Rookie Mule Deer Hunter Questions

[swoleymammoth]

Hey everyone,

Going on my second mule deer hunt ever here in Utah, Fillmore unit and I have a few questions regarding mule deer hunting:

1. Probably a silly question but will Mule Deer drink from cattle watering troughs? It's been really dry here in Utah and I've noticed a lot of the springs I've looked at are bone dry. Noticed a couple of tracks near the water troughs I found but that was all. Should I look for springs that still have water or would the trough work?

2. What type of plants/trees do Mule deer prefer this time of year? I've noticed a ton of scrub oak in one area where I scouted and a bit of mountain mahogany. It's been really dry though so not a lot of leafy plants around.

3. My tag starts this week and I expect a lot of pressure, is it safe to assume deer will be scattered all over the place? Is it worth driving around the main roads or should I try to focus in on some more hard to reach spots?

4. Any general tips or advice you can give?

Thank you all so much in advance and I hope I get my first deer this season!

 

[wyoboypt]

This year is a good one to stay near water. Not sure on the cow trough question, but idk why a deer would care too much.

 

[belshawelk]

Deer don't care about cows. Neither do elk or pronghorn. You'll be surprised though where deer and elk can find water. But they will be there.

I dont know about Utah but they were still really high up in E. Oregon last week. But its cooled off a bit and there wasn't a lot of pressure at least where I hunt.

 

[chuckchili]

I researched the water trough question last week after not having too much luck finding antelope. I am not sure how it exactly relates to deer vs. antelope but to answer your question, it seems as though they do in fact drink from water troughs intended for cattle. If not the trough itself, they will find little puddles around the trough to drink from. I set up 200-300 yards from a trough at sun-up, making sure I was in what seemed to be the best position for the wind. As soon as the sun came up, there were several groups heading towards the water source.

 

[MTHeifer]

1. Yes
2. I'm not from Utah, but in Montana in October they tend to hang out in the thick timber where they can stay away from hunting pressure until they come out for the rut. I would assume that they will be in the thickest stuff they can find, preferably close to good feed and water that they can access at night.
3. You're right to expect pressure, but I think that would probably concentrate them into the places where hunters typically wouldn't want to go. I would focus on the hard to reach spots.
4. Let your binoculars do the walking for you, and make sure to be in a good glassing spot at first and last light.

Good luck!

 

[Happy Myles]

Mule deer drank from livestock water troughs and used mineral salt troughs on ranches in Montana, Idaho, Nevada and California.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Swoleymammoth is an awesome screen name!

 

[Wildabeest]

My experience is that they also tend to be very nocturnal this time of year. Especially the bucks. I’ll catch them on trail cams, so I know they are there, but you just don’t see them during daylight hours. So finding their beds once you know they are in the area is critical until temps get cooler and rut gets closer.

 

[Jc2020]

I’ve seen mule deer drink from the cattle troughs

 

[TXJaeger]

Late to the party on this one. Looks like you got some good advice here. Would love to her how the hunt went.

 

[swoleymammoth]

Thank you all for the great advice! I ended up seeing a few deer drinking from a cattle trough up one canyon before opening day but never saw any near it afterwards. Ended up getting my first deer, a little 3x2 buck, in an old burn area 3 days into the hunt. Had read somewhere that old (3+yrs) burns can be good areas and that's what I decided to try. Saw this buck right off the road and was able to make a good shot on it despite my buck fever!

Overall had a great time and I'm even more hooked on hunting now! Can't wait for next year. Thanks again everyone for all of your help.

 

[mdeerjunkie]

Thank you all for the great advice! I ended up seeing a few deer drinking from a cattle trough up one canyon before opening day but never saw any near it afterwards. Ended up getting my first deer, a little 3x2 buck, in an old burn area 3 days into the hunt. Had read somewhere that old (3+yrs) burns can be good areas and that's what I decided to try. Saw this buck right off the road and was able to make a good shot on it despite my buck fever!

Overall had a great time and I'm even more hooked on hunting now! Can't wait for next year. Thanks again everyone for all of your help.

Congrats, that’s awesome!

 

[bmt99]

Thank you all for the great advice! I ended up seeing a few deer drinking from a cattle trough up one canyon before opening day but never saw any near it afterwards. Ended up getting my first deer, a little 3x2 buck, in an old burn area 3 days into the hunt. Had read somewhere that old (3+yrs) burns can be good areas and that's what I decided to try. Saw this buck right off the road and was able to make a good shot on it despite my buck fever!

Overall had a great time and I'm even more hooked on hunting now! Can't wait for next year. Thanks again everyone for all of your help.

Congratulations. Any pictures?

 

[gcn0003]

Thank you all for the great advice! I ended up seeing a few deer drinking from a cattle trough up one canyon before opening day but never saw any near it afterwards. Ended up getting my first deer, a little 3x2 buck, in an old burn area 3 days into the hunt. Had read somewhere that old (3+yrs) burns can be good areas and that's what I decided to try. Saw this buck right off the road and was able to make a good shot on it despite my buck fever!

Overall had a great time and I'm even more hooked on hunting now! Can't wait for next year. Thanks again everyone for all of your help.

Well done! Do you have any pictures of the hunt or deer, always nice to go along with the story.

 

[Runnin_Chupacabra]

Echoing the photo requests above. Regardless though, congrats! I'm looking to get my first buck this fall so can imagine how stoked you are!

 

[grizzly63]

One time out west I was trying to close the distance on some Mulies and the only feature to hide behind was one of the those triangular wood post jobs they place over the water tanks to keep the cattle out. I was just about to the tank when I realized they were making a bee line for it. Now, I didn't want to shoot any of these deer but was hoping to stay close and just watch them in case Mr. big showed up. Well, I ended up laying flat on the ground while they drank form the other side. After 15 or 20 seconds they must have smelled me and they headed out. Only ran a hundred yards or so and stood around wondering what was going on. The buck with them got a pass and I got a good laugh out of the deal. Yes, they drink from those tanks.

 

[Non-resident Hunter]

Thank you all for the great advice! I ended up seeing a few deer drinking from a cattle trough up one canyon before opening day but never saw any near it afterwards. Ended up getting my first deer, a little 3x2 buck, in an old burn area 3 days into the hunt. Had read somewhere that old (3+yrs) burns can be good areas and that's what I decided to try. Saw this buck right off the road and was able to make a good shot on it despite my buck fever!

Overall had a great time and I'm even more hooked on hunting now! Can't wait for next year. Thanks again everyone for all of your help.

Awesome! Congrats!

 

[AZbull]

Nice!

 

[swoleymammoth]

Thank you all for the replies! A bit late but I figured I might as well post a picture to show you all my first deer. Not a big buck by any means but the meals he provided have been delicious and the memories made were worth all the work!

 

[WyoDoug]

Having grown up on a farm, I will vouch that deer and antelope both will water from a cow tank, irrigated fields and ditches. Both can easily be baited with the right kind of food which is why hunting over bait is illegal in every state that I know of. In good years, deer get most of their water through vegetation they eat.

Deer are creatures of habit and if you spend the time scouting and studying them, it will make you hunting a whole lot easier. Antelope same thing, scout and study their behavior. I usually tag out on antelope and deer when I go hunting. Not so much for elk. Elk cover a lot of territory and you might not see them for days then you are swimming in them the next. They also know how to avoid hunters who are careless with their scent control or noise.

Continue to do your homework and spend time in the field scouting and it pays big dividends in your hunting results.