I am new to forums and am looking to use my 9 points for a rifle Mule Deer hunt. Looking to do DIY on public land. Does anyone have any good suggestions on a unit to start researching that would be worthy of 9 points? Any suggestions would much appreciated.
9 Mule Deer points
- Thread starter Dakota Kid
- Start date
sneakypete
Veteran member
mattdeere
Active Member
Looking at the Eastman's MRS in the magazine, WY Deer units 89 and 90 are listed as top areas. Just remember, even with max points the draw odd are very low. It could take several years to draw one of those tags, even with max points.
I would suggest buying a subscription to the Eastman's magazine to help with your research.
Good Luck
I would suggest buying a subscription to the Eastman's magazine to help with your research.
Good Luck
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I have been trying to draw 90 for several years with max points every year with no success. The odds are very low even with max points, can't remember exactly but I think around 1 to 2 %.
I have been a subscriber for a long time. I hunted Antelope in Unit 74 which is the east part of 90 for Mule deer and didn't see much for deer let alone quality bucks. I did shoot a nice Antelope though. Just looking for a few more opinions for researching other than the blue chip areas that are recommended in the MRS, or reconfirming the blue chips.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Deer numbers are way down in WY. Im not sure any hunt is worth 9 points right now. Hopefully it will improve in the next few years.
Still in the process of doing research for my Max WY Mule Deer points. Just checking in with everyone to see if anyone has an update as to if there is a unit that is worthy of max points for a NR DIY hunter. Has the 2014 season changed anyone's minds on the outlook of Mule Deer quality in WY?
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I have hunted 74 for antelope since the 80's. It took me 20 years to actually see any deer. Hunting antelope is a long way from looking for deer. I accidentally stumbled on a very small area that had some really great bucks in it. I have been trying to draw it since then. I was there in 2012 and saw 12 or 13 bucks and 3 were definitely shooters IMHO. Unit 90 is really a difficult draw, even with a special tag and max points.
I am looking for another unit also.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
You are in the max point pool if you have 9. I have two sons in that pool as well and one at 8. We are most likely going to sit on our points a couple more years. There are a couple units I think may be promising in a couple more years. Looking at the draw odds (look for the worst), and you can very quickly narrow the top 5 units, if you're up to it, give the biologist a call and see if anything is turning on.
I see points like money in the bank, it's ready to spend when the time is right. Too many guys burn them as soon as they can draw. No reason to burn them even when you can draw, wait for the right year to do it. The cool thing about Wyoming is the app is not due until late (May 31 this year I believe) so you can have a good idea of the moisture conditions and how the deer carried over the winter. Checking a moon phase calendar you can see if you will have a darker moon to hunt as well on the peak days (typically the last 3 on a October 31 closer).
The cool thing about max deer points is virtually all deer hunts have good draw odds with max points. That's a super nice spot to be in when the timing is right. This year (2014), the worst draw odds, with max points, on a "special" tag in any unit was better than 1 in 4 (27%). That's a great place to be, when it's the right time to draw. Sure it costs a few bucks a year to buy points ($30 I recall), but that is about 0.3% to 0.5% per year compared to the price of a premium landowner deer tag ($10,000 to $6000). For that minimal investment you are ready to jump on a tag when the timing is right. We were in that position when Colorado got hot for deer and it was a good place to be.
I see points like money in the bank, it's ready to spend when the time is right. Too many guys burn them as soon as they can draw. No reason to burn them even when you can draw, wait for the right year to do it. The cool thing about Wyoming is the app is not due until late (May 31 this year I believe) so you can have a good idea of the moisture conditions and how the deer carried over the winter. Checking a moon phase calendar you can see if you will have a darker moon to hunt as well on the peak days (typically the last 3 on a October 31 closer).
The cool thing about max deer points is virtually all deer hunts have good draw odds with max points. That's a super nice spot to be in when the timing is right. This year (2014), the worst draw odds, with max points, on a "special" tag in any unit was better than 1 in 4 (27%). That's a great place to be, when it's the right time to draw. Sure it costs a few bucks a year to buy points ($30 I recall), but that is about 0.3% to 0.5% per year compared to the price of a premium landowner deer tag ($10,000 to $6000). For that minimal investment you are ready to jump on a tag when the timing is right. We were in that position when Colorado got hot for deer and it was a good place to be.
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Havn't applied for 90 since 2012. Just went to the Wyoming website and checked the last 3 years drawing odd. Interesting thing is that the odds are getting better with still about the same number of tags, just seems to be fewer applicants.
2012-- Spec- 21%; Reg - 17%
2013- Spec - 55%; Reg - 23%
2014- Spec - 100%; Reg - 42%
I'll see how everything shakes out, might just apply this year. Depends on my Colorado hunts and what I apply for. September & October could be very busy!
2012-- Spec- 21%; Reg - 17%
2013- Spec - 55%; Reg - 23%
2014- Spec - 100%; Reg - 42%
I'll see how everything shakes out, might just apply this year. Depends on my Colorado hunts and what I apply for. September & October could be very busy!
libidilatimmy
Veteran member
As another option, you could take a look at the few late season hunts that are offered (Nov.) These tags usually produce good deer fairly consistently. The reports I've heard out of the central units weren't very good this year, as has been the trend for the last 2-3 years.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
The trend really hasn't been very good anywhere in Wyoming or the other western states the last few years and it's a crap game hoping that it will change in the foreseeable future. I'm glad I didn't build max PPs for mulies and I'm getting out while the getting is as good as it might be in my lifetime.
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I replied earlier, but not sure what happened to the reply. Anyway thank you all to who replied back the units that I am kind of looking at are 90, 89, 87, 109. Does anyone have any opinions on if any of these are good units for max points on if it would be a waste of points, or any other units that I should look at doing research on?
Thanks for everyone's help and have a happy New Year!
Thanks for everyone's help and have a happy New Year!
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
90 has a good reputation but is way down.
89 is not typically as good as 90.
87 is a good hunt for 160 class bucks. My wife hunted there as well as a friend in the last few years. I didn't burn my max points there after my wife hunted it.
109 may be worth doing more research on.
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Shooter
Active Member
If you don't want to hunt G or H I would apply for the 105,106,109 cluster. No way is 128, 119, 102, 101, 90, 89, 87, or any other limited unit worth max pts.