Late November muley strategy?

Paul in Idaho

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This year, I drew an Idaho muzzleloader buck hunt that will allow me to hunt in late November. I haven't hunted that late before, and am wondering if anyone could give me some input on how to focus my scouting.

I was in this same area a few years ago for an early November cow elk hunt and saw a couple bucks at the edge of timber around 8000 feet elevation. There was a foot or more of snow. I expect more snow later in November, so possibly they'll be pushed down.

I'd appreciate reading your ideas on preferred winter forage, snow depth tolerance and other general things. The hunt area is huge, and if I have some knowledge to eliminate country they won't be in that late, it will help me spend my time wisely. The rut should be going strong during this hunt, which I expect to be my biggest advantage.

Thanks.
Paul
 
I'm no expert, but I've taken some good bucks late and I agree with Redwood. Does are the best bait on the mountain that time of year. Little pods of does tend to cling to high-value microsites with lush forbs and young tender new growth. I would seek those spots early then, as Thanksgiving approaches, spend time babysitting those does. Get above them, upwind, and watch. I'm always surprised at how much snow it takes to move mulies. Often, I've seen elk tracks in deep snow pointed downhill, while the mulie tracks still point up.
 
Everyone has given good advice. I'll add my $.02 to theirs. I think deer migrate differently depending on the part of the state and your unit(s) may be different than others. I'm talking the majority here, not straglers of course. I know some areas where the deer get out of dodge for self preservation and others where they'll follow the snow up and down, up and down. That migration might help you find the does which will have bucks on their tails.

November hunts are fantastic, you'll have a blast! Seeing nice bucks in the middle of the day chasing does or pushing other bucks is a treat compared to most general seasons. Good luck and do a recap for us.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to it, especially in today's heat. Give me a foot of snow any day over this summer stuff.

I haven't picked up my muzzleloader for at least 7 years, so it'll take some practice to get back into it. It's a .54 and finding supplies, especially bullets, for it is more difficult now.

I"ll be sure to take my camera in addition to my gun.

On the topic of bitterbrush - is the shrub in the attached photo a huge old bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, or something else? It's about 7 or 8 feet tall. This was taken in a different area, but I have seen the same thing growing in the unit I'll be hunting.
 

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I am a fan of sitting on the does. Sooner or later the bucks will come calling. I like to find at least a dozen does using a small area. If one of the does is in heat, there will probably be a sub-dominate buck tending her most of the daylight. Wait til evening and keep your eyes open within about a half mile of the does. If there are bigger/wiser bucks around they may take shelter during the day and wait for evening.
Down in a wash, under 2 trees in a otherwise open field, or even back to the top of the mountain in some cases. I hate to go all 'Field of dreams' on you but, if you build the right scenario, they will come.....but you must be patient!
 
From my experience of hunting them around Thanksgiving, I've decided that you just need to concentrate on areas with does. Depending on how late you are in November you'll be on the very tail end of the rut. From what I've noticed though is even if the ruts over, the bucks will still be very near the does. rutting areas are more or less also wintering areas, and it seems like the bucks transition into the all day feeding winter mode in the same areas they just rutted. I try to watch mule deer quite a bit in December, and the big bucks are often feeding right along side does.
 
Darn it Paul, just sold a .54 last month and had conicals and rounds I would have given you. Do you shoot ffg?
 
MtnWest, Right now I have a nearly-empty can of fffg Triple 7. If I remember right, it was the only thing on the shelf when I had to buy last time. I think I used ffg before that.

Thanks all for your input. I'm planning to either do a scouting trip a week or so before the opener, or go up at least two days early to scout. We'll see what my work schedule is when it gets closer. I'll look for bitterbrush and does.
 
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