Stupid mule deer?

[bowieknife50]

Hi everyone,

Just finished my first Western hunt for elk in Colorado high country. Saw a lot of elk almost every day but luck and other hunters led to no shots. Anyway, saw a lot of muley bucks and am really wondering about their behavior. Most of them acted like they had never seen a human and could care less that I was there. It was 2nd rifle and we talked to a lot of guys that had deer tags while we were there. I'm talking see them at less than 100 yards and they just stand there while I'm out in the open walking being noisy. Is that a local behavior pattern or are they all like that? I'm thinking being above or below them make a difference but really these seemed dumb as a turnip. Or could they just smell I only had a bull tag?

Thanks,
Tim

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[dirtytough]

I think it depends on where you are. Here in ND the muleys remind me of sheep hunting in AK. If they see you they start heading the other way fast.

 

[castandblast]

The bucks are thinking rut here, maybe there as well?

 

[bowieknife50]

The bucks are thinking rut here, maybe there as well?

Didn't see any seeking or chasing and hardly any does at all.

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[Dameon]

I wish I had deer tags when I was hunting elk in Utah earlier this month. I got within 20 yards of three groups. The first had two small forked bucks and three does. The second had a small spike, two does, and a fawn. The third had one big buck and two big does. Only the last group ran off before I got good look at them.


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[mtnrunner260]

It have been my observation that the deer and or elk absolutely know when you hold a tag for them and when you don't.

 

[TheCougar]

Animals have a sixth sense. They see dead people. Oh wait, no I mean they know when you aren't hunting them. It's science.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Very rarely will a big buck do that unless they are rutting. These little guys are a dime a dozen and do seem quite dumb at times.

 

[Whip1]

They dont do that in 74. Or at least the part of 74 I hunt.

 

[gelton]

Compared to whitetails they are just a different kind of animal. Whitetail sees you and they are in a different county, spook a mule deer and they almost always stop after hopping for 40-50 yards. I have noticed the bigger mule deer bucks are spooked alot easier though. It was a little odd being able to get so close to groups of mule deer, whitetails seem to be more finicky when it comes to pressure.

 

[Carlin59]

I believe Robby addressed this topic in his book. I hope I'm paraphrasing correctly, but his position was that young deer (even up to 3 year olds that have what most guys would consider "nice racks") will do this, but the old deer will be gone before you ever see them, or simply not present themseleves in the open to be seen. The limited experience I have with truly large mule deer would corroborate this theory.

 

[BruinPoint]

"Stupid" is a subjective term. An animal that goes the same place via the same routes every day, hits feeders/food plots like clockwork, or comes running balls out to rattling/grunting/decoys might seem "stupid" to a guy who mostly hunts mule deer.

I've seen old mule deer bucks pull tricks that are almost genius, above and beyond just going nocturnal. If they live long enough they don't stay stupid.

Yes, I'm biased toward muleys.

 

[justin davis]

They know when your not hunting them.

A big mature mulie is about as smart as it gets.

 

[Brandon Guitierez]

Animals have a sixth sense. They see dead people. Oh wait, no I mean they know when you aren't hunting them. It's science.

hahahahahaha lmao!!!

 

[Brandon Guitierez]

"stupid" is a subjective term. An animal that goes the same place via the same routes every day, hits feeders/food plots like clockwork, or comes running balls out to rattling/grunting/decoys might seem "stupid" to a guy who mostly hunts mule deer.

I've seen old mule deer bucks pull tricks that are almost genius, above and beyond just going nocturnal. If they live long enough they don't stay stupid.

Yes, i'm biased toward muleys.

yup!!!

 

[Juan_ID]

I don't think any mule deer is "stupid" imo it's more so "uneducated" everyone has stories about small(er) bucks being "stupid" and I just don't think it to be true. On the contrary most that have hunted mule deer long enough have stories of how "smart" some bucks have proved to be. I have had a few run-ins with big bucks and they'll forever amaze me at just how smart they can be. The only other time you may catch a mature mule deer buck acting "stupid" is likely when they're rutting... Again I don't believe them to be stupid, just their "brains" are focused elsewhere. And like others have said they do seem to have a tag radar of somekind as well.
Everyone seems to compare them to whitetails and although I have never hunted whitetail deer I don't believe it's a fair comparison given most any circumstance. Everything can be subjective, and I too am very mule deer biased so maybe I am talking out of place.

 

[elkbowkevin]

A couple years back I was out woodcutting opening weekend of rifle here in oregon, had a buck smallish 3 pt some walking on by at about 30 yards while I was buzzing on a lodgepole. He was like,, "hey dude wassup,, Im just passin by, that ok?"
I was thinking that buck was kinda dumb, but maybe he lived close by and I woke him out of his mid morning nap.

 

[IdahoElk]

My friend and I were at 49yrds yesterday from a small 4 point coming off the mountain and it just stood there watching us like it was invisible,pretty funny.We did see other bucks interested and chasing does earlier.

 

[Trr15]

Having grown up chasing whitetails in the northeast, I can say with confidence that muleys are FAR less spooky. At least that's been my experience.

 

[Shrek]

Mule deer are not nearly as spooky as a hard hunted eastern whitetail imo. A five year old eastern whitetail on public or heavily hunted private land is almost invisible and totally nocturnal. Only a couple days of the year in the peak of rut will he move during daylight and even then will utilize heavy cover mostly. I've kicked a few out of their beds but they were in perfect cover and held until I almost stepped on them. Not saying that an older hunted mulie isn't spooky or an easy target but not the almost impossible to hunt older eastern whitetails. I do have to agree that they seem to know if you have a tag or not.