new to mule deer

[83mulligan]

Hey all. have a question about how to approach a hunting area. I'm invited on a hunt to wyoming. Lease is about 20,000 acres. it is mostly high desert area with a main ridge 200 ft. or so higher than rest of property that runs north and south about a mile off highway. South end of this ridge has scattered pines on top that run about a mile north and south. I'm thinking deer will feed in lowland by highway at night then head for ridge at daybreak. I'm wondering if they will go up over the ridge and bed on east side or stop on west side. Also, there are some long draws and coulees east of ridge. Thoughts on where to set up and how far from ridge. I'm new to this. Have good glass and am trying to pull a strategy for a 5 day hunt.

 

[Matthoek21]

83mulligan,
There are some great guys on this forum and you will learn a lot. One bit of ettiquite they like on here is to introduce yourself in the New Members Section. So if you will head on over and tell us a little bit about yourself, ie. where your from and a little background on your hunting style. Then guys are more apt to help you out.
Regards,
Matt

 

[83mulligan]

Matt,

Thanks for the heads up. I'll head over and do that right now!

 

[Matthoek21]

No problem bud. Sorry I can't help you on your question but someone will I'm sure. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[Tim McCoy]

What time of year are you hunting? Are there any crop, alfalfa, or hay fields? Can the folks that invited you give you an idea of general game movement on that ranch? Find the ranch on google earth, it helps.

Myself, I'd probably scout day one at least half a day, and cover a bunch of country, via a road and glass. I'd be looking for deer out at daylight, see if I could find a few bucks, get an idea of how they use the ranch. Might just end the hunt if you see what you want. Then hunt a couple of the more promising areas. How they use the ridge may depend on the weather/wind, tough to say from here. Sometimes those open country hi-desert bucks will just lay down in a sage flat, sometimes almost bury themselves on the bottom in a cut bank. Walking that ridge mid-day, slowly, can be effective too. Good luck.

 

[83mulligan]

Thanks Tim. The guys i'm going with have been hunting the ranch the past several years. its an Oct 1 - 5 hunt. They have had success north of there glassing west towards the highway and stalking bedded or intercepting bucks. There are several of us, so i'm going to go south and try something different. Nearest alfalfa or ag is 3 miles or so sw. I'm really pumped and want to shoot a good 4 x 4 or better. I've been to this ranch once a couple years ago but hunt was cut short by a blizzard.

 

[lostinOregon]

They will bed where they have several escape routes and out of the wind. The wind in Wyoming will be the determining factor IMHO

Rich

 

[Tim McCoy]

You may as well apply a similar strategy on the south end as has worked on the north end. If you are not seeing deer, move north...or get as close to that ag field as you can and watch to see if any bucks head your way. Sounds like you already know it a bit about the ranch and will have help if needed. Enjoy your trip. I need to learn a new ranch in MT this year, so I am in a similar boat as you, with fewer resources in terms of help. I'll be covering country and glassing till my eyes hurt the first day or two.

 

[badgerbob]

You didn't mention if the low area was sage or not. Sometimes a big muley will simply bed in tall sage and never go to the high ground. If nothing else works, try glassing from the ridge to the highway. The long draws and coulees are tempting to me. Best bet is fallow lead of those with experience hunting this area. It's hard to beat actual hunting experience.

 

[Slugz]

Sound advice from all. Dont rule out the pressure being applied by the group. If they know the area and they have a style or plan to hunt....I'd glass from the road 2 days before the opener.....if nothing is patterned.....I'd set up on a escape route taking consideration the wind direction. BB makes a very good point about the sage. Good luck.

 

[tttoadman]

Without seeing the area, I would concentrate on the bedding areas. I would expect the most promising bedding areas to be on the north side of the coulees on the east flank. Obviously a good buck will have found that great spot to hide wherever it is, but I would try to setup on the northern end of the ridge where I could see those coulee tops early in the morning. You may catch a good buck sneaking into his bed from that vantage point.

 

[83mulligan]

Thanks for all the advice guys. The rancher has told us that historically the bigger bucks he sees are on the south end. Its just such a big property for a few guys to hunt that they have stuck to what they have been successful with. I'm not sure how tall the sage is in that area. There is definitely sage and the land does roll a little, but I'm not sure how tall it is or how much rain. I don't think there is alot of pressure on the property, so they could be anywhere. I plan on putting in alot of hours behind the glass.

 

[Hilltop]

It sounds like you will be at the mercy of the guys with experience on the ranch. My best advice is to be patient and do your best to minimize pressure. Glass from a distance until your confident on a strategy. Mature mule deer are a lot easier to hunt when they don't know they are being hunted.

 

[83mulligan]

thanks for the advice. I'm going to try and get a topo pic up if I can mark it up so it doesn't give away the location since it isn't my lease and I'm a guest. Then you can see the area and mark up some good glassing spots. I'll be interested to see what the veterans here come up with vs. what my thoughts are. Hopefully we can have a nice success pic posted here in October!

 

[83mulligan]

here is the pic

 

[Tim McCoy]

Easy, find out what gift(s) the rancher likes. Could be anything, but I usually find one of these works well, sea food (found a bunch that like fresh oysters ), fresh fruits or good whiskey. If Oysters, have to know how to keep them alive, which is easy once you know the rules. The ranch I am headed to has two sisters with a bucket list that included catching salmon and crab, so they will be here in late Aug to check the box, and I am headed there late Oct/Nov to hunt a new to me ranch. So there is probably something the rancher will appreciate, I usually just ask and/or offer a few ideas.

Then, ask are there 2-3 places on the south end you could suggest I go to where I can glass areas known to have held a big buck or three.

 

[PlainsHunter]

I don't have any advice because I've never hunted anything similar- but it sounds like you will be hunting a great piece of property and it should be a blast.

Be sure to post your results so we can hear how your hunt turned out!

 

[83mulligan]

i guess my biggest confusion is whether to get on one end of the pine ridge, which would be the highest viewing point, and glass the flats and draws around it or get off of it and glass the ridge from a lower elevation.

The beginning of the pine ridge just west of the red 28 looks like a great glassing spot to me because I could see the draws and perhaps deer working up onto the pine ridge to bed in the morning.

 

[11C50]

If the rancher says the bigger bucks tend to hang more to the south you might want to consider setting up where the red 33 is on the map, or perhaps a few hundred yards north if you can't see those draws well from the red 33 spot. Your season is pretty early so I would suspect the bigger bucks to be either alone or in small bachelor groups. While it is fun glassing fields full of does and small bucks that might not be where you want to focus.

 

[83mulligan]

If the rancher says the bigger bucks tend to hang more to the south you might want to consider setting up where the red 33 is on the map, or perhaps a few hundred yards north if you can't see those draws well from the red 33 spot. Your season is pretty early so I would suspect the bigger bucks to be either alone or in small bachelor groups. While it is fun glassing fields full of does and small bucks that might not be where you want to focus.

I like that spot and have it marked for sure. I wasn't too clear though, the picture shown IS the southern 1/3 of the property. That entire area is basically unhunted in years past, save for some driving around on the two tracks chasing antelope. So, I'm really excited. I think my plan is to hike to the northern hill and glass from there on day 1 and then work my way south each day until I find what I'm looking for unless someone steers me different.