Montana Mule Deer

Montana

Veteran member
Nov 3, 2011
1,104
400
Bitterroot Valley, MT.
I posted a thread a couple weeks ago about elk hunting. One thing I didn't mention is how I lost my mind when I spotted a muley buck I wanted someone to put down. We did, long good story, but to get to this story, I lose my mind over glassing and putting to bed mule deer. I don't care the size, bigger helps, but I can sit for 5 days and glass mule deer from sun up to sun down. We were averaging about 5-7 bucks a day and finally on the 4th day I found a shooter. First layed glass on him at 7:20am. I knew I wanted him and couldn't let him out of my sight. After about an hour anxiety started to build as he hadn't bedded yet and being on public land I thought for sure this would go south. Tempted to glass other country for a back up, but I knew I had to just stay focused and hope for some luck.

Finally he bedded at 8:45. My partner took over the spotter to see what happened if I were to blow the stalk. We do this everytime for a learning experience. I lightened my load and said wish me luck. Over a hour and a half later I was in position to crawl out to the edge of the rim. It was 10:20 and I was in excellent shooting position but he had just gotten out of his bed and began to push the 2 does he had bedded with. I hit him with my range finder and it read 457 yds. Checked my cheat sheet taped to my gun. 2nd reticle down 3 inch drop at 450, solid rest, gave my pathetic grunt and he looked back, quartering away... One shot and heard the wonderful thump, down he went. It was a proud perfect spot and stalk. And the fire continues to burn for glassing those dang muleys.

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fatkid

New Member
Nov 28, 2011
40
0
Great looking buck and one hell of a shot . We are thinking of trying our first ever out of state hunt next year . We planned on coming out to east MT but have heard that the past 3 winters were bad and mule deer numbers are down. Would you suggest still planning a trip there. none of us are rich so its gotta be a DIY style trip . we are actually just looking for a adventure more than three tags filled so any were will be great I am sure . if there were a area that u were to pick what area is it . thanks for your time guys and good hunting to all.

Fatkid
 

Montana

Veteran member
Nov 3, 2011
1,104
400
Bitterroot Valley, MT.
Yeah Vanish, that was a little weird:) Fatkid... Numbers are way down but we still have a lot of deer. Where I shot this buck numbers were down 60-70% but we still glassed about 5-7 bucks a day and if you are after a good time then you should be just fine. As far as where to go. You're on the right track, eastern MT. Stay away from Block Management, they are magnets for people, just do the normal stuff when scouting from out of state. Find public land on a map and pick a spot away from roads. I read your post on a spotter as well, and you must have one. I say find a used one, go in with your buddies and split the cost. Get as high quality as you can, then over the years buy your buddies out. Don't buy cheap glass if you are serious about bringing a spotter to your hunting strategy. Thats my 2 cents, may be all it's worth:) Good luck.