Mule Deer Foundation Idaho

f you’re planning a mule deer hunt out West, one of the first big questions you’ll face isn’t where to go — it’s what to bring. Rifle or bow? It’s a decision that shapes your entire hunt: when you’ll be in the field, how close you’ll need to get, and even how likely you are to notch that tag.

I’ve hunted mule deer with both — and both have their place. But they demand different mindsets, different skills, and different kinds of grit.