Ask Mr. Mule Deer

Ask Mr. Mule Deer
All You Ever Wanted to Know

Q. I’ve been scouting some mule deer since last year, but it appears like they are going to be tough to get a good shot at as they are inhabiting thick cedars. How should I hunt them?

Jake Alan – Pocatello, ID

A. Low cedar forests surrounding higher country hold some of the oldest, smartest, and biggest bucks around. The reason why is that, as you mentioned, it is hard to hunt deer in thick cedars. For the most part, these thick cedars have low deer densities unless they are adjacent to agriculture. You need to outsmart those big juniper bucks. Position the wind in your face, keep your weapon in ready position, and very slowly move through areas where bucks would likely bed (rock outcrops, saddles, cool ravines). Stop and crouch regularly to look under the juniper branches for any sort of movement or piece of deer. You want to see the deer before they notice you. If you hear a deer bounding, drop to your knees, watch and listen. If you are working the wind right, there is a good chance the buck didn’t go far and is waiting for your next move. An old buck will play the waiting game longer than you will. Be patient. The name of the game in thick junipers is to move slowly and keep alert at all times.

Q. Why does the deer and elk rut happen on different days each year? It’s always in the same season, but the dates differ every year.

Ben Cameron – Tooele, UT

A. The timing of the deer and elk rut is triggered by three major factors you should be aware of: Photoperiod (length of day), weather, and the condition of the herd.
Photoperiod, which is no doubt the most prevailing factor influencing breeding season, serves as the deer’s internal calendar and directly affects a buck’s and bull’s annual life cycles such as testosterone levels and shedding antlers. It also arouses estrus levels in does and cows, causing them to come into estrus.
Contrary to what some hunter’s believe, weather is not what makes or breaks good rutting activity. It can, however, affect deer and elk movement. Deer and elk are more active during periods of colder weather. Weather that is too warm, too cold, or too windy will keep animals holed up longer and slows down rutting activity.
Herd condition will decide when cows and does are ready to breed. Healthy females in optimum condition are ready to breed in the first estrus cycle. Some females will enter estrus earlier than others. Have you ever been in a canyon where the bulls are bugling non-stop and a few canyons over the elk are acting like the rut is still a month away? More than likely, in the canyon full of bugles, a cow is “hot” and the bulls can definitely detect it. Quite the opposite scenario is occurring in the other canyon where none of the cows have gone into estrus yet but the bulls are nearby waiting.
Other factors worth mentioning that may influence timing of the rut are moon phases and hunting pressure.

Q. I am hunting the second rifle season in Area 48 in Colorado. I was wondering, at this time of year, if I should hunt high or low? I was also wondering if you could give me some helpful hints on spotting game.

Jeremy – Colorado Springs, CO

A. The Colorado second season takes place when most mule deer are heading out of the higher country towards their wintering ranges. The problem is that they could be found anywhere on the unit, depending on what the weather has been like. If you have snow, cover different elevations in search of fresh deer tracks in the snow. This will give you a good idea if you should focus high or low. Traditionally, where the mid-elevation aspen parks give way to oak and pinyon forests are a good elevation to start. A technique that has increased my odds at spotting game through my binoculars is to make myself comfortable and place my highest-quality binoculars on a tripod. When my optics are completely still and I’m relaxed, I can spend more time behind my glasses and pick out the slightest movement.

Q. I am hunting blacktail deer on the coast and I haven’t been seeing very many deer. What can I do to make my hunt more successful in the coming years?

Chase K. – Coos Bay, OR

A. Chase, if you are not seeing many deer in the area you are hunting, it may be time to look for an area with more deer activity. In the coastal region, where you find deer one year may be different the next year since many of the deer inhabit logged units. When a logged unit matures, deer will eventually look for greener pastures - possibly another fresh logging unit with plenty of deer forage. Look to the ground for deer activity. If you see trails littered with fresh deer sign, your chances are good that you have some good bucks around. You may need to change your hunting technique so that you are waiting for the buck in his own comfort zone (in the thick stuff). Many serious blacktail hunters are hunting from tree stands over major trails to ambush their trophy blacktail.

Q. Will mule deer and whitetails breed with each other? If so, what type of offspring would they have?

Tracy Hanna – Fowlerville, MI

A. Yes, it is possible for mule deer and whitetails to hybridize and occasionally it does happen. There are enough differences between a mule deer and whitetail, in terms of breeding behavior and language, that they don’t comprehend each other very well. However, sometimes these communication barriers break down and breeding occurs. Consequently, most hybrids are hopeless. They suffer from a mixture of features and escape strategies from both species which severely handicaps their ability to survive. Studies have shown that they don’t survive very well in the wild.

Q. During the winter months, why do I always see the deer feeding right next to the road? Is there something that attracts them to the grass that close to the road?

Bill Jenson – SLC, UT

A. Have you ever noticed that there seems to be more vegetation along a roadside than anywhere in the vicinity? Precipitation, in form of water or snow, collects along roads providing additional moisture to stimulate more plant growth. The deer go wherever there are groceries. One other possibility that is largely unstudied is whether road salt attracts deer like a giant salt block. In addition, the salt melts the snow and ice exposing the roadside vegetation prematurely.

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