Utah
I was recently sitting in the backyard, enjoying a tequila cocktail my wife made that sported a Tajin rimmer (for those of you who may not know, Tajin is a versatile Mexican chili, lime, and salt seasoning blend). I quickly found that I had sipped my way around the whole glass, removing any trace of the rimmer well before the cocktail was finished.
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.
Here at the Mule Deer Foundation, we pride ourselves at being the center of the universe for mule deer hunting and conservation. When a mule deer is taken from Texas to Montana and California to Nebraska it is in part because of the Mule Deer Foundation and the incredible work we do across the landscape. Our staff understand the true value of a mule deer harvested across the western landscape because we see all of the behind-the-scenes efforts that make that deer possible. We see not only the physical effort, but the money, and the planning process that goes into creating a situation and landscape that grows that deer.
I took my third antelope in Southeastern Wyoming in October 2024. I brought back larger, primal cuts for steaks and roasts. There was also plenty of grind meat left over. The dilemma was how to prepare it. I wanted to choose something other than burger for such a fantastic animal. That set me to thinking…what could be done with the venison scraps?
So the fabled hunting trip out west for mule deer has made it out of the group chat, and you are ready to start packing. The whole group is excited but you are more nervous as the trip becomes real. You have only hunted Ducks and Whitetails your entire life in the woods and waters of the Eastern United States. So you get online and instantly are overwhelmed with knowledge. Have no fear, here are the key points to focus on as you prepare to head out west.