How rare is a 200 inch mule deer

[elkguide]

I have a good friend that has 3, 200+" on his wall. Myself, I have only seen one 200" deer in the wild, unfortunately without a tag for that area.
(I have also seen one 400+" elk in my life.)

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm not sure I'd agree. I personally know a handful of people who have killed an honest 200" buck, but I know exactly zero people who have killed a 400" bull.

I think it depends on the state. MT I feel confident in my comparison. ID, WY, CO and others may be different.

 

[littlebigtine]

dude, this is rokslide…you haven’t read Robby’s book?!

 

[Clarktar]

I'd compare a 200" mule deer to a 400" bull, personally. They are absolutely incredibly rare and ridiculous to see in person.

Let's go.

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[bigmoose]

I've killed 2 and missed 1, a giant slick horned 4X4 that would go 210 or so. He haunts my dreams. I've seen 2 others, one my godson killed and another on private property. All were seen while hunting in Colorado. These 5 were the only ones I've seen in 60 years of hunting. I think a 200 incher is extremely rare.

 

[cnelk]

Here’s a 232” my buddy killed in N Colorado a few years ago. Public land

 

[cnelk]

I don’t know how big the buck in the back was, but he’s probably the biggest I’ve seen in person - and got a picture. Definitely made me stop.

Public land - N Colorado

 

[TaperPin]

Haha you mean how the eastmans are shooting all those giant bucks on private ranches or land locked public like they have been for the last several years? Would love to know when the last true 200” was taken by an Eastman on public, draw, diy hunt.

I hear ya! Lol

 

[huntnful]

I've been getting after mule deer, specifically, pretty hard the last 4 years. All general, true OTC or low point tags. I've hunted CA, NM, CO, ID, MT, WY, UT, AZ & NE so far. I've seen ZERO 200" bucks, one 190" buck and only maybe five or six 180" bucks. That includes scouting in July and August.

I'm going to try focusing on better tags to see if I can bump those numbers up lol.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I'd compare a 200" mule deer to a 400" bull, personally. They are absolutely incredibly rare and ridiculous to see in person.

Was having thing debate with a friend a little bit ago I said that at first but then we kind of settled that a 200=370 bull 220+=400. I personally know 3 guys that have killed 200 inch bucks and 0 that have killed 400 inch bulls. My father in laws guide buddies usually pull a 400 incher off of a giant private ranch in AZ every few years but even then lots of them in the high 300’s that don’t hit 400 mark

 

[willfrye027]

Not sure if the one I saw this year was 200” but I think he might have been close. At least in gross score. I estimated 185ish frame with at least 15” of extras maybe 20”; he’s got a 12-14” mainline on the left and good deep forks with long downturned main beams.

Never could get a stalk on him.

 

[wyogoat]

I’ve got to hunt some great mule deer areas over the last 23 years of being in Wyoming or Colorado and never seen a 200” deer. Granted, all this was on public back country or wilderness.
For the sake of the discussion, I have seen one 400”(ish) bull.
A 200 inch deer is rare I think.

 

[rabbithuntr]

I'm not sure I'd agree. I personally know a handful of people who have killed an honest 200" buck, but I know exactly zero people who have killed a 400" bull.

Not saying you’re wrong but the opposite is true for me, it mostly depends where you live I’m sure.


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[Hnthrdr]

Not sure if the one I saw this year was 200” but I think he might have been close. At least in gross score. I estimated 185ish frame with at least 15” of extras maybe 20”; he’s got a 12-14” mainline on the left and good deep forks with long downturned main beams.

Never could get a stalk on him.

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View attachment 640256

Man that buck had it all! I think you are correct on your guesstimate. Absolutely awesome animal!

 

[Hnthrdr]

Here’s a 232” my buddy killed in N Colorado a few years ago. Public land

View attachment 640247

The mass on him is unreal! What a buck!

 

[Mojave]

I don't know how many mule deer taxidermy heads i have seen in that range, but it is not more than 20.

Live deer, I don't think I have ever seen one.

The Wyoming winter range used to have deer like that. Mike Eastman spent a lot of time filming there in the 1990-2000's.

 

[Ross]

Nwest Montana pulls a couple every year…on otc… and saw sheds on a 210 found a couple years back…no tougher country but always a chance checkout sterlingextreme outdoors on Instagram he has done very well on monster bucks

 

[zrodwyo]

I’ve never seen a 200” buck.

Elk all look the same to me once they get to a certain size.

 

[EricBender208]

I know there’s been some urban bucks that are hitting that 200”. I’ve only seen one that was for sure 200 during an elk hunt and another I thought was close. I shot one that I thought was 200 but didn’t quite make it. I’m also only counting gross score (nets are for fish).

 

[Balderdash]

Saw one 200+ while I was elk hunting. Was waiting to be picked up about an hour after dark. Moonlight was enough that I could see a couple hundred yards. Saw him come out about 80 yds away. Couldn't believe the size, and it only got more impressive through binos. Got to watch him a long time. Takes 4-5 years for NR to draw a deer tag in that area.