bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 22, 2022 Hey guys, out doing a bunch of scouting for an upcoming mule deer hunt. Wondering do the desert mule deer bucks tend to stick to the flats and low foothills of mtns or do you find them up high? Ive found some mule deer does in the hills but havent spotted any decent bucks. During the rut I find them all over up high in a different unit but im thinking its cause they pull out of the flats chasing the does in the hills. Guess Im trying to narrow down the type of desert terrain to look at. I can find coues deer all day long but muleys are proving to be a challenge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 22, 2022 Enigmas. Do you have the first hunt or second hunt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 22, 2022 9 minutes ago, trphyhntr said: Enigmas. Do you have the first hunt or second hunt First, I think its the only mule deer hunt in the unit. Besides youth Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 22, 2022 So that’s a mid November hunt? Those can be productive. But the bucks will still only be where you find them. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 22, 2022 End of october, beginning of november. It seems even if I find bucks now they move quite a bit by november, or im just over looking them. Do you find if they are there now they are still there in november? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 22, 2022 59 minutes ago, bowhunter-tw said: End of october, beginning of november. It seems even if I find bucks now they move quite a bit by november, or im just over looking them. Do you find if they are there now they are still there in november? In my experience with cams on water, even on dry years after they rub some move and some don’t. Enigmas. Only thing for certain with a desert mule deer is he will be with does in January. Other than that it’s just hard work or knowing a honey hole. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 22, 2022 I’ll keep putting in the work. I’ll just keep an eye on them and keep checking if they are still there each month leading up to my hunt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 22, 2022 Had a buck I wanted my dad to shoot. Had him in on cam september, glassed him up late October on my coues hunt. spent everyday of my dads November hunt looking, nothing. 3 weeks later opening weekend archery there he is again on the same hill. Strong wtf. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 22, 2022 Yah found the same thing. My dad drew a coues tag same unit, so hopefully I can put him on a deer. His hunt is one week before. Early hunt for the unit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HuntHarder Report post Posted August 23, 2022 I'm almost convinced the bigger bucks stay in the flats early season and only get lured out by does in January and December. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 23, 2022 37 minutes ago, HuntHarder said: I'm almost convinced the bigger bucks stay in the flats early season and only get lured out by does in January and December. I’d say that’s a fact. But it’s possible to catch them slipping the November hunt. The problem is they don’t stay in one spot in the flats and they’re nocturnal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 23, 2022 Id agree with that; I busted a buck saturday and he hauled butt up some the steepest boulder covered junk ive seen. Im trying to narrow down some better flats to look into, 22 doesnt seem to have a ton of these flats type areas Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 23, 2022 10 minutes ago, bowhunter-tw said: Id agree with that; I busted a buck saturday and he hauled butt up some the steepest boulder covered junk ive seen. Im trying to narrow down some better flats to look into, 22 doesnt seem to have a ton of these flats type areas 22, been there once my buddy killed a 162 first morning we were there. Was awesome. And yeah that’s some different terrain than what I been talking about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter-tw Report post Posted August 23, 2022 18 minutes ago, trphyhntr said: 22, been there once my buddy killed a 162 first morning we were there. Was awesome. And yeah that’s some different terrain than what I been talking about. Dang, I wish. Ive not turned anything up like that yet. Definitely some different terrain Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 23, 2022 7 minutes ago, bowhunter-tw said: Dang, I wish. Ive not turned anything up like that yet. Definitely some different terrain A long time ago on this board a girl killed a 30” wide buck there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
