Have you dreamed of years of backpacking mule deer hunting miles from the nearest road? It has been said that the sheep hunt is not the most important part of the adventure, it is where the bighorn sheep live. The same goes for real mule deer hunts in the desert. Mule deer thrive in some of the most beautiful wilderness in the world. Just seeing these majestic creatures and the country they live in is worth the effort to get to them. With that said, here are some tips to make your first mule deer hunt a success.
First and foremost, get fit! I’m not talking about walking to your mailbox once a day or playing a game of basketball every weekend. To truly enjoy your mule deer hunt, you need to be in the best shape of your life. I understand that depending on your age it may not be possible, so if that’s the case, look at the best shape you’ve been in for the last five years. The important thing here is to do everything possible. My training is jogging three or four times a week. I start walking and jogging about three months before the trip, and when the trip comes around, my goal is to be able to jog for an hour at a time. I find this easier than trying to distance yourself. If you can maintain a jogging pace for an hour, you should be able to scale the mountains required for mule deer hunting in the backcountry. I also jump rope, bike, hike, and walk with my loaded backpack (about 50lbs) in between. All of these are good for building the muscles you’ll need on your hunt.
Second, fire your rifle. If he pays the money, he gets fit, but he doesn’t practice with his rifle, he’s not ready to hunt mule deer. The best case would be to fire the rifle once a week at ranges up to 300 yards. You need to know where your rifle will fire at different ranges. Start at the 100-yard range with a constant mechanical rest. Try different types of ammunition until you find what your gun likes and stick with it. I use 130-grain Winchester Ballistic Silvertips in 270, but every rifle shoots differently and you need to find the load that works. Once you know where to shoot your rifle on the bench, try using shooting sticks, prone stance, on your backpack, and other stances you’ll find in the field. You won’t have a bank on your hunt and even if you are a great bank shooter that doesn’t make you a great shooter in a hunting situation. You will also want to study angles versus distances. Most mule deer shots are uphill or downhill and hunters tend to shoot over the deer. Get out there and practice some downhill and uphill shots. You’ll be amazed at the difference a steep angle makes. I also recommend that you buy a laser rangefinder and use it in your practice sessions. Learning to judge mule deer in the field is also helpful. Mossback Outfitters’ line of hunting videos titled Mulies Gone Wild is an excellent tool for judging big bucks. They give you the score after you have seen images of the males on the helmet.
Third, buy the best equipment you can afford. There are some great products on the market today. Look for the lightest and strongest material for your backpack and clothing. I won’t go into every item but a few I recommend are: Lowa Sheephunter Boots, An Inner Pack – I use a North Face pack but there are plenty on the market, Wool Socks – I use Smartwool and Light Packable Rainwear – I use Frogg Toggs . If you’re hunting with a vendor, ask for a to-go list and stick to it. Buy the best optics you can afford! I personally use Brunton Epochs in 10.5×43 for its magnification and weight, but there are many quality lenses on the market. I’ll say it again, get the best you can afford.
Lastly, check out some great hunting videos on the subject. This will get your blood pumping and will get you excited to go on the ride of a lifetime. They will help motivate you to get in shape and find the deer of your life.
