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Muley Deer Hunting

Mule Deer Biology

HISTORY

Class: Mammalia, Order: Artiodactyla. Family: Cervidae, Sub Family: Capreolinae, Genus: Odocoileus, Species: hemionus. The mule deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears, which usually are about one-quarter larger than those of the white-tailed deer.

Mule deer are of considerable economic importance as a big game mammal. Sportsmen prize this unique species for a number of qualities, including large body size, tasty venison, and the ability of mature bucks to develop an attractive and often massive set of antlers. Overall this mammal is one of the most hunted and most prized animals in North America today.

SPECIES OF MULE DEER

There are many mule deer subspecies, and the most common species are the Desert Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus crooki, and the Rocky Mountain Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus hemionus.

Sympatric populations of mule deer and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in western Texas have been found to interbreed and produce hybrid offspring. Genetic analyses indicate that these hybrids are more characteristic of white-tailed deer than of mule deer; thus, it appears that hybridization may be one factor contributing to the displacement of mule deer by white-tailed deer in this region.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The male mule deer is called a buck, the female a doe and the young are called fawns or yearlings when they are older and still with the doe. Mule deer can weigh between 125 and 330 lbs. Their length with tail is approximately 50" to 85". The height of a mule deer to the shoulder is approximately 3' to 3.5. They have a metatarsal gland 8-12 cm long, narrow, and situated above midpoint of shank. In the summer mule deer have a brown-tan to reddish color, in winter they are more gray-brown. They shed their hair twice a year. The mule deer has white undersides and black on the side of its chin and on top of it's head. Some call muleys the "deer with the deer with the bad toupee". The inside of its ears are white. The black-tipped tail and rump patch are white (black-tailed deer tails are black or brown on top). The buck has antlers with branched tines off the main beam. The doe is smaller and does not have antlers. A mule deer life span in the wild is about 10 years, but Mule Deer have lived up to 25 years in captivity.

Mature bucks normally have four main points on each antler, but beyond the third year there is little or no correlation between the number of points and the age of the deer. Beyond the prime of life, the so-called "Pacific buck" type may develop, which consists of only two points, or a spike, on each side of a large set of antlers.

The age of mule deer can be determined fairly accurately up to about 24 months. At birth the fawn is equipped with upper premolars, the third and fourth lower premolars, the lower canines, and the entire lower incisor series. The second lower premolar may erupt shortly after birth or within the first 60 days. By the age of 3½ months, the first upper molar is functional. At the age of approximately 1 year, the middle lower incisor is shed and replaced by a permanent one. Each permanent incisor is wider than its predecessor. At the age of 15-18 months, the molars erupt and take their place in the series, and at the age of 24-25 months, the premolars are replaced by the permanent dentition.

REPRODUCTION

The mule deer's breeding season begins in October and ends in early February, with the peak occurring in mid to late November. This is also referred to as the "rut", a time when the buck's neck swells and he fights other bucks for dominance. Mule deer reach sexual maturity in 1 1/2 years. A single buck is capable of breeding several does. Does are in heat for about 24 hours, and cycle every 28 days if they are not bred. Fawns are born after a 202 day gestation period, with about half of the young being born between late May and late June. The number of young fawns born can be 1 to 4 with 2 being average. In the spring each doe moves off by herself to select a fawning area, and a buck becomes solitary or joins a small group of bachelors as his antlers develop. The birth interval is 1 year.

The mule deer's reproductive rate of 94 fawns per 100 does is low compared to the whitetail's 140 fawns for every 100 does. Sexual maturity is slow in mule deer and only seven percent of the does breed when they are fawns and only 68 percent of yearling does become pregnant. About 65 percent of pregnant mule deer does carry twins compared to 82 percent of whitetail does having multiple births.

After mating season, bucks lose their antlers when they simply drop off. When a buck has passed its prime, when food is poor or the buck has had an injury the antlers may not fully develop or they may develop in odd ways. A "cactus buck" is one example of a buck who has had an injury and the rack developed oddly.

DIET

Mule deer are considered to be browsers rather than grazers and rely on shrubs as a primary energy source. They are ruminants and digest their food in much the same way as a cow. Mule deer are most active during dawn and dusk, when they venture from protective cover when it is time to feed. High desert areas are where deer love to eat bitterbrush. Look for signs the deer are browsing on this bush. Chamise and mountain whitethorn are other key food plants that deer love. Mule deer are fond of wheat , clover and sunflower patches, and small grain and alfalfa crops within their range.

Livestock management practices can be beneficial or detrimental to deer nutrition. Continuous grazing causes a gradual decline in range condition, reducing livestock nutrition and habitat quality for deer. The absence of livestock over long periods of time can be as detrimental to deer habitat as overgrazing.

DEFENSES/ENEMIES

Mule deer have excellent eyesight, have good hearing due to their large years and also rely upon the sense of smell in detecting danger. Stationary objects are easily overlooked by them, but they readily detect any that are in motion. Their hearing is also very good due to the extremely large ears that they can rotate in any direction. The mule deer can run up to 35 mph (56 kph) for short distances. Donald McLean was able to force one to a speed of 58 km an hour on a dry lake flat in California. After the first short burst of speed, the animal dropped to about 35 km an hour and was badly winded after a chase of less than 1.5 km. The mule deer doesn't usually run like a whitetail deer, instead it "stots" up vertical terrain which makes it very difficult for a predator to follow. Stotting looks like they are using a pogo stick to bounce from one point to the next, some have described it as a high, stiff-legged bounce. In rough, broken country they are at their best. There, the long, high bounds send them over the rocks and brush much faster than the average running animal can go through or around the obstructions. This ability enables the deer to see over vegetation and keep an eye on any approaching danger. The longest bounds are generally made when the animals are going downhill or leaping across gullies. McLean measured two flat jumps that were 5.9 and 7.1 meters, respectively. A downhill bound on a 7% slope measured 8.7 meters. Mule deer can jump an 8-foot fence with ease.

Mule deer have several distinct strategies for avoiding predators. They specializes in detecting danger at a very long range by means of large ears and excellent vision. Males can quickly detect and visually track another animal as far as 600 meters. Once danger is detected, they may choose to hide, or move into cover and cautiously outmaneuver the predator. Another strategy is to depart while the predator is still a long way off and move several miles to another area. Mule deer, instead, may bound rapidly uphill, imposing on pursuing predators an unacceptably high cost per unit time of locomotion. In yet another strategy, they may bound off and then trot away, stopping frequently to gain information on the disturbance. This initial bounding, combined with release of metatarsal scent that inhibits feeding, is highly advantageous in that, by alarming others, it causes other mule deer to bound off as well, reducing the conspicuousness of the deer who bounded off first. This strategy would also trigger group formation. Finally, when a predator closes in, mule deer initiate evasive maneuvers based on sudden unpredictable changes in direction and on placing obstacles between itself and the predator. This strategy, however, does not work against group-hunting predators.

Mule Deer are excellent swimmers but hardly ever use this means of escape. Mule deer bucks will use their antlers as protection from predators. Mule deer will also protect themselves by rearing up and slashing out with their front hooves. The fawn's survival strategy is based on its protective coloration, its ability to remain motionless as danger approaches, and its small amount of scent which makes finding it difficult for predators.

Mule deer are also very vocal if they want to send an alarm signal to other deer. Mule deer will stomp their feet just like a whitetail deer to warn other deer or to get the unrecognized danger to move. Some say this is out of fear or defiance but I've stomped back when the deer couldn't see me and they went back to feeding. It may just be a challenge of "Who's there?" Muleys also will snort or exhale loudly as a danger warning.

Major predators on mule deer are mountain lions, which are deer eating machines, coyotes, golden eagles, feral dogs, bears and bobcats.

RANGE

Western North America with true Rocky Mountain Mule Deer in the Rockies, black-tailed deer are on the Pacific Coast and desert mule deer are in northern Mexico and southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Mule deer occur over most of North America west of the 100th meridian from 23 degrees to 60 degrees N. The eastern edge of the usual range extends from southwestern Saskatchewan through central North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and western Texas. Isolated occurrences have been reported from Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. Major gaps in geographic distribution are in southern Nevada, southeastern California, southwestern Arizona, and the Great Salt Lake desert region.

HABITAT

Unlike whitetails that thrive in areas of dense cover with good concealment, mule deer are more apt to be found in association with more open upland habitats. The classic mule deer habitat is rough, steep canyons sparsely vegetated with brushy pockets that carve their way down through open grasslands. Mule deer occupy to some extent almost all types of habitat within their range but, in general, they seem to prefer the more arid, open situations in which sagebrush, juniper, pinyon pine, yellow pine, bitter brush, mountain mahogany, and such plants predominate.

If the winter is severe with low temperatures and deep snows, the deer "yard up", or gather together, in areas that provide for most of their needs. Many deer in a group are able to break trails in deep snow more efficiently than a single deer can, which allows each individual to conserve needed energy to fight off the cold.

Seasonal movements involving migrations from higher elevations (summer ranges) to lower winter ranges are associated, in part, with decreasing temperatures, severe snowstorms, and snow depths that reduce mobility and food supply. Deep snows ultimately limit useable range to a fraction of the total. Mule deer in the arid southwest may migrate in response to rainfall patterns.

DAILY LIFE

Mule deer of both sexes normally do most of their feeding in early morning before sunrise or in late afternoon and evening after sundown. They spend the middle of the day bedded down in cool, secluded places. In summer, the bucks retire as soon as the sun shines where they are feeding and go to the dense shade of some grove to bed down for the day. In general, mature bucks prefer rocky ridges for bedding grounds because there they seem to feel more secure from the approach of danger. Does and fawns are more likely to bed down in the open. In winter, however, they often seek out sunny places well screened on at least three sides by vegetation. At night, they usually bed down in the open away from trees and bushes.

The social system of mule deer consists of clans of females related by maternal descent. Males disperse as individuals or congregate in groups of unrelated individuals. During winter and spring, the stability of female clans and male groups is maintained with dominance hierarchies. Increases in strife and alarm behavior, and decreases in play among fawns, occur as population density increases.

Communication among mule deer is done by the sebaceous and sudoriferous secretory cells of five integumentary glands. The cells of each gland produce specific scents (pheromones) that elicit specific reactions in conspecifics. The metatarsal gland produces an alarm pheromone, the tarsal gland aids in mutual recognition, the interdigital gland leaves a scent trail, and the function of the tail gland is unknown. Urine has a pheromone function at all ages and for both sexes. It is deposited on tufts of hair surrounding the tarsal glands. In fawns, it functions as a distress signal, while in adults, it functions as a threat signal.

DISEASES

Ticks, lice, and nasal bots are parasites commonly found on and in mule deer. Most deer commonly harbor light infestations of ticks and nasal blots, but not at levels high enough to present a health problem to the deer. Likewise, internal parasites, especially stomach worms, are common but are not at sufficient levels to cause clinical symptoms. However, the concentration of individuals at feeding sites increases the potential for disease transmission. Because disease-causing organisms can be transmitted through the soil, supplemental feed should not be placed on the ground. Some type of trough should be used and, ideally, the feeding site should be relocated every year or two. Evidence of exposure to bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been documented in mule deer. The most common disease agent among mule deer appears to be warts.

Today the major news headlines is about Chronic Wasting Disease, often referred to as CWD. CWD is a disease unique to North America. On our continent, it has been found in wild deer and or elk in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Saskatchewan. In captive deer and or elk, it has been found in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Saskatchewan and Alberta.. CWD appears to be a prion disease that attacks the central nervous system and causes fatal damage to the brain of white-tailed deer, mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk. CWD is similar to, but significantly different from, scrapie (documented in domestic sheep for over 400 years), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE and often referred to as mad cow disease) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease found in humans. All of these diseases attack the central nervous system and cause small holes to form in the brains of infected animals.

There is currently no scientific evidence that CWD has or can spread to humans, either through contact with infected animals or by eating the meat of infected animals. The Center for Disease Control has conducted an exhaustive study of CWD and human risk and has stated: “The risk of infection with the CWD agent among hunters is extremely small, if it exists at all”. However, as we are still learning about this disease, state wildlife agencies recommend that hunters take precautions to limit risks. First and foremost, do not harvest any animal that appears sick or is acting strange. Note the animal’s location and contact the state personnel. Avoid cutting or puncturing the spinal cords or brains of animals taken in the areas where CWD occurs. Do not use house-hold utensils to field dress or process your deer. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling any harvested animal. You should also make sure about your states current regulations regarding the importation of deer or elk meat from outside your state. Some states are also considering testing all or some of the animals taken during the hunt season for CWD.

In the later stages of infection, deer and elk infected with CWD will show signs of progressive weight loss, listlessness, excessive salivation and urination, increased water intake, depression and, eventually, death. Animals can be infected with CWD for months or years before outward signs of infection are evident.

Mule Deer Scouting and Hunting

DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST

You can start your scouting right at home by obtaining maps, aerial photos and info from biologists and other hunters who have been in the area you are planning to hunt. USFS maps may be obtained by visiting or calling one of the USFS offices. The maps are generally about $4.00 or $7.00 for waterproof maps. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps can usually be obtained from drafting/engineering stores or backpacking stores or ordered online here USGS Topo maps.  If you would like info on aerial photos, computer topo map programs and how to download free topo maps off the Internet I have this on my webpage here: aerial photos or topo maps. Also you can check Topozone and Terraserver for online topo maps and aerial photos. Start networking with people who work in your target area. Hikers are another source of good info. A piece of info can come from anyone and it's another piece of the puzzle to finding the muley you want to hunt.

SCOUTING TRIP

Plan to make at least one visit to your hunting area to prescout and become familiar with the terrain and logistics like hiking time, where to camp, where to glass from etc. This is also the time to hike in, set up and glass for deer. The more time you spend in the deer's backyard the better the odds of you having a successful hunt. Find the saddles and escape routes. If hunting on public ground, knowing where the other hunters will approach from can tell you where to set up to intercept the escaping deer. Determine where and what the deer are feeding on. Knowing where the deer water, especially in drought conditions can pay off. Burn some boot leather and explore as much of the country as you can. Drag that no good brother-in-law along to help in scouring the hillsides.

GLASSING

Since most of western muley country is open land, glassing is the best way to cover lots of ground and not spook the deer. To glass all day you need to stay as comfortable as possible. If you are going to use a spotting scope, get the best waterproof glass you can afford. Swarovski, Leupold, Nikon and Kowa all make good spotters. The better glass will provide less eye strain, which can ruin a hunt. Some guides and hunters use 10 x 42 or bigger binos to search hillsides and then the spotter for a closer peek. Get yourself a nice chair and put your binos or spotter on a good tripod, you'll have a better time looking for deer. Bogan Manfrotto makes great tripods and monopods. 'Grippit' makes a strap and mount to mount your binos on a tripod for more stability for $29.99. Don't skimp when buying your binos either. Swarovski, Leica, Leupold, Nikon and Zeiss all make quality waterproof binos. Crooked Horn Outfitters makes a good bino chest harness to keep your binos close to you chest when you peek over ridges or crawl on a stalk. Keep your optics dust and smudge free with a LensPen. You can also drop by the local camera shop to get some camera lens cleaning spray and cloth for your binos and spotter, your eyes will love you for this.

Muleys are creatures of the edges. You can glass the edges of burns, crop fields, clear cuts and meadows to find feeding deer. Keeping track of wildfire burns is a good way to find where the deer are eating the new browse. Even if the burn is recent and the hillside looks like a burnt moon landscape, a good rain shower will have the new green spouts popping out all over. The best time to glass is the first hour and last hour of daylight. Be in place on a high vantage point before daylight to have the best chance to spot a nice buck.

Mule deer of both sexes normally do most of their feeding in early morning before sunrise or in late afternoon and evening after sundown. They spend the middle of the day bedded down in cool, secluded places. In summer, the bucks retire as soon as the sun shines where they are feeding and go to the dense shade of some grove to bed down for the day. In general, mature bucks prefer rocky ridges for bedding grounds because there they seem to feel more secure from the approach of danger. Does and fawns are more likely to bed down in the open. In winter, however, they often seek out sunny places well screened on at least three sides by vegetation. At night, they usually bed down in the open away from trees and bushes.

Scouting/Hunting with Topo Maps

You can scout with topo maps by identifying areas or locations that need to be checked for sign. These areas include natural funnels or choke points, bedding and feeding areas, saddles, benches and water holes.

Funnels - The topo map on the right shows 2 good funnels. The deer are reluctant to drop down the steep muddy sides of the river and don't want to cross the open crop field.

If the wind is from the south or southeast, I set up at point #1 to keep my wind off the funnel trails. If the wind is from the north or northwest, I move to point # 2 and let my scent blow into the crop field. These funnels are about 50 yards wide and there are 3 distinct trails the deer use. 1 trail follows the river, 1 follows the edge of the field and the 3rd trail goes right smack down the middle.

Saddles - are a natural travel funnels and escape routes for deer and elk between two high points of ground. The topo map on the right also shows where a mulie buck was bedded. Muley bucks like to bed on the very tops, or at least upper portions, of ridges when not bothered by hunters. A saddle can just be a dip in the elevation between two ridges or mountain peaks, they don't have to be a drastic change in elevation.

Older mature bucks will often have a young 3 point buck hanging around with them as a sentry. If you see a 3 point, look hard for the bigger buck nearby. When alerted to danger, the younger buck will usually be the first to stand up to check out the disturbance, leaving the older buck to wait for the signal to scram.

Muleys like to have a view when they bed and will bed on steep slopes. Elk, on the other hand prefer benches to bed on. Muleys like to bed behind small bushes, short trees, rocks or anything that will give them a little better hide. Most muleys look below for danger more than above, so get on the same level or above them to do a stalk.

Benches - Elk and muleys like to hang out around benches. Look for cliffs, rock slides, and dark timber for good escape cover.

Stay tuned, more topo map scouting to come ....

Another good place to learn about topo maps is at this link to an article by Dr. Mark Timney on the Bowsite. Topo Map Info.

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Calling and Rattling Muleys

Huh? You can call and rattle muleys like whitetails? Yup, you sure can since they get more than a little goofy when the rut hits, just like a whitetail deer does. I moved to the west from Missouri and when I started carrying my rattling antlers and grunt tube year ago people thought I was a bit addled. After seeing and hearing of my buddy's and my success people are not so sure I've lost my mind anymore. You still don't see many people using this muley hunting technique in the west so the deer are suckers for it in most areas since they've never been exposed to it before. The best place to learn the sounds of rattling or calling is to actually watch live deer either in the filed or at a game farm. You can also buy videos, CDs and cassette tapes that help teach how to make the calls and how to rattle.

RATTLING

Rattling works best when the rut is kicking in. Since everybody loves to come watch a fight, tickling antlers together and making loud scuffling sounds in the brush just draws deer in for a peek. You'll get bucks and does coming in and you have to be ready for a quick shot, having a partner do the rattling or shooting helps keep your job simple. The bucks will sometimes circle downwind like a coyote to catch your scent so watch the downwind area from your position well. Setting up on a little rise helps you you have a good view of any approaching animals. You can also set a buddy up 100 yards downwind to catch the sneakers.

You can also rattle or grunt near areas where bedded deer are. Many times you know the deer are in a god forgiven pile of brush or rocks but you'll just spoke them out the backside if you creep in on the crunchy ground cover. If you don't have all day to wait for them to come out for a drink or food, try a grunt or rattle. Dominant bucks will either answer your challenge or herd their does off away from you. Be careful, as some bucks will come on the run with their hackles up wanting to put the hurt on something. You can also use this technique to get the deer to move out slowly enough so your partner can get a shot on the other side instead of the deer bailing out in high gear.

I start of a rattling sequence by just slightly tickling the tines of the antlers together for a minute or two. Then I'll repeat the sequence every 15 minutes or so. If I know the bucks are really fighting to establish their dominance in the area I'll smash the antlers together harder to simulate a nastier fight. One note, this also can send the subordinate bucks heading for the hills if they just had their butts whipped the day before.

FAWN BAWL CALL

Another call that can work to bring deer in closer to you is the fawn bawl. Does are naturally maternalistic and they will respond to the sounds of a distressed fawn, even if it's not theirs. If the does are with bucks they will drag the bucks along with them usually. I once watched a whitetail buck chase a young fawn during the rut with the fawn bawling like it was having it's toe nails pulled out. I could hear the fawn coming 1/2 mile away. Every deer in the woods came out to see what all the screaming was about, some of them were bedded nearby and I never knew they were there. The fawn bawl will wear you out since it full blast calling at high volume. I don't think you can overblow a fawn bawl call after hearing that little fawn that morning in the Missouri woods.

DOE BLEAT CALL

All deer make bleat calls but does seem to do it the most. They bleat when lost or as a contact call to say, "Hey, where you at?" to another deer. The deer bleat is kind of like a cluck to a turkey. I've seen the bleat be really soft where you had to be very close to the deer to hear it and I've also watched a doe stand out in a meadow bleating so the whole hillside could hear her. She was looking for her fawn that had drifted away from her to come back into sight.

GRUNT CALL

So how do you call with a grunt tube? I start off with just a short little grunt with my voice to see if anything is in close. After that I'll get louder to cover more area. Rutting bucks make all kinds of strange grunts, usually longer and deeper in tone and duration. You can use your own voice for a grunt call like the Indians did many years ago if you don't want to dangle a grunt tube around your neck on a lanyard or have to dig in your pack for it every time you need it. Just say the word "butt" and draw it out real long. Make the "utt" sound stretch out a bit. Don't do this in front of your dog or wife/boyfriend, they may never get over the sight.

One note, this also can send the subordinate bucks heading for the hills if they just had their butts whipped the day before and think the grunting is the same buck coming back for some more head butting.

WHERE TO GET A GRUNT CALL, FAWN BAWL CALL OR RATTLING ANTLERS

You can get these calls and sets of rattling antlers at the links I have provided below in the "Links" section under gear and calls. You can make your own grunt calls as they are similar to duck calls with a metal or plastic reed inside a housing. Rattling antlers you can make from sheds or antlers cut off from bucks you take. I like the bigger racks since they sound the best but any size will work. I grind off the bottom burr of the antler and smooth out a section so my hands won't get blisters or cuts while smashing them together. Wear gloves while you rattle as you will goof and smack your fingers. I also drill a small hole through the base of each antler and run a small nylon cord through them so I can hang them if in a treestand or on my pack.

CALLING SAFETY

With all these calls you have to maintain some awareness as to what is around you since other animals like bears, coyotes, bobcats and cougars will sometimes come in for a peek at what all the racket is about. Be VERY careful with rattling antlers while hunting, if you fall on them the sharp tines will poke into you which can be fatal. Some guys grind the points down so they are not as dangerous but I think it affects the sound too much. There are also rattling bags which simulate the sounds of rattling antlers pretty close and are safer and easier to carry.

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Mule Deer Tracking and Recovery

When you take your shot with your bow or rifle, mark the spot where you shot from and where the animal was. This will help in finding any blood or hair sign to start your tracking. Studying deer hides can help you identify any hair that may have been cut by the bullet or broadhead to pinpoint the area on the deer where your bullet hit.

Bright pink frothy blood - means a lung hit and the deer shouldn't go far.

Bright red blood - indicates a muscle hit which can be a minor wound. Also look for bone fragments which can tell you if you hit a leg bone or muscle.

Stinky green or brown paunch material - means a gut shot and you should let this animal bed down and stiffen up. 4 to 6 hours in cold, 8 hours in warm weather.

Some tips on tracking wounded game

1 and only 1 guy on the blood trail, preferably your best tracker. Keep the shooter nearby and ready in case the animal bolts from a bed, it may be your only chance to finish the job.

Use a camping lantern like a Coleman with a light reflector, they make blood really stand out at night.

Mark your trail so you can look behind yourself and get an idea of the travel route of your animal. You can use orange marker tape but PLEASE go back and remove all of that fluorescent tape when you are done. Use TP which just disappears in the first rain but if working in say snow, use the orange tape.

Sit down and take a break and have a snack or just relax. You need to calm down some and not push the animal by taking off after him immediately. If someone is with you, have him do the tracking as he is probably calmer and less likely to be in a hurry as you are.

Animals dump their bowels when they get weak so look for scat. They also will start circling like a dog when they lay down to die.

Animals that aren't hit real bad will double back a lot to shake you off their trail. While tracking watch for the animal's double back trail so you don't miss it or wipe it out. Bears love to do this along with deer.

Learn how to grid search. When all seems lost, look in creek bottoms and ravines. I've found many animals that dropped into them and just couldn't get out and they died there.

Keep an eye out for buzzards and crows, many times they will give up a kill.

Use a dog if legal, they are way more efficient at tracking. Deer Search has tracking dogs available if you don't have access in many states.

Have some hydrogen peroxide in squirt bottles handy when you get down to small blood drops or specks, it makes the blood bubble on contact. Put some bright green food coloring in you hydrogen peroxide to make the bubbles show up better.

Starlight Bloodhound, used in squirt bottles like hydrogen peroxide, is spendy but shows up faint blood trail really well, even in water.

Learn how to track by reading tracking books and practicing, it's great fun for the kids too.

Learn how to tell where you hit the animal by the hair the broadhead or bullet cut when it was first hit. You can do this by keeping the hair and matching it up too a hide. The impact site can tell you a whole bunch, like if you should wait (gut shot), or if you have a fatally hit animal. If you're an archer, try to find your arrow, it will tell you exactly where you hit your game at.

Mule Deer Meat Care

Durwood Hollis has a book called "Complete Game Care Guide". Try B&B Sportsman Supply - 11321 N. 215 E. - Demotte, IN. 46310. Call 1-800-401-9090 or 219-345-4840.

You can also get these game care pamphlets from the University of Wyoming, Bulletin Room, Box 3313, Laramie, WY. 82071.

Field, R.A., 1973. Aging Big Game, Ag Extension Bulletin B-513R.

Field, R.A., 1973. The Mule Deer Carcass, Ag Extension Bulletin B-589.

Field, R.A., 1973. Skinning and Boning Big Game, Ag Extension Bulletin B-884R.

Pocket Guide to Field Dressing Game. Steve Gilbert - $12.95, plastic, spiral-bound, 3 5/8 x 4 1/2 x 1/4, 26 pages, fully illustrated, ISBN 1-886127-19-0, Item #P144.

FORMULAS FOR ESTIMATING WEIGHT

Live weight X 78% = field dress weight X 75% = Hanging Weight X 75% = edible meat weight

Example: 100 Lbs. live weight X 78% = 78 Lbs. field dressed weight X 75% = 58 Lbs. hanging weight X 75% = 43 Lbs. edible meat.

Field dressed is body cavity cleaned out (no heart, lungs, intestines, etc.)

Hanging weight is the field dressed deer minus the head, feet and hide.

Edible meat weight will vary depending upon: How the deer is processed and How many times the deer was shot and what part(s) of the deer was shot. For Example, if the whole deer is boned out completely, you will receive approximately 50% to 60% of the hanging weight in edible meat.

Here's a table to estimate your deer's live weight. Measure the girth just behind the front legs, around the heart.

MEAT CARE TIPS

Cheap meat bags. You can get cheap cloth mattress covers at military surplus stores that have a draw string on one end and they'll cover a whole deer.

CWD

There is currently no scientific evidence that CWD has or can spread to humans, either through contact with infected animals or by eating the meat of infected animals. The Center for Disease Control has conducted an exhaustive study of CWD and human risk and has stated: “The risk of infection with the CWD agent among hunters is extremely small, if it exists at all”. However, as we are still learning about this disease, state wildlife agencies recommend that hunters take precautions to limit risks. First and foremost, do not harvest any animal that appears sick or is acting strange. Note the animal’s location and contact the state personnel. Avoid cutting or puncturing the spinal cords or brains of animals taken in the areas where CWD occurs. Do not use house-hold utensils to field dress or process your deer. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling any harvested animal. You should also make sure about your states current regulations regarding the importation of deer or elk meat from outside your state. Some states are also considering testing all or some of the animals taken during the hunt season for CWD.

Sources

Anderson, A. E. 1984. Odocoileus hemionus. Mammalian Species, No. 219, Pp. 1-9. American Society of Mammalogists, New York.
Cantu, Ruben and Calvin Richardson. Mule Deer Management in Texas. Austin, Texas. Pp. 1-22. 1997.
Davis, William B. and David J. Schmidly. The Mammals of Texas. Austin, Texas. Pp. 278-281. 1994.
Geist, V. 1981. Behavior: adaptive strategies in mule deer. Pp. 157-224, in Mule and Black-tailed deer of North America (O. C. Wallmo, ed.). Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln, xvii + 605 pp.
Kucera, T. E. 1978. Social behavior and breeding system of the Desert mule deer. J. Mamm., 59:463-476.
The Mule Deer Of Texas ....
Nebrasksa Mule Deer .... Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Short, H.L. 1981. Nutrition and metabolism. Pp. 99-127, in Mule and Black-tailed deer of North America (O. C. Wallmo, ed.). Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln, xvii + 605 pp.
Wallmo, O. C. 1981. Mule and Black-tailed deer distribution and habitats. Pp. 1-25, in Mule and Black-tailed deer of North America (O. C. Wallmo, ed.). Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln, xvii + 605 pp.
Wilson, Don E. and Sue Ruff. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Washington, D.C. Pp 329-331. 1999.

Mule Deer Hunting Links

Ammo/Reloading

Accurate Reloading .... Saeed's great talk forum on reloading.
Alliant Powder (formerly Hercules) .... check out the online reloading data.
Barnes .... They make great bullets.
Berger Bullets .... Some of the best bullets made.
Cheaper Than Dirt .... Shooting supplies and hunting gear.
Dillon Precision Products .... One of the best reloading companies.
Federal Ammo ....
Graf and Sons Inc. .... The reloading authority.
Hodgdon Powder Company .... Reloading powder.
Hornady .... Bullets and reloading equipment.
Lapua .... Makers of match grade ammo and Vihtavuori powders.
Lee Precision Inc. .... The Lee family has been providing affordable reloading products since 1958.
MEC .... Reloading equipment.
Midsouth Shooters Supply Co. .... Your complete source for shooting accessories and supplies.
Midway USA .... The world's largest mail order shooting and reloading superstore.
Nosler .... Maker of the famous 'Partition bullets'.
Powder Valley .... Offering the finest in reloading components at the best possible price.
Precision Reloading Inc. .... Unique and hard to find reloading products.
RCBS .... If you're into reloading, bookmark this page now. All the info you need to be a top-notch re-loader is right here:
Redding Reloading Equipment ....
Remington .... Guns and ammo.
Sierra Bullets .... Bullets.
Speer .... Bullets.
Western Powders .... Western Powders is the largest Master Distributor of reloading powders in North America. We carry a full line of smokeless and black powders, and have also released our own line of high-performance, smokeless powders called RAMSHOT.
Widener's .... Here you will find great deals on all your hunting needs. From Ammunition to Powder. Featuring all the top name products such as Hornady, Nosler, Remington, RCBS, REDDING, SPEER, Winchester and much more.
Winchester Ammo .... Makers of great ammo.

Blinds

The All-Terrain Umbrella Blind .... The All Terrain Umbrella Blind is a uniquely designed and patented camouflage blind that can be set up quickly and quietly, camouflaging the person or persons behind it.
Ameristep Pop-Up Blinds .... Portable camo blinds.
Avery .... Cerex and burlap camo blind material.
Bowsniper Blind Co. ....Compact blinds that mount to a shotgun or bow.
Buckwing ..... They make blinds, archery gear and camo umbrellas.
Double Bull Archery L.L.C. .... Makers of the popular ICE Blind, a portable camo blind.
GameTracker Portable Pop Up Hunting Blind ....
High Racks .... They have brackets for hunters to effectively add branches and camo to any stand, blind or hunting location with ease.
Hunters Equipment .... They offer a full line of deer stands, game blinds, and game feeders.
Hunters Specialties (H.S.) .... They have burlap, nylon and Cerex camo blind material and portable hunting blinds.
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