NV 081 Late Rifle Deer

[BG775]

My son drew a youth late rifle deer. We're going to spend at least a week for the hunt. We're planning on a trip or two up there over the summer to do a little scouting and to get the area figured out. I'm just checking in to see if there are any words of wisdom from anyone who's hunted this tag or December mule deer in general.

 

[David Gough]

Be patient and don't be afraid to take inventory of the bucks that are around. You'll want some snow and cold to have a great hunt, but too much can make it hard to get around.

 

[RockAndSage]

Congrats on the tag. As a general rule, e-scout extensively to gain an idea on where you want to hunt, and use your first few days of scouting on the ground in the vehicle orienting yourself to the zone, the specific areas you want to hunt, and above all, access.

There will be two-tracks that show up on the ground that won't be listed on OnX, there will be impassible roads that appear as good as improved dirt roads from the apps, and you will see things in the landscape that are impossible to perceive from maps and satellite imagery. Just plan on that first couple of days largely being about general orientation and access scouting - including how long it takes to get from where you'll camp to where you want to be on opening morning. Add extra time for snow contingency.

I don't know 81 personally, but if there's not much migration there (as is the case with most NV mule deer herds), if you get into bucks in June and July they'll generally be in the same locale in winter, just below the snow-line. Most importantly, in winter, hunt the food. Don't even worry about scouting water, they'll go days and miles without water. In the summer, hunt the shade and hunt the food. But by winter, focus on finding food plots.