Midwestern whitetail hunter here, done several elk, and antelope hunts out west the last 10 yrs. Also had my fair share of whitetail hunting here at home in the midwest. Its in our blood.
Looking to do my first muley hunt fall of 2026.
East of the Mississippi is deer hunting is "throw a dart at the dart board and go hunt." (When looking for outfits.) The midwest is prime whitetail habitat to find a solid buck can go from big bucks in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and everywhere in between and just about every outfit can increase your odds at punching a tag on a nice buck.
Theres 1000s of outfits from all these states if a guy wants to go pretty much anywhere and capitalize on a decent whitetail, they can.
In my opinion, I dont pay for outfits in the midwest. My home hunting land is good enough and I think its dumb to pay someone for the same thing I can shoot in my home state.
That being said. I dont live out west. I can't scout it (other than e-scouting), nor put the time in to know the land, how the deer move, where things are. Thats why I'm considering a guided hunt. IMO thats why I pay a guide--to do the things I can't do and use their knowledge.
My question is if the western states are like this? Meaning can solid muleys be found in pretty much any state, just pick an outfit and go hunt?
I mean I get Western hunting, 200 acres can be "solid deer habitat" in the east. And out west 20,000 is solid habitat. Again, I've done enough reading and my own hunting to understand Western Hunting. And I also understand "it depends on what kinda hunt you want?" (Back country, DIY, spot-n-stalk, truck, wall-tent)
And I obviously know I need a tag, points, draw.
I guess my main thing I'm after is a solid buck I can put on the wall.
I'm not after a "giant" though that's obviously welcome. I don't need a 30" spread, or 180+" with kickers and junk to the side or giant mass. Honestly--just like the size of a 130s" solid 8pt in the east would be 100% fine by me.
Theres a lot of eastern outfitters that have nice whitetails.
Is Western muleys like that?
Wirth 10-15 western states to look at, and 1000s of outfits to choose from and each one boasting giant pics of animals, its dang near impossible and looks all the same to me! (Just like an Iowa buck looks like a Wisconsin buck.)
Throw a dart at the dart board?
Looking to do my first muley hunt fall of 2026.
East of the Mississippi is deer hunting is "throw a dart at the dart board and go hunt." (When looking for outfits.) The midwest is prime whitetail habitat to find a solid buck can go from big bucks in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and everywhere in between and just about every outfit can increase your odds at punching a tag on a nice buck.
Theres 1000s of outfits from all these states if a guy wants to go pretty much anywhere and capitalize on a decent whitetail, they can.
In my opinion, I dont pay for outfits in the midwest. My home hunting land is good enough and I think its dumb to pay someone for the same thing I can shoot in my home state.
That being said. I dont live out west. I can't scout it (other than e-scouting), nor put the time in to know the land, how the deer move, where things are. Thats why I'm considering a guided hunt. IMO thats why I pay a guide--to do the things I can't do and use their knowledge.
My question is if the western states are like this? Meaning can solid muleys be found in pretty much any state, just pick an outfit and go hunt?
I mean I get Western hunting, 200 acres can be "solid deer habitat" in the east. And out west 20,000 is solid habitat. Again, I've done enough reading and my own hunting to understand Western Hunting. And I also understand "it depends on what kinda hunt you want?" (Back country, DIY, spot-n-stalk, truck, wall-tent)
And I obviously know I need a tag, points, draw.
I guess my main thing I'm after is a solid buck I can put on the wall.
I'm not after a "giant" though that's obviously welcome. I don't need a 30" spread, or 180+" with kickers and junk to the side or giant mass. Honestly--just like the size of a 130s" solid 8pt in the east would be 100% fine by me.
Theres a lot of eastern outfitters that have nice whitetails.
Is Western muleys like that?
Wirth 10-15 western states to look at, and 1000s of outfits to choose from and each one boasting giant pics of animals, its dang near impossible and looks all the same to me! (Just like an Iowa buck looks like a Wisconsin buck.)
Throw a dart at the dart board?
