Hunting a mature mule deer?

[jay]

hey all, I have a question...in your experience have you guys tried to hunt a particular deer in velvet for archery or muzzleloader and get the slip and then try again for rifle when they're out of velvet. Do you generally find them in the same area or do they move to heavier timber/other areas. I know during velvet they are a little more tender and like to stay in the open as much as possible...just curious what you guys have witnessed. Thanks, J

 

[Tim McCoy]

Have hunted where they do not move at all, and others where they do. I think the answer depends in part on the deer herd, terrain, weather, and the time of year for the different seasons; and likely some other factors I am not aware of.

 

[jay]

thanks for your input Tim, anyone else...

 

[velvetfvr]

Depends on weather and terrain, but usually I can find bucks in velvet and out of velvet in the early season in the same places. When it gets to October and November they've moved or are moving around to find does.

 

[OldGuy]

+1 velvetfvr said.

 

[laxwyo]

I bumped my September 1st big buck once and never saw him again anywhere

 

[packer58]

In my experience once they drop the velvet they are a totally different animal, early summer bachelor groups tend to start breaking up and the individual animals become much more secretive. I'm not saying they leave the country but become more difficult to locate and track there movement patterns.

 

[laxwyo]

In my experience once they drop the velvet they are a totally different animal, early summer bachelor groups tend to start breaking up and the individual animals become much more secretive. I'm not saying they leave the country but become more difficult to locate and track there movement patterns.

I agree that elk do this a bit more since the rut is so close to rubbing antlers. No sense in scouting elk before August 15th.

I think deer it's all about pressure of any kind. Any buck will move a bit if bumped.

Unless you're the buck in my archery post. My dad bumped him two days before rifle and then could have shot him in the same bed on opening day

 

[velvetfvr]

I also have noticed, once deer are pressured they won't leave the area, just use the terrain differently and shift their patterna

 

[packmule]

The ones I'm typically looking for are going to be really close to the same area in velvet and in Nov.....surprisingly there's not many people looking for them.

 

[TimberJunkie]

This is a tricky endeavor. Especially if weather pushes a deer around, or down to lower elevation. I have been lucky enough to see the same buck later in the year, but it's just that "luck". In Oregon we have to choose bow or rifle, we can't be unsuccessful in bow season and use our tag for rifle. Although some units have a late bow season which is during the rut. It seems the Blacktails start to migrate for the rut, and one particular deer can be very hard to locate. We are on the Westside of Oregon and it's not very open, so just spotting a few bucks makes you successful, let alone spotting the same buck. For muleys and whitetail, this is more likely of a situation, I have watched the same muley buck for 30 to 40 days in a row and he NE error went more than two miles. They are pretty habitual. Good luck.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Too many variables ......

The bucks above timberline will move with the snow. Ones down lower in farm country, not so much. As soon as the rut starts, all bets are off.

 

[ivorytip]

Too many variables ......

The bucks above timberline will move with the snow. Ones down lower in farm country, not so much. As soon as the rut starts, all bets are off.

all right here

 

[sundevil180]

I saw the largest buck I have ever seen a couple seasons ago with the elk rut going strong. Actually was stalking a bugling bull and walked in on him bedded. Made me wish I have drawn for my deer tag!


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