Story
It’s two nights before the Spring turkey season, and I’m trying on my lucky camos for the first time since deer season. The holidays have come and gone, and my gut is…larger. I suck it in but my arms are shaking, straining like I’m gripping matter and antimatter, trying to get the brass button to go inside that tiny buttonhole. Dang.
When it comes to deciding what to grill for the 4th of July, it’s usually a no-brainer: burgers, brats, and dogs. Perhaps you have ground game and venison links taking up space in your freezer and the Independence Day holiday is the perfect occasion to make room for fall. But what about your guests who are tired of the same-old menu, year after year?
When it comes to mule deer hunting, seeing is everything. Wide open basins, high country ridge lines, and rolling sagebrush flats all share one thing in common: they make is easy for deer to disappear. Spotting a buck before he can spot you could be the difference between a punched tag and an excuse.
That’s why glassing is so important. Not just the act itself but the gear, your binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes are as important as how you use them. Whether you’re just getting into the game or you’re refining advanced spotting techniques, your optics and how you use them matter.
As the hot afternoon sun beat down on my face, a burning bead of sweat rolled its way down my forehead and found its way into my eye. It was a very unseasonably warm mid-May afternoon in Idaho. I had just hustled home from work, jumped into my camo ninja suit, and practically ran up the mountain to my honey hole, where I hoped to bag a late season gobbler. It was hot and dry, and to be honest, I was very much doubting the likelihood of success.
With tag draw results coming in across the West, odds are some of you are holding onto a hot tag and plotting your fall adventure. Whether it’s your first time chasing high country bucks or you’re a seasoned veteran heading back to your favorite canyon, the right gear can make all the difference between a successful, enjoyable hunt and a miserable slog. Lucky for you, you’ve landed in the right place; at the Mule Deer Foundation, we not only care about conserving the species we all love, but we also live this lifestyle 365 days a year.
In 2024, the picture is complicated. In some places, there’s reason to be optimistic. States like Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah are seeing herds hold steady or even tick upward. Colorado’s herd alone is estimated at over 418,000 — a sign that habitat work, smart management, and a few well-timed wet years are starting to pay off.
This encounter marked the first documented scientific description of the mule deer by Euro-American explorers. While Indigenous peoples across the American West had hunted and lived alongside mule deer for centuries, the Lewis and Clark journals provided the first written account of the species for the expanding field of American zoology. This documentation description would continue throughout the journey as more of these creatures were brought in, and Lewis would later start referring to them as mule deer. That’s how they came to be known by the name we know them by today.
You can keep your city or college mascots and your trophy room African exotics. There’s no creature that better represents the backbone of adventure or the American West than the mule deer. Big ears, bigger instincts, and a way of moving that’s half ballet, half jailbreak.
The best meal you’ll ever have isn’t found in a steakhouse in New York or on the Vegas Strip at some celebrity-chef’s restaurant. This unforgettable experience, when tastebuds revel in something more than flavor, occurs in the backcountry, when fingers are still trembling from cutting a tag as you pull backstraps from your trophy.
This new action was designed to complement the historic Mark V® and Vanguard® lineups by offering a new platform that was value-rich, innovative, and could accommodate a wide variety of after-market accessories. Since the launch of Model 307, Weatherby has released several rifle models, but today they released the Alpine ST, which features a carbon fiber stock and spiral fluted barrel for just $1,999.
However, one part of the animal that is often overlooked is its hair.
I think game hair—whether from pronghorns, mule deer, or elk—has tremendous value, especially for fly tyers. When used skillfully, these natural materials can be used to craft a wide variety of fly patterns that are effective and unique.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has finalized details for the 2025 deer season, announcing that 42,300 licenses will be available to hunters—7,800 fewer than last year. The drop reflects ongoing efforts to help the state’s deer population recover following recent environmental challenges.