High Country Mule Deer Hunting 101

Have you dreamed for years of hunting for mulies with a backpack in that certain honeyhole on the map far from roads? It has been said that it's not the hunt that is the greatest challenge, it's getting there. The same goes for true wilderness mule deer hunts. Mule deer live in some of the most beautiful,uninhabited areas in the world. Just seeing these beautiful deer and the country they live in is worth the effort to get to them. With that said, here is some advice to make your first backcountry mule deer hunt a success.

Get in shape! I'm not talking about walking from the front door to the truck once a day or playing a game of basketball every weekend. To truly enjoy your mule deer hunt, you want to be in the best shape of your life. I understand, depending on your age, that may not be possible, so if that's the case, shoot for the best shape you've been in for the last ten years. The big thing here is to do everything you can. My workout is jogging two to three times a week. I start out walking and jogging about three months before the trip and by the time trip arrives, my goal is to be able to jog for an hour straight. I find this easier than trying to give distances. If you can maintain a jogging pace for an hour, you should be capable of climbing the mountains required for backcountry mule deer hunting. I also jump rope, bike, hike, and walk with my loaded pack (around 45 lbs) in between. All of these are great for getting your body and muscles in tone for hunting.

Pull out your favorite rifle and shoot it. If you pay the money for the tags or outfitter, get in shape, but don't practice with your rifle, you aren't prepared to mule deer hunt. The best case would be to shoot the rifle once a week at ranges out to 250 yards. You need to know where your rifle will shoot at the different ranges. Start out at the range at 200 yards with a steady mechanical rest. Purchase different brands of ammunition and test them until you find what your gun likes and stick with it. I use Winchester 130 grain Ballistic Silvertips in 270, but each rifle shoots differently and you need to find the load that works. Once you know where your rifle shoots on the bench, try using sitting position, prone position and other positions you will encounter in the field. You won't have a bench in the high country and even if you're a perfect marksman on the bench, that doesn't make you a great shot in a hunting situation. You will also want to study up on angles versus distances. Most shots at mule deer are long distance and at an angle and hunters have a tendency to shoot over deer. Get out and practice some shots downhill and uphill. You'll be amazed at the difference a steep angle makes. I also recommend you buy a laser rangefinder and use it at your practice sessions. It is also helpful to learn to judge mule deer in the field. The hunting videos by Mossback Outfitters titled Mulies Gone Wild are an excellent tool for judging giant mulies. They give you the B&C or P&Y score after you have seen footage of the bucks alive.

Buy the best gear you can afford. There are some excellent products on the market today. Look for the lightest sturdiest material for your backpacking and clothing items. I will not go into each item, but a few I recommend are: strong, sturdy hiking boots - I use Lowa Sheephunter boots, an internal pack - I use a Badlands pack, but there are lots on the market, wool socks - I use Cabelas, and light packable rain gear - I use Browning. If you are hunting with an outfitter, he has the experience to tell you what you need. Buy the best binoculars you can! I personally use Brunton Epochs in 10.5×43 because of their strength and weight, but there are lots of quality optics on the market. I'll say it again, spend all the money you can.

Lastly, watch some great Hunting Videos on the topic. These will get your blood pumping and get you excited to make your trip of a lifetime. They will get you off the couch and in the gym dreaming of big mulies.

- David Dukat