Success in the high country doesn’t happen by luck. Rifle season comes fast, and by the time the opener rolls around, hunters who have done the homework, the scouting, the glassing, and patterning mule deer bucks, are the ones most likely to punch their tag. The key is simple: treat pre-season scouting as seriously as the hunt itself.
Local partners and volunteers contributed to a very successful fence removal project along a big game migration corridor in Arizona.
Brew Coffee, Support Conservation: Hunting Day Coffee Company Partners with the Mule Deer Foundation
The Mule Deer Foundation is proud to announce our partnership with Hunting Day Coffee Company, where 30% of profits go directly to MDF’s mission of conserving mule deer, black-tailed deer, and their critical habitats.
JOB SUMMARY:
This unique Regional Director position will focus primarily on starting, organizing and executing fundraising chapters along the I-5 corridor in WA & OR, for the newly formed Blacktail Deer Foundation (BDF).
The BDF was formed in early 2025 and is a branch of the Mule Deer Foundation. Blacktailed Deer have been part of the MDF’s mission since its inception in 1988 and BDF chapters will focus on improving the conservation of Columbia & Sitka Blacktail Deer from California to Alaska. MDF/BDF Regional Directors organize local volunteer chapters to hold fundraising events in support of the continued mission accomplishment of MDF, ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat.
On the dry ridges outside Tucson, AZ hunters know that a year of poor rainfall can turn a once familiar hunting ground into an unfamiliar puzzle. Traditional glassing spots may come up empty, and the basins that normally hold deer can feel barren. But those who adjust their strategy now hyper focusing on scarce water sources, higher elevation forage, and subtle changes in deer movement can still find success even in tough years.
This is an easy and refreshing salad that makes for the perfect light dinner or lunch. I used steelhead, but any pink-fleshed fish will do, including any type of salmon or trout. You could even make it with canned salmon in a pinch.
Don’t sleep on the lemon zest, as it adds a brightness to this dish that will be missing otherwise. If you don’t have a zesting tool or a rasp, use a vegetable peeler to carefully remove the peel without including much white pith, then mince it finely with a knife.
I made the garlic optional in the salad, as it adds a punchiness and light heat that may not be up everyone’s alley. I’m always good for it, though!
Hunting deep in the backcountry with nothing but the gear you can carry on your back is one of the most rewarding ways to access wild, hard-to-reach mule deer country. It’s an adventure rooted in self-reliance, and while it can open the door to areas few others reach, it also adds a layer of complexity you won’t find when hunting from a truck or a traditional base camp.
In this article, we break down the Mule Deer Foundation’s recommended backcountry gear list — including tips and specific product suggestions — to help you prepare for your next hunt.
An upcoming Crossroads Project video series showcases the long-standing partnership between the Mule Deer Foundation and the USDA Forest Service.
Bowhunting mule deer in open country is one of the most rewarding — and frustrating — challenges a Western hunter can take on. There’s no treestand to sit in, no food plot to watch. It’s you, the sagebrush, the sun, and a buck that can pick you off at 400 yards if you blink wrong.
Federal Ammunition introduced its popular Fusion line of hunting ammo in 2005. The development of Fusion was driven by a desire to create a rifle cartridge that combined the best qualities of traditional hunting bullets with the advantages of modern projectile design. The result was a full line of ammunition featuring bonded bullets specifically engineered for deer hunting, offering excellent weight retention, expansion, and accuracy. The addition of a polymer tip brought a fresh evolution to these time-tested hunting loads.
Early season mule deer hunting is a long game. You might spend days glassing and never make a stalk — or you might get it done on the first morning. Either way, keep your head in the game and your ego in check. Velvet season rewards the patient and punishes the reckless.
The Mule Deer Foundation is proud to share an incredible opportunity for those who dream of hunting the legendary giants of Sonora, Mexico. Known for producing some of the biggest mule deer bucks in North America, Sonora offers the perfect combination of rugged desert landscapes, prime winter rut timing, and expert local guides who know exactly where to find world-class animals.