Scouting a particular Mule Deer year round?

[chasingcoues]

Gentleman,
I finally grabbed my trail cams after letting them sit for 5 months. I found a beautiful 3x3 that I am obsessed over, I would love to have a shot at him in November when the season opens. He showed up only in the evening twice. Once in November, once in December. How have you guys tracked a certain deer year round and successfully bagged him? Really looking forward to some veteran tips on this.

Thanks!

 

[okielite]

pics???????

 

[velvetfvr]

I've seen multiple bucks that I've seen every year. Chances are if he made it through season he will probably be in that same area come this November and December.

 

[Hilltop]

Gentleman,
I finally grabbed my trail cams after letting them sit for 5 months. I found a beautiful 3x3 that I am obsessed over, I would love to have a shot at him in November when the season opens. He showed up only in the evening twice. Once in November, once in December. How have you guys tracked a certain deer year round and successfully bagged him? Really looking forward to some veteran tips on this.

Thanks!

I hate to sound negative but this is an almost impossible task. A study conducted at the University of Wyoming I participated in showed that mule deer bucks can cover 250+ miles in their life span. Some frequent the same areas year after year while other remain nomads. There may be some bucks that have a small core range but they would be very rare. It would be a full time job keeping track of most bucks on a year round basis. I think your best chance is to hunt the area you got pictures in at the same time of year you got the pictures and hope he shows back up. Good luck and please post those trail cams shots for us!

 

[chasingcoues]

To be honest with you guys, he's not a huge buck, matter of a fact, he looks like a very young buck. He just happens to show up on a piece of land I love hiking and spending time at. Would be a cool memory to find him during the season one of these years. Btw, I am in AZ.

 

[Hilltop]

Cool picture and I think he has potential. Nothing wrong with pursuing him!

 

[coastalarms]

There's a ton of variables in figuring that out. It can be done, but you'll have to put a lot of time into it. I would imagine that most guys that could do it practically live in the woods.

Are the December pics from his winter range? If so, where does he go during the summer and fall? With only 2 photos (encounters) he could have just been cruising by, or maybe something jumped him so he took an escape route and came by your cameras. 2 photos sounds like he doesn't hang out around there much. Grab Mike Eastman's book, hunting high country mule deer. There is a section in it on strategies or tactics (cant remember what its called), anyway..good info in there that might help you pattern this guy.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Great questions above ^^^

I would also keep the trail cams out and see if he shows up more often during the summer or fall months that way you can narrow his range down. I've done this before and it is very hard to keep tabs year round on a buck. Your better off on concentrating on where he could be a month or so before hunting season.

 

[tttoadman]

Ditto with what IKIC touched on. Learn the patterns and escape routes of the area. It may not be that buck, but good bucks will show up.

 

[In God We Trust]

Since you are in Arizona and the seasons are later there you may be in luck. If that unit has a November, December, or January season he should be in there again as long as he makes it until then. If that area has a decent number of does in it then he should be in there January during the rut.