Conservation Programs

Mule Deer Foundation expands its conservation work in southern Utah through a new Stewardship Agreement.

Every year, companies introduce new gear that promises to change the way we hunt. Some of it lives up to the hype. Some of it quietly disappears after a season or two. As someone who spends a lot of time in the field, and is fortunate enough to test new equipment before it reaches many hunters. I’ve learned to be skeptical until I can put gear through its paces myself.

This summer has given me the chance to spend time behind several new products that I’m genuinely excited to carry into mule deer season. None of them replace good woodsmanship or time spent scouting, but each one has found a place in my hunting kit because it solves a real problem I’ll encounter in the mountains.

Here are four pieces of gear I’ll be packing this fall.

Every hunter remembers the bucks they tagged. We all have photos of those animals hanging in the garage or tucked away in old albums, and every set of antlers carries a story. But if I’m being honest, the hunts that shaped me the most weren’t the successful ones. They were the hunts where I got something completely wrong.

CLEARFIELD, Utah, September 18, 2026 — The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) applauds provisions in the Administration’s new Executive Order, “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage,” that supports improved habitat, wildlife connectivity, and […]

One of the biggest misconceptions among new deer hunters is that shot placement is simply a matter of aiming behind the shoulder. While that advice isn’t wrong, it only applies when the deer is standing perfectly broadside. In the real world, mule deer rarely cooperate by posing exactly how we’d like them to.

Every shot angle changes the anatomy you’re working with. Bones shift, vital organs become partially obscured, and the path your bullet or arrow must travel changes dramatically. Before squeezing the trigger or releasing an arrow, it helps to stop thinking about where the projectile will enter and start thinking about where it needs to end up.

As mule deer hunters, we spend a lot of time talking about rifles, optics, packs, and finding mature bucks. Those conversations are fun, but the future of hunting depends just as much on the decisions we make when nobody else is watching. In 2026, I believe there are three areas every ethical mule deer hunter should be thinking about before the season begins.

This September, the Mule Deer Foundation and Infinite Outdoors celebrate Public Lands Month through Access. Adventure. Legacy., a campaign focused on expanding outdoor access, creating new opportunities for adventure, and investing in the future of America’s outdoor heritage.

Success in mule deer country rarely comes down to a single piece of gear. More often, it’s the decisions you make before the hunt even begins, how you access terrain, move through habitat, and adapt to conditions, which shape the outcome of your time in the field. 

ATVs and Side-by-Sides have become a common tool across the West because they make movement across vast landscapes more efficient. The key to deciding what is right for you is to understand that no single platform does everything equally well. Each one fits a unique style of hunting, terrain type, and level of access. The question is, which is best for you?