Good call Montana, that was one of my future checks, I wasn't sure if the moon effects them the same way as here in the midwest.
Now this has me in a tight spot as I already have 2017 and 2018 planned out.
High Country Mule deer hunt
- Thread starter lostriverproductions
- Start date
Now this has me in a tight spot as I already have 2017 and 2018 planned out.
Montana
Veteran member
I'm not sure it would hold me back if it was a planned trip. But if I was weighing out options, which I was, it could be a game changer. I have had some great September full moon hunts, including this buck, the key was the weather. Warm weather and a full moon could shut it down quickly.
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Freedom_KY_Hunter
New Member
This will be my first every hunt (assumption is that I get drawn), and I'm archery hunting. Was planning on hunting 10 days in northeast WY, with about 2-3 days spot and stalking. This sound about right? Also, I've been practicing 50 yard shots, and not entirely comfortable, but good enough, that sound reasonable? To be perfectly honest, I'm really apprehensive b/c this is so different than our hunts here in KY. Any advice is most certainly recommended. These forums have been a godsend to me.
Elkhunter96
Active Member
I always practice further than I ever plan on shooting. With the bows these days, they shoot a lot better than the older archery gear I started with.
Unless its hot and you are sitting on a water hole, spot and stalk may be the whole hunt. But that's just my opinion.
Unless its hot and you are sitting on a water hole, spot and stalk may be the whole hunt. But that's just my opinion.
Hilltop
Veteran member
Freedom, I hate to discourage anyone from a hunt but I'm not sure a high country archery mule deer hunt in grizzly country is a good choice for your first hunt out west? If you do go, hire a guide or take a friend or two, hunt as long as you can afford to, and shoot only as far as you feel comfortable making a good shot. Some limit themselves to 30 yards while others shoot out to 80+. Good luck
mnhoundman
Veteran member
There are grizzlies in NE Wyoming!! Haha just messing with ya, must have read it wrong! Great advice on bow range.
Hilltop
Veteran member
Rollin
New Member
I've had mixed succes hunting mid September. One year hunting WY in one of the western general areas we hiked in 3 days early, tried to not disturb anything, spotted about 10-15 bucks, and the day before the season the horses and camps rolled in and alot of the bucks got kicked over the ridge into the woodwork. Enough bucks stayed and we had a good hunt, but the bucks that stayed were in places that horses couldn't get close to.
If you're hiking try to use that to your advantage and find terrain horses won't go that still includes some cover and feed. The advice on going in the summer is actually really important if you can do it. There is nothing like a good afternoon summer rain storm that clears before dark that will get about every deer on the mountain up and feeding.
Good luck on your hunt
If you're hiking try to use that to your advantage and find terrain horses won't go that still includes some cover and feed. The advice on going in the summer is actually really important if you can do it. There is nothing like a good afternoon summer rain storm that clears before dark that will get about every deer on the mountain up and feeding.
Good luck on your hunt
Rollin
New Member
Ok just saw you are archery hunting only.. You shouldn't have to worry about many other people. Have a good hunt
julia
New Member
I also love to hunt deer and deer eat grilled meat. I will learn from the experience of people in this topic.
Freedom_KY_Hunter
New Member
Not going to lie, Hilltop had me pretty worried about Grizzlies! I appreciate the advice though, thanks Rollin. I am going to try to get out there late July, early August to scout/get used to the layout, etc. Probably will try to go late September, but will be packing in pretty deep...or that's the plan.
Mules give you a little bit of time to shoot with your bow? Like maybe 3-4 seconds of staring at you trying to figure out what you are?
Mules give you a little bit of time to shoot with your bow? Like maybe 3-4 seconds of staring at you trying to figure out what you are?
Hilltop
Veteran member
Sorry about that Freedom lol. My mistake. I still say the hunt you are planning is a challenge but you should have a great time if you allow yourself to.
Mature mule deer don't hang around long once they figure you out but they will occasionally pause long enough for a shot. I watched my buddy make a 2 hour stalk in a cut corn field this year on a bedded buck. He got within 30 yards by crawling on his belly down the rows. That buck didn't pause when my buddy drew his bow at all... he went from sleeping to full run instantly. 2 days earlier I had one pause for several seconds while I sent an arrow perfectly over his back due to a wrong yardage guess. I think it just depends on the mood of the deer. The buck I shot at was distracted by a doe. My buddies that ran was all alone and obviously jumpy.
To elaborate on shooting practice; I recommend practicing at very long ranges with large targets. I like to practice out to 100 yards during the summer and fall. I typically set my max on a deer at a much shorter range but that long practice makes the 40-50 yard shots feel much shorter.
Freedom_KY_Hunter
New Member
Hilltop, a couple things I've got going for me is that my buddy that's killed a muley the past 2 years has kept gps recordings of when he spotted and killed them in the area that I've put in for, so I've kinda got an idea where they are at that time of the year. I'd like to be in that general area for them. Plus, my buddy has a good friend that is a guide that throws him a bone and tells him (free of charge) where he's spotted some...mind you this is all public land that I'll be hunting.
As for the shooting, I'm good at 50 yards within 4-6" circle, been practicing standing on my truck bed at the target, straddling the truck bed shooting and shooting from one knee, etc. Don't think I want to go much further in yards, than that though...knowing my luck, I'll have a MONSTER at sixty yards.
As for the shooting, I'm good at 50 yards within 4-6" circle, been practicing standing on my truck bed at the target, straddling the truck bed shooting and shooting from one knee, etc. Don't think I want to go much further in yards, than that though...knowing my luck, I'll have a MONSTER at sixty yards.
easy to do when a thread goes to the opposite side of the state lol. East side is way different then the mountains of the west.
Freedom_KY_Hunter
New Member
racksackssales
New Member
Make several trips track hunting, operational your way each trip higher toward the timberline. You will find your coverage area expands exponentially the farther up you go, so contemplate in areas you think you would like to hunt. Check out water holes and follow any trails you can find.
Joseph
Active Member
If I had only a week set aside to hunt I would want to hunt the whole week. Get there a day before opener set up camp, do a bit of scouting and then hunt the rest. That's just me though, I know scouting is important but I'd rather be able to have a rifle in hand and be hunting for that week. It would be better if you could get there for a summer scouting trip but I know how that goes with only so much holiday time, family, summer projects, previous plans, etc. Best of luck and have fun, my backpack trips into the alpine for mule deer are by far and away the highlight of my season. Fortunately I live in an area where within an hour I can be at the trailhead and into spectacular alpine areas with few if any hunters.
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trkytrack2
Active Member
Pretty sure there aren't any grizzlies where the OP said he's planning on hunting in the Northeast part of Wyoming. That's the Bighorn's and the Black Hills area...no grizzlies there.
racksackssales
New Member
Most importantly before setting out, earmark key landmarks to help you locate your chosen target once again, especially if that buck occupies tight cover or when circling widely.