DIY Rifle mule deer

Retterath

Veteran member
Dec 24, 2013
1,440
1
South Dakota
I'm looking for a place to go mule deer hunting(rifle) in mt or maybe wyoming more towards the eastern part of montana, i hunted north and south of mile city a few years back and it seemed like the numbers were way down maybe I'm wrong. i hunted most of block management but was tough to get on cause the ranchers would only let so many people on at once at it seemed most of the good areas i found i was booked up for most of the time i was there. wondering where my best bet would be to find respectable mule deer on public land but maybe was thinking a national forest would maybe my best bet to get away from hunters that only hunt a 1/4 mile off the roads. I'm will backpack in as far as i need to find deer. or maybe i need to just start applying for a unit that has respectable deer and good numbers and just wait for my time to come. Thanks for any suggestions,help or info.Happing hunting to everyone!!
 

UT HNTR

New Member
Nov 4, 2013
10
0
58
Sacramento, Ca.
I think Eastern Montana might be struggling now. My cousin and a few others I know have hunted there for the last few years and last season was a bust. Don't know whats goin on but they're not goin back for a few years. Look at Colorado, plenty of respectable bucks and public lands. Good luck.
 

whiskeytango

New Member
Dec 10, 2013
11
0
The deer got hammered a few years ago with a late winter. It's been really tough there since then. They're still recovering and need to quit killing does over there for a few years to start. Throw in the EHD on the whitetails and you've got a double whammy. Deer numbers have been waayyyy down the last couple years.
 

AT Hiker

Very Active Member
Aug 2, 2012
638
0
Tennessee
If you are willing to backpack in somewhere, I suggest you purchase all maps for the area you plan to hunt and go from there. Worse case scenario is you backpack into some beautiful country and bring home some really cool pictures.