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Mule Deer observation...
#2427939
07/14/11 04:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,057
fishhuntgolfgeek
OP
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I've hunted whitetails most of my life....about 25yrs worth....and I recently have gotten into hunting mule deer about 3yrs ago. My observation: mule deer are stupid. Reason: Whitetails run to the next county when they spot you and give you the "white flag finger" as they bound off. Mule deer will look, run 50yds, stop, turnaround, and look at you again...that's when I usually get the shot off and droppem. Does anyone observe the same situation?
Live Free or Die...
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: fishhuntgolfgeek]
#2427969
07/14/11 05:03 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,359
dkershen
Rev Dave
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Rev Dave
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Not a bad observation. But as Mule Deer bucks get older they eventually wise up. Just takes them a lot longer to learn that humans are danger.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: dkershen]
#2427990
07/14/11 05:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 105
big l
Woodsman
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Woodsman
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: dkershen]
#2427997
07/14/11 05:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2428132
07/14/11 06:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
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Posts: 5,271 |
I've only had the good fortune of hunting mule deer once, last December at Matador. The young bucks seemed real easy to get close to compared to whitetail, but the bigger bucks that had been shot at a time or two, all you see was a white butt behind a big rack headed over the ridge. I was finally able to sneak up on one of the big boys, but the wind and cover was perfect, and he was distracted by a group of does. I guess chasing tail has made us all dumb at one time or another.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2428133
07/14/11 06:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
THF Celebrity
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Mulies and whitetail are very different,whitetails are forest creatures and mulies are desert type creatures,they have evolved from totally different environments,where a whitetails defense in a close woodland type setting is to run, a mulie in a wide open setting is to just keep some distance between themselves and their perceived danger,also they dont know a 7 mag can reach out and touch them.MY 2 cents.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: Erathkid]
#2428181
07/14/11 06:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
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From my 5 years of hunting Mule Deer in West Texas I am going to have to say that it is going to depend on the Mule Deer buck. Some are dumb (younger ones mostly) as a sack of rocks and some of them(older bucks) if you see them and spook them and they get away you can pretty much right them off seeing them again. For the most part they will tolerate movement and vehicles but if they smell you they are gone and in high gear most of the time. You might see them again in that area in a week or so or not till the next season in most cases. For whitetails it depends on the deer again. Most will run at the sight of a vehicle or person and will not tolerate smell either, but they will come back if that is their territory you find them in when spooking them. The basic difference in them was pointed out above it is the habitat they reside in that makes them act different. Also the density of animals per 1,000 acres is much different also.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: stxranchman]
#2428318
07/14/11 07:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,088
Elkhunter49
THF Trophy Hunter
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Go to Colorado and try and find a true 180" trophy Mule Deer and see how dumb they are. I'm amazed at the credit give to the elusive Whitetail. A mature WT and Mule deer offer very different but unique but challanges. If you not challanged by Texas Muleys then take a trip out west and see what kind of hunter you turn out to be. It's much different than hunting over corn. Later Baker
A true friend reaches for your hand but touches your heart.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: Elkhunter49]
#2428484
07/14/11 08:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,355
Bowtech1233
Pro Tracker
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I never have run in to anyone who hunts Mule deer over corn, regardless of what state it is...
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: Elkhunter49]
#2428507
07/14/11 08:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
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Go to Colorado and try and find a true 180" trophy Mule Deer and see how dumb they are. I'm amazed at the credit give to the elusive Whitetail. A mature WT and Mule deer offer very different but unique but challanges. If you not challanged by Texas Muleys then take a trip out west and see what kind of hunter you turn out to be. It's much different than hunting over corn. Later Baker I think I'm going to give that a shot.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2428656
07/14/11 09:47 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,088
Elkhunter49
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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Go to Colorado and try and find a true 180" trophy Mule Deer and see how dumb they are. I'm amazed at the credit give to the elusive Whitetail. A mature WT and Mule deer offer very different but unique but challanges. If you not challanged by Texas Muleys then take a trip out west and see what kind of hunter you turn out to be. It's much different than hunting over corn. Later Baker I think I'm going to give that a shot. Good luck brother, mountain hunting will change the way you look at hunting. Good Luck on your hunt. Baker
Last edited by elkhunter49; 07/14/11 09:48 PM.
A true friend reaches for your hand but touches your heart.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2428772
07/14/11 10:35 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Go to Colorado and try and find a true 180" trophy Mule Deer and see how dumb they are. I'm amazed at the credit give to the elusive Whitetail. A mature WT and Mule deer offer very different but unique but challanges. If you not challanged by Texas Muleys then take a trip out west and see what kind of hunter you turn out to be. It's much different than hunting over corn. Later Baker I think I'm going to give that a shot.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: stxranchman]
#2428797
07/14/11 10:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
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Posts: 44,461 |
Well I am!!
Thanks elkhunter
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2428813
07/14/11 11:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Well I am!!
Thanks elkhunter Come on pack mule you already been there and done that except pulling the trigger. You know just how hard them mountain muleys can be.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: stxranchman]
#2428912
07/14/11 11:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
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Posts: 44,461 |
Well you do have to honk at the younger ones to get them out of the middle of the road. Older ones overlook everything banking on you getting ticked off and shooting one of the younger ones for not getting out of your way. Honestly hoping I can lay the hammer down on one just off the 18th green
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2428923
07/14/11 11:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Well you do have to honk at the younger ones to get them out of the middle of the road. Older ones overlook everything banking on you getting ticked off and shooting one of the younger ones for not getting out of your way. Honestly hoping I can lay the hammer down on one just off the 18th green Or off of that mountain bike trail.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: stxranchman]
#2429050
07/15/11 12:25 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
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Definitely going to be glassing from up there
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: Elkhunter49]
#2429200
07/15/11 01:24 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,057
fishhuntgolfgeek
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If you not challanged by Texas Muleys then take a trip out west and see what kind of hunter you turn out to be. It's much different than hunting over corn. Later Baker Didn't mean to step on your toes elkhunter...btw..I have hunted elk and mulies in NM. And I don't hunt over corn feeders. I'm a spot/stalk hunter from the old school. I was trying to figure out if mule deer behavior was the same for other hunters. All 3 mule deer I have shot have been with a muzzle loader and right after they stop to look back. I'd love to see a 180 class in Colorado....maybe one day I'll get up there.
Live Free or Die...
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: fishhuntgolfgeek]
#2429286
07/15/11 01:56 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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on hunts I've been on, shots have ranged from 401-697 yds. Watched a buck get bumped right before 2nd season.. 4 miles later and day before 3rd season we found him again. He was up high and would look through cover at you and found out about 500yds was what he liked to keep as a buffer between you and him before he put some more distance on it.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2429604
07/15/11 03:38 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,480
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,480 |
Mulies are dumb... Watched a 180 grow all season one summer he was in the garden ever morning and evening....south of pagosa springs. Grandmother still was taking pics in early nov.
Mulies at our ranch are stupid...stupid stupid watched my cousin miss a 200 nt with a bow it ran 40 yards stopped looked back and walked off.....
Last edited by BOBO the Clown; 07/15/11 04:20 AM.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2429607
07/15/11 03:40 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320
BMD
Silver Spoon
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Silver Spoon
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320 |
They are stupid! I Have to throw rocks at em to keep off the main road thru our lease so they aren't laying around when oil guys are driving thru.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: BMD]
#2429690
07/15/11 04:17 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,033
338ultra
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,033 |
I had a 180"+ mulie I stalked in on in the panhandle of Idaho. I didn't know he was there and I am convinced he would have never moved had I not been out of breath and about to die on the side of that mountain. I had to stop to catch a breather and as I was looking around me, I belive he got nervous, because I was looking straight at him in the bushes, but couldn't make out what I was seeing. Whether or not they are dumb, I don't know. He stood and looked at me at 50 yards and I tried to shoot him. But my guides head was between me and the neck of the buck. When he saw the guide he took off and I tried to take him out on the run.
I think, that whitetails in Texas have more interaction with humans that try to kill them. Some of these mule deer in these mountainous places might not see humans but a few times a year, and some of those times it's backpackers that offer them no real threat. I hiked through Big Bend several years ago and walked right past 2 bucks within 10 ft of them and they never looked my way. They had watched 1,500 other people walk past them and were never in danger, so why should this human scare me? I think it's all what they are used to or the fact that they haven't had lead flying at them or seen 4 of their buddies get shot over the years of their life.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: 338ultra]
#2429727
07/15/11 04:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
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back before a bad winter kill you would see 180s trying to hide from you in the bar ditch. Head flat on the ground and horns sticking up over the brush/grass. Heck the 2 bucks I'm going to try to find were on a golf course last I heard, they were in the same area last year, but obviously they were smart enough to avoid everyone during season, even folks with Gov tags hunting the area.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: rifleman]
#2430409
07/15/11 04:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,521
retfuz
THF Celebrity
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You have to actually hunt muley's. You can't sit in a stand and kill him when he comes to eat at your feeder. Also, I don't know of a lot of high fenced "Zoos" that have mulies. And they are dumber than white tails, at least the younger ones.
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Re: Mule Deer observation...
[Re: retfuz]
#2430419
07/15/11 04:12 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,521
retfuz
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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When I said you actually have to hunt muleys, I wasn't knocking hunting from a stand looking at a feeder. I've shot many deer doing exactly that, but the most fun I've ever had was walking through mesquite and cedar with the wind in my face and the sun at my back. It's truly exciting slow hunting, getting on my knees looking under mesquites for deer.
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