Wyoming late season mule deer

[wyomingmuleyz]

I happened to draw a late season mule deer tag around dubois wyoming. I'm a wyoming native. Have been hunting the high county western wyoming for the past 2 seasons. For the decade prior to that hunted the flat lands and breaks of eastern and North eastern wyoming.

I am very curious how the deer winterd around dubois. I've heard it wasn't bad at all. But hard to believe 40 miles west up to 80% dead. I'm also curious as to where the elk hunters are primarily in the middle of November around there.

I'm also curious what guys are considering a big buck in that country. Is there an actual possibility of a 190+ buck. Or are is a 180+ kind of a hard thought? With it being a rut and migration hunt I'd assume the sky is the limit yet I keep hearing a 165 buck was hard to find last year, which I find hard to believe. Then I hear from others there's 3, 200" bucks on every ridge, which I know is a far fetched improbable statement. I've been fortunate to habe taken quite a few bucks in the high 170s and low 180s with 1 breaking 185, not looking to kill 170s anymore and am willing to eat tags.

My buddy an I who drew are hard core, live in the wyoming range for 10 day stretches. We have good leica and swarovski optics and alot of patience. We've been fortunate enough to pull a couple bucks over 180 out of the wyoming range in the past couple years.

I appreciate any knowledge anyone would be willing to send my way. Im willing to help in western and eastern Wy. Thanks.

 

[rcook10]

If you are being honest about your fitness and suffering capacity you will find a good buck and kill it. The east slope actually got enough sun and wind to blow a lot of ridge tops off and get many animals feed. We did not walk away unscathed but it certainly was much better than most of the western winds/wyoming range/tetons etc. The deer will be up and moving during the rut so getting a lot of eyes looking at once is going to be all the help you need. Don't eat your tag up there, it's damn near a once in a lifetime draw and you will for sure see good bucks.

 

[Keithunts]

Hey Wyomingmuleyz,
How did you do on your hunt? My dad and I are also seasoned mule deer hunters with about the same kind of stats that you mentioned. We have 16 nonresident points. Wondering if this is a tag wort pursuing?

Thanks!
Keith

 

[wyomingmuleyz]

It was a fun hunt. Seen a pile of deer. Alot of decent bucks. 130-160. Even a true 160 was a little few and far between. Finding a buck over 170 was a real feat. I believe we seen 1 that broke 170. There were 3 killed that I know of. We figured in 8 days we seen 3500 deer and 400 bucks. We put miles and miles on sxs truck and foot. Glassed an enormous amount of country. There wasn't much snow uo high which some people said hurt the hunt. Talked to a few wardens they said it was a very average year for what they seen. I would hunt it again. But I would never think about burning that many points on it. There were non res guys eating their tags who put the work in. If you want to see deer and alot of good 4 points then it's a great hunt. Finding a buck over 180 you'd have to be very lucky. I shot this buck last day. Let me know if you decide to hunt it. I'd be willing to help.

 

[wyomingmuleyz]

 

[Kwmountainman]

Solid buck still!

 

[twdjr]

Congrats!

 

[mikkel318]

Thanks for sharing. Congratulation! I've been up in that country late season before and it is fun to see all of those bucks. It's always been a dream unit.