Mule Deer Migration

Mule deer migrate along the same corridors or routes year after year. Migration trails are rarely found on ridge tops or in the bottoms. Most of these trails are located about a third of the way down the slope. Although the deer seem to show up out of nowhere, the truth is a deer’s migratory journey can take several days to several weeks to complete. In some areas, the deer need to migrate only eight to twelve miles to reach their winter range. In other areas, the deer will travel as far as 160 miles each fall. The deer will travel three to four miles and then stop over in much the same way people do when taking a long trip.

 

More about mule deer migration here

 

Jim

 

http://jimcollyer.com/

Mule Deer Rut

 

The mule deer rut is triggered by a decrease in the photoperiod. A hormone called melatonin is produced in response to increased darkness. When the melatonin reaches a certain level in the bloodstream, it induces estrus. Most does are bred in their first cycle. However, deer can continue to cycle, every twenty-eight days, until there is enough daylight to reduce estrogen levels.

Learn more on what triggers the rut 

Jim
http://jimcollyer.com/

Tracking Mule Deer

Tracking is the only way to learn everything there is to know about the deer in any location. The tracks tell all. They can tell you the age and sex of the deer you are following. They will show you where the buck travels in the morning, where he travels in the evening, where he feeds, and where he sleeps.

 

I grew up in the era before camouflage and six-hundred-yard rifles. When deer season came, we tracked deer from dawn until dark. It was not only great fun, but also a great lesson in life. Do a kid a favor and put him on a set of tracks. Tell him not to come back until he kills the deer or it gets dark. If he comes back wide-eyed and excited, he’ll be a hunter for life. If he comes back bored and resentful, you can always buy the kid a set of golf clubs.

More on tracking mule deer. 

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

Still-hunting

Still-hunting is a solo sport, and few hunters can become proficient at it. Still-hunting can be learned only after many hours and seasons of practice. It’s a rewarding experience for those who have the necessary time, patience, and persistence.

Become a better still-hunter now

 

 

Jim

http://jimcollyer.com/

Spot and Stalk

 



My favorite method to hunt mule deer is to spot and stalk. The technique is exactly what the name implies: you spot a buck and then find cover and stalk close enough to make a shot. Stalking is a lot like walking around in a house made of cards—one false move and everything comes tumbling down.

 

Mule deer are very susceptible to this type of hunting throughout their range. Whether you’re still-hunting, stand hunting, or tracking, some kind of stalk is often required to get within range of a trophy buck.

 

In the preseason, while I’m scouting for deer, I’m also scouting for locations to spot and stalk from. Picking a good location to spot from is critical. We should never be silhouetted on the skyline while entering or leaving the location we are spotting from. It does us little good to find a good vantage point if it doesn’t offer the hunter an opportunity to slip out of sight undetected for a stalk.

We should remain down and out of sight at all times during the stalk.

 

Jim 

 

More on Stalking Mule Deer 

 

http://jimcollyer.com/

Look for Preferred Food Sources

In August and September, the bucks will be visible for forty-five minutes to an hour after daybreak. By mid-October, the grasses and forbes that made up the majority of the deer’s summer diets begin to dry up, and new food sources are found. Now the period of early-morning activity is reduced to fifteen minutes, and being where the bucks are at dawn is critical.

 

Very few deer will be found near mountain peaks. However, what deer we do find are usually big mature males. Every year, hunters rush to the high country for early season bucks. They believe that bucks seek out higher elevations to avoid the late summer heat. Deer migrate to higher elevations in response to preferred feed, not to stay cool. An abundant supply of feed for the deer is crucial regardless of where you hunt. Many hunters have spent weeks in the high country and never laid eyes on a deer. Check to make sure there is a preferred food source at the elevation you plan to hunt before you spend your entire season looking into empty basins.

Jim
More on food sources 

http://jimcollyer.com/

New Book

My new book, BLOOD IN THE TRACKS: A MULE DEER MANIFESTO, is out and available on Amazon. I’m so excited about this book because it’s going to help a lot of people become better hunters. You can check it out by clicking on the link below. I’...m sure you’ll enjoy it and learn a lot about mule deer hunting from it.
Renowned outdoor photographer Tony Bynum has provided some of the best mule photos ever taken for this book. The pictures are great!
Good luck and good hunting to all of you,
Jim

 

Reserve your copy NOW!

 

http://jimcollyer.com/