Budget OTC DIY Mulie hunts

[ib_reel]

Hey guys,

We've been traveling to western South Dakota over the past few years chasing mule deer with our archery tackle while camping on BLM lands. We've been able to do these trips for roughly $500.00 including tags. These trips have been great... however I've been wondering if there are any other OTC DIY budget hunts that you all think are worth some consideration embarking on in the future.

 

[hoshour]

Where are you traveling from? Are you interested in other species or just other states?

 

[okielite]

You could do similar just across the border. Camp on BLM, Toadstool, Ft Robinson, etc... Ft rob is nice as a simple park permit for a few $ will get you access to the showers and other facilities. Tags are OTC and deer numbers are coming back. I'd recommend the early season that starts Sept 1 or right before gun season the first week in Nov. I think the NR tags are a couple hundred $ and you can add antelope for around $150 and turkey tags for about $100. Pretty good hunt for the $.

 

[AT Hiker]

You could do similar just across the border. Camp on BLM, Toadstool, Ft Robinson, etc... Ft rob is nice as a simple park permit for a few $ will get you access to the showers and other facilities. Tags are OTC and deer numbers are coming back. I'd recommend the early season that starts Sept 1 or right before gun season the first week in Nov. I think the NR tags are a couple hundred $ and you can add antelope for around $150 and turkey tags for about $100. Pretty good hunt for the $.

I hunted Ft Rob for turkey this past spring and seen very few deer, I hunted mostly in the wilderness area. I seen a ton of deer in the Black Hills of SD though.

 

[okielite]

I hunted Ft Rob for turkey this past spring and seen very few deer, I hunted mostly in the wilderness area. I seen a ton of deer in the Black Hills of SD though.

That area was hit hard by EHD a few years ago. The whole place used to be crawling with deer, both MD and WT. The deer numbers are coming back. Especially in the NF to the East of Ft Rob. The BLM to the north also holds some deer and antelope. I was on a wheat field section the other night and we stopped counting at 300. Every one came off public land.

How did you do on Turkeys in the Wilderness? I usually just hunt the ones by the campground, but I'm pretty lazy when it comes to turkeys.

Another option you might look at is hunting Western Oklahoma. There are some mule deer out there and there are some pretty nice pieces of public land that dont' get hit hard during bow season. Tags are OTC and cheap if I remember correctly.
http://wildlifedepartment.com/facts_maps/wmastate.htm

 

[In God We Trust]

Check out Arizona in December or January. They have OTC archery tags and some units have muleys and coues deer. The deer are rutting in Dec and Jan in the southern units. Lots of public land and some good deer.

 

[ib_reel]

Thanks guys for the reply's... we are traveling out of Wisconsin usually the first week of October. Are Toadstool & Ft Robinson in Nebraska? Taking a newbie with us this year so trying to keep it reasonable on the adventure scale.

 

[Musket Man]

I would look at the regions in Wyoming you can draw with no points.

 

[AT Hiker]

How did you do on Turkeys in the Wilderness? I usually just hunt the ones by the campground, but I'm pretty lazy when it comes to turkeys.

http://wildlifedepartment.com/facts_maps/wmastate.htm

Good to know that deer numbers are rebounding.

Didnt kill a bird but herd a few in the wilderness, had one come in silent and we bumped him.

We went around May 5, so I think we missed the prime time. Birds gobbled on the roost and for about a hour or so after that. They did not work to our calls either.

When so u normally hunt there? I thought about going earlier this year.


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[okielite]

I dont' really hunt turkeys that much anymore because they are so plentiful in this area. I see them while driving pretty regularly and just dont' really get excited to hunt them. I usually just spot and stalk instead of trying to call them in when I go.