I think one reason many people are drawn to mule deer is because glassing for them is fun. I think in some cases we can actually spend too much time glassing but when the conditions are right, no other technique will show you more deer.
If you’ve got good optics, clear weather (especially after a storm) and a vantage point where you can see up to five miles, glass throughout the day if possible. These were the exact conditions I had (along with temps hitting 5 below zero,) so it was all hands on deck:
Vortex 15×56 Kaibab HD Tripod Binoculars
Swarovski ATS 25-50 x 80mm Spotting Scope
Swarovski 8×42 EL Range Binoculars
I found an area that I could glass from the truck and with only a move or two, could cover approximately a four-square mile area. It paid off in spades as I saw the most deer since my arrival (30-50) and two 170″+ bucks. Not quite what I’m looking for yet, but encouraging to see multiple quality bucks in the area.
Here’s a quick video
Win a Vortex Diamondback 3-12 x 42 with BDC Reticle (1-inch tube.)
I really liked this scope but due to bolt clearance (and lack of time to search for other solutions,) I had to switch to the Viper 3-9 x 40 for this hunt. This scope is still nearly new and one lucky Rok Blog subscriber will win it. Anyone who’s considering a rifle for western hunting at all ranges to 700 yards (probably farther for some guys) will really like this scope. Thanks to Vortex, you could own it.
Entry Rules:
To enter, post a comment or question in the comment section at the bottom of the blog during any day of this hunt. You can post as often as you’d like but only one entry will be counted per person in the preliminary drawing. Be sure and use your Rok Blog screen name (i.e. JNeilson, Mike W. etc) so I can match you up on our subscriber list (haven’t subscribed yet? just look for “Subscribe to blog,” upper right under Fitness/Other Links).
There will be a preliminary drawing and a final drawing. Everyone is considered for the preliminary drawing. I’ll draw five names. If you make that list, you’ll be contacted via email (you’ll have 24 hours to respond.) If you can show that you shared any day of this hunt on your Facebook page before I contacted you, I’ll enter you twice for the final drawing. Don’t have a Facebook page? No worries, you can still win, but your odds won’t be as good as those who do.
Since you never know how long these hunts can go, don’t wait too long to get entered. Good luck and thanks for following.
Read all about the research, gear, and techniques I use in my new book, Hunting Big Mule Deer, How to Take the Best Buck of Your Life
Just curious, what bullet in the 7mm did you use the most over the years?
Good luck out there!
I always like following these public land rut hunts of yours, keep em coming for years to come! I incorporated more still hunting and ambush hunting this season and had good results.
What do you use to cover the end of the barrel in rain/snow?
Good Luck! Following along with every update.
Scot, my longest run was with a Speer 160 grain Boat tail. It was the most accurate bullet in my Weatherby for years- even after trying about 6 others brands. Once the gun’s throat started to show wear and my accuracy begin to falter, I switched to the Berger Classic Hunter 168 gr. Accuracy came right back and although I only got to shoot 1 big buck (a 300-lb Idaho buck), performance was great with that bullet (plus many of the Rokslide writers and members really like Berger). That is why I went straight to the same bullet in the 270 WSM, except in 130 gr.
Nothing like a good snow storm to get the animals moving. That’s usually when I have seen the biggest deer! Good Luck!!!
Ron, duct tape. I keep about 4 inches rolled up in my pack for that purpose.
Good to hear you’re trying some new techniques- there is life beyond glassing and just hiking around 😉
Im watching this intently everyday trying to learn more about the late season migration habits, Im a diehard bowhunter so I don’t hunt this late in the season in Oregon. My 14 year old daughter loves to rifle hunt though so I have to venture out into the cold and the bad weather. She drew a late season deer tag and we ventured into an area ive never hunted during December. Well I got my first experience of deer migration out of the higher country. It was almost desolate of deer, after walking most of the day we only spotted a few deer. without doing this before I never considered that the deer migrate out of the area. I also was very thankful that I had chains in the truck, I never would have made it back up the road without chaining up. Good luck on your hunt.
Yes Daniel, very common experience and why these hunts aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. But the good news is that once you find them, the action can be intense
Looking forward to following your hunt, thanks for doing this blog, hopefully I can apply some of your tactics to my NM deer hunt come January.
Good luck Robby! Looks like great hunting weather.
Good luck. Enjoying the videos.
You just need to find some higher rings an the scope will clear the bolt had same problem when I mounted mine on my ruger wsm
Yo
Dave Esplin you need to get higher scope rings an it will clear your bolt I had the same problem when I mounted the same scope on my Ruger short mag
What tripod and head are you using for the setup? Anything window mounted either since from the truck? Knock ’em down
Good luck!
Good luck! Looks like great weather.
Best of luck Robby. When you find a good vantage point to glass. How long do you glass before moving on?
Thanks for sharing this hunt. My hunts are over for the year. This is as close as I can get for a while..
thanks for sharing the hunt.
Hi Dave, I went to the highest scope mounts I could find at the time (and still have good cheek weld) and still only had marginal clearance. That’s why I dropped to the smaller eyepiece on the Viper.
J Trevor, using a Manfrotto Tripod head paired with a Vanguard carbon tripod. Window mount is a good old Bushnell. There will be pics of that coming up.
Not sure if you hunt the same spots/state every year but do the food sources change year to year depending on weather/snow/temps? I know the snow can push them down but food and water are important. Or is the rut, cover dictating where the animals will be this time of year? Wondering what you are starting to pattern.
Chris, I hunt all over the West. As the frost hits in September and starts killing the vegetation, the diets of mule deer do change. However, I’m no expert on what they’re eating and is why I spend so much time looking for actual deer or their sign (rubs, tracks, beds, etc.) as it’s time better spent. In most units there is far more feed than deer so as long as I’m in deer country, I’m looking for the deer first, feed sources second. To your question, in most units the weather (temps and snow depth) are the driving factors to where the deer will be, although some units are date-dependent meaning the calendar starts the migration, not the weather (that’s why you gotta know your particular deer herd.) Stay tuned throughout the hunt for examples of this. Thanks
Awesome hunt so far! I always enjoy keeping. up with your hunts
Justin, there are no formulas or certain amount of time I can say as it depends on what I’m seeing, weather, time of day, other prospects in the area, time of year etc, so I can only give you an average time. Probably 1-4 hours on a good vantage point although I’ve stayed on some for an entire weekend.
Thank you. In the midwest food source and bedding are the key and rut is pretty much the same time every year. Yes I will be following this throughout as I have done okay out west but need to up my game so to speak.
Much good information on this blog.
So much tribal knowledge you are sharing! Thanks!
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