Guns and Gear for a Mule Deer Hunt

by
posted on September 28, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
browning_mule_deer_hunt.jpg

Editor's Note: Contributor Brad Fenson recently had the opportunity to put the following gear to the test on a Colorado mule deer hunt. You can catch up on that story here.

Browning X-Bolt
In Colorado, I used a Browning X-Bolt Long Range Hunter rifle that has since been replaced with the Hell’s Canyon Long Range. The new-for-2017 bolt-action features a fluted, heavy-sporter barrel that is free-floated, hand-chambered and finished with a target crown and threaded muzzle brake. Additional selling points include: a short-throw, 60-degree bolt lift; detachable rotary magazine with inline cartridge feed; an A-TACS AU (Arid/Urban) camouflage-covered stock; Cerakote Burnt Bronze metal finish; Inflex recoil pad; and an adjustable Feather trigger. The grip and feel of Hell’s Canyon rifles gets your mind racing with adventure. They are durable and weatherproof, making them ideal for any weather and the toughest terrain.

Browning Ammo
The Leupold VX-6HD scope used on the hunt had two turrets burned, giving me the option to use Browning’s 155-grain BXR or 190-grain Big Game bullet. The BXR rapid-expansion bullets have a matrix tip designed specifically for all kinds of deer hunting, which made the choice easy. The tip allows for high downrange velocities and energy retention while providing rapid expansion on impact. The massive expansion means quick knockdown power, so deer go nowhere after the shot. My buck collapsed in his tracks, making retrieval easy.

Latest

2025 NRA World Shooting Championship
2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

KelTec Named Official Stage Sponsor for 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is proud to announce KelTec as an official sponsor of the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship, returning to Camp Atterbury, Ind., from September 30 to October 4, 2025.

Thompson/Center Arms Celebrating 60th Anniversary

Thompson/Center Arms is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. Since 1965, T/C Arms has built a legacy rooted in the pioneering spirit of American hunters.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors: Lucy Evans from Georgia and John Bruner from Pennsylvania.

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.