This is a great thread. Thanks everyone. I sorted out all the advice in this thread here, in case you want a summary.
Preparation
- Fitness (x 100): Cardio, Hills or Stairs, With Pack, In Boots
- Scout, don't let your hunt be the first time you look at the area
- List what you are bringing, revisit after the trip to add what you missed and remove what wasn't needed
- Research first aid and medical kits, bring the essentials
- Practice shooting, at the ranges and positions you expect to hunt (standing, sitting, with or without bipod, shooting sticks, across pack etc)
- Practice with your optics, at distance in low light
- Books to read: Hunting Big Mule Deer: How to Take the Best Buck of Your Life by Robby Denning; The Edge-A Complete Approach to Hunting Mountain Mule Deer by Duplan and Long
- Read the regulations, know the rules that apply to your hunt
Clothing and gear
- Warm and cold weather boots, for hiking in steep terrain, comfortable. Break them in
- Bring a spare rifle, in case the primary gets damaged
- 1 (or more) charged headlamps
- Wet wipes
Elevation
- Go slowly at first, both speed and elevation gain
- Hydrate often, slow deep breaths
- Bring (and use) saline nasal spray to prevent dry sinuses and nose bleeds
- Bring (and use) chapstick
- Look in to an altitude sickness prophylactic - like Diamox
- Check rifle zero if going from low to high elevation
Weather
- Lows in the teens and highs in the 70s are possible in the same day
- Be prepared to drive through snow and mud: tire chains, tow straps
- Be prepared for cold nights: warm sleeping bag
Hunt locations
- Pick out areas prior to hunt from boots on the ground scouting, e-scouting, and local knowledge
- Hunt the aspen/sage transition zone
- Look for spots more than 1 mile from the nearest road, don't forget the next road over the ridge
- Broken-up terrain is better
Glassing
- When: at least first and last light; be prepared to glass all day
- How: slowly, don't pass on a seemingly open hillside; let your eyes do the walking - don't constantly scan with binos
- What: buy the best you can afford; use a tripod
- Be prepared to walk to and from your glassing spots in the dark, stay until you can't see
- Be able to navigate back to camp in the dark
- Don't rush, and blow, a late stalk when you could use that info for a morning stalk
Deer/Buck behavior
- They don't always look back
- They don't act like whitetails
- They will be looking for does in CO 3rd season
- Map hunting pressure as you see it, anticipate deer movement
When to move
- It depends on personal preference
- When you have glassed the area completely (30 minutes to several hours)
- More often, if you want to see a lot of different ground (or changing perspective on the same ground)
- Less often, if you want to pick apart the area you think has a good chance of holding deer
- Not at all, if you're confident that the buck you want is there
- Still hunt when moving between spots through "bucky" areas; walk slowly, be aware of each step and possible sounds, eyes up and looking
Expectations
- Expect low deer density out West compared to Midwest
- Hire a guide for higher chance of success
- If first DIY hunt, don't be surprised or discouraged if you don't fill your tag
- Have fun, don't take yourself too seriously
- Have a positive attitude, and keep dry socks in your bag
- Hunt all day
