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Washington State Mule Deer Tips
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Gear
Some hunters have been able to effectively use tree stands for mule deer. This will work especially well if you set up on a migration trail and have some patience. HWS staff
More and more timber company lands are being gated. Buy a nice mountain bike and pedal into the area. You’ll be amazed at how much area you can cover. If you are handy or go to the local bike shop, you can have the freewheel noise disabled for a really silent bike. HWS staff
Be careful when hunting snowy logging roads. Carry chains (even if you have a 4 x 4) a portable hand winch, survival gear and the like. It does not take much to get yourself stuck way back, far away from help. HWS staff
When bowhunting Mule deer, keep spare arrows and even a spare bow. This country is rough and you do not want to possibly ruin your entire hunt because something went wrong with your bow or supply of arrows. HWS staff
Bring an inexpensive digital camera with you. The pictures will prevent your hunting buddies from lying or for them thinking you are a liar. Hint: (You can use photo editing software later to either add or subtract details from your hunting pictures.) HWS staff
Don’t skimp on a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope. The best way to hunt Mule deer is to find a spot that allows you to see the biggest portions of a drainage and sit down and glass… glass… glass… The better your optics the better chance of you seeing that deer. HWS staff
Gather some vegetation from the area you plan to hunt. Store all of your hunting clothes in garbage bags with the vegetation. Even your underwear, pack, etc. This is the best scent mask I have found. (tip: courtesy Jeff D)
Habitat
Mule Deer in Washington State reside only in the Eastern side of the State. Their close cousins, the Blacktail deer, reside only on the West side. There are some “cross” deer in the areas around White Salmon and along the Cascade Crest. Pay attention to the hunting regulations to know if the deer in your hunting unit are considered Blacktails or Mulies “officially” HWS staff
Mule deer populations are beginning to decline in Washington State, due to a number of factors including an exploding Whitetail population and increased land development in sensitive wintering areas. HWS staff
In units where Whitetails and Mule Deer are found together look for the whitetails down low and the mulies up high. HWS staff
Rut bucks will be around does, look for the doe. HWS staff
During the rut (Late Nov through Early Dec) Bucks will build harems of 4 or more does. Watch for the solitary doe as this could mean that the doe has temporarily broken off from the harem and is in estrus. The buck will be close by. HWS staff
Buckbrush is the preferred browse for Mule Deer in the late fall and winter. You will see mule deer hanging around buckbrush, especially when there is snow on the ground. HWS staff
Gated areas are becoming hot spots with untouched areas available for hunting. HWS staff
When hunting in deep snow, pay more attention to the Southern exposure sides of the hills. The Southern exposure will tend to have significantly less snow and therefore more deer. Subsequently, just because an area you have encountered has a huge snow cover, there could be isolated pockets up higher with absolutely no snow on them. HWS staff
When hunting Mule Deer in Washington State, it is advantageous to hunt from the highest point down… Mule deer will typically spend the day on benches high on the side of hills and will watch for trouble coming from below. Many Mule deer can be spotted in these beds and can be stalked up on. Most of these benches will be difficult to see from below, but will stand out like a sore thumb from above. HWS staff
Mule Deer will hang out in bachelor pockets up high in the mountains. Most of these pockets are going to be in wilderness areas or miles and miles away from roads. Consider one of the early rifle high buck hunts. The success rates can vary, but, the biggest Mule deer bucks are going to be up in these areas. HWS staff
Mule deer are very aware of the scent they leave behind and are continuously watching their backtrail. Mule deer almost always bed downwind from their backtrail by looping back on their trail. Try to not hunt the trail but hunt 50 to 70 yards downwind of a known trail. (courtesy Mike D.) Here is a diagram of how they bed.
Mule deer have large ears for a reason. They can hear very well and over long distances. Pay attention to the noise you make. It has also been said that Mule Deer have the best eyesight of any mammal in the US outside of the Pronghorn Antelope. Be aware of this and do not let mule deer see you. Courtesy Mike D
Older and wiser Mule Deer tend to hold in their beds more than a younger buck or doe. The Buck that gets shot most often is the one that moves. Go slowly through Mule deer territory. Do not assume that the deer you spooked out of that draw were the only deer in there. Courtesy Mike D
Deer are diurnal, meaning that they are most active at dusk and dawn. Cloudy days increase the time that a deer will spend in the open as the lower light levels will be more spread out. (courtesy Mike D)
When observing browse or feeding areas, remember that the lighter the color of the nipped shrub or twig, the fresher the sign. Older browse browns with age. (courtesy Mike D)
Mule deer tend to hit the tall timber during stormy weather. During these stormy days, still hunt the timber.
Mule Deer have a special ability of bounding to move up and across nasty terrain efficiently. For this reason alone, Mule deer will often bed in blow downs and really nasty tangles. Look for these areas and watch carefully. Mule deer bank on the idea that hunters think that blowdowns and seemingly impenetrable tangles will not hold deer. They will hold in these areas really tightly, be prepared to see parts of antler tines or be prepared for the spooked buck and a quick opportunity for a shot. (courtesy Mike D)
When deer approach a waterhole or a water crossing, they will slow down and scan the area considerably. Use these areas to ambush a deer. (courtesy Mike D)
Mule deer crop damage complaints are rising in the areas around Vineyards. Use a wine tour to scout for new areas to hunt. You might find a willing winemaker to allow you access to their land to stop the mulies from munching on their prized vines.
Techniques
Hire a guide for one season. Chances are that guide will teach you more during your hunt than you would learn from years of "trying to figure it out on your own." Guides are willing to teach and are getting paid to give you all their attention. Most guides will be flattered if you continually pick their brains for information.
Wait along the fringes of clear-cuts, just inside the timber. HWS staff
Get out of your vehicle and walk away from the road. Mule deer are smart, they recognize vehicle sounds and vary their routine accordingly. You will find deer by driving logging roads, but, you will see many more quality animals by simply walking along a clear-cut or up a closed logging road. HWS staff
Use a crowded hunting day to your advantage. Find a bench or a saddle in the area you are hunting, get there before first light and wait for other hunters to kick the deer in your direction. HWS staff
When the snow flies… go hunting! There is nothing better than tracking deer in fresh snow. The snow starts falling typically during the late hunts (November and December.) HWS staff
Mule deer have a tendency to bound away when spooked. Many times they will stop and look at their back trail to see if you are in pursuit. This trait could present an opportunity with a lucky enough hunter. HWS staff
Conditions during late season hunting will be weather dependent. Six inches of
snow will get the deer moving, depths greater than 12-14" typically move
deer out. If there is not significant snowcover, deer will have moved
close to winter ranges, but not necessarily onto winter ranges, in that case, I would concentrate my efforts between 2000-3,500' elevation. If there is significant snow cover, you should be able to see plentiful deer in open, south-facing areas by glassing between
1,000-2,000'. If snow is absent, deer will be in and along forested edges,
and more difficult to see. Both scenarios presume fog has not set in,
which sometimes happens in Muley areas; should that occur, you would be
well-advised to seek areas above or below the fog belt, if at all possible.On sunny days, hunt from the shadows. Never stop with the sun beating down on you, this is a great way for deer to see you.
When scouting look at areas where you see tall horse fences around gardens, orchards, and the like. More than likely, that homeowner has a deer or elk problem. You may have a pretty good shot at getting on their land to hunt their nuisance deer.
Be aware of how you are hunting mulies... You typically cannot pattern them like you can a whitetail. The most effective way to hunt mulies is by spot and stalk, period.
When tracking a deer, pay attention to its tracks in the dirt or snow. A meandering path signals a deer which is feeding or is looking for a place to bed. A straight path signals that a deer is on the move and is moving from one point or other. A path which is straight but shows the deer stopped and turned around is a sign that a deer knows it is being stalked. A spooked mule deer will leave tracks that show all four hoof prints near each other. Mule deer bound when spooked. The bounding allows the mule deer to cover a significant amount of territory without regard to blow downs, creeks, and the like (courtesy Mike D)
Get in the habit of erasing deer tracks you come upon in areas that you will hunt more than 1 day. By erasing those prints, you will be able to tell with great precision when new tracks were made.
When hunting open draws, get above likely brushy bedding areas and throw pebbles into the tangle. Oftentimes even small brushy areas will hold a bedded buck just waiting for you to walk right by. (courtesy Mike D)
Some hunters have been able to successfully rattle Mule Deer. Mule deer tend to not be as aggressive before, during or after the rut as whitetails or blacktails. Rattle softly and focus on knocking around saplings and brush which is how real bucks react with other bucks in the area. (courtesy Mike D)
When looking over terrain for bucks. Watch for things other than deer. Bucks will rub on saplings which make the tree move. Also, deer moving through tall brush will move the brush as they walk. Look for these signs and you will find a chance at seeing deer. (courtesy Mike D)
If at all possible, try to hunt mule deer from the top of a ridge down. Mule deer tend to bed on benches which have a good vantage point of the terrain below. They rarely look above unless that is a common direction where hunters come from in the area. (courtesy Jeff L)
Miscellaneous___________________________________
Get in shape! You need to be in shape to trudge through Washington State Mule Deer country. HWS staff
Washington Mule deer reside in the east-side of the state. HWS staff
Keep alcohol back at camp or the hotel. Guns and booze never mix. HWS staff
Be careful when hunting snowy logging roads. Carry chains (even if you have a 4 x 4) a portable hand winch, survival gear and the like. It does not take much to get yourself stuck way back in the woods, far away from help. HWS staff
When scouting look at areas where you see tall horse fences around gardens, orchards, and the like. More than likely, that homeowner has a deer or elk problem. You may have a pretty good shot at getting on their land to hunt their nuisance deer.