19]

Buy and read the book I linked

 

[NStevens35]

Buy and read the book I linked

I have it and have read it! That’s what I used to build the plan I’ve put together, I was just wanting to get some measurement on if I took home the message or not! Awesome book.

 

[Rackseekers]

I would think the biggest factor would be where and when you plan on hunting. Season and the area/terrain can change up things quite a bit. Feel free to DM me and I can lend ya any knowledge I can. GLW your hunts.

 

[ProRoad]

Hell I'm in Utah and could use some advice too! Good luck with your hunt plan!

 

[guitarpreston]

lol no way I’m in canton

oh yea. I’d love to be of some help but I’ve kinda got no clue what I’m doing. I’ve got in deer the last two years but lungs/legs have been my biggest limitations

 

[Marble]

I have it and have read it! That’s what I used to build the plan I’ve put together, I was just wanting to get some measurement on if I took home the message or not! Awesome book.

In the unit i hunt in Colorado, i can draw it with one point. I can pretty much guarantee a chance at a 170+ buck IF the weather holds out and doesn't dump snow. I just glass bucks from a few miles away. Go in the next morning. Glass them up again, put them to bed and wait for them to come out in the evening. Its high elevation, 10-11.5 feet.

Point being, it isn't super tough. The biggest factor is learning an area.

If weather comes, then I'm forced to hunt timber type terrain.

This is in second season.

You should absolutely go. Just be prepared to be in learning mode and understand it may take a few seasons to really get enough intel to start being really successful.

If you can get there 2-4 days prior to the season, you can acclimate to altitude and glass to figure out where you should hunt.

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[NStevens35]

In the unit i hunt in Colorado, i can draw it with one point. I can pretty much guarantee a chance at a 170+ buck IF the weather holds out and doesn't dump snow. I just glass bucks from a few miles away. Go in the next morning. Glass them up again, put them to bed and wait for them to come out in the evening. Its high elevation, 10-11.5 feet.

Point being, it isn't super tough. The biggest factor is learning an area.

If weather comes, then I'm forced to hunt timber type terrain.

This is in second season.

You should absolutely go. Just be prepared to be in learning mode and understand it may take a few seasons to really get enough intel to start being really successful.

If you can get there 2-4 days prior to the season, you can acclimate to altitude and glass to figure out where you should hunt.

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Yeah I’m definitely going! I mean, I still have to draw the tag but I should draw it. I’ll be going 3rd season. I’m definitely trying to convince my wife to spend a little bit more of the summer there “camping” (scouting )

And I’m definitely going to get there the 5th, season opens the 7th, and I’ll stay until season closes. Unless I tag out early obviously!

 

[Marble]

Yeah I’m definitely going! I mean, I still have to draw the tag but I should draw it. I’ll be going 3rd season. I’m definitely trying to convince my wife to spend a little bit more of the summer there “camping” (scouting )

And I’m definitely going to get there the 5th, season opens the 7th, and I’ll stay until season closes. Unless I tag out early obviously!

For 3rd season, i have no direct input to provide. Where i hunt, during second season, if there is any significant weather, the deer just leave the area. There have been days post large snow storms where I watched dozens and dozens of deer leaving the area through what I can assume is a migration route. Groups of 6-8 deer and smaller groups of bucks, or singles, or a larger buck with a handful of does. There have been years where after events like that, i do not see any deer tracks for the rest of the season. I then see them down in the valley closer to the road instead of ~10k '. I'm sure there are a few stragglers left, but its generally void of deer after that.

Point being, in 3rd season i would assume the chances of more snow is higher and the draw of the does coming in to estrus pull even more bucks to the areas where they rut.

So depending on where you go, have an area in mind to hunt where bucks can go for shelter, water food and safety and be with or very near groups of does.

In the past during hunts where deer are rutting, I would often find groups of does during the day. Bucks are almost always near by or just in the brush out of view.

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