Summer Scouting to Prepare for Muley Mojo

by
posted on July 1, 2020
** 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. **
summer-scouting-muley-mojo_lead.jpg

Mule deer would be easier to hunt if they acted like whitetails. For public-land hunters, that differentiation is oftentimes the Holy Grail for success. Unlike whitetails that adhere to a homeland territory, mule deer bucks begin to roam as fall testosterone surges and does come into estrus. Although you may have a bachelor group in your sights this summer, be prepared for a dispersion that could extend miles come hunting season when the boys start chasing.

A major clue to the upcoming wanderer state of a mule deer buck is the fact they don’t make scrapes like their whitetail cousins. Instead, rutting mule deer bucks take extra care to dribble urine on their tarsals and hind legs. This allows them to carry their scrape with them as they drift through a much larger territory.

That mojo distinction is just one reason you need to think ahead as you scout mule deer this summer. In addition to brushing up on deer behavior, analyze the hunting ground you have access to and take advantage of any future mule deer mojo moves.

Doe Groups
Bucks become drifters to find does. Look for large doe groups now during the preseason, and note the reasons they may or may not be there during hunting season. A high-country herd could easily migrate lower by hunting season, but does lingering along grassy creeks, agriculture fields, lush meadows and other attractive habitat could be year-round inhabitants or make minimal moves in fall. These groups won’t hold a mature buck now, but will be the target of any buck near or far once the testosterone stroll begins.

And don’t fall for the fallacy that a mule deer buck keeps a harem like a bugling bull elk. A mature buck will move in and command a doe group for days, but once the breeding opportunities dry up, he again laces up his walking boots. Pay heed to “here today and gone tomorrow.”

Private/Public Land Connections
Private land muleys may be off limits to you, but don’t ignore adjacent public land. It’s common for mule deer to utilize food resources on private land and then wander to neighboring public lands for rough-country refuge. Doe groups and roving rutters also escape to rugged hideouts on nearby public land to avoid bedding in flat, private holdings like an irrigated hayfield. A mule deer buck may breed a doe in the public forum of a herd, but he also could nudge her to nearby public land for some honeymoon seclusion in craggy country.

Scout firsthand or via digital hunting apps like Huntstand, for state and federal parcels big and small. Even a square mile of school trust lands could be the hot ticket for a nomadic traveler. As you snoop, look for high areas that offer glassing coverage and sniper-like shooting positions.

Several years ago, I kept tabs on a large herd of does and fawns living on a tract of public lands throughout the summer. During season, while returning from a hunt at sunset, I spotted a mature buck on nearby private ground. I had a hunch he might visit the does on the adjacent public lands. The next day, as he started pestering does, I lined up for a chip shot thanks to muley mojo.

Latest

Trail Cam Lede
Trail Cam Lede

How To Use Trail Cameras to Find More Bucks and Bulls

Get some tips from Scott Haugen on how to optimize your trail cam grid this season.

New for 2025: Davidson's Exclusive Bergara B-14 FSP Hunter Stainless

Davidson’s has collaborated with Bergara to produce the first complete Bergara rifle with a stainless-steel barreled action available in the USA.

New for 2025: Leica USA Rangemaster CRF Max

Leica Sport Optics USA has unveiled the Leica Rangemaster CRF Max. Designed for hunters and long-range shooters who demand precision and reliability, the CRF Max combines Leica’s optical performance with cutting-edge digital integration and a new heads-up display.

Boone and Crockett Club Poaching Data Published

Did you know that the majority of wildlife violations never result in citations? Sure, with so much ground to cover, it may be easy to guess that most violations committed deep in the backcountry will never see the light of day, but the scale is still quite surprising. 

First Look: Horizon Firearms Exclusive

Custom & Collectable Firearms proudly unveils the Horizon Firearms Exclusive, a 1-of-50 limited series built for hunters and anyone who values accuracy, value and dependability.

Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young Now Accepting Javelina Entries

The Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) and Pope and Young Club (P&Y) announced in August that they have completed scoring procedures and are now accepting entries for javelina (collared peccary, Pecari tajacu) in their record books.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.