Archery Mule Deer: Secrets To Early Season Success

Hunting early-season archery mule deer is a challenging but rewarding pursuit. Success requires dedication, patience, and a systematic approach. The key to success lies in early and thorough scouting to locate and pattern mature bucks. Understanding their behaviour, feeding habits, and bedding preferences is essential. The early season is characterised by high temperatures, limiting deer movement to mornings and evenings, with bucks seeking shade and food. Scouting should focus on identifying high-quality shade areas, such as north-facing slopes with thick cover, and locating food sources like willows, bitterbrush, and acorns. Mastering the art of midday glassing is crucial, requiring the right equipment and set-up to effectively scan shady areas. Stalking requires careful planning, considering wind direction, cover, and the buck's position. Patience is key, as rushing a stalk can result in the buck evading the area for days. Hunting early-season archery mule deer demands a methodical and persistent approach to increase the chances of success.

Scouting is key

The next step is to embrace technology. Aerial photography tools like Google Earth and Microsoft Bing's aerial photo mapping software can save you a lot of time by helping you scout the area virtually before you head out. Once you've picked out a few potential hunting spots, it's time to get out into the field and scout like you would hunt. Start heading out in late June or early July, depending on snow levels. By mid-July, you can be sure that the big bucks have moved into their high country summer range.

When you're out on the ground, focus on habitat. Look for food, water sources, and habitat types that bucks prefer. Cirque basins with multiple escape routes, flat benches with wide views, rim rock, and protein-rich grasses and shrubs are all indicators of good habitat for mule deer. Remember, the quality of the habitat is just as important as spotting a big buck. Also, keep an eye out for places to camp that are close to water sources and your hunting area, as this will save you time and energy.

Repeat the process of researching, scouting virtually, and scouting on the ground until you find the right area. Remember to have fun and enjoy the process of learning about the country and the places the hunt takes you.

Find the feed, find the bucks

The key to a successful early-season mule deer bowhunt is to find their food sources. At the end of summer, a mule deer buck's priorities are staying alive and finding food. They need to consume a lot of food to have the energy to finish growing their racks.

In the high alpine, you'll find mule deer among the vast seas of various Willow species. Willows offer an abundance of protein and rich nutrients, and the taller thicker areas provide ample shade for most of the hot, long summer days. However, it is the shorter, younger Willows that offer the best feed. When glassing bucks in big patches of Willow, you'll often see them wander out into the lower growth, about chest-high. This offers ample food that the deer do not have to put much effort into eating. They may get up throughout the day to feed, and since they are ungulates, they chew their cud and feed about every six hours.

When bowhunting high alpine bucks, try to locate patches of willow along a spring or small creek. The water is key for the deer to drink, and it also provides thick, dense, mature willows that will, in turn, provide all-day cover for the deer. Find a spot like that with younger willow around the fringes, and you're likely to find bucks.

In Utah, Antelope Bitterbrush or "Buck Brush" is very plentiful in the mountains and even at higher elevations. This is a hearty shrub with leaves that last well into the fall, and deer adore it. Some of the biggest concentrations of Bitterbrush can be found in the north-central Utah mountains, and these areas often play host to hoards of mule deer bucks in the early archery season.

In the late summer months, mule deer also concentrate on a combination of grasses and forbs, including dandelion, mountain bluebell, sawtooth butterweed, kochia, tailcup lupine, and clover.

In the southwest states of Arizona and New Mexico, when the mature Gambel Oaks are dropping big acorns, you're sure to find mule deer feeding in the oaks. No food source concentrates mule deer like acorns. They provide a source of fat that no other food can, and in years with a high acorn mast, the deer mortality rate is substantially lower. When the acorns are dropping, deer will hardly eat anything else. With a little pre-season scouting, you can determine which trees have large concentrations of acorns, making a ground blind or tree stand a very effective way to take a good buck.

Regardless of the state or elevation, if you're headed out west to bowhunt mule deer in the early season, finding their food sources is key to your success.

Stalking execution

• Planning: Before initiating a stalk, it is crucial to plan your approach meticulously. Identify the pros and cons of each potential move and decide whether to proceed or wait for a better opportunity. A well-thought-out plan increases your chances of success and reduces the risk of alerting the buck.
• Timing: The best time to stalk is when the deer has bedded down for the day. Stalking a stationary buck eliminates the uncertainty of their location and movement. It also allows you to choose an approach that considers wind direction and the buck's visibility.
• Patience: Exercise patience during the stalk. Waiting for the perfect opportunity is essential. Mature bucks are experts at survival and are highly sensitive to their surroundings. Move slowly, and if you think you're moving too slowly, slow down even more.
• Thermal Winds: Understand the behaviour of thermal winds. Typically, they rise with the sun and can be unpredictable. It is advisable to wait for the thermals to stabilise, usually after 10 a.m., before attempting a stalk. Noisy movements may be tolerated if done slowly, but if the buck catches your scent, the stalk will likely be compromised.
• Ambush Style: In certain regions, such as Utah, an ambush-style hunt may be more effective than spot-and-stalk. Set up in known favourite patches of food sources, such as Bitterbrush, and take advantage of favourable winds to get within bow range.
• Use of Tools: Utilise tools such as binoculars, spotting scopes, and tripods to aid in your stalk. These tools help you glass the area effectively, identify bedded deer, and make more accurate assessments of the situation.
• Vegetation and Shade: Consider the type of vegetation and shade availability when stalking. Mule deer prefer certain types of foliage for bedding, such as shrub-like foliage and trees with open bottoms. Look for high-quality shade that persists as the sun moves, reducing the need for deer to re-bed frequently.

Thermal recognition

Thermal imaging cameras can be a hunter's best ally, as they allow you to see animals in complete darkness, through dense foliage, and even in smoky or foggy conditions. They are also useful during the day, as they can make camouflaged animals stand out clearly. When hunting mule deer, thermal imaging can help you spot them in dense forests or when they are trying to remain undetected at night.

When selecting a thermal camera, consider the resolution, detection range, and compatibility with your smartphone. High-resolution imaging and long-range detection are important features. Models like the Mileseey TNV256i and Infiray T2 Pro are popular among hunters as they offer these features and are designed to work seamlessly with smartphones.

When using your thermal camera in the field, choosing the right colour palette for optimal visibility is crucial. The rainbow palette is best for detecting multiple objects in low-contrast environments, while black hot and white hot palettes are ideal for environments with minimal temperature differences. For hunting in forests or green-heavy environments, the green hot palette enhances detail and contrast for better tracking.

With the help of thermal recognition technology, you can greatly increase your chances of spotting mule deer and improve your overall hunting experience.

Patience kills big bucks

Hunting early-season archery mule deer is a challenging pursuit that requires dedication, patience, and a systematic approach. One of the most crucial aspects of a successful hunt is the ability to remain patient and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. Here are some insights and strategies to keep in mind:

Understanding Mule Deer Behavior

Mule deer behavior varies throughout the early season, from August to early October. During this period, they are focused on two primary needs: staying alive and finding food. In August, they are still in velvet, growing their antlers, and often found in bachelor groups. They bed early and feed late, seeking shade to escape the hot temperatures. As September approaches, bucks start rubbing off their velvet and become more cautious. They continue to feed and browse in thicker areas, selecting favored food sources. By early October, larger bucks tend to be solitary or in small groups, preparing for the rut. Understanding these behavioral patterns is essential for planning your hunt.

Scouting and Patterning

Scouting is key to locating and patterning early-season mule deer. Start by identifying their food sources, such as protein-rich grasses, shrubs, and willow species in high alpine regions. Look for areas with ample shade and water sources, as well as habitat security. Big bucks prefer seclusion and tend to stay away from roads and people. Utilize technology like Google Earth and aerial photography to scout potential hunting areas. Spend time wandering through the country, analyzing data on buck sizes, harvest statistics, and game population reports. The earlier you start scouting, the better your chances of success during the hunting season.

Stalking and Patience

Once you've located your target buck, the key to a successful stalk is patience. Avoid the urge to jump into action immediately, as big bucks have grown cautious for a reason. Methodically plan your stalk, weighing the pros and cons of each move. Be prepared to wait for extended periods, battling physical and mental fatigue. Mule deer are experts at surviving and are extremely sensitive to their surroundings. When the opportunity arises, move slowly and meticulously, taking into account factors such as wind direction, available cover, and the presence of other deer.

Thermal Recognition

Understanding mountain thermals is crucial for a successful stalk. Typically, upward thermals stabilize after 10 a.m., and swirling thermals can ruin your stalk. Wait for the thermals to stabilize and the buck to bed down before attempting your approach. This reduces the chances of the buck catching your scent and increases your chances of getting within shooting range.

Stationary vs. Mobile

It is generally more advantageous to stalk a stationary, bedded buck rather than one that is on its feet. This allows you to determine an approach route that considers both the wind direction and the buck's visibility. If the buck is leaving the area, you can attempt to cut it off, but your best odds lie in waiting for it to bed down and then executing your stalk.

Remember, hunting early-season archery mule deer requires a significant amount of patience and a methodical approach. By scouting diligently, understanding deer behavior, and executing well-planned stalks, you'll increase your chances of taking down that big buck.

Frequently asked questions