| Pre Rut Deer Hunting | | | | the north sides of ridges and in the shade. This |
| I grew up in Nevada and hunting Mule Deer was an | | | | makes it more difficult to locate them. Pre Rut Deer |
| annual event. I will try to relate to you what I have | | | | Hunting |
| learned about hunting the, crafty old bucks. | | | | You will find bucks in bachelor groups until the |
| First let me say that Mule Deer can be found over | | | | beginning of the rut, in Nevada it is generally late |
| the western half of the US, southwest | | | | November, then they will break off from the groups |
| Saskatchewan and some say they have been seen in | | | | and start gathering their harem of does. Keep in mind |
| Minnesota and Missouri. Mule Deer are very adaptable | | | | that pre-rut, if you see one buck there are probably |
| to most kinds of terrain. They can be found at low | | | | more to follow. If you are hunting during the rut then |
| elevations to above timberline. Some of the most | | | | if you see a group of does there will almost always |
| arrid of lands don't provide enough nutrition or water | | | | be a buck with them. If you bump a group of does |
| so these are, for the most part, devoid of Mule Deer. | | | | stay still and be patient, the bucks will show |
| They are called Mule Deer because of their very | | | | themselves last. If no buck appears then you may |
| large ears. They range in color from dark grey to ash | | | | have to make a plan to bump him out of hiding, but |
| grey. Their rump has a large patch of white and a | | | | he will almost always be there. If you come in on |
| white patch on the throat. The tail is white but ends | | | | them very close they will sit tight hoping the threat |
| in a black tuft of hair. | | | | will leave. If you are a fair distance away when you |
| They have excellent binocular type vision, but seem | | | | bump the does, a lot of the time they will leave with, |
| to be unable to detect you if you stay motionless. | | | | but behind, the does. |
| Pre Rut Deer Hunting | | | | If your are a bow hunter, spot and stalk hunting is |
| Their large ears give them extremely good hearing. | | | | possible but difficult. You will need quality optics, |
| Mule Deer will forage in the valleys or fields but will | | | | preferrable a spotting scope and binoculars. Scan the |
| also feed on ridge tops. They will return to their beds | | | | high ridges, brush pockets and rock outcroppings. |
| as do most animals. Once they have fed and | | | | Once you locate a buck your interested in, work |
| watered they will bed on ridge slopes, next to rocky | | | | your plan. You will need to use breaks in the terrain, |
| outcroppings, in small patches of timbered or brushy | | | | gullies, brush, rocks what ever is available to put on |
| areas. It seems the key to their selection of a | | | | the stalk. It is best if you can find your way around |
| bedding area is to have something to their back and | | | | the buck and surprise him from the top. If your stalk |
| up high enough to have a good view of approaching | | | | is successful you will have your best shot |
| predators. In Nevada, the main predators are | | | | opportunity. We all want a nice clean kill shot. If your |
| Mountain Lion and Coyotes. In other areas the | | | | buck is running, wait until he stops or follow a fair |
| predators would be Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Wolves | | | | distance back and try the stalk again. Sometimes it |
| and of course man. They seem to like bedding on | | | | works and sometimes it doesn't. |