Hunting mature thick timber Muleys in Eastern WA, Northern ID, and NW Montana

[TimberMuleys]

Hey all, I’m currently living in Spokane, WA and hoping to connect with some other passionate mule deer hunters in Eastern WA, Northern ID, and Western MT. I’m 21, and have harvested 4 muleys in my life. All OTC public land. My first 2 were right around 150” then I got a 31” wide 170” buck and this year harvested a 190” non typical. I’ll add a few pictures for those that wish to see them. I have learned so much information from the Rokcast and guys like Dioni Amuchastagui but I don’t think the vast majority of mule deer hunters face the amount of challenges our areas do with predation and finding high quality bucks in unglassable areas. I personally havent found very many studies about the biology of deer in our area, but if there is, I would love to read or listen to learn more about it. I was just hoping to connect with some guys to run ideas by and help share knowledge with on what we have found about hunting the thick timber bucks in our areas. I know our feed and land is completely different than much of “typical mule deer habitat” and was just hoping to share some knowledge with some other passionate hunters so we could learn from each other experiences and become better buck hunters.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Nice bucks! I've killed a number non-typical mulies in NW Montana but it depended on the ridge. (Lots of scouting)

 

[tjhester20]

Hey all, I’m currently living in Spokane, WA and hoping to connect with some other passionate mule deer hunters in Eastern WA, Northern ID, and Western MT. I’m 21, and have harvested 4 muleys in my life. All OTC public land. My first 2 were right around 150” then I got a 31” wide 170” buck and this year harvested a 190” non typical. I’ll add a few pictures for those that wish to see them. I have learned so much information from the Rokcast and guys like Dioni Amuchastagui but I don’t think the vast majority of mule deer hunters face the amount of challenges our areas do with predation and finding high quality bucks in unglassable areas. I personally havent found very many studies about the biology of deer in our area, but if there is, I would love to read or listen to learn more about it. I was just hoping to connect with some guys to run ideas by and help share knowledge with on what we have found about hunting the thick timber bucks in our areas. I know our feed and land is completely different than much of “typical mule deer habitat” and was just hoping to share some knowledge with some other passionate hunters so we could learn from each other experiences and become better buck hunters.

I'd be happy to trade info. I know where lots of 100-120" mulies are around Spokane but it sounds like you know where the good ones are! Sweet trade in my eyes

 

[HookUp]

Your in the less then 1% of Wa hunters killing bucks like that. I would keep quite and hunt on!

 

[AHayes111]

Unbelievable, A Washington hunter that doesn't travel across the entire state to shoot a three point.
You have some great bucks, keep up the strong work. It is not easy to hunt bucks in timber where numbers and visibility is low, but your chance at a great buck is better. With today's tech bucks need timber to have a chance to get old in OTC units.

 

[Peter Clark]

Well done!

 

[Wrench]

I'm 50 and have spent my life in the areas you are interested in. In that time I haven't seen more than a dozen or so bucks that will hang with it and only a couple that will best it.

Location and timing is critical. All of the great timber bucks seem to be close to big rocks or cliffs.

 

[TimberMuleys]

I'm 50 and have spent my life in the areas you are interested in. In that time I haven't seen more than a dozen or so bucks that will hang with it and only a couple that will best it.

Location and timing is critical. All of the great timber bucks seem to be close to big rocks or cliffs.

I have noticed big buck being near boulders are steep areas on the mountain. Have you noticed them frequenting an area where you have found a lot of rubs? I have had 2 of the bigger bucks I was chasing be near a rub line I had found. One of them was the non-typical I killed.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Man, I'd just keep your system to yourself. Those are some slammer bucks!

 

[Bachto]

I live in Tri-cities. I haven't quite killed the bucks of caliber that you have but that is my goal I am working towards. I am really starting to figure out where and how to hunt muley bucks in this state. I know big bucks are out there and it keeps me going for sure. I love going out in a state where people just complain there are no deer and killing a buck.

 

[Wrench]

We've got plenty of bucks. You just gotta get in their bedrooms....

 

[Pistolpete28]

I’m a Washington resident, this has been my first year taking hunting deer in Washington seriously. I’m usually focused on out of state hunting. I scouted 10 days this year in the terrain you described. I ended up taking a buck, but not my target buck. Definitely very frustrating hunting un glassable country. I would love to learn others tactics aswell. Not interested in where, the closest to where you live is usually where you’ll be most effective anyways.

 

[The Ri Guy]

You guys are trying too hard, there's like 6 of us left in Washington that care enough to chase almost exclusively* big Muley bucks, and we are rarely overlapping in any one season.

Best book to learn Mule Deer (IMO): https://www.amazon.com/Ecology-Mana...ements=p_27:james+heffelfinger&s=books&sr=1-1

As for specific learning in your particular area, plenty of the prominent WA SCI supporters and big buck slayers that I've met live in Spokane or Deer Park, start with local events and groups. Most studies in our state, from my research, revolve around the Okanogan or "South-Central" (B.C. slang) migratory population. This is predominantly relevant for the North Cascade through Colville units. I myself have not ever looked into the NE corner or any resources, studies, etc. for it.

Accessible big bucks are definitely under more pressure the last ~3 seasons than ever before, I have seen way more guys in "bad habitat" country than usual during General. If you can draw multi, muzzy seems like the best bet these days for killing big bucks before they're blown out of the country or into their sh*t holes.

There's a couple renowned NE corner hunters on the slide, up to you to find them and connect with them.

 

[TimberMuleys]

You guys are trying too hard, there's like 6 of us left in Washington that care enough to chase almost exclusively* big Muley bucks, and we are rarely overlapping in any one season.

Best book to learn Mule Deer (IMO): https://www.amazon.com/Ecology-Management-Black-tailed-North-America/dp/1032407603/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nEnY7YyEZcBFQEwEGBAt11wQZj_1g1a_LOvHZAzz0bM.R2Wwsrv_gezGXvS0kxXK3vhPB-nKf7a8xb2DTKzioUs&dib_tag=se&qid=1730409294&refinements=p_27:james+heffelfinger&s=books&sr=1-1

As for specific learning in your particular area, plenty of the prominent WA SCI supporters and big buck slayers that I've met live in Spokane or Deer Park, start with local events and groups. Most studies in our state, from my research, revolve around the Okanogan or "South-Central" (B.C. slang) migratory population. This is predominantly relevant for the North Cascade through Colville units. I myself have not ever looked into the NE corner or any resources, studies, etc. for it.

Accessible big bucks are definitely under more pressure the last ~3 seasons than ever before, I have seen way more guys in "bad habitat" country than usual during General. If you can draw multi, muzzy seems like the best bet these days for killing big bucks before they're blown out of the country or into their sh*t holes.

There's a couple renowned NE corner hunters on the slide, up to you to find them and connect with them.

Ok awesome. Thanks for the info!