Story
A promise made by Rachel’s boyfriend to get her the biggest buck she had ever seen. The boyfriend talked a good game and spoke like he knew mule deer. They had gone out enough times that he was considered the boyfriend. The title lacked substance. The man held the position mainly because, he expected to see her every Friday night and because he had a way of showing up and taking over her plans whenever it suited him, but most importantly because he promised her a big buck. Beyond that, he never actually asked her to be a steady thing.
For many of us who call the Eastern United States home, hunting often means heading out to familiar spots each fall. Whether to deer woods, duck blinds, or locations passed down through generations. We’ve honed our techniques, know the right time to be there, and have the right gear for the job. But occasionally, while scrolling through photos of impressive animals tagged out west, you may wonder, “Why don’t I do that?”
So, what’s holding you back? Is it the distance or the fear that you won’t have the technical expertise to succeed? In truth, these aren’t great reasons to miss out on an entirely different hunting experience that could provide lifelong memories. Here are some reasons to load up the truck and head out west.
As part of our ongoing efforts to protect wildlife and ensure the survival of mule deer, we ask for your cooperation in respecting the winter range closures and restrictions that are in place during their critical winter survival period. Shed hunting is becoming a larger recreational pastime and it can be tempting to go out early especially as the weather gets better. However, the Mule Deer Foundation urges you to wait because now is an important time for mule deer and other wildlife trying to survive the last bits of winter. Late spring is when they are in the worst shape they will be in all year and any extra energy expenditure can be life threatening.
You have just finished a grueling day in the backcountry looking for Muleys. To the west, you see the sun setting. It’s time to make your way back to the truck, so you grab your GPS. You instantly know something is wrong as your thumb goes across the screen. It’s smashed!
At the end of a long season, I usually toss my gear into my garage, where it sits for a bit. It used to sit there until the next season, but a few years ago, life got busy, and I found myself scrambling the night before the opener. After that experience, I realized that this time of year is the perfect time to do a deep gear breakdown and maintenance.
The long hike made his pulse jump. He gasped for air like he was making hook shots at the basketball court, and his ego was still in a relatively positive place. Last night, he slept in his truck at a trailhead below; the tight space gave him a crick in his neck. He took a minute now to check the GPS on his phone; he still had a quarter mile further to go before cresting out. Back on his feet, he took a long pull from the rubber hose over his shoulder and got back to it, headlamp beam bouncing out ahead. Mentally, he was humming along to KC and the Sunshine Band, a song he didn’t want in his head but wouldn’t go away, and as the chorus played over and over, he crested the bowl at 9,300 feet.
It’s the little stuff like this that’s going to keep you in the field longer. Foot care is Paramount, especially if you’re heading into the foothills of the Rockies to chase after a Muley. You’ll need to put some miles on, and if your boots aren’t in tip-top shape, you’re setting yourself up for failure. So take the time now to clean your boots and do what maintenance is necessary. The reward? A comfortable, pain-free adventure when you head out to the mountain this fall.
The Mule Deer Foundation is hosting a lottery drawing for the Treasure State’s most coveted big game tag. Contrary to the past where this exclusive tag has been all but unattainable behind a pay to play auction system; in 2025, we are hosting an open raffle with a price tag available to all who are interested.
Later when you have regained cell service you send the photos out to friends and family only to learn the pictures don’t come close to doing justice to the deer, the moment of triumph, or your struggle.
Taking good photos matters and can help you and others relive your hunt and all the critical successes and failures therein. Read on for more on how to take great pictures of your buck.
Results from the Wisconsin DNR’s largest deer and chronic wasting disease (CWD) study ever undertaken show that the disease substantially reduces deer survival rates, and suppresses deer population growth.
Dr. Dan Storm, DNR ungulate research scientist, reported the results of the seven-year study in southwest Wisconsin to the Natural Resources Board Jan. 22.
“People should expect to see fewer deer in areas of high CWD prevalence,” Storm said. “Deer are not going to go extinct, but there will be fewer of them.”
Gear and clothing are a huge part of how we hunt today; we have it better than the Mountain Men. Ultra-light wasn’t a thing, so every item they carried had to serve a purpose and be reliable. No one item was more purposeful than their rifle. The rifle of the day was the iconic Kentucky or Pennsylvania-style “long rifle.”
