Montana Mule Deer - First timer

[Dos Perros]

I struggle with the GoHunt filter sometimes, but it's showing me 52 'results' in Colorado that a NR could draw with 0 points 2nd season. I don't think Montana will get you better than 100% odds.

Hell there are second choice units with harvest percentages higher than eastern MT.

 

[S.Clancy]

Hell there are second choice units with harvest percentages higher than eastern MT.

Silence

 

[WCB]

You should think of "trophy hunting" then if you don't see a "trophy Mule Deer" kill a whitetail of any kind. Going to MT and just killing any Mule Deer buck isn't an experience. If you just want an opportunity you'll be done the first day first hour if you want to.

 

[Tmac]

Appreciate the insight. The two guys I'm going with haven't either killed a buck or anything bigger than a spike so I'm sure they would be tickled with anything. Focus is driven on them having a good experience and it helps if I don't have to be in grizzly territory. What would you say is the typical shooting distance you would encounter? Should we practice out to 500 or could we expect 300 yard shots?

You’d be smart to practice to 500-600 imo, at least to 400. If you have never shot that far, work up to it. That makes a 225-300 shot relatively doable. I practice to 600, have stalked to under 400 in all but one case where I could not get closer. I really try and get as close as I reasonably can.

I've taken a bunch of bucks in MT & W SD and the longest shot was 415. 3 or so between 325 and 380, rest under 300. The 415 and 380 were my 2nd and 5th largest bucks I’ve taken anywhere. My other 3 best bucks were all well under 100 yards. Most of my MT bucks were SE, some in the mountains in the SW. I think it is easier to stalk in many areas in SE MT vs the more mountainous areas. Hope that helps.

 

[TaperPin]

What would you say is the typical shooting distance you would encounter? Should we practice out to 500 or could we expect 300 yard shots?

Sounds like a lot of fun!

I’m a firm believer in being accurate to 500 yards, even though many shots will be 200 or 300 yards. I ran into a buck who just walked over a big ridge and stood there on a knob eating, and looking around for a bedding site. There is nothing to hide behind within 600 yards of it, and one way around the ridge would be upwind, and the other way would still be 600 yards of open grass. Watching his head, when he looked away or had his head down I’d walk straight at him and stop when looking my way. Made it to 500 yards and bang bang. The odds of pulling this trick off under 500 yards is slim at best.

Other times the only shooting position is one ridge over, or one knob and if you can’t connect at that range there’s no chance of getting closer.

With hunters new to long range shooting a tall bipod can be the easiest path to 500 yard shots. Short bipods have a hard time looking over low brush and grass, while a tall bipod can even be used sitting. If someone can shoot a 2 MOA group prone, that’s all they need at 500 yards.

 

[406huntermt]

This whole post is what’s wrong with Montana and the deer population… we just want to come shoot whatever we can find because we’ve never done it before! Such conservationists, keep up the good work clowns

 

[judders87]

This whole post is what’s wrong with Montana and the deer population… we just want to come shoot whatever we can find because we’ve never done it before! Such conservationists, keep up the good work clowns

I mean I don't know what I don't know. The purpose of this post was to maybe strike up a conversation and learn something especially since I have zero experience with it. Some of us just want to see another part of the country and don't know what's "wrong" with your state. If mule deer are struggling there then maybe its not a place to try but no need to be condescending.

 

[Dos Perros]

@judders87 I looked at your other thread. I think you got strung out on some less than ideal advice. You can Google the states with the highest mule deer harvest and start there, the logic being that the states killing lots of mule deer have lots of mule deer and offer more opportunity. Probably recommend picking up some books on mule deer and reading them and doing more Googling or searching here.

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

I will second what @Dos Perros said, CO 0 pt or 2nd Choice is what I would recommend. Have hunted Mulies all over the west and in both MT and CO. Not even a debate really in my mind.