88 Cents of Every Dollar Goes To Mission Delivery 
Want to draw better mule deer tags without wasting years or money? The Mule Deer Foundation breaks down a practical 5–10 year draw strategy, comparing Wyoming’s preference point system with Idaho’s lottery-style draw to help you hunt more consistently while building toward a dream tag.
Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) mobilized a total of $48.3 million for mule deer and black-tailed deer in 2025. MDF turned every $1 of its own $13.4 million investment into $3.60 of on-the-ground conservation impact.
So, you’ve decided to plan a mule deer hunt. And do you want to do it yourself in the good old-fashioned DIY Style? But before you can start planning Logistics and time frames, and if you’re going to use a bow or rifle, you have to figure out what state you’re going to hunt in to begin with. So, we took some time to look at all the states that mule deer call home and ranked them on which ones are best for a DIY hunt.
The workout generated $120,000 in donations, which Hebel presented to MDF President and CEO, Greg Sheehan at the Expo’s Saturday night Super Banquet. The funds raised will go back into MDF’s on-the-ground conservation efforts.
Our goals, because your draw plan should reflect:
Do you want a trophy-class buck, or are you hunting more for opportunity or “any mule deer”?
Are you building preference points (or equivalent) in states with point systems, or aiming for lottery-style draws?
What’s your budget for draw applications, point purchases, and potential outfitter work?
How flexible are you with units, weapon types (rifle vs. archery), and timing?
Once those are clear, you can map out a tailored 5–10 year plan.
The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) is proud to announce the continuation of its long-standing partnership with Remington, one of America’s most trusted ammunition manufacturers and a company with a deep-rooted commitment to wildlife & habitat conservation, ethical hunting, and the hard working people who make it possible.
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