Trophy mulies?
 

Anyone have any stats or views on quality mule deer hunts in the west. Where have the largest mule deer from the past few years come from. Colorado's Western slope? Utah? Nevada? Wyoming? Any areas of mule deer actually doing well and producting record bucks? TIA

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

This would not be montana. Montana rifle hunts in the rut.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

i live in wyoming, there are some real nice bucks here. but next year i am going on a trophy muley hunt, and it sure is NOT in wyoming!:D

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

wanting a 200 incher huh??
dont we all. they are out there though. wyoming does have some, regions g and h for non residents. not a sure thing getting a tag though.

then again, that will probably be your biggest obstacle. premium tags arent easy to come by. the kaibab in arizona, and the paunsagant in utah are sorta like winning the lottery. im sure there are other areas that may suit your needs. i reccommend you make some calls, and check out some magazines. garth carter hunter services maybe your best bet. he can advise ya where to go.. i dont have his phone number handy, but look it up on line, you can find it. also, ryan hatch of muley crazy magazine could probably help ya. mike eastman of eastmans magazine too. rusty hall of trophy hunter magazine too maybe?
i would do some internet checking on these guys, and give em a call. garth carter has quite a reputation for putting people on trophies
brad

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Colorado has had good weather for the last several year and good management (talk about a huge change in policy over the last 20 years)... that is the place to shoot a stroker buck.

Arizona is going to be another state that will produce stroker bucks this year. With a great winter, the horn growth on the Kaibab and Strip are going to be the best in years.

New Mexico is another state that is going to have a banner year in terms of horn growth because of their amazing winter. Unfortunately, due to genetics, I doubt that many stroker bucks will come out of New Mexico this year.

Utah's top units, while many are starting to rebound, have been living off reputation for many years. I mean if you want to shoot a nice buck, you can pay for one on like the Heaton and etc.

A couple of Nevada's top units have been doing the same thing... living off reputation but slowly rebuilding... thanks NDOW for transplanting Elk into the premier units!

Idaho has been is a drought... as has Montana... as Wyoming...

Again, especially, if you are looking at a public land hunt, my choice would be Arizona followed Colorado.

SA

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Check out Eastmans Big Game Hunting Journal, its the best mag as far as where to go for trophy elk and mule deer.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

The north west part of Colorado had some pretty good muley territory!

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

definitely not Utah, we don't have any deer, not even does!:eek:

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

A few years back I hunted the flat tops mountains just east of Grand Junction. I was bow hunting for elk I thought until I saw the biggest mulies I had ever seen on TV or otherwise. This group would stay out in the middle of a huge sage area and you could see their antlers as they bedded like television towers. I tried sneaking on my hands and knees multiple times over long distances only to get busted at about 75 yards. BIG MOOEYS!

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Colorado,Kansas,Utah,Neveda, and Alberta.Those would be your best bet,MT and WY still have good bucks but few and far between.

I shot a 189 7/8 mulie 5 years ago here in Montana,and have not seen one better than that since.
BBJ

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

I beg to differ with you on the fact that the elk are the problem for the decline of quality deer in any state, Nevada or otherwise. Some of the best bucks AND bulls come from the same units, or other units that are very close to each other. Elk eat totally different food than deer do. Elk are a grazer, deer are a browser. The major browse species (ie: sagebrush) has been burned or illiminated in major portions of mule deer range. The grasses have grown in on top, and the elk thrive. Drought also has a big part to do also. I am not meaning just Nevada either, but all of the western states that have been plagued by fire, drought, and all the other factors that negatively affect mule deer.

Now, with that aside, the places I would have to pick for getting on a truly large mule deer would have to be NW Colorado, Alberta, BC, and very select parts of Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, and little honey holes in the rest of the states out west. Look up draw odds. I would bet money that the hardest areas to draw every year in most states in most areas also produce the largest bucks on the whole, though every unit surely has its few deer that never get seen and get to grow to enourmous sizes.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

i was thinking about a mule deer hunt it sounds like they are in decline. mrbriggs are you thiking about an outfitter? i'm just starting to look into all this. i'm thinking may-be 06. i don't know which state or area either. i'm from mass. and there are so many outfitters its hard to sort it all out.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Charlie - I have to side w/ spyro on the issue of Elk/deer conflict. Whitetails are grazers also, but they will DECIMATE the mule deer population. Not very may people want to admitt it but the time correlation between the reintroduction of Elk and the decline of the mule deer cant be denied. There are other factors involved from region to region, but Elk reintroduction/expansion is common to most.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

NVMIKE - I will buy that, the elk upswing, and deer downswing. But, then I ask, (and not trying to argue your point), what is the common denominator, then, that allows for whitetails, and or elk to thrive, and cause the mule deer population to decline? I think in the case of elk, a big one is water, not entirely food sources. But what about whitetailed deer? What causes them to thrive in areas where mule deer have historically been? Just not making sense at all.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Regions G & H on the western side of Wyoming are still producing good, quality bucks. It is down the past few years and the herd is hurting, but good bucks are still to be had. Hunt hard and get back in the country and the solid bucks are still back there.

My 2 cents

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Being from Idaho I have shot a couple of respectable mulies! But if I were to choose one place to hunt it would be the Arizona Strip! That's where I would look into!

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

muliefever,

im looking into the strip! can ya get me the tag?:)

brad

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

MB - I know I'm late here but have you checked out "Popeye" out near Kemmerer (Pronounced Kehmer not er er). Actually he's landlocked on public land but winters on (during hunt season naturally) Private land . 40+" outside with plenty of garbage and "perfect backs and fronts". Eastmans featured his daddy on one of their films. There's a whole lots of Legend Mulies out of that area. Plus out of Riverton Last year (2004 season) a 30 plus world record non typ taken by rifle. In my little area near Casper I have my eye on a 30+" 4X4 with lots of garbage and two 15" drop tines. They are out there folks but you have to do a BUNCH of scouting before you see them. OR (fortunately for me) Have a few landowner friends to help you out.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

I'm from Kemmerer... or Kem-er-er-er-er :D

Anyway, I thought they figured Popeye died last year. Didn't see him on the winter range this year, etc. I'm one of those crazies that would chase after his drops every year. Me and about 1/2 of Kemmerer and Big Piney!!:D

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Well I dont know about trophys but this one was taken in Washington state in the late general archery season. By my hunting partner in Nov. 2003 and is pending state Record for Non Typ archery mule deer
The buck Net scored 191 6/8 inches

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Hey NW, was that taken some where near me, or east of me.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

i wouldn't know if they got it in the record books but a guy tht i seen hunting near Kremmling, colorado shot n 8x8 buck tht looked like an elks antlers/rack from a distance, but i would,'t know if it made it in the record book. (if you hunt in colorado that would be area 27 3rd season)

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

I would have to say about 70 miles south of you Pac :D

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

OK got ya, Me thinks I have an idea and if it's where I'm thinking, yes some nice bucks have come out of that area. Congrats on it.

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Thanks Pac,....it was taken in the eniat unit....its all draw now but that year it wasent :D

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

Guy I work with from Kemerererererersees (Son Of Popeye) every now and then. Same area ,same landowner ,same flat out wide spread. Good genes in that neighborhood. You hunt around Kemrrrrrrrr?

RE: Trophy mulies?
 

I do, I grew up in Kemmerererer :D Still go back for Elk and Deer if I draw, etc. Who do you know in Kemmerer? I know about everyone.