Hunting Mule Deer Habitat

I’m fortunate to live in the epicenter of the country’s best mule deer hunting. Central Colorado has high numbers of my favorite big game animal and has long been known for producing trophy quality bucks that, despite some misinformed detractors, are very good table fare. Colorado has the perfect blend of productive alpine summer range, large aspen groves, and sage-covered winter range. More than any other factor as a do-it-yourself public land...

4 Ways Elk Hunting Is Not Deer Hunting

“I was pinned down. I couldn’t move or he’d see or hear me,” I explained. “We were only 12 yards apart with a tree in between.” Greg looked at me blankly. “Why didn’t you just run in there and kill him?” This was a long time ago, but it was a revelation in my elk hunting knowledge. Greg has been killing bulls with a stick bow far longer than I’ve been alive and he clearly thought I was dumb for being afraid to move or make noise while up close...

A Guide to Hunting Mule Deer

Aside from its big ears, the second thing most new mule deer hunters notice is the deer’s fleeing gate, known as “stotting.”  Stotting has been described as bounding, hopping, even “pogoing.” At first it’s a funny sight, until you realize that this goofy looking jump puts a mountain of steep, obstacle-filled terrain between hunter and hunted in a hurry.  Luckily for you, after reaching relative safety, the mule deer will often stop and take a...