Start Scouting

[MNGrouser]

How soon is "too soon" to begin scouting for mule deer? And does this vary by region? I've been going out to northeastern Montana for a few years now and hunting a ranch owned by some very good family friends. They have a significant amount of private land. I've spent enough time there to have a pretty good lay of the land. I was lucky enough to draw a tag this year and want to increase my odds by knowing what is on the ranch. The problem is getting time off work to scout as well as make the 1,000+ mile round trip. I can probably only swing 1 scouting trip and 1 hunting trip.

Are the mule deer bucks significantly developed yet? Or would I just be glassing blobs of velvet that haven't grown into their potential yet? Given my time distance/limitations, when would you start scouting to maximize your efficiency?

 

[PathFinder]

In order to have a really solid idea of what a deer will finish as, August is best. Antlers are developed enough now to tell yearling vs young buck vs mature buck, but there's a lot of growing left to do.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

The weekend of July 24 is when I typically wait to start locating actual deer, what they will be and their habits etc. Any earlier than that I typically view as just getting to know terrain, water, camp spots, trails etc

 

[RockAndSage]

You'll get different advice from seasoned guys depending on what geography they're most accustomed to. One of the biggest variables is whether or not a given herd or zone is migratory, which is largely an issue of how far they have to go for winter to be more survivable - the higher and more mountainous an area, the more you'll find herds migrating to lower, greener wintering grounds.

Relatively few areas around me have migrating herds, though they often follow the snow line up, summer a bit high while food's plentiful and to keep cooler, then mosey a little lower following food as winter and snow hit. But they're often still pretty much in the same area. Lower herds in rolling areas or with just a few hundred feet of elevation change could be in the same spot almost all year.

I like to go out starting in early June, especially in a new zone, just looking for the herds, food locales, and access, and getting the lay of the land. Keep your eyes open and you can see the bigger bodied bucks, with more swayback in their spines and brisket hanging lower - those are your older ones.

From there, mid-late July is when I'm trying to really dial in on specific, big bucks. They're redder this time of year, and when in velvet they'll tend to bachelor up together and be out in the open more. But as soon as they go hard-horn they start hanging out in the open less, and the biggest bucks tend to squirrel themselves away, alone and a bit away from the herd until the rut.

If I only had one shot at a unit for pre-season scouting in a zone with little migration, on public land it'd be mid July. Private land, early-mid August or even later, within a couple of weeks of opening day, if it won't be hunted for archery or muzzleloader.

 

[WA HNTR]

I have heard continually that once you hit July 16/17, bucks are typically where they will be come hunting season. They might be lower/higher. But the mid July gives a good idea of size of bucks and where they generally will be. I agree with rock and sage though. Depends on area and geography.


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[neil.hansford]

I wouldn't waste a trip to scout northeast MT. Im assuming you'll come during November rut, so I'd just make the hunting trip as long as you can. You'll be able to get an idea of what's there in a few days.

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[Skers99]

If it were me, I would e-scout the heck out of it. Mark glassing points that can see a lot of different country. I like to use the 3-D feature on On-X or GoHunt maps. Especially if you’re going in November during the rut. The deer you would see now could be miles away come November. Best of luck. It’s my first year hunting Montana this year as well.

 

[Tylerr]

i got a tag for a zone I've never hunted so I've already been out a few times and got a couple cameras up. just in the last 2 weeks I've seen this buck go from a fork to a 4x4. got a general idea of where there are a couple nice bucks living. but will they be there in October? who knows, probably not.

 

[43.6N]

I’ve already been out getting a feel for how antlers and fawns are developing.