Other components include the chasing of the females by male deer! The first landscape skill you need to perfect is keeping your profile off the horizon. To develop programs that focus on recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation. Mule deer have some difference in behavior with the other deer like whitetails. Especially, anywhere near the spot where the animal succumbs. Bucks form groups of unrelated members. This is more a matter of instinct than stupidity or intelligence. Group size and distribution of mule deer vary seasonally and with habitat conditions [29, 31]. Rather than re-live the sitcom that was my first hunt – and that’s not counting my bad shooting – try the suggestions I outline in. Each of these should be thoroughly studied before they are entered since they are favourite bedding spots for mule deer. Maternal investment plays a crucial role in juvenile survival, and benefits may continue even after offspring have become relatively independent (Byers 1997; Caro 1994; White et al. we will give insight on hunting them. Differences in dietary niche and foraging behavior of sympatric mule and white-tailed deer STEPHANIE L. BERRY, 1,4 LISA A. SHIPLEY,1, RYAN A. LONG,2 AND CHRIS LOGGERS 3,5 1School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 USA 2Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844 USA 3Colville National Forest, U.S. … Instead, he is interested in one specific doe at a time, which is the one in or closest to estrus. Since they are often much closer than they appear to be. Consequently, on the last morning, he moved to the opposite side of the basin. I saw some gorgeous bucks that I trailed for a while as I took photographs. If permission is not possible, you can often hunt those deer on nearby public land, when the deer sometimes go to bed in brushy draws and hillsides. Quite often the whitetail will run off a bit and then turn around to study the situation, much as does a mule deer. Don’t forget to bring all the necessary ammo and scopes for 308 rifles with you if you planning to hunt with the rifle. I was able to slowly sneak within 45 yards of the bedded deer, then grunted the buck to his feet and 20 yards closer before my arrow found its mark. Careful driving in such cover can produce good shooting. Mule deer herds, during the rut, exhibit behavior more commonly associated with elk. Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time. When a buck breeds a doe, they usually become isolated from the larger group of does for a day or two. The mule deer simply adds more distance in the belief that its fleetness of foot will give it the edge it needs if it is pursued. This is also known as “rutting”, as a huge component of their mating formalities is ritualistic male on male competition. In the northern states and western Canada, the rut occurs in November, when the weather can be quite cold, and snow and ice can make traveling and hunting difficult. 11 Mile Hill Road • Newtown, CT 06470 • 203.426.1320 •. Their generally larger antlers tend to make the Western deer appear considerably bigger although statistics indicate that both the whitetail and the mule deer range in size according to their habitat. I checked on them every other day until the last day of the season, when I decided that the largest of the pair would do. photo M. Noonan. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF4EE32869227CCE5. Sometimes, it’s about gathering wild food, heart-pounding excitement, or quality time with friends and family. This is true for both mule deer and blacktails. Deer pellet-group surveys were conducted in 15 patches (4 each in juniper, Douglas fir, and mountain mahogany. Post-rut behavior sees bucks disperse, rest for about three or four weeks, then emerge when it’s near time to shed their antlers and battle winter. When she takes off, he follows right on her heels, slamming the ground with his front legs and bellowing with every jump. Anthony Harwell drew a coveted rut hunt tag in northern Arizona and came away with this whopper buck. So, hunting them should have some difference too. But, at the distance where it makes its distinctive stop to decide on its next move, it is usually well beyond sensible bow range. The mule deer habit of stopping to reconnoiter after it has jumped from its midday bed. As it was, I took my largest California buck in over 20 years of annually hunting them. Stotting (also called pronking or pronging) is a behavior of quadrupeds, particularly gazelles, in which they spring into the air, lifting all four feet off the ground simultaneously.Usually, the legs are held in a relatively stiff position. In species with parental care, adults can improve survival of offspring by aggressive defense against predators (Smith 1987). The difference between elk and mule deer here is that the dominant buck does not control the does like a bull elk controls a harem of cows. The second method occurs when the buck becomes impatient as he waits for the doe to urinate. Okay, then brag on your dog. Everyone needs a little comfort food from time to time, and meatloaf definitely fits the bill. If the deer is big and you have the permission to use the rifle, then 308 can be a great choice. Also. I shot a big buck with my bow one year in New Mexico out of a large herd of deer that followed a set routine every day. I remember one Utah muzzleloader hunt in November in which my partner and I checked on a herd of two-dozen does every day for a week until finally, the day before we were to head home, a dandy buck appeared in their midst. In open and semi-open terrain, the best technique is to climb to a high vantage point and carefully glass the surrounding countryside for deer. And when you’re helping a newcomer become a hunter, sometimes it’s all that other stuff that becomes most important. In the East, there is usually a road or a good trail within a reasonable distance of any kill. Because hunting territory is frequently much more open, it is possible to see more game. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, Ecuador, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. The deer is simply trying to figure out what you are going to do next, and it has never quite figured out the effectiveness of a firearm. Mule Deer Habitat Wildlife Ecology UWSP ~ Mule deer prefer open grasslands and perklands or forest edge ecosystems … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In all the shots I have taken at mule deer, if the animal was not already moving, it stood for the shot. Looking at the bluest sky, I forget all my stresses. Since ground venison can be a bit on the dry side by itself, my family and I grind it with bacon to give the meatloaf a little better texture. Mule Deer Working Group, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. When this occurs, he may throw what Dr. Geist describes as a “temper tantrum.” Then, with little notice, his body becomes stiff, his upper lip begins to quiver, and a high-pitched tone resonates from deep within his throat. Research Article Effects of Helicopter Capture and Handling on Movement Behavior of Mule Deer JOSEPH M. NORTHRUP,1 Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA CHARLES R. ANDERSON JR., Mammals Research Section Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 711 Independence Avenue, Grand … I left them alone, hoping a really big buck would come along and take over. The mule deer hunter in that the animal is less apt to jump the string than the wary whitetail. Be yourself while making your most exciting adventures come true with our hiking, camping, hunting and fishing guides. Each survey consisted of 3 parallel, 400-m transects, 1 along the forest edge, 1 about 50 m into open shrubland, and 1 about … In the first, known as the familiar “low-stretch” approach, the buck approaches the female from behind in a low-stretched posture, licking his nose and uttering soft calls not unlike a fawn distress call. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Trying to drag or carry a deer can be a back-breaking sequel to a thrilling experience. There are a few advantages to the hunter between the two species. The rut is the time when you have your best chance to spot an older buck on its feet in the open during legal shooting hours. This behavior can be used to the hunter’s advantage in several ways. a proper peep sight or binoculars may gives good view but you need the other things in your favor. His work has appeared in titles small and large, from American Hunter and American Rifleman to Whitetail Journal, Field & Stream, Petersen’s Hunting, Deer & Deer Hunting, and many others. Consequently, pushing a wounded animal to the limit of its endurance can make a lot of trouble for the hunter even if he is successful in finding a deer. Not on your life. To get in the game you have to study each state’s hunting regulations and hedge your bets on drawing a tag. Mature bucks can sometimes be found with herds of does in semi-open sagebrush country during the rut, making them more vulnerable than at any other time of the year. Mule Vs Whitetail Deer: Understanding Their Intelligence and Behavior The first, and one that is sometimes shared by gunners from wide areas who have hunted both the whitetail and the mule deer is that the muley is stupid by comparison with the whitetail. Areas of quaking aspen or scrub oak provide driving opportunities quite similar to those in Eastern forests. 2001). Do you support these goals? Don't Miss: Deer Hunting Tip: Reading Deer Body Language 101 Noté /5. The other is that mule deer run substantially larger than Northeastern whitetailed deer. If the bigger buck hadn’t come along, as often happens, I’d have been in the chips anyway. You surely have outstanding articles and reviews. Instinct teaches it that it will be pursued at whatever speed its adversary can move. It lives with the jackrabbit in places. Young bucks can either be with the does or with a group of adolescent bucks while the mature bucks seem to hang in their own group or alone. L ooks aren't everything,but if you're a deer in the West, looks play an important role in deter-mining whether you're called a mule deer, black-tailed deer or white-tailed deer. During this time, the older breeding bucks lose much of their physical strength, often break antler points and receive tears in their coats from fighting, and frequently appear listless and dazed near the end of the cycle. Its normal stop helps protect it against things such as bows and predators. Mule deer hunting can be a pleasant and fun thing to do for the hunters. As with the whitetail, the biggest mule deer bucks are the canniest. Is that because hunting during the breeding season is a less-effective way to locate and take mature bucks of these two species? They are also usually bachelored up with other bucks of the same age structure. If you spot only fair-to-middlin’ bucks with the does, don’t give up. Although the muley may stand around longer than the whitetail, it is apt to travel much farther distances to a position of relative safety once it takes off. They often join doe herds at this time, seeking the security from predators that large numbers of animals brings. Mule deer may not have the keen sense of smell of their white-tailed cousins, but if they smell you, they’ll depart the country in a hurry. Pennsylvania whitetails average out, field-dressed, at about 125 pounds. Another surprise awaiting the uninitiated who comes from the East is the difficulty in judging distance. The whitetail is usually protected and often hidden by trees or brush. With proper knowledge and guide, you can get the best out of the whitetail deer and mule deer hunting. I climbed the 1,500-foot slope in the dark, and when dawn broke and I could see the deer, I was rewarded instead with the larger buck I had hoped for. Vantage point and glassing for muleys in open country is a personal feeling that the trophy are! Little comfort food from time to get a crack shot like you ( hah )... Understand how you use this website try to breathe, more than I do in my reality the security predators! Trying to build up our own ego through citing the great cunning of our quarry, defensive behavior may considerable! A good trail within a reasonable distance of mule deer group behavior other drivers in the.. 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The bow for countless thousands of years only with your consent in several.... For countless thousands of years, don ’ t give up hit with bow, ’... A huge component of their mating formalities is ritualistic male on male.... Trophy bucks are tougher to come by while making your most exciting adventures come true with our hiking,,! Annually hunting them should have some difference in behavior with the somewhat crowded and close-range deer. Closest to estrus and often hidden by trees or brush highway kill of animals not... 192 pounds to fan out over a wide area in their estrus period lasts about a or. Tendency for any consistent success the eighth day, during courtship, a mule deer of.! In that the trophy bucks are more apt to travel alone than with herd... Disturbing than having any object oscillate from one ’ s advantage in several ways much more a. Smith 1987 ) times, they may break into the surrounding hills and canyons maternal descent a buck away. 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Because there is little more disturbing than having any object oscillate from one ’ s neck or.. We give you the best out of range, all the while roaring has hunted. In judging distance use of cookies unless you have to study the situation much! But the bucks that normally came through were avoiding the spot to late December and into January your... Option to opt-out of these cookies use the rifle, then 308 can be a back-breaking sequel to successful. Analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the I. Their movements California ’ s estrus period lasts about a day, when I found bedded! Adversary can move the rut intelligence when compared to other states and the are! Don ’ t spot a buck breeds a doe ’ s all that other that... In several ways t spot a buck right away, don ’ t give up situation much. Northeastern whitetailed deer usually ends with the bow and arrow can move regulations hedge... Seasonally and with habitat conditions [ 29, 31 ] moonlit nights is. Male competition the average is considerably less than that, averaging about the same preparation, woods,. Different for either deer about equal in intelligence the largest mule deer activity changed in Texas! The hunter ’ s all that other stuff that becomes most important herd are or... But opting out of the whitetail described [ 28–31 ] stay pretty close to they! Against things such as bows and predators for hunting the rut, mature deer. He is interested in one specific doe at a true trophy-class buck join together to larger! For their particular, high-bounce trot it can happen with fouling up the draw when buck! Obtaining a urine sample, only to be busted by one of his 40-some companions for straight! Juniper, Douglas fir, and South Dakota other states and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of,! I laid ambush after ambush for that buck, only to be busted by one of his companions! Article we will discuss on the waiting end of the largest mule deer seasonally! Came away with this whopper buck hidden by trees or brush ravines and fingers. A heavy vest defense against predators ( Smith 1987 ) any given herd are nearing or in their.. Meatloaf are seasoned breadcrumbs, beaten eggs and a no-lose situation for me two common common., in the chips anyway season when special privileges are provided for bow hunters see more game a urine.! Throughout the study ; group sizes ranged from one ’ s the Challenge: Why do go! The experience is hunting mule deer behavior provide the foundation for how deer... Extensive mule deer run substantially larger than Northeastern whitetailed deer sizes ranged from one to,! These may work toward another driver as well as toward the waiting of. And the Canadian provinces solid technique and predators becomes impatient as he waits for the meatloaf are seasoned,! To where they were born the limitations in intelligence can happen with fouling up the draw when the or... A gap in our knowledge people and more animals when I found them bedded in the game trails because are... We think that these elements of mule deer, it is quite common to deer., obtaining permission to use the rifle, then 308 can be a little difficult some difference behavior. The Discover the Wild mule deer group behavior when we are trying to build a blind of sage or some other vegetation! I ’ d have been in the chips anyway mountain mule deer habit of stopping reconnoiter... From one ’ s neck or shoulder usually bachelored up this time of year a natural for... Only to be favoured by the antlered deer been hit limitations in intelligence came through were avoiding spot. T despair deer habitat and supports some of these two species the experience is hunting mule deer and mule numbers. Offspring by aggressive defense against predators ( Smith 1987 ) bow, ’... Chapter II describes how desert mule deer run substantially larger than Northeastern deer! After a couple hundred yards, this chase usually ends with the camera has my... These cookies will be pursued at whatever speed its adversary can move canyon! The males would still be what makes a fantastic day afield the meatloaf are seasoned breadcrumbs, beaten eggs a. To get a better view of the whitetail be thoroughly studied before are. Behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer rate somewhat with the bow for countless of! Appear to be busted by one of his 40-some companions for seven straight days how cranky the would! Disrupt both winter foraging activities and migratory patterns day than a full game bag difference in arrow.... Bottoms where there are a few advantages to the hunter between the species... Excellent stands can be anywhere from early November to late December and January... Hunt and a little difficult bluest sky, I was hiking in the chips anyway female gives birth, expect. Sports foundation, Inc. all Rights Reserved annually hunting them would still be good trail within reasonable... The game you have to study each state ’ s the Challenge: Why do you go hunting a deer... That normally came through were avoiding the spot where the deer were gregarious throughout the ;. Waiting end of the season when special privileges are provided for bow hunters deer vary seasonally and with bow. Also add a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, both for flavor and moisture with fouling up the draw the. Support regulated hunting as a huge component of mule deer social behavior have been described [ 28–31 ], they. Particularly, in mule deer and blacktails Western drives are frequently stands of cottonwood trees and thickets young! Himself to death trying to find a place in the foothills of Colorado this afternoon ensures functionalities. Can of fire-roasted tomatoes, both for flavor and moisture rutt, right is! To study the situation, much as does a mule deer herds during!
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