Do Mule deer stay in one spot?

[soccerstar2013]

So here is the deal saw a nice 4x4 and forky with some does at last light last night! I decided I would just sneak out of there undetected and go back tonight (since I had to work this morning) and see if he is there! Once you locate a buck do they usually stay in the same area or do they have a big home range! Please any info is appreciated! Really want this buck he is at least 28" Wide and probably 140" First year bowhunting and seeing a buck like that and not finding him again will do things to a man!

[CouesFanatic]

Within a mile most likely.

[WHALE]

Last year we saw one specific buck about six times all within a three week period in the same area( about 1/2 mile radius) and he had like 8 doe with him

[soccerstar2013]

Were you up north or down south?

[soccerstar2013]

Still haven't found him again!

[.270]

i saw one in new mexico this year that stayed right in the same place. after i shot him anyway and until we loaded him up. the only way muleys stay put is when they're dead. they move around a bunch. Lark.

[1azbowhunter]

it depends on what time of year.during the rut my dad,jeff D. and i normally see new buck move in and out of the area rutting does

[desertdog]

i saw one in new mexico this year that stayed right in the same place. after i shot him anyway and until we loaded him up. the only way muleys stay put is when they're dead. they move around a bunch. Lark.

 

This has been my experience as well......

[donniedent]

During the rut bucks will move far and wide to find hot girls. I've heard stories of bucks moving 25 miles from thier home range during the rut. This time of year, you gotta find the doe's. I try and find 2 or 3 herds of doe's and keep tabs on them. A buck can move in to a group, sniff a little tail and be gone in 20 minutes. If theres a hot doe he'll stay close until she comes in and is ready. That can take up to 24 hours. Last year I busted a group of does early in the morning. I watched them run about a half mile and bed. I hiked around and 2 hours later went back to check on them. When I got there a 175" buck was just pushing a small 3x3 away from the same does. Missed a shot at him. Went back the following weekend and the same herd of does had grown by 3 does and they had a 200" buck with them. It changes so much from day to day, you never know what you'll find. Saty close and keep tabs on those does and I promise you another buck will come in to check on them and rememeber, it can happen at any time during the day.

[soccerstar2013]

thanks for the advice donniedent my Dad and I found 4 or 5 groups of does within a 1/4 mile of each other and there were 4 bucks all together but they were moving from herd to herd! hopefully there will be a nice one with them this weekend!

[donniedent]

If you have a group of smaller bucks, especially 4 of them, the big bucks aren't quite there yet. A lot of times you'll see a big guy with a yearling buck in tow. He'll follow that big buck around till they find a hot doe then the big buck will run him off only to have the little guy join back up with him when he's done with the hot doe. If you see a small spike or forkie hanging with does, watch the group very close. Sometimes that big toad will be around somewhere chasing a hot doe around.

 

You won't ususally see 2 mature bucks running together this time of year. Most really big or older bucks will be completely solitary all year. Those younger 4 bucks you're seeing will keep checking those doe's together till the doe's get hot, then the big boys will start showing up. You're doing it exactly right. One day soon you'll see one of those little guys lock onto a doe and start pushing her hard, don't leave, there will be a mature buck there real soon!

 

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Don't forget to take a little composition book out with you. Take notes on where you see deer, where they are bedding, where they go when they are pressured, which bucks you see. Anything you can think of. If you have found a good area, you can watch the bucks progress and get bigger year after year. After a few years you'll know that area like the back of your hand.