Bowhunters tackling the challenge of open-country mule deer hunting face a daunting task: find a buck in millions of acres of cover. Open country is big with unlimited mule deer hideouts, but in the early season you only have to focus on the shady locations for success. Hunt shade instead of deer.
This month presents opportunities for a bowhunter or early-season muzzleloader hunter—if you don’t mess up first. Here’s how to score before the rut arrives.