Rifle Mule Deer

[judders87]

Just wanted to see if it was realistic to apply for a mule deer rifle hunt with 3 guys as a non-residents in any state. My buddies wanna go out west for a rifle hunt and I figured I should check if it was even feasible. Not trophy hunting just want the experience. I initially thought South Dakota but figured I’d ask where to start as I’m a newb. TIA

 

[willfrye027]

Yes, start researching draw odds. Plenty of options.

 

[bigmoose]

You guys can apply for tags as a group so that If one guy draws you all draw. Colorado has several hunts you can get with no points.

 

[dirtytough]

Montana definitely comes to mind.

Then Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho.

 

[KHNC]

Private land will be your best bet. CO has PLO tags that you can draw in some areas with zero points.

 

[TaperPin]

The variety of habitat is so different with mule deer, some easy draw tags are strange. Traveling out west to hunt crop land full of pivots might be killing a mulie, but doesn’t seem like a typical experience. Sage brush mule deer can be hard hunting in some areas, with success being next to zero in 3/4 of an area. I’ve spent a lifetime looking for mulies in antelope country while chasing goats, and even going out of the way to scout many out of the little pockets that might hold deer. I could draw big circles covering fairly large portions of Wyoming where someone would be hard pressed to see a single doe in a week of hunting.

That doesn’t mean I’m against easy to draw areas, some big deer can be found in pockets in low density areas - the key is knowing the difference between low odds of success and no odds, and having enough time to sort it out. It’s a tough reality that unless you’re paying to play on some kind of private land, easy draw means low odds of success, so pick a scenic area you don’t mind for the camping experience.