I posted this question on another forum and got mixed responses. I plan on going on my first high country mule deer hunt this fall. I have never done a high country hunt. Season opens mid Sept on a thurs, and I have a buddy with same points that wants to go along. My thinking was get there the weekend before season and scout for 3-4 days and hunt 3. He wants to get there later and only scout a day or partial day and hunt more. Is it better to scout more then hunt? I can take more time off then he can so I could extend my hunt if needed or if he decides not to go. Were not looking for the biggest deer in the unit but a good quality buck.
High Country Mule deer hunt
- Thread starter lostriverproductions
- Start date
mnhoundman
Veteran member
I agree, get some scouting in before the hunting starts. I did my first high country hunt 2 years ago and wished I would have had a couple more days to scout, once season opened the deer were alot harder to find with alot of people moving around. Or let them settle down and go the second week.
RICMIC
Veteran member
After building points for a couple years, and then the time and expense of traveling to hunt, I sure hate to cut it short on either end. I am retired, but the younger guys I hunt with always put time constraints when they climb onboard. My last WY deer hunt, we hiked in the day before season and then were snow/fogged in for three days. I would suggest that you find a way to take a summer vacation in the area of your hunt, and do some "summer camping". Find a spot that works for you, and return the day before season and hunt as long as possible. Do a lot of research before you go to narrow down areas to check out. If you are backpacking, you can park at trailheads and use the pack trails to start up the mountain, but at some point bush-wack to go were the horses don't. Good Luck.
Scouting is always good but you could spend all your scouting days socked in. Realize that opening day of deer season in the Wyoming backcountry isn't the same as opening day in your home state. If the reverse happens and your 3 days allotted for hunting are weathered out you might have some not so happy campers in your tent.
Last edited:
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
" WY ME " is exactly right " Wyoming backcountry isn't the same as opening day in your home state " I have done and do exactly what your are talking about. To have a " high country mule deer hunt " means getting up high and in Mid-Sept. that's where your probably going to need to be. I normally will pack in and allow for 2 days of scouting and then hunting hard. I would think 2 days would give you enough time if you do your homework. If you are committing 7 days to it nothing wrong with scouting 3 and hunting 4.
I try to get all the information and homework done before I take the first step and that saves me at least a 1 or 2 days. ( My opinion )
I try to get all the information and homework done before I take the first step and that saves me at least a 1 or 2 days. ( My opinion )
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,907
- 3,221
Here is some food for thought..
Having hunted waterfowl all of my life I can tell you with the utmost certainty that I hunt 25% of the time and scout the other 75%.
I dont always kill a limit but I rarely get skunked....
Could I have not scouted and killed as many birds? Maybe....but I doubt it.
Food for thought. Scouting ALWAYS pays off. Same principal applies for almost anything your hunting.
Cant kill what isnt there. And there isnt stuff to kill everywhere...
Having hunted waterfowl all of my life I can tell you with the utmost certainty that I hunt 25% of the time and scout the other 75%.
I dont always kill a limit but I rarely get skunked....
Could I have not scouted and killed as many birds? Maybe....but I doubt it.
Food for thought. Scouting ALWAYS pays off. Same principal applies for almost anything your hunting.
Cant kill what isnt there. And there isnt stuff to kill everywhere...
Work2hunt
Veteran member
Winchester
Veteran member
I agree with everyone that scouting is very important. But if the OP is limited to a total of about a week in the field, then every day he's scouting takes a day away from hunting on the other end. Why not scout for about a day and then continue scouting during hunting season ... in other words hunting. Call it "scouting with a weapon" if you want ... but if he see's something he'll be able to shoot it. Just my 2 cents.
Since this is your first high country hunt I'll venture to say that even if you don't pull the trigger you'll go back home having had a great time. IMO killing an animal way up high is only a small part of the experience, the hunt is everything.
I would recommend taking as much time as you can. Don't let your buddy cut your trip short. I would recommend scouting 2-3 days and hunting at least 7 days. 7 days will go by in a flash and you will feel 'short changed' when its gone, and you could have stayed longer. Also, there is so much time and effort invested in planning a trip like this, make sure you take enough time to enjoy it and soak everything in. On your first hunt, you will be learning so many new things and it will probably take you 3-4 days to get your feet under you and start figuring things out. Do your homework.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
IDELKFVR
Active Member
I agree scouting is a good thing but if your limited on the days you can hunt you might as well be hunting/scouting while you hunt.
My suggestion is more hunting time than scouting. Bad weather or other hunters showing up opening day that werent around during the scouting time can really ruin your plans. Cover quite a bit of country and find several good spots that have deer in them just incase plan A doesnt work out.
That's good advice from 7mag. Remember, just because you've scouted and found a great new place to hunt doesn't mean that you're the first to find it. Others may have been hunting the same spot for generations and don't need to scout out the area. They may show up in the dark on the first morning of your hunt. With a short 3 day hunt your options to move will be limited.
Its amazes me how this forum most recommend spending time to scout, while the other says spend more time hunting.
Well I am leaving my buddy at home. He wants to cut the trip to 3.5 days in WY, not wasting my time with that. SO I will be going solo if I can't talk another buddy to tag along. I plan to spend 5 days Min hunting with 2 min scouting.
Well I am leaving my buddy at home. He wants to cut the trip to 3.5 days in WY, not wasting my time with that. SO I will be going solo if I can't talk another buddy to tag along. I plan to spend 5 days Min hunting with 2 min scouting.
RICMIC
Veteran member
I think you nailed it LRP. I've been in the same boat several times, and it wasn't until I did my own hunt on my own terms that I found Nirvana. Compromises often have to be made, but you do have to draw the line somewhere.
Hilltop
Veteran member
To me this is an easy choice- If this is a firearm hunt, low impact scout a good 2 to 3 days and do your best to be in position on opening day. Weather and other hunters may ruin opening morning but that could happen at any point in a hunt. If this is an archery hunt, scout with bow in hand and be ready to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
A.j.
New Member
An extra day or 2 before season may help you figure out the water situation also. My first high country hunt we lost a day an a half back tracking to last water, couldn't find any up high.
Montana
Veteran member
Just a note to be mindful. I had to kick a backcountry Wyoming opener rifle to the curb this year. The unit opened mid September, the 15th.
Full moon... changed my plans.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Full moon... changed my plans.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk