Sandhills Nebraska Muley thoughts...

[Daubs]

Grew up in NE, but only started hunting deer after college when lived in Missouri. Back in Nebraska now and spent last five seasons running around Valentine Refuge looking for mule deer. No luck.

I'm not looking for someone to share their "honey hole" or trying to internet scout. I hunt alone and have a deep love / appreciation for the Sandhills, having an Uncle who ranched there as a kid. Heck, i'm happy just being out walking the hills. I'm looking for some general advice on chasing muleys in this environment.

Reading and researching muley techniques and methods, understand deer need food and water. I've seen deer roaming all over the Refuge grazing pretty much everywhere. And with windmills in every pasture, water is not a problem.

Spent a weekend knocking on doors looking for private land to hunt, with no success. Everyone either, a). already leased land out, or b). saving it for family.

So I'm kind of stuck hunting public.

My plan of attack the past few years on public land in the Sandhills:

• arrive early, be the first one at the parking lot
• walk, walk, and when I think i've walked enough...walk some more (get away from the crowds)
• hunt the higher ground up in the Sandhills...whitetails seem to frequent lower areas, marshes, tree lines (what little there are)
• find good spot, sit down, and glass, glass, and more glass (or)
• still hunt, working cross wind
• walk, and walk some more...did i mention walking

I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks, Daubs

 

[go_deep]

Just to change it up you might want to try the public up by Chadron, otherwise I do know that it's easier to get permission for the Muzzy season because most people are done hunting when the rifle season ends, might be a different angle to try on gaining access. I'd also straight up ask I'd like to come work part-time on your ranch for access, I'll give you an hour or two of work for every hour you let me hunt.

Good luck, and God bless!

 

[Daubs]

My first deer hunt was when I was 14 years old...went with Dad, uncle and their buddies up near Chadron. Only down side, that's a long way from home in Omaha.

I'll concentrate Muzzy season. Thanks!!!

 

[Daubs]

Thoughts on technique?

 

[Tim McCoy]

Not familiar with your terrain. But have hunted SD to the north a bunch. Always at a glassing spot at daylight, and stayed there for quite a while if had a good view. Difficult to glass in all places due to all the dry creek beds, small hills, folds, etc. So we'd still hunt to glassing spots. Zigzag style, pop up glass, look down in the bottoms, repeat. Took more than one good one still hunting dry creek bottoms, very quiet due to the sandy soil, dry gumbo, stuff. Often the deer bedded on the bottom along dry creek cut banks if windy. Very difficult to glass, so still hunting it was. Those tactics may work where u r hunting, not sure.

I would check some close to the road/parking lot spots, if they are overlooked. Muleys seek solitude more so than a set distance from a road etc. If you are set on walking the furthest, you may walk past bucks, again, not sure as am unfamiliar with the sand hills.

 

[Daubs]

Thanks Tim, that helps to know.

A huge draw to the Sandhills is the ability to spot-n-stalk, or still hunt. I have been hunting the second weekend of rifle season past two years, but this year I am going to hunt opening weekend and the entire next week.

Many of the "close to road spots" aren't overlooked, as the Refuge draws lots of out of state hunters. I've met people from Colorado, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, even one guy who says he's been driving down from Oregon to Valentine for the past 15 years. He loves hunting the Sandhills.

My whitetail hunting buddies from Missouri keep talking about scent control, rattling in bucks, using grunt call, doe in estrus scents, etc.

Any of that worth worrying about in the open Sandhills? Thanks, D.

 

[Slugz]

My whitetail hunting buddies from Missouri keep talking about scent control, rattling in bucks, using grunt call, doe in estrus scents, etc.

My 2 sense.......no.......gotta glass em up......get the wind right and go after em. Lots of big animals in there that are not even seen by I'm guessing 60% or more of the hunters. I know some guys who have a fair amount of luck catching animals moving to the greener forage on private early am or late pm.

 

[Daubs]

Slugz: you bring a spotting scope? Or just nocs? I've got a good pair of 8x42's.

 

[Slugz]

You wouldn't think its big country in there...but it is. Need to have the mindset of covering as much ground with glass as you can so you are not bumping them. So yes on the spotting scope. More you can see from one spot is your best bet IMO. I love hunting Nebraska....all over the state....just cant seem to fit it in the schedule!

 

[Daubs]

Thanks Slugz. I'm contemplating a new spotting scope. I have a cheapo (<$100) and it just doesn't cut it.

Suggestions for spotting scope and bipod for my rifle?

 

[Slugz]

Search for MCSeal's post on his set ups for optics. He gives some very sound advice. I reference his comments all the time.

I think the best bang for the mid priced buck $ are these new Vortex HD spotting scopes. Leupold Gold Rings are also good. I'd go with a x65 or x85 for even better light amplification.

For Bi Pods I'm a Harris guy

 

[Daubs]

Thanks again!

Read MCSeal's post. I'll look at the Vortex and Nikon (I'm a photog on the side, Nikon D3s and D700 with lots of great Nikon glass in the bag).

I want light weight, and obviously cost will be an issue.

I've looked at Harris bipods and like what i've seen and read. Again, want light weight.

 

[Alabama]

Definitely look in the hills for the mulies. Your plan to hunt the 1st weekend and the following week is spot on. With only a 9 day season you have to be out there. The least pressured days will be Tues-Thurs, but I think your best chances will be day 1. I suggest getting there Friday morning and putting your scope to work. Mule deer aren't easily patterned (this time of the year anyway) and with no crops they will be scattered, making scouting very important imho. Being there early to identify groups of does can lead to opening day success. Hunting the fringe of the refuge next to private will give you a better chance as the hunt goes on. Most of the deer will be blown out the 1st few days.

I've hunted to the west/southwest of there and it can be tough because the deer densities are so low. I've found the bucks (if not tending does) like the rough, broken, and steep hills that offer protection from the frequent winds and offer easy escape. If you are seeing multiple steep hills with erosion blow-outs you are in the right place. Normally south facing slopes is where you will find them, tucked in next to some sage, an un-grazed patch of tall grass, or even a big green yucca. Be prepared when walking those broken hills as I've walked within 20 yards of them and within 2-3 bounds they were gone. It's amazing how they can disappear in a seemingly wide open place. They know how to use the folds in the land, much to my frustration!

Good luck!

 

[Daubs]

Thanks Bama! Appreciate the advice. I've kicked a few Muley does out of sage walking the hills. Hunting that second weekend has been tough...with so many people hunting that refuge it's a challenge. I may just get there the Friday before the opener, and stay all week

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

How come you are focusing so much on refuge? Just north west of there is a piece of public that is 115,000 acres that has mule deer on it. I've seen several bucks there well. If you have access to a boat you can use the lake and river to get to areas that would be hard for others to get too. There is a creek bed on the north side of the road running through the public land that holds deer as well. Along with the tiny section of the river that runs on the north side of the public that holds deer well. The ranger station has a good section of hill with pines that hold deer as well. If you get a decent map from Cabela's that public land look for powderhorn valley it has allot green that attracts deer as well.

Hope you know where I'm taking about, .