Maximize Your Success with Expert Mule Deer Hunting Strategies
The Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) is a deer indigenous to Western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large and resemble those of a mule. The Mule Deer had a peaking population of 6.5 million mule deer in the 1960’s but that number has been dramatically reduced down to 3.4 million as of 2024.
Mule Deer are considered to be the most at-risk deer species in North America and this loss is not without cause. Mule deer have suffered immense habitat loss, causing them to lose their precious winter grounds, seek out new winter corridors and otherwise compete with other ungulates.
Those factors combined with drought, severe winters, increase in predation, and increase in disease are some of the main factors killing our Mule Deer.
So if you ever hear an old timer say “deer hunting ain’t what it used to be” it’s because it isn’t. Unfortunately, our parents and grandparents had the pinnacle of chasing these muleys in the west. But that doesn’t mean Mule Deer hunting is completely vanishing, it just means tags are harder to get and deer are harder to find, especially that Big Ole’ Mossy Back, aka, a big mature buck.
You’ll have to work harder, go further, and not settle for that two year old off the main trail.
As you can tell I love Mule Deer, heck, I started a brand and channel called “Muley Freak”, and if I could only hunt one animal for the rest of my life it would be Mule Deer.
Below are 11 Mule Deer hunting tips that i've learned over the years that I’ve picked up along the way to hopefully help you increase your chances of taking down one of these majestic critters.
#11 - Hunt The Rut
Mule deer are one of the most elusive species to hunt except during the rut. You’ll see old mature bucks throw all logic out the window when they are on the trail of a hot doe. Just last year, that’s exactly the situation I had on my wife's second ever deer hunt (she was also 34 weeks pregnant at the time). We had hunted this area earlier in the year for weeks with other hunters and not once had we seen this deer.
That’s what is great about the rut, you’ll get new deer coming in and covering ground to find hot does to breed which is exactly what happened on the last day of my wife Jenessa’s hunt.
The temperature dropped significantly overnight and with plenty of hot does in the area this buck was tempted out of the safety of thick timber to get a little action.
This buck wasn’t on high alert like he normally would have been. I know this because I had my 2 and 3-year-old children being as loud as can be in the side-by-side. Even with all the commotion he had his mind set on one thing, and that was pushing out the button buck and getting back to his does.
The distraction of the little buck allowed my wife plenty of time to set up and get comfortable behind the 7PRC. After settling down, she slowly squeezed the trigger dropping this giant buck at 367 yards with a 175 gr ELD-X. The bullet hit him high in the lungs dropping him in his tracks. He ended up scoring 181 inches and has triple cheaters coming off his right side. This buck is one of my favorites of all time.
If you want to roll the dice on a late season hunt like this search for states and units that offer November and December archery, rifle, or muzzleloader hunts. The majority of western states offer some sort of late season rut hunt like this.
Watch our 11 best mule deer kill shots and tips below:
#10 Hunt Where People Aren’t
The majority of hunters out there want to do minimal effort and get the maximum outcome. With that being said, the bucks closest to the trail likely aren’t going to be there past opening weekend as hunters will likely shoot and harvest them first. If you really want a chance at that big Ole’ Mossy Back, you have to go further and get away from other hunters.
On a recent hunt, our very own Muley Freak Tyler was deep in the Idaho backcountry chasing bucks in the snow on another late season hunt. Going as deep in the backcountry as Tyler did can be risky because if there’s too much snow the deer will migrate out and head to lower elevations. But if you time it right and get just the right amount of snow, it can get the big bucks on their feet and out of their thick timber hideouts.
Tyler and his firefighter buddy Stephen were able to both harvest bucks while pushing through knee deep snow and dealing with extremely cold weather.
Being in tip top shape will help you go farther and increase your chances of harvesting a buck in the backcountry.
#9 Take Your Wife Mule Deer Hunting
While I don’t have proof of this, I believe the state game and fish agencies tend to favor women and children when it comes to drawing tags (which I think is cool). But whether that is true or not, it’s a fact that hunting with your wife is a great way to spend time together and help her realize why you love to hunt so much.
A few years ago my wife Jenessa and Tyler’s wife Kylie both had tags in their pockets in two different states granting Tyler and I a fantastic opportunity to spend time with the mothers of our children.
After a grueling hike in the Idaho backcountry during the general rifle season, Tyler and Kylie found a nice 4-point buck looking straight away. Kylie got set up and dropped him in his tracks from 203 yards away.
Jenessa’s first buck was a mature 3x4 feeding with a bunch of his does on a late season tag. She got set up, steadied the gun, controlled her breathing, and placed a perfect shot on the buck at 250 yards. He ran 20 yards before piling up from a 143 gr ELD-X out of the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Both Jenessa and Kylie have mentioned they cherish these memories even though hunting might not be their favorite hobby. Both Tyler and I’s kids think their moms are bad to the bone because of it too!
You can read all about Jenessa's first buck here.
#8 - Try New Areas
It’s easy to follow the traditions of your fathers and go to the same rock on the same hill on the same unit year, after year, after year. If that’s you, then you shouldn’t be surprised when year after year you get the same results - either you don’t see any deer or you see small deer every single year. Isn’t that the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over yet you want different results?
Sometimes you have to break the tradition, mix things up, and try new areas. A Few years ago while hunting the Wyoming backcountry we had been hunting the same spot all week and the pressure of other hunters was making the bucks timber up.
On the last day we decided to hike out and try a new area (which isn’t always easy especially when hiking in and out of steep country). Right before last light a 4-point buck fed out at 443 yards and I hammered him with the 7 PRC with a 175 gr ELD-X. I know if we wouldn’t have tried a new area, I would have been going home empty handed. So if your usual spot isn’t working out, try something new and you might be surprised by the outcome.
#7 - Hunt Mule Deer In Old Mexico
Maybe you didn’t draw a tag in your home state or maybe something came up in your schedule and you weren’t able to put in the time during normal Fall hunts. If this is the case, you may consider hunting Old Mexico. The great thing about Old Mexico is that it won’t disrupt your normal Fall hunts as Old Mexico Mule Deer hunts are typically in December and January which are post regular Fall hunts.
I’m not saying you’re guaranteed big bucks in Mexico, especially if you don’t do your research about your outfitter and conduct various reference checks. I had to weed through a few sketch ones myself before finding Spencer of Old Mexico Hunt Co. But, if you can nail the outfitter and get a good area, you have a dang good chance at hunting a giant.
The key to Old Mexico is being patient. You might go days without seeing much, but if you stick it out you might go home with a 200” class buck on the last day like I did.
#6 Management Tags
Didn’t draw a tag this year and you’re getting cabin fever? Or perhaps your freezer is getting low? Consider reaching out to landowners and outfitters in search of management buck tags. These tags are generally less sought after and cheaper since you have to shoot a buck deemed to be a “management” deer. A management deer is generally a big 2 or 3-point buck, a cactus buck, or a 4-point buck with crabby forks.
A few years ago after coming up empty handed in the draw, and needing to fill my freezer, I reached out to my buddy Murph who I had previously shot a giant buck with. Murph had an extra management tag and had a few different deer in mind he wanted me to take. We had this weird 2x3 with tons of mass that needed to be thinned from the herd and as we made a plan to get on him he bounded away before we could get a shot off.
When one door closes often another one opens. As we were walking across the field we looked down to see a buck staring back at us in the sagebrush. He was a big framed 3x4, pretty much exactly what we were looking for. This was a great buck to get out of the herd being that he was mature and breeding does.
I set up about 180 yards away with the 300 NORMA and let a 225 gr ELD-M fly. Through my scope I watched the buck disappear in the sagebrush. The moral of the story is that even if you don’t draw a tag, there are other opportunities out there to get you a great buck and to fill the freezer.
#5 Prepare For Mule Deer Country
If you are coming from a low elevation state to the mountains of the west, make sure you are prepared. Especially if you are doing a true mountain hunt.
Not to cast shade at my good buddy Seth from Hornady because I Iove the guy, but here’s a good tip for all you flatlanders. Seth came from Nebraska where the average elevation is 2,600 feet to hunt with us in Utah where the average elevation is 6,100 feet. But, up in the mountains it's even higher so catching your breath, or otherwise acclimating to the elevation can be hard no matter the shape you’re in.
My best advice is to stay in shape and come a day or two early to the hunt so as to get acclimated to your environment. If you don't get acclimated there's a chance of getting altitude sickness, which, if it gets too far out of hand can lead to permanent lung damage. There are medications and remedies to preparing for and recovering from altitude sickness. Come to know what they are.
Luckily for us, Seth was in good shape and able to run up the hill and make a perfect shot on this high mountain cheater buck!
#4 Try Different Hunting Methods
Using different weapons opens up additional opportunities. If you only hunt with a rifle, when you don’t draw rifle tags you will be out of luck. Get well versed with a bow and muzzleloader too so as to open your hunting opportunities.
Muzzleloader tags offer great hunting opportunities in some states, especially Utah. There are often leftover Muzzleloader tags as the season isn’t nearly as coveted.
Mostly gone are the days of the old flintlock and in are the days of modern tech. Modern day muzzleloaders have some mind blowing capabilities and are more accurate and shoot farther than ever before. With that being said, the rules on them are much stricter and are always changing. Be sure to check the state laws before you head out.
Here is a great article outlining common muzzleloader rules for different western states.
#3 - Take Youth Mule Deer Hunting
You may or may not know this, but many states have special draws, seasons, and tags for youth hunters. If you have children that are even moderately interested in hunting, you are crazy if you aren’t taking advantage of these!
Taking our youth hunting is extremely important, if we don’t get our youth involved there isn’t going to be a future generation of hunters. Couple that with all the tag opportunities out there for our youth you might as well get your kids going because, who knows, they could draw a tag of a lifetime.
We work with a couple of great nonprofits in Youth Hunters Voice and Hunts for the Brave whose goal is to get underprivileged youth and veterans out hunting. We were able to get Connor out on this late-season deer tag and he was able to harvest this stud 4-point buck that you see above. Still one of my favorite hunts on our channel. You can also read all about Connor, his struggles, how he overcame, and all about his mule deer hunt with us here.
Next, I was able to go out with my friend Judson and his dad and Jud made a fantastic shot on this mature buck. I loved going on this hunt because my own young kids were able to join and be a part of the adventure.
#2 Hunt Suppressed
Hunting suppressed has become more popular as lead times to obtain cans have significantly diminished. Silencers have a lot of benefits from protecting your ears from the loud concussion of a muzzle blast to reducing the rate at which the game becomes alarmed. It only adds a little extra weight to your rifle and it’s a lot more enjoyable to shoot. Your family, friends, and hunting buddies will thank you later.
A few years ago we carved out a day from our schedules to help our friend Paul on the last day of the season. He had been busy all Fall helping friends, family, and veterans on his hunt that he hadn’t taken the time to go out for himself.
While heading up one of our favorite deer canyons, we spotted an extremely heavy and tall buck pushing does around the hill Paul was able to prone out and smoke this buck and we were able to enjoy the show without having to worry about our ears getting blown out.
Our favorite suppressor is the KGM R30K can. Its light, low profile, and extremely quiet.
#1 - Hold Out For Mature Bucks
If you’ve never experienced buck fever you haven’t hunted. Oftentimes it doesn’t matter how big the buck is, it’s always exciting seeing antlers whether it’s a big buck or a button buck.
This is also why folks end up shooting smaller, more immature animals as they get too excited and end up shooting bucks that still need to develop. It’s important to have good glass and really evaluate if the buck you are eyeing is mature and one you want to shoot. Because the only real way to shoot a big buck is to pass on smaller ones. Don’t settle for something you don’t really want, otherwise, you’ll never shoot the buck of your dreams.
Pictured above is my brother Aaron Van Woerkom that did just that. He passed on a dozen smaller bucks in Colorado before finding this giant with multiple cheaters. A true dream buck.
"Don’t settle for something you don’t really want, otherwise, you’ll never shoot the buck of your dreams."
In Conclusion
I hope these 11 mule deer hunting tips and tricks help you when preparing for, and going on your next mule deer hunt. Reach out to us on social media or shoot us an email at support@muleyfreak.com if you ever have a question about gear or western hunting. Please tag us in your success photos this Fall - good luck.
