How’s the rain been in North Central WY… and how does that effect mule deer?

[EastTNHunter]

Was happy to draw a mule deer tag for this area and plan to be there second week of October. I know that a lot can change between now and then, but how has the rain been in that area, and how does that generally affect the deer in that area? I went out there last year and found a bunch of does really easily, but saw very few bucks period, much less good ones.

Really looking forward to the adventure more than the kill, so I’m trying to learn as I go. Much different than the WT hunting that I am used to. Any tips on vegetation or terrain features to look for?

My son and I plan to camp at the vehicle and hike in to an area. I’d prefer to do more hiking than driving, but also acknowledge the limitations of a man with a bad back who’s out of shape from a desk job, accompanied by a 9yo with a lot more energy in short bursts than over a long period of time (we’re kinda like a dwarf… very dangerous over short distances ). Can’t backpack in a base camp for 10 miles if you know what I mean… but I have a lightweight 2p tent if needed for a night or two a little distance from the road. I want to avoid people as much as possible, but also realize that this may be difficult with that area and our limitations. Are mulies like antelope in that most people hunt them from the road and may miss something “just over the hill”? My game plan to this point has been to leave camp and hike in a mile or two before sunup, sit and glass for a couple of hours, then move to the next spot a mile or two away and try again. Hang out til dusk, then glass draws and canyons until final light and hike out the 2-5 miles after that. Water will be the main weight issue, so l plan to bring filtration and replenish our water at one of several ponds that seem to be around the area. Sound reasonable? What specific things should we be looking for to glass over?

Feel free to answer via PM

 

[Bighorner]

I'm on the east side of the Big Horns. The rain seemed to be spotty this year. I would day this has been a average or slightly better in spots. With that said things are hot and starting to dry out quickly. Depending on where you are headed I would plan to bring water if you are on the prarie. Some of the ponds can be pretty silty and stagnant.

 

[Bob-WY]

Rain? What's that?

We had some earlier in the spring. Can't remember the last good rain. Some showers but no sustained rain.

 

[Bighorner]

We got nearly and inch Friday. That's the spotty part.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Thanks for the feedback. In East TN we had a fairly wet spring, and then it got hot and dry fast. First rain last night in quite some time and things were getting crispy before that.

Does dry weather effect the deer in any semi-predictable ways? If the water is stagnant do they use it, or will that be likely to matter by early October? Does it move them to any particular type of place, spread them out further, or maybe make a difference that I haven’t mentioned?

 

[Dsnow9]

Thanks for the feedback. In East TN we had a fairly wet spring, and then it got hot and dry fast. First rain last night in quite some time and things were getting crispy before that.

Does dry weather effect the deer in any semi-predictable ways? If the water is stagnant do they use it, or will that be likely to matter by early October? Does it move them to any particular type of place, spread them out further, or maybe make a difference that I haven’t mentioned?

They will drink it but you won’t want to. Even with a good filter I wouldn’t trust a lot of those retention ponds.

 

[manitou1]

Rain? What's that?

We had some earlier in the spring. Can't remember the last good rain. Some showers but no sustained rain.

We got a lot of rain just last week here in Johnson County. Have had rain just about every week or two lately... at least at our place out here.

 

[manitou1]

Thanks for the feedback. In East TN we had a fairly wet spring, and then it got hot and dry fast. First rain last night in quite some time and things were getting crispy before that.

Does dry weather effect the deer in any semi-predictable ways? If the water is stagnant do they use it, or will that be likely to matter by early October? Does it move them to any particular type of place, spread them out further, or maybe make a difference that I haven’t mentioned?

Mulies can go days without going to water. They will travel a couple miles to get a drink.
Hunting water is secondary to cover and forage.

 

[EastTNHunter]

I’m gonna bump this up one more time. Once again, I’m looking for help on tactics not locations. I have a pretty good feel for a couple of locations that I want to go to, I just want to be able to narrow down my focus on terrain, funnels, or things that draw them more than anything. Lots of dispersed land in the area, and I’m hoping to get away from the roads most days but I have no idea how to reliably go about locating mulie bucks. I’m a whitetail hunter that hunts small river bottom public properties in TN from my boat, so tactics are quite different

And if it matters, the area that I plan to go to has very few trees

 

[perma]

I’m gonna bump this up one more time. Once again, I’m looking for help on tactics not locations. I have a pretty good feel for a couple of locations that I want to go to, I just want to be able to narrow down my focus on terrain, funnels, or things that draw them more than anything. Lots of dispersed land in the area, and I’m hoping to get away from the roads most days but I have no idea how to reliably go about locating mulie bucks. I’m a whitetail hunter that hunts small river bottom public properties in TN from my boat, so tactics are quite different

And if it matters, the area that I plan to go to has very few trees

From a very fundamental level, I learned that during non rut periods, bucks need 3 things. Food, water, cover. Whatever one is most scarce is the thing I’d focus on finding. If it’s shelter due to lack of trees, I’d find the shelter. That’s how I shot my first one.

YMMV, and maybe someone with more experience will chime in, I could use some more lessons in mule deer hunting.

 

[ccc23454]

If your talking bighorns to me your overthinking this and your not hiking into some deep secret deer honey hole to find a giant in mid october. Have a good vehicle in snow/rocks cause weather and date (rut factors) will determine everything for herds that migrate up/down, resident herds well that's easy start at pivots/crops and work outward. Don't pass on anything decent on west slope (don't know east side) cause herd doesn't have much for trophy potential. I would rather hunt last week of season than first in units I know (hunting the deer that migrate) but I will never hunt them again to be honest. Good luck and it's not hard if your just looking for a buck and FYI your going to see tons of does. Mule deer environment can vary drastically even within single units so asking broad based regional questions will not provide any real insight, just dumba$$ responses from us internet experts...lol. good luck

 

[EastTNHunter]

If your talking bighorns to me your overthinking this and your not hiking into some deep secret deer honey hole to find a giant in mid october. Have a good vehicle in snow/rocks cause weather and date (rut factors) will determine everything for herds that migrate up/down, resident herds well that's easy start at pivots/crops and work outward. Don't pass on anything decent on west slope (don't know east side) cause herd doesn't have much for trophy potential. I would rather hunt last week of season than first in units I know (hunting the deer that migrate) but I will never hunt them again to be honest. Good luck and it's not hard if your just looking for a buck and FYI your going to see tons of does. Mule deer environment can vary drastically even within single units so asking broad based regional questions will not provide any real insight, just dumba$$ responses from us internet experts...lol. good luck

I’ll be east of the bighorns

 

[The_Jim]

I've taken my son on backpacking/fishing trips and he has done 9 mile days going to alpine lakes with little to no complaining, but during hunting season I think those early mornings/late evenings + heavier clothes + colder weather is hard on the kids. 2-3 miles doesn't sound like much, but to a 9 year old hiking in the dark it must feel like an eternity, I take way more comforts to keep him in the game than I used to.

One of my go to tricks is to fill a couple Nalgene's with boiling water before we leave the tent and late in the afternoon. He can stick them under his jacket and I don't have to listen to him bitching about being cold.

 

[nicktown97]

Was happy to draw a mule deer tag for this area and plan to be there second week of October. I know that a lot can change between now and then, but how has the rain been in that area, and how does that generally affect the deer in that area? I went out there last year and found a bunch of does really easily, but saw very few bucks period, much less good ones.

Really looking forward to the adventure more than the kill, so I’m trying to learn as I go. Much different than the WT hunting that I am used to. Any tips on vegetation or terrain features to look for?

My son and I plan to camp at the vehicle and hike in to an area. I’d prefer to do more hiking than driving, but also acknowledge the limitations of a man with a bad back who’s out of shape from a desk job, accompanied by a 9yo with a lot more energy in short bursts than over a long period of time (we’re kinda like a dwarf… very dangerous over short distances ). Can’t backpack in a base camp for 10 miles if you know what I mean… but I have a lightweight 2p tent if needed for a night or two a little distance from the road. I want to avoid people as much as possible, but also realize that this may be difficult with that area and our limitations. Are mulies like antelope in that most people hunt them from the road and may miss something “just over the hill”? My game plan to this point has been to leave camp and hike in a mile or two before sunup, sit and glass for a couple of hours, then move to the next spot a mile or two away and try again. Hang out til dusk, then glass draws and canyons until final light and hike out the 2-5 miles after that. Water will be the main weight issue, so l plan to bring filtration and replenish our water at one of several ponds that seem to be around the area. Sound reasonable? What specific things should we be looking for to glass over?

Feel free to answer via PM

Rain looks to be good on paper. Looks like october should be cooler than normal as well this year!

 

[EastTNHunter]

I tried sitting on water last season and only saw does. I’m probably going to shift my strategy just a bit and focus on the cover, but that is kinda relative in that area as it is quite low and widespread.