RE: Mule deer hunting pre-rut
Here in Wyo most mule deer hunts are over by mid October. Way ahead of the stereotypical mulie "pre-rut".
I see more bucks in Sept during archery. Always still in bachelor groups.
But yeah, if you can spot and stalk in a low pressure area that you know holds mulies, lay and wait! But I'd try and go earlier in the year before they get twitterpated.