Ask Mr. Mule Deer

Q. I have been hunting on private land in northern Utah for twelve years and I have been told to look for a “Roman nose” buck. What is a Roman nose buck?
Kyle Sessions - Woods Cross, UT

A. Kyle, a Roman nose simply means a nose with a high, prominent bridge. Normally, the Roman-nosed buck’s face appears shorter with a hump on the nose bridge. It’s common for bucks to develop this feature as they mature, which is probably why you have been advised to look for a Roman nose. Don’t just look for the Roman nose however, because not all mature bucks develop this attractive bump - though it sure adds a little character to a nice trophy.

Q. Why do mule deer tend to live in the high country?
Cy Sneed – via email

A. Cy, mule deer tend to follow the best forage in their range. In the summertime, as the snow gives way to succulent feed, mule deer follow the snowline into the high country which offers an abundant supply of optimal forage. In addition, mule deer take advantage of the high country’s cooler temperatures, steady breezes which prevent pesky bug infestations, and rough topography to hide them from danger.

Q. Do mule deer live longer in some states than they do in others?
Pat Gifford – Farmington, NM

A. Throughout the mule deer’s range, the average lifespan is around ten years old; though they have lived up to 25 years in captivity. Many factors will influence how long a mule deer will live. Predation, hunting, vehicular-traffic and weather severity play a vital role on the mule deer’s average life span in a given area. For instance, the Arizona Strip mule deer may well have a longer life span than deer in agricultural Wyoming, given that Wyoming has heavier winters, more vehicular-traffic around agriculture and more hunting pressure as well due to depredation antlerless deer tags to relieve damage to agriculture.

Q. What is the best source for finding info and maps for areas that are open to public hunting in southeastern Idaho?
Jeff Whaling – Brookville, PA

A. Your first phone call should be to the Idaho Game and Fish wildlife manager that is involved with the area you want to hunt. Second, try Idaho’s new Idaho Hunt Planner, an interactive search engine designed to provide information on regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, maps and hunt boundaries - all in one location. http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/

Q. I am planning a trip to Wyoming to hunt mule deer. When is the rut and would rattling antlers or grunt calls be helpful? I have hunted whitetail deer in Ohio and West Virginia and have been pretty successful. Could I expect the same while hunting mule deer in Wyoming or do I need to hunt differently out West?
Robert – Troy, Ohio

A. More than likely, you will be hunting differently out West. You may have some success with your Eastern tactics, but may be better off leaving them home. Wyoming terrain is expansive and requires a different sort of patience than what you’re probably used to. Instead of waiting in a stand/blind for a whitetail to appear from the thick hardwoods, you’ll sit and glass extensive open country for long periods of time searching for mule deer. Once you spot your quarry, you’ll need to make a stalk to get within range of the buck. Mule deer rut throughout November in Wyoming. Whatever part of Wyoming you hunt, your optics will be extremely important. You should also be equipped to take longer shots than you would for whitetail.

Q. Hey Mr. Mule Deer, can you tell me the difference in the scoring between Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett?
Cody Lunceford – Vernal, Utah

A. The same scoring system is used for both Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett. However, the minimum score for awards is quite a bit less for Pope & Young, since it recognizes records on bow-harvested North American big game only. Boone & Crockett’s Record Program includes trophies taken by bow, rifle, hand gun and other methods.

Q. Are mule deer color blind?
Jeff Baldwin – Ontario, OR

A. The debate over deer being color blind is not new. But, recently, extensive studies have confirmed that deer do have limited color vision, much more limited than the range of a human’s color vision. In essence, deer are red-green color blind. This does not mean that these colors are invisible to deer, but rather that they are perceived differently. A hunter may perhaps get away with hunting in green, red, or orange clothing, but be disadvantaged suited in blue. There is no question that breaking up your outline is far more important than the color of your clothing.

Q. I am a bow hunter and prefer to hunt over water. However, it seems that when I sit at water, only little bucks come into it. I see and hear about people killing great bucks over water – do these big bucks water at night?
Jeff – Reno, NV

A. The first bit of homework you need to do is to make sure a great buck is using the water hole you hunt over. Often, if other water is available nearby, larger bucks will steer clear of the obvious water holes and find small water sources that are less conspicuous. Once mule deer sense danger or have had some hunting pressure, their watering patterns are interrupted and it is difficult to predict when they’ll come to water. Does and little bucks may still come into water during hunting hours; but, by the time a buck has matured, he has found that water holes are danger zones. These big bucks often use the tanks during the night when it is safest. Your best bet is to be in your stand well before light and after dark.

Tags: HI34, mr mule deer, mule deer, tips

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